GHOSTS

After enjoying her little snack, Sirena had returned to the dance floor to dance the night away. No guilt, no pain, no drama — She felt free. Free to do as she pleased without the consequence that came with feeling. Being away from Mystic Falls didn't hurt either. Or rather should she say being far away from Elena-drama. Now that Elena was a vampire it was the perfect time to get away from that town and the problems that came with it. Sure, her friends were back there, but honestly she just didn't have any care in her. It was her time to live her life as a vampire, the way it was intended to be lived.

Taking a break, she moseyed on over to the bar, ordering up a glass of bourbon. Leaning back against the bar, her eyes scanned the room. So many choices… Girls were the hardest to get alone. They're always suspicious of any strange girls approaching them. They have their cliques and tend to stick with them. Guys, on the other hand, they were the easiest of all. Show them any sign of sexual interest and they were yours for the taking. It was almost too easy.

"What're you doing here?" Not even looking in their direction, she had sensed the man who had just stepped up next to her.

"Just checking up on my latest project," Kol smirked. "I see you've been busy."

Sirena ignored him.

"You know, while I do believe in indulging whenever you feel it necessary, I also believe in hiding the evidence."

Her eyes flew to his. "Don't worry about it." Turning in the other direction, she went to leave him behind, but he wasn't so easily shaken.

"Do whatever you must. Have your fun, darling. Tonight we're leaving."

Spinning on her heels, her hair whipped around as she faced him, eyes full of curiosity. "Why? Where are we going?"

"Back home, of course. I didn't strip you of your humanity just for sport. There was purpose. It's time my brother and Declan see how serious I am about my revenge."

Sirena rolled her eyes. "Good to know I could be of help."

Kol smiled devilishly. Truth was, he had quite come to like her company now that she wasn't tied down by her emotions. Sirena had become darker than he had ever imagined she would. Her creativity played such a wonderfully devious role as well, making her all the more fearsome. "How about a bite before we head out?"

Her eyes found a cute couple sitting at a bar table not more than ten feet away. She had seen them earlier. At first glance they seemed to be as happy as anyone, but then she caught the boyfriend enjoying the view of other girls as they passed by while his girlfriend wasn't looking. "Them."

Kol watched her waltz off towards the couple, smiling as she compelled them to leave with her to find a more intimate room. With an evil smile, Kol followed after them. "This should be fun."

Sirena had led them to one of the back party rooms of the club for some privacy. The couple took a seat on the red leather couch, laughing nervously and eyeing Kol as he took a seat in the chair across from them. Sitting at the man's other side, Sirena's voice was demure as she introduced herself, "Sirena. That guy over there is Kol."

"Nathan," the man stared hungrily down at her lips.

"Claire," the girl squeaked. She was obviously not the dance club type and had been dragged out here by Nathan.

"Well, Nathan," Sirena got up onto her knees, leaning down to speak softly into his ear. "Does Claire know you like to come here to eyeball all the lovely ladies despite having her on your arm?"

Nathan's expression changed from complete interest in Sirena to utter confusion. "What the hell is this?"

He went to stand, but Sirena swung her leg around to straddle him, pushing him back against the couch. Claire leapt to her feet with a squeal, but Kol was in front of her in an instant, compelling her to sit still and do as Sirena said.

"Now, Nathan. Be a good boy and sit back and relax." Sirena leaned down to kiss him before saying, "Your girlfriend and I are going to have some fun." Pulling his head back, Sirena bit down into the left side of his neck just to puncture his skin. Pulling back, blood trickled down his neck, staining his baby blue shirt. Sirena's eyes fell to Claire. "Come on over here."

Doing as she was told, Claire scooted closer to Nathan and Sirena pulled her up to her knees. Her eyes were wide with fright as Sirena placed a hand on the back of her head, guiding her down to the holes in her boyfriend's neck.

"Drink," Sirena ordered, smiling as Claire began to suck down the blood. With a quick chuckle, Sirena bit down on his right side, drinking from him along with her.

Kol sat back in the armchair, amazed. This girl was amazing. He had to admit watching her force another girl to drink from her boyfriend with her was kind of hot. Sirena's head pulled back, looking up to the ceiling as she took a breath, the veins in her eyes subsiding as she wiped the remaining blood from her lips.

"You're done, Claire," she instructed. "He's dead."

The girl sat back on the couch, shaking from what she had just done.

Sirena moved to stand before Claire, helping her up and looking deep into her eyes. "You will not remember us, but you will remember what you did here today. He was a pig and deserved to die. Now go home and tell no one about what happened here."

With a quick nod, Claire hurried from the room without a second look back at Nathan's lifeless body. Rising from his seat, Kol clapped his hands. Making the girl remember drinking from her boyfriend until he was dead was a nice touch. "Nicely done, Sirena."

