Thank you for all the wonderful reviews! On with the chapter!
WARNINGS: usuals
Disclaimer: I don't own The Vampire Diaries or the characters associated with it. I just own the city of Nivea, the country of Atteca, the minor characters and other cities I made up and this plot.
The silence that took over the room was deafening as the two submissives stared at the newcomers. Elena and Klaus stared back nervously.
"I know this is a shock," Stefan started.
"He's your submissive?" Caroline finally cried. "Klaus is supposed to be dead! They declared him dead three years ago!"
"I know," Stefan nodded. "You must have a lot of questions."
"How…how does she look like…and he's just…he was missing for years and…people thought he killed Tyler's father and that he ran but he's standing right…here," Jeremy felt his head spinning as his eyes darted between them. "How is this possible?"
"I'll explain everything," he promised. "Finish your dinners and come to the living room."
Stefan led Klaus and Elena out of the dining room, leaving Jeremy and Caroline to gape after them like fish out of water.
"What just happened?" Caroline said faintly.
"I don't know," Jeremy picked his fork up again, his appetite significantly diminished. "I can't believe that just…wow."
They finished quickly and headed to the living room. Elena sat in the middle of them, one hand holding Klaus' and the other on Stefan's knee. Klaus kissed the back of it as Stefan brushed a piece of hair from her eyes. Jeremy and Caroline shared a look.
"I guess Damon's not the only brother with a threesome fetish," he muttered to her.
"You don't think…him and Klaus?"
"Look at them," he mumbled as Stefan reached around Elena to squeeze the back of his neck. "They have to be."
"You guys can sit," Stefan gestured to the couch in front of them. They sat gingerly, trying and failing not to stare at them.
"Where should we start?" Stefan chuckled to the other two.
"Perhaps with me," Klaus gave them a small smile. They stared at him with dropped jaws. Did he have an accent?
"I think that would be best."
"Wait," Caroline shook her head as she pointed to Elena. "Just…she looks just like Katherine. I wouldn't be able to tell them apart if her hair was curled."
"Perhaps Elena, then," Klaus chuckled.
"Yeah, she does," Stefan murmured. "I first saw her at the farmer's market and I thought it was Katherine, except I had just gotten off the phone with her and I knew she was at work. I thought I was seeing things."
"So she's her twin right? That's the only other explanation," Jeremy leaned forward. "There's no two people who look exactly alike unless they're twins."
"Actually there are people who look alike and are in no way related but I don't think that is the case here. I've had Elena's DNA and Katherine's sent to a lab. They're backed up but the results should be here soon."
"Does she know?"
"No."
"How did you get it without her knowledge?"
"Her hairbrush and a martini glass she used."
Silence overtook them for a while.
"How could she not tell me she had a twin?" Caroline whispered in disbelief.
"She does not know I am alive," Elena said softly. Caroline jumped when she spoke.
"You even have the same accent as her," she buried her hands in her hair.
"How could she not know?" Jeremy asked incredulously. "It's hard not to know you have a twin!"
"It is if you're separated at birth."
They were left speechless again.
"Is Katherine adopted?" Jeremy finally asked.
"Yes," Stefan said softly. "Amelie isn't her mother. She never told her either."
"Why?"
"From what Elena has told me of her home in Bulgaria, it wasn't a good place for women. Their father was a drunk and was really disappointed when their mother gave birth to two girls instead of a boy. Maybe Amelie took her in and never told her to shield her from bad memories."
"But someone had to know that Katherine wasn't her daughter, right?"
"Katherine told me that they came to Atteca in the cargo hold of a huge liner that was traveling through Europe. The man who found them felt sorry for them and took them to a friend of his when they docked. He got them each a forged passport and birth certificate for Katherine, claiming she was born here and not in Bulgaria so she could stay. Amelie and her late husband are the only listed parents."
"What happened to him?"
"The war. When he died, Amelie must have brought Katherine here. She and Tyler met when they were seven so it would make sense."
"Wow," Jeremy fell back against the couch. "This is a lot to take in."
"Is this why we weren't invited to your wedding?" Caroline asked. Stefan looked confused for a moment before he chuckled.
"We didn't have one. John is ordained so he married us and Klaus was our witness."
"Why didn't you just tell them?" she asked softly. "I know it would have been a shock but they would've handled it well."
"I didn't for your protection, as well as Elena's," Stefan sighed. "She was brought to Atteca as a slave and the man that bought her is still looking for her."
"What?" Jeremy cried. "That's illegal here!"
"The rich get away with it all the time here, especially if their slaves don't know English."
"Who is he?"
"His name his Atticus Shane. And he's currently the CFO of The Brown Bean Company."
"Damon's company," Jeremy gasped. Stefan nodded.
"Does he know?"
"No. He appointed Shane himself, so he's good at covering up his tracks. If Damon knew Shane would have him killed," Stefan sighed. "Shane is also a friend of Mikael's and I know he helped him cover this up."
"Did he sell her to him?"
"Non. A man told me he would take me to Atteca for free and I believed him," Elena said softly. "When I got here he told me I had to pay. I did not have money so he said I would have to sell the only thing I could and he sold me to Mr. Shane for a lot of money."
"The morning I saw her, the market was crowded and she was wearing a shawl over her hair to hide her face. It had slipped down a bit so I could see her face and I just couldn't figure it out. I followed them around but lost her after a while. I went back every Friday morning to the market hoping to see her but I didn't see her until about the end of the month. I managed to pull her away and I asked her for her name and she looked so frightened that I knew she wasn't from here. The bruises on her arms and legs and the brand said it all."
