Warning(s) for this chapter: A small amount of nudity at the beginning and some violence during the showdown later in the chapter.
Song(s) for this chapter: The Kill by 30 Seconds to Mars, Female of the Species by Space, Control by Halsey, Loaded Gun by Roby Fayer, Carnival of Rust by Poets of the Fall, and So Cold by Breaking Benjamin.
The beauty of her never failed to bring a smile to his lips.
Klaus leant against the frame of the door with his arms folded. His dimples were prominent as his grin widened at the sight of her.
The sun trickled into the room through the small gap in the curtains, lighting up her pale body in the otherwise darkened room. Her skin seemed to glow as one slim leg peeked out from under the covers. The red silk wrapped around her waist leaving her back bare to his gaze.
Klaus took small steps into the room and silently shut the bedroom door. He noticed how Pia had taken to cuddling a pillow against her naked skin as though she was grasping onto a lover and didn't wish to let go.
…as if she was grasping onto him…
He sat on the edge of her bed, his cool eyes tracing over her face as though he had forgotten how fair her features were. There wasn't a single wrinkle to be seen and he drank in the sight of her looking so innocent and carefree.
"What are you up to, Niko? It's far too early." Her eyes did not open but Pia rolled over and arched her back to stretch her limbs. She probably did not mean it to be but Klaus bit his lip at the erotic image she presented. He had a sudden urge to bring his paints and easel so that he could forever capture the view of this stunning siren as she awoke. Her sheets fell to her hips as she arched upwards; her breasts bare to his view, their shape more pronounced when she stretched. Pia dropped backwards and huffed. Her ringlets fell around her; some covering her chest whilst the rest formed a halo around her head. Much like her, they were always untamed.
"I merely wished to see you." Niklaus' eyes darted from her face to her breasts and to where her hips disappeared under the silk covers. He felt like a teenage boy all over again, not at all sure where to look. Pia squinted up at him and tugged the sheets upwards when she noticed his predicament.
"I saw you yesterday, brother. Try again."
"I wished to see you without that judgemental look in your eyes. Each time you look at me I can feel the glare burning deep into my soul." Pia glanced downwards for a few moments before looking back at him with sadness in her eyes.
"What am I supposed to say to that?"
"Nothing. I expect you to say nothing, but I felt like I needed a few moments in which I could just watch you and not have to worry about you potentially professing your hatred for me."
"Come to me." Pia outstretched an arm and waited for Klaus to crawl onto the bed, lie beside her and rest his head on her shoulder. Her fingers danced through his hair as she looked over at where the light burst through the gap in her curtains. "I could never hate you, I don't think. I am just saddened to see how cold you have become."
"That is the trouble for living in a world so rotted for so long. The mould tends to eat away at you after a while."
"I wish I could take all of your anger and just throw it away. I wish you could be that beautiful soul that I saw over a thousand years ago."
"I think our family was doomed from the moment that Freya passed away. Everything changed on that day, and we have been allowed very little happiness since then. We see a bit of light in our world but then our own darkness swallows it whole."
"Sh." Pia pressed a kiss against the crown of his head and shut her eyes again in an attempt to stop her tears from falling. "Sleep a while longer. We have nothing to get up for." A small smile graced her face as she felt his body automatically relax against hers.
It was moments like this that kept her strong.
It was moments like this that kept her from giving up all hope.
Pia remained silent as Klaus paced in front of her. Her other siblings were scattered around the lounge as the new information sunk into their minds.
Alaric, the vampire hunter, was back. It appeared that their mother had… improved him a little bit before her demise. Esther's creation was one of their biggest threats walking the earth. Their mother certainly knew how to make monsters.
"Where is he?" Klaus asked as he finally sat down on the seat across from Pia.
"There have been a number of vampire killings over the past few days and they have slowly gotten closer to Mystic Falls. I'd imagine that he is in town somewhere biding his time." Elijah's voice remained steady as he watched his siblings' reactions.
"Great! So how do we get rid of him?" Kol wouldn't admit the fear that he felt. They needed to sort out the former teacher and do it fast. It wouldn't do for the Original Family to be targeted like this. They had a reputation to maintain.
"How do you get rid of any Original? The White Oak Stake would be my guess."
"You don't think that that sounds a little too easy, sister?" Pia questioned Rebekah. "Mother would not have made it that simple, surely?"
"It's the only lead we have. Alaric is a new breed and we need to try anything, whatever the cost." None of them were sure, but Rebekah's suggestion was as good as any.
