End And Beginnings
Chapter Four - Working Together
Klaus fluttered his eyelashes as he woke up, smiling as he felt the warmth covering his chest, "Morning Caroline." He basked in the feel of her warmth, last nights dream replaying in his head, he talked to Caroline, he held her and kissed her. Klaus shivered as he remembered the soft touch of her lips. Klaus smirked as he sat up, he got some clothes out of his dresser and made his way to the bathroom. He showered and got dressed before returning to his room, he picked up his cell phone and made a call.
"Hello?"
"Elijah." Klaus greeted.
"Niklaus," Elijah was surprised to hear from him, "what has you calling? I have not heard from you since our brothers untimely death."
"I have something I need you to do for me." Klaus replied.
"And that is?" Elijah asked intrigued, it was not often his brother asked him for anything, not since before Katerina.
"I need you to call every witch you know," Klaus answered, "only those that you know are proficient, I have no time for amateurs."
"What spell do you need Niklaus? I do not believe there is a spell for making Hybrids without Elena's blood."
"Do not mention her name to me again!" Klaus raged at hearing her name, after killing Caroline he will take every drop of her blood and pour it down the drain as she watches.
"What has happened brother?" Elijah asked, wondering what could have happened to have his brother rage at the mention of Elena's name.
"Beside her helping to kill Kol?" Klaus took a pained breath before saying, "She killed Caroline."
"Caroline?" Elijah searched his memory until he recalled bright eyes and blonde curls, "Caroline Forbes? The girl you obsess over? Why would El...the doppelganger kill one of her friends?"
"Caroline is more than an obsession Elijah, she's the woman I love." Klaus confessed, missing the times he used to be able to talk to his brother, before Elijah betrayed him, "As for the doppelganger, she turned her emotions off after Katerina killed her brother. Although that will not protect her from my wrath, she killed my girl and that is an unforgivable act."
Elijah took a minute to process that Elena's emotions were off and she killed her best friend. He was also having a hard time believing that Niklaus was in love, "Love brother? Was it not you who told me that love is a vampires greatest weakness? That we do not feel and we do not care. What has changed you?"
Klaus shook his head at his younger selfs naivete as Elijah repeated his own words back to him, "What changed me Elijah?" He went over to Caroline's coffin and looked down at her, "Caroline did. I no longer believe love is a weakness, in fact I believe it gives you strength. Makes us stronger."
Elijah was stunned at Niklaus's change of attitude, can it be that one baby vampire succeeded where himself and Rebekah had failed. "Forgive me for my silence brother, I just never expected you of all people to be in love." Elijah became solemn as he recalled the reason for the phone call, the woman his brother loved was dead, "Now the one you love is gone. I assume you want a witch to bring her back."
"You assume correctly," Klaus comfirmed, "tell the witches that I will do anything, pay any price to bring her back to me."
"Is that wise brother? To let witches know that you have a weakness." Elijah warned his brother.
"I do not care Elijah!" Klaus growled, anger coursing through his veins, "I've waited a thousand years to find my mate and I will not let power hungry witches stop me from saving her." He clenched his hands in to fists at the thought of them crossing him, "I will kill everyone they've ever met before killing them slowly and painfully if they dare to cross me."
"Relax Niklaus," Elijah soothed his brother, "I will first ask my most trusted witches and I shall make known to them that you are not to be crossed."
"Thank you Elijah," Klaus sighed in relief, if he could trust anyone to get the witches help it was Elijah; moral and dangerous, a deadly combination, "I will utilise the Bennett witch here, she has an extensive collection of grimoires she got from your warlock I believe."
"Yes, Jonas was quite the collector," Elijah remembered the Martins well, all of them are now dead, "it will serve you well brother, if there is anything to be found it could well be in there."
"I will start there." Klaus heard a knock at the door, "I have to go, Stefan and Bonnie have arrived."
"I will call if I find anything out. Good luck." Elijah said then hung up.
Putting his phone in his pocket Klaus made his way downstairs and answered the door, "Good morning."
"Klaus." Stefan greeted Klaus as he stepped inside, "Where is Caroline?"
"Safe." Klaus led them inside, "Can I offer you a drink."
