Altered, Chapter 4: Madness
Disclaimer: The characters and other things from The Vampire Diaries don't belong to me. Credit goes to the rightful owners.
Elena looked over her shoulder, checking again if someone followed her. When she was sure she was alone, she ducked into an alley and through the backdoor of an old abandoned building.
"Took you long enough." Katherine said from the shadows. "I was beginning to think you finally got a clue and ran like hell out of this town."
Elena stepped forward and faced off with Katherine in the middle of the room. "Of course not. I wouldn't be stupid enough to make the same mistakes you did. It's not as if running got you anywhere because last I checked you're still bargaining with Klaus for your freedom. On the other hand, I intend to end things and fight to keep people I love or die trying."
"Well, I can certainly see you dying for it, that much I assure you. I see turning into a vampire also enhanced your lack of self-preservation," Katherine said with a smirk. "Obviously, you're no longer unfeeling as everyone believes you to be. I must say I'm impressed. I didn't think you could act so well or is this really the new you, Elena? Being a bitch suits you."
"Don't act so surprised, Katherine, it runs in our blood after all," Elena said, "I don't see how that's relevant to this."
"On the contrary, it has everything to do with what we are about to set in motion, Elena," Katherine said circling Elena, "See, I can't have you suddenly weepy if in case we have a fatality. I've never played on the losing side and I'm not about to start now."
"You talk too much, Katherine," Elena said, "Don't worry. If you drop dead, I promise I won't care. We don't have time for this. Did Klaus agree?"
"Of course," Katherine said as she rolled her eyes, "I'll give it to him later. He's so far gone in love with the cheerleader that he doesn't realize what he's gotten himself into. I assume you've got Elijah where we need him to be?"
Elena looked to her left to address the newcomer, "Rebekah?"
The original vampire held up the sword, "Present." Rebekah looked at Elena and Katherine and shrugged, "I really don't see why you've got so many boys drooling over that face, very average."
"For such an ancient creature, you take dumb blonde to a whole new level," Katherine said.
Rebekah's hand shot out to grip Katherine by the neck, "How about I rid the world of one evil manipulative bitch today? Elena's caught up with you on scheming, Katerina, so I think we can afford the loss."
"Put her down," Elena said, "We need her."
Rebekah tightened her hold as Katherine struggled, "Actually, I don't. I can simply take the cure from her and leave this entire town to burn."
"And let your brothers die with it?" Elena pointed out. "If you become human, can you imagine the guilt that will come with knowing you did something to kill your only remaining family? You won't be a vampire who can turn off her emotions at will, Rebekah. I'd think twice about that plan if I were you."
Rebekah growled but dropped Katherine hard against the cement floor. "Make no mistake, Katerina, one false move and I will end you, this entire town be damned. You should watch your back."
Rebekah turned to Elena, "Elijah is on his way to Caroline's house so let's get a move on. What in the world are we waiting for? We've got everything, haven't we?"
"Not quite," Elena said, "We still don't know if Klaus is capable of making that kind of a sacrifice. Katherine here is only second to him in selfishness."
"No, pretty sure I'm now on top of that list." Katherine answered, her voice unexpectedly soft as she held the cure against the light, "I'm the only one left without someone to save other than myself. Didn't expect that ancient immortals would fall for the same girl, one who wants to kill her and another who wants to save her. Now here we all are. Let the games begin."
"You're still here?" Caroline exclaimed incredulously as she went into the living room and found Klaus standing by the window.
"You've said that already." Klaus replied without turning, "Should I take it as a good sign that you're unable to formulate coherent thoughts around me? People often get flustered around people they are attracted to."
"You're way off base, mister," Caroline said as she moved to stand next to him, "My question was one of complete disbelief over the fact that you can't seem to get the message that you're not exactly welcome here. I don't need a bodyguard. I'm a vampire. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself, thank you very much."
"Right," Klaus said, the corner of his lips turning up slightly as he spoke, "Of course. Remind me again how you plan on not getting killed by Silas? I hardly think batting your eyelashes will work with him."
