It's back! Thank you guys for your patience and your continued support I'm so sorry for the long wait! Now on with the chapter!
Disclaimer: Don't own The Vampire Diaries. Only taking their ideas :)
Klaus gritted his teeth in pain as he worked the last tree branch out of his left leg. He flung it to the side with a snarl as he sat up slowly. Now that he was freed, he was in need of blood and desperately. But no one had passed by these woods in over a day. Even the birds seemed too scared to fly over him.
When he sat all the way up, he looked around the now clear clearing. They had even disposed of the hybrid that they sacrificed for Jeremy's resurrection, and while he didn't mind that one of his own was sacrificed to save his love, he loathed that he was back in Tyler's arms. He would kill the werewolf, his friends, and everyone in his family for his treachery. He would save Tyler for last and he would kill him very, very slowly while making Jeremy watch as a punishment for leaving him. Then he would make Jeremy forget and rearrange his memories so well that there would never be a chance of him remembering Tyler before turning him into a vampire and creating a bond so strong that nothing would ever tear them apart again.
This made Klaus grin and with newfound determination he found the energy to push himself to his knees. He fell forward on his hands, his claws digging into the ground as he felt the splinters of wood that had gotten stuck within him.
"Damn you Tyler," he snarled as he slowly got to one foot, then the other. He rose slowly, managing to stand for a couple seconds before dropping back to one knee, blood from his opened wounds dripping into the dirt. Suddenly he picked up on a woman's voice. He managed to drag himself behind a tree just as they walked into the clearing.
"Hurry up!" she called to someone with her. "The campsite is just past this clearing!"
"Do you smell that?" the man with her asked. "Smells like burning flesh or something!"
Klaus watched as she stopped in the middle and looked around. She had dark hair that fell past her shoulders, covering the thin straps of her tank top and high-waisted shorts that left little to the imagination. She wore a hat and a backpack and looked flushed. Klaus could hear just how much as her heart pounded and her blood rushed through her veins.
"It does smell weird," she commented. "Well hurry up. Stop walking so slow!"
"Alright, alright," he grumbled as he made his way next to her. He was a chubby older man with bland face and body odor that hit him from where he was hiding.
When they started moving again, Klaus crept behind them stealthily. The woman jumped and turned around as if she felt something.
"You felt that, right?" she asked the man. He turned around.
"No—"
His sentence was cut off when Klaus grabbed him from behind and sank his teeth into his meaty neck. The woman screamed and ran in the direction they once came. The man struggled for a moment but the hybrid easily overpowered him. He drained the blood from his body and snapped his neck for good measure before dropping him like a doll. The woman managed to make it to the edge of the clearing before Klaus blocked her, face bloody and smile predatory.
"Where are you going sweetheart?" Klaus took steps towards her, smile getting wider when she stepped backwards in sheer terror.
"G-Get away from me!" she sobbed as she turned to run again. She didn't get far, running right into Klaus who appeared in front of her again and she screamed. Klaus flashed his bloody teeth at her before grabbing her and sinking his teeth deep into her neck, drinking until there was nothing left.
He threw her pale body to the side and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, stretching his muscles and cracking his neck before running out of the clearing towards Mystic Falls.
"Where's your lover?" Damon smirked as he sat across from Tyler. "I'm surprised you let him out of your sight since Klaus is set on making him his bride."
Tyler glared at him, "We got in a fight. He wants space."
"Ooh, lover's quarrels are the worst," he took a sip of his Vodka. "Nothing a little make-up sex won't cure."
"Don't you have someone else to harass?" Tyler snapped irritably. His annoyance at himself for not fixing his problems with Jeremy was starting to make him irritable. He absolutely hated when they fought.
"No need to get so testy," Damon's smirk turned into a grin. "I was just trying to give you tips so you won't be in the dog house for too long."
Tyler gave him another withering glare, "Go away, Damon."
The vampire shrugged before standing. He took one more sip of his drink before passing it to him.
"You look like you could use it."
He left before Tyler could give it back to him. The hybrid shrugged before downing the rest of his whiskey in one gulp. He needed to find Jeremy, space be damned. Klaus was still alive and until he wasn't coming after them, Jeremy would just have to deal with him. He was almost out the door when he was stopped by two girls.
"Tyler! Where have you been?" the blonde squealed. "We haven't seen you in forever!"
"I've been…busy," Tyler said gruffly, trying to remember their names and drawing a blank.