"No." Stefan declined.
"I'm not here to drink with you Klaus," Bonnie glared at Klaus, "I'm here to help Caroline."
"Very well." Klaus smirked pouring himself a drink then taking a seat, "Though there's no need for hostility, I wasn't the one who killed her after all, that was your friend."
Bonnie clenched her teeth in anger, still wrapping her head around the fact that Elena killed Caroline, "What do you want us to do?"
"It's quite simple really," Klaus took a drink before continuing, "I want you to search through every grimoire you have until we find the spell we need."
"Do you really think it will be that simple?" Bonnie asked sceptical.
"Well it's not going to happen if we just sit here twiddling our thumbs."
"Enough bickering." Stefan scolded, "Klaus, you want us to search through the grimoires, we can do that. What of other witches? Are you asking others as well."
"I've already got someone I trust on that. Meanwhile, where shall we view your collection Bonnie? Here? Or your house? Choice is yours." Klaus lounged back as he awaited Bonnie's answer.
"They're not at my house." Bonnie was glad they weren't at her house as she did not want to invite a murderous Original Hybrid in to her home.
"Where are they then?"
Bonnie rolled her eyes, "They're at the witches place where we kept your coffins. So our options are we can all go there to look through them or Stefan and I bring all the books here."
"That about sums it up." Klaus raised his eyebrow, "So, what shall it be, my place or your witches?"
"The witches place." Bonnie huffed and got up, "Don't blame me if they give you an aneurysm. Coming?" she marched towards the door.
Klaus chuckled and followed her outside, "Don't worry about them, the last time they tried it I threatened to kill all their living descendants." Klaus smirked, "They won't be a problem."
"I have no clue what Caroline sees in you." Bonnie entered her car, waited for Klaus and Stefan to get in then drove towards the witches place. A short while later they arrived, getting out Bonnie went to the door and opened it, turning around she pointed where to go to Klaus, "Follow me, they're in the basement."
"Lead the way." Klaus followed behind Bonnie until they reached the basement, looking around he nodded in appreciation, "Quite the collection. We should hopefully find what we're looking for."
"Let's hope so," Bonnie gestured to the left wall, "I'll start on these," she pointed to the right wall, "Klaus you read them and Stefan you start on them." She pointed to the middle wall, before picking up several books and sitting on the floor.
Stefan was about to pick up some books when he had a thought, Liz! She was going to come back for Caroline. And Matt, I need to tell him. "Bonnie?" She looked up at him, "I need to tell Caroline's mom about where she is and I need to break the news to Matt."
"Oh god Matt," Bonnie was horrified that she forgot about telling him, "it never crossed my mind."
"I only just remembered, we've been a bit preoccupied." Stefan tried to reassure her, even though he felt just as bad, "I best go tell them." He turned to leave.
"Stefan?" Bonnie called tears in her voice, "Please don't tell Matt over the phone. He loved Caroline, he deserves to hear it in person."
"I promise." Stefan went outside, taking out his phone he dialled Sheriff Forbes.
"Stefan? Has something happened?" Liz asked, her voice was thick with tears.
"I called to tell you that Caroline isn't at my home anymore." Stefan really didn't know how to tell her everything gently, so he decided to just tell her the truth.
"What? Why? Where is she?"
"Caroline is at Klaus's mansion, he had Bonnie place a preservation spell on her body," Stefan hesitated a moment before continuing, "we are going to search for a way to bring her back."
Liz was shocked at what Stefan said, "Can you do it? Bring her back?"
"I don't know," Stefan rubbed the back of his neck then sighed, "it wouldn't be the first time someone has come back from the dead in this town."
"Klaus is helping you?"
"Actually, it was his idea."
Liz took a breath as his words sunk in, "He really does love her, doesn't he?"
"Yes." Stefan was in no doubt of Klaus's feelings after his reaction to Caroline's death. The most powerful being in existence brought to his knees by her dead body.
Wow. The most powerful creature on Earth is in love with my daughter, Liz was bemused at the thought, "Is their anything I can do to help?"
"The best thing you can do to help is come up with something to explain Caroline's absence." Stefan did not want anyone to find out about Caroline's death because if they succeeded in bringing her back, there would be no explanation for it.
