Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Diaries.

Note: Caroline is the first Valkyrie and Klaus's "mate", so to speak. Also, Klaus has no love-ties to Tatia or any Petrova doppelganger. And all the events of the series up to, but not including, the finale have happened, regardless of Caroline's involvement.

Chapter Six

Caroline turned slowly, lowering her swords as she came face to face with a middle-aged man. The others seemed to be awed by the sight of him, taking slow steps backwards to get away from him.

So, this was the infamous Alaric, the one that the Originals had warned her to steer clear of. Of course, that was how they felt; he was as powerful as them.

But she was older than even them, was given power from nature itself…and gods. She didn't feel any fear as she raised an eyebrow at him, smirking at his confidence. "Oh, are you? You think you can beat me in a battle of strength? Your friends seem to have forgotten to tell you exactly what I am. Even their precious witch—their back-up plan for everything—cannot stop me." Suddenly, she was right next to him, looking him up and down as she circled him. "What makes you so different?"

"I don't need help."

His hand snapped out, wrapping around her throat and pinning her to the ground. She laid there for a minute, her eyes watering as breathing became difficult. Her fingers grabbed his hand and she yanked at his hold. It barely gave.

Giving a short, mad giggle, she choked, "Look at you, vampire! As strong as my Niklaus, maybe a little more so." She could hear her father's angry thunder rumbling constantly overhead as the edges of her vision became hazy. Ripping his hand away from her throat as electricity filled her eyes to make them lanterns, she headbutted him away, flashing to stand over him. With her foot pressing down on his chest, she cackled, "But I am stronger than he! I am the daughter of gods and you have just wrought their wrath!"

As his ribs cracked beneath the pressure, she had to give the once-human man points for not flinching. Instead, he snatched her foot, throwing it up to knock her off balance to give him time to stand.

Of course, she was much too lithe for that; using the momentum to flip, she spun her swords on her hands. "Nice trick. I invented it."

Alaric snarled, the first show of emotion he'd given her. When he stood in front of her, thrusting his hand out to take her by the neck once again, she easily caught his wrist, twisting it until it was behind his back. Pulling until arm separated from shoulder, she pushed him away.

He stood shakily, letting his limp arm fall to the side. His favored right arm, she noted. "I'll die trying to kill you," he growled, dark eyes tracking her every breath.

Smiling, she moved in front of him. "You will try and you will fail," she said easily before her hand flew out, backhanding him into the trees.

He didn't get up.

Rolling her shoulders, she turned to the empty clearing, calling out, "You may have your chance to run now, but I will find you. I have given you all the time I will to return him." Now, I will take the doppelganger, she added to herself, already starting to track down her prey.

How happy Niklaus would be when she handed him the girl on a silver platter….

-.-.-.-.-

"Jesus Christ, what the hell is that girl?" Damon demanded breathlessly as he, Stefan, and Elena—who the younger Salvatore had ended up carrying—burst into the boarding house. He bent over, hands on his knees, as he tried to regain his breath. "She actually beat Ric. Ric, who was holding off Klaus, who's been training himself for years and is now full of immortal power." He glanced over at the other two as their comrades rushed in, Matt and Jeremy bringing in a wounded Tyler as Bonnie limped slowly after. "How the hell are we supposed to beat her?"

Elena's eyes were wide, staring at the people gathered around her. Like her, they were covered with scrapes and bruises. Damon and Stefan had nearly recovered from their burns, though their clothes were still singed. But Bonnie had a thick burn down her right side, as if she had been shielding herself from Caroline's lightning.

Was it worth it? Their secret weapon—Alaric, who'd been lured with a stage-whisper at the Grill—had failed. Miserably. She was too strong for them to take, even when they all came together.

Shouldn't they just give her his body?

Stefan crossed to Tyler, yanking a thick branch that pierced his thigh out, patting the hybrid's back as he drew in a sharp breath. Turning back to the others, Stefan crossed his arms over his chest. Sighing, he said, "I think we all know what we have to do. If we don't give her Klaus, she's going to kill us. All of us. At least with Klaus we have a chance."

Matt stepped forward, frowning. "Either way, most of us are dead. The only one Klaus isn't going to kill Elena and I doubt Caroline is going to if she's that desperate to have him back. She probably wants him to be happy."

"Are you all idiots?" Damon snarled, glaring at them. "We've had to pick sides before in these things. When we didn't, we always found a way back. We always came out alive; we can do it again."

Blood trickling from her nose and mouth, Bonnie choked, "There's no way. We can't. I was even drawing some power from my ancestors. When it started to hurt her, she just took power from the lightning. I can't do anything." She said the last part as if she had never thought it was possible.

Before anyone could say anything, they heard a storm overhead, warning them that she had come. Banning together, they watched in horror as she broke down the front door, throwing them all away so she could get to Elena.

"No!" Stefan shouted from his spot on the floor, desperately trying to crawl over to them.

"Don't touch her!" Damon roared, struggling to stand.

Caroline smirked at them, holding Elena against her with a sword at her neck. "I might consider returning her to you if you return what I want. You might not want to take long; I was once known for my ruthlessness in battle."

Then, they were gone.

-.-.-.-.-

Here you are! 6/9 complete.