Stefan looked at the face that was reflected in the mirror. Something had gone terribly wrong. He could see himself doing things and hear himself saying things but he couldn't control his own body. He was thirsty, so thirsty but even when his body fed, he wasn't sated. He didn't even feel like he had fed at all. He had been in the car with Caroline and then with her and Katherine in the room. He felt his body fall asleep with Caroline in his arms and he felt when his body awoke in the middle of the night and went into the bathroom, locking the door behind him. His body stood in front of the mirror, wearing a very self-satisfied smirk.
"You with me, Stefan?" his body said.
Of course, Stefan couldn't say anything but oh he tried. In his mind, he thrashed and shouted.
"Okay, I'm feeling a tickle in my subconscious. I'm gonna assume that's you. I'm sure you've already realised that you're not in control here but I bet you didn't know that this isn't your body."
His body then pulled off his daylight ring and, like a veil had been dropped, it was Klaus' face looking back at him. Klaus laughed.
"This was actually so much more of a hassle than you will ever know. Had to leave the Quarter so Davina wouldn't pick up on the magic, find a witch willing to do the spell…actually it's a charm, woven into your daylight ring. I knew you'd had the same one for decades; it had on enough of your essence to act as the anchor. Plus, I had to wear it anyway, to fool Caroline. It doesn't actually make me look like you, it just makes everyone else think I do, which I guess is kind of the same thing."
Stefan struggled even harder at that. Klaus' eyes looked up for a moment and then straight ahead again. Chuckling, he continued.
"Again with the tickle. You know, I always thought the Lockwood mutt was the problem but it was you. You, the best friend, the trusted one, managed to slip past my notice. I don't think you're even fully aware of the influence you wield over her."
Klaus pushed his face closer to the mirror.
"Do you know that with a few touches, some nice phrases and maybe one, two lovely moments, she'd probably fall in love with you? Especially like now, when she's so vulnerable…but you'll see what I mean about that. I asked the witch to partially connect our consciousnesses so that you could see what I'm doing. I thought it was important that you realise, Stefan, that you will either work with me or…dessicate in a box while I do what I want to do anyway."
One last smile to the mirror and Klaus turned his back and left. He went back to the bed and lay against Caroline's back, pressing a soft kiss to her neck.
FIN?