If heaven's grief brings hell's rain
Then I'd trade all my tomorrows for just one yesterday
"I wouldn't use magic, warlock. It's punishable by death here," Rebekah taunted, unable to help herself as she glanced at Caleb. The glare he directed at her only made her laugh and tighten her hold on the two witches at her side.
She glanced over at Caroline, looking the cheerleader up and down as she tried to determine what was going through the other blonde's head. Rebekah had known that sticking around for a little longer would be beneficial, she just hadn't realized exactly how much until Caroline Forbes had walked down into the cold room. It hadn't clicked right away what was happening or who the girl was in the situation, but once Rebekah put the pieces together she was overwhelmed by her own emotions.
Amusement was winning out for the moment, mostly to cover up the fear that was trying to overtake her. Not because she was in the presence of the newest harbinger, but fear of how her brother would react to the news. There was no telling how Klaus would take it, too many variables with how he might act, but what worried Rebekah the most was if the damn cheerleader standing before her had known what she was all that time that her brother had been falling in love with her.
From the baby vampire's confused expression, and the way the witches had been talking of the girl, Rebekah didn't think Caroline had known, but she wouldn't feel comfortable with any of it until she had that confirmed.
"What are you talking about, Rebekah?" Caroline asked, and there was no way she could have pulled off the confusion she was displaying if it was an act. She may have always been the Mystic Falls gang's little distraction, but her acting talents were not that good.
"You don't know anything, do you?" Rebekah asked, dropping her hold on the witches as she stepped forward, circling the girl. "They've kept you in the dark about everything I'd imagine. Wanting you on their side and no one else's." She glanced over at the two witches, watching the boy hurry over to untie them. "Can't really expect anything less from witches really. Though, they're in for a rude awakening if they think you won't be protecting your own kind as well."
Caroline ran a hand through her hair, glancing between what Caleb was doing and the Original circling her. "So you're just going to talk in riddles too?" she asked, clearly frustrated and Rebekah grinned as the torch light flickered around them.
"There's a reason harbingers are usually human. They might not have the best control over their own emotions, but they have better control than us vampires that feel everything to much larger degrees." Rebekah watched the girl try to get herself under control, using some breathing technique she was certain she had seen Stefan use at some point. She walked toward her, stopping when she was right in front of her. Would this be like when Silas had been in her head? Would she need to slap some sense into her all over again?
Thankfully, the lights stopped flickering and Caroline was glaring at her, a sure sign the girl was in control of herself. "You and I need to talk, Caroline, though I think I'll let you hear their lies first. Meet me when you're done, hmmm?"
She was about to flash away but stopped at Caroline's voice, barely audible, but loud enough so Rebekah would hear. "You're not going to tell him, are you?"
There was an uncertainty to it, a fear that Rebekah knew all too well. It was the same fear she always felt when she didn't want her brother to know about her latest dalliance. It never ended well for the boy in question once Klaus knew she was smitten. "Not until we talk. I'll text you a location," Rebekah answered, her voice just as low, inaudible to the witches, before she flashed away.
Part of her wondered if she should head straight home to inform Niklaus of what she had learned, but Rebekah didn't want to be on the end of his temper tantrum once he learned the truth. Not yet, not until she knew all the pieces. She would give Caroline two hours to come and talk to her before she told her brother what he would need to know. Hopefully the other vampire would come to her before then, but if not, then she would do what was best for her family. Even if it meant breaking her brother's heart.
Hayley stared at the machines that were being brought inside, never having seen them outside of a movie or television program before. She vaguely had an idea of what they were for, sonograms, and various other pregnancy related tests. Each piece that was brought in was just another nail in her coffin, another reminder that she wouldn't be allowed to leave her gilded prison walls. Like the men who guarded the place around the clock. Something she hadn't noticed until she had tried to sneak out one day, only to be grabbed before she even made it down the porch stairs and dragged back into the house.
She had received a long lecture from Elijah hours afterward, reminding her that she carried something precious inside of her and that she needed to stay inside where it was safe. Hayley didn't agree with his assessment but she had wisely kept her mouth shut. The thing inside of her wasn't precious, it was a monster. Something sick and twisted that shouldn't exist and nothing would convince her otherwise.
"Don't look so down, wolf," Klaus started, interrupting Hayley from her thoughts, and she turned around, glaring at him as he walked into the house. Striding toward her as though he owned the place, and well, he did. She owned nothing and from the way he was looking at her, she felt as though she was nothing. Especially when his gaze moved away from her and right to the housekeeper who had entered the parlor as well. "I take it she has been eating what she needs to; taking the vitamins she was prescribed."
The woman, who Hayley had thought at first had been meant to be a companion of some kind to her but had turned out to be a strict enforcer of all Klaus and Elijah's rules, nodded. "Yes. And there have been no more escape attempts recently either," the woman informed him, and Hayley glowered at that, wanting to rip the woman's throat out.
"Seems as though someone is learning," Klaus mused, before directing the delivery men where to bring the equipment.
"Someone is right here," Hayley muttered, crossing her arms in annoyance as she looked between the two. Neither paid her any attention, but it didn't matter as her gaze locked on the last man entering the room, though he wasn't carrying boxes but a duffel bag. And it wasn't a stranger, but someone she knew all too well, someone she had been hoping and praying would be able to help her out of the situation she had gotten herself into, even if he had no reason to do so. Not after how she had betrayed him. "Tyler?"
Tyler stopped walking, eyes widening as he looked at her, but he didn't move toward her. No, instead he glanced between her and Klaus, lips pressing hard together as he tried to figure out what he was supposed to do. "Ah, yes, your little back up plan to getting you out of this situation," Klaus mused, beckoning the boy to step forward. "Unfortunately for you, he's bound himself to me, haven't you?"
"Yes," Tyler replied immediately, glaring daggers at the Original. "Why's she here? What are all those machines for? Torture device?"