"Brand?" Jeremy's brow furrowed. Elena turned around and moved her hair to the side. They gasped when they saw a skull on crossbones with the letters A and S on either side of it.
"Jesus," Caroline whispered. "That's horrible."
"It was the worst time in my life. He just wanted me as…as his sex slave," her voice wavered as she looked down. "He would beat me and starve me and keep me in his shed so his wife would not know. I would always scream to let someone know I was there but no one could hear me."
She smiled when Klaus laced their hands together and kissed her shoulder.
"How did you escape?"
"They saved me," she gave them each a beaming smile. "The only time he would let me out was when he thought I was good. When I saw Stefan for the second time he promised he and his friend were going to get me away from him."
"You?" Jeremy looked at Klaus.
"Yes," he nodded. "We followed them home and waited until he and his wife had left before breaking in."
"So this is where you've been this whole time?" Jeremy gaped. "Why the hell didn't you leave?"
"I did for a while. I spent some time in Tokyo, then South Korea then Hong Kong and then London," he smiled. "I'm fortunate Stefan likes to buy real estate."
"When did you come back?" Caroline interjected. "If Mikael was accusing you of Richard Lockwood's murder then you knew people were going to be looking for you right?"
"I came when they ruled out that possibility. Stefan and Elijah had my entire identity erased and they changed it all. Klaus Mikaelson doesn't exist. I'm known in each country by a different name. When I got to the airport I got a few stares but I came up as Nathanial Jones."
"Why did you come back here? If you know your father wants you dead, why risk it?" she exclaimed.
"I missed him," he gazed at Stefan with an undecipherable look. "I lived with Stefan for a few months before the investigation started to heat up and I was forced to leave. He came to me when he could but it wasn't always for long. His work is here and he had another submissive that he needed to care for."
"Tyler," Jeremy said faintly. Stefan nodded.
"I came back after about four or five years abroad, and that was when Stefan told me of a woman that needed to be saved," he kissed the back of Elena's hand. "I stayed for a few more months but Stefan worried that Mikael had figured out Elijah deceived him. So I went to Romania for a while with Elena and we came back last month."
"And didn't even bring me a souvenir," Stefan chuckled. They grinned at him.
"This is…insane," Jeremy finally sighed. "I can't believe this."
"I know it's going to take some time for you guys to process this, but please don't say anything to the others yet," Stefan pleaded. "I don't want to endanger them anymore than they already are."
"When are you going to tell them?"
"When everything with Mikael dies down and he's no longer a threat."
"Preferably dead," Klaus said under his breath. Elena giggled and kissed his fingers.
"They'll go with you to Tokyo. Klaus has been there before, so he can show you around," Stefan stood. "You guys should get some rest. It's been a long day."
Jeremy didn't think he would be able to sleep after learning all of that. He went to his room and closed his door, leaning against it with a heavy sigh. He couldn't remember the last time he felt this lost. His life was completely out of control once again and he didn't know how to make sense of anything anymore. It made it worse that Tyler wasn't there.
As he changed into sweats and a worn T-shirt a knock on his door came, "Jer?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you going to bed?"
"No. Come in," he murmured. Caroline came in and shut the door, already dressed in her shorts, tank top and sweatshirt and looking just as confused as he felt. They were silent as he finished changing. The blonde threw herself on the clear side of the bed and Jeremy lay next to her, both of them staring at the ceiling.
"I can't believe Klaus is alive," he said finally.
"I can't believe Katherine has a twin sister."
"How the hell did Stefan hide this for so long?"
"I have no idea. I'm surprised considering he's schizophrenic."
"What?" Jeremy's head turned sharply. "He's schizophrenic?"
"Yeah…you didn't know?" Caroline turned to him with a slight smile. Jeremy groaned and sank into his soft bed.
"Well that explains everything. Actually…it explains absolutely nothing. It just further highlights how insane this all is," he chuckled. Soon it turned to full-blown laughter and they could barely breathe. For just a moment, all their worries were gone.
"We should write a book," Jeremy said when he could finally talk. "With all the stuff that's happened to us in the past year, I know there's a bestseller in there."
"Seriously. This is all so…surreal," she giggled.
"Do you think Tyler has a twin brother we don't know about? Or even Damon?"
"I don't think so…although Damon did say that he and Stefan supposedly have a half-brother somewhere. Their father was a known pervert and womanizer, so they might have a few siblings they don't know about."
"Unbelievable," Jeremy sighed. "The only thing that would blow my mind more at this point would be if I discovered I had siblings I didn't know about."
"Suppose you did. Would you want to meet them?"
"I don't know. Probably," he sighed. "I grew up my entire life having no one but my parents, and then no one in general. It would be nice to have family that's blood related but I doubt I do. If the city couldn't locate them then I doubt they're even alive."
"Or they live in another country," she shrugged. "We should look into that when we're in Tokyo. We'll have nothing else to do, so why not trace your roots?"
"That would be nice. I do want to know," Jeremy murmured with a small smile. "Who knows what we'll find."
"Your long lost twin brother. Maybe you have a hot older sister," she teased as she hit his shoulder. They shared another laugh.
"I doubt it."
They talked for a long time before the fell asleep where they were on Jeremy's bed. Caroline was awoken by her bladder and her dry mouth and she used the bathroom before leaving the room quietly and heading for the kitchen. She sighed in relief when she saw no one there and poured herself a tall glass of water. She slowly walked back upstairs as she took in the décor of the house in the dark, admiring how much similar Stefan's tastes were to Damon's and even Katherine's.
