Thank you so much for the reviews guys! It's great that you still enjoy this story!
I would like to quickly answer my guest reviewer: Thank you, that is really sweet and you can review with as many words as you like =D that's perfectly fine! I actually chose the name because I was looking for a telling french name and according to leo 'larron' means 'thief' ;) but you are right it could be a reminder. And I haven't thought about 'Brave', but you are right again thinking about it.=D

Now here comes chapter 24! Enjoy!

Title: Wake Me Up - either the cover by Boyce Avenue feat. Jennel Garcia or the original version by Avicii feat. Aloe Blacc

She snuggled deeper into the warm and soft cushions. There was nothing like the blissful feeling of peace and relaxation when waking up in the morning. All of her muscles were so calm and relaxed that it felt as if she had slept soundly through a whole week.

Her dreams had been a mess though. She knew that there was something about Bonnie, but she couldn't really pinpoint anything. She stretched but didn't open her eyes. She wanted to stay in that little blissful bubble for another moment before she would face the new day.

The mattress was dented next to her so she knew that he was still there with her which made her smile. Usually he was the first one to awaken and usually he would leave the bed without waking her up.

"Nik." Caroline mumbled. She loved it when she woke up next to him because it made her feel at home. With him she always felt safe and protected.

She turned over and snuggled up against the warm body next to her. She sighed deeply satisfied. This was her place.

"Caroline." It was his voice that mumbled her name.

"Caroline."

She nodded and moaned. "Mh." Burying her head deeper into the cushions and his body.

"Open your eyes!" He said and his voice sounded as if it was merely a muffled whisper carried over miles of land by the wind.

But Caroline didn't want to open her eyes. Not yet.

"Open your eyes!" He urged again silently.

She frowned when she inhaled deeply again.

Something was off.

The smell was suddenly very unfamiliar, not like Klaus at all.

And his arms weren't holding her like they usually did on the rare occasions that they would wake up together. He would put his arm around her waist and pull her as close to him as the space would allow. But there was no arm around her waist.

"Come back." He whispered.

"Come back to me!"

And there was an edge of desperation in his voice that didn't sound right. He never sounded anything like that when he was his usual calm self.

Suddenly she gasped awaking fully with a start as if she had just had been woken up from a nightmare, but it was actually the other way around, because this time she didn't wake from a nightmare but to a nightmare.

Her eyes flew open and she sat up straight in that bed that wasn't hers.

In that room that wasn't hers.

She turned her head to the space next to her and screamed.

Klaus strode unceremoniously into Bonnie Bennett's room and the door crashed loudly against the wall behind him.

He stomped into the room with only his sleeping pants on and his hair was still messy from sleep. There was an angry glow in his eyes and it certainly looked as if someone was about to lose his head.

Kol jumped up from his place next to Bonnie. He had been sitting next to her bed the whole time, because he had nothing better to do. Well, at least that's what he told himself.

He actually just wanted to make sure that she was fine. Something inside of him told him that he had to see the light come back to her blue eyes.

He straightened and stepped into Klaus' way shielding his direct access to the sleeping witch.

"Did she wake up?" Klaus asked stepping closer anyway and eyeing the Sleeping Beauty on the bed behind his baby brother. Bonnie was covered with a white sheet up to her shoulders. Her eyes were closed but her chest moved peacefully up and down with every breath her lungs took. Her skin had a nice glow never the less and it did look as if she would open her eyes any seconds to the noises they were making around her.

Klaus took a step closer, but his younger brother surprisingly kept blocking his way and crossed his arms determinedly over his chest.

"Good to see you too, big brother." Kol squinted at Klaus and his older brother returned the cold calculating stare.

Klaus stared at Kol and licked his lips while he tried to figure out what was going on. It almost looked as if Kol wanted to protect the girl. He raised his eyebrows and glanced from Kol to Bonnie and back again, but he decided to ignore it for now. Kol's affections weren't his main problem now and this way he would at least make sure she stayed safe which was in Klaus' interest, because there was this one question in his mind.

Why would Bonnie sneak into his dream?

