Chapter 25: Waking The Dead

"I think you should do it." Klaus said to his beloved sister Rebekah.

They and Elijah, the three Mikaelson siblings were standing around the coffin Kol Mikaelson was resting it. It's been four years since Klaus had daggered Kol and left Mystic Falls behind with the rest of his family. As soon as he fulfilled Zuriel's demands, Hope was returned safely as promised. The Mikaelsons stayed away as they were told to during the entire time the residents of Mystic Falls fought with the Travelers for survival. They didn't return though even when the town became semi safe again. How could they go back? Their shame and guilt for abandoning everyone there when the originals were needed the most and innocent lives were danger, kept them away.

Besides, no one in Mystic Falls wanted to see the originals again specially Caroline Forbes. Klaus or Elijah didn't have the courage to revive Kol as well knowing what he'd do. Hence he remained locked up in a coffin for four rather long years. Unfortunately it was finally time to wake him up. Actually, the siblings didn't really have a choice. Had they have a choice, Kol would be waking up a century or two later. But something happened or happening. Something bad. Therefore the original family couldn't afford their youngest brother lying in a coffin anymore.

The dead people were coming back. Yes, all the supernatural beings who got sucked into the darkness after the other side was destroyed are somehow eventually coming back, in flesh and blood. The other day, Rebekah ran into Katherine Pierce, also known as Katerina Patrova. She couldn't interrogate her as the cunning doppelganger escaped before she could get to her. Not only that but Klaus swore he saw Mikael the day before yesterday. And even though the originals were staying away from Mystic Falls but they always got updates on what was happening over there. And strange things were happening there as well. The townsfolk were getting worried.

"Does it matter who pulls out the dagger? We'd all need to face him anyway" said Rebekah as she opened the lid of the coffin and revealed a neutralized Kol.

"Yes, but he wouldn't try to kill you instantly as you weren't the one who daggered him but the same cannot be said for us." Klaus said about him and Elijah. Elijah was just as much guilty of the crime as Klaus since he helped daggering Kol. To say that Klaus was dreading waking up Kol would be the understatement of the century. It wasn't that Kol would try to rip his heart out right after waking up but it was more about facing him and telling him what they did to Shanyra. Kol wouldn't be able to forgive their betrayal this time.

Speaking of Shanyra Forbes, a lot has happened with her right after the originals left Mystic Falls. Once Zuriel drove them out of town, she made a move against Shanyra just as expected. She went after the doppelgangers too, Elena and Stefan. Once again a traveler wanted to use their blood to start a spell that could undo all witch magic in the town. Only this time it was the mother of traveler herself. Therefore stopping her proved impossible. Without any vampires in town and witches powerless, Zuriel got to Shae way too easily. It was what her ultimate goal was after all. However, when the mother of travelers tried to take the soul of Shanyra back for herself; something happened. Something about Shae stumped Zuriel. She not only failed to take the soul but also lost all her powers as well. No one really understood what really happened that horrific night. Because even Zuriel wasn't expecting failure. The mother of travelers was too destroyed to carry out her plans. Not to mention her losing powers stopped the spell too that was keeping the vampires out of town.

When the vampires returned and witches could do magic again, a battle took place with the travelers. Many of them died. Even Markos got killed by Damon and Enzo. He was sucked into the darkness after his death. By the time the fighting was over, Zuriel understood that she was in no position to defend herself let alone fight against vampires and witches and also attempt to take Shanyra's soul again. Therefore she escaped Mystic Falls and hid somewhere else in the world. Though defeated but Zuriel was far from dead. She not only lived but she gradually started regaining power over the time. Even though she wasn't supposed to sustain in the world of living without her soul for long but powerful traveler like her is never out of options. She knew of ways that one couldn't even imagine. But whatever her way was for surviving it was only temporary therefore she still desperately wanted her soul back. Hence a plot was conjured up against all other supernatural beings. The returning of dead people only ensured that she has taken her first step already. How else they were getting out of the darkness? After all Zuriel was trapped in there for many many years. Surely she must know how to bring people back from there or worse destroy the prison completely. That would ultimately mean unleashing hell on earth. It has to be stopped. Anyhow. Hence the originals have decided to destroy Zuriel themselves this time because obviously with the dead, all their enemies would return too. Then there would be no place in this world where they'd be able to hide and stay safe.

