THE RESCUE
"So let me get this straight," Sirena paced in front of Declan. "You heard some prophecy, I don't know, three hundred or so years ago and now you think that Kol is going to try to kill me over it or something."
"Something like that, yeah," Declan nodded from his seat on the couch.
"What exactly was this prophecy about? Or rather what happened that is making Kol so vengeful?"
"It was 1492 when Klaus had massacred Katerina's family and that was also the year that I became allies with his brother, Kol. I wanted revenge for Charity's death and he just wanted to run recklessly throughout the countryside, feeding off the locals without discretion, which of course was against the wishes of his siblings who had been running from their father for centuries. I knew it was only a matter of time before he snapped. Klaus and Elijah were always telling him what not to do."
"And did he?"
"Oh, yes," Declan grinned.
Spain, 1702
"Where is this Seer we've been searching all over for? All I want is to relax with a nice warm drink and a pint of ale," Kol smiled devilishly.
"She should be here. This is where the man said we'd find her." Declan's eyes searched the tavern they had been led to in hopes of finding the well-known Seer.
"And what if she doesn't show?" Kol spat, but Declan ignored him, catching a glimpse of an elderly woman sitting in a dark corner of the room, her face nearly completely hidden by a tattered shawl. Hitting Kol's arm he gestured towards where she sat. Her eyes still behind the shawl, she motioned for them to join her.
The two men sat at the table across from her, leaning forward onto their forearms. "Are you… The Seer?" Kol questioned, sounding skeptical.
"I am, Kol Mikaelson." Lifting the shawl from her face, she revealed herself. She looked as if she could be a hundred or so years old. Her skin almost seemed to hang from her face in the wrinkles as dark infinite pools of eyes stared back at them. "You seek a way to destroy your brother."
"I do," Kol confirmed, now very interested. "So you know of him?"
"The Cursed Original. Yes, I know much about him."
"So then you know he killed my Charity?" Declan asked.
The woman nodded and stared into Kol's eyes as if she knew something terrible that he didn't. "He has killed many and will kill many more. Becoming a vampire has nearly snuffed out what was good in him. If his other side is unlocked, it will become even worse."
"Okay, but how can we stop him, kill him?" Declan urged, growing impatient. He knew the rest of the Original's were in Spain as well, hiding from Mikael and he didn't want to be caught.
"Niklaus has been searching for a way to lift his curse put upon him by your mother. While he has failed, he will again have another chance only this time he will be successful. Unlocking this side of himself will make him more powerful than all. Esther has made it so the blood of the doppelganger is the key to all. Her blood will be needed to create more of his species. Once the curse is broken, the key is broken."
"So he won't be able to make any more?"
The woman gave a knowing grin, setting Declan and Kol on edge. "I foresee there will be another."
"Another doppelganger?"
"No…There will come a day when a young girl will be born. Her blood will unlock the door for Niklaus."
"What's with the riddles?! Get on with it!" Kol pounded on the table, but Declan calmed him.
"Please, what do you mean a door?" Declan asked.
"Drinking her blood will get rid of the need for the doppelganger. If he drains her, he will be able to create more of his kind without trouble."
"That can't be allowed to happen," Kol fired, "I want him dead! All he does is spoil my fun!"
"There must be a way to eliminate him." Declan stared across the table with his eyes full of desperation.
"I only see parts of the future. I know not how to kill him nor what will happen with the girl."
"Dammit!" Declan sat back in his chair, frustrated at their failure to find a way to kill Klaus.
"I can, however, tell you where to find the girl," the woman offered.
"Go on," Declan leaned forward yet again.
"I cannot tell you who she is or what she will look like, only that she will be the first female in the line of Katerina's sister."
"Katerina Petrova?" Declan asked, surprised.
"The very same. The Petrova bloodline is all connected to the doppelganger."
"Thank you. That is at least something," Declan nodded gratitude to the woman. "Now, we'll leave you be."
The two men rose and while Declan headed for the door, Kol headed for the bar. "What are you doing?"
"What do you think?" Kol called back. "I'll meet you outside in a bit."
"Fine," Declan shook his head with a roll of his eyes. "But make it quick. Your siblings are too close for comfort here. While Kol was busy getting plastered, Declan leaned against the wall of the side of the tavern, looking out at the reflections on the water. How was he going to be sure that he would find the right girl? And even more, how would he find the daughter of Katerina's sister? When Klaus had slaughtered the family, they had thought them all to be dead. It was going to take a lot of time and effort, but he knew it was worth it. Looking up to the moon, he thought back to his Charity. I will avenge you, he sent a silent promise up to her.
