Chapter 3
I do not own The Vampire Diaries in any way.
A/N-First time I've hit 2,000 words on a chapter! Yay!
It was night when we reached our next destination.
I got out of the car and said, "Thank god".
"Welcome back to Chicago, Stefan", Klaus said.
"We're in Chicago?" I asked, "I've always wanted to come here".
"What are we doing here?" Stefan asked.
"I know how much you loved it here. Bringing back memories of the good old ripper days?" Klaus asked.
"Blacked out most of them. A lot of blood, a lot of partying. The details are all a blur", Stefan said.
"Well, that is a crying shame. The details are what makes it legend", Klaus said, "Word was the ripper of Monterrey got lonely, so he escaped to the city for comfort. It was prohibition. Everything was off limits then, which made everything so much fun. Chicago was magical".
"Yeah, well, I'll take your word for it. Like I said, I don't remember most of it", Stefan said.
"Wish I could've seen it", I said.
"You would've loved it", Klaus said running his hands down my bear arms, "Going to get down to business, then?"
"Why am I still with you? We had our fun, your hybrids failed. I mean, don't you want to move on?" Stefan asked.
"We're going to see my favorite witch. If anyone can help us with our hybrid problem, it's her", Klaus said.
Stefan and I looked at each other and then followed Klaus.
He led us to a bar. "Looks familiar, doesn't it?" Klaus asked.
"I can't believe this place is still here", Stefan said.
"So this place like used to be a speakeasy?" I asked.
"Precisely", Klaus said.
"You got to be kidding me", a woman said.
Klaus smiled and said, "So a hybrid walks into a bar, says to the bartender..."
"Stop. You may be invincible, but that doesn't make you funny", the woman said. She looked at Stefan. "I remember you", she said.
"Yeah. You're Gloria. Shouldn't you be…" Stefan said.
"Old and dead? Now if I die, who's going to run this place, huh?" Gloria asked, "As you young thing, you must be Emilia Salvatore. Stefan talked about you non-stop".
I looked at Klaus.
"Gloria's a very powerful witch", Klaus explained.
"I can slow the aging down some. Herbs and spells. But don't worry; it'll catch up to me one day", Gloria said.
"Stefan, why don't you go and fix us up a little something from behind the bar?" Klaus asked.
"Yeah, sure thing", Stefan said going over to the bar.
Klaus looked at Gloria. "You look ravishing, by the way", he said.
"Don't. I know why you're here. A hybrid out to make more hybrids? That kind of news travels", Gloria said.
"So what am I doing wrong? I broke the curse", Klaus said.
"Obviously you did something wrong. Look, every spell has a loophole, but a curse that old... We'd have to contact the witch who created it", Gloria said.
"Well, that would be the original witch. She's very dead", Klaus said.
"I know. And for me to contact her, I'll need help. Bring me Rebekah", Gloria said.
My ears perked up. I had heard of Rebekah before.
"Rebekah. Rebekah is a bit preoccupied", Klaus said.
"She has what I need. Bring her to me", Gloria said.
"What is this?" Stefan asked holding a picture.
"Well, I told you, Stefan. Chicago's a magical place", Klaus said.
"But this is me. With you", Stefan said, "This doesn't make any sense. Why don't I remember you?"
"You said it yourself, that time had a lot of dark holes", Klaus said.
"No, if you knew me, then why haven't you said anything?" Stefan asked.
"I'm a little busy right now. Memory Lane will have to wait", Klaus said.
"What the hell is going on? Answer me", Stefan demanded.
"Let's just say we didn't get off to a brilliant start. To be honest, I hated you", Klaus explained.
I smiled.
He started to tell a story. When he finished, Stefan was shocked.
"Your sister. So I knew another original vampire", Stefan said.
"If you can't handle it, then don't ask", Klaus snapped.
I looked at all the coffins. I walked over to one and raised the top.
"Don't even think about it", Klaus said.
I swept Elijah's hair back and kissed his forehead. "I miss you", I whispered softly, a tear running down my face. I closed it and walked over to Klaus.
He smiled and touched Rebekah's face.
"I don't recognize her", Stefan said.
"Well, don't tell her that. Rebekah's temper is worse than mine", Klaus said. He took the dagger out of her chest and said, "Time to wake up, little sister. Any day now, Rebekah". He looked at Stefan. "She's being dramatic", Klaus said.
"Look, why don't you just tell me what the hell is going on? I mean, you obviously want me here for a reason, right?" Stefan asked.
"Well, you have many useful talents", Klaus said.
"Do I?" Stefan asked.
"In fact, I learned some of my favorite tricks from you", Klaus said.
"I was your number one fan", Klaus said.
"Why should I believe any of this?" Stefan asked.
"When she wakes up, tell her to meet us at Gloria's bar. Then volunteer your carotid artery and let her feed until you die", Klaus said compelling a man.
"Where are you going?" Stefan asked.
"You think I'm lying, Stefan. You and I knew each other. You trusted me with one of your secrets and now I'm going to prove it to you", Klaus said.
"How?" Stefan asked.
"We're going to your old apartment", Klaus said.
When we got to Stefan's old apartment, we noticed the lock had been broken.
Klaus kicked the door open and we entered the apartment. "What a charming little homestead. Do you feel that? Is anybody here?" Klaus asked.
"It's been vacant for decades. People must break in all the time. Why'd you bring me here?" Stefan asked.
