A/N Thank you all for reviewing!
"Oh, he lives."
Rebekah turned around at the sound of a moan, tilting her head as Stefan looked up, massaging his neck. He shifted on his back, clearly uncomfortable, turning his head when he heard Rebekah. He frowned at the sight of her, apparently having expected it to be Klaus.
"What happened?"
"You took a beating. My brother's been breaking your neck all afternoon."Rebekah gave a ghost of a smile as Stefan groaned, shaking her head with a tut."Quite the temper."
Stefan swallowed at the mention of the hybrid, turning around onto his knees as he straightened. He looked around for any sign of Klaus, becoming more worried when he couldn't hear or see the hybrid.
"Why did he bring us back to Mystic Falls?"
"Are you honestly still trying to play dumb even though you were caught red handed? We already know what you've been hiding."
"I'm not hiding anything."Stefan shook his head as he got to his feet, rubbing his neck once more."I've done everything Klaus has asked me to."
"I'm sure Nik didn't ask you to try and turn wolf girl against him, hide the key to him getting his pets all while trying to plot his downfall."Rebekah gave a sardonic laugh, shaking her head, hands on her hips as she glared up at Stefan."You're sure to be on the top of his hit list when this is all over. That is if Maria doesn't find you appetizing when the full moon comes."
Stefan's eyes widened at the mention of the female wolf, and he quickly looked around, as if finally noticing Maria's absence.
"Where are they now?"
"With any luck, ripping that cow's bloody head off."
Stefan froze, his fingers curling into his palm and, noticing this, Rebekah gave a laugh.
"Don't fret, Stefan, we've got a front-row seat to the show. Nik wants you to be there, and I have an intense hatred for doppelgänger trollops."Rebekah drawled, an excited tone in her voice as she imagined the events that were to take place."And since Maria is desperate to see her brother again, i'm sure she'll do anything to make that happen. I imagine your sweetheart's end will be quite gory since all we need is her blood."
Stefan let out an enraged growl as he envisioned what they had planned for Elena. The male vampire turned around quickly and lunged at Rebekah. He jumped out of the truck and grabbed Rebekah, sending them both flying to the ground. He forced her to the ground, hand grabbing her neck to keep her pinned down.
"Where is she?"Stefan demanded, fingers gripping tight around Rebekah's neck, eyes dark with bitterness."If they've touched her..."
Rebekah's expression was blank for a moment as her eyes flickered over Stefan's face, a frown appearing. She quickly covered it with a small laugh, almost amused at how much Stefan reminded her of her brothers many centuries before and shook her head.
"Pathetic."
Rebekah easily gained the upper hand as she shoved Stefan off of her. The vampire cried out as he hit the side of the truck, vision blurry for a moment. Rebekah held him there as she grabbed a crowbar from the truck.
"Rebekah!"Stefan gave her an almost desperate look as he muttered."Don't let him kill her."
"Thank you, Stefan. Thank you for showing me that the only love worth giving a damn about is family."She angrily hit Stefan across the face with her weapon, smiling to herself when she heard a crack."And while Nik is a smug pain in the arse, i'll happily watch the little doppelgänger die. He'll have his little pets, and I'll get my family back."
Stefan shook his head, eyes shining when Rebekah hooked the crowbar behind his neck, pulling him toward her.
"Elena..."
"You really do love her, don't you?"Rebekah's voice was filled with resentment as she hissed."Consider me jealous."
A dark smiled appeared on her face as she drove the crowbar through Stefan's stomach, watching as his eyes widened with pain. She gave a sharp twist before knocking him aside, weakening the vampire more than he already was.
Rebekah hummed to herself as she stepped over Stefan, reaching down and grabbing his wrist before she began to make her way towards the entrance of the school.
"Come on, don't want to miss the bloodshed, do we?"
"So, love, are we just going to work in silence?"
Maria arched an eyebrow as Klaus gave her a smile as he held the door open for her with a beguiling smile, gesturing for her to enter first. Maria calmly entered the school without a word, hoping that the silence remained. She then heard the hybrid release a long breath before he followed her, the door shutting a moment later.
Maria continued ahead, letting her eyes look around curiously, comparing it to the high school she'd went to. The dirty blonde smiled musingly as she remembered that, despite hating her alarm clock and looking forward to the weekend, it hadn't been all bad. She'd actually had pleasant memories of her time in high-school, some that outweighed the bad.
And, amongst those memories, she remembered watching the clock, counting the minutes until she'd get to see Klaus again.
She remembered only understanding and processing her history homework after Klaus spent hours telling her what had truly happened considering he'd lived through it. She remembered almost giving up on art class until Klaus had, once again, devoted time in coaching her on appreciating the colours as well as the brushes.
"Taking a trip down memory lane?"
