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My longest chapter so far up ahead - hope you enjoy it!
I had been mentally calculating the time it took for him to find me with expectation and dread. Maybe it had taken him longer than I expected but I knew the underlying reasons why. He had been ensuring that everything was safe. That he was in control of this whole Homecoming dance.
I knew he was paranoid about running into Mikael. He had every right to be and I couldn't stop my own internal anxiety from flaring up. I had fled the boarding house from that man and from what I had gathered from Damon's words, his confrontation with Klaus would be tonight.
Klaus' paranoia mixed with my fear was already the beginning of a cataclysmic explosion. And I had no idea if I would make it out alive.
I could feel the pull drawing me to him once again. I could feel my wolf stir, satisfied at being this close to my mate. He was right behind me now, I could feel the heat radiating between us.
And then he spoke. "Hello again, love."
His tone was just as dark and seductive as I remembered.
"Klaus," I acknowledged, refusing to look at him.
Ignoring the subtle brush of his shoulder against mine and the small flare of heat when skin met skin, I turned my attention towards the band. "Quite the show before."
He softly chuckled and the rumble of sound sent a hot shiver through my veins. "Maybe I couldn't resist the theatrics." His gaze wandered down my body, appraising my outfit with a slow smirk. "Although it seems as though you did not receive the attire requirement."
Despite my reservations, a small, sultry grin broke through the barrier of my blank face. "Well I would say sorry to be a disappointment. I prefer outfits with more flexibility. Manoeuvrability..."
I turned round to face him, fighting the urge to roam my gaze over his form. As much as I hated to admit it, Klaus could pull off a suit impeccably. And, as my mind currently liked to remind me, that small internal confession was another step towards carnal surrender.
I lowered my voice to a teasing whisper. "Makes it so much easier to run away..."
He caught on to the words left unsaid with a tantalizing smile of his own. "And yet you did quite the opposite."
"A mistake on my part. And I'd rather not fall into some creepy trance, as my friend so aptly put it, so good talk." I began to steadily edge back, flitting my gaze away from the small flicker of amusement in his ocean orbs. "I'll leave you to your endless quest for hybrid domination." I spun around to leave.
"And why would I do that without a Queen by my side?"
That stopped me in my tracks and I rolled my eyes before turning back around. "Well firstly, that will have to mean you're a King, oh manipulative one, so I just can't see it. Sorry." I then scanned the garden quickly, focusing on a particularly jealous hybrid before adding, "Although, there's a naive female lackey of yours to your left who would surely leap at the chance."
"Oh come now sweetheart, two weeks apart and you've become astoundingly bitter, haven't you?" he drawled, complete with smirk as he took a predatory step forward. "We've barely had a chance to get to know one another."
"And that's a hint if I ever did see it. So take it, my lovely," I mocked back but he continued to prowl closer and my body instinctively froze, watching his lithe and graceful moves in anticipation.
I hardly noticed the cheers subside from the last song before immediately building up again as the band played to a slower beat. Teenagers gathered at the foot of the stage before separating off into partners and I observed them all curiously.
Klaus tilted his head to the side, listening gentle strumming of sound as he surveyed my expression with an indiscernible emotion. When I turned to him, he held out a hand. "May I have this dance?"
"And he's actually asking me for my permission," I stated, slightly incredulous and his mouth quirked up. He took one more step towards me.
"Well I did consider throwing you over my shoulder like the last time we met but then I realised how adamant you would be to such things."
"Run out of drugs, did we?" I drawled with an arched brow.
"Not one of my finer moments I'll admit," he admitted. "Not to mention, I don't feel like compelling every inebriated human here, so we will save that for a later date."
I scanned my surroundings, searching for a way out. A way to escape my conflicting uncertainties and an instinctive, rising hunger.
"Let's not forget, I am stronger than you," he reminded me quietly.
I had not forgotten. He took my silence as acceptance. He curled his hands over my own and tugged me forwards, closing the last shred of distance between us.
There was possessive strength behind his gentle hold as he guided my left hand to his shoulder, before entwining his own hand with my right.
I could feel his arm slide around my waist and held in an inaudible gasp as he pressed his palm gently but firmly against the small of my back.
He slowly guided our steps with elegance and a strange beauty. Our bodies were so close to touching yet so far apart. I could feel the heat radiating between us like molten fire.
My wolf yearned to be closer. To indulge.
I needed to force myself from going down that dangerous road and fast. "This is what people class as slow dancing?" I queried incredulously, arching my neck to scrutinise his expression.
Inquisitive blue eyes met mine as he replied, "What else would it be love, I'm curious."
"We are fucking swaying from one side to the other," I muttered, reluctantly dragging my gaze from his to observe a drunken girl stumble against her partner before hooking her arm around his neck to pull him down for an overeager kiss. "It's just an excuse to cop a feel."
"Well then," Klaus bent his head to whisper in my ear. "Who am I to go against tradition?"
I opened my mouth to reply but he twirled me around and I suddenly found my body arching back. His arms supported me as he guided me into a deeper dip.
Our faces were so close that our lips lightly brushed. For a second, I could hear nothing around me except the soft exhales of my ragged breaths. I felt no obligations, no worries... everything faded except him.
I relaxed back into his hold, showing a small shred of my trust in him to not let me fall. I knew he noticed my small surrender into submission but he never said anything.
He kept his burning stare upon me, his clear ocean eyes staring deep into my own... down into my soul. I felt slightly lost for breath as he gradually pulled me back up.
"Bit constricting, don't you think?"
I hardly heard his quiet murmur, never realised in my momentarily dazed state the way his hand had reached for my scarf. He rubbed the silky material lightly between his fingertips.
"Don't even think about it," I warned, cursing my meek resistance for falling for his alluring charm as a playful gleam flashed across his face. His fingertips continued to tease the scarf, ever so slowly loosening it from around my neck.
With a low growl of irritation, my hand shot up to his, with every intention in slapping it away. He swiftly flipped his hand, catching mine in his larger one and encased it in an inescapable warmth. Then he tugged. It was a gentle motion but I could feel the underlying strength of an original as he pulled me closer.
One arm wound around me with his palm splayed over the small of my back to prevent me from backing away. His head dipped to my neck, obscuring the skin from prying onlookers and with one swift pull, my scarf fell away.
"I am not parading your brand around for people to see," I hissed even though I knew it was an over exaggeration. The scar was barely visible to the human eye. A vampire however... "I'd rather not be known as the new girl with the biting kink."
To emphasise my point, I flipped my midnight tresses over one shoulder. The mark was hidden from view once more and he chuckled. I understood why.
Because whist I found myself locked in this sensual dance, we both knew I was not fooling anybody.
Sensing my troubled thoughts, he whispered, "There's no need to feel self-conscious about it, love. Unless you care about the frivolous opinions of your friends." His lips curved up against the shell of my ear, skimming lightly over the skin. His warm breath against my flesh caused me to bite on my lip hard. "I'll let you in on a little secret my lovely, they can't be angry at something beyond your control."
His touch was as gentle as his murmur as he brushed my hair away. His thumb traced a light path over the scar and I involuntarily shuddered.
"Then again," he mused with a shrewd smile. "Maybe they will."
"Or maybe they'll start sharpening more pointy sticks," I retorted, causing him to smirk. "You were the one who bit me after all."
"And yet, you were the one who enjoyed it."
My throat went dry at his words and I swallowed, curling my fingers over the lapels of his suit as the remembrance of prank night flashed through my mind once more.
"Well well. Seems like we do have a bit of a kink after all," he murmured silkily with a pretentious smirk which immediately stopped any retort I had in its tracks. "And yet as I seem to recall, you were also the one who kissed me."
I looked away, ignoring the rush of fire to my cheeks when I shifted against him. I refused to give him any bloody shred of satisfaction.
"Ah, still in denial are we?"
"Don't even start inflating your ego, there were others," I responded in an attempt to rile him up but it did nothing of the sort.
"Ahh, yes. And now we're onto the subject, I believe we are in for a long overdue chat about your extracurricular activities." He drew slightly away from me and tapped his finger to his chin as he pondered it over with faux innocence. "Now what was his name again? Brad, Brody, no, that wasn't it... Brett perhaps?"
I arched an eyebrow, and let my jaw drop in mock shock. This was unexpected. "Did Stefan Salvatore actually blab?"