"Has she been like this the whole time?" Klaus asked quietly and nodded at the witch on the bed, but he stayed where he was and didn't push on Kol's personal space.

Kol frowned. "Sleeping like a baby. What's wrong?"

Klaus' eyes shifted to Bonnie again and back to Kol before he said as quietly as before. "I think she just send me a vision."

"A vision?" Kol frowned. "About what?"

Klaus tensed his jaw and bit down on the inside of his cheek. He turned away from Kol. The two of them had never confided any emotional stuff to each other and it felt strange to do so right now so Klaus hesitated.

Kol got what was going on and that Klaus was struggling with this vision or dream or whatever it was. He waited and wondered if his brother would tell him. They had never been that close. They had been the reckless ones, the ones who fought the most because they were too similar. They would go out drinking and spending nights of hunting and feeding. They would go dancing and feed on any female that looked hot enough for them. That was their relationship. Their thing. Nothing too deep. Nothing that would tie them as closely together as Klaus and Elijah were.

Both of them knew it, but none of them had spoken it out loud before.

"Nik, want me to get Elijah?" The words simply tumbled out of Kol's mouth even though he didn't know where they came from.

Klaus turned to Kol and understood what Caroline had once meant when she had told him that Kol and him were the same but not on the same level.

Klaus swallowed and finally shook his head.

He was about to take a leap and see what would happen.

For the first time he decided to give his little brother a chance and figure out if he maybe had matured somewhere along the way where Klaus hadn't noticed it. The fact that Kol was keeping watch over an unconscious witch was odd enough for him.

Klaus walked over to the window so he wouldn't have to face him.

"We were still human. Well, Bekah was and…Henrick." Kol raised his eyes. "There was this light guiding me through the stages of my life. Human. Murderous vampire. And there was Katerina. I was chasing her like I did back when I wanted to break my curse. Along the way I encountered all the people I had killed, but then there was Caroline. Mother trapped her in a circle of salt and pinned me into the air. My enemies took their turns with hurting her." He closed his eyes at the horrible images. "Then there was Mikael and then…" Klaus turned around to look at the sleeping witch. "Then there was Bonnie Bennett, telling me to listen to her."

"What did she tell you?" Kol asked, but Klaus shook his head.

"I don't know. I woke up before she could tell me anything."

Instead of being snarky now Kol stayed quiet. The atmosphere felt strange and heavy with this kind brother bonding feelings that they weren't used to have between them.

"So what is this? Some kind of magic coma?" Klaus changed the subject and looked closer at Bonnie.

"Maybe." Kol looked at her as well and Klaus noticed that Kol's shoulders kind of slumped forward while his eyes lingered on the beautiful face.

The hybrid sighed and walked over to the door. Before he left he reached out his hand but he let it hover over Kol's shoulder. He withdrew it quickly before he could pat his little brother's shoulder. Kol, however, had seen it out of the corner of his eyes.

"Nik." He spun around and Klaus stopped in the doorway. "I will help you get her back, you know that, right?"

The hybrid nodded once before he left.

Both brothers didn't know that they took a deep breath simultaneously feeling somehow lighter than before, but both were also glad not to have to be in each other's presence anymore.

Meanwhile in another part of the house there was a knock on a door before it opened slowly.

Elijah stepped into the room and Davina cringed slightly and tried to hide behind Josh.

Josh looked at the approaching original.

"Apologies for my intrusion." Elijah said politely which made Davina straighten up a bit. Her body was still tensed with fear, but Elijah's tone was unexpectedly civilized and maybe even nice.

She had believed that the originals were monsters, but there was the blonde girl, Caroline, who had told her otherwise and now Elijah's appearance didn't seem so ruthless after all.

Hadn't Josh said that they would keep their word once it was given?

"Joshua, there is something that I should have given you earlier." He said and stepped closer.

Josh grabbed the edges of the bed he was sitting on when Elijah reached inside of his suit pocket. He watched Joshua flinching slightly so he smiled.

He withdrew his hand and held it out to Josh. Hesitantly Josh reached out his hand and Elijah dropped a small object into it. The young vampire's eyes widened surprised and his mouth dropped open.

