'Vampire Diaries': An Original Attacks Damon and Jeremy's Involved (Exclusive Photos)

The CW

"The Vampire Diaries"

It's been weeks since The Vampire Diaries viewers saw Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) back in action, but when the CW drama returns in a few weeks, he'll be front and center.

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After last week's heartbreaking phone conversation between Jeremy -- still wearing his Gilbert ring (the same one that may cause its wearer to do unimaginable things) -- and big sis Elena (Nina Dobrev), Elena enlists Damon (Ian Somerhalder) to check on her little brother. Given what happened with Alaric (Matthew Davis), can you blame them?

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"After all the efforts to keep him safe, ultimately [Elena and company] are going to realize he may not be safe anywhere. Mystic Falls, where people can look out for him, may be the best place for him to be," executive producer Julie Plec told The Hollywood Reporter in February of Jeremy's journey back to Mystic Falls.

THR has four exclusive images from Vampire Diaries' April 19 return, "Heart of Darkness," in which Damon and Elena arrive in Denver only to discover that Jeremy isn't exactly hanging out with the right group of people. In fact, it's original vampire Kol (Nathaniel Buzolic) who picks up a baseball bat and strikes Damon while Jeremy and Elena watch in the background.

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In the image above: Who (or what) is Elena and Damon looking down at?

Here are three more images below:

How will they get out of this one?

The Vampire Diaries returns April 19 at 8 p.m. on the CW.

Email: Philiana.Ng@thr.com; Twitter: @insidethetube

All images credited to Quantrell D. Colbert/The CW.