"Sonogram," Klaus stated as he walked away from the two. "I'm sure Hayley will be more than happy to fill you in on the details. And remember, Tyler, no saying anything negative against me to anyone. Including our dear sweet Caroline."
"Bastard," Tyler muttered as the man disappeared into the other room with the delivery men, leaving Hayley and him alone in the hallway. He knew the word sonogram, but was having a difficult time remembering what they were for briefly, before he stared at Hayley with wide eyes. "You're pregnant?"
She didn't look pregnant. But then most women didn't at first, right? He didn't know. "But who?" He hadn't known her to be sleeping with anyone. And why the hell would Klaus even care enough to get her a sonogram machine?
Hayley stared at the floor, not wanting to have this conversation at all. "It was a one-time thing. I was drunk. He was drunk. It shouldn't even be possible…" she trailed off, still not entirely sure how it even was possible. Nature's loophole or whatever didn't explain how his dead semen was apparently not so dead. She nodded toward the room Klaus had gone into in case Tyler hadn't picked up on who she had been implying, but from his horrified expression she had a feeling he got it.
"You fucking slept with Klaus?" he demanded, clenching his fists to avoid lashing out and hitting anything. He couldn't have heard that correctly.
"And she wasn't even that good a lay," Klaus noted as he stepped back out into the hallway, smirking at Hayley's disgusted look and Tyler's confusion that quickly turned to anger. "You'll be staying here from now on. This one keeps trying to be a flight risk and while I do not care if her or the baby were to be killed by one of Marcel's minions or the big man himself, my brother seems intent on wanting this child to be born." And perhaps it would be good to have something else to hold over Elijah instead of always daggering him. "It seems I owe him one after all the headaches I've caused over the years."
"How brotherly of you," Tyler snarled, still trying to reel in his anger. The delivery men were all leaving and Klaus started walking away, seemingly intent on leaving them to themselves.
"She's not to leave the house. Nor is she allowed any other guests aside from me or my family. Kill any who try to enter and are not staff," Klaus told him, not bothering to turn around until he reached the front door. "Oh and Tyler. I saw Caroline the other day. Didn't even mention you to me."
"Does she know you knocked up Hayley?" Tyler growled, desperately wanting to pick up his phone and tell Caroline just that. To shatter whatever illusions she might have about the monster in front of him, but no matter how much he wanted to do it, his body didn't seem to want to function. His fingers refusing to reach for the phone in his pocket and do just that.
"No, and alas, because of what you agreed to, you won't be able to tell her," Klaus smirked, and then laughed as the realization dawned on the boy's face. "Can't even utter the words in her presence. Or anyone's actually outside of those who already know. Funny thing compulsion."
"It's a real barrel of laughs," Hayley muttered, glaring at him, hating that fact that he didn't even bother to acknowledge her presence. Though considering that when he usually did she was being thrown across a room or strangled maybe it was better that he didn't.
"I'll call when I need you for something aside from babysitting duty," Klaus informed him, still keeping his gaze only on the young hybrid. "And Tyler, do remember what else we talked about. Feel free to satiate your needs with the girl. Consider it payment for a job well done."
He was gone before either of them could react.
Hayley stared at the door for the longest time, not wanting to look at Tyler, not wanting to see the betrayal and hurt she was certain would be on his face. She forced herself to look up after a few moments, sighing heavily. She didn't see any of it though; just worry etching his every feature along with anger before he turned to her, placing a hand on each of her shoulders.
"I am going to get us out of this," he promised her, still reeling from everything he had just learned, but he knew that he needed to figure out how to get them free. They couldn't remain in New Orleans, trapped in one of Klaus' houses and at the mercy of his whims. No matter what Hayley had done to him, how she had betrayed him, Tyler couldn't leave her to this twisted fate.
"No, you won't," Hayley told him, shaking her head at his empty hope. Hope was a luxury she knew had slipped through her fingers long ago and was never going to come back. Nothing would get them out of the spider's web that they were entangled in. "Come on. I'll show you your room."
Tyler hesitated, watching her head up the stairs. She looked defeated, nothing like the girl who had helped him break his Sire bond or all the other Hybrid's. Gone was the spark she had always seemed to hold inside of her, that sarcastic charm that she unleashed whenever she felt like it. He hated seeing her like that and maybe he wouldn't be able to get them the hell out of the situation they were trapped in, but if nothing else he hoped he could help reignite that fight she used to hold inside of her.
"How do you know the Originals?" Sophie asked and Caroline could sense the woman's mistrust, her uncertainty in the situation. Whatever the witches must have envisioned happening when she strolled into town, Caroline could see that their plans were falling apart before her. And all because she knew who Rebekah was, because of what the Original had said.
Caroline shrugged, sitting down on the marble slab as she tried to act nonchalant about the situation. "They're from my hometown." So not a lie. They were from Mystic Falls, just about one thousand plus years before her time. "Klaus unlocked his Hybrid side courtesy of one of my best friends and her aunt." Rest in peace, Jenna.
Once the Originals had slammed into town nothing had been the same. She had thought maybe with them all moving away, or Rebekah having at least gone on her little whirlwind adventure with Matt, that maybe the town would get some sort of peace, but Caroline wasn't stupid. Mystic Falls had become less peaceful long before the family had stepped foot back in it. Her friends and she had just been shielded from the atrocities that took place on nearly a daily basis.
"And what the girl said about you being the one woman he's ever loved?" Sophie continued, and Caroline could just see the thought process going on in her head. No doubt wondering how they could exploit that information to their own advantage.
She narrowed her eyes, not liking the silent implication that hung between all of them. The torch light in the cavern flickered in response to her emotions and Caleb placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to ground her, but she was having none of it. "Whatever idea you've got going through your head about using me to distract him get it right the hell out of it." She was done being the Little Blonde Distraction. Especially to him. "He's my friend and I will not be used in that way against him." Not anymore.
