BWW Recap: THE VAMPIRE DIARIES Says a 'Prayer for the Dying'

What have you guys merged with lately? Your twin? Your brother who is technically 18 years older than you but because of witchy circumstances is actually the same age as you physically? Me personally, I merged with a box of ranch flavored Wheat Thins. It was a stressful job, but not as stressful as the Parker family's life on tonight's episode of THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, entitled "Prayer for the Dying," which included a real death, a vampire death, and an almost death.

Liz and Caroline were taking a snooze after Caroline blindly fed her mother her vampire blood, but the nap was interrupted when the cancer patient she previously tried to heal showed up, dying on her doorstep, somehow knowing where she lived and who she was. Stefan had popped in to help only to realize that the guy had died with Caroline's blood in his system; he had turned but was still suffering from cancer-like symptoms.

Elena was babysitting an unconscious Kai when Damon stopped by to ask her on a date to Olive Garden and take over Kai duty. Over at Hogwarts Whitmore, Liv and Tyler were having many shirtless hugs when her dad stopped by to wish her a "Happy Birthday, hope you die!" present.

The gang gathered at the hospital to get Jo's expert opinion on Caroline's new cancer-ridden vampire friend and the diagnosis wasn't good: her blood had sped up the dying man's cancer, ultimately killing him and rendering him a vampire. Jo had decided to give Liz a blood transfusion of human blood, hopefully slowing down the damage.

Elena was being judgmental on the matter because that time she wiped out a large chunk of the vampire population didn't occur to her. Caroline's cancer vamp was growing worse with pain, begging them to kill him, and Damon pulled an Elijah and ripped his heart out to grant his wish. Caroline couldn't cope, exclaiming, "I killed my mom!" before running off.

Liz called Elena out on her lies and she confessed that her diagnosis looked grim. Caroline had ran off to a florist to start planning her mom's funeral/memorial and Stefan, popped collar and all, tried to persuade her to make better use of her time. He shared his story of the olden days when his mother was ill and he had tried to take care of her in her last moments, a heartbreaking tale to bond over Caroline's suffering.

Liv and Luke fought with their father over the merge, but he was unrelenting, which was easy for him since he had been the victorious twin in his own merge. He didn't care if one of his children died because their souls would merge, making one powerful, creepy twin child. Over at Jo's, Damon fought off Tyler, subdued him, and put in a call to Papa Parker to merge Twinderella and Luke. Kai slowly awoke, no more Traveler magic coursing through him.

"Listening to you talk makes me want to die," Liz lamented as Damon and Elena forced Kai to suck the magic out of Liz's dying body. Jo was rightfully angry and Kai's price was steep: him and Jo were to merge immediately.

Papa Parker lured his children outside, spewing words of love and family, but took the opportunity to trick them into merging. Thankfully, Tyler showed up to fight him off, saving the twins. At the same time, Kai forced Jo into a merge, but Luke had had enough and decided to sacrifice himself and merge with Kai, regardless of their non-twin status; they were of the same blood and technically the same age, a little improvising was in the cards as Kai agreed. The two began the spell and the power overtook both of them.

Over at the hospital, Liz's heart was giving out. They rushed to find a doctor to compel to save her, but it was too late, Liz was gone and she was going to become a cancer-ridden vampire. Caroline finally arrived back at the hospital and a miracle occurred as Liz awoke, buying them a little more time.

Elena was shaken up and used the opportunity to re-connect with Damon on a make-out level, not wanting to waste another minute apart.

Caroline apologized to her mother and Liz promised to stick around as long as she could. Liz shooed Caroline away to make Stefan promise their ship would sail and he would take care of her after she was gone. But Caroline hadn't gone anywhere as she listened in on their conversation.

Jo tried to comfort Luke back into consciousness as she blamed Damon for the merge, but it was Kai who reigned victorious as Luke died in Jo's arms. "I always win," Kai sinisterly said as he disappeared off to find some Zima.

Things we need to discuss:

- If Luke's soul merged into Kai, as well as his power, does that mean that a bit of Luke exists within Kai? Will that change Kai's sociopathic ways or will Luke's soul be able to fend off his brother's evil?

- Will the gang inevitably save Liz or will she join the ranks of the rest of the TVD parents?

- Where was Enzo? Where was Matt? Where was Alaric? More importantly, how is Bonnie doing!?

- Luke's death was sad, but Kai continues to be one of TVD's best villains. I am excited he will be sticking around and causing mayhem.

Are you sad Luke is gone? Are you happy Kai won? Do you suddenly have a craving for unlimited soup, sald, and breadsticks? Comment below or tweet me @enr702 or find me live-tweeting @erinrlivetweets!

Below, check out a promo for next week's all-new episode, "The Day I Tried to Live":

Photo Credit: The CW

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