"You did a very good job and I think it is time that you finally receive your reward."

Josh stared at the small ring inside of his palm. It looked even smaller and so insignificant against his large palm, and it was almost strange that such a small thing could mean so much freedom to him.

"Thank you!" He breathed still staring at it.

Elijah nodded. "I told you that I would keep my word." He noticed that Davina slid silently closer to eye the ring herself curiously. Elijah looked at the girl and totally agreed with Caroline's sympathy for the 16 year old.

"I hope that this room is to your utter satisfaction. If there is anything you need do not hesitate to let me know."

Davina looked at him with wide blue eyes when he addressed her and she didn't know if she could trust those friendly eyes that weren't only friendly but that also held some kind of cold in them. She hadn't even decided yet if she could trust Josh again, but she knew that she wanted to.

Elijah obviously waited patiently for some kind of answer for his eyes didn't leave her face so she did the only thing she was able to do. She nodded.

Elijah accepted that as an answer, but his face changed then to a more serious look.

"I am also here to inform you that one of ours has gone missing. Since we believe that either the witches or the wolves are responsible for her disappearance we are going to brace us for the final battle."

"Who is missing?" Josh asked.

"Caroline." The other replied gravely and Josh raised his eyebrows.

"But…"

"You need to be aware of the fact that we will do anything to get her back and if you decide to help us we will not stop you but we will if you go against us." He looked at Davina who withdrew again hugging her knees and looking even smaller than she was.

"She was the first vampire who was really nice to me." Josh blurted out.

He looked up at Elijah pensively biting his lip.

"Josh." Davina said quietly from behind him putting a hand onto his shoulder. He knew that she was asking him to stay with her. He covered her small hand with his.

"Don't worry, I will be fine." He looked again at Elijah. "I owe her so I am going to help you."

"Thank you." Elijah answered.

"I will be of no use to you." "Davina said without anyone actually asking her for her opinion or expecting her to speak and explain herself. "I don't know my powers and I am afraid to use them."

The original nodded really realizing how young she was. "I wasn't asking you to fight. Maybe you could take care of something else." He turned around towards the door. "Follow me."

Davina frowned and hesitated, but Josh bravely took her hand and nodded at her reassuringly.

Klaus just closed the door behind him when he saw Elijah walking towards him. He frowned when he noticed the other two figures behind his brother.

"Niklaus."

"What is this Elijah?"

Davina flinched at the cold voice but Josh squeezed her hand reassuringly.

"Mind you temper brother, they are not our enemies." Elijah answered him but Klaus simply pursed his lips.

"That remains to be seen." The hybrid pushed passed them and left without another backwards glance.

Elijah sighed inaudibly. He hated to see Klaus like this especially after he had seen so many developments of him during the last year. He was sure that he would fall back into his old murderous patterns if Caroline was lost forever and he never wanted to see his brother like that again. They had become a family again and he wouldn't give that up for anything else. So naturally Elijah would do anything in his power to win this battle.

He pushed forward and opened the door.

Kol rose from the bed. "And more spectators wanting to see the Sleeping Beauty. Pick a number!" He grumbled annoyed.

"Please Kol." Elijah said.

Davina frowned when she saw the unconscious woman on the bed. She opened her mouth to speak but no word would actually leave her lips.

Elijah saw it and said: "Bonnie didn't wake up from her last spell. I thought that since you two are both witches you could maybe help her."

Kol scoffed. "You want the baby witch to take care of a defenceless Bonnie Bennett. Yeah, so not going to happen, mate."

Elijah frowned at him. "Did I miss something?" He asked at Kol's protective tone. It seemed that his younger brother's feelings had slipped his notice since he was too focused on Klaus. He never believed that Kol of all would change and he just realized now that he should have taken more care about his baby brother. A sting of guilt hit his heart.

"I wouldn't bring her here if I thought that any harm would come to either, Bonnie or Davina. Kol you know that witches have a connection and Davina still needs to learn a lot so why not let her watch over Bonnie."

"So the rest of us can go and fight for Nik's girl." Kol said bitterly.

"Kol!"

