Klaus's POV
"Don't worry Niklaus I'm not one to buckle under pressure or panic when things get hard; admittedly, there is nothing more exhilirating that a job like this… the adrenaline is just… woah.." She said her excitement evident, however I did see how her face paled visibly. I knew I really had met my match; she, like me enjoyed the adrenaline of the moment, but also had the sense to know the real danger and to be nervous.
"Well the sweetheart, enjoy tonight; because if everything goes to plan. This is the last job any of us will ever have to do." I said grabbing one of her hands within mine.
"One last job…" She muttered quietly as she squeezed my hand and smiled up at me.
"Yes love, one last job…" I responded with a smile.
"Nik, Care listen up, Mason's about two miles away from the rendezvous point; you need to get going!" Jeremy explained over the intercom.
"Thanks Jeremy, we're on our way." I replied before turning back to Caroline.
"It's now or never love; we'd better get going," I exclaimed, tugging her up from the chair. She grabbed her bike gear and followed me out the door. As we made our way down to the parking garage she slipped on her jacket and gloves, her facial expression one of seriousness. I had to admit, it was kind of turning me on; despite the circumstances…
We walked over to her bike and she climbed on, she clutched her helmet in one hand, but her other hand snaked out and grabbed my collar. She pulled me forcefully toward her and crashed her lips onto mine; I've got to admit I was surprised, and therefore didn't savor the moment as much as I should have. Before I could even comprehend what was happening, she released me and pulled her helmet over her head, before gunning the ignition and speeding away.
"Good luck Niklaus…" her voice came through my earpiece, and I was still standing, staring off to where she had just left. Man… that woman was so unpredictable.
"Good luck to you love." I replied as I shrugged on my own jacket and made my way over to my car.
Stefan's POV
Mason and his entourage arrived at the rendezvous point on time; almost too on time. I felt a funny feeling wash over me, but I brushed it off and blamed it on superstition; Damon always joked about my wariness and I tried to picture him now, laughing at me because I was acting stupid.
Mason and his men clambered from the car and paced towards the others, I took this as my opportunity; I stealthily made my way over to his car and pulled myself underneath and took in the sight before me.
There seemed to be a mass of wires and various other contraptions; I wasn't good with cars, I was a computer kind of guy. This is how I knew this was going to take me a while. I zoned out all the noises around me and focused on the job at hand.
Elena's POV
Mason and his men began to stroll towards us, Damon, Bonnie, Alaric and I stared intently at one another whilst still in the confines of our vehicle.
"It looks like it's show time. Good luck all." Damon said, breaking the ominous silence. We all nodded around at one another in agreement and clambered from the car.
I positioned myself on one side of Alaric and Damon on the other, Bonnie paced beside us with Mason's precious file. We dragged Alaric towards Mason, and Alaric played along resisting and shouting expletives at us. Mason needed to be fooled otherwise this wouldn't work.
"Ah, my poor kidnapped scientist, it's so nice to see that he's still in one piece… well, just about…" Mason said, voice like a snake.
"Yes Mason, we've upheld our end of the bargain. We've got your documents and your scientist. Have you got our money?" Damon asked guardedly, obviously not trusting Mason one bit; well none of us did…
"All in good time, you had over my file and Mr. Saltzman, and then you will get your money." He replied, whilst gesturing to one of his men who was holding out a briefcase.
Bonnie, Damon and I stared at him in disbelief; he rolled his eyes and barked out an order at one of his thugs.
"Show them!" He said curtly. The man nodded once and clicked open the briefcase, he pulled the lid open and turned the briefcase towards us to show us the contents. Damon let out a whistle as he saw the contents.
"Okay you're the real deal; you haven't tried to screw us over. Bonnie give him the file." Damon said, as he handed Alaric over to the men. Bonnie's facial expression was one of indecision and confusion; despite the fact that we swore to her we'd be getting the formula back, she was still not happy about having to hand it over to Mason.
She let out a long sigh before holding out the file to him, her arm shaking slightly. That was when things went rapidly downhill. Mason snatched the file from Bonnie's outstretched hand, before pushing her brutally to the ground.
Masons thugs followed his example, one man struck Damon hard around the head with the briefcase which knocked him out cold; and I knew what was coming for me next, I dropped into fighting stance, but before I could brace myself a heavy boot made contact with my stomach, knocking all the air from me and forcing me to the ground. I hit the floor at an awkward angle and felt my ankle twist; I gave a small shout of pain and shock, hoping that Rebecca, Jeremy and Matt would realize what was happening and come to our aid.
