This chapter was a bit more difficult to write. I think it is because I am not used to writing Rebekah or Kol. I do hope they are not too terribly out of character. Anyway, thank you for all of your reviews last chapter! They warm my heart! :)
Don't own. Never will. Anything you don't recognize, I own.
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Fight! Caroline's mind screams at her as agony rips through her body like a blazing fire. Fight, or die!
In quick session, Caroline pushes her hands against her attacker's chest and a white hot light flashes, shocking the woman. She immediately jolts backward, ripping her fangs from Caroline's neck. Caroline stands there for a moment in shock, her neck throbbing and blood soaking her dress. She stares in disbelief. She then looks to her hands in surprise and then back at the blonde woman who seems to be recovering quickly.
Caroline doesn't think. She turns and runs for her life.
She trembles, almost stumbling several times as her vision blurs in and out. The blood loss has left her weak, but desperate. She has to get away. Caroline turns around another corner, clipping her shoulder. She gives a whimper, but continues on in a confused haze. In one bout of lucidity, she recognizes where she is—close to the Dining Room. "Help," she rasps, leaning against the wall and leaving a trail of smeared blood.
All of a sudden, she is grabbed forcibly by the hair and whipped around to face the blonde woman once again. She screams in horror, trying to shake herself free.
The woman gives a nasty sneer. "I underestimated you," she says coldly. "It won't happen again."
"Please," Caroline begs and struggles half-heartedly as the woman drags her along.
"Begging never got anyone anywhere," she snaps cruelly, giving a yank of Caroline's hair.
Caroline yelps. "Why are you doing this?" Caroline asks hopelessly, wincing.
The woman cocks her head the right in consideration. "Because you are in the way."
Caroline feels woozy, the effects of her blood loss almost overtaking her. She falters, almost falling to the ground. The woman finally relinquishes her grip on Caroline's hair, instead opting for an iron grip on her upper arm. "Now, let us go see my dearest brother."
Brother? Caroline's head is swimming. She follows helplessly.
The woman throws open the doors to the Dining Hall and saunters in. "Oh," she groans immediately. "It's you."
Caroline struggles to focus, to no avail.
"Rebekah," she hears Stefan say in surprise.
"Stefan," Rebekah returns evenly, bitterness evident in her voice. "What a surprise."
His breath hitches and Caroline knows he has spotted her, a bloodied disoriented mess. "Caroline," he breathes. "Rebekah, what did you do?"
Rebekah smiles cruelly. "Nothing not within my nature."
Stefan grits his teeth. "That is not an acceptable excuse. Let her go."
"I would much rather see Nik first. We have some business to discuss, you understand?"
"Rebekah," Stefan growls as he takes a menacing step forward.
"Oh, Stefan," Rebekah laughs. "Do you honestly believe I have anything to fear from you?"
Stefan lets out a feral growl and runs forward, lightening quick. Rebekah catches him by the arm, Caroline still clutched tightly in her other grip, and throws Stefan across the room. He tumbles into the dining table, breaking a few chairs. He grunts in pain but gets to his feet just as quick, broken wooden chair leg in hand.
"You're a baby, Stefan," Rebekah remarks. "Best put that down before you get hurt."
He charges again, this time the makeshift stake poised to strike. Rebekah catches his wrist in her hand and leans in close. "Sorry, lover," she whispers before twisting his arm down and forcing him to stab himself in the shoulder.
Stefan screams in pain.
Caroline gasps at Rebekah's side as she watches in horror what transpires.
"Too easy," Rebekah whispers. She pushes Stefan backwards and watches curiously as he falls to the floor. She turns her back to him then and yanks Caroline along who, by now, has been reduced to tears.
Turning her back to him is a mistake. Stefan rips the stake from his shoulder and jumps to his feet once again, ready to strike. Another figure enters the room like a hellfire whirlwind, knocking Stefan to his knees. "You should know better than to turn your back on someone so desperate, sister," the newly arrived man says.
Rebekah scoffs. "I'll leave him to you then, Kol."
Kol smirks.
"Do be gentle," she says. "I don't think Klaus would be too pleased if you did away with his favorite toy."
She looks down at Caroline and smiles heartlessly. "Come along then, sweetheart."
"Stefan…," she protests weakly as they exit the wrecked Dining Room.
