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This is a short chapter - sort of a filler one just to get you all pumped for the next one which is a HUGE and a very vital one so you won't want to miss that!

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Cut And Run

When Melanie reached the top of the Salvatore's porch, she paused.

Something wasn't right. It seemed off. It seemed a little far too obvious to just enter this house that she'd never seen before through the obvious entrance.

But then again, these same doubts were what were running through Caroline's tiring mind as she breathlessly continued to summon Melanie to her rescue. She maybe out of it and weak but she still remembered to avoid the obvious traps in her plan to escape.

Without further hesitance, Melanie turned on her heel, walking robotically for the side of the house. She passed the tall windows, the parked cars as she reached the corner of the mansion. And as soon as she turned the corner, she heard footsteps encroach behind her.

Klaus.

Luckily for Caroline, Klaus headed for his car and Melanie was out of view. But just as he reached his car and was about to open the door, his head popped up. His head shifted around instantly. His eyes widened as he smelt a familiar scent. A scent that made his blood boil, his senses ignite and even grate his irritation. One that had a death wish to be in near proximity right now. His eyes were sharp, provident and dark as they focused on the corner of the house, near the back trees. Where Melanie just was.

"I thought I told you to leave", Klaus' voice was strict, annoyed.

Tyler stepped out of the shadows of the trees.

"I did. But then I heard you were leaving".

Klaus pursed his lips.

Tyler shook his head. "How can you even think about leaving when you're needed here for once. Caroline needs you. You can't just leave her".

Klaus laughed once, "Wow, mate, you're not very subtle tonight in showing your desperate need for my help."

"Caroline needs you." Tyler repeated.

"I know she does," Klaus tone changed. "And I'll be back before her next torture feed." Klaus turned to step into his car.

Tyler sighed, "Wait, is she alone in there?" Tyler asked suspiciously.

"Are you really asking me that?" Klaus questioned, he cocked his ehad to the side, "How stupid are you mate?"

Tyler pursed his lips, anger rifling through him.

"I've left her with Damon for now and Stefan will be joining anytime soon whilst I go run this little errand."

"Well-" Tyler began but before he could continue, Klaus cut him off, knowing what he was about to say.

"And I'm afraid you can't join the party. I've given Damon strict orders to keep you away from in there".

"You can't do that. I just wanna see her," Tyler was furious.

"I think you'll find I can actually. Now if you know what's good for you, mate, I'd leave town. Now." with that, Klaus shut his car door, started the engine and drove away, giving Tyler one last warning glare.

Tyler waited there for a moment before glancing back at the house. He weighed out his options. He really wanted to see Caroline.

In the end, he left, figuring out that it was probably best right now to not see Caroline, not in the current state that she was in anyway.

Elsewhere, Melanie managed to break in through the back door and reached the hallway to the cellar.

She should have been caught, Damon should have smelt her fresh scent by now, he should've stopped her in her tracks. But fortunately for Caroline, Damon was a little pre-occupied with his own problems involving Elena at the other side of the house. Above their raised voices, Melanie's footsteps and heartbeat along with her ravishing scent went unnoticed. But Caroline felt her presence; she heard the pulse as it neared her. It kept her alive and holding on, it made her own pulse quicken as Melanie continued towards Caroline in a daze. It tantalized her taste buds. She was just so hungry.

Melanie crept slowly past the cellar and up the stairs. She heard their raised voices as she half-ran up the stairs onto the first floor and made her way to the very end door. The door that, behind it held a weak Caroline captive.

Melanie hesitated at the door, glancing down.

But then she heard Caroline's voice. And it sounded real, it sounded close and alive unlike all the previous calls. But that was because Melanie wasn't in a state of disorientation now. She heard Caroline's quiet, broken call and instantly turned the handle on the door. Much to her surprise, it opened freely and she stepped into the darkness.

Melanie couldn't see anything except for the bright moon outside outline the figure of Caroline.

Melanie's breathing hitched as she hurriedly tapped on the wall beside her for a flip switch. After a moment of fumbling around, she found it and clicked it on. Instantly, she raised her hand to her mouth as she saw the sight in front of her.

Caroline forced her weighing head up as she forced her swollen eyes on Melanie.

"You came" Caroline managed, gasping.

