Chapter 25

Change of plans

How did it come to this? That was the only thing Seraphine could think about when she and Klaus entered the Grill. It was strange how fast a person's life could turn from bad to worse, or maybe even terrible. She could hardly believe that it had been only two years since she had been released from the psychiatric hospital after turning 18. The world had seemed like a scary place then but she had believed she would have a chance to build some kind of life for herself. She had been alone but at least she has had some money to start her life with.

That had been a complete surprise; apparently her father had saved a little money for her every month. Perhaps it had been his way to repay her for not visiting her. Sure he had sent her presents every Christmas, never on her birthday though. She had figured that he hadn't done that because her birthday had also been Alex's birthday. The truth was that she had never wanted presents, she had wanted her father. Her mother had committed suicide soon after Seraphine had been diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic and sent to a psychiatric hospital.

For years she had thought that everyone was right, she must be crazy. Or maybe everyone else was crazy, after few years it had been hard to tell. Finally she had been able to act like a normal person in order to get out. The problem was that she was far from normal but she had finally started to accept that. Then Kol had showed up in her life. When had that been? 7 months ago… It felt more like 7 years. She still couldn't understand why he had waited so long before coming here. Obviously he really wanted to find Henrik but that hadn't stopped him from wanting to travel before finally returning to this place. According to him, he had wanted to "train" her first but somehow she doubted that. She was sure that there was another reason for his behavior.

If she wouldn't have known better, she would have thought that Kol had been afraid to actually face Henrik, no matter how much he had wanted to find him. Not that she would ever say that to him, nor he would ever admit it. They were meant to stay here as long as she would be able to find Henrik but she didn't have any idea what he had planned to do after that. She didn't even know why he wanted to find his brother. Not that any of it mattered now; things had certainly become much more complicated.

Seraphine wasn't completely sure what she thought of Klaus. It seemed that like Kol, he saw her as some object he could own. Yet, as strange as it was, she didn't think that he was deliberately trying to hurt her, he honestly believed that he was helping her. Their whole family seemed to be seriously messed up, but then again, they were over thousand years old vampires. She couldn't help but wonder what their parents had been like; Kol had never talked about them. It seemed that he wasn't here yet, there were only some people enjoying their meals. Seraphine tried desperately to think of a way to get these people out before Kol's arrival when two men and a woman approached her and Klaus. None of them looked very pleased. Seraphine recognized the woman; she had been here with the brunette when she and Kol had come here for lunch.

"What are you doing here?" Klaus asked tensely.

"What do you think?" the other man snapped. He had dark hair and blue eyes. "Your psycho brother took Elena."

"Yes, and as I told you earlier I will handle him", Klaus replied.

The man turned his piercing gaze towards Seraphine.

"And who's this?"

"Well, Damon, I believe that's none of your business. Now I suggest you get out before my brother gets here."

"We're not going anywhere", the woman said.

Klaus sighed and looked at the other man who had stayed quiet.

"Stefan, perhaps you can explain to your little friends that this isn't a good time to annoy me."

"We are all here for Elena", the man replied. "Like Bonnie said, we are not going anywhere."

"You really should", Seraphine muttered.

"No one asked your opinion, blondie", Damon snapped.

Klaus took a menacing step towards him.

"Watch your tongue."

He didn't have a chance to reply when the door opened and Kol stepped in. His eyes turned immediately to Klaus and Seraphine. Apparently it amused him to see their three companions.

"Hello, brother. I see you brought some backup, the dynamic duo and their little witch friend. Interesting choice."

"Where's Elena?" Damon growled before Klaus managed to say anything.

Kol rolled his eyes.

"Hush now, the grown-ups are talking." He looked at Seraphine. "Come darling."

She took a step towards him before Klaus' order stopped her.

"Stay right there."

Kol frowned.

"I'm sorry; I thought you wanted your blood bag to live."

"Where is she?" Klaus asked coldly.

"I'll tell you as soon as Seraphine and I are outside."

"Do you honestly believe that I would trust you?"

Kol shrugged.

"You don't have much choice, brother."

Klaus pressed his lips together.

"You are making a big mistake. If you think that I won't hunt you down…"

"Blah, blah, blah, could you think if some new threats for a change?"

"You just wait…"

Seraphine swallowed nervously and looked around her. The people in the Grill didn't seem to notice what was going on. She had a feeling that this was going to be ugly.

"Seraphine."

She startled when she saw her brother standing next to her.

"Listen to me very carefully", he said determinedly. "I'm going to get you out of here; I need you to be ready to run when I say so."

Then she noticed all the dead people standing among the clueless diners. They were all women, who judging by their clothes had died in different eras.

"I found some help", Alex said. "These ladies are all witches and they really don't like vampires. They will hold back your capturers long enough for you to get away."

Seraphine looked at her brother disbelievingly. Could this be really happening? Alex smiled and touched her hand.

"This is your only chance so don't stop, no matter what."

She nodded and started carefully to back away. Klaus and Kol were too concentrated on their argument to notice. Damon on the other hand did notice and tried to grab her but was stopped by an invisible wall.

"Run!" Alex shouted.

She didn't hesitate even a second. Klaus and Kol were both shouting something but she couldn't hear them, thanks to this wall. Everyone in the Grill seemed to be trapped behind it. Everyone except her. She had never run so fast in her life. In the next second she was outside. She was free. It was the most amazing sensation she had ever felt. Run, run, run! This was her only chance. She had no idea how much time she would have so she didn't even think about stopping. However it would be impossible to outrun a vampire so she needed a car. Someone was just starting one across the street. She was about to run there and beg this person, who ever he or she was, to offer her a ride. Unfortunately she never made it there when someone grabbed her from behind. No.

"Let me go!" she yelled struggling as hard as she could.

"Calm down", Elijah's voice said. He turned her around tightening his grip.

"Please", she pleaded trying to figure out why he was doing this. "Please let me go, I'm begging you."

His face was blank when he looked at her calmly.

"I'm afraid I can't do that."

In the next second he had lifted her into his arms and was carrying her towards his car. No, this couldn't be happening. She was still struggling when he placed her onto the front seat. She couldn't understand, he had seemed nice before, at least nicer than Kol or Klaus. Why was he doing this? Her eyes were filling with tears.

"Why?" she asked desperately when he started the car.

"Forgive me, Miss Seraphine", he replied tensely. "There have been a change of plans."