Liz racked her brain for a plausible excuse when she remembered, Bill died and Caroline didn't visit his partner, "I've thought of something. I'll say Caroline has gone to visit Bill's partner Stephen before her graduation."
"That will be perfect." Stefan agreed with Liz's suggestion, that should allow them the time to bring Caroline back, "Tell who you need to tell and I'll keep you posted on our progress."
"I will." Liz felt hope fill her that her baby could come back, still wanting to do something she asked Stefan one more time, "Are you sure there's nothing I can help with Stefan?"
"I'm sure. We have a thousand year old Hybrid and a very powerful witch looking for the spell." Stefan tried to reassure her that they had it under control, "Trust me, they won't stop until they find it."
"Okay," Liz sighed in defeat, "I'm leaving my daughter in your hands."
"You will not regret it. Nothing means more to me than to have her back, I will not rest until that happens." Stefan promised, he needed his best friend back, Caroline had been gone a day and he already missed her like crazy.
"I know you will. Goodbye." Liz hung up and immediately started on her task of letting people know that Caroline was out of town visiting Stephen.
Stefan took a deep breath before making his next phone call, "Matt it's Stefan. Are you working today?"
"I'm working tonight, why?" Matt answered.
"Can you meet me at the boarding house? It's important." Stefan hoped he would as he didn't want to relay this news over the phone and he promised Bonnie he wouldn't.
"Yeah man sure," Matt replied, wondering what was going on, "I'll see you there soon." Then he hung up.
Stefan put his cell in his pocket and ran back to his house, hoping that the run would clear his head. Arriving he waited outside for Matt's arrival. Sooner than he'd like he saw Matt pull up, as he came over Stefan tried to smile at him, "Hey Matt, thanks for coming."
"No problem. So what's going on?" Matt asked coming to stand before Stefan.
"Let's go inside." Stefan led Matt inside, bypassing the couch he sat in one of the armchairs and Matt sat in the other.
"Seriously man, you are starting to freak me out," Matt said concerned, "what is going on?"
Stefan hesitated for a minute before he felt warmth engulf his hand, he almost sagged in relief as Caroline made her prescence known, thank god she's here, smiling down at his hand briefly he addressed Matt, "Something happened last night."
"It's okay Stefan," Caroline covered Stefan's hand with hers as she saw his struggles, "I'm right here with you." She hated that they were going to tell Matt as he'd already had so much sadness in his life, but on the other hand she knew how betrayed he would feel if they didn't tell him. She silently watched as Stefan told Matt that she was dead.
"You know that Elena has been ruthless without her humanity?" Seeing Matt's nod Stefan continued, "Yesterday she had it out for Caroline all day. At cheerleading competition, Elena purposely didn't catch Caroline after she called her out for feeding on the competition. Then when she threw that party she became jealous as Caroline and I danced together."
"Okay?" Matt was confused at Stefan's seriousness, he's acting like someone died, "While that's bad, it's just another reason to get Elena's humanity back as soon as we can." Matt crinkled his brow as he stared at Stefan, "That doesn't explain why you're so serious."
"There's more," Stefan took a breath to prepare himself, "Elena tried to kill Caroline's mom at the party, then she kidnapped her. Caroline and I went after her, we split up looking for her," Stefan clenched his hands as he prepared to say his next words, "Caroline and Elena were fighting, I tried to get there as quick as I could but I was too late."
"Too late for what?" Matt couldn't believe Elena had tried to kill Sheriff Forbes, how could turning off your humanity change a person so much?
"Too late to save Caroline." Stefan felt tears fill his eyes again as his voice cracked, "Elena staked her."
"No." Matt's eyes filled with tears, "No. No. Caroline's not dead. She's not dead. Elena wouldn't do that." The tears fell down his cheeks, "It can't be."
"Oh Matt." Caroline cried as she went over and sat down next to him. She wished with all her heart that she could take him in her arms to comfort him. Matt was the first boy that she'd ever loved and some part of her would always love him.