"Why don't you go out for a while then?" Rebekah suggested.

"Perhaps after I explain everything to Kol, he'd feel less murderous." Klaus thought about it for a moment then agreed to it. He really didn't want to face his little brother immediately after he wakes up. Before he left, he said to Rebekah-

"When he asks about Shanyra, don't tell him that I compelled her to forget everything about him and us." With that the hybrid walked out of the room.

Kol may forgive Klaus for daggering him like many other times but he'd definitely try to kill him if he learned about Shanyra. Klaus being the original hybrid obviously wouldn't really die at the hand's of Kol above all people but he had no wish to engage in a fight with his brother to begin with, not to mention under such troublesome circumstances. They needed to work together to solve the problems, not fight each other. Rebekah didn't say anything but she agreed with Klaus on this. Telling Kol the truth about Shanyra wouldn't be a great thing to do. He'd eventually find out about it anyway but rather it happens later than right away.

"Go ahead Rebekah." Elijah said. He decided to stay behind and didn't leave with Klaus. He did it in case Kol was too out of control to let their sister explain anything to him. Besides, it wasn't him who shoved the dagger into his heart. Kol might give him the benefit of doubt that he wasn't involved in the conspiracy against him and refrain from attacking him right away. Rebekah wrapped her fingers around the dagger and pulled it out at once. She put it aside and concentrated on Kol. Very soon, the dark veins on his face started to disappear. The color on his skin started to return as well. Kol was coming back to life after four years. Rebekah didn't have to wait for long before he snapped open his eyes and a loud gasp escaped his breath. Rebekah smiled and greeted him.

"Welcome back brother."

Mystic Falls:

Shanyra screamed out loudly and woke up from dead sleep. She felt as if someone just stabbed her in the heart. A strange sensation took over her within seconds. As if her soul was no longer her own anymore but shared with someone else. Shae used to feel like this once in her life, not that she remembered it. Very quickly she became sweaty, her heart was beating at a fast pace and her breathing, uneven. What the hell was happening? Shae had no explanation. She closed her eyes shut and tried to calm herself down. Meanwhile Caroline came into her room, looking worried. She obviously heard Shanyra's scream.

"Shae, what happened?" Caroline saw how exhausted Shae looked as if she was running for hours. She pulled Shae into an embrace and held her tightly as she was literary shaking like a little bird. Caroline also tried to help her calm down.

Speaking of Caroline, she was no longer only Shanyra's cousin but her sister as well because Liz Forbes had officially adopted Shae right after they got rid of the Travelers. Ever since then, things have been quite peaceful in Mystic Fall. Liz was still the Sheriff of the town. Caroline even though wanted to become a journalist, she became the Mayor's secretary after graduating college. And the current Mayor of the town was none other than Alaric Saltzman. Many things have changed over the past four years but in all these years Shanyra lived a pretty normal and happy life. It was possible because she neither remembered the originals, thanks to Klaus's compulsion nor she remembered about Zuriel trying to kill her. Caroline had compelled her to forget about it. She just didn't want her sister to grow up feeling fear all the time or have nightmare every night. And it worked out just fine.

Shanyra knew about the supernatural world though; about vampires, witches and werewolves. She knew that her sister was a vampire herself. Shae just didn't know anything about the originals. Not even about their existence, let alone who they were. It was like that because apart from having her memories erased, Caroline made sure the originals are never mentioned in front of her. She hated them way too much to ever speak of them herself. Hence, Shae had no knowledge of the legends; the first created vampires in the history of vampires. Anyway, among all the things that changed over the passing time, the most important thing was, little Shae wasn't little anymore. She was going to be a junior this year in Mystic high.

"Did you have a nightmare?" Caroline asked with soft tone of voice. She glanced out the window. The sky was starting to clear, soon it'd be sunrise.

"No" said Shae, shaking her head a little. She finally calmed down enough to think straight and speak up.

"I don't know what happened." She said pulling away a little from the embrace.

"What is it that you're feeling?" Caroline asked looking at her sister with a frown of curiosity. Shae inhaled a deep breath first, then said-.

"It's hard to explain. The feeling is very weird though. As if-"

"As if you're not whole anymore." Caroline said making Shae look at her with surprise. She nodded her head slowly. This response immediately got Caroline worried. Because unlike Shae, she knew what it could mean.