Screams erupted, jerking Declan from his thoughts. On the horizon the night sky glowed orange. The village was aflame. Mikael… Rushing to the door of the tavern to gather Kol, Declan stopped upon hearing the familiar voices of Klaus and Elijah. Despite their orders to flee the city with them, Kol refused, stating that Mikael only wanted Klaus. Without a second thought, Declan fled, leaving Kol to his brothers.
"I would later learn that they had daggered him and stuffed him into his coffin to rot." Declan looked up from the rug to Sirena's stunned face. She sat trying her hardest to process everything he had just told her, but there were still questions to be answered.
"So am I… am I, uh—"
"The girl? Yes." Declan waited for her response.
Her breathing began to come heavier. "But how? My parents aren't descendants of the Petrova line."
"Your real parents are."
"What did you just say?" Sirena looked as if she had just been slapped in the face. He couldn't possibly be suggesting that Michael and Tammy weren't her real parents.
"We weren't the only ones the Seer had told about the Prophecy. Your parent's people were ready and once you were born they took you to your new family to conceal your identity."
"You've got to be joking. There is no way in hell!" Sirena jumped to her feet, unwilling to believe it was true.
Declan placed his hands on her arms to steady her. "You must believe me, Sirena. That's how I found you." He paused. "I knew they had a little girl, but she had disappeared. I watched them every day, trying to see if they would give away your whereabouts. They did. They checked in on you. They posed as civilians and visited a neighborhood barbecue your parents had taken you to. This one mistake they made led me to you."
Sirena felt faint. She remembered those barbecues. How could he possibly know about them without having had actually been watching her then? Her head was spinning. "That's why you turned me?!"
"Yes." Declan looked ashamed. "My original plan was to eliminate you."
"Eliminate me?! You mean kill me, Declan!" She corrected him, tears stinging her eyes.
"Yes, but I watched you, tried to learn more about you. It amazed me that a simple girl could lead to the siring of an entire race. I watched you through good times and bad. I saw you experience college and make and lose friends. I witnessed the turbulent nature of your relationship with Mark. The one thing that I noticed was how no matter what you always stayed strong and caring. You reminded me so much of my Charity that I couldn't end your life completely. My only other option was to turn you."
"Your ONLY other option?! You could've let me live my chaotic life, Declan!"
"The chances of him learning of your existence were too great," Declan explained.
This was all too much for Sirena. She had come to terms with being a vampire, but this? This was too much. She had to get out, get away from Declan at least. This was one of those times when she really needed a friend to vent to. Her phone buzzed, but when she yanked it from her pocket her screen shone back with one of the last names she wanted to see in her life. Elena.
"What?" Sirena answered, glowering at Declan.
"Oh, um, I'm sorry, Sirena. I just wanted to see if you would mind helping me and Caroline with cleanup from the dance. Rebekah bailed so it's just Caroline right now. But it's fine, I'll just—"
"No, it's fine, Elena. I would love to help. I need to get out of the house anyway."
Declan narrowed his eyes, wanting to talk this out some more. He needed to explain a bit more.
"Alright, cool. Meet you outside the school?"
"Yeah, that's fine. See you there in ten." Ending the call, she moved past Declan for her coat.
As she pulled the door open, Declan called, "Sirena, we need to talk about this."
"No, we don't. At least not now. I need time to process this. I'll call you when I'm ready."
Klaus smiled back at Jeremy from the Gilbert's porch as the young boy answered the door with, "What the hell do you want?"
"Now is that any way to treat a guest?"
Stefan pulled the door open wider, stepping protectively in front of the youngest Gilbert. "What are you doing here, Klaus?"
"Well, for starters little Jeremy here could show some manners and invite me inside."
"Why don't you go up to your room?" Stefan suggested to Jeremy.
When Jeremy showed no sign of moving Damon stepped up beside him and commanded, "Now."
With an exasperated sigh, Jeremy left the three alone to their business.
"Hm. Poor lad," Klaus said, "Loses one questionable father figure only to be replaced by the likes of the two of you."
"Yeah, about that. Something happened," Damon informed him, but Klaus already knew what he was going to say.
