Chapter 10

Elijah slid through the forest, quiet as the midnight breeze, listening to the wolves that combed through the forest towards the mansion slowed by the many vampires Klaus had turned in order to use them as guards before he'd become a hybrid. He could hear the Salvatores and Miss Forbes as well, but ignored them. They weren't what he needed. He found what he needed in the form of a young man with curly blonde hair and blue eyes that flashed gold when he caught sight of the original.

"Yes, you'll do nicely." he said as he rushed the werewolf, knocking him unconscious and then lifting him easily.

"You truly think we need hostages?" Rebekah asked, appearing beside him, voice a whisper, and Elijah nodded.

"I think the only thing Stiles cares enough about to give himself for is his family. These wolves are his family." He paused, expression serious so his sister wouldn't misunderstand. "We do not need to harm them; we just need them there to convince Stiles to accept a bargain so we can release them once more." Rebekah nodded, and was off in a flash. There was a soft growl, which the other wolves replied to, but the original source of the growl never responded, and soon Rebekah reappeared with a curly haired blonde she-wolf in her arms.

"This should do." she said, and Elijah nodded. Together, they returned to the house.

Klaus met them at the door, eyes appraising the young wolves in their arms.

"Stiles should wake back up momentarily." he ignored Elijah's sharp look. "Make sure the little wolves are awake too, but keep them quiet." he glanced behind him at the man on the ground that was shaking his head as if dizzy. Elijah lifted a brow and Klaus smirked.

"I thought I might need a minion." he joked, and flashed over to crouch in front of the man. "Hullo there Jeffrey. And if that wasn't your name, it is now," his pupils dilated and contracted with compulsion. "Now then, you're going to be a good little servant and follow my every order. You're going to stand in this doorway, silent but stoic, until I nod. When I nod, you're going to go down to the dungeon where those two young wolves will be, and torture them. Not too badly, mind you, don't need Stiles going into a frenzy. But just enough to catch the boy's attention up here." the man nodded, unable to do anything but agree while under compulsion, but when he opened his mouth to ask a question, Klaus tsked him. "You won't be asking any questions, Jeffrey. Just following orders. Is that clear?" Jeffrey nodded again, standing in the doorway slightly unsteady, and Klaus picked up the empty blood bags that had been on the ground beside him. "Toss these out, will you? Then come straight back here. There's a good lad." he said as the vampire flashed off. Elijah was frowning.

"Niklaus-"

"Don't worry, Elijah. It will be fine. I only drank some of his blood."

"Enough to make him unconscious."

Not wanting to get involved, Rebekah hailed the new vampire, getting him to take the male wolf from Elijah's arms and leading the way downstairs. The brothers paid them no mind.

"Really, he'll be fine as soon as he wakes." Klaus lowered his voice conspiratorially. "I've never tasted anything quite so divine, Elijah. As if his taste is the epitome of goodness." Elijah looked startled, especially by the look of ease in Klaus' eyes, but he finally nodded.

"Very well. Do be careful though. We already know how strongly he reacted when it was only Elena that seemed threatened, as we had not actually threatened her yet when he attacked you. Imagine what his reaction could be when he finds we've taken members of his pack."

"I hope that he is still bound enough by the chains to feel obligated to bargain with us." Elijah heaved a sigh but again conceded. Though he did not necessarily agree with the means, he too wanted to assure that Stiles would remain with them indefinitely.

"I will leave you to your devices then, brother. Rebekah and I will return outside. We do not wish to interfere." he turned, then looked back briefly. "You will call for us when you are finished?" Klaus nodded and Elijah was off in yet another flash. Klaus was joined moments later by Jeffrey, and patted the man on the shoulder.

"Back to work then."

When Stiles came to, his head was spinning, and he could feel the stickiness of his own blood on his throat. He no longer felt lightheaded, and wondered if Klaus had given him his blood to heal him and replenish his strength. When his senses focused, he found himself still in the chair, across the room from Klaus once more, but this time there was a new vampire there as well, standing in the doorway as if waiting for something. Stiles focused back on Klaus, on the sharp gaze of the hybrid watching him.

"That was rude." he finally snapped out, and Klaus let out a bark of laughter.

"I suppose it was, and I supposed an apology is owed, but you must admit, neither of us expected your blood to taste quite like that." Stiles just glared and Klaus shrugged. "No matter. That is not of importance right now. What is, is the bargain I wish to make with you." Caught off guard, Stiles could only blink as Klaus spoke. Bargain? Since when did Klaus want to present a bargain? His brain scrambled to keep up as Klaus continued to speak. "The bargain is this; we will release you, as long as you promise to remain with us."

