xoxobowdowntomexoxo - I like to think I'm pretty even with the power struggle between them when they fight. I would loveeee to kill off Bonnie but she's a little integral to the story. I did it by accident and now I'm stuck with it.

Rosabella98 - Oh I'm not over Kol's death either! It never happened, okay? Okay. Oh! And thank you for the sweet words. :)

Goddess of Deaths - Klaus and Katherine...moohahahaha. ;)

jomomayheart - I know, they've all been kind of Kol-less. I hate it. I need more of him but I have a hard time fitting him in between the plotlines. He's coming back though, promise!

Katie - More Kalijah just for you! (and...everyone else. :P)

NickeyBish93 - As you wish, darling. ;)

Thank you all for bearing with me through these long breaks between updates and for sharing your lovely words. Sometimes when I'm hanging on by a thread, your reviews are what help me keep holding on long enough to climb back up. So thank you for that, guys. I mean it. xoxo

...Psst! This story is nominated in the Klaroline Awards for "Best Underrated Fiction." You should go vote! ...I mean, if you wanna. :)

Chapter 10

With the bite growing at a rapid pace, Katherine had no choice but to swallow her pride and go crawling back to Tuscany to let Klaus cure her. It was infuriating and humiliating, but there was no time to look for an alternative. True, her grudge against Klaus was more momentous than anything. But her thirst for survival was bigger, so she begrudgingly carried herself up the pathway, brushing off the hybrid guards to force entry into the villa. She stumbled through the door, barely managing to stay upright on her stilettos and cursed when she nearly slipped, the sound echoing through the foyer. It brought an alerted Elijah to the scene. That figured.

He frowned as he watched her steady herself on the panels of the archway, her head hanging so mahogany curls covered half of her face. And she was panting. His heart leapt with slight panic at her disarray. He tentatively took a step toward her, questioning her appearance.

"Katerina...?"

She lifted her head slowly with a defiant glare, almost snarling. "Where's Klaus?"

He blinked in confusion at her tone so she pulled her hair aside and revealed to him the result of Lyall's venomous bite, taking up half her neck now. His heart sank and he rushed to her in a blur of speed, gently grazing his fingertips over the bite with saddened eyes.

"Katerina, I'm - "

"Save it." She let out an unsteady breath, a tremor running through her. "Where – is – your brother?"

"I'll take you to him. Just let me - "

But as he raised a hand to help her she collapsed into his arms, blinking furiously with a dazed expression. Her breaths were heavier, the effort just to breathe straining on her. But the look in her eyes was suddenly a lost one.

"Molya... Pozvolete mi da ya vidya..."
(Please... Let me see her...)

Elijah frowned deeply. "Katerina, can you hear me?"

Katherine clutched his shirt, looking around frantically as reality began to mesh with visions of the past. "Bebeto mi... Kŭde e bebeto mi? Daĭ mi ya!"
(My baby... Where is my baby? Give her to me!)

"Katerina. Katerina, shh." He smoothed her hair, caressing her face. "Look at me. Can you see me?"

Her eyes slowly found his, blinking hard as the fog dispersed and he came into view. "Elijah?"

"I'm here. Can you see me clearly?" She swallowed against the dryness of her throat and nodded. "Good. Just focus on me until we get to Klaus. I'll carry you there."

"No. I can walk," she insisted, a stubbornness lighting her eyes. Katherine Pierce was no damsel, damnit. And yet... "Just..." She exhaled slowly in annoyance, gritting her teeth. "Help me."

Without another word, he abided and led her carefully by the arm to the Great Room where Klaus was residing. He had a crystal tumbler in his hand, seemingly contemplating the golden liquid inside it when they walked in.

"Niklaus, we need your blood," Elijah told him quickly, not bothering to hide the urgency in his voice.

Klaus arched a brow and turned around, intrigued by what he saw. Katherine looked away, still holding firmly onto Elijah's arm as she coughed her throat raw.

His lips slowly curved upward. "Isn't this a long awaited sight..."

Katherine sighed when she caught her breath, shooting him a dull look. "Spare me the dramatic monologue, Klaus. We both know you'd rather see me dead."