"So where're you going, stud?" the brunette with him gave him a sultry look and she trailed her finger down his chest. "Take us with you."
"We'll make it worth your while," the blonde smirked.
Tyler sighed and resisted rolling his eyes. While once upon a time he would've taken them up on their offer, he was sorely tempted to tell them to fuck off now. As he looked them over, he realized that they didn't even turn him on like they used to. The only one he really wanted was Jeremy.
"Look," he started as he removed the brunette's hand, "I would have been down with this about a year ago but I'm seeing someone now. We have a good thing and I'm not fucking that up so go somewhere else to have your fun."
The girls looked affronted.
"Who is she?" the brunette questioned.
"Jeremy Gilbert," he grinned as their jaws drop in shock.
"Elena Gilbert's brother? The drug addict?" the blonde's look of pure disbelief made Tyler laugh. "Didn't he, like, drop out?"
"No he didn't, like, drop out. He's not an addict and he's actually very smart. Probably has better grades than the two of you combined," he smirked. He laughed when they continued to look dumbfounded.
"So you're gay?" the brunette scoffed. "I'm sure the football team would love to hear that."
"Well why don't you let me know what they say. Excuse me," he pushed past them and went out the door. Jeremy would probably be mortified over what he just did but he couldn't help but feel freer. Now that people knew they were a thing, they would leave him the hell alone. But now he had to find his mate and hopefully move on to the make-up sex portion of their disagreement.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Jeremy screamed and fought as Alaric dragged him deeper into the forest. He groaned inwardly that it hadn't even been a whole day before he found himself in more trouble. Someone up there clearly didn't like him.
"Hush child," Alaric muttered as he continued walking. "All your problems will be over soon."
They came to an old, abandoned building that looked like it had seen better days. The brick was crumbling, the foundation for the building no longer looking stable. It reminded Jeremy of the old Lockwood property where Tyler would chain himself for his transformations. Jeremy's heart leapt in his throat at the thought of his lover. He was a fool for running off the way he did and now no one knew where he was. He hoped that Tyler at least heard him scream.
Alaric dragged him down the stairs and through a corridor before throwing the door open to a little room bathed in candlelight. A woman and a man stood in the middle.
"Is this the boy?" he dragged Jeremy in front of him.
"Yes, bring him here."
Alaric took a couple more steps before standing him straight in front of her. Jeremy could feel the power radiating off this woman and shuddered. Though she was powerful, he could feel an air of cold around her.
"Who're you?" Jeremy asked warily. She stood silently, not bothering to answer Jeremy's question as she looked him over, walking around him once before coming to face him again.
"My name is Esther," she said softly. "I am Niklaus's mother."
Jeremy groaned, "You're fucking kidding."
Alaric yanked his head back slightly and he hissed.
"Show some respect," he said lowly.
"That is not necessary Alaric. You may release him. He will not run," she said softly, her eyes burning into him. Alaric let him go and he shot him a wary look before facing him again.
"What do you want?"
"What you want. I want Niklaus, his brothers and sister gone, along with all the vampires they have created over the centuries. Vampires were never meant to exist and they have thrown our world out of balance for thousands of years. I would like to right that balance," she came closer to him. Jeremy could see how sickly she looked despite the poor lighting. "I can tell that Niklaus has brought you much pain, and I wish to right it."
"You can't right what he's done to me," he snapped. "Do you even know what he did to me? To my friends and to my family?"
"He destroyed the bond you had with your mate," she said softly. "I know the mate of a werewolf when I see one. Your bond tells a very interesting story."
"Klaus took everything from me. He took me from my home, from the person I love. He killed my aunt and burned down my house! He compelled me to forget everything and then…" he trailed off with a bitter laugh. "Your son is sick, and nothing you do can change that."
"I agree. But there is a reason he did what he did," she sighed. "He is in love with you."
Jeremy stared at her.
"My son is not easily threatened. As you know he is the most powerful person on this earth. The only person he ever feared was his father. He took you from everything you knew because he was threatened by the connection you have with it. For the first time in what is most likely centuries, Klaus has known fear and it has brought out his humanity. Even if it is the uglier parts of it."
Jeremy sighed wearily, "So what? Are you going to use me against him and then kill me?"
"No child—I do not wish you any harm," she smiled. "You are going to bring Niklaus to me."
"The hell I will! I'll never go back to him!" Jeremy stumbled backwards, right into Alaric. The vampire grabbed him with both arms and he struggled. "Please don't make me go back!"