Stiles just scoffed, having expecting something more reasonable or at least more likely.

"Fat chance. As soon as I'm out of these chains," he trailed off, giving a sharp smile that promised bloodshed.

"You'll do as I wish, because if you don't, I'll have to find a way to persuade you." Stiles just continued to smirk, and Klaus nodded at the man standing in the doorway. Moments later he heard a pained cry, and Stiles stiffened, smile dropping from his lips. Klaus not only had him, but Isaac as well, and as soon as the shock faded, Stiles snarled, fighting against the chains.

"Let him go." he demanded, and Klaus smirked, recognizing that he'd finally found one of the youth's weaknesses.

"You think he's the only one we have?" there was a growl and Stiles recognized it as Erica. He closed his eyes. The hybrid must have caught them when he was unconscious from having his blood drained, but it made him want to raze the building to the ground, and his spark agreed.

"If you don't let them go, I will destroy you." Klaus chuckled, clearly disbelieving, and Stiles heard another sound of pain from Isaac.

"I don't think you're in a position to threaten, love." Stiles opened his eyes again and could feel his spark burning under his skin, lashing out against the magic in the chains to get at this creature who thought he could use his pack against him and survive, but Stiles knew it was never as simple as his spark seemed to want to it be. Isaac cried out again and Stiles snapped.

"Okay! I'll do whatever you want. Just let them go." Klaus' grin was a look of someone who knew they'd won, and Stiles gritted his teeth.

"How do I know you'll follow through?"

Stiles' lips pursed in a thin line.

"Get me a knife." Though he lifted a brow, Klaus was gone in a flash, reappearing an instant later with a blade. "Okay, gently cut a line on my palm." though it surprised him, Klaus was as gentle as he could be. "Now you." Klaus followed suit, and guessing Stiles' next words, clasped their hands together, their blood mingling. "I vow to stay with you, as long as you and those connected to you let my friends go and swear to never harm any of them again. In any way." though he'd been grinning earlier, Klaus now looked solemn.

"Jeffrey." the vampire who'd disappeared in order to torture his friends reappeared, and Klaus nodded.

"I accept your vow." they both felt the snap of power when Stiles' spark locked the vow in place. Stiles winced and Klaus watched curiously before releasing the youths hand, unlocking the chains and allowing them to be removed. Stiles stood slowly, expression pained. He grabbed his shirt, shrugging it back on, and then nodded at the doorway.

"Let them go now." his voice was steel and Klaus nodded, disappearing. Stiles closed his eyes, pained. I'm sorry Derek. He thought, before looking over at the one Klaus has called Jeffrey. In a flash of movement he threw his arm out towards the other before clenching his hand into a fist. In an instant, the internal organs of the other were all simultaneously crushed into dust, sending him to the ground, skin desiccating. Klaus reappeared moments later, glancing briefly at Jeffrey before lifting a brow at Stiles.

"He hurt my friends." Stiles said, and Klaus said nothing, instead changing the subject.

"How would you like your friends to return to the others?" Klaus asked, and Stiles stiffened.

"I'll send them." he walked stiffly towards Klaus, following him down to the dank dungeon that seemed to exist below all of the houses belonging to creepy vampires in this town, and Stiles was faced with Isaac and Erica. He quickly stepped towards the cage they were in, swinging the door open and moving towards them quickly, gathering them both into his arms and ignoring the curious gaze of the hybrid standing in the cell opening.

"You can't stay here, Stiles. You can't." Erica ordered, though her voice sounded heartbroken as she pressed her cheek to his. Isaac had his face tucked against Stiles' neck. He let out a whine of agreement and Stiles felt the tears in his eyes. God, how was he supposed to manage without them? Without his pack? Without Derek? He shook the thought off, releasing both of his friends and putting a hand on each of their cheeks.

"I have to. This is how I'm keeping you safe, okay?" he kissed Erica's forehead, and felt his spark wrap around her, prepared to take her where it thought she'd be safe, and Stiles knew that would mean with Derek. Before she could disappear she turned a sharp glare on Klaus behind Stiles, gaze full of rage and hate.

"If you hurt my batman, that fear you felt for your father won't even compare with what you'll feel when you face what I've got planned for you." she disappeared in the wake of his shock and Isaac lurched forward to cling to Stiles again. Stiles felt his cool tears against his skin and the burn of his own that still wanted to fall, but again he blinked them back again, turning to breathe words into Isaac's ear. The beta looked surprised when he leaned back, but then he gave a smirk that matched the danger level of Erica's. He nodded and Stiles pressed a kiss to his forehead as well, watching as he too disappeared to where his spark knew was safest. When they were both gone, he just stayed where he was on the cage floor, wondering if Klaus would leave him there or try and force him to move. Instead, the hybrid spoke.

