Chapter 7

"I didn't know there was a time limit, brother?" questioned Klaus as he released her hand without breaking eye contact with Kol. He didn't look suspicious, Klaus hoped he didn't hear anything, or Caroline would reap the consequences

"Well, if there was no time limit, you may be here all day and we can't have that. I'm eager for my turn" he took out that gun - that Caroline was starting to hate – and placed it behind her back making it arch around the point

"Walk my pretty. Time for a tour of my house" Klaus frowned at the 'my' in that sentence as he followed closely behind them. Okay, we'll play it his way...for now thought Klaus, he would make sure he was always there, so if he gets out of hand he could intervene and if that doesn't work there's always Plan B – no not the artist.

Klaus had to fight the urge to knock his brother off his feet and strangle him until his face turned blue. He was trying so hard not to kill his brother for even looking at her.

He was thinking things that he didn't think possible but he had to hold his tongue. If he's dad knew that he stopped his brother from killing a Vampire and ultimately saving the human race he would be disowned. He would be kicked out of his house without a second thought, left homeless and family less. He was still fighting with himself over the fact of whether he had to guts to face that risk. Was this girl worth it? Worth losing everything he had? He knew the answer to it; he knew what he would have to do.

They entered Kol's lair – as he liked to call it – it was darker than Klaus remembered and it smelled pretty bad like a mixture of dirty socks, BO and cheese but ten times worse.

It was almost pitch black in there but Kol didn't seem to have a problem, probably immune thought Klaus as he struggled to breath over the polluted air

"and this is my baby" Kol spun around creating almost a fog as he twirled, it was pretty repulsive. Klaus forgot that Kol even had a lair, he's room was bad enough but now he remembered why he blocked the memory "What do you think brother? I made a few adjustment; you know here and there. Spice the place up"

"...yeah" was all Klaus could mutter. Before he knew it, Caroline was strapped to a chair in the centre of the room with a hanging bright light on top of her head and a gag in her mouth. Klaus frowned, Kol had watched way too many movies.

"Relax, love. I won't bite, well maybe just a little" he pulled out a stake and wedged it into her thigh causing her to wince in pain

"Kol, I think you're taking this a bit too far"

"Developed a soft spot for her have you, brother? Mind you, I don't blame you, she is gorgeous" he laughed striking her left leg with a stake as well. Klaus could see the tears streaming down her face. Kol walked over to his desk in the darkest corner, knowing exactly where it was and where everything on the table was positioned. He put the silver gun on the table as he grabbed more stakes.

"Kol, she hasn't done anything to you! Why do you have to treat her like this?"

"Because, dear Klaus. I'm angry, I've been angry for a while and well I hate her. I hate Vampires; I think that's a good enough reason to hurt her don't you?"he took a breath which he didn't know he was holding, not that he needed to take a breath. The words came out of his at such a rapid pace that even he wasn't sure whether Klaus caught every word.

He noticed the wetness on Caroline's cheek and wiped it as he looked into her eyes "I wish I felt differently I really do but I will never forgive your kind for what they did to me" taking another stake, he jammed it into her side, missing her ribs by an inch. Klaus couldn't take it anymore, watching her suffer the way she was but he had to talk his way out of it, he had to do something

"What did they do to you? Surely it can't be any worse than what you're doing to her" his voice softened as he stepped into the lighted area, walking very slowly towards Kol

"I never did tell you, did I? I've been hiding it for so long, it's become a part of me" he sighed. There was slight hysteria in his voice as it cracked every so often with his random laughs "Oh, if father knew. He'd behead me the moment he heard but of course, there's no escaping it now" Kol began to span the room, walking in circles around them. Klaus stood his ground watching as the light and shadow almost danced around his face as he walked

"I'm sure he would love you no matter what. You're his son, you're family, Kol" Klaus was unravelling the rope around Caroline's wrists as Kol found interest in something in the room before he gave another creepy outburst

"You're so naive, Klaus. Father didn't love me; he just loved what I was able to do. He loved the anger and the frustration I released on my victims, he loved watching what he didn't have the guts to do" Kol turned to face them, as Klaus backed away slowly from Caroline, avoiding suspicion "Brother, did you not suspect? You of all people, should have guessed? The best Huntsman in town and even you didn't click. I suppose, I'm better than I thought I was" Klaus stepped closer to her brother, why didn't he notice it before?

All those years, living under the same roof and it didn't click. It made sense now, all those visitors that never came back, how he could see perfectly in the dark and how he knew when the sun was rising. I'm an idiot thought Klaus I'm an actual idiot

"You got it didn't you"

"How long –"

"How long have I been a Vampire? Since I was about nineteen, some stupid Vampire decided that it'd be a good idea to turn me. I've rebelled ever since, on a mission to get some kind of revenge. I never found him, so I took it out on the rest of them" he smiled, enjoying the memory "Each Vampire I killed, I enjoyed it, pretended that it was him on many occasions.

Of course, over the years, I stopped seeing him and started to find satisfaction in killing. It was like my drug, without it, I felt empty" his emotion speech stopped as his face changed "No one suspects it you know, I have strength they don't know I do; they think I'm human. It makes things so much easier"

Caroline was full untied now with the gag still in her mouth, she held her position so Kol didn't suspect anything as he continued telling his story "knowing all this knowledge came at my advantage, I learnt how to defend myself from these weapons, how to become" he paused "invincible" he's stark raving mad thought Klaus as he back away trying to find something on the clutter on Kol's desk. It took him longer than Kol, after all trying to feel for a weapon is harder than it looks

"I'm glad you know now though. I've been wanting to tell you for some time but I thought you'd run off and tell father" his smile faded "oh by the way, if you do tell father, I can rip you're head off – I'm getting quite good at it"

"I won't tell him, trust me" said Klaus solemnly "Kol, you can stop this, you don't have to be a monster. There's a way out"

"Again with your naive positivity! I've searched years for a cure, a remedy but there isn't one" he sighed, turning his evil back on "But let's be honest, I don't think I want to go back to that stupid innocent boy; he was missing out on all the fun. I much prefer being evil" it was like a flick of a switch, one minute, Klaus would think he was getting through to him and he was softening, giving flickers of that sweet boy but then with a click of his fingers, the monster came back, over taking every sense left.

Klaus found what he wanted as he gripped it behind his back and walked slowly forward towards his brother

"No Kol, that little boy was sweet, he was my best friend and my brother –"

"I still am –"

"Kol! You're not him. You're anything but him and I doubt you will ever be him again"

"Brother, I can change..."

"It's too far in your system now, it's become you. I'm sorry" Klaus took the silver gun and shot his brother straight in his heart as a tear escaped his eye. His brother froze, paralysed as he stood as if he was made of ice. His eyes were wide, he didn't look angry; he looked like he was expecting. He almost looked at peace.

In those last few moments, Klaus saw that little boy in his eyes trying to escape but it was like to escape death. He slowly took the gag out of Caroline's mouth now; her face was shocked, almost traumatised. Her face was pale and she looked so weak

"This may hurt a little bit" he pulled every single stake out of her body as she winced as she felt it pull from inside of her. He carried her in his arms as she practically collapsed the moment she was free.

He kissed the top of her head as he left Kol's lair, locking the door behind him.

He whispered into Caroline's ear as he lay her on his bed

"Its okay Sweetheart, you're safe now"


I nearly cried writing this chapter, hope you guys did too! I feel all emotional, tell me if you cried ;) Love you all & Thank you for sticking with me, even through the annoying chiffhangers :P

© Ms Zola, Sept 2012