Chapter 14: This Is War
Part 1
Klaus and Caroline were reaching the top of a 1050 feet tall tower. Caroline had no idea why she was going along with Klaus; all she knew was that she had to go with him.
Klaus let go of her and took the compulsion away. Caroline shook her head and turned to Klaus. "Where are we? Where did you take me?" she demanded to know.
"Vous êtes à Paris, mademoiselle" Klaus answered with a charming smile. He bowed, took Caroline's hand and kissed it. His lips had barely touched her soft skin, when she jerked her hand.
"I don't know what your angle is" Caroline started as she walked backwards. "but I won't be a pawn in some kind of master plan"
"I don't have a master plan" Klaus replied. "I had one, but Mother Nature decided to be a bitch and put a kink in it"
For a moment Caroline considered asking what it was, but then decided she didn't care. "I have to go back to the party. They will wonder where I am" she said.
"If you're talking about Damon and Elena, I'm pretty sure they won't miss you anytime soon" Klaus replied, while he stepped closer towards Caroline.
"Don't come closer" Caroline said trying to keep her voice in control. She made another few steps back and Klaus frowned in concern. "Caroline…" he said and he reached out his hand. But Caroline took another step.
"Caroline!" Klaus exclaimed as Caroline fell all the way down. He raced to the edge of the Eiffel Tower and jumped.
Somehow he managed to reach the ground before Caroline and he caught her in his arms. Caroline's chest was going up and down heavily and she took a few deep breaths. Klaus held her in his arms for about half a minute, when Caroline came back to earth mentally.
"Put me down" she commanded and she struggled to free herself. Klaus put her down on her feet. "Now take me back to the party"
"All right" Klaus gave in, getting angry. "I'll take you back. But first you need to look up"
Caroline reluctantly looked up and watched the full moon glowing in the sky. "Tyler…" she whispered.
"When you see him you should ask him what he's been hiding from you" Klaus commented, before taking Caroline's arm and pulling her along.
Part 2
Bonnie was sitting in Indian style on the floor of Caroline's room. A book was lying open and three candles were surrounding it. She vowed her hands and whispered the words on the pages.
The front door slowly opened and someone slowly walked upstairs. The latch of the door in Caroline's room went down and the door slowly opened.
"I thought you couldn't do magic anymore"
"Oh my God!" Bonnie shrieked. She quickly got up and turned on the light. She bent and blew out the candles. "What the hell are you doing here?" she whispered loud and reproaching.
"I missed you at the Homecoming dance" Keith replied.
"No, I mean what are you doing out of the clinic?" Bonnie clarified. "And how do you know about Homecoming?"
"Is this Caroline's room?" Keith avoided Bonnie's question. He saw a picture of Caroline, Bonnie and Elena.
"Yes, and her mom's asleep, so if you don't keep it down a little…" Bonnie insisted.
"Bonnie?" Liz called.
"Damn it" Bonnie mumbled and she hurried to the door. Before she opened the door she turned around. "Get under the bed"
She watched Keith crawling under the bed and then opened the door.
"Is everything alright? I thought I heard you screaming" Liz said concerned.
"Oh" Bonnie laughed nervous. "There was a spider…Big one…But I killed it, so I'm okay now"
"Oh, sure, alright then" Liz nodded. She was about to walk away, when she smelled something. She rotated her head to the center of the room. "Did you lit those candles? Bonnie, you shouldn't make fire inside Caroline's room. Or any room. We trust you to behave" Without awaiting an answer she turned around and left.
Keith came from under the bed. "I should go" he said soft. He walked to the door and wanted to leave, when Bonnie called him back.
"Wait"
He waited.
"Stay" Bonnie said. "Caroline won't be home for a long time and I like your company. So, if you want, you can stay"
Part 3
Damon walked Elena away from the dance. Actually he was walking and kissing her at the same time. They reached the stairs on the football field and Damon clenched Elena's butt and lifted her up.
"Damon, everyone can see us" Elena mumbled uneasy, while Damon's hot and wet kisses made her body feel like it was set on fire. She gave up resisting and threw her arms around Damon's neck. She turned around Damon and pushed him down. She sat on his lap and kissed him again.
She wanted to open his button-down, when she gasped and her eyes bulged.
"Elena!" Damon exclaimed. "Did I do something?" he asked concerned. Elena shook her head.
"There's something in my back" she groaned.
Damon took a look and pulled out a syringe. He held it before his nose and sniffed. "Vervain" he said dark.
"They were aiming for you" Elena concluded. Damon didn't answer, but looked up.
Veronica was watching from a distance, a crossbow aimed at him. Damon stood up and wanted to go to her, when Elena gripped his arm.
"Damon, please, don't" she begged him.
"Why? She attacked you" Damon said furious.
"You don't know what she might do. She could have a stake in her pocket. She probably does" Elena reasoned.