"Oh my god Caroline, what happened." Melanie glanced around at the room. "Where am I? How did I get here? What happened to you?" she cried.

Caroline dropped her eyes as she tilted her head back.

"You're here… because I compelled you to…in a way." She blinked before looking up at a shocked Melanie.

"Get me out of here, please" Caroline pleaded in her cracked, hoarse voice.

Melanie blinked, her hand falling to her side.

"Of course" she said without any dithering. She was at Caroline's aid in a moment, trying to tear away her restraints.

"You were gone Caroline, what happened?"

Caroline took deep breaths as she took in the beautiful scent of Melanie. She glanced back, fearing Damon or someone would return soon.

"Just hurry up and get me out of here" she pressed.

"I'm trying" Melanie pressed as she fought with the restraints. Caroline's thirst was driven wild with the fresh blood literally staring at her in the face. She had to fight the thirst and think about her freedom rather than tear her source of freedom from limb to limb.

"I-can't-get-it-off!" Melanie fought as Caroline's hunger grew more and more with every waking moment. She fought against the vervained restraints, ignoring the pinch and burns as she helped Melanie free her.

And then their combined efforts worked as Caroline's hands were set free. Melanie helped her up as Caroline winced, her entire body was fragile, empty; she had no energy to even stand straight. She whimpered as the burns from her restraints on her hands started to wear off.

"Shh, it's going to be okay Caroline" Melanie soothed as she helped her up. Just as she did, just as Caroline managed to look up, she let out a deep, aggravated sigh as an all too familiar face met her at the doorway.

Elena.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Elena sang, "Thought I smelt fresh blood." Elena's smile was flashing as she folded her arms and leant against the doorway, a challenging gaze in her eyes. She was blocking her exit and with no doubt, Damon wasn't far behind.

And with her current limp condition, she had to act quickly.

With a blink, she mustered up all her energy, crawled out of Melanie's aiding grip and held her hostage before baring her fangs even though it hurt to do so and dug her fangs into her neck without holding back.

It was a quick drink; she needed momentum, just enough energy to get out of here. She was finished within a heartbeat, just in time to see a horrified Damon follow behind an amused Elena.

His eyes flashed from Melanie to Caroline. And then they were on fire as he realized what just happened and what was about to happen.

Caroline moved away from Melanie's neck, grabbed a tighter hold on her before her shallow eyes returned into their sockets fully and she sneered at Damon; her newfound energy and life soaring high.

"I think I've overstayed my welcome Damon, time for me to leave". With that, both she and Damon acted on impulse as she plummeted behind for the window and crashed through it. The breaking glass didn't hurt her and soon enough, she could feel herself flying, free-falling and felt Melanie scream and squirm in her grip. And just as she was about to hit the ground, she balanced her fall and landed perfectly, still clutching onto a wounded Melanie.

She glanced up at Damon still standing on the ledge of the window.

Caroline laughed, "Catch me if you can, slowcoach." and then she made a run for it in the woods.

Damon jumped behind her, landing not as gracefully as Caroline and was about to run after her but was instead faced by Elena.

"Leave her to it. She's already gone. She won't get far with no daylight ring".

Damon was furious, the anger within him about to spill over.

"It's your fault she got away in the first place, Elena." Damon spat furiously through his teeth. "And if I don't find her before Klaus gets here, he'll-"

"I'll kill you." finished a stern, unamused, hard voice. Elena's eyes darted behind Damon as her conceited expression dispersed.

Damon stopped short, his eyes wide as he slowly turned round to meet a not impressed, livid, enraged Klaus. You could see the fury and rage boil in his eyes and his fists ball up as the recent events gave him the urge to kill something, anything. And he couldn't choose between Damon or Elena for their stupidity and ignorance.

Maybe I should just kill them both; they're no use to me, he thought.

But there was a more questioning subject on his mind that needed his immediate attention.

Damon dropped his eyes as he prepared himself for the wrath of Klaus' fury. But then he focused them on something that stunned him. He had to blink twice as his eyes rendered upon the small child that stood behind Klaus. It was a little girl, so small and fragile, and so human, clutching on a teddy bear as her petrified, bold, bright eyes glanced from Klaus to Elena to Damon.

"Who's the kid?" Damon blurted aloud.

Klaus pursed his lips.

"That's exactly what I'd like to know." Klaus breathed through his gritted teeth.

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