He raised both brows this time, dimples rearing in delight, her torment captivating him. He nodded once, eyes glowing with amber as he bit his wrist obligingly and held it out in offering. Katherine's eyes dropped instantly to the bleeding wound – her salvation.

"All you have to do is ask, Katerina," he told her, smiling calmly.

When she met his gaze again, his eyes were sparkling with humor. She pursed her lips tightly, all too familiar with the game.

"You mean I have to beg." His smile widened and she huffed an exhale, looking away in refusal.

"Niklaus, please," Elijah tried. "We haven't time for your games."

But Klaus held a hand up to silence him, waiting for her to concede. Evil son of a bitch. She heaved a heavy sigh, feeling doubly weak now, and prepared herself to forfeit all the dignity she had left. It was the lowest thing she had to do to enable her survival, but she would do it. But just as she began to speak, he made a small sound of objection, eyes turning cold.

"On your knees," he ordered coarsely, watching her with contempt.

Elijah narrowed his eyes warningly. "Klaus."

"Forget it." Katherine cut her eyes to his hotly, infuriated. "I'd rather die."

"By all means," Klaus swiped the air with his bleeding arm.

As if on cue, her knees gave out and she collapsed against Elijah again, gasping in fear. He began to whisper consolations, stroking her hair to try to calm her pain. He looked to Klaus anxiously.

"Please, Niklaus. Just give her your blood. There is no need – "

"There is every need, Elijah." He cocked his head, eyes gleaming with dark amusement as his voice lilted. "Is your pride really worth more to you than your life, Katerina?"

She turned her head to glower, swaying against a phantom force that was pushing her down. Damn him. And his jackass father. With the greatest of reluctance, she finally surrendered and lowered herself to her knees, reddened by humiliation and rage. The words came out bitter and dripping with irony: "Please, Klaus. I beg of you. Cure me. Give me your blood."

Klaus beamed brightly, taking pleasure in her pleas. "A little louder, sweetheart."

"Enough, Niklaus," Elijah demanded in a loud growl, his own anger brewing.

"I said again!" his voice thundered through the room.

Katherine snarled, collecting every ounce of energy to lunge at him and grabbed his arm, drinking as much as she could before he tossed her across the floor only seconds later. Elijah crouched by her side, gaping up at his brother in appall. Katherine pulled herself up using Elijah's arms, panting and glaring acidly, blood smeared around her mouth.

"Go to hell, Klaus."

He snarled angrily, baring his fangs as his wolf began to emerge. He started for her but Elijah was there to block his path, pushing him back by his chest with his own vampiric features manifesting in anger.

"She crossed a line, Elijah!" he growled.

"So did you!" He glared a moment longer and retracted his fangs. "Leave now, Niklaus, or so help me..."

Klaus lifted his chin, his face transfiguring back to normal as he looked past his brother's shoulder to Katherine, her death in his eyes. His lips tightened and he switched his gaze back to Elijah.

"The next time I see her, there will be no mercy."

After the initial plan to find and bring Lyall over to their side had been set in motion, Caroline and Klaus went their separate ways. She wasn't sure if it was just his preference during his time of reflection or if he just wanted to wallow in his irrational doubt. Irrational because if Lyall really did mean well, if he really was his father, then of course he would want to help save his son. So why couldn't he get that through his thick hybrid skull?! Then again, getting through to him lately wasn't exactly the easiest task. For now, she chose to focus on the most pressing issue at hand, brainstorming with Bonnie and Stefan. With Grecia on the loose, Lyall at her defense, and Bonnie powerless, the suggestions were few and far between. Usually she was the expert at having hope, and at this point that was maybe all they had left to go on.

When all the commotion downstairs interrupted their thought process, Caroline volunteered to investigate. She didn't make it far, however, as Klaus was storming his way up the stairs as she came out.

"What's going on?" she asked as he ascended. "What happened to your arm?"

"Nothing that concerns you," he brushed her off, passing her by without a glance.

She frowned, both annoyed and confused by his tone. "Well, did you find a way to get to Grecia?"

"Working on it," he answered, heading in the direction of his study.