Maria bit down on her bottom lip to bite back a remark when she heard Klaus giving a fond laugh as he trailed behind her. She could tell by his laugh that he knew exactly what was going through her head and Maria shook her head in an attempt to rid of the thoughts.
"What is going through that pretty head of yours? My painting of you for your graduation present? Or you having the devil on your arm for your prom?"Klaus asked, simper evident in his voice as he followed Maria, eyes focused on the young wolf."I remember you, in the midst of our dance, telling me that had been the greatest year of your life."
He was silent for a long moment and when he next spoke his voice was a whisper."Do you remember?"
"I'm resentful, Klaus, not decrepit."Maria rapidly blinked at the memory, nails digging into her palm."It soon became the worst because a while after that I came home to find my mother's dead body."
Maria blew hair from her face as a breeze hit her and she looked up to see Klaus in front of her. She came to an abrupt stop before she bumped into him, attempting to walk around him but he stepped aside, it clear he wasn't going to let her pass.
"Look, we had a quarrel, it happens. I'm over it already."Klaus gave his most charming smile, holding out his arms as if he half expected her to run into them."How about I apologise by taking you out for a lovely meal once this is all over? I'll let you pick the place. If it makes you stop giving me the devil's eye, i'll even order myself some humble pie while my sister tells you my most shameful childhood secrets."
"No, thanks."Maria forced a kind smile, not in the mood for an argument, moving around him before he could stop her."And you say that as if Rebekah hasn't told me anything already."
The Original lingered, a tight smile on his face as he made a mental note of brutally murdering Rebekah's next boyfriend. He decided on doing the same to the next several before he let out a long breath to keep his temper in check and spun around on his heels, following Maria once more.
"You two have become fast friends."
"Of course, she's now second in command of 'I hate Klaus Mikaelson' club'."Maria replied without any emotion in her voice, attention still on observing the high school."We're thinking of getting t-shirts made. Considering how much people you've crossed, we're certain they'll be a bestseller."
The Original didn't bother to hide his smile, a laugh soon following."Yes, well-"
Klaus suddenly cut himself off which made Maria frown because if anyone loved the sound of his own voice, it was Klaus even in his worst of moods. Maria's frown was replaced with a smile as she revelled in the silence, happily humming to herself as she carried on making her way down the hallway.
"Honey?"Klaus whispered to himself, giving a puzzled frown as he looked to Maria."Why the bloody hell am I smelling honey?"
The wolf rolled her eyes, parting lips to almost plead that they don't talk about anything apart from the plan. If they were going to do this, if she was going to be attached to his side, then she wanted to do it quietly. But, before she could get the words out, she inhaled and realized that he was right. Honey. Maria frowned, also wondering why they would smell honey in the hallway of a high school.
"Why-"
Maria cut herself off, her eyes widening when memories of herself and her brother plotting with their friends. She remembered coating their most despised teacher's classrooms handles with honey before glueing down their books to their desk as well as their staplers, desk drawers and other things.
It was childish, but it was fun.
"Honey on handles."Maria mumbled as she connected the dots, giving the first smile in a while, nodding in approval."Classic."
Klaus' frown deepened, curiously glancing around for anything out of the ordinary before he turned back to Maria.
"And why, pray tell, are they smearing honey on door handles?"
"For Senior Prank Night."
Klaus held out his hands almost more confused than before."Being vague is only going to bring up more questions, love."
"Senior Prank Night happens before the school year begins. Seniors go round the school and set pranks, ergo the name Senior Prank Night."Maria explained without looking back at the hybrid, a pensive look on her face as she added."Mostly happens in small towns. Like mine."
Klaus gave a disgusted look, completely snubbing the idea with a dull look.
"Never heard of such idiocy."
"That is because you were around before dirt."Maria muttered as she looked around, snatching a flyer from a board."Your pranks include daggering your family and killing whoever you deem crosses you. Oh, and killing mothers, even some that aren't your own."
Klaus looked to Maria, eyes wide and he looked surprised."Rebekah told you about that?"
"Uh-huh. You killed your mother, attempted to frame your father until it came out."Maria said, folding the flyer she had been observing and tossed it aside."It was a bonding experience, and from what she told me, it sounds like you've got a pattern. Someone upsets you, you throw a tantrum, and it ends in bloody murder."
"My mother rejected, cursed and abandoned us."Klaus hissed, the thought of his mother making his expression darken."Rebekah knows that. All my family know that."
Maria nodded, Klaus' description of his mother reminding her of Rebekah's. Rebekah had loved her mother, they had been close, but she knew that her mother had cursed Klaus and the rest of them. She had perpetrated her own pain on her children, lied to them and rejected them. It had taken her years to move past what Klaus had done, but she had managed it.
"She eventually forgave me, you know."The Original said, falling into step beside Maria, smiling as he remembered Rebekah slapping him before she hugged him."Granted it took a few centuries but she did listen to my side of the story, and we moved past it."