The thought of her lover made her ache and she felt guilty knowing something about her that she didn't. They didn't have secrets. She made it a point to tell Katherine and Damon everything because their relationship was based on trust. She hated keeping secrets in general, and now Stefan wanted her to keep the biggest one yet. It was nearly overwhelming, and she wasn't sure how she would get through this without telling them first thing.
Caroline paused when she heard a moan coming from the room just before the bathroom on the left. She turned around and saw that the door was closed. Looking over her shoulder to make sure no one was watching her, she tip-toed to the door and opened it, revealing a sitting room similar to the one they had at home.
It was elegantly furnished, with beautiful suede couches, lavish paintings and a cherry-wood coffee table. She set her glass on a coaster and ventured to the only other door in the room. This door was cracked and she felt safely obscured by the darkness to watch the scene in front of her.
She licked her lips as she watched Stefan and Klaus kissing hungrily, Elena lying naked beside them as she alternated between stroking Stefan's arm and Klaus'. She looked so much like Katherine despite her hair being straight that her heart pounded. There were barely any bruises on her body but there were scars from her time with Shane, a stark difference from Katherine's flawless, smooth body.
Her attention was drawn back to Klaus and Stefan when the former blonde let out a sharp moan as Stefan took a nipple into his mouth. He took his bottom lip between his teeth and bit hard as he moved lower, peppering kisses over his stomach before going even lower. He arched when Stefan took his cock into his mouth and his hand flew down to grab his hair. Stefan slapped it away and bit the inside of his thigh.
"What did I tell you about that?" he growled. He looked to Elena and she grabbed the cuffs on either side of the bed. As she secured him, Stefan mouthed the tip of his cock and Klaus thrust up trying in vain to fuck his mouth.
"God…stop being a tease!" he whined. He moaned louder when Stefan squirted lube onto his finger and thrust it into him.
"Say my name," Stefan growled as he thrust one finger into him. Klaus shook his head.
"Say it," he hissed as he grabbed Klaus' face. "Who's making you feel this good right now?"
"No."
"Klaus," he warned. "Say it."
"You," he forced out with a groan.
"Say my name," Stefan thrust three fingers into him furiously. Klaus writhed beneath him. Stefan took him into his mouth, his fingers moving faster and faster and Klaus shouted his name as he came hard in his mouth. Stefan worked him until he swallowed every last drop, pulling away with a smug smirk.
"Good boy."
Klaus glared at him.
"I allowed you to tell them I'm your submissive but that was only to help explain things," he snapped. "I am not a pet."
"So what are you then? I don't just keep people in my house to fuck whenever I feel like it Klaus," he chuckled. "You're either my submissive or my boyfriend."
"I hardly see why I must have a title. Boyfriend sounds so juvenile."
"Well I don't like the word lover. That implies that all we do is fuck."
"That is what we do the majority of the time."
Stefan gave him a pointed glare, "You know that's not true."
"I know. But I am neither your sub nor your boyfriend. I can't submit to you the way you want and you won't let me dominate you the way I want."
"You submitted to me the day I fucked you over the dining room table."
"Only after you gave in and admitted that you wanted me," he scowled. "We both know I would be topping if you hadn't experienced childhood trauma."
"That's a lie," Stefan laughed. "You love every single moment I dominate you. You told me once I was the best."
"That is for reasons that don't have to do with you being on top."
"Which are?"
"You know what they are," Klaus rolled his eyes. Elena giggled and kissed his cheek. Stefan grinned.
"Still can't say it."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Of course not darling," Elena murmured against his neck. "But you know we feel the same about you, don't we Stefan?"
"Yeah," he murmured as he leaned over to kiss her. "How do you feel love?"
"Fine," she stroked his face. "You do not need to worry about me so much, darling."
Caroline ached at the way she said the word. It sounded just like Katherine.
"Get the cock ring," he murmured to her as he lay next to Klaus, his cock slapping his stomach. "Put it on Klaus then come here."
"Stefan," he growled as he fidgeted.
"You had your turn," the younger Salvatore brother laughed. "You can't have all the attention Klaus."
"Is the ring really necessary?"
"Yes. I know how much watching us gets you off and I don't want you coming yet."
Caroline turned away from the scene and leaned against the wall. She shouldn't be watching this. This was Damon's brother and Katherine's twin sister and it was all kinds of wrong. And she couldn't help but be aroused at the fact that it was Stefan and Katherine's twin sister with Klaus lying in the same bed next to them. There was no denying that both Salvatore brothers were well-endowed and extremely sexy. But more than anything, it was the fact that there was another threesome in their family, a Dominant with two submissives. A woman with two men. It was so erotic that she couldn't help but watch.
This is so wrong, she reminded herself as she turned back to the scene. Elena had fit the cock ring over Klaus' half-hard erection and was now hovering over Stefan's, head bobbing up and down as he grabbed her hair. Caroline could hear both their moans and she fought not to touch herself.
"Fuck," Stefan grunted, his head tipping back onto the pillow. "Feels so good babe."
He pulled her up after another moment and kissed her hard as she put her legs on either side of him. He kept her hand on her shoulder and neck as she lowered herself onto him, tossing her long hair back as she sank down. Caroline could see Katherine and Damon doing this same thing in her memories and she had to stifle a groan.
Stefan's hands went to her hips eventually as she rocked on him, alternating between rocking back and forth and bouncing up and down. Elena arched her back when she came down. Her hands slid down his chest as he sat up and he grabbed her hair roughly to kiss her. Klaus fidgeted next to them.