"I would not dream of sending you back to him," she laughed. "I merely need you as proof. Niklaus will come when he knows I have you and I will kill him."
"No! You can't!" he screamed. "If you kill him you kill everyone he's turned! You'll kill all my friends and Ty—my mate! And you'll kill the mates of all the werewolves, including me!"
"Do not fret. I have a spell that will protect the werewolves and their mates. But your friends should have died long ago. It is time they rest in peace," she said softly. "I will ensure you and your mate survive Klaus' demise. But first I need the blood of the doppelganger."
"What for?"
"For my hunter to reach his full potential. He is not fully turned yet and only her blood will make him more powerful than all my children," she murmured. "I am sorry your friends must die but that is the way of life. To live and to die, not to be immortal."
She turned to the young man by her, "See if you can locate the doppelganger."
"Will do," he gave her a little bow and disappeared. Jeremy felt his heart pounding as Alaric's arms tightened around him. It felt as if he were already a fully functioning vampire. He couldn't imagine how much stronger he would be when he had blood.
"Why are you doing this Alaric? Why are you helping her?" Jeremy pulled away from him desperately but he held tight with his vampire strength. "Damon is your best friend!"
"I'm not friends with vampires," he sneered. "Damon Salvatore is an abomination that must be stopped."
"And with the blood of the doppelganger, you will be able to," Esther reassured. "And when the time is right you will both die."
"What?" Jeremy gasped. "What are you talking about?"
"Doppelgangers are a sign of chaos and destruction, which is all your sister has brought to this town. Nature never intended to create two of the same people to live in the same lifetime. There can only be one."
"Two people that look the same are created all the time! They're called twins!" Jeremy cried.
"But no twins are exactly the same. There is always something distinct about them that separate one from the other but not doppelgangers. They defy every rule in nature and even the supernatural order because they are so rare. The world is at a grave imbalance now with two of them but that will end soon. I will bind Alaric's life to the doppelgangers and when he has killed the last of my children he will die as I have instructed, as will she."
"You're insane!" Jeremy resumed his struggle tenfold. "You can't kill my sister! She's the only family I've got left!"
"And she has brought you nothing but pain," she glared at him. "The death of your parents, the vampires, your death multiple times. She is the reason Klaus came to Mystic Falls and the reason he took both of you away. She has brought destruction to everyone around her including herself. She must die in order for the world to find peace once more. At least she will serve one more great purpose before she does."
"Elena is the one who fought for me to stay in school! She's the one who made sure I didn't die from a drug overdose! Elena's been nothing but sweet and loving to me since my parent's died! Their death isn't her fault!" he screamed. "I won't lose anyone else I love to your family!"
Alaric's arms pinned his to his side before wrapping around him in a bear hug and he was immobile. Esther caressed his face and he pulled away quickly.
"You have a pure heart Jeremy Gilbert. So full of love," she murmured. "But I'm afraid that I can't grant your wishes."
She looked past him at Alaric. "Take him down to the cellar. Make sure he stays where no one can reach him until we are ready."
Alaric nodded and lifted Jeremy with ease as he carried him out the room. Jeremy kicked his legs started screaming when he could do nothing else.
"Tyler! Tyler!"
"Quiet!" Alaric hissed. He dragged him outside and further into the woods towards one of the old abandoned cellars. He threw the door open with one hand and tossed Jeremy inside before pulling it shut tightly. Jeremy picked himself up off the floor and made to reach for the door handle but he grabbed at air. Looking down he could see that most of it, save a little stub of wood, had been removed.
He cried out in frustration and slammed his hands against the wood desperately but he knew no one could hear him.
Bonnie sat with her back against the wall of the booth as she watched everyone playing pool, wondering over and over again how she might have done the spell wrong. She remembered the dream she'd had last night, where the witches, including her Grams, were scolding her for using dark magic, especially when she wasn't anywhere near having the right amount of power to do them. It didn't really make sense for Jeremy to be punished for something she did so perhaps being in-between the world of the living and the dead was more of a side-effect for him. She sighed and rubbed her eyes, forcing a smile when she saw Elena.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," she tried her hardest to look convincing but she knew it was pointless. Elena was her best friend for a reason.
"Tell me," she sat next to her. "What's wrong?"
"Either I didn't do the spell right when we brought Jeremy back or it's a side effect of being brought back to life but…he can see the ghosts of Anna and Vicki."
Elena's eyebrows shot up, "Really?"