"Do you have any idea what he's capable of?" Sophie started, and Caroline hated the 'are you insane?' look being directed her way. "The amount of people he's killed, that he will kill."
"I know exactly what he's capable of," Caroline muttered, doubting the woman before her could say the same. No doubt she had heard countless stories, but she probably hadn't lived through the terror that Klaus could create, that he could unleash. "And unless you've got the ability to see the future don't talk to me about what he will do. Nothing is set in stone."
"She has a point." The older witch offered a gentle smile, but Caroline held her ground, refusing to soften because of the expression. Fool her once and all of that. If anything, the woman seemed pleased that she wasn't so easily swayed. "Klaus Mikaelson has always been a wild card and none of us can determine how will react to anything that may or may not happen."
"He's not just a wild card. If you don't think he has like a billion and one plans going through his head right now then you're fools. For every scenario he has like three other plans just in case something should fail in the first one." For all of his impulsivity, Caroline knew that was one thing the two of them did have in common. They were both planners. She just focused on parties while he seemed intent on world domination or whatever nefarious scheme seemed most rewarding that day. "But you didn't call for me to talk about Klaus. So let's cut to the chase. What do you want?"
Because they obviously wanted something, Rebekah had been right about that. Though she wondered about the rest of what the older vampire had said and knew she would need to meet with her after this meeting. There was no way she would sleep with so many unanswered questions running through her mind.
"How do we know we can trust you?" Sophie asked all pretense of cordiality gone.
Caleb stiffened beside her, clearly not liking the how the conversation was going, but Caroline placed a hand on his arm to stop him from responding. "You don't," she replied with a shrug. "But so far I don't know if I can trust you either. So, you know, we're in the same boat."
Claire laughed at that as she stretched her sore muscles. "You've got spirit." She walked over to sit down beside Caroline. "Good. You're going to need it with the viper's nest that you've entered."
She reminded Caroline a little of Bonnie's grandmother back before everything had gone to hell. Back before Bonnie had learned she was a witch, before Stefan and Damon, before Elena's parents had died. "I know bits and pieces of what's going on." All different tales from different players who all seemed to have their own stakes in the game. "I can feel it though. There's a...wrongness...that's the only way that makes sense to describe it. Everything is off kilter here and screaming to be righted." She'd been feeling discombobulated since they had driven into the city and she hated it. Her inner need for control was screaming at her to fix it, but she had no clue how to do so.
"That's our fault," Claire informed her, and Sophie snorted causing the others to look over at the younger witch. Obviously she didn't agree with that assessment. "Well, partly our fault. We all had our parts in the chaos that reigns here, Sophie." The witch leaned against the wall, staring at the floor and refusing to answer. "You'll have to forgive Sophie, Caroline. Her sister died to help us with part of our plan-"
"A needless part considering everything," Sophie spat, and Caroline wondered what the two women were referring to but knew they needed to stay on the bigger picture for the moment.
"As I was saying." The look Claire directed at Sophie was enough to stop the woman from interrupting again. "There was a balance to the city for many years. Werewolves, vampires, witches, we all lived as we pleased here. None of us quite in charge, but all of us having enough power to stop one section from taking over. But then the vampires were nearly all run out town or killed. That was back in 1919."
"When the Originals left...I'm gonna guess because of Mikael?" It was the logical conclusion. Caroline knew he was the reason the Mikaelson family usually left any city where they had created a home.
"Yes to both. There were still a few vampires around, but the majority were gone and those who remained were weakened or in hiding. Though we did not know that they were at the time. Werewolves and witches can live in relative peace with one another. We have nothing against them or them against us and so we ignored each other's presence." Claire sighed, cracking her knuckles as she stared up at the ceiling. "It was foolish of us not to notice the signs. The disappearing wolves, the dead tourist here and there, talk of a new king on the rise. But we foolishly believed we were the ones in power and you know what they say about egos?"
Caroline knew all too well how an ego could bring down even the most powerful among them. "Marcel rose to power under our noses. He was smart, starting out small, training his troops not to make too much noise. We tolerate some vampires to a degree, but not what's become of this city. They're everywhere, infecting the shadows with their kind." There was something about the way the woman said vampire that made Caroline uneasy. It was like she was talking about a disease or a plague. Something that needed to be eradicated. "When he ran the werewolves out of town we knew we had a problem and so we did something that we will always regret."
"What exactly did you do?" Caleb asked, speaking for the first time in minutes. Almost like a reminder that he was still present.
"They resurrected a witch," Sophie whispered, and Caroline glanced over at her, almost shocked by the turmoil in the woman's features as she pressed back against the wall.
"You didn't!" Caleb shook his head, looking between the two women in disbelief. "But you know the consequences, I know you do."
"We thought it would be for the greater good," Claire started, her eyes pleading with him to understand.
Caroline knew from Bonnie's bringing back Jeremy that doing such a thing was a huge risk and that it angered the other witches. "And not just any witch. No, they resurrected Marie Laveau. Except it didn't go correctly, did it?" Sophie continued, shaking her head, her lips twisted in anger. "Tell them what happened Claire. How your lot doomed us all."
"Wait, the Marie Laveau? Like the voodoo queen?" Caleb asked, and glanced over at Caroline seeing her confusion. "I'll explain who she is later."
"Yes, her. My ancestor." Claire sighed, turning her attention from Sophie to the other two. "We didn't think it had worked at first. Her body remained in the tomb, no sign of change at all."
"But my mother had foolishly brought my baby sister, not even a year old along with her when they did the spell," Sophie muttered, kicking at the ground as she pushed herself off the wall. "Apparently Marie's spirit went into the baby and to make matters worse, Marcel had seen the entire thing happen. He snatched her away as my mother crossed the threshold of the cemetery and because he had her no one dared cause him any harm. Too afraid what would happen to her."
"So you resurrected the powerful voodoo queen into a baby who was abducted by Marcel?" Caroline asked wanting to make sure she got all of that correct. "And who's Marcel?"
