I do not own Vampire Diaries or any of it's associated characters, thank you. I hope you're enjoying the read thus far. Big, big, big apologies for how long it is, seriously. I was intending on posting it in a two part chapter. I just wasn't seeing a good area to end it, and then post the part 2. Anyways, please enjoy!

Chapter 9: Homecoming

Much to Tessa's disappointment, Klaus hadn't given her the release she was looking for, she'd gotten so far as removing his shirt and jeans, but when she made a move to take off his undergarments he stopped her. His hands had roamed down south on her body distracting her from what she'd initially wanted and he left her wanting far more than he mere teaser he'd offered. Over the course of weeks following the pairs steamy shower, Klaus was a consistent tease to Tessa, he continually made references to their last night in New York as he rode with her in a private jet across country towards Portland, Oregon where it was rumored to him that the largest werewolf clan was held. He was hell-bent on creating as many hybrids as he could for his army of sire-lings. Tessa had been steadily growing frustrated with the short leash Klaus had her on, before leaving New York he'd compelled Tessa's free will from her, so here she was at Klaus's side for his beckon call. Things had become complicated in Oregon when Stefan-who'd been compelled into another one of Klaus's lackeys had called with some life-changing news, at least at Klaus's suddenly joyous mood she assumed it was life-changing news.

"This is incredibly boring." She told him as they lounged on the plane. They'd just taken off from the nearby airport where they'd landed not four days previous. She was growing bored with the constant traveling, she wanted to remain somewhere for longer than a week at a time. So far her perk of being with Klaus was the endless supply of blood, though she was missing the thrill of hunting for it like she had in New York though.

"Well, love. There's a bedroom in the far back of the jet, feel free to disappear in there for the duration of the flight. Just be a dear and keep the noise down whilst your going about your business." She sent him a scathing look from across the way. Klaus was using sex as a way of controlling her, and she was growing weary of his mind games. Looking down at her glass which was filled with the blood recently compelled from the stewardess- courtesy of Klaus; she moved leisurely as she picked up the cup and drank down its remnants in an attempt to sate her growing hunger, but it wasn't blood that she hungered for.

"If you keep throwing my sexual frustration in my face, I may just have to outsource to satisfy my needs." She replied to him putting down the rocks glass that was normally used for alcoholic beverages- but, in her case, she craved a more potent drink.

"By all means, love. If your wish is to take on a laundry list of lovers, be my guest. I shall like to warn you though. I've taken quite the interest in you, and I do not share well with other's, so forgive me if I make an attempt to maim or otherwise to the poor man you decide seduce into bed with you before the act is done."

Tessa groaned knowing there'd be no sense to try and satisfy herself whilst under the compulsion by Klaus. "You are no fun." She told him pouting now. Walking over to the bar onboard she poured herself a shot of bourbon. She threw it back quickly and moved back over to Klaus who was seated in the beige, leather aircraft seat. Her hands fell on his shoulders as she moved towards his neck, trailing her mouth down to his collar. "I haven't been able to hunt or do any other sort of physical activity since New York. Forgive me if boredom is now gnawing at me, Klaus."

He 'hmmed' back at her not looking up from the magazine he was reading. Tessa's already irritated state was growing so she moved quickly yanking the magazine from his grip and allowed it to flutter to the rug-covered floor, she was kneeling in his lap suddenly her arms around his neck, and her mouth on his.

Klaus tolerated her kissing him, but the minute he felt her hands beginning to roam he stood suddenly resulting in Tessa being knocked to the floor, "Sorry, darling." He began a smirk spreading across his kissable lips. He outstretched his arm offering her a hand, but Tessa moved at vampire speed to the back of the plane. Klaus heard the slam of the bedroom door signaling that she had fled there- he wondered if it was the embarrassment she felt that caused her to seek solace alone, or if she was actually taking his earlier suggestion to heart. He chuckled to himself anyways as he bent to retrieve the magazine and sat back down. The pair remained separated until they landed in Virginia.