"As a matter of fact you are to blame for that one, sweetheart," he responded with a knowing glint in his eyes. "The things which come out of your mouth are quite riveting. Must really be a sight to behold."
"And one you'll never get to see..." My words faded towards the end as they suddenly took on a whole other meaning to me.
An uncontrollable surge of anxiety rushed to my stomach which reacted with a nauseating turn. A slick sheen of sweat coated my skin and my trembling knees buckled from the weak support of my muscles.
"Tell me what's wrong," Klaus commanded. He swiftly manoeuvred his arms around me, supporting my weight but I pushed him back, shaking my head vigorously.
"I can't be here," I gasped. My eyes were beginning to burn gold, my fangs were descending. My heart wouldn't stop pounding as I wildly scanned my surroundings for an escape.
Klaus' hand suddenly closed tight over my upper arm and gave it a sharp yank. I stumbled into him and attempted to match his purposeful strides as he pulled me away from the party, back inside the mansion and into a secluded room.
I vaguely heard the door close behind us with a sharp click before I flashed away and grabbed onto the arm of the sofa. I closed my eyes and attempted to control my ragged breaths.
"You know, insanity comes in different forms," Klaus casually commented as I dug my nails hard into the sofa. To anchor myself. "It prays on your worst weakness."
"Emotion." I breathed out the realisation. I knew that as a vampire, everything was heightened but all those anger bursts... the misplaced lust... this uncontrollable surge of fear.
The threads of insanity had been integrating themselves into my mind since day one of the claim.
"It will consume you eventually, Ria," he murmured and I looked up, shocked to see him surveying the vivid gold sparks in my irises with obvious concern. He took a step forwards and extended a hand. "Come on sweetheart, you know you want to," he coaxed softly.
I inhaled a shuddering breath and slowly closed the distance between us. When I was less than two steps away, he gently pulled me to his chest. His hand cupped the back of my head and he guided me towards his neck.
God, a part of me wanted him right now. My lips parted and brushed lightly over his skin, hovering over his pulse. His hold on me tightened considerably and a small rumble resounded in his throat.
It was tempting. It was alluring.
Lips dry, I couldn't stop the fangs from extending. The urge to mark him was so intense. I craved to claim him as my mate.
But if I did, everything around me would change. And I doubted it would be for the better.
I reluctantly lowered my head, pressing it lightly against his shoulder.
"My friends," I whispered hoarsely and he chuckled.
"You know nothing about mating do you sweetheart? I am going to enjoy educating you."
"I can't let you," I pleaded, trying to pull away but he didn't relent.
His breath was like a hot caress on my skin. "You are fighting against your instincts, your very core. This is tearing you apart."
"Then let it," I muttered, slowly grasping the remnants of my sanity once more. "I won't surrender."
"Sure you will." I closed my eyes, letting his voice lure me into dark temptation. "After tonight, I'll show you."
I trembled against him, my skin paling considerably as the reason for my breakdown in the first place hit me full force once more. The whole night, I had found myself lost in the arguments, the seduction, the insanity of a one sided mating bond.
And now the terror was rushing back. The threat of Mikael loomed over our heads.
He noticed my sudden change in composure. "You seem tense," he whispered. He cupped my cheek, raising my head up and I leaned into his hand with a small sigh.
"You always know."
"It is certainly riveting how well I can read you," he agreed, his thumb caressing a path along my jaw. "What aren't you telling me, Alexandria?"
I didn't want him dead, that much was certain but this was the moment when I had to choose a side. Because I had been wrong before. I wasn't going to be able to stand on the side-lines and watch the whole thing play out without one shred of interference.
The singular thought was tearing me apart.
"You have to leave," I blurted and at his furrowed eyebrows, I knew I had gone too far to turn back now. "Something's going down tonight - I don't know the finer details but it has something to do with your father. I can't stand by and watch him kill you."
His touch fell away from my skin and a part of me missed the heat. I watched the emotions pass over his face. Shock. Betrayal. Anger. And then there was resolution. "I'm not running."
I turned away from him and retreated back, feeling a strange sense of coldness with every additional step of distance between us. "Shouldn't be too hard, you've done it before."
"My father would have taken precautions should I decide to flee. He's been hunting me for too long," Klaus rationalised. "Although, this does explain your current bitterness. You want to know why I left you to cope with your rising insanity."
"You're choosing now of all times to do this?" I exclaimed, turning back to face him and was stunned by the true sincerity in his expression.
"I did intend on taking you with me," he murmured quietly. He took a step forwards. "I expected my father to follow my tracks. Stay clear from our hometown." I just stared at him, mouth slightly ajar as his soft gaze flitted away from me. "You were safer in Mystic Falls. I suppose... I wanted to keep you safe."
"Well crazy newsflash, so do I!" I shouted and when he looked at me with a small twitch of a satisfied grin, I swiftly added, "Don't even think of taking that as a heartfelt declaration. I just don't want your death on my conscience."
Klaus tilted his head to the side, regarding me intently. "Well then, I suppose we should do something about that."
"How do we find him?" I demanded, my determination mirroring his. His lips curved up in amused disbelief.
"Has being around my dear sister taught you nothing? We don't find my father, he'll find us. All we merely have to do is wait."
I shook my head adamantly and began to pace. I felt like an animal trapped in a cage. "No, what we need is to be one step ahead."
"All in good time love."
He then flashed towards me, putting my agitation to an abrupt halt. He pinched my chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting my head up to meet his blazing gaze exactly.
"Firstly, tell me everything you know."
"Ahh, Mindy, what is it?"
It was like all time had stopped when one of Klaus' newly turned hybrids entered the room and uttered the words we both dreaded.
"Mikael wants to see you."
My hands trembled and I clenched them into tight fists.
I instinctively looked up at Klaus to see how he was faring. At the subtle clench of his jaw, I stepped closer to his side, trying to squash down my rapidly rising terror.
His near presence calmed my animalistic instincts but only a little... because there was something else inside me. An indecipherable feeling which was yearning to be released.
Klaus' gentle hand on my shoulder was my only tie to stability. "Love why don't you go and join the festives?" he suggested lightly and a low snarl rumbled through my chest.
I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. I could feel a protective urge rising; higher and stronger than I had ever felt before.
"If she does, she will die. Mikael wants both of you."
Klaus hand slid down my arm and slipped his fingers between mine. Any reservations I currently had about him were temporarily put aside as I held onto his hand tight. Sending him a silent reassurance that I was still here.
"Then we mustn't keep him waiting," he muttered with a grim smile. "Move everyone out back. I'm gonna have a little chat with my dad."
Mindy nodded and walked away without another word.
That was when it happened. Like the snapping of a band, I surrendered. All coherent thoughts disappeared. Only four disjointed words raced through my mind.
Mate. Danger. Protect. Claim.
Anything beyond the door in front of me was a threat. I launched forwards with my claws extended but arms swiftly encircled my waist.
"Easy," Klaus soothed as he forcefully drew me back against his chest. "There are humans present."
"Since when did you give a shit about human lives?" I growled and his arms banded around me like a cage.
"Since you would be the one reaching into their chests and tearing out their hearts," he growled back. "I will not allow that in your current state right now."
When I continued to struggle against his restraining hold, he swiftly spun me around to face him. "Alexandria breathe," he commanded and I could hear the subtle undertone of the Alpha but found myself unable to fall to submission.
Instead, my wild gaze fell onto his neck and my fangs instantly extended. I dove towards his flesh but hands quickly pushed me back.
He tipped up my head with one forefinger, forcing me to meet his eyes. I couldn't concentrate on him at all. I was being driven by instinct alone. "You're mine," I snarled.
"Oh sweetheart, you have awful timing," Klaus responded back with strained and fear laced amusement. His lips softly brushed the corner of my mouth once before he whispered, "Let's put those emotions of yours to a just cause, shall we?"
He guided my head to his chest and I closed my eyes, breathing steadily in and out in tandem with the rise and fall of his chest. As I fought my instincts, my fangs gradually began to retract.
I gave it a few seconds longer before I raised my head and nodded, letting him know that I was once again in control.
His arms loosened their hold and he ordered, "Stay behind me."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Yeah, that's not gonna happen."
Klaus grabbed my wrist and pushed me behind him. "This time, Alexandria, I'm not negotiating," he commanded. "For now, this is between me and him."