"Oh, I know all about my mother's invulnerable little creation and that's why I'm here. I'm leaving town. Just need to pick up a few road trip necessities. Spare tire, flashlight, Sirena, doppelganger."
"Hm. I would've figured you would've gotten Sirena first. But I guess we see that hybrids mean more than her."
Klaus cracked a smile. "You would know all about choosing the doppelganger over Sirena wouldn't you, Damon. No, you see, I tried your place first to find Sirena only to find the house empty. I figured she would be with you and well, who are you two always looking after? Put two and two together and…" Klaus tilted his head back and forth, the solution not needing to be said.
"Can't help you there," Damon glared as the Salvatore's took pleasure in slamming the door in Klaus' face.
Klaus paced back and forth on the porch, trying to see through the blinds on the window, but he wasn't able. Slowing to a stop, something caught his attention. The daily newspaper laid idly cast to the side and kneeling down he took it into his hands, folding it over. Again, Klaus began to pace only this time it was in the Gilbert's front lawn. He glared up at the house, his patience waning. He was not going to leave here without either of the two girls. It was incredibly stupid of them to try to keep them from him. It was only a matter of time before he got his way.
The same blinds he had been trying to see through opened just enough so that Damon could be seen peeking out. With his vampire hearing, Klaus heard Damon say, "Klaus wants in. We have to keep him out." With a wolfish smirk, Klaus threw his arm back and hurled the newspaper with inhuman strength at the window, busting through the glass.
"Why are we walking so slow?" Sirena asked Elena as they crept through the school. She could feel something wasn't right, but then again she always felt that way around Elena. But this time for sure there was something not right. Elena was too cautious and her heartbeat had quickened since they entered the building. All her suspicions were confirmed when she could hear crying coming from the direction of Alaric's old classroom. Both girls ran towards the sound, but of course Sirena beat Elena there. What she saw made her stomach clench into knots.
Caroline's hands were staked to the desk she was sitting at with pencils while her mouth was bound with what looked like a vervain-soaked cloth. Tears streamed down her face and Sirena began having a serious feeling of déjà vu. Alaric was sitting at his old desk, but by just looking at him you could tell he wasn't himself. "What is this?!" Sirena demanded.
"Caroline," Elena turned on Alaric, "Let her go, Alaric!"
He held a hand out towards the blond. "Free her yourself."
Rushing to her friend's side, Elena rubbed her arm soothingly as she tried to pull one of the pencils free. In an instant Alaric was there shoving the pencil back into her hand. All three girls jumped.
"You said you would let her go!" Elena protested.
"How many times do I have to tell you, Elena? Stop trusting vampires!" Turning on Sirena, he added, "And you, when are you going to stop trusting Elena?"
"What do you mean?" Sirena shifted in place.
"I called her and told her to bring you here. Didn't exactly have to threaten too hard to get her to do it either."
Sirena bit her lip. She really didn't trust Elena. The only reason she had come was to help Caroline with the cleanup. Of course Elena's first idea was to trick Sirena. She could've just asked for help or at least let her know what they were walking into.
Elena looked at her apologetically. "Sirena, I'm so sorry. I just—"
"Save it, Elena. Don't you think you've done enough to her already," Alaric fired. "Now both of you sit down!"
Both did as they were told, each taking a seat at each of Caroline's sides. "Why was it so important I bring her anyway?" Elena asked.
"Oh, but that's one of the best parts. Did you know that if Declan hadn't turned her that Klaus would have no need of your blood? Well, at least not after the sacrifice."
Sirena narrowed her eyes on him. "How did you know—"
"That you were the key to him being tied down by the doppelganger's blood? Oh, Esther told me. She did create the curse after all. She wants you dead, Sirena."
Sirena sat fuming.
"The Petrova bloodline is what bound the entire curse. Elena's held it together, yours eliminates it. You're the end to Klaus' curse."
"But wait," Elena interrupted, "That would mean…"
"She's also a descendant of the Petrova bloodline. You two are related in some distant way. I myself find it hilarious given your past," Alaric gave a sadistic smile, but neither girl found it quite as humorous. "Now," Alaric went back to business, "Which of you dies first? Blondie or Blue Eyes?"