"Why are you just telling me now?" Matt exploded glaring at Stefan, "Am I not important enough to know because I'm a human? I've known her a hell of a lot longer than you." Suddenly a strange warmth covered his shoulders, what the hell is that?
Caroline couldn't stand Matt's pain anymore, hearing him wonder why he wasn't told and was it because he was human shattered her heart. Sobbing she wrapped her arm around Matt's shoulder, trying to ease his hurt.
"I'm so sorry Matt, it's wasn't anything like that." Stefan couldn't stand that he'd hurt Matt, the only one of then still innocent, still human, "A lot happened last night. I brought Caroline back to mine, I called her Mom to come over and broke the news to her. After she left Klaus came and..."
"Wait. Klaus?" Matt interrupted Stefan, "You told Klaus before you told me!"
"No Matt. Klaus came over to talk to me, I tried to get him to leave but you know you can't tell Klaus to do anything he doesn't want to do, he came in and ssw her." Stefan explained to Matt, "You know how he feels about her, do you think I had any chance of getting him to leave her alone?"
Matt still felt angry but mostly he felt sadness creeping in, Caroline was gone and yet again he's lost someone he loved, "I want to see her. Where is she?"
Stefan groaned, "She's not here Matt. She's at Klaus's mansion."
"You just let him take her? We'll never see her again."
Stefan rubbed his face with his hands, "We are searching for a way to bring her back. Bonnie, Klaus and I are working together searching for a way."
"Do you think you can? Or is it false hope?" Matt asked, he still felt hurt at being the last to know but he understood it. He felt that warmth again, "Why is it warm in here?"
Stefan snapped his head up, "Warmth? Where do you feel it?"
Matt furrowed his brow, "Around my shoulders, why?"
Stefan smiled at him, "It's Caroline. She's got her arm around you."
"What?" Matt looked around him before turning back to Stefan, "Can you see her? Like Jeremy could?"
"I wish I could but sadly I cannot." Stefan replied, "Ever since she died, whenever we feel a warmth touch us it's Caroline, she's trying to comfort us from the Other Side."
"This is a lot to take in." Matt was part freaked part relieved at knowing Caroline was touching him, it was a strange feeling not being able to see her, "What am I supposed to do now?"
"Live your life." Stefan replied simply, "Make sure no one finds out she's dead and leave Klaus, Bonnie and I to find the spell to bring her back to us."
"How am I supposed to do that? People will get suspicious if she's not in school."
"Already got that covered," Stefan was glad they'd already thought up an explanation, "Sheriff Forbes will tell people that Caroline's gone to see her dad's boyfriend."
"Makes sense." Matt agreed, "I need to go and be alone to grieve." He stood up to leave.
"Okay." Stefan walked Matt to his car and watched him get in. Before he drove off he had to say something, "I really am sorry Matt."
"I know. Tell me if you find anything to help her." Matt said before he drove off home.
Stefan decided to walk back to the witches house so he could sort through his emotions.
Caroline was still sitting on the couch crying, she didn't know how much more she could go through, watching the people she loved grieve for her. She wanted to be held, whimpering she yelled out, "Kol! Kol I need you."
"Hello darling." Kol appeared standing in front of her.
Jumping up Caroline wrapped her arms around him, crying in to his shoulder, "I need to be held."
Wrapping his arms around her Kol held her close, rubbing her back as the sobs wracked Caroline's body, "What happened?"
"Stefan told Matt about what happened to me," Caroline replied sniffling, "it was so hard to watch without being able to do anything."
"I know the feeling Caroline," Kol pulled back to look Caroline in the eye, "I had to watch as Nik was trapped in that house with only my body for company, I watched as he did nothing but stare with tears in his eyes," anger filled his eyes, "then that worthless mutt taunted him and even you said things."
"I'm sorry, it was because Tyler was there," Caroline wiped her eyes, "I couldn't say what I wanted with him there. So I said angry words to Klaus and he bit me." Caroline bit her lip as she remembered being on the brink of death, "I really thought he was going to let me die."
"I'm sure he would have if the mutt hadn't of left you there," Kol smiled down at her, "and it would have been the biggest mistake of his life. Killing the woman he loves because of his foolish pride."