"The vampire king. The one who rules New Orleans," Caleb told her, shrugging at her arched brow. "Patrick tells me things when you're taking forever to shower."
"Three days in the wilderness!" she protested before turning her attention back to the other two witches. "Okay so he had the baby and then what?"
"He got another witch, one who didn't know any better, to bound the girl to him," Claire informed her. "Nearly stripping us of all our powers and making it so we can't do anything in retaliation to him. Nothing permanent."
"He's kept her, raised her as his own and she thinks we're the bad ones." Sophie shook her head. "My baby sister is the one who tracked the magic my eldest used so we could try and bring her back. She would have been the one to inform Marcel who disobeyed him and led him to kill her. She got our parents killed, never knowing they were just trying to get her back. Not that we even know if she's even in there anymore or how much of her has been replaced by Marie."
"We can't kill her or Marcel, not without first breaking the bond that has been linked between the two. Then hopefully we can send Marie back to the Other Side and Davina can live her own life and our magic will be restored. We all gave up some of it for the spell to work, thinking it would only be needed for a few days so Marie could put an end to Marcel's madness. Instead it's lingered for more than a decade and we've only weakened in what we can do." Claire laid her hands down on her lap, looking at Caroline. "We need your help to restore the balance, to free Davina and put Marcel in the place where he belongs."
"To right their wrongs," Sophie whispered, staring at the marble slab they were on. It was only then that Caroline realized they had been sitting on someone's grave.
"You do realize that I have no clue how I would even go about doing any of that," Caroline pointed out because she didn't. She didn't have the first clue how she was going to accomplish anything like that. She also didn't think she was being told the entire story or the entire endgame that the witches wanted, but she held that back. "Don't know if you know this or not, but I've been a Harbinger for oh….like two weeks."
"And you have all the necessary power to do what you must," Claire assured her, but Caroline shook her head.
"That doesn't mean anything if I don't know how to use it." Or trust that she should.
"That's where we come in. We can help you with all of that," Sophie told her, and while Caroline nodded, she wasn't sure she liked the idea. "We can teach you what we know, what Caleb's ancestors know and help you get ready for the battle."
"Wait. Hold up. Battle?" When did there become a battle? She hadn't heard anyone mention anything about a battle. Had she blanked out some part of the conversation?
"We're in the middle of a war, Caroline," Claire smiled, though the sweet grandmother look was gone, replaced by someone much more calculating. "And you are our Pièce de résistance."
Caroline rose, shaking her head at that. "No I'm not. I'm not anyone's anything in this. That much I do know." She took a step backward, looking between the two women, her gut telling her not to trust them and to get the hell away. "You have your own agenda here, one that I'm pretty damn sure doesn't just have to do with keeping a balance and that is what I am supposed to do. You want Davina back, maybe to release this Marie person to the Other Side, maybe to harness her power. But something tells me you won't be satisfied with just that. Or you wouldn't have done a spell you apparently shouldn't have done in the first place."
She didn't like how threatening Claire's expression had become, the daggers being glared in her direction reminding her of when Bonnie had been losing herself to expression. "Maybe I'll help you some because you do need your powers to be whole, but there's more going on here and I am not a pawn. Not to anyone." Caroline glanced at Caleb, nodding for him to start heading toward the exit. "We're leaving now. I suggest you don't follow us." She focused for a moment and light enveloped her hand. "I'm sure you both know what this means."
"We're on your side, Caroline," Sophie pleaded, and part of her wanted to believe that.
"I'm going to let you prove that with time, but I do not trust anyone right now. Not until I know the whole story." Caroline followed Caleb out of the mausoleum, not pulling the light back into her until they were near the gate to the cemetery. She stopped before they got there which caused him to stop as well. "Did you know they were going to do this? What they want from me?"
Caleb sighed, and it broke her heart because obviously he had known something. "My aunt put me in contact with them before I came to you." She stepped back from him, shaking her head in disbelief.
"So it was all just a lie." The friendship she had thought they were forming. His seeming to care about her wellbeing. God, she was such a fool.
"What? No!" Caleb shook his head, but didn't move toward her and she was grateful for that. "All I knew was I was supposed to get you to go to New Orleans, that the witches needed your help. No one bothered to really fill me in on the whys. If I was in league with them don't you think I'd have told them about...well...him?"
He raised a good point because surely the witches knowing about her...friendship with Klaus would have been something he would have told them right away if he was on their side. If there even were sides. She was confused. Except it was obvious that Caleb hadn't told the witches anything because they had been genuinely shocked to learn that she even knew the Originals. So that must have meant that some of her budding friendship with Caleb was real, right?
Caroline was still hurt by all of the secrecy, and it must have shown on her face because he frowned, sighing again and stuffed his hands in his pockets. It was a movement that she had come to associate with him whenever he was feeling badly or unsure.
"I'm going for a walk," Caroline told him, and from the way she said it she thought it was pretty obvious that she didn't want any company.
"Just...keep your cell on?" he asked, and she nodded before starting to walk off, but he called out which caused her to stop for a moment. "Are you going to come back to the hotel?"
"Yeah, I just don't know when. Try to keep Patrick calm." And with that she headed off into the night, needing to do a little thinking before she went to find Rebekah, knowing she needed the other girl's side of the story now more than ever.
"This is for us?" the girl asked, looking around the meager apartment in awe. Though considering she would have lived in the woods for most of her life, flitting from one grassy meadow to a dirty filled clearing, Klaus couldn't quite blame her for being amazed. He could vaguely remember his own awestruck gaze when his siblings and he had left behind their small village for larger cities.
Anna. Her name is Anna, Klaus reminded himself, knowing he needed to remember their names. After all, that was what an Alpha did and they had taken to him being their alpha. "You'll be spread out among the apartment complexes outside of the French Quarter. Which you are not to enter. Not unless I give word for you to do so. The rest of the city is yours to roam as you please." He waved his hand toward the window, watching the weres inspect the furnished apartment.