"You tease," he hissed as his cock rose. Stefan chuckled as he continued rocking up into his wife.
"Then close your eyes."
"Funny," he snorted. He licked his lips when Elena threw her head back with another moan and Stefan nibbled on her neck. His hands slowly slid to her waist and he told her to turn around. Elena repositioned herself so that she was riding him in reverse. Caroline watched transfixed as she closed her eyes and bit her lip the way Katherine did.
"Christ Elena!" Stefan growled as he pushed her forward. He got on his knees and pushed her down onto the bed so that her chest was flat against it. She whined and moaned as Stefan's thrusts picked up in speed and intensity, the sound of skin slapping skin filling the room. Elena cried out wordlessly as she thrust back.
"You like it when I fuck you like this?" Stefan growled as he wrapped her long hair in his hand and pulled back. Caroline gasped when he pulled her head off the bed.
"Yes Master!" she choked out.
"Tell me how much you like it."
"J'aime quand tu me baises! J'aime ta bite! J'aime quand vous tirez les cheveux dur!"
"God Elena," Klaus groaned as his cock strained against the ring. "Keep talking sweetheart."
Elena continued to babble in French as Stefan pounded into her. Caroline felt her knees grow weak as the brunette reached under her body to touch herself. It was nearly insane how much she was like Katherine.
Stefan let out a long groan and stilled behind her when he slammed into her once more. He leaned back and pulled Elena with him, never dethatching from her. Elena collapsed against him, chest heaving as she gulped deep breaths. Stefan's arms snaked around her and he bit her neck gently.
"You okay?" he murmured. She nodded, groaning when he licked from her shoulder to her ear.
"I love you."
"Je t'aime trop."
"You want him?"
Elena turned her head to Klaus and her eyes glazed over, "Yes."
"Take the ring off, but leave the cuffs on."
Elena did as instructed, stroking Klaus for a few moments before straddling him and taking him into her. They both groaned as she grinded on him.
"Turn around," Stefan moaned. Elena did as she was told, working her thighs and her lower back to raise herself up and down. Stefan watched them lustfully as he stroked himself, his cock still half hard. He stood and went to the side of the bed. He pulled Elena's face gently towards him and she immediately took his cock into her mouth as Klaus groaned and cursed under her.
"Fuck," Stefan groaned as he held her hair to the side. "You're fucking amazing."
"Shit!" Klaus cried as his back arched. "Keep doing—just like that Lena—Christ!"
"You like that?" Stefan pulled away but held her head to look at him as she kept moving. "You like his cock?"
"Yes!" she panted.
"You want him to come inside you?"
She nodded vigorously.
"You gonna make me come too?"
"Yes," she batted her eyelashes at him before taking him in her throat. Stefan swore and put his hands on his hips as he thrust forward into her mouth.
Caroline decided that she had seen enough and decided to leave before she was caught. Taking her glass of water, she moved as quickly as possible back to Jeremy's room, shutting the door with a trembling hand. She set the water on the nightstand and quickly slipped under the covers despite Jeremy still being on top of them.
"Where'd you go?" he mumbled sleepily.
"The kitchen," she whispered with a pounding heart. "You were right."
"Hmm?"
"About them. You were right."
Jeremy mumbled something incoherent and rolled over with a loud snort. Caroline sank under the blankets and stared at the ceiling, trying to calm her rapid breathing.
Jeremy cried out when he thrust into him, his hands tied above him by the handcuffs and his legs wrapped around him tightly. He pulled out and slammed in again, both of them unleashing loud groans.
"Ty!" he cried out as he picked up the pace. He grunted as he moved faster and faster and Jeremy thrust to meet him again and again until he grasped his cock and he flew over the edge. He groaned loudly when he clenched around him and he came hard inside that taut body.
He collapsed against Jeremy and panted as his nose touched his damp neck. Jeremy kissed his cheek through his heaving gasps.
"Fuck," he whispered. "You feel so fucking good I don't want to move."
"Then stay," Jeremy breathed. "Don't leave me."
"I won't."
A pounding on the door aroused him, but it was Katherine's loud shrieking as she cursed someone in French that made him open his eyes.
"Mr. Lockwood, you are under arrest for fraud. Open the door."
"Fuck me," he grunted as he pulled back the covers and saw his erection, the pre-come already making his stomach sticky. The pounding continued as the Chief of Police started reading him his rights through the door.
"Get the fuck out of my house!" he heard Damon roar from the other side. "You don't even have a fucking warrant!"
"We have sufficient evidence to take Lockwood in. The warrant is on the way here."
"Then wait your ass outside until it gets here!"
"Tyler Lockwood, if you do not come out of your room right now we'll break down the door!"
"You break my door and you'll be replacing it!" Damon snapped. Tyler rolled his eyes and stormed to the door. He threw it open and let everyone look at him in his unabashed nude glory, erection and all.
"What the fuck do you want?" he snapped at the Chief.
"You need to come with us. You're under arrest," he kept his eyes on Tyler's face determinedly. The officers with him immediately turned away, although a few of them got a peak of just what made Tyler the most wanted man in Nivea. He smirked and held out his wrists.
"I'm all yours Chief."
"Put some clothes on Lockwood. No one wants to see that," he snarled before slamming the door. Tyler chuckled as he went to the bathroom. He made sure to take his time as he showered and brushed his teeth. Damon and Katherine were sitting on his bed when he came out.