He immediately regretted his words. Caroline was like a sister to him and he wanted her back as well. She was the reason that he and Klaus had become closer and even though it was strange, very deep down he kind of liked it.

He had always looked up to Klaus, even more than he had looked up to Elijah. Klaus had been his role model, independent, fearless, strong, determined, funny if he wanted to be and not bound by blood to his parents. But the protective feelings he suddenly felt for Bonnie confused him he didn't know what was happening so he lashed out. And Elijah figured that Kol and Niklaus really were more similar than anyone believed.

Kol scoffed and left the room. It had become far too crowded for his taste!

Caroline scrambled for the door, but when she had reached it she figured out that the doorknob was gone. Her hand hovered uselessly over the place where it should have been and she thought fast about what to do.

Larron watched her from the bed. He was lying on his side under the covers but fully dressed though.

She turned around with hate in her eyes and glared at him.

"Let me go!" She demanded fiercely and tried to hold her pose. Her hands were formed like claws that she was ready to bury into his skin if necessary. She scrunched up her nose and felt her fangs push through.

"Why, princess?"

"Don't call me that!" She demanded fiercely with a grave voice. It sounded so sickening that she wanted to throw up.

He moved towards the edge of the bed and just then Caroline noticed that he looked different today. His hair was becoming grey and she was sure that it hadn't been grey yesterday! And the lines around his eyes were deeper than before. He slowly sat up on the edge. Caroline frowned but Larron left her no time for asking questions.

"Would you rather want me to call you sweetheart?" He sneered at the pet name.

Her hands tightly clenched into fists and her nails dug deeply into her palms. Caroline ignored the pain as well as the wet sticky feeling that spread in her hands. The smell of blood hit her sharp senses immediately.

"He will find me!" There was no doubt in her voice whatsoever. "I suggest you better start running already, because when he does, there will be no place for you to hide!"

Larron smirked at her and stepped onto the floor.

"Don't come any closer!" She screamed and pointed a finger at him to keep him at bay. Her hand was covered in blood that dropped onto the floor.

"Why are you making this so hard for me, princess? Why not give us a chance?" He took a step closer despite her warning.

Caroline laughed humourlessly. "There is no us! And there never will be!"

She turned around at vamp speed and pushed her whole body against the door trying to break through but Larron flashed towards her and held her at her shoulders trapped between him and the door.

Caroline was stronger though.

She knocked her head back and hit him straight in the face. Larron groaned and held his bleeding nose. Caroline snarled at him, before she tried to work on the door again. Her nails clawed at the wood, but it seemed to be no use.

Larron whirled her around and pressed his arm against her throat starring into her face.

Caroline held her breath and just before his pupils dilated she asked. "Why are you aging?"

"That is my curse." He answered. "Now, be a good girl and stop fighting me. Forget your connections to the original family. They are bad and we have to erase the vampires from the face of earth. You and me we are the only ones who can do this. Remember the connection we have, Princess." Caroline's body went limp after he had compelled her again.

He pushed her hair out of her face and looked into her face with some kind of regret.

"I wish we could do this another way." He said and marvelled at her beautiful features. His eyes wandered from her blue orbs to her lips. This girl was mesmerizing.

Caroline smiled sweetly at him.

He grinned and her red lips were beckoning him to move closer.

Caroline just blinked and kept looking at his face.

Larron's breathing changed and he moved slowly closer to her face.

His lips touched hers gently.

He lingered there not caring that Caroline seemed to have completely frozen. Her lips weren't moving against his and reciprocating the kiss. Larron moved his lips over hers and kissed her with more passion demanding her mouth to open.

Caroline remained stock-still. She wasn't moving and simply let him kiss her.

He drew in deep breaths against her soft skin. His hands cupped her neck and his body suddenly moved forward pressing her against the door.

Caroline suddenly winced and whimpered.

The fog that had clouded her mind lifted its cover. She felt as if she had been underwater where everything had been muffled and blurred.

"Argh!" Larron screamed and scrambled backwards.

Caroline was panting and stared at him with wide fearful eyes almost unable to believe what had happened. There was blood on her lip.