I could see his trepidation and harsh reluctance and decided to let up, knowing that I had pushed his limits to the breaking point tonight.
The doors to the mansion were wide open when we approached. Mikael was standing on the porch, as still as stone.
A cruel smile played around his mouth at our appearance. "Hello, Niklaus," he greeted his son cordially before his turned his cold blue eyes on me. "And you my dear. I do seem to recall you running off on our conversation this morning. Politeness is not a virtue of yours either it seems."
I shrugged, unoffended. "You really should ask around. Some people just can't resist my delightful personality."
"Why don't you come in, father?" Klaus imitated Mikael's cordial tone and left the sentence hanging for a second before he mocked, "Oh, that's right. I forgot. You can't.
"Or you can come outside if you want," Mikael calmly suggested, causing Klaus to sneer.
"Or I could watch my hybrids tear you limb from limb." As if on cue, about a dozen or so hybrids appeared out of the shadows and stood silently on the lawn, awaiting instruction.
Mikael didn't even spare them a glance. "They can't kill me," he stated.
"True," Klaus agreed. "But it'll make a hell of a party game." He raised his hand, his thumb and middle finger hovering a centimetre apart. His voice lowered to a soft whisper. "All I have to do is rub these two fingers together and they'll pounce."
Mikael looked at Klaus, his amusement increasing. "The big bad wolf. You haven't changed. Still hiding behind your playthings like a coward," he spat out and I held in a cold tremble as his focus swiftly swept over me before turning back to Klaus with a victorious leer. "You only forget. They may be sired by you, but they're still part vampire. And they can be compelled by me."
I pressed my lips together, hiding a small grin. Predictable. Just as we thought.
One of Klaus' hands had moved behind his back and I scanned every one of them, making quick judgements before lightly pressing my palm against his. Sending him a silent confirmation that I could take them on.
Klaus' shoulders relaxed slightly and his forefinger tapped my skin once, letting me know he understood.
"No no no, please don't do this!"
My head snapped to the right and restrained myself from narrowing my eyes into slits as Mindy appeared with a struggling Elena. The doppelganger cried palpitating sobs as she was shoved into Mikael's awaiting grasp.
The original revealed a small dagger which he twirled between his fingertips. "Come out and face me, Niklaus. Or she dies," he commanded.
"Go ahead," Klaus whispered darkly. "Kill her."
"Klaus what are you doing?" I gasped, grabbing his arm but he roughly shook me off. I immediately made another attempt but he snatched hold of my wrist. "Don't let her die," I pleaded, twisting my arm fruitlessly as he squeezed his fingers tight around my skin.
"No, Klaus, please, listen to Ria," Elena begged shakily as droplets of tears streamed down her rapidly blotching face. "He'll do it."
"If she dies, this lot will be last of your abominations," Mikael threatened.
"I don't need them," Klaus declared. "I just need to be rid of you."
"To what end, Niklaus?" Mikael pressed over Elena's quiet whimpers. "So you can live forever, with no one at your side?" Klaus shifted and his hold around my wrist slackened as Mikael yelled, "Nobody cares about you any more, boy! What do you have other than those whose loyalty you forced? Even the girl beside you despises you."
My wolf was snarling inside my chest and I quickly squashed it down. For a slight moment I stopped struggling against Klaus' restraining hold and he squeezed my wrist gently, comprehending my simple action.
"You have no one." Mikael paused to let it sink in before repeating it with a hiss. "No one."
There was a tense silence, broken only by Elena's repressed sobs.
"I'm calling your bluff, father," Klaus finally responded through clenched teeth. "Kill her."
My struggles renewed with more vigorous attempts at his words. "Klaus, she's my friend!" I begged, forcing tears to my eyes and Klaus growled, yanking my wrist down to a more manageable restraining position.
"Seems like your little toy is getting antsy," Mikael remarked. "Come outside and face me, you little coward. And I won't have to."
"My whole life you've underestimated me," Klaus snarled. "If you kill her you lose your leverage. So go ahead. Go on, kill her."
Mikael stayed silent with a smile upon his lips, content to watch Klaus unwind. And I knew Klaus was all too willing to comply.
"Come on, old man. Kill her," he commanded and when Mikael continued to do nothing except watch, that was when he exploded. "Kill her!"
A loud and glacial laugh sounded which sent a shiver down my spine. I felt Klaus pull me inconspicuously closer.
Recovering from his amusement, Mikael murmured, "Ahh, your impulse, Niklaus." He let out a disappointed sigh. "It has and will forever be the one thing that keeps you from truly being great."
The dagger was suddenly embedded in Elena's back and an ear-splitting scream tore out of her lips. Mikael withdrew the weapon, watching dispassionately as she crumpled to the floor.
A tear dripped down my face as I yelled out at the sight of her unmoving body and Klaus' grip on me loosened. He suddenly pushed me out the way before a dark blur tackled him to the floor.
Damon was leaning over Klaus. The white oak stake was in his hand. He raised it high.
I wiped the tear away from my eyes which were sparking gold, all melancholy emotions replaced with cool determination as I flashed forwards, knocking the raven-haired vampire off balance.
"Ria, what?" Damon began, completely horror-struck.
"We're putting those margaritas on hold," I rapidly explained before snatching the stake from his hands and tossing it to Klaus who leapt to his feet and caught it in one hand.
"Katherine," I heard Mikael whisper and I whirled around just in time to see the doppelganger get to her feet, her stab wound healed.
She raised her hands and in her grasp were cylindrical objects. Her thumbs activated the triggers with audible clicks.
"Kaboom," she exclaimed before she sent them flying. The objects exploded and the white light from the blast caused the hybrids to stumble back.
"Now, sweetheart," Klaus commanded quietly and I smirked before springing into action.
"Well I'll admit that was enjoyable to see," I announced as I flashed to Katherine's side and pulled her away as Klaus sprang towards an anticipating Mikael with the stake in hand. "The death, not the failed hybrid kamikaze mission."
"You knew," Katherine stated, with a sardonic twist to her lips. There was no betrayal, no shock. The bitch was just proud. "You both knew," she whispered, finally realising the true extent of the ruse.
"Well obviously," I replied, giving her a swift onceover of disapproval. "Slight overkill of peppiness don't you think?"
"It was not easy, my doppelganger is as drab as they come," Katherine answered whilst appraising her own outfit in disgust. I just shook my head.
"Now let's cut the chit chat shall we? Deep rooted rivalries will have to wait."
Katherine nodded and our eyes narrowed as we surveyed the advancing hybrids. "So what's it going to be cupcake?" she queried but I could sense her eager undertone. "Snapped neck or hearts torn?"
"Let's dial down the bloodshed today," I replied as I leaned down into a crouch and at the doppelganger's silent demand for an explanation, I shrugged. "These are my favourite jeans."
I took one last glance at Klaus before I launched out of the house. This had been part of the plan after all. He trusted me to take down the back up, whilst he took on Mikael.
Cracks sounded through the air with every sharp flick of my wrists. The bodies dropped to the floors like puppets without strings. They were inexperienced. It was an easy fight.
I hardly heard his approach until it was too late.
Unfamiliar arms wrapped tight around my waist. They yanked me back against a cold and hard chest. Disorientated, I looked up to see Klaus freeze, his ocean eyes flashing gold with terror.
"No!" A voice cried out and the air blurred around me as Mikael zoomed us forwards. The vampire doppelganger didn't even have chance to flee as his arm shot out, squeezing her neck hard.
"You would dare to protect Niklaus' pitiful excuse for a toy, Katerina?" he questioned in disgust and Katherine spluttered, horror coating her features as her thoughts caught up with her actions. "Part Vampire. Part Mutt. A Mutant Abomination."
With one sharp twist of his wrist, a crack filled the air and she fell limply to the floor.
"What the hell are you doing?" Damon demanded and I stared at the pure white shock and horror which filled his face.
"Precisely what I set out to do," Mikael replied and I froze as he poised the tip of the stake over my chest. "You see Damon, I had every intention in killing Klaus… until I saw her. And the only way to kill my son is to kill the one thing that matters most to him." He paused letting it sink in before he spat out, "And that isn't his pathetic mutant army."
I watched Damon's expression pale as he put the two and two together. I saw his focus flit from Klaus' growing rage to my fruitless struggles.
Ice blue eyes narrowed into slits as he slowly leaned into a crouch.