Screams and horrible sounds echo behind them as they continue down the hallway. As they go further into the manor another ruckus becomes more apparent. Two voices are raised and exchanging expletives. Caroline is only just able to make out Klaus' voice. He sounds angry; angrier than she has ever heard him. Rebekah tightens her grip on Caroline as she pauses at the door. She gives Caroline a sharp glare. "Don't do anything stupid," she warns before pushing the door open and yanking Caroline through the doorway.
Klaus stands in the back of the sitting room, his hand clasped tightly around another gentleman's neck. He has the long haired man pinned to the wall opposite of them. There is murder in his eyes and a silver ash-tipped dagger clutched in his raised hand.
"Hello, Nik," Rebekah says playfully, interrupting any harm he might have done. "I see you and Finn have had quite the reunion. All of this nice furniture… ruined. How unfortunate."
"Rebekah," Klaus breathes, his eyes immediately falling to Caroline who is whimpering softly at her side. His gaze instantly darkens and his lips twist into a snarl. "What have you done?" He growls warningly, his voice a deadly calm.
"When were you planning on telling us you bought such a boring pet?" Rebekah smirks. "I'm surprised you let her live this long though, honestly," she remarks. "After all, you know what he will use her for."
"Release her," Klaus snaps, tone acidic. "Now."
"And if I don't want to?" Rebekah asks stubbornly, cocking a brow.
Klaus tightens his hold on the dagger. "Don't be a brat, Rebekah," he says dangerously.
"Let Finn go, put that ridiculous dagger away and I'll think about it," she returns, smirking proudly.
Rage fills Klaus' face. "Who do you think you are," he spits, "to make demands under my roof?"
Rebekah glares and jerks Caroline upright, lowering her head near her neck. "I'm the one with the advantage here," she hisses, "lest you forget."
Caroline recoils and searches for Klaus' gaze. She catches it and it shocks her how much rage is surging within them. Even though she is hurt and terrified out of her mind, it reassures her slightly.
Klaus grits his teeth, but never takes his eyes off Caroline. "If you harm her any more than you already have, I will end you."
"Do away with your baby sister?" she scoffs. "Even you wouldn't dare, Nik."
"Do not pretend to know what I am capable of, Rebekah," Klaus says, his tone dangerous. In the next instant he has driven the dagger through Finn's heart. His skin pigmentation grays and the light goes out in his eyes. Klaus releases him and his body falls to the ground with a sickening thud.
"Niklaus," Rebekah growls breathlessly, "what have you done?"
"Nothing I have not promised I would do," Klaus counters. "Now, give me the girl and you may remove the dagger yourself."
Rebekah hesitates.
"Now, Rebekah," Klaus demands.
Rebekah gives an aggravated sigh, relinquishes her grip on Caroline and pushes her to Klaus' feet. She's quick to fall at Finn's side where she rips the dagger from his heart.
Klaus walks calmly over to Caroline and bends down, bringing her into his arm. "Shh, love, it's okay, it's okay," he whispers gently.
Caroline sobs openly in his arms, shaking violently with relief. "S-Stefan," she croaks as her tears soak the right shoulder of Klaus' shirt. "He's hurt..."
Klaus frowns and turns an inquiring gaze to Rebekah. "What did you do to Stefan?"
Rebekah rolls her eyes. "Kol," she calls calmly.
A beat.
With a slam, Kol enters, Stefan slung over his shoulder; lifeless.
Caroline's eyes widen at the scene. "What…," she gasps. "No, no…"
Klaus places a comforting hand on the back of her head. "He's fine, love," he whispers. "He's fine."
Kol drops Stefan's body onto the floor next to Klaus and Caroline and then goes to stand next to Rebekah and Finn's lifeless, gray body.
Caroline pushes away from Klaus and reaches for Stefan, running her hand up his shoulder and resting it on his neck. No pulse greets her fingertips. Tears once again spring to her eyes. "He has no pulse," she says softly in devastation and pulls her hand away as if she has been burned.
Rebekah peers at her curiously from the other end of the room. "That is because he is a vampire," she mocks. "Surely you knew that?"
"What?" Caroline exclaims.
Klaus glares, slowly untangles himself from Caroline and gets to his feet. "Silence," he snaps at his sister. "You will not upset her further."
Kol grins manically at Rebekah's side. "She's a tasty looking thing," he remarks. "Such a shame Rebekah got to her first."
Caroline shivers and scoots closer to Stefan. She pulls his lifeless body into her lap and bites her lower lip, fighting back her tears. She has to be strong. Klaus is here now. She is safe, at least for now.