Caroline followed, keeping up easily. "And did Elijah talk to Katherine?"

"Yes."

"So she knows where your dad is."

"Yes."

"Then you can go talk to him, right?"

"Yes, Caroline. And I will." He turned around to face her, holding onto the doorknob. "Was there something you wanted or are you just following me around like a puppy for no reason?"

She scoffed, crossing her arms. "First of all, drop the attitude. I have done nothing to deserve you taking your anger out on me. And second, I wanted to know the plan. You know, to keep us all from dying?"

He sighed, opening the door and walking away from her. Her shoulders dropped and she followed him in.

"Hello! Earth to Klaus!"

"The plan is I am going to speak with my father about Grecia. And you will stay here."

"Uh, no. I will not be staying here, thank you."

He turned with an impatient look. "Do not start with this again, Caroline."

"Then let me come with you."

"If I don't trust him myself, what makes you think I'd trust him with you?"

"Then why should I trust him with you?"

"This isn't up for discussion, love. We're done." He slipped something into his pocket and walked out of the study again.

"It is up for discussion and we are not done," she demanded, following after him. "I am so sick of you not letting me decide for myself!"

He whipped around so she almost bumped into his chest. "Fine. I'll let you decide then. Will you stay here willingly or would you like me to compel you to?"

"Why do you always have to be so stubborn?"

"I could say the same for you."

"I am not stubborn, I am frustrated!"

"All the more reason you should stay behind."

Before she could protest, he had blurred out of sight and the front door downstairs slammed.

She groaned loudly. "Klaus! Damn it!"

Thanks to Katherine's information, (obtained through Elijah, via text message) Klaus was able to get to Lyall quickly. He had relocated from the Giardino degli Aranci to the Roman Forum, a rectangular plaza surrounded by the ruins of several ancient government buildings at the center of the city that was currently off limits to the general public. It was a secluded meeting grounds, perfect for talking business. Lyall waited between the massive pillars as the sun was at its home stretch, orange rays peeking over the horizon while the rest of the sky began to darken. Even with his back turned, Klaus knew he didn't need to announce himself.

"So you got my message."

Klaus studied his silhouette, keeping his guard up as he approached. "More or less."

"And what of Katerina?"

"Alive. For now."

"So there is mercy in you after all." He smiled and turned to face him, no trace of intimidation in his eyes. "That's good to hear."

Klaus peered, not so easily swayed by his amicable demeanor. "Let's cut to the chase, shall we? Your right hand man, so to speak, means to end us."

Lyall nodded, unmoved. "I'm aware."

"And yet you are doing nothing about it."

He spread his hands, out of options. "Grecia is of significance to me. I can't just up and kill her."

"Then you're sacrificing yourself." He glared angrily, a sense of expected betrayal settling in. "And me."

He exhaled exasperatedly. "Sit down, Niklaus."

"No."

"Sit. You wanted answers, I'm going to give them to you."

Caving to his demands, Klaus sat on one of the stone ruins, watching his father like a hawk. Lyall glanced between him and the ground as he decided how to start, wringing his hands all the while. An interesting mannerism, Klaus noted. If he could be rattled just by his own nerves, he wasn't impermeable. Good.

"Esther performed the same immortality spell on me that she used for your family," he began. "We went our separate ways for years after she left to have you, until one night she came back to me unexpectedly, offering me immortality. I didn't ask questions, and I should have. But here she was again, offering me endless lifetimes together. And I was a fool still very much in love. So she performed the spell, and the next day, my village was attacked by her husband – the man you called your father. My family lay in ruins as I rose back up from the dead, devastatingly hungry. I drained the first person I came across, and mourned their life, and mine. I went to search for Esther but I only found her corpse beside her youngest. Her husband, her other children, all nowhere in sight. So I ran. I waited out the night, waiting for the full moon to make me its prisoner. But the wolf didn't come. She never warned me, never told me about the seal she placed on us." He looked up, stricken. "Do you know what it is to feel lost, to lose who you once were and be forced to adapt to something you never deserved in the first place?"