"What words did you say that gave the boy such courage?"

Stiles stood, turning to face the hybrid.

"Just because I agreed to stay with you doesn't mean I'm going to suddenly jump to answer all of your questions." he stepped closer as if to move pass, but Klaus didn't move. "And now you're going to show me to a room unless you want me to assign myself one, because once I do, I won't be allowing anyone else in." without warning, Klaus caught him up and flashed upstairs, stopping in front of a closed door.

"This can be your room, but you can't hide in there forever, love."

Stiles just gave a deadly look.

"I'm going to take the next 24 hours to myself. I don't want food, or company, or anything. Just leave me completely alone."

"That's a tall order, love." the look only grew darker.

"You just forced me to give up my pack; my family, my friends, my mate. I think I deserve some time to myself." the words suggested Klaus could disagree, but the tone did not.

Stiles turned to face the door, but the moment he touched the handle he felt the needle slip under his skin, injecting something into his system. It hit him immediately, dizzying his vision and making his limbs heavy.

"What've you done?" he slurred, and Klaus shushed him.

"Just making Elijah's job easier, love. It's time to leave Mystic Falls, and making sure you can't warn your pack will make it easier to get you out of here before they realize we're gone." Panic spiked through Stiles, but he couldn't do anything about it.

"I can't l-" he tried to protest, but his eyes slipped closed and he slipped into darkness, panic wrapping around him. The boy went limp and he lifted him into his arms easily.

"Your turn Elijah; Rebekah. I'm going to start the trip. Meet us there when you're done." he started for the back door, prepared to run back to the small town to collect the car he'd left there. "Oh, and try not to get bitten."

"He's always such an ass." Rebekah grumbled as they heard Nicklaus leave the house, and Elijah sighed, fixing his jacket.

"Let's get this over with so we can join them." he lead the way out of the house, not having to travel far to reach the pack. They came to a stop in front of the two originals, and the originals did not bother to hide their interest in how the wolves aligned themselves. Both of the curly haired wolves they'd taken were there, but they were both guarded by other betas. Derek stood in the very front, flanked on both sides by his pack, but there was a clear notion of where Stiles belonged, in the slightest of spaces to Derek's right.

"I am glad to see the two members of your pack have been returned to you in good fashion. I always worry that Nicklaus will change his mind about that sort of thing." understanding what her brother was doing, Rebekah relaxed, drawling out an agreement.

"He's never been very good at following rules or answering demands, has he?"

"Where is Stiles?" Derek demanded, ignoring the banter, and Rebekah huffed out a breath.

"And here I thought you were here to visit us." she returned with mock disappointment. It only got her growls in reply.

"He's not here." Stefan interjected, appearing on the other side of the originals with Caroline, opposite the wolves.

"Neither is Klaus." Damon added, appearing seconds later.

"This is quite the predicament then, isn't it?" Peter mused aloud in that dangerously calm voice. "Where would the dear hybrid have taken him?"

Elijah brushed invisible dust from his sleeves, acting as if he hadn't heard the threatening tone of the older Hale's voice.

"My siblings and I are of like minded opinions that if we were to stay in Mystic Falls it would create unneeded conflict. We've decided to withdraw." there was only a moments breath before all hell broke loose. Derek roared in anger and his whole pack lurched forward behind him as if to attack. Before they could move, a shrill whistle pierced the air and complete silence fell as the wolves stilled.

Elijah watched as a petite red head stepped out from behind the wolves, moving to stand in front of them.

"I think you're confused." she provided, voice patronizing as she faced Elijah, and he didn't miss how the eldest Hale moved to flank her protectively. "We aren't really asking that you tell us where Stiles is. We are informing you that telling us is in your best interest." she gave a razor sharp smile. "You see, we know how to hurt you, and we know how to kill you."

"We are immortal. You cannot kill us, stupid girl." Rebekah snapped, but Elijah shushed her, watching the girl carefully. Noticing his gaze, the young woman smiled, this one no less cutting than the last.

"That's where you're wrong." she tossed her hair and with the motion Elijah heard a faint click. In an instant he caught hold of Rebekah and pulled her back, just in time. A wooden arrow stuck out of the ground, and from the angle it could very well have been fatal. In an instant, the arrow was in his hand, and he watched the human huntress land as she leapt from the boughs of a tree, moving to stand amongst her pack.

"This is white oak." he noted softly, looking back at the redhead, and Lydia nodded primly.