It was as red as the blood that was leaving Larron's bleeding wound. He touched his lip where Caroline had almost managed to bite a piece out of it.

While he looked at his red fingers his features contorted and started to tremble.

Caroline wanted to scream, yell and cry and most of all hide somewhere dark. She covered her mouth with her hands and stifled the loud sob that escaped her.

She couldn't control her breathing anymore when panic swept over her whole body. What was he doing to her?

Having your will taken away from you was the worst thing that she had ever experienced and she was so relieved that the compulsion never lasted, if it was because of the spell or her bond to Klaus she didn't know, but she didn't care either. She was just glad that she wasn't will-less at his mercy. She shuddered when all the horrible things that he could do to her galloped through her mind.

Larron looked angry and she screamed again when he lunged for her once more.

Elijah had a bad conscience which drove him to wander around the mansion to look for his brother who had left Bonnie's room so angrily. He had never been close to Kol but he didn't want them to grow estranged from each other. Finally they were at some point where none of them wanted to dagger or even kill one another and Elijah wanted to keep it like that.

"Elena." He encountered the young vampire in the kitchen where she just fixed herself a glass of blood. "Have you seen my brother?"

Elena licked some blood off her lips. "Which one?"

"Kol."

"What's he done this time?" Rebekah asked. She entered from behind him with a bag of crisps in her hand that she chewed loudly. Elijah frowned at her awkward cravings.

"Nothing. I might have upset him. Do you know where he is?"

Rebekah shook her head. "Nope." She munched on another hand full of crisps again. She needed to distract herself and food was always a good distraction even when it wasn't blood or because it wasn't blood so she had to actually chew.

Elijah sighed before he left the kitchen to keep on looking.

"I hate this! We can't just sit around and wait for something to happen! We need to do something!" He heard Elena complaining and Rebekah agreed with her. He wondered if he should go back to tell them not to do anything stupid. The least they could need was more trouble right now. But he decided to trust them, which he hoped he wouldn't regret.

Elijah turned around a corner and finally found Kol in the library where he sulked with a glass of expensive neat scotch in his hand.

"What do you want Elijah?"

"I am sorry that your affections towards Miss Bennett slipped my mind." Elijah said straight forward and poured himself a glass as well.

"Affections?" Kol scoffed. "Please! She's our only capable witch. We can't just let her die, can we?"

Elijah nodded and hid his smile in his glass.

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about. We need our own witch alliances! So maybe you and I could try to contact some."

"What is this, some kind of brother bonding? What's wrong with people today? Caroline is gone and suddenly everyone turns into a love hugger." Kol mumbled annoyed. Why couldn't they just leave him alone? Why was everyone bothering him? He looked up at the floor where Bonnie was still sleeping and Elijah guessed what his foul mood was about.

He pursed his lips, but refrained from asking any explanation from Kol.

Kol felt tired.

He had quickly escaped Elijah because he didn't want to talk to him about Bonnie or anything else for that matter. He just wanted to be alone.

His body hit the mattress forcefully and he buried his head inside of his pillow.

Family was exhausting!

He had wanted to check on Bonnie again earlier, but he had heard Elena's as well as Rebekah's voice coming out of her room so he had refrained from going in there. He needn't give them any more to gossip about. It was already bad enough with his brother's suddenly ganging up on him. He still hadn't decided how to deal with that closeness yet.

He took a few deep breaths and let his mind wander. And it took him somewhere where he hadn't dared to enter yet. He hadn't wanted to listen to that silly voice in the back if his mind that wondered why Bonnie would send Klaus of all people any dreams. He had always thought that she hated him. So what was that about?

Aren't you just pissed off because she didn't send you any dreams?

Shut up!

"Hey Kol."

He startled at the sudden voice that came out of nowhere and jumped off the bed ready to fight whatever ghost had suddenly snuck into his room out of nowhere. But he withdrew his fangs again when he saw her.

"Bonnie!?"

Stefan entered the living room where Damon was lunging with a glass of blood in his hand.

"If it isn't my favourite brother! What's the big bad wolf doing?"

Stefan sighed and sat down next to him.