Klaus swallowed, narrowing his eyes. He knew the feeling just as well. Every strike from Mikael made him feel less like he belonged. And the moment Mikael chained him up so his mother could seal his wolf away for centuries, he lost the half of him that had finally made him feel whole that first night he turned. He looked up slowly to meet his father's eyes with a look of understanding.

Lyall let out a small, relenting breath. "Then you can understand why I am grateful to have regained what was stolen from me. It is both a gift and a curse, being immortal. We are no longer bound by the moon, but we are burdened with everlasting life. Not many can withstand it, but there are few and they are great. And greatness breeds greatness. And that is exactly what I intend to do."

That ignited Klaus' suspicions once again and his intentions became clearer. "You're going to make more hybrids."

"We are. We'll build an impenetrable army. Together we can create a race stronger than any vampire or werewolf alive. You must know by now – we are not only hybrids but we are kings."

Klaus tilted his head, peering as he debated in his mind. The idea was appealing but... "Tell me why should I trust you."

Lyall blinked, perturbed by his lack of faith. "We are family, son. We are blood. My curse lifted the moment yours did. Don't you see? Your mother wanted us to find each other."

"On her terms. Once you'd done her bidding."

"What does it matter whose terms? The point is we're reunited." Klaus scoffed sarcastically, shaking his head in denial. Lyall licked his lips, softening his expression. "If I could have sought you out on my own sooner, don't you think I would have?"

"Would you? What prompted you now, hm? Your sudden ability to shift? Your want for more power? To create a super race? The same desires I, too, have had, yet you expect me to think that this – " He laughed snidely, waving his hand across the air, " – this alliance is in the name of father and son, of family? I'll give you one thing. I certainly am your son. But I do not share power. What's mine is mine. And if I should want, what's yours would be mine."

Lyall's eyes hardened. "You're wrong there, Klaus. You could never attain what I possess. My ranks are already growing as yours seem to be dwindling. You may be invincible but I can tear you down to nothing in the blink of an eye and leave you to rot a thousand more years. Do not tempt me."

Klaus smirked, cocking his head in amusement. "Ah. How quickly we go from civilized to cutthroat."

Lyall laughed. "You didn't think it was your mother's blood that instilled that in you? My boy, we could be a perfect pair if you only saw reason. I'm offering you opportunity, not despair."

"Let's go back to that little bump in the road. You resurrected a witch powerful and vengeful enough to slaughter the entire vampire race."

Lyall sighed, sitting down beside him. "It was misguided counseling."

Klaus laughed bitterly. "So you just expect me to believe you were blindly abiding by my mother's wishes with no ulterior motives for yourself?"

"Grecia is reckless and power hungry. And I needed a witch who wouldn't take 'no' for an answer. Your mother suggested – "

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why did you need her?"

"That's none of your concern."

Klaus' eyes filled with doubt, starting to swirl with anger. "Isn't it? You must have had some personal reason behind it. Perhaps it's that you'd prefer to use a witch to take down the bastard son you created because you are too cowardly, too ashamed to do it yourself."

"I am not ashamed of you, Niklaus. How many times must I tell you I want us to be allies, not enemies."

"You've no way of proving what your intentions are." He got up, walking between the pillars and looking outward as dozens of thoughts raced through his mind.

"Help me put the witch back in her grave, then." Klaus turned around and Lyall lifted his chin, letting him see his sincerity. "The playing field will be even, and perhaps then you'll finally believe I mean you no harm."

Klaus blinked, staggered by the double crossing. "You would willingly give up someone who could easily be your undoing?"

"If it meant I'd be fighting for my son – yes."

His heart stammered at the unexpected sentiment. And a part of him felt that he was just playing at an angle, but if he was willing to throw in with them to take down Grecia, who was he to argue? But first things first.

"Not until you tell me why you needed her in the first place."

"If I tell you, will I have your trust? Your loyalty?"

"Trust and loyalty are earned."

He raised a hand with a defeated sigh and nodded. "Fine. As I'm sure you're well aware of, the spell that created vampires originated from the witches. Esther was powerful enough on her own to make us what we are, but when she created the hybrid curse, she had to channel the power of her spiritual companion Ayana and infuse their magic to seal the wolf inside. When the curse was broken, that magic still remained inside of the wolves. Which is how I learned of a secondary way to create more hybrids without the use of doppleganger blood."