Bonnie pulled herself swiftly from the ground, looked at Damon and I on the ground and made her decision. She ran at speed towards Mason and threw herself onto his back, from my crumped position I saw Rebecca, Jeremy and Matt join the fight. Dread seeped through my body as I realized that things weren't going our way. Mason turned viciously and pulled a Taser from his pocket before jamming it brutally into Bonnie's neck, she once more crumpled to the ground and began to convulse.
"Ohmygod Bonnie!" I exclaimed, horrified at the scene which was playing before my eyes.
The other's came to Bonnie's defense but Rebecca was knocked away rapidly, which left Matt and Jeremy vs at least six other men. I hoped that things were going well with Stefan, because things here were not going to plan, and we had to be able to track Mason. I saw the expression on Alaric's face and I knew that he just wanted to come to our defense, but it seemed even he knew that it was a lost cause, he decided that sticking to the plan was our only option.
Klaus's POV
The car was being extremely obstinate, for some reason it just wouldn't start, which meant I couldn't go and keep watch for the others. I stared around the garage, and kicked myself as I realized all the other cars in the garage were gone; I had no mode of transport.
Over the intercom, I heard all hell break loose; Mason had successfully screwed us over.
I heard Elena's cries of horror, I heard Jeremy cursing at the top of his voice.
I heard my worst nightmare playing out.
"Ohmygod! He got away, Mason got away with everything, Alaric, the money the files…
… and… and… I think Matt's dead!" Elena stuttered out, her voice breaking on the word 'dead', her tone thick with tears and emotion.
"Do something, oh shit, please, anyone do something!" She continued to exclaim, everyone else was silent, and it became apparent no one knew what the hell to do.
"Don't worry guys, I've got this. Stefan's tracking device was successful. It's just flagged up Mason's position on my phone; I'm going after him." Caroline said, finally joining the conversation. I could hear her voice was strained, she was obviously worrying for Matt's welfare, they'd known each other a long time.
"NO. Caroline, you are not going without me. Not without back-up, anything could happen…" I roared down the intercom, making me flinch as I heard myself in the earpiece.
"I'm sorry Niklaus, but I'm closest and seeing as you're having car trouble you're definitely out of the game. This is the only option we have." She replied exasperatedly.
" , please don't do this, you don't have to do this. We can all re-convene and make a new plan. We can solve this a much safer way!" I exclaimed, knowing full well that what I was saying wouldn't work out, that it was now or never.
"No Niklaus, everyone knows this is the only option…" She muttered quietly, her voice nothing other than a mumble in my ear-piece.
I crashed my fist down hard against the steering wheel. I was Furious that this had happened. This car cost a bloody fortune, yet when I needed it most it didn't deliver.
Caroline's POV
If I looked carefully, I could just about see Mason's car in front. I kept my speed steady and consistent, not wanting to alert them to my presence.
"Niklaus, I will be fine, I promise…" I exclaimed exasperated, it was cute that he was worried about me; but seriously… I had been in situations like this many times before, and he seemed to think that I couldn't look after myself.
In that moment that I was distracted, I didn't realize how close I had become to Mason's vehicles, then all of a sudden they came to stop; I didn't slow down in time and I came in to position immediately behind then. Masons thugs got out of the vehicle behind and I braced for myself for what I knew was going to begin. I climbed from my bike and tensed my body into fighting stance, determined to be ready for the first blow; the odds weren't in my favor 4 vs 1.
"Guys, just a heads up; I've blown my anonymity, but I think I can take on these clowns…" I informed the others.
"Do what's necessary, but don't make any stupid decisions…" Niklaus's voice came over the ear-piece.
"Yes Nik…" I replied, whilst rolling my eyes.
Others began speaking to me, but then my concentration was suddenly taken up by other things when a fist came towards my face. I turned and grabbed the fist in my hand, I squeezed it tightly and twisted it viciously in an opposite direction, I heard a nasty snap and the man grimaced in pain. I used this opportunity to put him completely out of action, I dealt a vicious blow, right below the belt with my foot, using all the power that I could put behind it. I was pretty sure the man's eyes rolled back towards his head as he felt the excruciating pain, he crumpled to the floor temporarily out of the fight.
I turned to the next three and pulled a dangerous looking knife from my boot, before staring at them with as much hate as I could muster. I decided to wait for them to make the first move and fail, similarly to what happened earlier. Yet they just stood staring, matching every move I made.
"What's the matter, you too scared to get your ass kicked like your friend over there?" I baited them.
One man launched himself at me; I dropped low, before running towards him. I braced myself and cracked my head brutally against his; Unfortunately for him I'd learnt how to do the most effective head-butt – the one that caused him all the pain… he grabbed his head in his hands as I imagined the pain had already began, whilst he was distracted I gripped the knife tightly and drove it hard into his stomach; if I had aimed correctly I will have pierced his stomach lining and the acid that collects there would already be travelling and beginning to corrode the rest of his organs.