"It is."

"How did you get this?" though the news was threatening, he kept a cool exterior.

"Stiles informed you about how we only enter a situation prepared, didn't he?" Lydia inquired, and Elijah nodded. "Well. This is us being prepared." The smile dropped, replaced with an icy glare. "So give him back to us. Or we will kill you."

The ground began to shake and everyone went completely still, the pack exchanging glances.

"What the hell was that?" Damon demanded, knowing for a fact that Mystic Falls hadn't had an earthquake maybe ever.

"That was Stiles panicking without an anchor." One of the betas said matter-of-factly, and Elijah and Rebekah exchanged glances.

"Anchor?"

"Stiles is able to control and manipulate immense amounts of power. Creatures with that sort of strength need to have anchors to keep them from losing control." Derek snapped.

"But can an anchor not be anything the bearer of such power chooses?" Elijah asked, and Derek narrowed his eyes.

"Sometimes. Sometimes you don't really have much of a choice."

"And what is his anchor?"

"It isn't so much a what as a who." Peter snapped, gaze leading them to look back at Derek.

"I see." With a glance at Rebekah, both Elijah and his sister disappeared, leaving the pack alone with the three vampires. Furious and worried, Derek howled, and immediately the ground stopped shaking. Rather than relieving him though, it just made Derek more worried.

Elijah and Rebekah reached the car along the highway just as Stiles was waking up. He gasped for breath as if he'd been drowning and just finally managed to break the surface, and Elijah flashed into the backseat, checking the humans vitals as Rebekah slammed the doors and Klaus screeched off again, watching Elijah in the mirror curiously. Stiles was just watching him in shock, still gasping in breaths.

"How are you feeling?" Elijah finally asked when he was satisfied with his own checks, and Stiles blinked to focus.

"Um," he swallowed, throat dry, though he didn't realize it was from screaming. "Thirsty." he seemed to grimace, looking around. "For water. Just to clarify." Klaus chuckled, and nodded towards the glove compartment. Rebekah pulled out the bottle of water and tossed it back and Stiles dived on it like he hadn't had a drink in week. He drank the bottle down all at once, giving a breath of relief. "I really needed that." he finally managed, twisting the cap on and off the now empty bottle in a repetitive motion. He glanced out the window then between the three originals. "So where are we headed? I mean, since you dragged me out of Mystic Falls."

"Stiles, focus, please." Elijah reprimanded, and Stiles turned a frown on the eldest sibling.

"Focus? On what?"

"How you feel."

The frown deepened, and again he looked between them.

"Hold on a sec – how should I be feeling?" he seemed to loose all his colour all of a sudden. "Did something happen while I was unconscious?"

"If by 'something' you mean you created an earthquake and screamed nearly loud enough to make even me deaf, then yes, love, something happened." Klaus informed him, and Stiles looked almost sickly as he slumped back into the seat.

"I was afraid of that." he muttered, and Elijah frowned at him.

"Why?"

"The vow I took, it sort of semi severed me from my anchor. As long as I was in the same general vicinity, so basically as long as we were both in Mystic Falls, it was fine, but I was afraid that once the distance got bigger, there would be complications."

"And does this effect Derek as it effects you?" Klaus asked, and Stiles shot him a dark look.

"If you're asking whether or not leaving makes you break your end of the deal, the answer is no. Derek will be pain free. I would never have done something that would have caused him harm." his tone dripped with disgust, but Klaus just shrugged. Elijah chose that moment to step in.

"What will it do to you?"

"Oh, nothing too bad; Just make it so that every time I sleep things will get wild while my – whatever you call it – reaches for its anchor."

"Despite your words, I care little for the effect it will have on the surrounding areas. What I do wish to know, is what it will do to you."

Stiles shrugged, looking worn.

"Honestly, I have no idea. I've never separated myself like this before. I never planned on doing it either. I didn't particularly feel like losing control any more than I felt like losing him."

"You couldn't have always had Derek as your anchor though," Rebekah argued from the front, "After all, you haven't known him your whole life."

Stiles rolled his eyes just to irritate the blonde.

"I only needed an anchor once I got to the point of needing to be anchored. Basically the stronger I got, the greater the need."

"Can you survive without one?"

"Depends."

"On?" Rebekah grated out, and Stiles smirked, though he couldn't keep the sharp, nervous edge out of it.

"Need to know only." She snarled at him but he just smirked, crossing his arms as he sat back. The three originals shared a look but none argued with him, only waited for the boy to inevitably start speaking again.

"So," Stiles began again moments later, as they'd known he would. "Where are we headed?"