"What's up?"
"They're bringing us in for questioning. Including Alaric."
"Tell them Mikael has a human sex trafficking ring. I'm sure that'll make them piss their pants."
"He leaked the information to the press like he promised. You are all over the news," Katherine said lowly.
"Are you?"
"We all are."
Tyler sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm sorry guys. I never meant for you to—"
"We never said we cared," Damon chuckled. "It's fine Tyler."
"We will have someone bail you out within the hour darling," Katherine kissed his cheek. "Since you are well-known they are going to want to book you as quickly as possible so you cannot talk to any media."
A pounding on the door interrupted his next sentence. The Chief and three officers barged into is room and immediately forced his arms behind his back as they read him his rights. The sun was bright when they walked him outside and he wished he would've grabbed sunglasses.
When they arrived at the police station, the pathway was lined with paparazzi, reporters, journalists from every newspaper and TV outlet bombarding him with questions about his lifestyle and if he was really into kink. They were told to ignore them and the officers quickly ushered the three inside. People seemed to stop what they were doing just to see why they were being escorted personally by the Chief of Police himself.
"You two, this way," one woman guided Damon and Katherine away from Tyler.
"Call my mom!" Tyler called after them as they took him in another direction to be photographed.
While he was being fingerprinted, Tyler watched as pictures of him and his family circulated on the screen. Every picture Mikael had of them, plus ones he hadn't shown him were enlarged as the reporter talked about them, the 'breaking news' headline running in highlighted red at the bottom. He frowned when a picture of him and Jeremy on the balcony appeared and Jeremy's face was blurred out.
'These pictures from beyond the walls of the Lockwood mansion tell a story far different than that which they present to the public. Sources claim that Lockwood was never faithful to his fiancée Rebekah Mikaelson, some even having come forward to say that they slept with Lockwood while he was engaged multiple times. But one source claims that the man in these pictures lived with Lockwood during the period of his engagement and that he and Lockwood plotted for him to go through with the marriage so they could run off with her money.'
Another picture of Katherine curled around Caroline replaced him.
'Ms. Pierce has also been at the scrutiny of everyone lately for her relationship with this young woman. The woman, who has yet to be identified, has been seen on occasion with Ms. Pierce and Damon Salvatore, CEO and owner of The Brown Bean Company. We now have to ask the question if this woman is the reason that Ms. Pierce and Mr. Salvatore have yet to tie the knot.'
Tyler cringed as two videos appeared, one of Jeremy cuffed to his bed and blindfolded and another of Katherine, Caroline and Damon in their bedroom with Caroline in a similar position as Jeremy. Even though Caroline and Jeremy were still blurred out, the fact that their private sessions were on display for the world to judge was unsettling to him.
'S&M, or sadism and masochism has been considered taboo and most time disturbing since it first made its debut in the 1970s. While it is known that many indulge in these fantasies, they are mostly kept secret due its 'unnaturalness.' These videos, while too graphic to play for the public, highlight just how many people we don't know, even people who we believed to have straight forward images, engage in this type of sexual activity. It sparks the debate of what is considered a normal lifestyle and if we should be idolizing people like Lockwood, Pierce and Salvatore for their decisions in this wild behavior.'
"Is it true?" the officer fingerprinting him asked. Tyler rolled his eyes.
"Which part?"
"All of it. Are you really into that freaky sex?"
"Why? You wanna try it?" he smirked. The officer shot him a nasty glare.
"I used to really respect you until I found out you were a freak. You probably paid that kid to let you fuck him and beat him, didn't you, you perverted piece of shit?"
Tyler fought the urge to spit in his face. He'd never been faced with insults in regard to his sexuality, but he wasn't going to stand for people insulting him.
"And why the fuck would you chose that over Rebekah fucking Mikaelson? She's got money, her dad is Mikael Mikaelson and she's fine as hell. Fucking every man on earth would give up their wives to tap that. Why the hell would you give that up for some teenager?"
"Not that it's any of your business but he's twenty. I'm not a fucking child molester."
"Could've fooled me."
Tyler shot out of his seat before he could stop himself and yanked the officer out of his when he grabbed him by his uniform. The officers around him immediately jumped into action and forced them apart as people screamed.
"Sit your ass down Lockwood!" one of them threw him back in his chair. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"You're all fucking closed-minded pigs, that's my fucking problem!" he barked. "You tell that son-of-a-bitch if he ever talks about my fiancée again that I'll fucking—!"
"Shut the hell up!" he barked back. "You cheated on your fiancée with a fucking twink and you're mad you got outed! Big fucking deal Lockwood. You're not the first billionaire that got exposed for what they are."
Tyler glared at him, his anger starting to give way to rage. These people had no idea who he was and he would be damned if a couple of police officers would insult him, Jeremy and Rebekah.
"I'll make sure to let everyone know what you think of me, Rebekah and the twink when I get out of here," he snarled as the man roughly fingerprinted the rest of his fingers. "You think people will appreciate the way you treat gay men when they get arrested? Don't fucking think you're going to find favors with the public there."
"You're not going to find favors anywhere, you cheating S.O.B," the officer yanked him out of his seat roughly and took him to a back room that was probably the cleanest in the precinct. He yanked the handcuffs off of him and left without another word. Tyler scowled as he sat in the hard metal chair. He wondered how long he was supposed to sit there when Matt entered.
"I just heard what happened," he said lowly. "You alright?"
"Yeah. Comforting to know our city is being protected by uneducated, prejudiced assholes," he snorted.