Tessa loathed having to be in Klaus's presence now. His constant teasing and innuendos were more frustrating than his personality, and that was saying something. Once they got off the plane, Klaus moved quickly. He met up with that werewolf-turned-hybrid from the only other night Tessa had been in Mystic Falls, she came to find his name to be Tyler. Klaus told Tyler to go to the school and sabotage the original plan for the high school's homecoming dance, and he was to throw it at his house instead, once Klaus had compelled his mother away for the night everything seemed to fall into place. Tessa wasn't privy to much more information than that much to her dismay.

"I'd say royal blue is your color, love. You do look absolutely delectable in it." Of course, he was referring to her dress she'd been killed in, after Stefan drained her of her blood, completely.

Tessa sighed at his reminder of her weakest moments, she had been kept in the Lockwood mansion with Klaus since they had landed, and she'd already gone through 3 people that day out of her unsated hunger. Turning she was greeted with Klaus in a suit if she was having a had time keeping her frustrations at bay before, she was a goner now. She swallowed audibly at his appearance in the doorway to the living room. He held a rather large rectangular box in his arms as he waltzed through the open double doors, "So, I saw this back in town and, picked it up for you, can't have my plus one looking like a stray hunter I picked up along my trails through the country… oh wait, that's exactly what I did."

He was grinning down at her as he slid the box in front of her on the coffee table. She paused in her witty retort as she took in the extravagant wrapping paper, it was a sleek black color with a white ribbon tied along the cover. Her fingers trailed over the packaging then tore open the box to find the most exquisite looking dress. It was fit for royalty, pulling it from the box she held it up. She deemed it to be a fit for her, as much as she disliked it, Klaus seemed able to read her well enough.

She began undressing right there to not just Klaus's surprise, but Tyler rounded the corner only to be stopped in the doorway by the sight before him. Tessa slid her cardigan off, and slipped the tank-top over her head, she made quick work of the skinny jeans and shimmied them down her legs before snatching the dress off of the couch; she stepped into it carefully. Her arms slipped into the sleeve that just barely capped over her shoulders. Sliding her arms around to the open back the dress offered, she unhooked her bra and slid it down her arms tossing it among the pile of clothes she no longer wore.

Looking from one man to the other she asked, "A little help with the zipper?" Tyler made a move forwards quickly, but Klaus used his vampire speed to stand behind her. She knew his eyes were roaming over the soft-looking pale skin of her exposed back given his hesitation to actually grab the zipper located just above her backside. He slid the zipper slowly up to close it over her lower back after moving her long straight hair over her shoulder. The A-line style of the dress accentuated her slim waist, the sharp V-neck cut made her smaller-sized bust more pronounced. Looking down at her legs she found the dress long enough to cover them completely. The Royal blue color of it paired nicely with her pale skin, it was covered in an outer layer of sparkling tulle a deep shade of navy that had black embroidery of flowers, and vines over the torso and up along the v-cut neckline. The black velvet embroidered designs curved around to her back, she could feel the leaves sewed in along the seams of the open back. Turning around she was pleasantly surprised to see Klaus's eyes drinking her in intensely.

"Seems, you made a good choice, your fashion senses are impeccable. It's no wonder you continue to rebuff my advances, Klaus. Are you afraid to admit something to yourself?" She grinned up at him now this morning on the plane still fresh in her mind. Klaus rolled his eyes as he turned away from her, the moment they shared was long over from her sarcastic remark questioning his sexuality.

"My dear, you've no idea what I could admit to you over the centuries I've been alive." With that, he stood in the doorway with Tyler behind him. "Can I help you with something Tyler, or shall you be offering up yourself to my wrath by sating Tessa's needs tonight?"

"Uhm," He began as his eyes moved to Klaus, "Everything is set up. The band, and stage, the drinks. Just waiting for the people." He trailed off unsure of how to respond to Klaus's threats. Klaus nodded his eyes moving back to Tessa.