"He is painting."

"You mean he is sulking." Damon corrected Stefan.

"No, I mean that he is probably making up a plan."

"You mean a murderous plan that will save Blondie."

"Maybe even a plan that will save us all. Have you considered that?"

"You mean a plan where everyone besides his favourite blonde and invulnerable siblings can end up as collateral damage?" Damon scoffed.

"Why are you so cranky?"

"Oh, I forgot. Apparently you are part of the family now! Cheers, brother!" Damon raised his glass and took a sip from it.

Stefan pursed his lips and tried to figure out what kind of leech has bitten him today. Before he could reach any conclusion though the door opened and Rebekah and Elena stuck their heads through the door. They scanned the room and only entered when they had spotted them.

"We've been looking for you." Elena announced.

"And here we go!" Damon rolled his eyes and grabbed the bottle of scotch next to him to mix some of it into his blood.

"Are you okay?" Elena immediately asked picking up on his bad mood. She sat down next to him and attempted to push his hair out of his face, but Damon turned his head away from her hand.

"Damon doesn't like to not be the centre of attention." Stefan mocked and grinned tightly when Damon scowled at him.

"Whatever Damon." Rebekah said to put it off. "You better get over yourself sooner than later." She swung her hips when she made her way over to Stefan where she possessively sat down onto his lap. Stefan put his arms around her waist while Rebekah started to play with the hairs on his neck. He suppressed a sigh, because he loved it when she did that.

Elena wanted to move closer to Damon but she noticed that he really wasn't in the mood. So, she crossed her arms frustrated and pursed her lips annoyed.

"What's going on?" Stefan asked and looked from Rebekah to Elena.

"We need to do something!" His girlfriend blurted out. "I feel sick of sitting around and watching my depressed brothers sulking around."

"Told you so!" Damon muttered into his glass taking another sip.

"Okay." Stefan drew the word out. "So, a: what do you want to do and b: do you think it's clever to go behind Klaus' back?"

"Just because you two have re-established your friendship doesn't mean you have to do everything he says, you know?"

"Point for Barbie Klaus." Damon side commented.

"Damon, stop with your foul mood already okay? This is not about whatever personal issue you have, so try to get over it once, will you?" Elena snapped suddenly. "Caroline is missing and Bonnie has still not waken up and I really want to have my friends back, so yes we are going to do something and I really don't care if it is particularly clever or not!" She looked pointedly at Stefan and Rebekah grinned.

"I like the new attitude, E."

Damon groaned. "Great! So what do you want to do? Call Prince Charming and ask him to kiss Bonnie awake? Let Tyler sniff out his ex?"

"Tyler!" Elena suddenly exclaimed. "I totally forgot about him!" She covered her mouth with her fingertips.

"Elena!" Stefan said. "You wouldn't involve Tyler in anything that has to do with Klaus and Caroline, would you?"

But Elena just licked her lips and stared at him.

"How come that you are here?" Kol asked.

Bonnie shrugged simply and Kol just stared at her for a moment.

"Wait this is a dream right? You aren't awake or something, are you?"

Bonnie just smiled at him shyly. She was sitting on Kol's bed leaning against his headboard.

"Just a dream." She reassured him and it somehow made Kol feel more at ease.

"But why are you here? In my dream?"

She shrugged. "I guess I wanted to reach someone and you pulled so…"

Kol laughed. "I pulled you out of wherever you are stuck? Oh darling!" He scoffed.

Bonnie shook her head amused. She was far from being insulted by him now. Instead she said:

"I saw you, you know. The way you watched over me." She would have never thought that she would find a reason to be nice to Kol, but here she was sitting comfortably on his bed.

"Oh please, Caroline would kill me if I let you die and she can be way scarier than Nik." Kol tried to lessen everyone of his actions, but Bonnie had seen everything anyway.

"True." Bonnie replied. She looked at Kol and wondered if he had always looked so handsome when his features weren't all serious or mocking. She shrugged. "Thanks anyway."

Kol nodded taking a step closer.

"So, you send my brother a vision, huh?"