"What is it Caroline?" Shanyra asked with confusion seeing the worry on her sister's face. Caroline instead of telling the truth, she lied about it.

"It's nothing. Don't worry about it. Maybe it's the side effects of you studying Grimoire all the time." She said teasing Shae who shook her head to herself with a smile.

"I don't study them Care, I only read them. Despite not being a witch, magic just fascinates me. Besides, I read other books too, don't I? Like textbooks." It was true though. Shanyra often borrows Bonnie's Grimoire to read it and any other witch books she could get her hands on.

"Whatever you say. Are you feeling a little better now?" Caroline asked with concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine now. Don't worry." Shae assured.

"Lie down for a while. You still look exhausted." Caroline advised but she shook her head.

"No, I've to get out of bed. Maybe taking a shower would help better. Besides, it's first day back school. I must get ready on time. Then I'll have to go to Sam's too to pick him up."

"He screwed up with his car again, didn't he?" Caroline asked, knowing that's what happened.

"You know Sam. He never lived through a day without doing something wrong" said Shae but there was affection in her voice as she spoke about her boyfriend.

Sam Duval came to live in Mystic Falls almost three years ago. Currently he stays with his sister Violet. Yes, she was the same Violet who was once Shanyra's teacher and had a very short time affair with Kol Mikaelson. When Sam started going to school in Mystic high, he met Shae for the first time, and instantly fell for her. She resisted him at first. But eventually they became friends and then a couple. Everyone expected Shanyra to date someone famous in the school matching her own popularity. But she didn't. Sam wasn't the popular sort, neither he was a total nerd. He was rather a peculiar kind. Sam has many flaws in him and sometimes he'd frustrate Shanyra to no limits. But he'd do anything for her happiness too. And he really really appreciated her for being with him when she could be with anyone else far better than him. But most importantly, Sam has a very clean mind and a good heart. Which made Shae love him in the first place. Their love wasn't all that consuming though, rather it was sweet and innocent and healthy.

"I swear sometimes I don't understand how that boy survives" said Caroline goodheartedly.

"By driving me nuts from time to time." Shae said making her sister give her a knowing look.

"As if you don't like getting him out of trouble or fixing his screw ups."

"Only because of his adorable looks. And he's very comfortable to cuddle with." Caroline couldn't help but laugh a little at that. She liked Sam too. He was a nice kid. Sam and Shae still behaved more like best friends rather than a couple. They'd often argue with each other and complain about each other but then couldn't stay mad at each other for more than a couple of hours. In their relation Shanyra was the mature one most of the time but Sam would let her be immature too sometimes. They were not perfect but rather comfortable with each other. Caroline wanted both of them to be happy but now that she was suspecting that somewhere a dead has woken up, she couldn't help but worry about them.

"He's a nice boy Shae." Caroline said that more deeply then she meant it to say which made her sister give her a puzzling look.

"Of course he is, Care." Shanyra could tell that her sister was worried about something but what? Only if she knew what Caroline was fearing. If certain someone has really woken up, then he's bound to return to Mystic Falls. And that someone most probably wouldn't appreciate Sam being such a nice boy and being so close to Shae.

"I'll leave you to getting ready then." Saying that Caroline left rather hastily. She needed to talk to Bonnie. Having psychic powers, the Bennett witch could often predict if something was about to happen. Specially something bad. Caroline needed to confirm her suspicion.

On the other hand, Shanyra stepped into shower. She was just getting started when she felt as if someone suddenly said her name. It startled her to no limits. Shae was still feeling something weird inside her. Apart from feeling as if a part of her is missing, she was feeling this intense need as well to go somewhere and be with someone. Why was she suddenly feeling this way? She suspected that Caroline knew something about it but if she did then why would she hide it? Truth to be told, Shae was starting to freak out a little. But she wouldn't say this to anyone as she didn't want anyone to worry about her, specially Caroline and aunt Liz. They could easily get worried sick over her. Shae hoped that whatever strange feelings these were, they'd just go away just as suddenly as they came. Little did Shanyra know that this was only the beginning of complications and troubles for her?

AN: This is it for now. Thanks to everyone who reviewed last chapter. Hope you liked this one too. Please review review review and review. Love you all. Hugs and kisses :)