Mikael lowered his head and nausea twisted through my stomach as he coldly hissed into my ear, "You honestly had the gall to think that I didn't instantly recognise that bastard's stench? Even without that wretched mark it's all over you. In your blood."
His head shot up to smirk nastily at his son. "How fun it would be Niklaus? To make you stand and watch without hope, as I drive a stake through your mate's heart?"
I clenched my jaw hard as the tip of the stake broke my skin but I couldn't stop an agonised cry from escaping my lips the weapon plunged deeper.
"How about I feed from her first?" Mikael spoke, ignoring my pained cries as he ripped the dripping stake out of my chest. His hand fisted into my hair, yanking my head to one side and exposing my neck. A growl of revulsion mixed in with my whimpers as he pressed his index finger hard against my mark. "I already know just the place."
Klaus let out an enraged snarl and he leapt forwards but Mikael held up one finger. "Ah ah," he chastised and plunged the stake into my chest once more to elicit a strangled cry from my throat. "One move and I'll kill her immediately."
One tear fell down Klaus' cheek and my own eyes burned in emotional and physical pain at the sight.
"See this is your true weakness, my son," Mikael whispered.
Klaus' features immediately turned blank. Unemotional eyes surveyed me with a coldness I had never seen. "She means nothing to me, let's end this!" he bellowed.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Damon's body immediately tense. He raised a foot to take a step forwards but I subtly shook my head and he faltered with furrowed eyebrows.
This was the opening we had been waiting for. A chance to expose the original patriarch's one weakness. Mikael's pride had surfaced as he relished in Klaus' suffering... his focus had been diverted from me.
Clenching my jaw and grinding my teeth together to supress another agonised cry from the stabbing pain in my chest, I carefully shifted my right arm behind my back, situating it between mine and Mikael's bodies.
"Maybe I won't kill you. Maybe I'll let you suffer for a thousand years. The way I suffered when you murdered my wife in cold blood," Mikael stated with cold and satisfied triumph. "Let your mate's screams eternally haunt you, Niklaus."
Klaus incredulous laugh was loud as he looked to me once more but behind those cold orbs was a hopeless and pleading urge. He sent me a slight nod and I instantly thrust my right hand back with all the strength I could muster.
My claws shot out like needles, impaling five thin, deep holes through Mikael's flesh.
Mikael yelled out; a mixture of surprise and agony and Klaus moved faster than my hybrid eyes could even comprehend.
He ripped me away from his father's slackened grasp and his hands shot out. He sent the original flying back whilst I pulled the stake from my chest with gritted teeth.
Damon was in front of us immediately. I faintly caught his rapid mutters of, "screw it," before he snatched the stake from my grasp and flashed towards Mikael.
My knees buckled. Klaus caught me as I hit the floor. He curved one arm behind my neck, gently tilting my head up just in time to see Mikael's head smack against the pavement. I watched with wide and gobsmacked eyes as Damon thrust his hand down.
He plunged the stake straight through the original's heart.
Mikael's mouth dropped open. His high pitched cries echoed through the night as his body greyed and burst into flames.
"Your screams won't haunt us," I promised the flaying corpse with an exhausted gasp. "Dick."
At my words, an irate vibration of sound met my ears and I gazed up to see Klaus already watching me. "Never again, love," he growled and a weak laugh escaped my lips.
"I'm all for that."
Klaus nodded before glancing down. His expression hardened and I lowered my gaze to see my top torn and soaked with blood.
His irises blazed gold and his fangs extended. He lifted his wrist to his mouth and bit down before pressing the appendage firmly against my lips. I curled my hands over his arm as the blood seeped down my throat. My tongue swept over his wound once and I shuddered at the tantalising taste.
An ache burned strong inside me as I leaned back to roam every aspect of his features through hooded eyes. And then my focus stopped at his neck. I wanted more. Needed more.
Every rational thought fully dissolved until only one word remained. It was instinctive. It was animalistic. It was sensual.
Mine.
Without thought, I slowly pulled myself up and loosely curled my right hand around the nape of his neck.
Klaus smoothly adjusted me to sit sideways against him when my left hand entwined with his. Never once did I look away from the thrumming of his pulse, completely and utterly entranced.
"Have at it," he encouraged.
Then he paused before slowly tilting his head to the side, leaving the flesh of his neck exposed. An alpha showing submission, my instincts whispered to me. One of the rarest occurrences in nature.
I inhaled his scent deeply. Faint undertones of cedar wood and scotch whiskey captured my senses and my eyelids fluttered.
My features began to change. My hazel irises burned a golden colour more vivid than ever before. I tried to force it away but I had no strength left. The urge to mark him was consuming me... my entire thoughts, my entire feelings.
This was it. Everything was about to change.
"Don't think," Klaus gently persuaded as I leaned in, nuzzling his throat in a move that was pure wolf intuition. "Just feel."
"Ria," Damon cautioned but Klaus quickly cut across him.
"This is tearing her apart from the inside, mate. Give it a few more days and the repressing would drive her insane. Let her do what she needs to do."
"You're enjoying this," the raven haired Salvatore accused.
"What this? Relishing in my father's overdue demise whilst a beautiful woman lies in my arms?…" Klaus deliberately trailed off before his lips curved. "Immensely."
Damon looked sick.
"Don't move," I murmured.
"Wouldn't dream of it, love," Klaus crooned and my resistance finally crumbled.
My lips brushed over his neck in a soft open-mouthed kiss before my teeth finally sank into his flesh.
A soft moan escaped my throat and I pressed my body hard against his as intense euphoria washed over me.
His arms contracted around me tight, the sensitive skin around my own mark tingled and hot fire coursed through my veins at his low sound of satisfaction.
I unwillingly retracted my fangs and buried my head into the crook of his neck. My body relaxed, my emotions calmed and my wolf was humming, finally satiated. I was unable to find the muscles to pull away.
My eyes fluttered closed as his fingers gently ran themselves through my hair.
"There we go," he whispered and I sighed.
As a sense of clarity began to settle over me, my eyes snapped back open and I paled a slight tinge. I had almost been completely unaware of two things: one, Katherine had fled and two, we were currently being watched by a disapproving gigolo.
His arms were crossed as icy eyes slid blankly from me to Klaus then back again.
When I lifted my heavy head, Klaus caught sense of my intentions and pulled me to my feet. When I rolled my eyes, he smirked but nevertheless released his support and stepped away.
He gave a nod to Damon as he passed. I didn't watch where he was going, too focused on the raven haired vampire in front of me.
"Why would you do that?" I asked him whilst tiredly scrutinising his chalky pallor. "You wanted to set Elena free."
Damon opened his mouth to speak before hesitating. His gaze drifted over my shoulder for a moment before casually crossing his arms and rocking his heels back. "Well for starters, we were right. Mikael was a dick."
"We?" I repeated with a sardonic smile, prompting one of his own.
"Hey, I had my doubts. Papa original was a little too creepy for my taste." He subtly rubbed his hand against his chest which didn't escape my notice. "And maybe this time, I'm your guardian angel."
I looked down with a soft smile, remembering the same words I had once uttered up in the Smoky Mountains. It seemed so long ago now.
And yet, something about the older Salvatore still seemed off. His whole body was tense, completely on edge. I furrowed my eyebrows, noticing how he looked at me for a brief second before quickly finding another focus.
"You're hiding something," I realised.
"Did Mikael give you a concussion to go with that ripped chest?" Damon queried with false concern. "Maybe you should get your psychotic boyfriend to tear open a vein again."
I scoffed but I couldn't hide my relieved humour. Any doubts I had faded with that reply.
As he looked away from me, Damon's jaw slackened and I furrowed my brows before turning around to see what had caused such a reaction.
Klaus was standing in front of a blank faced Stefan Salvatore and I listened in to his words.
"Thank you my friend. You no longer have to do as I say. You're free."
Stefan let out a low exhale and his shoulders relaxed before he flashed away.
Klaus then returned to me and sensing my inquisitiveness, he explained, "Damon earned his brother's freedom."
I smiled and looked around to see the older Salvatore's reaction but the he too had already disappeared into the gathering darkness of the night.
This was not how the night was supposed to have gone down. This had not been part of the plan. He had prepared for anything and everything... but not this.
Never this.
Damon rubbed his temple hard as he strode through the chilly night air with three words repeating themselves over and over in his head.
Ria.
Klaus.
Mates.