"Go on."

"Because of the hybrid curse, we are the only two vampires that retain magical blood. Ayana's blood. Her magic runs through our wolves' bloodstream, which is why any wolf we turn can retain vampirism. Your mother used doppleganger blood to turn us, which is why it was the only way subsequent hybrids could transition. When wolves are turned, they need magical blood to transition, particularly the type of magic that is tied to their maker. And since we have two kinds of magical blood within us, either one could function. The blood of a doppleganger, or the blood of Ayana." He clasped his hands in the space between his legs, cocking his head with a secretive smirk. "Or, more realistically, someone of her bloodline..."

Klaus' eyes widened as the realization hit him between the eyes. "Grecia."

"Precisely."

The revelation was almost too much to wrap his mind around. Grecia's blood enabled Lyall to create hybrids, the same way Elena's blood gave Klaus access to create his. If what he said held true, Klaus had a whole new plethora of blood to choose from. And she just happened to be under his roof. How convenient.

"Now you understand my hesitance."

But Klaus had moved on to a new thought. "How is it Ayana's magic runs through our veins yet we retain no power over it?"

"It runs only through the wolf's veins. I pondered the idea of our wolves having magic, but you know well enough their temperament would never allow them the patience to wield it."

He pouted his lips in consideration. "But it could be trained."

Lyall smirked, somewhat coyly. "Don't you think that'd be rather unheard of?"

"But not impossible."

He smiled, pleased. "Perhaps you are right. With the proper magical mentor."

"Speaking of which, thanks to Grecia's little "sessions" with Bonnie, she was able to break into her dreams and rob her of her magic. She's now twice the threat she was."

"That could pose a problem. Which brings me to the matter of the binding between us..."

"Binding?"

"My wolf gene was stowed away, just as yours was. Your mother linked the curses so that when you broke yours, mine would as well."

"So the link is severed."

"Not entirely." To prove his point, he held his hand up and shifted only his claws, grimacing at the pain. Klaus hissed when his own claws withdrew, looking up bemused. "Our wolves are connected. It explains why I spontaneously shifted from time to time. Just the other day I felt mine stirring for no apparent reason, so I assume the emotional overload was wearing you thin and your control on your own wolf was waning." Klaus looked up, bewildered. Lyall retracted his claws causing Klaus' to disappear as well. "We'll need someone powerful enough to undo Esther's magic."

"If we can regain Bonnie's power from Grecia, I could convince her to do the spell."

"You think she is powerful enough on her own?"

"She's a Bennett witch."

"That holds no weight for me."

Klaus leaned forward, raising a brow. "Ayana is the only known originator of the Bennett witches' bloodline. Bonnie is the last living descendant."

Lyall's expression slowly eased into understanding. "Grecia's kidnapping of Bonnie was not coincidental." He looked away pensively, considering the new information. It didn't take long for him to regain his resolve. "Very well. But Grecia will not willingly give up Bonnie's power. She would be leaving herself almost defenseless. Unless we find someone who can do a power transference."

Klaus smiled, vindictively. "I think I could arrange that." He rose, brushing off his jeans and turning on his way out. "Give me until tomorrow evening."

"Niklaus." Lyall stepped forward when he stopped. "If we are going to be allies, you need to trust me. I trusted you enough to tell you what you wanted to know. It's only fair you return the favor."

Klaus peered across the cobblestone, reaching into his pocket and looking down at the moonstone in his hand, stroking it with his thumb. He tossed it to Lyall with a nod.

"That belongs to you. Consider it a token of gratitude for your disclosure."

Lyall stared down at the marbleized stone in his hand, the familiar sight stirring old emotions inside. He looked up to thank him, but Klaus was already gone.

Once Klaus had departed, Elijah arranged transportation to move Katherine back to her temporary home in Florence. It would take a few hours for her to fully heal, so he helped her to her bed so she could rest while Klaus' blood worked through her system. He stayed long enough to make sure she was comfortable then stood up to leave. As he did, she grabbed his arm, her grip still weak. She didn't say a word - didn't have to. He could read the look perfectly, like always. It said "stay". And so he did. He sat in the floral print covered arm chair in the corner of the room, rubbing his chin in thought.