"Why not the French Quarter," another asked. Jack. His name was Jack. And Klaus nearly snapped at him, fearing disobedience, but realized the boy was merely curious. There was none of the mistrust he was used to hearing from Tyler coming from Jack's tone.
"Our old friend Marcel has a policy that any werewolf caught within its borders will be killed," Klaus informed them as he leaned against the wall. "And since we do not want any of you to die or for him to know of your presence, stay out of the area. If you need anything from it, let me know and I'll have someone retrieve what you desire."
They nodded, seeming to accept the limitations, but he would still have their movements monitored. It wouldn't be the end of the world if Marcel learned there were some wolves back in the area, but Klaus would rather keep their presence a secret for as long as possible. It was why he had them living in different areas of the city. That way if Marcel or any of his minions stumbled across one group they would hopefully not find the rest.
"Once I've regained control of the area you'll be free to enter its borders without worry," he continued, pleased that the group seemed to be setting into their place easily enough.
"And what do you want us to do for now?" Anna asked, and how he enjoyed the way she spoke to him. Keeping her head slightly bowed whenever she was finished talking. He'd seen it countless times when he had infiltrated the packs, taking who he wanted to become Hybrids, and while the Hybrids had done the same to him once they turned, it wasn't quite the same as it was now, completely under her own will and without the Sire bond asking for this allegiance.
"Live your lives. Get jobs if you like. Anything that will help you blend in with society. Simply be ready to take upon a task when I ask it of you," Klaus said, watching as the weres in the room nodded in agreement. He could smell their excitement, their anticipation for the coming days. Some of them would be sacrifices in the coming days. Those he deemed the weakest or those who might betray him would be the collateral damage when the time came for it. But for now he would allow them their happiness. It would only do to strengthen their bond to him. "But do know that if you fail me, my punishment will be swift and severe."
"We won't let you down," they all promised, nearly simultaneously, heads bowed in submission, and Klaus smiled as he left the group to go seek out the next and see how they were settling in.
His plans were going quite nicely, and while that pleased him, part of him couldn't hold back the paranoia that always came when life was going so easy. There would be something to trip it up, something out to destroy all the progress that he was making, there always was. But he would be ready and waiting for anything that was thrown his way and conquer it just as he had conquered his father in time.
Caroline didn't know how long she had been walking or where she had even ended up. All she knew was that the bright lights and cacophony of music seemed to be far away, though really it was only a few streets over, and she was walking down an empty street. The porch lights were almost all off, with only a few shining her way as she walked down the cobblestone pathway, and trying to make sense of everything she had been told.
Caleb had known the witches prior to their coming to New Orleans. Had been in contact with them even, and she wondered how many times he had been off to "call his mom" had really been him talking to one of the two women she had just left. It was taking a lot of effort on her part to real her emotions in, to not let them hang right on her sleeve for any to see as she walked down the street. Caroline knew that doing so was dangerous now, more so than when it had only been the bloodlust she would have needed to fight back when she was overwhelmed. Now there was the fact that she could cause the lights around her to flicker, the damn weather to change, and not to mention freaking make her hands and body glow. She couldn't let any of those things happen as she walked, not wanting to give anyone anything to notice.
Not that a pretty blonde walking alone in the Quarter wasn't noticeable by itself, something she had forgotten about as she nearly bumped into the two men who had stepped into her path. "Hello there, sweetheart," one of them greeted, and she was on alert right from that point. Not to mention bristling at the endearment that didn't sound all that great coming from a stranger's mouth.
She'd look more closely at why she was reacting that way to the damn word when she wasn't in her current predicament. "Yeah, I'm not interested," she told them, rolling her eyes at the two and side stepped around them. They flashed in front of her and she chided herself for not realizing sooner that they were vampires. "Still not interested."
Though this time she didn't attempt to walk around them. They were obviously older than her and it wasn't like she didn't have her own secret weapon if she needed it. "Did you get permission to be here yet, little vamp?" the other asked, and oh she did not like how he flicked her blonde curls off her shoulder.
"Permission from whom? This is America still, isn't it? Pretty sure I can walk in whatever city I want to without permission," she replied, glaring at the two and already feeling done with the conversation. Though, she filed it away that apparently this Marcel fellow liked new vampires to get permission to venture into his domain. That was interesting.
"Looks like someone needs to be taught manners," the first one laughed, the lecherous look he was directing her way making Caroline want to throw up on his shoes.
"I was thinking the same thing actually," a voice came from behind them, and Caroline didn't need to turn around to know that it was Rebekah. She wondered if the Original had been following her or if this was just a happy coincidence. With her luck, it really could have gone either way. "I don't think Marcel would be pleased to know you're bothering the tourists."
"She's a vampire. You know the rules. Any new vampires need to pay visit to him before they can roam," the lecherous one reminded, sneering at her and was clearly annoyed that Caroline had moved out of his immediate reach.
"Somehow I doubt he wants you harassing the newbies after you've informed them of what they're to do, hmm?" Rebekah continued, smoothing back her hair and already looking bored with the conversation.
"Technically they didn't even inform me of much. You'd think they would give like an address or something for where a girl is supposed to go so she can do this whole meet and greet," Caroline pointed out, crossing her arms as she assessed the two men. They seemed less intent to try anything with Rebekah present. "I'll be sure to inform this Marcel fellow of your-"
"Inform me of what?" another voice interrupted, and from the way the two male vampires stiffened at the sound, Caroline guessed it was Marcel. She also noted that Rebekah seemed to raise herself a bit higher.