The problem had been rooted so much deeper than he had ever even comprehended. From the very beginning, Klaus' behaviour towards Ria had always been more than just simple fascination or obsession.
And Ria's irritability and rage... the nights she had spent drinking herself into a stupor since prank night... it had all been because she had tried to deny a mating bond.
How had he not seen it? How could he have not recognised the signs?
Mikael had known since his first interaction with her inside the boarding house. Rebekah had literally shoved Ria out of the house in a state of panic after said interaction with no explanation as to why.
Now Damon knew that the blonde original had been protecting her from the unpredictable original patriarch from the word go. She had known that if Ria had stayed inside the house, she would have been slaughtered.
And the icing on top of the freaking cake made Damon's insides crawl.
His brother had known all along.
And because he had been oblivious, had decided to bring Mikael to town with no thought of the consequences, Damon had been this close to losing his daughter.
A vibrating began in his leather jacket pocket and the older Salvatore automatically pulled out his phone.
He took one glance of the caller ID and despite his cascade of unsorted emotions, a small smirk tilted the corners of his lips.
At least one positive had come out of tonight. His baby brother was finally back to being his irksomely benevolent and righteous self once more. The raven haired vampire was more than ready to soak in the relentless words of eternal gratitude.
He put the device to his ear and strode towards his car with overconfident steps.
"So tell me little brother, have you regained your heroic sense of righteousness?" he announced with a shit eating grin as he pulled open the door to the front seat of his Camaro and slid inside. "Back to snacking on Bambi and all of his animal friends?"
The response he received in return was not the one he had been anticipating. He expected St. Stefan to be kissing the very ground he walked on. What he was not expecting however, was being accosted by a century year old teenager who was adamant in throwing a temper tantrum.
"You ruined our leverage against Klaus, Damon!"
The rage which fuelled his brother's tone caused the older Salvatore's own feelings of hot anger to rise.
"I did what I thought was best," he snapped back.
He slammed the car door with more force than necessary and decided to add more wood to the burning fire of Stefan's ire.
"And you know what? If I had the chance to go back, I would do it all over again. Screw leverage."
Stefan's dark laugh came as a sharp burst through the line as he mocked, "Today it was you who let your humanity get in the way big brother... all to save one minor collateral. You can be the one to tell Elena that you decided to save Klaus and his mate over her."
Damon bit back his snide retort. Although he loved Elena as strongly as his brother did, his daughter was not collateral. He had made it clear from the beginning that she shouldn't have played any part in tonight. His hands clenched the wheel hard. His knuckles turning chalk white.
"I'm going after him alone," Stefan stated, taking advantage of the silence. "And don't bother following. It seems to me that these days, you are dead weight."
The dial tone sounded and Damon snarled. His vampire face reflected back at him through the side mirror as wound down his window and flung the phone out with tumultuous force.
It smashed as it made impact with the tarmac. Damaged beyond repair.
I found myself standing outside the Lockwood Mansion, looking far beyond the deserted band stand and the neglected plastic cups which littered the floor. My eyes instead, stared out over the gardens and to the woods beyond.
Simply watching. Without thinking. I closed my eyes and just listened.
It was peaceful. It was serene. The senses of nature surrounding me would have calmed my wolf if it weren't for the faint whiff of burnt vampire flesh in the air.
The sound of confident footsteps reached my ears but I didn't look round to satiate my curiosity. I already knew who it was.
If I focused, I could tell where he was now with one simple thought. His exact location. And right now he was closing the final shred of distance between us.
"You were quite the fighter tonight," he softly appraised and my lips twitched up into a slight smile.
"And you were quite the actor."
Klaus wrapped a gentle arm around my waist. "For the most part."
"We knew it was a strong possibility," I responded quietly, feeling his muscles tense around me.
We knew that Mikael would find a way to use me as soon as he demanded our presence. He knew that I was Klaus' true weakness so we let him threaten me. It had been a risky move but his pride in seeing Klaus suffer turned his focus off me. His underestimation of me gave us the perfect leeway to catch him off guard.
Looking down, I let my claws slowly extend out before shrugging. "Luckily he didn't know how much of an abomination I actually am."
Klaus took my hand in his and lifted it up. "So this is what you meant by handling yourself," he murmured as he examined each claw with rapt interest. "Fascinating."
"Well," I stated as I smugly retracted the claws. "I like to think of it as having a one up on you."
Klaus chuckled softly and he reluctantly let my hand drop. "How do you feel?" he questioned softly.
"Less inclined to play Jekyll and Hyde on the townspeople," I answered before vaguely adding, "thanks for that by the way." Sarcastically reminding him that he was the one who initiated my descent into insanity in the first place.
"Well, I prefer a more unpredictable approach when it comes to you. Makes it more entertaining."
I shook my head with a small twitch of my lips, not bothering to retort with a quip as a small peculiarity in relation to our current closeness began to occur to me. And as I stood by him, I noticed there was something different. "The pull has gone," I breathed and Klaus nodded.
"It was a way to draw us to one another. Now the first stage of our bond is complete. No turning back now, my lovely." He tugged me around to fully face him. "Although, I am holding back," he whispered and I inhaled sharply as he pulled me flush against his chest. "Unless you want to exchange blood now, of course."
I froze. Conan had called the next stage the memory transfer. Klaus was already able to track my location, I wasn't about to grant him access to my past too.
"If you think I'm gonna let you sink your teeth into me again, you have another thing coming," I declared, silently making the vow.
But the vow was so weak and would be so easily broken because it was easier to believe my own lies than to accept the fact that even without the insanity looming over me, I was still drawn to him.
"What a walking little contradiction, you are," Klaus mused not believing me for a second. His lips curved up into a sinful grin. "I always did love a challenge."
I exhaled a shaky breath at the silent promise of pleasure those gleaming eyes conveyed. Very slowly, he was breaking down my walls and another piece was about to fall with my next words.
"You could have been the one to kill Mikael tonight. But you didn't."
Klaus' smile faded as he looked at me. "You were hurt," he responded simply.
His eyes drifted down. I followed his gaze and frowned at the state of my top which was still ripped and stained with a rusty, bloodied shade.
He placed his palm over the area. "Anybody who causes you pain, I want to tear apart."
So would I.
The thought came to me from a primal depth. It should have been easy to comprehend after tonight but the thought on an external level continued to shake me.
But even though I still found myself unable to admit those internal truths aloud, whether it be because of my unyielding stubbornness or the opinions of those surrounding me, it didn't mean that actions were off the table yet.
He still stood there, waiting tensely for an answer and I allowed my actions to take over.
"Screw it," I muttered before pulling his head down to meet my lips in a fleeting, fervent, claim before swiftly pulling back.
His blue eyes gleamed and his lips tilted up in a tantalising grin before his hand swept through my hair. His fingers curled around the tresses, angled my head to the right and slanted his lips over mine.
I could feel his desire mixed with my own and the sheer power behind his sensual actions made me breathless. I slid my arms around his neck. My legs shook under the intimacy and he dragged his mouth away, giving me time to catch my breath before swallowing my gasp with his next kiss.
His chest pushed against mine and I stumbled back until he entrapped me against the nearest wall. He pressed his leg firmly between the vee of my thighs, preventing my body from collapsing or arching as I bit back a strangled sound.
More. My wolf demanded but I couldn't fully let go. Not yet. Not until I was fully aware of how much of this was truly dictated by me.
I dug my nails lightly into his shoulders and he nipped my lower lip gently before stepping back to give me the smallest amount of space to recover. I took in a deep breath as his hands slid down to my waist.
"See sweetheart, not just the bond between us now is it?" he murmured, speaking my insecurities aloud with strained desire.
His thumbs absentmindedly caressed the curves of my hips and my heartbeat thrummed, my hands still linked loosely around his shoulders. It would be stupid of me to deny that after all of this, there wasn't the tiniest slither of true emotion behind my actions.
Klaus knew that too. He also knew that just because I had surrendered to him now, tomorrow was another day.
"I am not going to make this easy on you," I promised with a grin and his eyes glinted at the challenge. A game he was all too willing to play.
"I wouldn't expect any less."
"How did this happen?" Elena shouted. She felt sad and she felt angry but most of all, she felt afraid. The doppelganger held back her tears as the implications of tonight's events came forth in her mind.