Ignoring Klaus's remark all together Tessa's eyes moved to the other figure before her, "Tell me Tyler, does your mother have any make up she can spare? I wouldn't want Klaus's date to look like a simpleton in comparison to the rest of the women that will be arriving soon."

"Oh, I don't think you'll have to worry about that, Tess," Tyler said with a smirk as his eyes trailed over her sparkling attire. At Klaus's sidelong glare Tyler cleared his throat before replying that his mother's room was up to the stairs down the hall to the right.

"Thank you," Tessa replied crisply as she moved purposely between the boys brushing her body by Klaus's intentionally before she moved up the stairs.

Tessa entered the room and moved towards the table. She looked over the makeup with a distant feeling this whole town was new to her, yet she was unable to go exploring due to Klaus's compulsion. She made quick work of applying make up before snooping through the jewelry containers that littered the tops of the vanity. She found a necklace set with lapis lazuli and, was quick to snatch it up from the drawer it was in, quickly hooking it around her neck she stared at her barely recognizable reflection. Over the course of the last few weeks, she wasn't herself, she was still a beauty, but she'd been without the ability to put on makeup, she hadn't been dressed in the clothes she'd normally have picked for herself. The lined eyes and light eyeshadow made her baby blues more pronounced, the light blush she'd applied to her cheeks brought a renewed look of life to her otherwise pale face. It was different than the usual, but with her emotions turned off she looked at herself with an emotional detachment from it all. That girl is dead to me. Tessa thought briefly before turning away from the mirror and painful self-reflection she was teetering on.

She could hear people filing in from the entrance, and knew the dance was starting soon. Moving quickly towards the stairs she was greeted with the newly turned hybrids Klaus had left in Portland with specific instructions to meet him here tonight. The brood of previous werewolves seemed to look over the place with almost the same emotional detachment that Tessa had when faced with her own reflection. Within about ten minutes, Tyler's mansion was packed with people, some of which she could remember from the Senior prank night, but most were complete strangers to her- not only her but even to people that lived in town, Klaus and Tyler must've compelled several people into joining him this evening. Tessa wondered just what kind of news he was unveiling that garnered the kind of attention from random people.

"Tessa…?" A voice broke her from her thoughts, upon turning She looked down the rest of the stairway to see Stefan standing there his hands tucked into his pockets, dressed up just as Klaus in a well put together suit. She knew her frustrations were really eating at her when she gave him a lingering once over, "I almost didn't recognize you." He told her his eyes taking the dress she wore slowly.

"I could say the same, Stefan. I'm not used to you when you're not covered in blood." As he spoke she moved around him and began to walk out of the back door where the massive crowd had gathered, a stage was set up farther down the sloping back lawn. A pond was at the far right of the yard, and nothing was heard over the rock band up on stage.

Stefan chuckled to himself at her greeting, clearly, she still held some disdain for him, but it was less so compared to when she couldn't even stand to be in his presence. He wondered what had changed about her. He followed along beside her quietly staring at her once they stopped after exiting the house, Tessa broke their long silence.

"Can I help you, Stefan? I know this dress is amazing, but I don't think it comes in your size, in case you were wondering." Stefan chuckled again at her wit, and Tessa continued to frown at him. She wasn't trying to impress him, she was trying to get him to go away. Unfortunately for her, it wasn't working.

"I'm just curious as to what it is that's changed about you, I mean aside from the clothes and the smell." He told her a smug expression on his face. She remembered the last time she saw him she was covered in blood from attacking people, and the previous time before that she was trapped in the cellar under that old apartment.

Tessa grit her teeth in annoyance, but before she could respond Tyler came up carrying a case of unopened beer, "Hey Stefan, Tessa, what's up?" He asked in a friendly manner. Right, Tessa thought to herself. They're all friends here.

"Hey Tyler, nice party you got going on here," Stefan said in the same modulated tone.

"Thanks, but uh-, I'm not the one throwing it. " Tyler began, "I'm just doing what Klaus wants." He finished with a nod to Tessa.