"My mother wasn't yours and, unlike Rebekah, I don't have centuries."Maria shook her head, swallowing as Klaus' smile gradually began to fade, and she sighed, walking ahead."Besides, you can't forgive the unforgivable."
Klaus instantly stopped walking, momentarily forgetting how to put one foot in front of the other and stared after her, unable to respond for a moment.
"Maria!"
The hybrid growled when the female wolf didn't react to his call, and he let out an annoyed breath, quickly following her. The Original flashed over to the wolf, grabbing her arm and firmly pulling her back, ignoring her angry grumbles.
"Stop walking away from me."His demand sounded almost like an appeal as he pulled Maria up against him."That is all I ask for now."
Maria struggled against the Original, glowering at him."Let go of me, you-"
The rest of Maria's demand was muffled as Klaus' hand clasped over her mouth, hushing her. The Original looked away, perking up at the sound of female giggles. He gave a devious smile as he hummed to himself, a familiar voice catching his ears.
"And if we don't create these memories now, then what's the point of it all?"
Maria peered up at the Original, looking slightly nervous as his blue orbs turned darker.
"Ah, there's our lost lamb."
Klaus listened for a few moments before he turned back to Maria, removing his hand from her mouth. Maria glowered at him but bit back a remark; it was not the time nor the place.
"This plays out just how we spoke about. No harm comes to my blood bag and if anyone tries to take her then, by all means, rid of them how you please."
Maria didn't like the thought of spilling blood, but she'd paint the walls crimson if it meant she got to see her brother safely again. Klaus knew this all too well so he had no doubt that Maria would live up to her side of the deal.
The young wolf studied him carefully."And?"
Klaus rolled his eyes with a laugh, as if affronted by her doubt in him. Maria stared at him, refusing to move before he gave her what she wanted.
"I get my hybrids with your help then, as promised, your brother remains safe, and you'll be reunited. I'm a man of my word."Klaus verbally confirmed his promise with a firm nod before he added."Are you with me, Maria?"
Maria didn't reply verbally, but she did give a firm nod. The wolf knew that she had no chance against Klaus and she'd built up resentment for a long time. Because of this she silently hoped that things came to blows with the doppelgänger and her friends so that she could let out all the pent-up bitterness she'd been carrying with her.
"It's showtime."
Klaus took a step back, nodding at Maria who merely glanced at him before she sped off, leaving a gush of wind in her wake. Klaus watched after her before he moved backwards, following the sound of heartbeats as he made his way through the hallways.
"Get the faculty toilet seats, and Dana needs bodies in the gym. Let's go."
The hybrid shook his head, cursing Stefan as he heard Elena laugh to herself while casually ambling down the hallway. He caught sight of her through the windows of the double swinging doors before stepping out of view, turning a corner. He faintly heard the sound of Maria impatiently prowling the hallways, alert just in case someone got in his way and ready to tear them apart.
Enforced or not, she was loyal. He chose to look on the bright side.
"School's out for summer; school's out forever."The hybrid raised his eyebrows, giving a silent laugh as Maria crooned to herself, forcing open lockers to pass the time."School's been blown to pieces no more pencils, no more books, no more teacher's dirty looks..."
As he listened to Maria's humming, he turned just in time to come face to face with a smiling Elena.
"There's my girl."
Elena's eyes went wide, her smile instantly fading and her face going pale as she looked up at the Original. Klaus smiled down at her, the smile completely false and his eyes dark with annoyance. He looked over her, shaking his head as if he didn't want to believe she was alive, she guessed that was because of Stefan. The doppelgänger shook with panic as she stared up at him, afraid to make a move.
"Klaus!"
He gave a wolfish grin, and Elena decided to make a run for it.
Elena's face paled even more and she turned around, ready to run only to come face to face with a young woman not much older than her. The dirty blonde took a step forward, lingering as she gave Elena a once over before she offered the doppelgänger a small wave.
"Hi. You must be Elena. Stefan told be about you."
"S-Stefan?"Elena's eyes lit up a little at the mention of her estranged boyfriend."Stefan's here?"
"I'm Maria."The young woman carried on, completely ignoring Elena's question."We'll be spending a lot of time together tonight."
"Not willingly and not all good."Maria spoke through gritted teeth, glaring at something over Elena's shoulder before she forced a smile."I apologize in advance, but it's survival of the fittest."
The brunette frowned, slightly hopeful that the female was a savior but that hope soon died when Maria's eyes flashed amber. The young wolf took another step forward, a wider one, blue eyes dimming as she prepared herself for an attack. Elena shook her head, slowly moving backwards, chest heaving as she panted for air when she realized that she was trapped.
The doppelgänger cried out when she bumped into another body, wincing when a strong hand grabbed her wrist, yanking her to the side.
"You are supposed to be dead."
Elena looked up to see Klaus glaring down at her, dark almost black with rage.
"What are we going to do about that?"
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