Mikael was dead and Klaus was still breathing. How long would it take until he began to terrorise her life again? Take her blood from her body by force so he could create his hybrids? How long did she have left until another of her loved ones died at his hands?
She was never going to be truly free of him was she?
Damon, still reeling from the recent confrontation with his brother, stormed past Elena and poured himself a scotch.
"We thought of everything, Elena!" he raged as he turned back to face her, unable to control his fury. "Klaus having hybrids. Mikael turning on us. We skewered Rebekah, we kept Ria from the plan, we even brought in Katherine so you weren't in danger." He paced, back and forth with a sneer on his face. And then he yelled, "Anything that could have gone wrong we were prepared!"
He downed his drink in one and slammed the empty glass back down on the table before proceeding to pour himself another. He attempted to quell down his fear and rage to no avail. They were exploding from him in rapid bursts.
"I don't understand," Elena confessed as she shakily observed the raven haired vampire begin to break down. Her heart ached with the urge to comfort him but she held back, knowing that he needed to let this out. "What went wrong?"
Damon paused and this time, he placed his drink gently down upon the table surface. "We blew it. We didn't know Mikael's whole plan... it wasn't just Klaus he wanted to kill."
Elena stepped forwards and brought her trembling hands to her mouth to hide her gasp. "Ria," she whispered and Damon sighed.
"She's one of the few people in this town who I actually care about and she nearly got killed tonight."
How stupid had he been for believing that they might finally win? And because he had been that desperate to put an end to Klaus' life, his daughter's life had been inadvertently placed on the firing line.
"Bringing Mikael here was supposed to sort everything out! This should have all been over," he exploded. His hand flashed out and a second later, the scotch bottle went flying into the fireplace.
"Damon, please tell me the truth?" Elena implored softly as she watched the flames roar. "Is Mikael dead because of you?"
Damon looked at her. "I did what I had to do," he murmured and turned away.
Elena quickly started to approach him, knowing that he was trying to shut her out and she couldn't bear that. "Hey. Damon...Hey!"
When he didn't turn around, she curled her hand over his arm and forced him to face her, disregarding his spiritless attempts to push her back.
"Hey, listen to me!" she pleaded and he looked at her.
And she saw his fear, his grief at what could have happened tonight. And although she didn't understand the underlying reasons why, that look on his face caused her to reach out and cup his face in her hands.
"You did the right thing," she whispered. "I never wanted anybody to die for me."
Especially not Ria, who had warned her from the very beginning that Mikael was a bad idea. An unknown monster who had the potential to be worse than Klaus.
She was also beginning to wonder whether she would have survived the stab wound, had Damon not brought in Katherine to take her place last minute.
She should have listened to her new friend but she had been so focused on getting back at Klaus that nothing else had mattered. She made a mental note to try to apologise to the hazel eyed hybrid when she next saw her.
But until then...
"We'll survive this. We always survive," she implored, speaking her musings out loud. When Damon bowed his head, she ran her thumb lightly across his cheek. "Trust me."
"My brother has turned from ripper Stefan to revenge Stefan," Damon muttered back. "We're never getting him back. You know that, don't you?"
Elena's hands slowly slipped away from his face. "Then we'll let him go. Okay?" She broke off, sighing sadly.
Stefan had been her first real love. Doing this meant finally giving up on him but if he didn't want to be saved, how could Stefan expect her to stand by and watch as he destroyed himself?
"We have to let him go," she whispered and turned away. "We'll talk about it more in the morning."
When she reached the door, her footsteps paused before she turned back around. She hesitated at his frown before standing up on her tiptoes to place a chaste kiss on his cheek. "Goodnight Damon," she whispered before leaving the room.
Damon went upstairs shortly after Elena had departed. His hand gripped the doorknob to his room and he twisted, letting it swing open.
He suddenly faltered at the sight which met him and his stomach lurched painfully.
On top of his bed was a hand woven basket with a stuffed pink teddy bear peeking out of the top. Attached to the basket was a balloon and Damon paled as he read the inscription.
'It's a Girl.'
A shrill ringing suddenly sounded around the room and Damon took cautious steps forwards. He reached inside the basket and pulled out a phone which was wrapped up in a neat fuchsia bow.
The caller ID was unknown and ripping off the bow, he put the device to his ear, listening attentively.
"Did you like my gifts?"
Damon let out a groan. "Of course you knew," he muttered darkly.
"Well, duh."
The older Salvatore began to pace the room to curb his rapidly increasing agitation. "How," he demanded
"Oh please, I'm Katherine Pierce," the doppelganger responded simply although Damon was all too aware of the amusement behind her tone. "Nasty bit of trouble you got yourself caught up in during 1953," Katherine continued. "Those torture techniques would put even Klaus' methods to shame."
"Is that pity I'm hearing from the evil slut vampire?" Damon idly questioned, complete with a grimace as his mind replayed the torturous events which had a knack for tormenting the hell out of him as of late.
"No Damon, not pity," Katherine denied, causing the older Salvatore to roll his eyes.
By now, he shouldn't even be surprised. Even though she had proved herself useful tonight, the vampire doppelganger had and would always be a self-centred bitch... a self-centred bitch who refused to just stop babbling.
"Your own stupidity in putting your trust in somebody you hardly knew was what got you caught," Katherine continued and there was a deliberate pause which put the older Salvatore on edge. "Although, the more I think about it, maybe fate wanted to teach you a lesson. What was it you used to say again? Vampires don't procreate but we love to try? Congratulations Damon, you got your wish."
Her jeers ignited an ire inside which made him want to reach inside the phone and tear the bitch to pieces. Send her back to whatever hell she had been spat out of and through clenched teeth he snapped, "I am not interested in mind games tonight Katherine. What is it that you want?"
There was a momentary pause on the other line, enough time for Damon's anger to fade slightly before Katherine sighed. "I'm just calling to say goodbye," she confessed quietly. "I don't know what to tell you. You had a good plan Damon. But it came at a much too higher price didn't it? Even higher than the safety of your precious little flower of innocence that is Elena Gilbert."
A mocking tutting reached his ears before Katherine finished in a humoured whisper. "For your sake, let's hope that you never have to choose between them."
"It won't come to that," Damon sneered but the vampire doppelganger eagerly continued to deliberately add to the raven haired vampire's growing turmoil.
"Although, now you've made me curious, if you could only save one, who would you pick? The lover… or the daughter?"
Damon began to pace the room. No matter how hard he tried to ignore her, Katherine had always successfully managed to manipulate him. Play him like a puppet on a string. And like always, her scheming words had inadvertently struck a chord in his mind.
Because the implications of her words rang true... it was all too possible that one day, both Elena's and Ria's lives would be equally in danger.
One was a doppelganger, the other was a mate of the original hybrid. And that fact alone meant trouble.
His brother, Elena, hell, all of Mystic Falls wanted Klaus dead but they would kill his daughter in doing so; mentally first… the physically would shortly follow. Eventually, he would need to pick a side... pick a side... and betray the other.
Damon groaned and his shoulders slumped, a far cry from the assured and sarcastic vampire he portrayed. Where would he even find the strength to choose? And if he found it, how the hell could he make that decision?
"If the struggle is too hard, there's always door number three?" Katherine's amused tone suggested and Damon was brought back into focus.
"And what exactly would that be? Please, do tell," he muttered grimly.
"Oh come on Damon, be selfish," she persuaded and Damon placed the phone harder against his ear, almost missing her words which were barely louder than the faintest of whispers. "Shouldn't be too hard, that's what you have always done. Like when you chose me over your own brother in 1864. Leaving poor, sweet Stefan alone and unloved."
Damon growled lowly. It was a two way street. Stefan had made the exact same choice when he also chose Katherine over him. Stefan had forced him to turn into a vampire because he was too afraid to spend a lifetime alone.
"So take a leaf out of my book," Katherine slyly suggested. "If it was up to me, I would always choose myself. Although we both know that you won't do that..." she broke off and let out a derisive snort. "You're not that smart."
Damon sat down on the bed, his eyes sliding away from the basket. He bowed his head and ran a hand through his dishevelled raven hair. "You going back into hiding?" he questioned.
Katherine laughed, reading into his deflection and accepting it for now. "At least my life isn't boring. Goodbye, Damon."
"Take care of yourself, Katherine," Damon muttered, his icy eyes once again flitting towards the balloon. His gazed remained fixed unseeingly on it as he tiredly ended the call.