Yep… I was pretty sure that I'd hit the right spot, the man doubled over, screaming in horror and clutching his stomach. He fell to the floor, twitched for a while or two before becoming motionless. I paced towards his body and pulled the knife from his very dead figure.
"So who's next?" I asked, twirling the knife teasingly between my fingers. Just as I anticipated, the two men took it upon themselves to surround me, one in front and one behind. The man in front drew his knife and being a simple brained thug he aimed it straight at my head, I timed it well and ducked. The man's eyes widened in horror as I moved out the way and he knifed his friend in the head instead of me. Whilst he was busy obsessing over his friend who he just killed, I sneaked up behind him, kicked him to his knees, grabbed his neck in my hands and gave it one vicious twist. I heard the bones crack and the man fell to the floor.
Dead.
"Okay, umm… I've dealt with them, just Mason to go…" I exclaimed over the communication device, breathing heavily, the adrenaline still rushing from the fight.
I heard the others let out a sigh of relief.
"Good job Care, now go get Mason!" They shouted in support from the other end.
I pulled my ripped bike gloves from my hands and tugged off my bike helmet, I threw them both to the ground, before re-adjusting my jacket and straightening up ready to face Mason.
He clambered from his car with a disgusting smirk on his face. I saw Alaric still tied up in the backseat; luckily it seemed that Mason hadn't realized that Ric was involved. Good job too, otherwise things could have got even messier.
Mason straightened up and stared mockingly at me, before motioning for me to come toward him.
I paced slowly over, knowing that if I had to walk to fight this guy, I was going to take my sweet time doing it…
When I reached him, he leered disgustingly at me.
"Ah sweetheart, it's so so lovely to see you again; when I didn't see you at the rendezvous point earlier I thought you'd skipped out on the final phase of this seemingly awful plan. Yet here you are all alone, and you don't have a hope in hell… you and I are going to have some fun…" He spat out creepily.
"Yes Mason, I may be all alone; but haven't you noticed that I just beat the shit out of all of your men, their dead; you are also alone… so so alone…" I replied mockingly back, attempting to beat him at his own game.
"Well then, let's get this started shall we?" Mason inquired, before striking me viciously around the face, I felt blood pool in my mouth and I spat out a tooth that had become loose.
"Striking your opponent before they're ready Mason? That's not very honorable…" I said mockingly.
"Well, if you hadn't noticed I'm not a very honorable man…" He spat out.
"I guess that's a good thing, I won't feel guilty doing this then." I replied as I slammed my foot powerfully into his groin. His expression changed into one of intense pain, but he didn't let it stop him, he grasped me tightly around the neck and shoved me up against the wall of a building beside the road.
He squeezed tightly and I felt my oxygen supply running low, I clawed at his hands anxious to get out of this situation. It didn't seem to work, so I did the only thing I could think of, I leant upwards and bit the man as hard as I could on the neck.
"Ah, you little bitch!" Mason exclaimed as he released me and pressed his hand to the blood that was pooling at his neck.
I stumbled away from the wall and tried to get away, but I was too dis-orientated to know where I was going, I fell awkwardly to the floor and saw Mason pace towards me.
He kicked me hard in the side and held me down; he withdrew a knife from his jacket and angled it towards my abdomen. I held my breath and fidgeted as the knife descended towards my body.
As it made contact with my skin I screamed out in agony, but I grabbed my gun from the back of my belt and shot him, directly in the heart, just as Mason drove the knife fully into my stomach.
"AAH!" Mason and I's screams rang out in unison; however, all I could think through the intense agony that I was pretty sure was going to kill me was: If I was going to die, then he was going down with me.
"Caroline, Caroline! Are you alright!" Niklaus exclaimed.
"No, Mason. Knife. Agony. Help" I shouted out.
I slumped down on the pavement, next to Mason's dead body. I pressed my hands tightly to my stomach in an attempt to reduce the bleeding. I closed my eyes for a moment or two in the hope to find some kind of a pain relief. However… No such luck…
"So you break my heart and you kill my uncle, you little bitch…" I heard a furious voice above me.
I opened my eyes and was horrified at what I saw before me.
"Wha-? I stuttered out.
"You're dead!" I shouted the pain of speaking draining the life from me.
"Only in your dreams…" The figure spat venomously.
"Caroline! Who's there?!" Niklaus shouted worried.
"No… no… it's him, he's here… how is he here?" I muttered, unsure now whether I was talking to myself, or Tyler. The pain begin to cause black patches on my vision.
"Whose there Caroline! Tell me!"
"Tyler...
Tyler's here…" I just managed to mutter, before falling unconscious.