"What was he like?" he asked randomly, once the silence had grown too thick for his liking.

"The apple didn't fall far from the tree, that's for damn sure." His lips lilted in the tiniest of smirks but she looked at him hesitantly. "Why are you taking care of me, Elijah? You said you didn't want anything to do with me anymore."

"It's my fault you were hurt."

She nodded, the truth amusing her and making her feel even more foolish. "And so this is you trying to compensate for almost causing my death so you won't harbor any guilt and feel any less noble." She shook her head with a scoff. "Stupid me, thinking you actually cared."

His face grew taut. "That's a little unfair to assume."

"It's the truth." She raised a brow when she saw his lips twitch to object, but he didn't. "Or do you want to prove me wrong?"

He pressed his lips together and exhaled through his nose, frustrated. "Do you always have to be so inexplicably difficult or can you not simply accept that I care for your well being?"

"Well you have a real crappy way of showing it."

"I could say the same of you."

"I never lied about how I felt about you, Elijah. You were the only one I ever trusted and you took that for granted."

His lips parted with an incredulous laugh. "I took you for granted? Katerina, you have made it abundantly clear that you will always put yourself above anyone else. How am I supposed to put my faith in you when you would trade my life for your own if it came to it?"

"If you believe that, then you haven't been listening the last 522 years."

It was a pang to the heart for some reason. That she had counted the exact amount of years meant something significant, though he wasn't sure what. He swallowed past the stinging in his chest, trying to keep his composure.

"Explain to me then how you justify telling Grecia to go ahead with her plan of killing my family so long as she could ensure your safety?"

"It was a mistake. I was desperate, okay?"

"Desperate enough to sign my death warrant? And that is supposed to make me believe you love me?"

She rolled her eyes, turning her back to him to hide her shame. "I never said I was perfect..."

He stroked his jaw with his thumb, sighing in defeat. "You know, the last several centuries have been far from easy, but I have fought every step of the way. Because somewhere in there I keep hoping to find my dear Katerina. The girl that believed in true love. And in me."

Katherine frowned at the wall, a lump rising in her throat. "She's not here anymore."

He stood quietly, walking over to stroke her curls back over her shoulder. "She is there... I've seen her. Once, or twice. But I believe she's too afraid to come out of hiding."

She rolled her head in his direction with a dull look, humoring him. "And why is that?"

"Too much has been taken from her." He looked down at her shoulder, brushing his fingers softly against her skin as he sat beside her. "She clings to her humanity and her faith by a thread, but hides it so no one can take them from her as well. The way they have taken everything else. Her child, her life, even her freedom. And soon she became Katherine Pierce. Lustful, manipulative and cold, but also resourceful, beguiling, and strong." He turned her over so she faced him completely and shook his head. "But this double life isn't so fulfilling anymore, is it kotka?"

She could feel tears welling and fought against her frown but his Bulgarian nickname did things to her heart. She defiantly swallowed back her aching and forced herself to feel nothing. "I'm not your cat. And you can say all the pretty words you want. It's never going to make me run into your arms crying that you've finally found the key to my heart and opened me up again, and how could I ever have doubted you?" Her voice lilted in mockery. "You may have fallen in love with that girl from 1492, but she doesn't exist anymore. I'm what's left. And it's a take it or leave it deal."

He withdrew his hand, saddened by her denial. "How long are you going to pretend to believe your own lies?" He stood, smoothing his suit and sighing. "You're alone, Katerina. And you don't want to be. Once you can admit that, you won't have to be."

He turned to leave her alone, but Katherine was never one to let a man get away with having the last word. "I don't need you to "complete me", Elijah."

He turned back, pursing his lips with a wistful shrug, finally admitting his truth. "I know you don't. But perhaps I do."

.

.

A/N: So I just wanted to clarify a little something...I know the hybrid making concept might seem a little confusing right now but it's going to be much easier to understand in one of the next chapters. It's definitely going to come up again so it'll be explained in full detail. Just wanted to clear that up, just in case. :)