Sirena turned on him, not saying a word.

"I hope you will bring these games along with you for our return to Mystic Falls. It will make our time there so much more enjoyable. Now," he stepped in closer, "Let's go say hello to my big brother."

"Do you have any idea what I've been through?" Connor asked Shane, his voice dark. "I spent the last two days chained up by an original vampire."

"So you met Klaus?" Shane sounded excited, shifting as he sat back onto his desk. "I only know him by reputation. Apparently, he's a real monster."

"He's a vampire-werewolf hybrid," Connor snarled. "Do you know how hard it is to kill them?"

"From what I gather you have to remove their head or their heart," Shane replied, making a slicing gesture at his neck. That is, according to lore, I'm just speculating."

"I had to figure it out on my own," Connor stated incredulously. "I could've used some of this occult professor knowledge of yours. But then again, you always have been slow when it comes to providing answers. What about the Sterling girl?"

"You ran into her?"

"No, but Klaus seems quite taken with her." Connor began to pace around the office.

Shane laughed. "Funny how these things seem to play out."

"What's the deal with her? You said once that I may run into people after her, to kill them. Why?"

Ignoring Connor's question, Shane asked, "Is she with him now?"

"No, she was taken."

Shane's eyes grew wide. "By who?"

"I don't know. Now tell me why she's important!"

"We had a deal," Shane nodded forcefully.. "I'll give you answers about your hunter's mark when it's grown to completion. The same goes for answers about her, understand?"

"In other words, kill as many vampires as possible."

"Come on, Connor. Why do you think I sent you to Mystic Falls? There's no shortage of vampires. That town's practically infested." Connor shook his head and Shane paused before adding, "Listen, there's a witch mixed up in all this. She's important to what I have planned. I want her to be kept out of harm's way. Anybody gets in my way — anybody — they're dead."

Shane rolled his eyes. "Ok… Sure, I'll occupy her myself. Just do what you do. And the less I know about it, the better."

Connor grinned evilly, turning and heading out the door. He was ready to take out some vampires.

"How the hell did Connor escape?"

"I blame mind-numbing incompetence, but pointing fingers isn't going to help me. You're going to help me," Klaus told Stefan as he made his way from the dig site to be able to hear more clearly through the phone. Behind him, compelled workers dug away even through the night, their work lit up by large working lights lining the area.

"Well, he could be anywhere now," Stefan stated.

"Think, Stefan. He took the werewolf's head, which means he wants werewolf toxin."

"Which means he plans to stay in Mystic Falls to kill vampires," Stefan concluded.

"Which is a pity," Klaus interrupted him. "As I'm half the world away digging up a dead hunter, you'll have no access to my blood and therefore, the antidote. Nevertheless, his tattoo is our only map to the cure, so your task is quite simple — find him, catch him, and above all, keep him alive. He's no good to us dead."

"Damon's been looking everywhere for him. If they cross paths—"

"You need to keep Damon in check," Klaus warned.

"It would be a lot easier if I could just tell him the truth."

"You trust Damon with the cure?" Klaus scoffed. "I imagine he prefers Elena the way she is."

"Nice try, Klaus. But I trust Damon a hell of a lot more than I trust you."

"And I trust no one, which is why my sister is lying daggered in a box. The more who find out about the cure, the more that will go after it. Nations have gone to war over less. You mark my words — Tell one soul and I will throw the hunter's sword in the mediterranean and we can end this quest right now. Am I understood?"

Klaus was met by Stefan ending the call, making him smile. He knew Stefan would fall in line once he thought his chance at making Elena human again was threatened. Placing his phone back in his jacket pocket, he crossed his hands behind his back and began walking around the dig site. Keeping a sharp eye, he watched for any sign of Alexander's coffin.

Two more times Stefan called him about Connor. Apparently, he had Jeremy Gilbert, Matt Donovan and some girl he didn't know held hostage in the Mystic Grill. Must he handle everything… He made some calls hoping to get the problem resolved without having to take Connor out. Quite frankly, he didn't give a damn about the hostages, but unfortunately he knew Elena did. Therefore, if they died Elena or even Damon may end up killing Connor and well, Klaus couldn't have that.

"I've got it!"

Klaus turned toward the worker who had exclaimed from down below in the trenches. A smile spread across his lips. Strolling over to where the man stood over a plain wooden casket, he waited as the man slammed a crowbar into the side, prying the lid free. There he was — Alexander. His bones lay clutching to the very reason for this excavation. The hunter's sword was yanked from Alexander's casket, breaking a few bones on the way out, and handed up to Klaus. Brushing some dust off of the hilt, Klaus cocked his head to the side as he studied the familiar object. It had been centuries and yet he remembered thrusting the weapon into Alexander's chest like it was yesterday. He was sure Alexander would've cursed him with his last breath if it had not been for Klaus cutting out his tongue.