"Are you the Marcel who I'm apparently supposed to meet?" Caroline asked, turning around so she could offer her best 'Miss Mystic Falls' smile in greeting. Whatever she had been envisioning when seeing him the actual Marcel didn't look anything like the monster everyone kept painting him as. But then again she knew Klaus, and behind those dimples was someone who easily ripped out others' hearts so Caroline knew that appearances were often deceiving. "This is so not on the travel plans I got when my friends and I decided to come visit New Orleans. I seriously didn't mean to disregard some policy that I didn't know about, but you know, your guys here should probably explain where a girl is supposed to go to actually do the whole greeting thing instead of trying to hit on her. Just saying."
Marcel laughed, waving off the two men who immediately vacated the area. "Well aren't you a spirited little thing," he remarked, appreciatively looking her up and down before his gaze rested on the ring on her hand. "And not as innocent as you look either. You're a young one and yet you have a Daywalker ring."
"My best friend's a Bennett witch," Caroline replied, looking down at her ring and holding her hand up so it sparkled a little in the porch light. "She knew about vampires before I even knew about them and helped me out." From the frown on Rebekah's face Caroline wondered if she had already said too much, but it seemed the answer satisfied Marcel's curiosity.
"Is she the one you're traveling with?" he asked, and Caroline shook her head, realizing that he was trying to get information out of her. No doubt trying to assess her threat level.
"No, she's off on her own adventure. I'm with some other friends. I've always heard New Orleans has great music and art and wanted to see it for myself." Which wasn't a lie. She did want to see what all the fuss was about. It just wasn't her only reason for hanging around.
"Food as well. Be sure to try our gumbo," Marcel suggested, and while he smiled still, Caroline decided she didn't like it one bit. It had an underlying sinister quality to it that reminded her of a viper waiting to attack. "And how do you know Rebekah?"
"I dated her friend Matt. We attended the same high school for a bit," Rebekah answered before Caroline could and she was grateful, unsure how she much of her relationship with the Original family she should reveal. "Back when I was attempting some normalcy. Imagine my surprise when I came upon two of your lackeys trying to hit on my friend. You need better help."
"I'll take that under advisement," Marcel said, and the sweetness he had been exuding was gone, replaced by a mocking demeanor that seemed to bristle Rebekah. Though the girl didn't react outwardly, Caroline could see the hate in her eyes. But Marcel was back to focusing on Caroline and picked up her hand even, pressing a kiss to the back of it and it took all of her willpower not to pull away at the gesture. "It was lovely to meet you. Feel free to drop by the club and enjoy your stay in New Orleans. I'm sure Rebekah will make mention of where it is."
"Thanks," Caroline beamed, still keeping up her facade. "I'll be sure to try the gumbo."
His smiled at Caroline, before he nodding to Rebekah, and then flashed off into the night. "Let's go," Rebekah muttered, grabbing Caroline by the arm and steering her down the road and away from the area.
"You seriously do not have to drag me!" Caroline protested, trying to break free of the Original's grip, but it was too tight.
"Of all the people you had to run into," Rebekah was grumbling, paying her no mind as she flashed away, dragging Caroline along. "I know Nik is gone for a few more hours so I guess we'll be having this conversation at our house." At least there no one would be able to listen in on them.
"Oh goody," Caroline muttered to herself, ignoring how Rebekah's grip had tightened at the utterance. They stopped moving once they were situated outside of one of the Quarter's townhouses. It was a far cry from the Mikaelson manor back in Mystic Falls, but there was something about it that just screamed wealth to Caroline. Maybe it was the detailing to the architecture of the outside?
"Well, come along," Rebekah hurried, already at the doorway and looking none too pleased with how Caroline was busy staring at the building instead of following her. "Unless you'd like me to inform my brother of exactly what's going on here and now."
"Inform me of what exactly?" Klaus asked, coming to stand behind Rebekah.
No. No no no no no. Caroline's eyes widened. She was not ready for this. Could she possibly flash away without him noticing her? Before she could even attempt any kind of escape, Klaus had spotted her and then flashed down to her, grabbing hold of her before flashing back into the house. His grip was firm but didn't hurt as he slammed the door closed, pushing Rebekah into the house as well.
He let go of her arm and Caroline brushed hair off of her face as she peered up at him, biting her lip at the steely gaze he had locked on Rebekah before turning to look at her. It softened a bit, but the determination was still there in his eyes. "I believe you both have some explaining to do."
Klaus had expected to find Rebekah at home when he'd arrived back earlier than he'd intended after finishing his business with the wolves. At first he'd chalked up the lack of her presence to her maybe being off somewhere antagonizing Marcel or blowing off some steam by shopping. His mind hadn't turned immediately to betrayal, which considering how volatile their relationship had been recently, was a sure sign that things were slowly returning to normal between them.
Then he had heard her return and those words escape her mouth, he couldn't help but wonder who the hell she was conspiring with about him. And then to find Caroline at the bottom of the step staring up at him with her wide eyes and troubled gaze, he knew something was going on and he did not appreciate being out of the loop. "Don't make me repeat myself," he warned, eyes flashing gold as he tried to get his temper under control.
"Oh don't be an ass, Nik," Rebekah started, but stopped talking when he flashed a glare in her direction. "Why don't we go into the living room instead of having this conversation in the hallway? I could use a drink." She had already turned on her heel before he could respond. "And I'm sure Caroline could use one as well."
Caroline hadn't moved from the spot he had placed her, still doing that delightful chewing on her bottom lip as she looked at him. "What are you doing here?" Klaus asked, studying her closely, trying to determine anything from the way she held herself.
"Didn't you say something about me probably enjoying the culture here? Maybe I just came to see what all the fuss is about?" She shrugged, not quite looking at him anymore, and he arched a brow at that. A telltale sign she wasn't being truthful.
"As much as I would like that to be true, sweetheart," he started, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "We both know that's a lie. So try again."
She looked at him then, sighing as her shoulders slumped. "I...don't really know where to start." And he could tell that was the truth which only worried him more. What exactly had she been keeping from him and why.