"I regretted my words as soon as I said them." Caroline was angry and confused of her feelings when she said them, how could she care for the man who killed her boyfriends mother? Now it was Tyler who wasn't worth the calories she'd burn by talking about him, "I tried to make it up to him by including him in deciphering the sword," she rolled her eyes, "not like we could have done it without him as I don't speak Aramaic and your brother knows like a billion languages."
"Knowledge is power darling and there is no greater power than understanding what your enemies are saying."
"But Aramaic? Seriously? How many people have you met who've spoken it?" Caroline still couldn't believe that Klaus spoke Aramaic.
"Obviously it's a good thing he did or you wouldn't have been able to decipher the sword." Kol smirked at her pout.
"I know. I know." Caroline huffed.
"Do you feel better now?"
"Yes I do." Caroline smiled at Kol in gratitude, "Thank you Kol, I needed someone and you came."
"Anytime, future sister." Kol grinned winking, "Now shall we visit my brother and see if they've made any progress?"
Caroline flushed at the 'future sister' comment, not knowing what to say she placed her hands in Kol's, "Let's see Klaus." The air shifted and they appeared in the basement of the witches house.
Sitting on the floor surrounded by books were Klaus, Bonnie and Stefan. They sat in silence, the only sound was the turn of the ancient pages.
"I've seen funerals livelier than these three are." Kol said, eyeing the three silent occupents.
"Kol!" Caroline hit him in the stomach, "They don't exactly like each other, I'm not surprised they're not talking."
"Let's just have a look at what they're reading." Kol went over to Klaus, reading the page, "Nothing on this page." He went to Stefan to read his page, "Nope, nothing here." He came over to Bonnie looking at hers, reading the words his eyes lit up, "Bingo."
"What is it? Is it the spell we need?" Caroline asked, her heart clenched in anticipation of the answer, 'Could this be the end of this nightmare?'
"Not quite." Kol watched Bonnie's face as she read what he just had, a small smile lit her features and hope filled her eyes.
"Guys? I think I found something." Bonnie double checked what she read just to be sure.
"What is it?" Klaus asked, he tried to be cautious as he didn't want to get his hopes up, surely it can't be this easy?
"It's a spell," Bonnie answered, "not the one we need but a very helpful one."
"Well?" Klaus was impatient to hear what the spell was, "Don't keep us in suspense, what is it?"
"It's a spell to tether a soul to an object, place or person. The spirit will become manifest to others as it pleases, as long as it's near that which binds it." Bonnie explained what she had found.
Stefan swallowed, "Are you saying..."
"We will be able to see her." Klaus whispered in awe. Being able to see and hear Caroline was a step in the right direction.
"That's exactly what I'm saying." Bonnie answered, an excitement growing within her.
"Do it." Klaus ordered.
"It's not that simple." Bonnie rolled her eyes, she didn't take orders from Klaus, "I need to harness her spirit from the place that she died."
"I know where that is." Stefan would never forget the spot where Caroline died.
"By the next full moon we have to choose something to bind Caroline to. I have most of what the spell requires and I can get the rest."
"When is the next full moon?" Stefan asked.
"In three days." Klaus answered immediately, he always knew the moon cycle because of his wolf side.
"I'll have everything prepared by then." Bonnie stood up picking up the grimoire, "I'm gonna go home and study this spell. We will meet back here tomorrow at noon." Getting nods from both of them she left.
"We better put the reading on hold Stefan until Bonnie's return." Klaus stood up, a new hope filling him, three days until I can see her.
"Alright. I'm going home," Stefan got up and walked up the stairs. He called over his shoulder, "See you tomorrow."
"Until tomorrow." Klaus watched as Stefan left. Standing in the middle of the room he could feel Caroline, "Did you hear that sweetheart? In three days time you'll be able to speak to us, we'll be able to see you," he smiled, "that's one step closer to having you back for good." Klaus then left, heading back to his home.
Caroline looked at Kol her eyes wide with shock, "Oh my god."
TBC
AN - That was a long one, I hope you enjoyed it. Thank you all for the favorites/follows and reviews, you guys are awesome. Until next time X X X
PS - I seriously can't wait for the finale tonight, I wonder who will take the cure? Excited :-)