"Okay, but what about the group of people that have the stakes? It's not like were best friends with Team Doppelganger." Kol's sarcasm made Pia roll her eyes. Even she could acknowledge that Kol rarely gave helpful suggestions, despite her loyalty to him.
"Thank you, Kol." She retorted in an equally mocking tone; Pia burst out laughing as a pillow hit her in the face.
"It would be helpful if the pair of you stopped acting like children so that we could actually figure out what to do." Klaus' frustrated tone made the both of them roll their eyes before putting on their best we're innocent expressions.
"Well, how do you make the lot of them do anything?" Pia didn't wait for answers. "You threaten one of their accomplices."
"I hardly think threatening Elena Gilbert is going to be anything new to them. They've probably got hundreds of 'save Elena' plans stored away in their minds since she seems to just attract danger."
"No, that's correct, brother…" Pia turned to look at her mate with a serious expression. "I wasn't suggesting her…" Klaus straightened up and swallowed hard. He did not like the direction that this was taking.
"Then who?" Rebekah asked since no one else seemed to.
"Elena Gilbert was willing to die for her friends and family, so what would she do to save them again? I think the stakes in return for a cure would be fairly easy for her to contemplate. She is, after all, feeling the guilt of her existence each time her precious little friends are hurt." Pia allowed her face to break out into a grin; her malicious intent shining brightly in her blue eyes. "In return for saving Caroline, she will give us the stakes."
"Saving Caroline from what?" Klaus' knuckles were white as he gripped the sofa in front of her. Her teeth shone under the glare of the sun as her grin became almost manic.
"My bite."
"Niklaus, stop pacing you're going to wear a hole in the carpet."
"STOP PACING?! What am I supposed to do?!"
"Relax yourself. Pia will cure Caroline once we have the stakes. You and I both know that Elena will do anything in return for her best friend being saved."
"That is not the point! Pia is just doing this to be spiteful. I told her that she was the only one for me and I meant it. So why is she doing this?"
"Because she is jealous!" Elijah raised his voice slightly making Klaus pause and look at him. It was rare that the cool and collected Elijah Mikaelson shouted. "Pia is doing this 1) to regain some power over the girl that you seemed to fall for, and 2) to give us the upper hand against our enemies. She will not let Caroline die, she gave me her word."
"And I am just supposed to believe that? We both know how deadly she can be, Elijah."
"Yes, but I also know when my sister is telling the truth. She does not want Caroline to die as she does not want you to be hurt. She is merely sending a message." Klaus let out a deep breath and nodded. "Trust me, Niklaus. Pia isn't going to lose control. We won't lose her." Elijah knew that Klaus was fearing the return of the Snow White Killer. Pia had never turned off her emotions, the darkness inside of her just sometimes needed to be exercised. The Killer was unpredictable at best but there were usually signs when she was about to emerge so that the siblings could prepare for it. Elijah shuddered as he remembered the last time their sister had become lost; he could still feel the candlestick being pulled out of his chest by Rebekah and hear the roar of Klaus as he snapped his broken leg back into place.
"I've only just got her back, Elijah… should we have trusted her to leave the mansion? The past two times haven't exactly gone to plan."
"Rebekah and Kol are with her. Kol understands the seriousness of the situation and almost seems to have a level head on his shoulders for a change, and Rebekah wouldn't let things get out of hand. We need to allow her a bit of freedom otherwise it could go against us. I don't want her to build-up stress and then for it all come out like some kind of atomic bomb. She could level the town if she wished it." Elijah almost felt sorry for Klaus as he saw the crease in his forehead. It was always odd to see him so anxious, but Pia always had that effect on him. "She isn't going anywhere, brother. Go for a run or something. It will help calm you." Klaus was gone before Elijah could blink. A heavy sigh left his lips as he rubbed the back of his neck. If he hadn't been immortal then he swore that his siblings would have given him grey hairs by now.
Rebekah couldn't fight the smile on her face as she watched her older sister skip down the street. She was in the middle of the road with her arms outstretched as though nothing could touch her. Her knee-high brown boots clicked against the floor as she sashayed her way to the Gilbert household. After a bit of spying one of Klaus' hybrids had informed them that Caroline was there along with Elena, Stefan and Damon; there was no sign of that pesky witch thankfully.