His phone rang from within his jacket. Shaking his head he cursed at the incompetence of those back in Mystic Falls. Couldn't they handle a simple hunter capture? But it wasn't Stefan, not Tyler, not Dean…. No, it was Declan.

Three simple words shone up at him in the dark, earning all of his attention. 'She's been sighted.'

"So what do we do now?" Mark leaned back onto the arm of the sofa in the living room of Declan's home. "Do we go get her?"

Declan leaned forward with one hand on the mantle of the fireplace, staring into the flames as he was deep in thought. His free hand pulled his phone from his pants pocket — nothing. He had messaged Klaus about Sirena, receiving a reply of 'I'll be right there', but that was nearly twelve hours ago. "She could be long gone by now."

"But if she's out there with that psycho then—"

Mark was interrupted by a knock at the door. Declan was there in a flash. "Klaus," he greeted as the hybrid stepped past him into the house.

"Let's waste no time with pleasantries, Declan. Where is she?"

"She was seen just outside of Atlanta." Declan closed the door and stepped over to the alcohol cabinet, pouring himself a drink.

"By who? How do they know who she is?"

"I have people out on the lookout for her. Some friends of mine that I have all over the Eastern side of the nation as well as some compelled law enforcement."

Klaus gave a nod of approval and helped himself to the bourbon. "And how was she?" Klaus asked, hiding his emotions in his voice.

"They didn't know. They said that she looked to be alright, but there's one thing you should know."

Klaus' face grew hard. "And what's that?"

"She wasn't alone. She was with… your brother."

"Kol," Klaus spat his name, swirling the bourbon around in his glass.

"Why on earth would she be with him though? That's what I want to know. Why wouldn't she just come home?" Mark shot.

"She could be scared to leave, compelled or—" Declan's voice trailed off, sharing a knowing glance with Klaus. "He could've made her switch off her humanity."

"What?" Mark asked, confused. "He can just do that?"

Klaus took a calming deep breath. "Of course he could. We're Originals. We can compel you lot to do pretty much anything. The only thing is, I know my brother. If that's the case and her humanity is off then he didn't do it nicely."

Declan's head hung, knowing Klaus was right. "We need to get her home, Klaus."

"You think I don't know that, Declan?!" Klaus fired, anger overcoming him. Many a time had his little brother pushed his buttons, but messing with Sirena was a new low for him. "Now, I'm going to go deal with a problem. You keep your contacts on the lookout. The second the inform you of her whereabouts, you message me and I will get to her in an instant. You understand?"

Declan stood his ground. Crossing his arms over his chest he stepped further into Klaus' personal space. "What makes you think I wouldn't rather go after her myself?"

Narrowing his eyes on him, Klaus brushed past him toward the door. Over his shoulder, he called, "Just do it, Declan."

Leaving Declan's, Klaus headed straight for Tyler Lockwood's in hopes of settling the issue with the hunter once and for all. Instead of finding the hunter he found the shelf, Hayley, and another hybrid drinking down their sorrows in the living room.

"Well, isn't this lovely?" Klaus announced his presence and he loved the way they both stiffened at the sight of him. "Where's Dean? I would love a moment with my hunter."

A thick silence filled the room as Hayley and the hybrid exchanged looks, neither one wanting to tell Klaus the bad news. It was Hayley that stepped forward. "The hunter is dead. Elena Gilbert killed him, but not before he killed our friend," she informed him, her words dripping with disdain.

Klaus' eyes pierced hers, hoping he hadn't heard her correctly. "Tell me you're joking."

Hayley merely shrugged, turning back to her bottle of vodka. Shaking his head, Klaus snatched a unopened bottle of whiskey from the end table nearby before storming out of the room. He leaves town for a couple days and everything goes to hell. Not only did he have to deal with the fact Connor was now dead and therefore the map to the cure was now gone, Klaus was also trying to wrap his mind around the fact that Sirena was out there with his sadistic brother doing God knows what. Before he knew it, he had downed half the bottle. It was then that he heard Tyler in the other room talking with his friends. Walking in just in time to see Hayley rub her finger on Tyler's bottom lip to wipe away some liquor before sucking it from her thumb.

"Well, don't let me interrupt." Klaus leaned against the door frame behind Tyler.

Tyler slowly turned to face him. "I didn't know you were here."

"Clearly," he shot at Tyler as he moved past him into the other room. Turning to face him once more, he added, "Thought I'd just pop 'round to celebrate Dean's successful retrieval of the vampire hunter. Yet when I arrived, I learned that not only was Dean unsuccessful, but that Elena had killed the hunter."

"Well, maybe if you had let Dean use force on Connor instead of sending him in on a suicide mission—" Hayley fired, but was quickly cut off.

"Maybe you should mind your business, wolf girl."