"Yeah. I guess Vicki wants to send him back to Klaus so she can be with Tyler."
"Wow," she leaned against the wall and laughed in disbelief shaking her head. "I thought she was dating Jeremy before she died?"
"So did I, but apparently he was her rebound."
"Ouch," she winced. "Poor Jer. He can't ever catch a break."
"I feel horrible. I know I should have waited to do the spell until I was healed but he was dying and I wasn't sure if he would feed or not—"
"Bonnie it's not your fault. I know he doesn't blame you," Elena squeezed her arm. "This is just a minor glitch. It's all going to be fine. He's not in danger of going to their side is he?"
"I don't think so. He shouldn't be. Maybe he has one foot on the Other Side and one foot on this one."
"Weird. This whole thing is just weird," she sighed and pulled Stefan's jacket around her tighter. "So what should we do about Vicki? Could she really lead him back to Klaus?"
"I don't know…I wouldn't doubt it," she sighed. "I just don't remember Vicki being like this. I thought she cared about him."
"Obviously not," Elena rolled her eyes. "But I always knew she was just using him. Jeremy didn't want to listen to me but she always picked Tyler."
"Maybe we can reach out to her. If we can get Jeremy to talk to her for us we can see what she really wants."
"We should get back to the boarding house," Elena muttered as she found Stefan's keys in the jacket pocket. She looked at the tables and frowned when she didn't see Jeremy or Tyler, "Where'd they go?"
"I don't know. They were arguing when I left them," she sighed. "I'll go get Damon and Stefan."
Elena watched as she left for the bar where the brothers were sitting side-by-side nursing a beer. She laughed at how similar their mannerisms were as she went to the car.
She shivered at the sudden wind that started picking up and hurried to the brand new Ford sedan bought that day for their upcoming road trip. They weren't sure how far they would have to go and he wanted something more gas sufficient than his sports car.
She got in the driver's seat, the smell of the brand new vehicle calming her slightly before she stuck the key in the ignition and turned but nothing happened. Elena frowned as she tried to turn it harder. There was still no reaction, almost as if the key were stuck. A sudden click noise startled her, indicating that the doors in the car locked. She tried to push the lock up but it wouldn't budge. Panic starting to seep into her, she banged on the window, screaming for help but everyone was still inside and it was too dark for anyone to see her. Suddenly the key twisted in the ignition and the car came to life. She watched with fascination and terror as the car started to move without her contribution. The car put itself in reverse and backed out of the parking lot before driving onto the road, past the boarding house and the Lockwood Mansion and into the woods. Elena watched with wonder, curiosity and slight terror as the car maneuvered past the dense trees and managed not to hit or scratch anything as it traveled on in the dark, the lights not helping to see beyond the immediate darkness. Suddenly the car came to a sudden stop in the middle of what seemed to be the darkest part of the woods and shut off, the car enveloped in darkness. She gulped and looked around, only being able to see a few trees in the dark. The doors unlocked and she figured this was where she got out.
She stepped carefully onto the dirt, wary for any kind of trap. The wind blew past the leaves of the trees quickly and she wondered if this was a sign that she should go back to the car only the car was no longer there when she turned around. Her eyes went wide in panic and she ran back to the spot. The tire imprints were still in the dirt but the car was simply gone as if it had vanished.
"Hello?" she screamed before covering her mouth and berating herself for possibly attracting unwanted attention. She took a step back and turned around, gasping when she came face to face with Alaric.
"God—you scared me Ric!" she laughed in relief, not able to see the way his eyes had turned black in the dark. "What are you doing out here?"
"Looking for you, doppelganger," he tilted his head to the side. Elena frowned at his statement and immediately realized something was wrong. Before she could ask anything Alaric had thrown her over his shoulder and took off into the woods with agility.
"Alaric! What the hell are you doing?" she cried as she hit him. Just as quickly as he had picked her up and ran off with her he dropped her in front of a doorway. She glanced at Alaric in confusion and fear. "How did you…you were running like a—!"
"A vampire," a new voice appeared and startled her. She quickly got to her feet and turned to face Esther. "I turned him into one so he could be more powerful than all my children and kill them. You are going to help him reach that power."
"But…they're the bloodline to all vampires!" she protested. "If you kill them then—!"
"The others will die, yes," she chuckled in amusement. "It's quite clear you and that boy are related. He said the exact same thing not two hours ago."
She gasped at the implication of her words.