"What do you mean?" Stefan asked, looking confused. Even Tessa looked at him funny, with the amount of flare, and effort put into it she was surprised he even thought a mere lone high school student could pull this off.

"It's not a party man. It's a wake." Tyler answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

That's when everyone's attention shifted as the band stopped playing, and Klaus took the stage, "Thank you, everyone! I want to thank you all for being here with me to celebrate." He spoke into the microphone, and Tessa could see his eyes searching the crowd, they stopped when he spotted Tessa, Stefan, and Tyler. She watched the crooked smirk stretch over those lips she could vividly remember kissing just that morning on the plane before he spoke again. "It's been a long time coming." There was a slight pause before he blinked and his eyes circulated the crowd, "So please, ladies and, gentleman; enjoy yourselves, tonight will be a night to die for." With that Klaus walked off stage as the band picked up again, and within a blink of an eye, Klaus stood before them. Tyler had walked off amidst the end of Klaus's speech bringing more refreshments to the long table against the house layered with food, snacks, and more alcohol. Tessa's eyes found Klaus's, and she saw his bright blues boring into hers. She blinked breaking the unspoken spell he'd had her under before muttering about needing a drink, leaving Klaus and, Stefan to discuss whatever business it was that brought Klaus back here, unfortunately, due to the compulsion when Klaus shook his head she didn't budge from his side, Klaus chuckled to himself before saying, "Allow me, love, what kind of date would I be if I wasn't the one to get the refreshments." He told her with a grin. Tessa hesitated before taking the arm Klaus offered. "Quite the homecoming," Stefan said striking up the conversation as the three moved towards the tables at the far side of the house.

"I've been planning my father's death for over a thousand years, granted in no version of it were any of these people invited, but you get the idea." Tessa was surprised to find that her and, Klaus did have much more in common than she'd thought. Her mother was just killed at her own hands, and Klaus seemed to have the want for his own parents. He glanced down at her with a smirk on his face as if knowing what it was she was thinking.

"So what now?" Stefan asked as he moved to stand in front of Klaus and, Tessa causing them to stop walking, "You stop running?"

"Now," Klaus began as he pulled his arm away from Tessa, "I reunite my family."

"Your family?" Stefan asked his eyes not leaving Klaus's for a second, "You mean the people you cart around in caskets." He trailed off slowly. Tessa kept silent feeling the tension mounting between the two.

"None of that matters now." Klaus responded, "Mikael's gone. Bygones will be bygones." A couple of girl's walked past, one wore a rather impressive crown on her head, as they were talking about how great the party was. Tessa looked up at Klaus to see him eyeing the girl's, she couldn't tell if it was his hunger or if he had his own issues with all of his pent-up frustrations.

"Seems the homecoming queen still walks among the living. Which leaves me to believe Rebekah isn't here. Where is she?" Klaus's now hardened gaze remained on Stefan.

"I have no idea." He answered coolly. "I thought she was coming with Matt." He shrugged nonchalantly. Tessa felt the daggers that Klaus was glaring down at Stefan and knew she wanted to get away from the drama.

"Oh, be honest now, Stefan. Where's my sister." Tessa stiffened at Klaus's tone, the underlying threat was all too familiar to her. He seemed to handle her differently from Stefan, less physical harm, and more mental or emotional, she felt his body moving as his arm untangled from hers as he stood to his full height. Tessa felt the tension mounting between the pair.

"I said," Stefan began slowly taking a step forwards facing Klaus's challenge head-on, "I have no idea." There was a slight pause before Stefan said, "Now, would you like me to take you to your father?"

That was enough to distract Klaus from his sister, she felt his arms wrap around her waist possessively as he spoke his next words with a lighter tone, "Well now, it wouldn't be a party without the guest of honor now, would it?" Stefan seemed to eye Klaus up and, down waiting for him to continue, "Bring him to me."