"Your friend, Liam Grant, the one who drank his wife's blood... I never could figure out why you wanted his name. And then you told me your little secret. It was all part of your special little ritual", Klaus said.
"To write it down", Stefan said.
"And relive the kill... Over and over again", Klaus said.
"Even I'm not that sick", I said.
Stefan glared at me.
Klaus opened a hidden door. "You believe me now?" Klaus asked.
"Look what I found", Stefan said handing a bottle to Klaus, "1918. Single malt".
"My favorite. Let's go and find someone to pair it with", Klaus said.
My nose crinkled in disgust. I preferred wine over whiskey.
We made our way back to Gloria's bar. Gloria handed the boys two beers.
"Please tell me you have some type of wine", I said.
"Honey, this is a bar", she said.
"Red wine then", I said.
She handed me a glass of red wine.
I sipped and thought how good it would taste with some blood in it.
"Where's Rebekah?" Gloria asked.
"She'll be here. I can't just conjure her on demand", Klaus said. He looked at Stefan. "What's with you? I thought Chicago was your playground", Klaus said.
"So this is why you asked me to be your wing-man? Because you liked the way that I tortured innocent people?" Stefan asked.
"Well, that's certainly half of it", Klaus said.
"What's the other half?" Stefan asked.
"The other half, Stefan, is that you used to want to be my wing-man", Klaus said. He launched into another story. He raised his shot glass and said, "To friendship".
"So I'm confused. If we were such great friends, then why do I only know you as the psycho hybrid who sacrificed my girlfriend on an altar of fire?" Stefan asked.
"All good things must come to an end", Klaus said. He then explained how he had compelled Stefan to forget him and Rebekah.
"You compelled me to forget?" Stefan asked.
"It was time for Rebekah and I to move on. Better to have a clean slate", Klaus said.
"But why? You shouldn't have to cover your tracks... Unless you're running from someone", Stefan said.
"Story time's over", Klaus said.
Stefan turned his head and we saw Damon. Stefan looked at Klaus and I. "I need another drink. A real one", Stefan said. Stefan left the bar and went outside.
A minute later, Damon sat down at the bar.
"I see they've opened the doors to the riff raff now", Klaus said.
"Oh, honey, I've been called worse", Damon said.
"You don't give up, do you?" Klaus asked.
"Give me my brother back... You'll never have to see me again", Damon said.
I snorted.
"Well, I am torn. You see, I promised Stefan I wouldn't let you die, but how many freebies did I really sign up for? And clearly you want to die, otherwise you wouldn't be here, so..." Klaus said.
"What can I say? I'm a thrill seeker", Damon said.
Klaus started strangling Damon.
"Klaus stop it!" I yelled.
"Stay out of this Emilia", Klaus snapped. He started to raise Damon off the ground and stabbing him with a toothpick.
"Stop!" I yelled.
Klaus grabbed me and threw me across the room.
I landed on the stage. I struggled to get up.
"Oh, dear, what was that? I'm a little boozy, so you'll forgive me if I miss your heart the first few tries", Klaus said. He stabbed Damon again. "Ohh! No, that's not it. Hmm", Klaus said. He stabbed Damon again. "Ohh. Almost", Klaus said.
"You want a partner in crime? Forget Stefan. I'm so much more fun", Damon said.
"You won't be any fun after you're dead", Klaus said.
"No!" I yelled.
Klaus pushed him on the ground and got ready to stake Damon, but Gloria burned the stake with her powers. "Really?" Klaus asked.
"Not in my bar. You take it outside", Gloria said.
Klaus looked at Damon. "You don't have to negotiate your brother's freedom. When I'm done with him, he won't want to go back", Klaus said.
Damon left the bar and Klaus walked over to me.
Blood was dripping from my nose.
"I'm sorry", he said.
"Get off of me Klaus", I growled. I got up and wobbled back and forth on my feet.
We went back to the coffins.
Rebekah's was empty and the man was dead.
"Rebekah... It's your big brother. Come out, come out, wherever you are", Klaus called.
She stabbed him with the dagger. "Go to hell, Nik!" she said.
Klaus took the dagger out of his chest and threw it on the ground. "Don't pout. You knew it wouldn't kill me", Klaus said.
"Yeah, but I was hoping it would hurt more", she said.
"I understand that you're upset with me, Rebekah... So I'm going to let that go. Just this once. Brought you a little peace offering. You can come in", Klaus said.
Stefan entered the room.
I sat on Elijah's coffin.
"Stefan..." Rebekah said.
Klaus got closer to him. "Now you remember", Klaus said compelling Stefan.
"Rebekah", Stefan said.
"Stefan", Klaus said.
"Emilia", I said.
Klaus looked at me and rolled his eyes.
"I remember you. We were friends", Stefan said looking at Klaus and Rebekah.
"We are friends", Klaus said. He looked at Rebekah. "And now the reason you're here. Gloria tells me you know how to contact the original witch", he said.
"The original witch?" Rebekah asked.
"What do you have that Gloria needs?" Klaus asked.
She touched her neck. "Where's my necklace? What did you do with it? I never take it off!" she yelled.
"I don't know. I didn't touch it", Klaus said.
"We need to find it, Nik. Now, I want it back!" Rebekah yelled.
"Tell me that's not what she needs, Rebekah!" Klaus demanded.
She looked in the coffin and threw it on the ground.
Stefan and I looked at each other.
We knew exactly where it was.
It was around Elena's neck.