Still outside waiting for the Salvatore's to hand over the girls, Klaus yelled, "I think you're probably going to want to let me in!" The door remained closed and upon looking back over his shoulder, Klaus found a new approach. He crossed the street to the neighbors house and there lying in the center of the fenced yard was a soccer ball. Gathering it up as well as a few posts from the white picket fence, he returned to the Gilbert's front yard. Soccer ball in hand he hurled it at the front door, busting it open with ease. Jogging up the steps with a diabolical grin he stepped up to the doorway firing one of the posts into the house, nearly missing Damon's head before it lodged itself into the wall. Stefan pushed Jeremy and Bonnie down behind the counter for cover as he too knelt to the floor. Damon on the other hand snatched the post from the wall and returned fire. Klaus felt the wind from Damon's shot whiz past his shoulder before breaking his last piece in two and aiming another piece at Damon. To his dismay, he missed and instead shattered a picture frame that hung on the wall.
"Missed me!" Damon taunted, kneeling back down behind the table.
Klaus would have liked nothing more than to get rid of Damon Salvatore for good. After throwing in his last piece of fence, Klaus returned to the neighbors yard to gather up another weapon. When he returned he was bearing a propane tank and the newspaper, now aflame.
However, before he could use it, Stefan appeared in the doorway. "Put it out."
"Come outside and make me," Klaus challenged, raising his eyebrows in surprise when Stefan actually stepped out onto the porch.
"The girls aren't here. Alaric has them and Caroline and he's going to kill them unless you turn yourself over to him."
Throwing the newspaper down with a growl and dropping the propane tank, Klaus shook his head as he mentally kicked himself for not getting Sirena fast enough. "You know I'll be walking into certain death if I go in alone."
"Normally I would be fine with that, but if you die there is a one in four chance we all die with you," Stefan stated.
"I'll take those odds," Damon retorted, joining the with a fragment of the picket fence resting on his shoulder and earning an evil glare from Klaus.
"And a hundred percent chance that Tyler dies," Stefan continued.
"I'm good with that, too."
Turning on Damon, Klaus said, "It might interest you to remember that Sirena was turned by Declan, who I don't know if you are aware was turned by yours truly. So if I die, she dies. Are you still fine with that?"
Damon's mouth pressed into a hard line.
Stefan was obviously not okay with that plan either. "Why don't we just figure out a way to put Alaric down?"
Damon sat back and watched as his brother and Klaus began to pace, deep in thought until Klaus stopped. Pointing at Damon, he offered up a plan. "Okay, how about Damon sneaks in and distracts Alaric, while Stefan grabs Elena and I grab Sirena to get them to safety?"
"Huh… that's a great idea," Damon snorted, "What's to stop me from getting killed instantly?"
"Nothing," Klaus smirked.
"Ah, wise guy. Sirena's in there. Don't you want to run off into the sunset with her? Do you really think she'll do that if she knows you got me killed by one of her friends?"
"This really isn't helping," Stefan complained.
Bonnie came through the doorway, arms crossed. "I might have an idea. My mom used a desiccation spell on Mikael that immobilized him for over 15 years. If I can get it, I might be able to use it on Alaric."
"If and might?" Klaus repeated, "Your words don't inspire much confidence."
"I'll get it. But even with the spell, we'll need a lot of vampire muscle to take him down, including yours."
Facing out towards the road, Klaus thought it over. Of course, he didn't want to be walking to his death, but if he didn't Sirena may die in the process. Facing the group once more, he said, "Just so we're clear, the sun sets in about eight hours. If we don't succeed before then, Elena and Sirena will be dead, I will be gone, and the rest of you will be left to fend for yourselves."
After revealing Sirena's past to Caroline and Elena, Alaric had treated Sirena in the same fashion as he had Caroline. Blood dripped down her hands from where number two pencils were now pinning her to the desk. Her mouth burned from the vervain that was sizzling her skin, making it start to peel from her face where the cloth had been rubbing. Why was it that Caroline and Sirena seemed to be making a habit of getting tortured together? It was almost enough to make Sirena want to leave this place and get as far away from all this as she could. Somehow she felt like it wouldn't really make a difference. Her only hope was that someone was on there way to save them. Since Elena was with them that meant at least Stefan and Damon would come running.
"What's the point in torturing them?!" Elena yelled.
"To make it easier on you when you put them out of their misery," Alaric replied. Caroline and Sirena shared looks of worry as Alaric handed the white oak stake out toward Elena.
"What? No!" Elena shook her head, refusing.
"Isn't this what you wanted, Elena? For me to teach you how to kill a vampire? Well, here are some vampires, Elena. Kill them."
"This isn't what I meant."