Stefan was not very good at hiding his dislike of Klaus's request, of course, Tessa wouldn't much like carting a body across town on her back either. "Alright." He agreed easily, his expression clear of disgruntlement. "Perhaps there's something in it for me? My freedom from your compulsion." His words sparked something in Tessa, she wanted out from under Klaus's thumb as well, she was just biding her time. Waiting for a piece of leverage she could use to get it. Klaus's games with her were usually mental, she'd have to play them just as well- if not better than him to win her freedom.

"Oh, you want your freedom? Well, once he's dead and his weapon destroyed, you'll have your freedom." Tessa opened her mouth to cut in only to be cut off by Klaus, "It'll be my pleasure to give it back to you." Stefan grimaced before making his slow exit back towards the back entrance to the house. Klaus sighed looking down at Tessa, "Well, love how 'bout that refreshment." He led her past the table and, into the house he led her deeper into the house. He'd snagged a girl along the way standing at the beer pong table that had been set up. Tessa figured he'd already compelled the girl given the lack of fight she put up upon being dragged up the stairs with them into what appeared to be a guest room within the Lockwood Mansion. Tessa took in the room before her.

The blank beige walls and empty dresser tops led her to believe this was a guest room. The burgundy colored twin size bed was also a giveaway. She looked over the immaculate white carpet and knew no one had stayed in this room for quite some time.

Klaus closed the door behind him as he released the quiet girl from her hold. She stood still, eerily so to Tessa, "Did you-?"

"Compel her? Yes, love. Did you not say you needed a refreshment." Tessa sent him a confused glare unsure of why he was being so nice to her when over the last week he's done nothing but, intentionally tease her or cause her discomfort.

"I'm in a rather generous mood tonight, darling. Do not over think this." He shrugged as he locked the guestroom door shut.

"So your father is dead?" Tessa asked him bluntly now glancing out of the window from the second floor over the party. Klaus sighed and before she knew it his voice was right in her ear.

"Yes," He began. She felt his breathing against her skin and, it spurred unspeakable thoughts of Klaus on in her mind. "Mikael was a father of sorts- not biologically of course, but we didn't find that out until late in life. He's been hunting me for over a thousand years. Needless to say, I am glad to finally be rid of him." Klaus finished turning towards the girl behind him, he grabbed at the woman's forearm and bit into it audibly.

"It's a relief, isn't it?" Tessa asked him still not turning to face him. "When you've been running, and following what they say for so long, not having to do something you've done for so long out of obligation is… nice." Tessa continued. At the last bit of words, she turned to face off with Klaus, her face emotionless. He released the woman who was now swaying back an forth now. "I don't know about you, but killing my mother was freeing. I didn't have to worry about being hunted down just for existing. I didn't have to follow orders anymore…" Tessa's voice trailed off as her eyes stared at nothing in particular. Klaus simply stared at her, he couldn't help but understand what she was saying, perhaps that's why he felt the closeness he had back in New York on the night he'd watched her decimate her fellow hunters, and because she'd done something he only wished he'd done ages ago, and he admired her for it.

A silence passed between them before Tessa spoke again, "I understand, I suppose. Granted it didn't take me a thousand years to kill my mother, but I suppose it's easier to face what hunts you when you can shut your fear off."

"I am not afraid." Klaus told her his words taking on a harsh tone at the mere suggestion of him being frightened, "You are sorely mistaken, my dear, nothing frightens me."

Tessa remained silent sensing he wasn't done talking, "I've lived a long time, love, I've seen all the monsters this world has to offer, and I've defeated them. I am the thing that those monsters fear." Tessa's eyes moved over his body as she took in his rigid stance and, clenched jaw. She was finally getting under his skin after the last several days of him doing it to her. She was headed in the right direction of gaining her freedom.

"I don't believe you." She replied to him quickly. Klaus reacted as he pushed her up against the wall behind her. She felt the cold window on her open back.

"I. Fear. Nothing." He told her through clenched teeth.

"You fear emotions." Klaus scoffed at her words.