Pia brushed her hands down the soft cotton dress that was adorned in flowers in watercolour and straightened out the sleeves of the brown suede jacket before sending a gleaming grin in Kol's direction. He nodded and walked onto the porch of the Gilbert residence; he could not hide his glee as he knocked three times. The Originals stood back on the lawn and waited.
"It's rude to keep the Originals waiting." Pia chimed as she saw Damon walk to the window and roll his eyes. Ah, there he was. She wiggled her fingers at him and raised her brow. He never backed down from a challenge.
After hearing a small argument break out within the house, the door finally opened. Caroline and the Salvatores exited, leaving Elena inside to watch through the window.
"Good evening!" Pia was literally glowing under the moonlight as she swayed from side to side like a child waiting for a surprise.
"Honestly, how many times do we have to say it?"
"I don't know, Stefan. Probably a few more times since their old age is making them a bit forgetful!" Damon sarcastically replied alongside his brother.
"Get out of here. We have the stakes and we will kill you." Stefan spoke plainly with a touch of arrogance that hadn't been there before his most recent flip of the switch.
"What do you want?" Caroline interjected before Kol dived forward at Stefan.
"That's a simple question to answer: you." Pia smiled sweetly at the look of confusion on the pretty blonde's face. In a matter of seconds the Originals allowed their vampire features to show before moving forward in a blur.
Kol captured Stefan's wrist and snapped it back with a satisfied smile. "Surely you can do better than that, mate?" He brought a fist down into the younger vampire's face and laughed as he heard a crunch.
Rebekah met Damon head on and used her 5 inch heel to send him flying backwards across the lawn. She picked an imaginary bit of dirt from her fingernail before looking at the angered Salvatore. "Oh, I'm sorry? Was that meant to be you fighting me?"
Time seemed to stop for Caroline as she saw Pia had focused entirely on her. She was completely oblivious to whatever her siblings were doing. Caroline attempted to vamp back inside only to be stopped mere inches from the door by Pia's grip in her hair. The Original flung her against the wall nearest the window so she could watch Elena's face as she wrapped her hand around her best friend's throat.
"Please, stop! I'll do anything!" Elena pleaded from within the safety of her home.
"Oh, I know you will." Pia locked eyes with Caroline and raised a hand; Caroline's wary expression morphed into that of absolute fear as she watched Pia's fingers warp and elongate until five very sharp claws were pointing at her. A scream of horror left her mouth as Pia dragged them down her shoulder; blood poured down her blouse from the wounds and the young vampire couldn't help but sob as the pain shot through her body. Pia looked over Caroline's shoulder into Elena's tear-filled eyes and let her fangs drop. "But I need a bit of insurance, little one."
"NO!" Elena's fists banged against the glass as she helplessly watched Pia's teeth tear into Caroline's neck. Rivers of red dropped down Pia's chin and fell onto her dress as she gave a bloody smile. Caroline dropped to the floor unconscious and bleeding; no sound came from her even as her head made a sickening crack as it hit the porch.
"Let's go." Rebekah called out causing Pia to turn around. Damon was unmoving at her feet, his neck at an awkward angle. She glanced at Kol just in time to see him deliver one last kick to Stefan's midriff sending him into the side of the house. Although every fibre of Pia's being told her to stick around and cause more mischief, she could see the warning in her sister's eyes. She needed to prove she could be trusted. With a small nod the three siblings vamped away into the night leaving a heartbroken Elena to collapse beside her friend.
"Oh, Caroline… no…" She sobbed as she wiped away the sweat that had already started to gather on her friend's forehead.
Mikael said nothing as he watched from the shadows. A sneer painted on his face as he had observed the carnage that that abomination had caused. He felt nothing towards the blonde girl that was slowly beginning to wake up, but rage filled his veins as he thought of the bitch that had caused it all.
'Monster…' the word reverberated around his brain, consuming his every thought. '…soon you will meet your end.'
Klaus almost jumped out of his chair, his book dropping to the floor forgotten, as he heard the mansion door open. Elijah remained seated but lifted his head to watch his three younger siblings enter with grins. He said nothing, but the worry that rushed through his being at the sight of Pia's bloody grin made his body stiffen. He shared a look with Klaus, both of them thinking the same thing.
Is she beginning to change into that beast again?
Whilst the Original siblings were sharing a moment of somewhat victory, the Gilbert household remained in shock. No one made a sound; the only noise came from Caroline as she shrieked when the venom spread even further through her body like wildfire. She didn't have long left. They needed a plan of action.