On the other side of the line, Katherine Pierce hung up the phone with one press of a button and a sly smirk.
Now that conversation had been fun. Basking in the hilarity that was Damon Salvatore and the joys of parenthood was more than entertaining.
Though she had to admit, Ria and Klaus being mates had been a curveball that not even she had seen coming. That had the potential to be a bit of a problem when the original hybrid discovered the truth of her past with Ria.
Now wasn't karma a bitch? Her decisions had never backfired on her until now.
As for now, her fears were subdued by her arrogance. Klaus had been after her for over five hundred years and she had outsmarted his every move with sheer cunning and manipulation.
And quite soon, she would no longer have to run. Klaus would have no time to chase her to the ends of the earth after what she had cooked up for him. She had persuaded Stefan to let his emotions back in. So he could do what she needed him to do.
Get mad.
She had won yet again. This town was about to go to hell and when that happened, she needed to be as far away as possible.
A movement suddenly caught the corner of her eye and the vampire doppelganger slowly slinked into the shadows to avoid being noticed.
Her head tilted slightly to one side as her dark eyes fixed upon the agitated figure who was leaving the Lockwood Mansion alone.
On second thought, she mused as she watched Alexandria Salvatore flash out of sight with a strange soft smile on her face.
Maybe she would stick around a little bit longer.
On the other side of town, far away from where Katherine Pierce dwelled, a dark form of a teenager lay at an odd angle in the midst of the woods behind the Lockwood Mansion.
He seemed to be completely alone. His tuxedo was littered with creases; his brown hair ruffled... a faint smudge of deep red crusted the left corner of his lips. Never once did his body move, not even at the sound of a hooting owl or the quiet snap of a twig.
As the night crawled on, the black sky began to cloud over, obscuring the stars from view. Droplets of water began to fall, light at first as they pattered gently against the unconscious man's skin. There was no faint twitch of a finger to indicate responsiveness to the cold water. Not even when it began to hit his flesh with careless abandon.
The woods were filled with silence except for the sounds of nature, from the rain splashing against leaves to the faint whistling of wind through the trees.
Not even minutes later, the silence was immediately torn to shreds when the teenager's green eyes snapped open.
He shot up and his lips parted so he could inhale a loud and desperate gasp of air. His hands were shaking uncontrollably, his skin was covered in a slick sheen of sweat which washed away with the unforgiving downpour.
He wildly took in his surroundings before groaning in agony. His hand shot to his head, rubbing it hard. But the pounding didn't stop. It was almost as if someone had taken a jackhammer and was banging it hard on his skull.
And then he sensed it. An unfamiliar instinct had arisen from the dark depths of his mind. An instinct he never knew he had. But now it was here, ingrained deep within his head and it was screaming at him to run... because he was being watched.
Swallowing hard, he took a deep breath in an attempt to repress his uncontrollable paramount of terror. The surge of overwhelming emotion made him nauseous and he reluctantly turned to face the source of his fight or flight urge.
It was between two large oak trees; a pair of golden orbs which were alight and aglow in the darkness. The sight frightened him from his flesh to his core. Because those eyes were unnatural. They screamed danger.
He scrambled to his feet, his trainers sinking slightly into the water logged ground and through a terrified stutter he weakly demanded, "Who are you? Where am I?"
The newcomer didn't answer and he shook harder. His arm shot out to grasp the trunk of a tree for support. The bark was rough beneath his fingertips.
"Oh I don't think that should be your most pressing concern, mate," the man finally replied smoothly, never once blinking which caused the brown haired teenager to pale further.
Those golden eyes had faded to a startling ocean blue. They were fixated on his and the teenager shook at the slither of dark amusement which was faintly curling the corner of the man's red lips.
A faint sound of twigs snapping suddenly met his ears as another person stumbled out from between the shadows, her face clammy. Her bright and innocent blue eyes were wide with terror as she wildly took in his surroundings.
"Ah, perfect timing," the man exclaimed, clasping his hands behind his back as he watched the situation avidly.
The brown haired teenager watched as the girl's pale face turned to face him and faint relief began to coat her features.
"Brett, what's going on?" she pleaded, tears beginning to stream down her face when he couldn't seem to find an answer. He just stared at her, his eyes suddenly drawn to the scratches on her arms which were seeping red. Then steadily, his gaze moved up to rest on the rapid pulse in her neck.
His gums began to ache. His throat began to burn hot.
"Your friend here is in need of a little help," the golden eyed man casually replied to the girl as he strode towards the trembling teenage boy. Moving behind Brett, he placed a hand on his shoulder and leaned in. "Indulge in your instincts, Brett," he whispered in his ear. "A real killer enjoys the hunt."
Brett vaguely felt the man's hand fall from his shoulder as he took a predatory step forwards, slowly closing in on the girl.
"Brett what are you doing, you're scaring me!" she begged, stumbling backwards as Brett's pace began to quicken. Every attempt she made to retreat only enticed him more and when she whirled around to flee, he struck.
His hand shot out, his fingers fisting into her hair as he yanked her head to the side. He dove down and bit hard into her neck, ignoring her screams and pleas for him to stop. It only made her more enticing. The taste of her was euphoric. He wanted to indulge. His hands wrapped tight around her body, supporting it as she sagged against him.
"Alright, that's enough," a faint voice replied and the girl was suddenly ripped from his grasp. He let out an inhuman growl and the man chuckled softly. "Well look at that, another rippah."
The words snapped Brett back into focus and he flung himself back onto the ground. "What the fuck did you do to me?" he demanded, his quivering hands reaching his lips, his stomach turning at the feel of sharp teeth protruding from his gums.
"Well, that's for you to figure out for yourself."
He had been partying. Drunk and high. He had been at the school homecoming. Echoes of a conversation replayed in vivid definition behind his eyes.
A young female stood in front of him, her shaking fingers pushed a lock of hair nervously behind her ear.
"I'll see you tonight?" she wondered, making her insecurities known to him. To answer her question, he took a step forwards He tilted her chin up, enjoying the way she leaned into his touch.
"I'll be waiting," he promised with a seductive smile and her innocent gaze clouded over. She stepped back and he watched her walk away before his grin was replaced by a leer at his smug victory. He waited until she was fully out of sight before announcing, "Too easy."
He held out his hand, accepting the ten dollar note which was passed over.
"Shame you couldn't bag the new girl though, that one was hot."
Brett internally seethed as he turned and shoved his shoulder against the speaker as he barged past. "She's a work in progress, Liam. I'll fuck her eventually."
Liam's laughter still rang in his ears as he strode away.
He couldn't remember how far he had walked to shake off his anger before the air sped up around him. A second later, he found his path blocked.
"Ah Brett is it? Let's have a little chat."
Brett's heart jumped at the man's sudden appearance but didn't dwell too much on it. He was still feeling spiteful from Liam's words. "Fucking move, man," he demanded.
"Not quite yet," the man responded simply. "I believe you have made yourself an acquaintance of a woman who goes by the name of Alexandria Lockwood."
"The one that turned me down," he angrily stated. Yet another person reminding him of his failure. "I wouldn't waste your time with her," He muttered darkly. "Uptight bitch." He spun away.
A low growl resounded and a moment later, he gasped from the onslaught as his head smacked hard against a solid surface. White hot pain flashed down his spine. His feet slowly left the floor, dangling and kicking as his lungs burned for the sweetest inhale of air.
The man's head cocked to the side, watching Brett's every struggle humorously. His hand tightened considerably around the teenager's throat.
"Please, let me go," Brett spluttered, his eyes burning from the pain radiating from the back of his head.
"Now where would be the fun in that?" the man hummed and Brett watched horror struck as the stranger's shadowed irises glowed a vibrant gold. Fangs descended. He brought his wrist to his lips and bit down before shoving the bleeding wound against Brett's mouth.
Brett's shouts were muffled. Copper liquid oozed passed his lips. There was a sharp pain in his neck. Then everything turned black.
Brett staggered back, suddenly feeling dizzy. "You," he gasped. "You killed me."
"You're quite the sharp one aren't you?" the man commented with a rising smirk. "And now, down to business."
He flashed forwards and the shock of the speed caused Brett to stumble back.
The teenager cowered against the nearest tree but he couldn't look away from the man's blue eyed stare. His head was fixed in place as he watched the pupils contract and dilate.