"What did you do to my brother?" she glared at Esther. "Where is he?"
"He is safe. I do not wish him harm and none will come to him or you if you cooperate."
Elena looked back at Alaric again, "Do I have a choice?"
Esther smiled and walked back inside the room she came out of. Alaric pushed Elena and she glared at him before following.
"I can't believe you're helping her! Damon is your best friend Ric—he's a vampire! You've saved him more than once!"
"He's a demon that needs to die," he hissed vehemently. "All vampires must die."
"Ric," Elena whispered as she finally saw how much he had changed in the light. "Ric what has she done to you?"
"I offered him a way to end his misery. He wishes to be reunited with the woman he loves and I will allow it if he does this task. All he needs is your blood to make him stronger."
She turned and walked back inside the shack. Alaric grabbed Elena's hand none too gently and pulled her inside too. They followed Esther to a round stone basin that looked as if it were used as a large drinking chalice. Inside was the last white oak stake that Stefan and Damon had pulled from the sign made from the white oak before it was burned down.
"With the power of your ring, the white oak stake will be invincible and with the blood of the doppelganger you will be more powerful than all my children combined," she reached her hand out and dropped Alaric's ring into the basin before she started chanting. The wind immediately picked up in the room like it did when Bonnie chanted her spells, making Elena wonder if this was a natural occurrence with witchcraft. She chanted for a few moments before she opened her eyes and grabbed the stake. The ring had melted and molded around the stake in such a way that it looked as if it were encased artfully in steel like a collector's item.
"It is yours," she handed it to Alaric. Suddenly she grabbed Elena's arm and the doppelganger immediately protested.
"No! I won't let you do this to Alaric—he doesn't deserve this!"
"He deserves to be in peace," she muttered something under her breath and Elena hissed when something invisible cut her hand, opening it wide. Esther pulled her around the basin and thrust her at Alaric. "Drink."
Alaric smiled wickedly and grabbed Elena's hand tightly, sinking his teeth into her flesh as Esther began chanting again. Elena gasped in pain and tried to pull her hand away but it was futile. She worried Esther would let Alaric drain her of all her blood before the chanting stopped and she was suddenly across the room.
"The bonding spell is complete. Your lives are now one and you are now invincible. Now go," she nodded to Alaric. When he was gone Esther turned back to Elena who was watching her warily.
"Thank you, doppelganger."
"Where's Jeremy?" she bit back.
"You cannot see him yet." She stood in front of Elena and waved a hand over her face, watching as she crumpled to the ground, unconscious. She waved her hand again and all the candles were snuffed out. Looking to make sure nothing was out of place she left the abandoned cellar and shut the door.
"Jeremy?" Tyler called, frowning when he didn't hear or see anyone. He quickly dialed his number again, counting the number of rings before it went to voicemail. He quickly made his way through the house, checking in every room before walking back down, listening intently for a moment, trying to hear any indication of Jeremy in the house but all he could hear was his mother in the living room.
"Shit. Where the hell are you?" he swore softly. He had a horrible feeling that something had happened to his mate but Klaus was still in the woods. There was no way he was able to recover so quickly.
He sighed and dialed his number again, swearing when it rang and rang and went to voicemail again. He quickly dialed another number.
"Hey, have you seen Jeremy?"
"I haven't left Matt's since last night. I haven't seen anyone but him," Caroline giggled, making Tyler wrinkle his nose. "We're on our way to The Grill right now."
"No, don't. I need your help finding him. I'll explain later," he cut off her question. "Just have your clothes on."
She laughed as she squeezed the phone between her shoulder and her ear, pulling on her boot. "Have we missed anything? Did they say what we're going to do about Klaus? Matt and I were thinking, if we have to hide somewhere, New York wouldn't be such a bad place. It's pretty big. Klaus would never find us."
"You would pick that of all places," Tyler laughed as he walked to his front door. "That place suits you perfectly."
"It's smart! New York is overpopulated and there are so many people I can feed and not raise any suspicion."
"What about the animal diet?"
"Stefan is feeding off Elena. If he gets to forgo the animal diet then so do I," she unconsciously licked her lips when Matt entered the room only wearing a towel. "She thinks she can hide it but I see the holes in her neck."
"So you've seen them too," Tyler laughed as he turned the handle. "I thought it was just—"
He stopped short when he saw who was on the other side of the door. His mouth hung open in disbelief and his eyes widened significantly, heart sinking as he stared at the smirking Klaus on the other side of the threshold.