"I know. And they wonder why they can't find women that want them more than for one night stands."
Tyler laughed, "So you wouldn't mind if I had them all fired?"
"Not at all."
"Good," he lowered his voice. "Have you had any luck finding her?"
Matt shook his head.
"Not yet…but we had to leave that night because someone came to Vaughn asking to help."
"Who?"
"Elijah Mikaelson."
"What?" Tyler hissed. "And Vaughn is going to let him? How the fuck can we trust him after everything he's done?"
"Kol seems convinced. They talked for a while and whatever he said has him believing we can trust him," Matt sighed. "I tried asking him about it but he says he can't tell me until Mikael is in jail or dead."
"Hopefully dead," Tyler grumbled. The chief entered the room then, fixing Matt with a stern glare.
"Detective Donovan, you don't have permission to be back here."
"Sorry," he muttered as he threw Tyler an apologetic glance. When he left, the Chief sat down across from Tyler and sat the manila envelope on the table.
"I apologize for the behavior of my officers. They will be dealt with accordingly," he started gruffly.
"I'm sure they will," he snorted.
"I assume you know why you're in here."
"No. Why don't you tell me?"
"You and Rebekah Mikaelson signed a contract that stated you were to marry under terms and agreements that you both agreed to. It says should you or she break these agreements in any way, including adultery, that you would owe the other $1.5 million dollars."
"Rebekah and I settled a long time ago."
"You allowed Mikael Mikaelson to have a $3.7 billion dollar house built for you and you didn't plan on living in it at all. You publicly humiliated him and his daughter by breaking up with her in front of dozens of people," he continued as if he'd never spoken. "Mikaelson believes that you never planned to marry his daughter and only wanted them to build that house and invest billions into your company, which they have. With the recent developments, I find that his accusations aren't that wild."
"You would think that since you live off the donation money he gives you," Tyler glared. "How much does he give you to pocket on top of your salary?"
"That's enough," the Chief leaned forward. "Where is Jeremy Gilbert?"
"Are you asking, or is Mikael?"
"Don't test me Lockwood," he growled. "Where is he? We know he was living with you and then Damon Salvatore."
"You know that illegally," Tyler snarled. "Jeremy isn't here."
"Would you like to also be charged with obstruction of justice? Tell me where he is and I won't throw you in a cell right now!"
"He's not fucking here," Tyler snapped. "He probably skipped town to avoid this."
"Avoid the press or avoid being arrested?" the burly man glared hard. "He knew that he would be caught and you helped him leave."
"Believe what you want, but you have the wrong person in this chair," he rolled his eyes. "Maybe you should look into your good friend Mikael and see the kind of shit he's been up to."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"He runs a human trafficking ring and he's only looking for Jeremy so he can sell him to his fucking owner from God-knows-where. He's got you and the whole fucking police department out looking for him under the excuse of fraud and he's going to snatch him the moment you have him!"
He laughed, "Mikael Mikaelson's never had a criminal record! This is the same shit that happened when Richard Lockwood died and you and his sons swore up and down that he was guilty!"
"And you didn't do shit about it! You didn't even look into him so you could keep your blood money!" Tyler spat.
"There was no evidence that he had anything to do with your father's death Lockwood. We can't investigate stuff when there's no hard evidence."
"Then where is your proof that I committed fraud? And that Jeremy's committed fraud?"
"Your contract with him is dated back in January."
"I'd been engaged to Rebekah for over a year!"
"Old videos show that he was at your party in December. We also interviewed a Bonnie Bennett that's worked for you for over a year and his friend, which I don't think is a coincidence. You knew him long before you both made that personal contract."
"I didn't know him until January. And you only know that from footage of my house you obtained illegally," Tyler snarled. "I'll sue you and every media outlet that's posted pictures and footage of us because that's fucking illegal! You don't have the right to air shit that someone stole!"
"Again you have no proof. That footage just fell into my lap," he leaned forward. "I think you have a personal vendetta against Mr. Mikaelson and you want to bring him down in any way you can."
"You corrupted son-of-a-bitch," Tyler hissed. "Its men like you that make this city the hell it is. It's the men like you that line your pockets with criminal money while you let innocent people suffer."
"That's a hell of a speech Lockwood, considering you're wealthier than I ever will be."
Before Tyler could retort the door was thrown open.
"Don't talk anymore," Andie glared hard at the police chief. "How dare you talk to my client without my permission?"
"Miss Starr," the Chief nodded. "You're his attorney?"
"I'm the family attorney."
"That's interesting. I hear you're also Kol Mikaelson's attorney in the custody battle against Mikael."
"Good-bye Chief," she snapped. He nodded to her before leaving them alone.
"How long have you been here?" she asked as she dropped her briefcase and took the Chief's spot.
"Twenty minutes."
"What did you tell them?"
"I told him about Mikael's operation but of course he didn't believe me."
"Because he probably knows about it," Andie sighed. "It's not a coincidence that they've never found any of the people that have been kidnapped. You would think that at least one would have escaped."
Tyler pinched the bridge of his nose. "What now?"
"You'll go to arraignment and they'll tell us your bail. Mason already said he would post and he's on his way here."
"Christ," he snorted.
"He was the only one free right now," Andie squeezed his hand. "Carol told me you two are fighting but for the sake of the press, act like you're not, okay?"
"Fine," he grumbled.
Twenty minutes later he was standing before a judge and pleading not guilty for fraud and obstruction of justice.
"Bail is set at $500,000."