"You're going to leave town tonight and if I were you, I would find a find a nice little hometown," the man commanded and Brett nodded robotically despite the ice cold throes of fear freezing his veins. "Best make it secluded because you are going to feed on every person you find. You see, after tonight, your fears will be heightened to the extreme. You'll be afraid of your own shadow. Your fickle brain will always believe that someone is watching your back, just lurking in the darkest corners of the night to attack. Your persistent paranoia will overpower your every rational thought."
Brett began to tremble. "Stop... please," he begged, his legs struggling to support his weight as they violently shook. He tried to look away from the man's dilated pupils but he just couldn't.
The man chuckled at the feeble attempts. "And let's not forget that pesky lust of yours. For the rest of your long and tedious little life you will always feel that tightening urge craving to be released but deep down, you know that no one will ever be able to give you what you truly wish."
The man turned on his heel, breaking the gaze and Brett sunk to his knees, inhaling in ragged breaths to control his sobs.
"Oh and one more thing."
Brett quickly scrambled back, cowering at the man's sudden menacing tone. He curled up into a ball of protection in a feeble attempt to hide his face but he quickly found his head being yanked back, locking his green eyes against ocean blue once more.
"Every time that you think about Alexandria Lockwood, I want you to snap your own neck. Be creative if you wish but make sure each and every death is as painful as possible."
Brett choked on his fear and a pitiful sob escaped his lips when the man leaned in.
"You should have seen this coming mate," he whispered darkly. "After all, you touched what is mine."
There was a sudden whoosh of air and Brett was left alone, shaking in the middle of the woods with the broken and bleeding body of his latest conquest splayed out beside him.
He couldn't even begin to comprehend what had happened. He was dead. His life had been snuffed out like the blow of a candle and torn to shreds in the span of one normal evening. And it was all because of one potential fuck. The selfish bitch didn't even put out.
A croaked noise left his throat as he felt his own hands creeping towards his neck. A distinct snap cracked the air as his body fell to the floor.
Klaus smirked as he heard the sharp breaking of bone. A fitting end to a magnificent evening.
A sense of freedom enveloped him and a small smile crossed his face. He would never have to run anymore. Mikael was dead, his mate had claimed him. She had been quite the sight to behold tonight. So defiant and unafraid.
He trailed his fingers over the bite. The only mark which would ever scar his flesh.
He could still feel the imprint of her soft lips against his. A show of her breaking resilience. Soon she would surrender to him completely without any regrets pertaining to the opinions of the ones she called friends. And when that day inevitably comes, he would relish it completely. Show her exactly what it meant to have somebody who would never leave, who would always understand her actions. And she would do the exact same for him.
He would never have to feel alone anymore.
He almost had everything he desired and soon he would have his family... and speaking of family...
As he strode down the dark and desolate road, he swiped out his phone, pressing a number on speed dial before putting it to his ear. "Rebekah, where are you?" he demanded, letting the aggravation at his sister's insolent behaviour seep through. She had always been a petty thing with her grudges. "Pick up the phone, darling. Daddy is dead. It's time for a family reunion."
His phone beeped and he brought the device away from his ear to scan the number. Incoming call: Stefan Salvatore.
A flash of amusement crossed his features as he answered with jovial exclamation. "Stefan! Miss me already?"
"I'm just calling to thank you for my freedom," the calm tone replied and the hybrid smirked as the moving van came into view.
"Oh, well you should thank your older brother for that. After his daring act to save my mate and kill my dad, I like to believe he deserved a reward for his actions."
"Thing is," Stefan casually cut across him. "Damon should have known better. My freedom, well it came at too high of a price. You took everything from me, Klaus."
"Let bygones be bygones, trust me. Resentment gets old," Klaus stated, waving his free hand with a dismissive and jubilant flare. He approached the van with a grin.
Soon he wouldn't have to cart the incessant vehicle around anymore. Mikael was dead. His siblings were now safe. There was no point in letting them suffer comatose in boxes for one moment longer.
He reached the van. He pulled open the back doors. And he stood stock-still as Stefan's words rushed through his ears. "You know what never gets old? Revenge."
Klaus stared unseeingly at the empty contents of the van's interior. His jubilance had never faded so quickly. Replaced by brief shock followed by betrayal. And then insurmountable rage. "No!" he snarled into the phone.
"What's the matter, Klaus? Missing something?" Stefan asked innocently.
Klaus looked back at the van, his ocean eyes sparking gold. "What are you doing?" he whispered with a dark accentuation of each word.
"Just enjoying my freedom," came the chirping reply and Klaus let out a dangerous and threatening snarl.
"I will kill you and everyone you've ever met!"
"Well... you could I guess..." Stefan pondered it over mockingly. "But not before I kill your mate for sport. And you will do nothing, cause if you do, you will never see your family again."
Klaus shook as two powerful emotions cascaded over him. Rage. Terror. The gold in his eyes flared as a possessive instinct to track down Ria engulfed his senses.
He needed to protect her from the monster he had created and although his little mate had proved she could protect herself, he could have lost her today. That wasn't about to happen again.
He needed Ria safe, he needed his siblings safe.
Stefan Salvatore had him exactly where he wanted him.
"I wonder Klaus," Stefan taunted through the phone and Klaus shaking fingers tightened around the device. "As someone who has been one step ahead for a thousand years...are you prepared for this?"
Yey! First major episode done, working towards Esther and Klaus' siblings now! Hope this met your expectations - let me know!
Reviews
Hope of the Darkness: Haha glad you like it! Ria and Rebekah have the type of friendship where they just don't hold back. The dynamics are definitely beginning to change!
AugustRrush: Hope you liked it :D
Atlafan1286: So many interactions this chapter - hope you enjoyed them all!
time-twilight: I do have a lot of future scenes planned out - if I carry it on to the originals, I will make sure there is a lot of crossovers. Damon would definitely be checking in and Ria will probably be dragged into the Augustine plotline :D But it's a while off yet!
Lord- of Oceans - Poseidon: It's here, hope it lived up to your expectations :D
amrawo: It's finally here! A lot went down - hope you liked it!
Dark - Supernatural - Angel: I'm glad you liked it, there were a lot more silent conversations between Klaus and Ria in this one too - they can read each other well! Hope you liked the Mikael showdown - Ria was definitely Damon's priority this chapter!
Shadowing: Mikael did use her but Klaus and Ria planned the whole thing :D They didn't expect Damon to kill Mikael though! Ria will find Rebekah - hope you liked it
Midnight Alley: Hope you liked it!
NotMyNameAnyway: Aww thank you, it means so much! Hayley will be in the story but she knows how sacred the concept of mates is. I do have some future scenes written down! The fate of Tyler is still up in the air for now :)
Kosongbird: Hope you liked the showdown and Ria's scenes with Klaus ;)
Jessie: I'm so glad you liked them together!
CrystalVixen93: Hope you liked how it turned out! :D
Addie552: Hope you liked their interactions - I loved writing this chapter!
harryginny9: Yey! Hope you liked the update :D
jynxieminxie: They finally reunited and Ria marked Klaus, hope you liked their interactions! And the small sweet moment with Damon and Ria :)
Arianna Le Fay: Ria finally marked Klaus, took a few failed attempts :D. And Damon killed Mikael to protect Ria! Hope you liked it!
happinessinthedarktimes: Hope you liked Klaus and Ria's reunion and the Mikael scene! :D
AnimeWolfGirl1996: Thank you! Hope you liked the chapter!
Riddicks - gurl1988: She finally marked him back, she told him what she knew about Mikael and they planned the whole confrontation out! Ria will find out what happened to Rebekah.
pmann1: Haha I finished it and my god it took a long time to do but it was such a good chapter to write. Hope you liked it XD
death - becomes - her3: Everyone is slowly getting in the know now, hope you liked Damon's reaction to Klaus and Ria!
jessisthebestduh: Hope you liked it!
Serelena: I'm so glad you like it! Hope you enjoyed the chapter :D
Hmc09: Thank you! Hope you liked their interactions :)
adrirose: Yey, thank you! Hope you liked Klaus and Ria's interactions and their ruse against Mikael!
Addie552: Haha you probably know the chapters better than I do now! Hope you liked the longer update and Ria's reactions ;) x
Arkytior's Song: Thank you! Hope you liked the chapter!
tatysantannag: Your English is great! You are doing so good! Hope you liked it!
hahahopelove: Haha hope you liked it!