Bonnie grinned. "Does that bother you?" It was quite cute how he defiantly tried to deny everything. Somehow Bonnie felt flattered that Kol, the daredevil, the go-getter Kol Mikaelson somehow watched out for her, but she hated to admit it!

"No. Why should it?"

The witch shook her head. "Never mind. Kol, listen!" Kol stepped closer and sat down on the edge of the bed next to her. Bonnie moved onto her bend legs and straightened looking right at Kol. "The witches have created a spell that lets a vampire age really fast until they just die and turn into a pile of ash."

"What?"

"Listen! That vampire can pass it on to any other vampire as soon as the witches complete the spell by killing Davina within the next two days."

"What the hell? Do you know what you are talking about Bonnie? That sounds totally nuts!" Kol exclaimed not believing his ears.

"I know, but there is more."

Kol laughed. "It can't become any crazier darling than that."

"He can compel other vampires."

"He?"

"Larron."

Kol frowned. Something rang inside of his mind. He had heard that name before. He was sure that he had. But where?

"And they have Caroline." Bonnie went on quickly, afraid that there connection would break any time like it had when Klaus had kicked her out of his mind.

"Oh, Nik will not be pleased."

"You have to get her out."

"Don't worry! I have never failed, darling."

"Really?" Bonnie scoffed.

"Never!" Kol grinned.

They hadn't noticed how their heads had slowly moved closer to one another and the space between them measured only a few inches now.

Kol swallowed. He was suddenly so close to her. He heard his blood pulsing in his ears and the only thing he saw were her red full lips. His voice was merely a whisper. "How can I wake you up?"

"I don't know. I don't know if you can." Bonnie sounded sad.

"I have never failed darling." Kol repeated.

Just before their lips could meet Bonnie vanished into thin air and Kol opened his eyes staring at the ceiling above his bed.

With a start he woke up on the couch of his study in New Orleans.

He shook his head and tried to orientate himself. What the hell happened?

"I don't care about it!" Caroline yelled. "I say we go now!"

Caroline?

There she was right in the middle of his study. He wanted to rush over to her but she seemed to be upset about something.

Elijah was there as well, along with Rebekah and Stefan.

"Caroline be reasonable! We can't save them!" Rebekah said, but Caroline shook her head.

"NO!"

Klaus jumped up from the couch. "What is going on?" He asked loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Our baby vampire here is determined to go and save a bunch of werewolves that don't deserve to be saved. Seriously, you are out of your mind!" Rebekah yelled.

"Everyone deserves to be saved!"

"Stop playing the saint!"

Elijah cleared his throat. "It is too dangerous, Caroline. I don't think they want to be saved and they tried to kill you!"

"What?" Klaus asked. He was confused. What had happened? Why couldn't he remember anything?

Caroline set her jaw. "Fine, if no one of you wants to help me!" She turned around to leave for the door.

"Caroline, stay!" Klaus called after her, but she didn't listen.

"Caroline listen!" Stefan called.

She headed straight for the door until Klaus was suddenly in her face. He wouldn't let her run into any danger. He wouldn't lose her again.

"You aren't going anywhere!" He snarled, but Caroline just stared.

"Watch me!" She said determined.

"I am not risking your safety!" He said.

"It's not your risk to take!"

Klaus quickly blocked her way. "I don't care! No one is risking anything here!"

"Why are you so stubborn?"

"I am stubborn?"

He saw how Caroline raised her hand to hit him, but his hand was quicker.

With a thud her body tumbled to the floor.

Klaus was panting as if he had just run a marathon. His chest was heaving violently.

Everyone stared at him open mouthed and shocked. No one dared to breathe but Klaus, who didn't understand what was going on. Why were they staring at him? What was wrong?

"Niklaus." Rebekah whispered and covered her mouth.

He frowned at her. What was happening?

"Brother, what have you done?" Elijah gasped just as shell shocked.

Klaus didn't understand. He shook his head and Stefan raised his finger to point at something.

Klaus looked down at his hand and froze.

He gulped and a white wave of panic broke over him. His dead heart started pounding so violently as if it had to pound for the heart in his hand.