"The court is asking for no bail," the prosecutor, who Tyler recognized as Thierry Vanchure, immediately protested. "Mr. Lockwood has the means to leave the country and will do so the moment he's free. He's a huge flight risk."
"My client is a well-respected member of this community. He gives to four charities and counting and has three of his own. He runs a corporation that owns half of this city. That is not something he's going to walk away from."
"I agree with Ms. Starr. He's being accused of fraud, not murder," the judge glared at Thorne. "Bail is set at $500,000. And it's already been paid so you're free to go Mr. Lockwood. We'll see you in three weeks."
When the gavel came down, Vanchure immediately crossed the room to them.
"You're going down Lockwood. It's about time people like you are held accountable for their crimes. The rich can't get away with everything," he sneered. Tyler glared back heatedly.
"Is there something you wanted?" Andie snapped.
"I want all the information about the contract as well as any legal documents he's signed in the past few months."
"I'll have my people fax them to you."
She quickly ushered Tyler from the room and out into the hallway. He spotted Mason on the bench outside and fought to keep his face impassive. He gave them a bashful grin, showing off the metal in his mouth.
"Thank you for being here early," Andie hugged him. "How's your jaw?"
"It'll heal," he murmured, his words coming out more muffled than usual. "I have to keep the arches in for a few weeks."
"At least you get some good medication," Andie grinned. They took their places on either side of Tyler and braced themselves for the media storm that waited for them outside. Cameras flashed in their faces as reporters shoved microphones in front of them, tripping over each other and the stairs as they bombarded them with questions.
"You two go. I'll deal with this," Andie murmured as she opened Mason's car door for Tyler in an attempt to ward off the paparazzi. Mason jogged around to the driver's side and they took off quickly, his Jaguar speeding smoothly down the street of Nivea's financial district before heading for the freeway.
"Thanks," Tyler said gruffly. "I know you're in a lot of pain."
"It's nothing. I've always got you Ty," he sighed. Tyler knew what was coming and turned away as if it would stop his uncle from talking.
"Tyler—"
"I know you're sorry Mason. I'm just not ready to forgive you," he snapped. "Understand that I can barely look at you right now. What you did was really fucked up."
"I know. I understand it'll take you both a long time to forgive me. I don't even deserve it."
"Stop with the self-pity," he sighed.
"I'm not trying to gain sympathy. You made it clear you wouldn't give me any," he chuckled bitterly. "I don't blame you either."
The silence reigned with only the low rap music playing.
"How is he?" Mason asked quietly. "Damon and Stefan told me everything that happened with Mikael."
"He's fine. Scared, but he's safe," Tyler sighed. "Why don't you call him?"
"He doesn't want to talk to me. He only pretended we were on good terms for your sake."
"Thanks," he spat sarcastically. "I'm sure you pretended for your sake too."
"You're right. I was scared you would hate me and I didn't want that."
"I don't hate you. But you're not exactly my favorite person either. You betrayed me. You were the one person I trusted the most and you lied to my face."
"I know," he sighed. "I just...I thought I could be what he needed. He was heart-broken and I wanted to be the one that helped him move on. But he's always been about you. Even when we were…he's always been in love with you Ty. That's never changed."
Tyler looked away and put his fist in his mouth to keep from retorting something rude.
"I thought that you would move on. I…hoped you would just so Jeremy would see that you didn't care and I wouldn't feel so bad about being with him. But you didn't, and you kept calling and calling and I felt so damn terrible that I didn't know what to say to you anymore."
"The truth would have been nice," he snapped. "All you did was show me that you'll look out for you before you look out for me. I needed you and you were too busy hooking up with Jeremy to give a damn. You didn't call because you're selfish and you didn't care."
"That's not true!" Mason cried. "I love you! You're like a son to me! Of course I care!"
"Then you wouldn't have gone after the one person I'm in love with!" he retorted. He bit his tongue and looked away.
"I didn't do it to hurt you," he pleaded. "It had nothing to do with you. He's a really good person and I care about him. I fell in love with him just like you."
"I know," he said quietly. "He cares about you too. He's hurt by what you did but that's how I know he cares."
"Do you think…we'll ever be able to move past this?" Mason murmured.
"I can't think about that right now. I just need to make sure he's safe and that we're not in danger," Tyler sighed. "I've got your back when it comes to Mikael and the press but I don't know when I'll be able to trust you again."
"Okay," Mason nodded. "That's more than I can ask for."
"You should…you should talk to Jeremy. See if he'll forgive you," Tyler murmured. "I know I can't right now but that doesn't mean he won't."
"Yeah. Maybe," he said softly.
"So…I saw the news."
"Yeah," Jeremy sighed softly as he held the phone to his ear. "I did too."
"He made you his submissive."
"Yeah," he cringed when Bonnie's breath hitched.
"I knew it. I knew I should've never left you alone with him that night."
"Bonnie it wasn't…you could've lost your job."
"And now you're splattered all over the news! I mean, no one knows it's you because your face is blurred out but I do! And Mom does too! She's freaked Jer!"
Jeremy shut his eyes and ran a hand through his hair, "God…I'm so sorry Bonnie. I never meant for you guys to see that."
"I imagine not," she snorted. "I can't imagine you were ever going to tell us."
He winced at her accusatory tone, "No…probably not."
"I don't blame you. I don't know how you would explain this to people."
"It wasn't…I mean…it hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be."
"So that day you came to meet me at The Grille, when you told me you couldn't leave the house because of the thugs…."
"It was because of the thugs. He wanted me to stay inside until they were caught."