"You're wrong. I feel no emotions out of strength, not fear. Emotions just get in the way, as you well know."

Tessa closed her mouth at that and shrugged. "Maybe so." Her eyes moved from him to the staggering girl behind him, "I'm hungry." She said simply as she brushed past him and gripped the girl tightly. Her fingers closed around the back of her bare neck. The darkened skin looked soft and, inviting for Tessa's quickly elongating fangs, her black hair was piled up high on her head. Tessa struck at normal human pace enjoying the fear in the woman's eyes as her life was hanging in the balance. Tessa turned the woman around so she could flick her blackened eyes up towards Klaus, she watched him as she drank in the blood. Klaus stood in his spot, he'd never been looked at like that before- even with her emotions off and her air of carelessness, she stirred something in him a feeling that he hadn't felt in a long time. Doubt. He was feeling unsure of himself in the moment- which was very un-Klaus like.

If he didn't need her for his meeting tomorrow, he'd have sent her away right then, but unfortunately, without her, his goal to build an army of well-trained hybrids was useless. He enjoyed her presence at times, but it was situations like this that he left him with regret for establishing a sort of closeness to Tessa on that fateful night back in New York. It gave her multitudinous opportunities to grasp his motives for his actions, and he didn't want to be understood. He tried hard to keep her at bay, but that night at the Inn kept playing in his mind. The way his hands roamed over her body had stirred something within him that he never thought he'd feel at the time, thinking back on it now though, he realized how wrong he was. He could still hear the way she uttered his name, and how his chest constricted at the mere memory of it.

He thought his teasing and tormenting would have affected her long before now, but he underestimated her resolve. He underestimated how good she was at reading people. This girl was not just seeing him, but also starting understanding him in ways no one had in a long time and he was terrified of it. With that last thought, Klaus could feel his irritation rise with Tessa, he moved towards her slowly a smirk spreading across his lips. Tessa hesitated as she slowly withdrew her fangs from the girl's neck dropping her to the floor with a thud.

Klaus's fingers reached out over her face, softly tracing the line of her cheeks, down to Tessa's chin he tilted her head up to look at him. There was something about power, and pleasure, Klaus knew defenses had been trained into this woman at a young age, she was taught to withstand pain, and detach from things, but she wasn't taught to fight what felt good to her. It was easy to seduce her body because she'd never had this kind of attention on her, other than that imbecile Robbie she'd dated. Tessa has been blatantly ignored most her life. She was used as a weapon- which was all Klaus had really wanted, but she had no need for knowing such things yet. He was awaiting the arrival of a key component before that was revealed.

Tessa's eyes fluttered closed at his feathery touches. Klaus trailed his fingertips down over her shoulder and arm to rest on her hips, his left-hand held hers as he trailed circles over the back of her hand with his thumb. Klaus leaned in until their faces millimeters apart. "Do you recall how you felt when I touched you, love?" It was easy to evoke lust in her when her normally conflicting emotions were shut off. Good and evil were nonexistent, only concrete things such as him and her were real in her mind.

Tessa remained still knowing this was another one of his teases. She was growing tired of these games but didn't care enough to stop him. A part of her knew that if she- like Stefan- was to earn her freedom she'd have to play along with whatever Klaus had in mind, "How good was it to feel my hands running over your body? To feel worshipped? To feel special?" His mouth was dangerously close to her own.

Tessa couldn't help her own body's reactions, as controlled and calculating as she was mentally her body had other intentions. Klaus's smirk widened into a grin when he heard her heart rate pick up as his right hand made the slow, almost subtle movement up her torso halting when it reached the top of her ribcage. "You were desperate with need for me that night, Tessa." He said his husky voice eliciting memories from her head. His arm slid around to her open-backed dress feeling the soft skin there, he pulled her against his body quickly, his mouth by her ear now. "Just think back and remember how I could make you feel with just the touch of my hands on your skin," He began his mouth at her ear as he leaned in, "Then recall how I turned and, walked away much like this." With that Klaus released her suddenly and, he left the room the echoing of the door closing behind him snapped Tessa from her hazed state as she cursed him aloud to the now empty room. After some time had passed, the eerie silence from downstairs began to eat at Tessa, so much so that she- after leaving the now dead girl in the bed with some conveniently placed empty beer bottles on the nightstand table- had gone downstairs. She found Klaus standing at the front door exchanging some particularly nasty words with an older man who was holding Elena hostage. What is it with this girl? Tessa thought briefly. She stood on the stairs watching, waiting for one of the men to strike first.