It was drenched in blood and looked rather like a chunk of flesh then the one vital thing everyone needed to survive. His throat closed and his eyesight suddenly blurred focusing on the lifeless body on the floor. The blonde hair covered her face so he couldn't see it. She lay motionless on the floor and the only grey part of skin visible was her hand. Grey. Lifeless. Dead.

The chunk in his hand grew heavy and he had to let go of it. The thud it made as it hit the ground was deafening. The sticky blood made an ever quiet smacking sound.

His chest felt as if someone had rammed a stake inside his own heart and then he opened his eyes.

With a hiss he drew in the air and looked frantically around in his bedroom. The sheets and covers were rumbled as if he had tossed around all night.

"Caroline?" He hissed and searched the room for her, but it was empty.

He tried to calm down. Just a dream, Niklaus!

His forehead was covered with a thin sheet of sweat and he attempted to wipe it away with his hand. But his hand was just as sticky and wet.

His glance dropped to it and he froze.

Blood.

He turned his hands around and started to tremble while he stared at the blood.

A scream escaped his lips and travelled through the whole mansion. Infiltrating every corner.

"CAROLINE!"

He woke up when his phone started to vibrate. Klaus panted heavily and a thin layer of sweat was covering his whole body.

He sat up and immediately looked at his hands almost expecting them to be bloody, but they weren't and he closed his eyes in relief trying to soothe his nerves. He rubbed his face with his bloodless hands. The nightmare had really shaken him.

The phone was an annoying buzzing background noise while he tried to get himself under control again.

He hadn't killed her.

He inhaled deeply. He hadn't killed. She would be fine!

But what if she got killed because of him? What if the dream was a bad omen? Another message?

Wouldn't he have killed her anyway even if only indirectly?

His sad eyes looked at first at the empty, cold space next to him. She might not be here, but she wasn't dead yet! As long as she was alive everything was going to be okay, he tried to convince himself before he glanced at his phone.

Klaus was about to ignore the call when he saw the unknown caller ID.

He didn't feel like speaking to anyone right now.

He felt like he had many years before. He felt lost and alone. Spiralling downward an empty tunnel.

His head ached and he wondered if he was only imagining it since he was a hybrid after all.

He rubbed his face and tried to wipe the tiredness away.

The phone was still vibrating incessantly and he finally picked it off the nightstand next to his bed looking again at the screen before he picked up.

"What?" He snarled without any friendliness.

Silence greeted him and his lips quivered angrily. He was in no mood for games.

He growled into the phone but then he heard the faintest sound.

Breathing.

There were faint sounds of someone breathing into the phone.

The next word made him freeze. It wasn't more than an uttered syllable under the breath. It could have been a normal breath if he hadn't concentrated on his hybrid hearing.

"Nik."

His eyes widened and his breath caught in his throat.

"Caroline?" Silence.

"Caroline is that you?"

There was a silent sob.

"Nik…get me out of here!" She pleaded but her voice was so faint and silent because she was even afraid to whisper.

"Where are you?" He asked with a growling undertone that he couldn't help.

"I…" Her voice sounded broken. "I don't know." It sounded close to a sob.

Klaus' thoughts raced and his brain was working at high speed. He had to do something.

Suddenly he had an idea.

"Don't hang up!" He said determinedly and flashed out of the room and into his study. "Caroline listen to me, I am going to find you, okay?"

He opened his laptop and felt relieved when he noticed that he hadn't turned it off.

"Hang on, love." His fingers flew over the keyboard.

"I…I can't!" She sobbed and sounded so scared that it broke his heart.

He had the phone pinned between his ear and his shoulder.

"Only a few more seconds, sweetheart. Hold on!"

"I can't!" She whispered. "He's here!"

Klaus drew in a sharp breath and willed the laptop to work faster.

"I need to go!"

"No, wait! Caroline! I will find you! I promise! Do you hear me?" He grabbed the phone tighter.

"Caroline?"

But there was no answer and the line finally disconnected.

He hadn't noticed that he trembled until then.

He turned around to the GPS tracking software on his laptop.

A message incessantly blinked on the screen in capital letters.

SIGNAL LOST