"Of course it is. All those hours you spent training, getting stronger, you could be a hunter, Elena, but you've never actually staked a vampire through the heart." He began to circle around the two vampires. "Who will it be first, Elena? Caroline? Or Sirena?" He rubbed a hand down Sirena's black curls, making her cringe.
"Abby just showed up," Stefan informed Klaus as they climbed from his black SUV in the school parking lot. Both eyed the school for any signs of any violence going down, but everything was quiet.
"Good. Perhaps this plan won't be an epic failure after all. You know, if this does go off and we drop the history teacher in the Atlantic, I'm still leaving with the girls."
"I'll go with you."
Klaus leaned back on the hood of his car. "Really? What's the catch?"
"There's no catch. I'd turn my back on everything here to make sure Elena's safe."
"And that's what makes you the better option. Back in the day when Elijah and I were both vying for the affections of Tatia, Elijah was also the better option. I was a lot like Damon. Impulsive, selfish… I would've put what I wanted first and foremost, but not Elijah. Looking back with what I know now, I don't think I was really even in love with Tatia," Klaus admitted with a chuckle. "It's a shame it's not easier for Elena to see that. I mean, personally I think she's wasting her time with Damon."
"You know, all this time and energy you've spent trying to get me and my brother to hate each other, it's actually had the opposite effect."
Klaus laughed. "Has it? Has it really? Well then, perhaps I should let Elena decide which Salvatore joins us, being as how you and Damon are so close."
Before walking away, Stefan said, "Ah, go for it. Damon and I have been through a hell of a lot worse than you."
"Why are you doing this?" Elena had her eyes glued to Alaric as he walked around the room.
"Because you need me," he responded, "Because you're an eighteen-year old girl without parents or guidance with no sense of right or wrong anymore."
"Look at you. How is this right?!" She waved a hand in the direction of Sirena and Caroline.
Pointing the stake at Caroline, Alaric said, "She's a murderer. She told me she killed someone and liked it. Now, how is that right? And her—" Klaus redirected the stake to point at Sirena. "She's attacked an innocent man and nearly killed another. How is that right?!" Casting a shadow over Elena as he stood over her, he added, "You're just as bad as them. Running around with vampires. Screwing around with the Salvatore's. You disgust me. Now," he jerked her from the desk, forcing her to stand in front of Caroline with the white oak stake in hand, "Kill them."
Elena cast an apologetic glance down to her best friend. Tears fell down Sirena's cheeks, burning as they hit her vervain-stained cheeks. She didn't want to have to watch what Elena was going to do and it was even worse knowing she would be next. She just hoped Elena would do the right thing.
Spinning on her heels, Elena thrust the stake towards Alaric's chest, but he caught her arm with ease. "I thought I taught you better than that."
"You did," she growled through clenched teeth as she broke the vial of vervain across Alaric's head. His screams echoed throughout the halls as his face smoked and sizzled. Elena pulled the pencils free from Caroline's hand who in turn did the same for Sirena. Elena pushed both girls out ahead of her.
"Let's split up," Caroline said, hoping to confuse Alaric and keep him from catching them.
Nodding, Sirena darted off to the left. Sirena stopped, looking back to see if Elena had made it out as well. She started to head back, but strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her off to the side with a hand covering her mouth to stifle her screams.
"Shh. It's me, love. It's only me." Klaus' breath was warm against her neck as he whispered in her ear. The warmth of his body against hers soothed her, making her feel safe. "I'm going to get you out of here. You're safe. Now listen to me, I want you to go straight to Declan's."
Suddenly, he whipped her around to face him. Brushing her hair from her face, he ran a thumb across her reddened cheek. His blood began to boil at the signs of torture she had endured. "Did you hear me? I want you to stay there until I come to get you. He will keep you safe. Now go," he ordered, "No looking back."
Sirena had a bad feeling she couldn't quite swallow. It almost felt as if this would be the last time she would be speaking to Klaus. Her eyes connected with his, not wanting to let go. Wrapping a hand around to the back of his head, she pulled him into her, their lips melding together. Klaus returned her kiss with such fire that she had never felt before. She only wished it had been under better circumstances. Why hadn't she had the courage to do this before? He kissed her hard as her hand slid down his face to his cheek. Pressing a couple more soft kisses to his lips, she said, "Don't keep me waiting." He knew she meant that as she wasn't going to say goodbye, that he would make it out alive, and with that they parted, heading in opposite directions. It was time to deal with Alaric.
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