"Seems to work with you," Caroline muttered under her breath.
Klaus tried to hide his smile as he looked at her reflection on the glass, "I heard that, Caroline."
"I know," Caroline said as she looked outside, her eyes bright even as she kept her lips in a tight line, "Now, what exactly are we waiting for?"
"Not what," Klaus said as a lone figure appeared as if out of nowhere, "Who."
"Is that Elijah?" Caroline asked, her eyes widening at the sight of the bruised and bloodied vampire, "What happened to him?"
Klaus ignored Caroline and opened the front door, "You better have good news this time, brother, or I might just shoot the messenger."
"Klaus!" Caroline said disapprovingly, as she took Elijah by the arm and led him through the hallway, "Seriously. Tone down the evil villain mode and help me get your brother to a chair."
Klaus growled impatiently but took Elijah from Caroline and guided him to the couch. "Happy? Should I make him some tea? Wrap a blanket around him?"
"That's your thing, isn't it?" Caroline said, "You do something nice and it throws you off that you have to compensate by behaving badly."
"Be glad I'm choosing sarcasm over blind rage," Klaus said, "Elijah, will you please assure Caroline that you are on the mend and have actually uncovered useful information against Silas?"
Elijah opened his mouth but he was gripped in a coughing fit and blood dribbled from the side of his lips. Caroline looked at Klaus in alarm as Elijah doubled over and vomited blood all over the floor.
"Get help, Caroline," Klaus said firmly.
"Who? I don't—" Caroline said frantically.
"Anyone, dammit, call anyone. Stefan, Damon, just call someone!" Klaus yelled as he tried to straighten out Elijah.
"What the hell is going on?" Klaus muttered as he watched helplessly as Elijah moaned in pain, blood gushing from him in a continuous torrent. From the corner of his mind he was aware that Caroline was making frantic gestures as she spoke to someone on the phone. He couldn't even bother to decipher who owned the voice that assured her they were on the way. All he could see was red. Blood, blood, blood.
Elijah shuddered as he heaved, fighting to speak through the ordeal. He swallowed thickly as he gripped Klaus by the shoulders, "Caroline…she's…she's…Silas…he believes it's her…listen…Qetsiyah created the veil to the other side using the blood of the woman Silas loved …one last death to undo it…Caroline...she's a descendant…the cure…he wants her to…take…then sacrifice…"
"You're wrong, Elijah, " Klaus said with a hollow voice, "Silas wants the cure for himself to cross over when he finally dies. What use will it be for him if Caroline takes it? Why not the blood of her mother?"
"No..Niklaus...It's too late. Qetsiyah…" Elijah got out before he doubled over again, his face ashen as more blood came out, "the witch made it almost impossible…but…but Silas figured out a way to be with…Bonnie managed to start the ritual before…part of Isadora is already…her soul…Caroline…Silas…will bring her here…Caroline…"
Elijah fell limp against Klaus' arms, completely drained of blood, his eyes glassy and lifeless even as blood red tears fell from them. Klaus held his brother tight against his chest as he lifted his face in a silent scream. He shook violently with anger, barely noticing the arms that encircled him, the tears that fell with his and the voice that kept repeating that it was going to be okay, that he wasn't alone, not anymore.
It was a while before Klaus finally stood up and laid his brother on the table, cleaned him up and then sat before the body with disturbing calm.
Caroline eyed him as he moved around until he settled into a chair. She simply sat next to him and waited, unsure what was to come next.
"To live an immortal life beside him on this earth," Klaus said in a low voice, "That's Silas' plan for you."
"Makes me wish for the days when you were our biggest problem," Caroline said with a small smile.
"Caroline!"
The familiar voice shattered the quiet of the house and caused Caroline to jump. It was a voice that called to her in dreams and she could barely believe it was real.
She threw open the door and was about to rush outside when Klaus' arm went around her waist, pulling her back towards him.
"Let me go!" Caroline said as she struggled against Klaus, "I said—"
"Your boyfriend is a traitor but he's not a complete idiot," Klaus said through gritted teeth as Caroline continued to try and break his hold, "He wouldn't just show up here."