Blonde tendrils were clinging to her forehead from the perspiration. Long ringlets stuck together from the blood that poured from her poisonous wounds. Her blue eyes were unfocused but pointed in Elena's direction as the brunette carefully peeled back sticky strands of hair from Caroline's pale face. Elena couldn't contain the sobs that left her mouth at the sight of her friend in such a way. Bonnie remained silent on the other side of Caroline; her eyes glassy from the tears that continued to come no matter how many times she rubbed them away. The Salvatore brothers paced at the foot of the bed, the pair of them trying to come up with an action plan but coming up with nothing.
The front door crashed open suddenly.
Footsteps barrelled up the stairs at a wicked pace.
The door slammed off the wall as a concerned figure made his dramatic entrance.
All heads snapped towards his direction.
"I- I could smell her blood from the end of the street…" Tyler panted; his brown eyes wild as they latched onto the state of his girlfriend. Elena had to be caught by Damon as she was thrown to the side. Tyler grasped onto Caroline's sweaty hand and took Elena's place by her side. "What happened?" Caroline's eyes widened slightly but she found herself unable to say anything. Tyler shushed her after a pained groan escaped her chapped lips.
"Pia." Bonnie said coldly. They all inhaled as Caroline coughed violently, blood escaping from her lips. Bonnie quickly brought a tissue to her friend's mouth and gently dabbed away the red liquid that dripped down the side of her jaw.
"Well, what do we do?" Tyler asked impatiently. His eyes glowed amber for a few moments before he took a deep breath and willed his hybrid side away. He couldn't let his anger take control; he needed to keep his wits about him.
"We give them what they want." Elena cried as she watched Caroline's skin become a cooler tone.
"Can we stop them?" Tyler looked to Bonnie who shrugged her shoulders and wiped away her tears.
"I can stop Klaus, but I don't have enough power to put his sister to rest as well."
"If we desiccate Klaus and leave Pia awake, then we're as good as dead. We may as well just offer our necks to her now." Damon drawled out stating the obvious. They all knew that both of the Hybrids must be put down as whichever one was left awake would be out for blood immediately.
"I know what to do." Tyler forced a small smile as Caroline's heavy eyes settled on him. She said nothing but her fingers slightly tightened in his hold. Even though she was barely conscious she still worried about him. "I'll go back to the mansion. They don't know I'm back yet… and I'll get the dagger that Klaus used on Pia. It's got to be there somewhere."
After a few moments of silence, Damon piped up again. "You know, Lockwood, that's the best idea I've heard all night."
"Do they know how many stakes we have?"
"Not that we know of." Stefan answered Tyler and motioned for him to continue.
"Then burn one down and keep the ash. I'll get the dagger, you give me the ash and I'll stop Pia once and for all. It's time for her to go back to sleep."
'It's all a game, avoiding failure, when true colors will bleed,
All in the name of misbehavior and the things we don't need,
I lust for after no disaster can touch, touch us anymore,
And more than ever, I hope to never fall, where enough is not the same it was before.'
-Carnival of Rust by Poets of the Fall-
AN: Hello!
Here's another update! Sorry that I'm even later than usual… I'm in a bit of a rut, I suppose you could say. A mixture of low mood and general exhaustion has just made it difficult for me to focus. I mean, to put it into perspective, I currently have the next couple of days off work because last night I was crying during my shift. However, I hope this action-filled chapter will make up for my absence! It has actually made me feel so much better to jump into the world of fanfiction and distract my mind from how epically shit I feel haha! ^.^
So, I've taken notice of the reviews and the poll and it seems like a more AU route for the story is more appealing to some of you. I'm still going to keep the poll up - it's up on my page! Vote on it if you want a say on the basis of this story! - but I will begin writing the story in a more AU manner. I am going to cover the main storylines of TVD, but they will have my own twist! This chapter should give you an idea of how I'm gonna go about things so tell me if you like it! I've read through it so there should be no errors, but if there are then I apologise. I do hope to re-read all chapters at some point and amend anything I notice!
If you're still reading these updates then please let me know how you feel the story is going in a little review! It means the world to see those favs/follows numbers carry on increasing. :) Thank you to FreakyFreckledGirl11, HeartlessVampireGirl, NatalieLynn, Loveme2202, bfireworks5 and shbburks1 for leaving a review on the previous chapter.
Have a lovely day and I hope you all have a great Christmas,
Mikki xx