"If you value breathing, I suggest you speak no further, Kol," Klaus snarls.
Kol laughs and something about the sound of it is off. It sends shivers down Caroline's back.
"Now," Klaus begins evenly, stalking towards his siblings with contempt. "You will tell me why you came, or you will end up like Finn; a dagger in your heart."
Rebekah sighs in annoyance. "Oh, do calm down Nik," she says flippantly. "We were only having a bit of fun with your human pet. Don't pretend you aren't going to kill her eventually."
Caroline's grip on Stefan's shirt tightens, her worst fears falling out of Rebekah's mouth with ease.
Klaus spares a glance in her direction. "What I have in store for Miss Forbes is none of your business," he says, easily diverting the conversation. "I shall repeat myself only once. Why have you come here?"
Rebekah glances wearily at Caroline. "He knows about her," she says simply.
A thin line forms on Klaus' lips. "I see," he says darkly.
"So, brother, what do you say? Let her run through the forest," Kol winks, "make a chase of it?"
Caroline winces visibly.
Klaus glares sharply. "I thought I told you to silence yourself," he says not bothering to hide his contempt.
Kol scowls. "And you used to be such fun."
"Shut it, Kol," Rebekah hisses.
At Caroline's side, Stefan stirs, groaning as he comes back into consciousness. He looks around wildly but relaxes slightly when he sees Caroline is beside him, mostly unharmed. Klaus turns, walks briskly over to Stefan, and helps him to his feet.
Klaus turns to face Rebekah and Kol once more. "We will discuss this matter tomorrow," he says.
"I don't think you understand," Rebekah begins. "Mikael—"
"Don't," Klaus says, cutting her off. He turns to Stefan. "Stefan, fetch Elijah immediately. This will undoubtedly interest him."
Stefan rubs the back of his head but nods, sends a reluctant gaze Caroline's way and then quickly exits the premise.
"Brothers, sister," Klaus begins in parting, "until the morning."
He turns to Caroline, who is still sitting on the floor, her face a tear-stained mess. "Come, love," he says gently, extending a hand. She takes it and he pulls her up into his arms.
They exit the room, leaving his siblings behind.
A few paces in, Caroline's legs give in and she almost falls to the floor. Klaus catches her under the arm and steadies her.
"Sorry," she whispers. "Woozy."
Klaus frowns. "You shouldn't be walking," he comments, giving her a thoughtful look. After a beat he leans forward and swoops her up into his arms; one arm under her legs and the other around her upper back torso.
Caroline gasps in surprise. "I-I can walk," she protests weakly.
Klaus smirks softly. "You room is not far. Rest," he demands.
And so she does. Caroline lets her body relax in Klaus' arms. She rests her head against his chest. No heartbeat greets her ears but she does not find it disconcerting. Quite the opposite, in fact. The soft rise and fall of his chest lures her to a calmed and comfortable state. Before she knows it, they are at her door. He shifts her weight and easily opens it.
He comes to stand just before her bed and lays her down gingerly. He sits on the edge of the bed and simply stares at her for a long while. "What happened today will not happen again," he promises. He sounds so sure and determined; Caroline cannot help but believe him.
"I'm okay," she replies, her voice small.
He frowns. "You're weak," he notes, dragging his fingers across the two wounds on her neck. "We can't have that," he smiles half-heartedly. Klaus's eyes darken and his teeth grow to sharp points as he brings his wrist up to meet his lips. He bites down without hesitation and rips into his flesh. Crimson blood pours out, covering his forearm. He positions it in front of Caroline's mouth. "Drink up love, before it heals."
Caroline hesitates. "Will I turn into a vampire too?" she asks weakly and with a touch of fear.
Klaus chuckles lightly. "No, lovely," he says. "It will only restore your strength and heal your wounds."
"Okay," she relents and leans forward, eagerly taking part in Klaus' blood. It tastes like copper and has a warm, thick consistency to it, but Caroline finds she doesn't mind. She pulls away after a few moments.
Klaus smiles fondly. "Sleep well," he whispers, placing a soft kiss on her forehead.
He stays with her until she falls asleep.
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Okay… so, yes, Stefan is a vampire. Yes, his transformation is fairly recent. Yes, Elijah is Klaus' brother. No, Damon is not a vampire. Hope that clears up any questions you may have! Next chapter we get some Elijah and Elena and possibly some Bonnie! :) Leave your thoughts in a review! As always, constructive criticism welcomed!
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