"What do you care if Connor's dead, anyway?" Tyler jumped in.

"I have my reasons." Klaus raised the bottle into the air, the brown liquid sloshing around. "They have ceased to matter." Klaus took a swig as Tyler headed off to answer a knock at the front door. Seeing the scene taking place before him as Caroline brought Tyler's stuff back over to him after what seemed to be a breakup, Klaus sat his bottle down and joined them at the front door. "Caroline," he greeted. "By the break-up drama unfolding before me, I assume you've met Hayley." Caroline simply looked uncomfortable and Klaus nodded. "All right, come on. Let's go," Klaus gestured to the hybrids. "Let's leave them alone. Your talents are needed elsewhere."

"For what?" Tyler asked.

"I think you've got more important things to deal with, mate," Klaus stated as he left behind his hybrids. Jumping into his black SUV he headed off to his next destination. Knowing of his past with The Five, he knew Stefan would be requiring his assistance. Pulling to a stop down the road from the doppelgänger's house, Klaus pulled out his phone, dialing Stefan.

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Well, I can't imagine why, what with you ruining all my plans for a hybrid-filled future."

"Well, it wouldn't have happened if you hadn't sworn me to secrecy," Stefan countered.

"Life is full of ifs, Stefan. Let's extenuate the positives, shall we? The hunter was one of five. We'll find another. It may take centuries, but we've got nothing but time, right?"

"You're using your calm voice today. Who's getting killed?" Stefan asked, which made Klaus smirk.

"Not you, if that's what you're worried about. But I am concerned about your beloved. Have the hallucinations started yet?"

"What do you know about that?"

"I'll tell you. Where are you?"

"I'm at her house."

"How convenient. So am I," Klaus smirked as he knocked on the Gilbert's door.

Stefan appeared at door almost instantly, pushing past Klaus to the porch.

"You know this would be a lot more civilized if I was just invited inside," Klaus pointed back at the door, joining Stefan on the sidewalk in front of the stairs.

"It's bad enough I'm out here talking to you. What do you know?"

"I killed the original five hunters, remember?" This caught Stefan's attention. "When one kills a hunter there's a bit of a consequence."

"What kind of consequence?"

"Hunters were spelled by witches to kill vampires. If you prevent one from fulfilling his destiny then he'll take you down with him."

"What do you mean? Connor's dead," Stefan said, confused.

"I mean, Connor's death won't prevent him from making Elena his final vampire kill." Stefan's jaw clenched, but he remained silent. "She'll need to come with me now. I'll lock her up; keep her away from any sharp, wooden objects."

Stefan shook his head. "She's not going anywhere with you."

"But if we leave her alone, she'll take her own life before the day is out."

"She's stronger than that," Stefan argued.

"Is she? Believe me, it's for her own good."

"No," Stefan stood his ground.

"Take this as me offering nicely. I have no intention of letting her die because of your stubbornness. And believe me, I have more important things I could be doing. Declan's men have seen Sirena. I could be out searching for her and yet here I am, tending to your doppelgänger once again."

The front door of the house burst open as Elena ran outside in a panic. Flashing over to her, Klaus rushed her out of there before either of the Salvatore's could do anything to stop him.

After locking Elena up in the windowless bedroom that had been intended for Finn, Klaus had left her under the watchful eye of his hybrids so that he could venture over to the Grill for some much needed drinks. He threw them back one by one. It had been a long day. Checking his phone, he was disappointed to see that he still had yet to receive anything from Declan. Maybe if Declan had compelled some more competent lookouts, they wouldn't have lost track of her. He needed to get her back. No matter how many hybrids he was surrounded by he still felt the painful pang of loneliness, but somehow it melted away whenever he was with her. He found it truly amazing that one girl could make such a difference. While he would never tell Stefan, he really didn't want the cure to revert Elena back to her human state. He wanted to find it to destroy it. The fact that there were those who would use it against him to see him destroyed wasn't lost on him. Lately, making more hybrids wasn't one of his priorities.

Even though he was deep in his thoughts, he was jerked from them as a familiar scent caught his attention. Whipping around, he searched the area for the source. Just seeing a mass of dining Mystic Falls residents, he jumped down from his seat, following the scent until it led him outside into the alleyway. The moon shone brightly overhead, but the walls of the neighboring building blocked it, creating shadows all around. Deciding it was nothing, Klaus gave a frustrated sigh and blamed it on the booze. Just as he turned back toward the door, something slammed into him hard, knocking him back toward the brick wall. He reacted instantly, grabbing onto his attacker and spinning them around to press them back against the wall. Ready to rip someone apart, Klaus' eyes grew wide in surprise as they stared back into the bright blues he had often got lost in. Sirena smiled mischievously back at him. "Miss me?"

Reviews please! :)

How do you think Klaus will take non-humanity Sirena?