Damon looked back at the field, but Veronica was gone. "Well, I can't do anything now" he mumbled. He looked at Elena. "If she ever tries to harm you again, I will kill her"
Elena knew there was no way of talking him out of it. "Let's find Caroline" she suggested. "And go home"
Part 4
The next morning
Grumpy and irritated Klaus entered Ric's loft. Even with Tyler dating Veronica, Caroline was still clinging onto her ex-boyfriend. He should've never turned Tyler. He should've just killed him.
"Nik"
Klaus reluctantly looked up at Rebekah who came off the stairs.
"We need to talk" she said with her hands on her hips. She waited for Klaus to say something back, but he just raised his eyebrows. "You have to tell Stefan what happened in the past. We are losing him, Klaus. Katherine is weaving her web around him and we need to get him out before it's too late"
"Yeah, alright, fine" Klaus gave in annoyed. Rebekah blinked surprised. "Really? Just like that?"
"Yeah, just like that" Klaus replied. "Like I even care"
"Okay" Rebekah said slowly. She clapped her hands. "Well, then I'll give him a call and tell him to get his pretty ass here ASAP"
"I can take the compulsion away over the phone. He doesn't have to be here" Klaus reminded his little sister.
"Even better" Rebekah said gleaming. She quickly dialed Stefan's number and didn't give Stefan a chance to say something. "Stefan?" Rebekah said breathless. "Nik has to tell you something really important"
"Is he finally going to confess his undying love for me?" Stefan asked sarcastically.
"Haha, very funny" Rebekah said and she handed the phone to Klaus.
Klaus told Stefan what happened in the twenties. How they had met each other, how they became friends, how he and Rebekah had had something.
Without awaiting a response Klaus hung up and gave the phone back to Rebekah.
Part 5
Jeremy entered the Grill. He still had some time before school and this just couldn't wait. He looked at the bar and to his relief Veronica was on duty. He walked to the bar and sank down on a stool.
"What can I get you, kid?" Veronica asked with a demeaning look.
"Do you have a beer mat? And a pen?" Jeremy asked secretive. Veronica gave him a beer mat and a pen and Jeremy scribbled something down. He shove the mat to Veronica.
"I want in" it said.
"You can't just sign up, you know" Veronica said. "I need to know I can trust you. Isn't your sister involved with vampires, didn't you used to date vampires and witches?"
"That's over now" Jeremy defended himself. "I got off the rails, I lost control over my life"
"How do I know you won't lose it again?" Veronica asked.
"I don't, that's why I need to get in" Jeremy answered. "Vampires have controlled my life and my sister's life for too long. Elena can't resist them, so I have to do something"
Veronica looked away, thinking deeply. Then she took a deep breath.
"Okay, I'm not saying you can join us" she started and she wrote something on another beer mat. "But meet me tonight at this address. Come after dark" she said.
"After dark?" Jeremy checked.
"Yeah" Veronica nodded. "You're not afraid of the dark, are you?"
"No, of course not" Jeremy replied. He jumped off the stool. "I have to get to school. Thank you for considering my participation"
That being said he walked out of the Grill.
Part 6
Caroline was showing the new moves to the cheerleaders, when she saw Tyler heading her way from the corner of her eye. "Okay, practice is over. Nelly, you're going to have to practice that spin" she said, before quickly walking away.
"Caroline!" Tyler shouted. He knew she was walking away because of him. "Caroline!" he shouted a bit harder, but Caroline just continued ignoring him. "I didn't see you last night at Homecoming"
Caroline stopped, but didn't bother turning around. "That's because your eyes were glued onto Virginia" she said snarky.
"Veronica" Tyler corrected her.
"Whatever" Caroline commented careless.
"What do you want from me, Caroline?" Tyler asked desperate. "I'm seeing Ronnie now, I'm sorry if that hurts you. But that doesn't mean we can't still be friends, does it?"
"Can I ask you something? And do you promise me to tell me the truth?" Caroline said kind of bossy.
"Yeah, sure" Tyler promised.
"How come you didn't turn last night?" Caroline asked. "It was a full moon, why didn't you turn?"
Tyler stared at her, not knowing how to explain himself. In fact it was really simple. He just couldn't tell her.
"Caroline, I really want to tell you exactly what happened," Tyler started, putting accent to all his words. "but…I can't. It's…complicated"
Caroline nodded and turned away. "I can't believe Klaus was right about you" she muttered between her teeth.
"Wait, Klaus?" Tyler exclaimed. "You've been talking to him?"
"Yeah" Caroline confessed. "It's not like I had a choice. He just took me with him. You were a little too occupied to notice"
"You have to stay away from him" Tyler warned her. "He's dangerous"
"Gee, you think?" Caroline asked sarcastically. "Look, why don't you go back to Veronica and stop telling me who I should and shouldn't hang out with" She pushed Tyler aside and walked away, leaving Tyler stunned.
Part 7
Katherine was standing in front of Ric's loft. She was practicing her speech and gathering her courage.
"Come on, Katherine" she told herself. "Just go in there and tell him you love him" She pushed the latch down and entered.
"Stefan?" she called.