"From the beginning." Klaus had learned that was usually the best place to start. She nodded and opened her mouth and closed it a few times as she tried to formulate what to say. Perhaps Rebekah was right and drinks were needed. He steered Caroline into the living room, unsurprised when his sister offered them both a glass of scotch. He watched Caroline eye it warily for a moment before taking it and downing it in a matter of seconds. Klaus frowned at Rebekah who simply shook her head and sat down on the couch.
"Okay, so beginning," Caroline started, placing the empty glass down on the table. "So you remember how my mom took me to New York as my graduation present?"
"Of course," Klaus murmured, sitting down on a chair as well. "If I recall correctly, you rambled quite a bit on the phone when you couldn't sleep." He watched her smooth her hands through her hair, trying to cover up her blush, and couldn't help feeling a tiny bit pleased at the reaction. Even Rebekah's eye roll wouldn't bring him down.
"Right. Anyway. So we didn't just go there for touristy things. It was the main reason, but apparently my great grandmother on my mom's side had left me something and we were going to meet the trustee. Or I was the trustee. I don't know. The legalese confuses me. I was being gifted with something." Caroline shrugged, sinking down on the couch opposite from Rebekah. "I thought it'd be like a collection of ugly sweaters. Maybe enough money for a new transmission for my car. Something like that." He watched her look off, not at all liking the frown on her face.
"I'm guessing it didn't quite live up to your expectations." Klaus reached over; lifting the glass she had emptied and moved to refill it.
"If only." She still had that faraway look for another moment, before snapping back to reality. "No, instead I met my great grandmother. Apparently she wasn't dead. And apparently I had met her like once before when I was two or something, but my mom and I hadn't seen her since that day."
Klaus nodded, wondering when the story would start to become relevant to why she was in New Orleans, but knowing Caroline he needed to let her keep talking. "I'm sure that wasn't something you were expecting to see."
Caroline looked over at him then. "You don't know the half of it." And then she was looking at Rebekah while she wrung her hands in her lap. He watched his sister nod. "And I guess I just need to come out and say this part even if I don't know exactly what the hell happened because no one freaking fills me in on anything. But my great grandmother, her name, is-was-was because she's dead now. It was Valencia Valdis."
Klaus froze, staring at Caroline. He had to be hearing her wrong. Where had she heard that name? He glanced at Rebekah, eyes narrowing in rage. Had his sister put her up to this? Was that what was happening? Because the other option couldn't be true. But Caroline was still talking and no longer looking at either of them, staring instead at her hands in her lap.
"And she touched me and like totally disintegrated before my eyes."
Klaus shook his head, refusing to hear her words. Willing the woman before him to stop talking, for what was coming out of her mouth to not be true.
"I'm the new Harbinger."
He threw the glass he had been holding across the room. It hit the wall, shattering as it landed on the floor. The table with the scotch bottle was flipped next, followed by the end table, and whatever Klaus was able to get his hands on in his rage. He didn't know what he was destroying any longer, simply needing to let out the anger that was boiling in his veins. It couldn't be true. He refused to let it be true.
Not her.
Not her.
He vaguely heard Rebekah screaming at him to stop, telling him to calm down, but Klaus disregarded her, continuing to wreak havoc on the room. It wasn't until he heard Caroline's voice, barely audible through all of his rage, that he stopped moving and focused his attention on the girl.
"And now you hate me."
Her elbows rested on her knees, head buried in her hands and the image she created tugged at his heart. A brief flash of uncertainty coursed through him, wondering if she had known all along whom she was kin to, but he doubted it. He'd looked into her family background himself when he had been learning all he could about this girl who fascinated him, this baby vampire who hadn't wanted to die on her deathbed. Nothing had pointed to her being related to Valencia. And while Caroline was a decent actress, the sorrow she was displaying right now wasn't something she could contrive.
Klaus knelt in front of her, taking hold of her hands and forcing her to look at him. The anguish in her eyes only solidified his belief that she hadn't known. "I am going to fix this," he told her, the wheels already turning in his head.
"There's nothing to fix, Klaus. Can't exactly give her the powers back or anything." Caroline frowned, looking down at her hands in his own.
"That's just it, Caroline. You can never give your powers to another, sweetheart," he told her, making sure his voice was soothing as he tilted her chin so that she was looking at him. "You do that and you'll die just as she did." Something that was never allowed to happen. Not if he had any say in it and he would make certain he did. "You have two aunts, yes?"
Caroline nodded, scrunching her nose in confusion. "Yeah, what does…?"
"One in Seattle and the other somewhere in California," he continued, rising from where he had been kneeling. He couldn't remember if they had any children already, but they would be easy enough to dispose of. As long as Liz didn't try to procreate again then she would be fine. He highly doubted the Sheriff had time for that anyway.
Caroline nodded again, running a hand through her hair again as she tried to figure out what he was going on about. "Yeah, but…" she froze, staring up at him in horror. She would only have to give her power away eventually if there was someone in her family line to give it to. She was an only child and there wasn't any way she could have kids, the chances of her mother having any more was pretty slim, but her aunts. "No. Don't you even freaking think about it."
She rose, willing that not to be the way his thought process had been heading, but from the way he steadfastly avoided her gaze and the way Rebekah was doing the same she knew that was exactly what he'd been thinking. "You are not allowed to kill my aunts!"
"I will kill however many innocents that I have to so that you will live," Klaus informed her, unsurprised by her outburst. He caught the arm she was swinging at him with, stopping her from actually hitting him. "When was the last time you even talked to them?"
"They were at my graduation!" she protested, trying to get her arm free from his grip. "You leave them the hell alone."
"There's more that you need to know," Rebekah spoke up, and the two looked over at her. Though Caroline didn't quit trying to fight for release. Klaus kept his grip on her, still not hurting, but not budging either. "The witches know of her. Apparently they've been trying to get her here ever since she came into her powers. Though they didn't know of her connection to you."
"And I told them to get whatever ideas they had about using me to get to you out of their heads." Caroline growled at another failed attempt to wrench her arm free. "I'm rethinking this policy."