"Caroline, I heard what happened and I came as fast as I could. Put her down, Klaus," Tyler said, a low growl sounding from his throat.
"Make me." Klaus said evenly, his eyes narrowed down to slits.
Tyler balled up his fists but stayed in place, "I said let her go."
"Come and get her." Klaus said.
"Tyler?" Caroline said hesitating when she saw Tyler could not get through the door, "Why can't he—?"
"The house is sealed against him," Klaus said as he loosened his grip but still kept his arm around her, "because that is not Tyler Lockwood. Hello, Silas."
Silas threw up his hands and smiled, "I didn't think you'd recognize me. I do hope you like this appearance better. My powers are much more compatible with this body. It's very young, I should say."
"Tyler Lockwood is a hybrid of my creation," Klaus said, "He was never a match for me and if you stay in there, I guarantee you I will find a way to end you."
"I don't take kindly to empty threats, Niklaus." Silas said calmly, "But I'm willing to overlook your arrogance and maybe even welcome you into my army when I ascend into power, if you return what is mine."
Klaus pushed Caroline gently behind him, placing himself between her and Silas, "I'd tell you to go to hell but we both know even that place won't take you."
"Give me the girl."
"I don't see why I should." Klaus said evenly.
"You have something I want and I have someone she would want to protect," Silas said stepping aside to show Bonnie with Caroline's mother, who was unconscious and floating a foot off the ground, clearly under a spell.
"Mom!" Caroline said moving towards the door but Klaus held an arm out and kept her firmly behind him, "Bonnie, what are you doing? Let my mom go!"
"Come willingly, Caroline, and she will not be harmed," Silas said, "I'll be waiting."
The door slammed shut and the force threw Klaus and Caroline back a few steps.
"I have to go, my mother and Tyler…" Caroline said frantically, "I have to—"
"You need to calm down and think." Klaus said, "You cannot go charging out there into certain death. I will not allow it."
"You have no right to tell me what to do!" Caroline said, exploding, "That is my mother. She's in trouble. I have to do whatever it is I can to save her. And that…that Silas invaded Tyler's body, not to mention he's got my best friend under some sort of mind control to do his bidding. I have to do something now!"
"And then you get killed, Silas wins and brings every evil creature ever created and your mother dies in their hands just the same." Klaus pointed out, as he held her by the arms, "Sit the hell down, Caroline, and think for a minute before damning the entire world."
"I don't care about the big picture, Klaus," Caroline spat out, "I need to get my mother back. This is who I am, okay? I'm selfish and right now I want my mother safe here at home, my boyfriend in control of his body and my best friend to stop acting like some damn puppet on a string. I'm sorry if I'm not like you. I can't switch off my feelings about my family when it serves my grand master plan to get whatever I want."
Klaus turned her around to face Elijah's still body, "There are times when you have to do it because it might just be what will save them. You're not the only one who is broken, Caroline. I know that it guts you that Silas has something over you. But if you want to defeat him then you're going to have to sit down and take this hit. We will figure this out and until we do, you will stay put. We will get her back, I give you my word."
Klaus went around, tucked a stray stand of hair behind her ear and held her eyes with his, waiting until the madness left them before letting her go. But the small distance between them collapsed in the next second when Caroline fell to her knees, helpless tears falling from her eyes as she wrapped her arms around herself.
Klaus sat down on the floor and gathered her in his arms. He held her in silence; his heart twisting as she cried out for the people she wanted beside her, for the loss the feared was inevitable. He held her as she ran out of tears and small hiccups shook her body. He held her until her body calmed and became still.
"You're still here." Caroline whispered as she closed her eyes and leaned against his chest.
Klaus rested his chin on the top of her head and closed his eyes as well, "I don't have anything else to do. I can't think of anywhere I have to be."
"Good." Caroline said, her voice shaking, as she held on tighter, "Because I need to ask…I need you to stay. Please."
"I'm not going anywhere," Klaus answered hoarsely, "I'll be right here. I promise."