"I'm in here" Stefan replied from out of the living room. Katherine walked further into the room. Stefan was standing against the closet. He was alone. "I didn't expect you, but I'm glad you're here"
"Really?" Katherine asked hopeful. She coughed to restore herself. "There's something I have to tell you"
"Funny, I have to tell you something too" Stefan said. "But you first"
Katherine swallowed and took Stefan's hands in hers. "I love you, Stefan. I always have. I know I have had a lot of bed partners, but I have only loved you. I'm a liar and bitch and I'm selfish and you can't trust me, but if I'm ever honest, it's now. I love you, Stefan, and I know somewhere deep down, you still love me. The Stefan I met and fell in love with, is still in there. I know you love me"
"Katherine" Stefan said soft. He had to bring this carefully, but then Rebekah came barging in from out of the kitchen. She ran to Katherine and waved her hand before her eyes. A small, diamond ring adorned her right ring finger.
"Have you heard?" Rebekah asked beaming. "Stefan proposed to me"
Katherine let go of Stefan and looked at him shocked. She walked backwards, her chest going up and down.
"Katherine" Stefan repeated, but Katherine shook her head and turned around. She opened the door and left.
Part 8
The door of the Grill opened and Matt saw Tyler sitting at the bar, kissing Veronica. Matt rolled his eyes and turned around to leave again, when Tyler blocked his way.
"Are you leaving already?" he asked surprised. "Don't be so stupid, have a drink with us"
Matt glanced at the bar. "You mean with you and Veronica? Yeah, I think I'm going to pass" He wanted to leave, but Tyler gripped his arm. "Aahh!" Matt exclaimed and looked shocked at Tyler, but he didn't let go.
"We have to talk. It's about Caroline" he started. "I need you to tell her that I love her. This whole thing with Veronica isn't real. I'm just spying on her, but Caroline doesn't trust me anymore"
"Right she is" Matt said cold.
"Matt, you have to tell her to stay away from Klaus" Tyler insisted.
"Why would she go to Klaus?" Matt frowned.
"She wouldn't, Klaus would go to her, he kidnapped her last night" Tyler answered. "I don't know what he's up to, but we can't let him hurt her, Matt"
Matt nodded concerned. "Yeah…I'll talk to her" he promised.
Part 9
Jeremy parked his car at the address Veronica had given him. She was waiting for him outside.
"What are those signs?" Jeremy asked, pointing at the signs on the wall.
"They're to keep ghosts out" Veronica explained.
"Ghosts?" Jeremy asked skeptic.
"Yeah, you know, dead people" Veronica said. "You can't see the signs during the day, because it's fluorescent paint"
"So, ghosts can't enter" Jeremy said slowly.
"Well, they can travel with mediums, but you're not a medium" Veronica replied obviously. She squeezed her eyes and cast Jeremy an exploratory glance. "You're not a medium,…are you?"
"No" Jeremy quickly said with a nervous smile. Veronica examined him a few more seconds and then opened the door. She walked in front of him. It was pretty dark, but she didn't bother turning on the lights.
"So, tell me again, why you want to join us? Why would you want to kill all vampires, werewolves and witches?" she asked.
"Because I'm human and they're…abominations" Jeremy answered. "They don't have the right to live. This is our earth, it's time we take it back"
Veronica raised her eyebrows. "Have you been practicing that speech?"
"Yeah, Jeremy, have you been practicing that speech?" Jenna echoed.
"All right" Veronica said. "We train every single day, starting from 6 am sharp. Don't be late"
"What about school?" Jeremy asked.
"If you worry about grades, you're not ready for this" Veronica replied sharp.
"No, it's just, my history teacher lives with me. He'll notice I'm not there" Jeremy explained.
"Then, try being here whenever you can" Veronica sighed. "Oh, and don't tell your sister. She might inform her friends"
Jeremy agreed. "Can I go now?" he asked a little nervous. He felt someone was watching him.
"Yeah, you can go" Veronica dismissed him.
Jeremy quickly left and dialed Damon's phone.
"She's alone now" was all he said.
Part 10
Damon walked towards the old building. Jeremy had told Damon Veronica was alone now and though Jeremy didn't want Damon to hurt her, he still thought that if Damon threatened her she'd listen and leave. Damon, on the other hand, very well knew Veronica wouldn't let him scare her off and so there was only one thing left to do. Kill the bitch.
He opened the door, which was unlocked. That should've occurred strange to him, but Damon didn't pay much attention to it. He walked through the hallway until he found the largest room.
"Hello, Damon" Veronica said. "So, Jeremy signs up and ten minutes later you show up on my doorstep. What a coincidence"
"I wouldn't exactly call it a coincidence" Damon commented.
"Neither would I" Veronica replied. "Let me guess. You're here to tell me that if I ever harm so much as a hair on dear Elena Gilbert's head you will kill me. Is that about right?"
"Actually I was going to kill you before you have the chance to harm so much as a hair on Elena's head" Damon answered. He raced forward when Veronica turned on the lights. They were surrounded by at least thirty people and they all aimed a weapon at Damon. Only now he saw Veronica had her crossbow in her hands, which she now too aimed at him.
"Consider this war" she said sinister and she fired.