"Quiet, sweetheart," Klaus admonished. She tried to stamp on his foot, but it made no difference.
"She also had a run in with Marcel before I dragged her here," Rebekah continued, looking as though she was trying to not laugh at the power struggle. "I doubt he knows who she is and probably believes the lie that she's a vampire tourist, but we both know that won't last for long."
"You really do delight in landing yourself in trouble." Klaus frowned, and Caroline finally broke free from his grip when he seemed lost in thought, no doubt planning his next move.
"Right, it's been a blast, but I'm leaving now." Caroline looked around for her purse in the wreckage that was the room, plucking it out from under the destroyed coffee table.
Klaus blocked her path. "I'm afraid you're not quite grasping the situation you've gotten yourself in, Caroline," he started, and she rolled her eyes, trying to sidestep around him.
"He tries anything and I'll just zap him." Or whatever it was that she could do now. She really needed to name the shadow and light trick.
Klaus was having none of it though, not letting her leave the room and blocking her escape with his body. "He won't go at you directly, Love. No, he'll learn who you are, where you're from, and send someone to retrieve the person you love the most." Caroline froze, looking up at him in horror. He knew he had her attention then, knew mention of Marcel threatening her mother would stop her from fighting him for the moment. He placed his hands on her shoulders, sliding them up and down, creating a soothing motion as he continued to describe the horror Marcel would create. "Have her dragged down here, taunt you with your inability to find her, maybe send you parts of her. A finger here, an earlobe there, but you won't be able to do anything to him. Fearful it could leave you without ever locating where he is holding her captive. And then, when he has you right where he wants you, he will slit her throat in front of you, leaving you helpless to save her."
Caroline shook her head, fingers threading through her hair as she pictured it happening. The lights in the room began to flicker before shattering in their bulbs. She couldn't do this. She had nearly lost her mom only a few weeks before and that had broken her. Actually losing the woman just wasn't allowed to happen. She felt as though she was drowning and couldn't pull herself out of the water no matter how hard she tried to hold onto something to keep herself afloat.
"Hey, hey," Klaus whispered, and she shut her eyes, reminded instantly of that morning in the woods and his biting words that had cut to her very core. God, she couldn't handle any of that at the moment. "I'll send some of my people to watch out for her. Who do we have of the witchy variety near Virginia, Rebekah?"
Had she heard him correctly? Was he going to protect her mother? Caroline looked up at him through tear filled eyes. "I think Agatha is in DC. I'll give her call," Rebekah said, walking past the two of them.
"I don't have a clue what the hell I'm doing," Caroline started, trying to fight back the tears that desperately wanted to spill. Klaus kept up his soothing touch, rubbing his hands up and down her arms. She nearly leaned into him, wanting to curl up against his chest and seek the comfort she needed from him, but she forced herself not to. Instead she shook her head and took some calming breaths, needing to focus herself. "I need to get back to the hotel. Caleb's waiting for me."
"Caroline, if you think I'm letting you leave this house right now you have lost your mind," Klaus growled, his touch no longer soothing, hands tightly gripping her arms. Not until he could secure a new plan, figure out how they would work in Caroline being the Harbinger into the chaos that was already reigning over the city.
"Excuse you." She pushed away from him then, breaking his hold on her arms. "You don't get to tell me if I can leave this house or not. I am not one of your possessions, Klaus. I'm your friend and friends don't do that."
He was up in her personal space again, nose nearly touching hers and she pressed her hands against his chest, trying to keep up a barrier. "I really think it's time you stopped pretending all we are is friends," he told her, and oh god, his hands were in her hair, almost cradling her head. If she just leaned in that fraction of an inch, Caroline knew her lips could brush against his, but she pushed at his chest again, refusing to acknowledge what he was saying to her.
"And I'm sorry for this, sweetheart, but you're really not leaving me much of a choice at the moment," Klaus murmured, resting his forehead against hers. She frowned, wondering what the hell he was talking about before his hands moved, effectively snapping her neck. Klaus caught her body as she fell.
"Agatha will be in Mystic Falls within the-really, Klaus?" Rebekah sighed, hanging up the phone as she walked into the room, pressing her lips together at what he had done. "She's going to be livid when she awakens. I hope you're ready to get entirely new lighting in this place. You already need someone to fix the mess you made in here."
Klaus lifted Caroline's body, cradling her close to his chest. He nodded toward her fallen purse. "Go find the witch she came with and bring him back here. I believe we have some catching up to do with him."
"And when he tries to fry my brain?" Rebekah protested as she picked up the purse.
"Explain to him that if he wishes to see Caroline again he'll refrain from doing so." Finished with the conversation, Klaus headed to leave the room, intent on putting Caroline somewhere comfortable for her rest.
"Does someone want to inform me why the living room is destroyed and why you're carrying Miss Forbes up the stairs?" Elijah asked as he walked into the room, surveying the damage.
"I'm certain our dear sister will be more than happy to explain everything," Klaus told him, heading up the stairs and to the bedroom that joined with his own.
He carefully lay Caroline down on the bed, listening to Rebekah's dramatic retelling of the situation as he pulled the chair from the vanity to sit beside the bed. He stared down at the girl, knowing his sister was right and Caroline would no doubt be furious with him once she regained her senses, but he had no time to contemplate that. Klaus leaned back in the chair, trying to figure out how to rearrange the pieces on his carefully planned chess board to accommodate the newest piece he now had in his possession. As well as how to keep her from succumbing to the fate of every other Harbinger through time. He had meant it when he said he would be her last love, and Klaus had no intention of letting any relationship with her last only a century or two. They would have forever, no matter how many had to die for it to happen.
AN: I hope this chapter lived up to what people wanted. Everything is definitely starting to come together now that all the players are in NOLA and have nearly all met. Thanks for the reviews, follows, etc. There will be an update again in a few days. :)