"Nobody cares about you anymore, boy!" The older man yelled. Tessa couldn't be certain but, by the way, the man was talking to Klaus she presumed it was his father. "Tell me, who do have other than those whose loyalty you've forced? No one." The older man leaned forwards slightly and repeated, "No one."

"I'm calling your bluff, father." Tessa was surprised to hear raw emotion in Klaus's voice. From where she stood she could see his eyes glaze over slightly. Fear. She knew it was fear. She could recall a time when she felt the same kind of frozen in place terror on the occasion she stood up to her mother. Tessa was pulled from her past memories by Klaus's voice. "Kill her."

The man in the door was rigid and tall. His blond hair and blue eyes were the only similarities to Klaus. "Come outside and, face me you little coward, and I won't have to."

Klaus responded without missing a beat, "My whole life you've underestimated me. If you kill her you lose your leverage. So go ahead. Go on. Kill her." The men were at a standoff by the door. Tessa was unsure if she should intervene. "C'mon old man. Kill her. Kill her!" Klaus shouted the last part staring at his father. Tessa could see the tears on his face and was surprised to see emotions so clear on the usually cold, unfeeling man she'd grown accustomed too.

The man was confident, he merely chuckled at Klaus's rage, "Ah, your impulse, Niklaus. It and will forever be the one thing that keeps you from truly being great." With those words spoken Tessa heard him stab Elena from behind. Sufficiently killing her, Tessa felt disconnected from the death of the girl, she'd only met her briefly, that night in the gym. Of course, that was back when Tessa's goal was still to save people, now she could care less who died.

A figure raced in from the back, Tessa heard Klaus scream in pain and simply reacted. Her compulsion kicked in and, she leaped over the railing. Knocking the person on his back she heard the sound of leather. Looking down she gasped recalling his face immediately. She was younger, a child the last time she'd seen him. Damon Salvatore. He was the reason she'd even been questioning her 'fight the good fight' routine her mother had been trying to drill into her since birth. There was no way he'd recognize her. It had been years, she thought her eyes moving over his facial features, not much had changed on him. No a single speck of skin, or fleck of blue in his eyes. He moved to fight against her, he made a valid attempt to throw her away from him, but she was stronger than he had anticipated.

"What're you? A hybrid bodyguard?" He questioned his voice strained as he sat up trying to toss her away. The steak was left unattended after clattering to the floor of the hallway.

"Nope. Vampire- ex-vampire hunter." She shrugged as she easily twisted his arm in a painful hold. Unbeknownst to her Damon had a second hidden stake. He slipped it out from the inside of his black leather jacket and made a move to swing it at her, only to have a second figure shoot in and tackle him to his back. Stefan was holding him down with little effort. Tessa made a move for the white oak stake only to have Klaus snatch it up as he moved at Original vampire speed successfully staking his father. The scream of the dying vampire was deafening. Tessa looked out the open doorway to see the hybrids on the ground holding their heads in their hands, some of them were sitting up and groaning.

"You need a better army," Tessa muttered coming up behind Klaus as he stared over the ashes that were once his father.

Klaus scoffed, "It's funny for you to be the one to say that… cause I've made a few phone calls and your family is going to be the one to train them."

Tessa remained silent her brows furrowing in confusion. What did that mean? She killed her mother and, her sister was long dead who else could Klaus possibly be referring to? She thought as she watched him walk back into the Mansion.


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XXTigerXEyesXX