"But?"
"But he…um…I would be punished."
"Punished how?"
"You…you don't want to know," he whispered. She sighed heavily.
"Something kinky."
"Yeah."
"Wow."
Not for the first time did Jeremy feel awkward on the phone with his best friend. He felt terrible for being caught in so many lies over the past few months and imagined that Bonnie was angry enough to want nothing to do with him.
"Well…I'm surprised," she laughed lightly. "But when I think about it…it makes sense."
"It does?"
"Yeah. The way he looked at you at the party and then he was there to save you from those people and he didn't want you to leave. And when I came to visit you…I saw the way he was looking at you Jeremy. You guys are head-over-heels for each other."
"You don't…care?"
"I was concerned at first that he was beating you or threatening you or something…but I guess erotic spanking doesn't count," she giggled and he flushed. "No Jer, I don't care that you're gay or dating my boss. I'm really jealous, but I'm not mad that you kept it a secret or anything. That's not exactly something you can bring up in normal conversation unless you're…living that life, I guess."
Jeremy laughed in relief, "God…I have so much to tell you Bonnie. You would never believe half of the things that have happened over these few months."
"I bet. I can't wait to hear them."
Jeremy pulled the phone away from his ear when the tone sounded for an incoming call. Trevor's name flashed on the screen and he sighed heavily.
"What?"
"Can I call you back?"
"Yeah. Don't forget!" she warned. He laughed and said good-bye before switching the call over.
"What Trevor?"
"I know you don't want to hear from me—"
"So why do you keep calling me? If I didn't answer the first five times it means I don't want to talk!"
"There's something I need to show you. About Tyler."
"What about him?"
"Where are you?"
"Trevor!" he snapped. "I don't want to see you!"
"You won't believe me if I tell you. But I have proof that you need to see."
"Proof of what?"
"Tyler has murdered twelve people since he was seventeen Jeremy."
Jeremy barked out a harsh laugh, "Are you kidding me Trevor? Why the hell would Tyler kill anyone?"
"Because he's insane Jeremy! He's a heartless bastard and he's murdered these people, people with families in cold blood! I have proof in my hands as we speak!"
"How did you even get proof?"
"Does it matter? There is evidence that he's murdered a dozen people!"
"Yeah it matters! Why the hell should I believe you when you've lied to me, put cameras in my room, watched me without knowing—!"
"One of the people he's killed was his last submissive. His name was Corey Johnson and his family hasn't seen him or heard from him in months. He's disappeared without a trace, around the time that he left Tyler. That is not a coincidence and you know it."
Jeremy felt his heart sink. He never told Trevor about Tyler's former submissive. No one else told him either, which meant that wherever Trevor found this information had to be somewhat accurate.
"Jer?"
"I…um," he couldn't form a coherent thought.
"Where are you? I'll come to you."
"I'll…I'll call you back," he muttered. He hung up amid Trevor's protests, his hands shaking as he put the phone on the bed. He ran them through his hair and covered his face. He couldn't understand how Trevor knew about Corey and his whereabouts when he'd never even been told the name before.
"Jer?" Caroline bounced into the room. "Lunch is ready. Is all your stuff packed?"
She frowned at his troubled look, "What's wrong?"
"I…um, do you remember how Tyler had that other guy as a submissive before me?"
"Corey?" she frowned. "What about him?"
"Whatever happened to him?"
"He went to school in London, I think. Master Tyler said he could choose a school and he would cover all four years of his tuition."
Jeremy nodded, swallowing heavily.
"Why the sudden interest?" Caroline sat by him. He shook his head.
"Nothing, just…Trevor called me again."
"What does he want now?"
"He said…that he has proof that Tyler's killed twelve people since he was seventeen and one of them was Corey. But that's ridiculous! Why would Tyler kill anyone?"
"He wouldn't," she looked at the ground. "Trevor's just trying to get you to leave him."
Jeremy sighed, "Yeah…it just doesn't make sense."
Caroline shook her head in agreement, "Trevor's insane. I bet he's killed people before."
"Don't joke like that," Jeremy chuckled as he dialed Trevor's number again. He frowned when it went straight to voicemail.
"Weird," he muttered as he followed Caroline downstairs. As they passed the living room they heard the doorbell ring. They looked at each other with a frown.
"Was Stefan expecting someone?"
"I don't think so."
They jumped when someone started pounding on the door.
"Jeremy! It's me! Jeremy!"
"Trevor?" Jeremy gasped as he ran to the door and pulled it open. He looked strung out with his red, wide eyes that were wild and flitting from one thing to the next and his limp stringy hair.
"How the hell did you find me?"
"We need to leave, now!"
He pulled Jeremy out the door despite his protests. Caroline ran to his aid and pulled him back, the hard yank making him lose his footing and fall to the floor.
"What the hell Trevor?" Jeremy yelled. "What is wrong with you?"
"I came to take you back to Italy before Tyler kills you! That man wants to help us. He's going to put us on a private plane back to Italy and we'll be away from all of this!"
"What man?" Jeremy's brow furrowed. It was just then that he noticed the black SUV sitting in the driveway and was quickly alerted of another one rolling up to meet it. It blocked the driveway from the other side, effectively creating a barrier. Seconds later, three men from each car were pouring out with guns in their hands. Jeremy felt his heart drop and he and Caroline stumbled backwards to the front door.
"He's here!" Trevor ran to meet them. "He was right, he's here—!"
One of the men pointed the gun at Trevor's head and fired it three times. Jeremy and Caroline screamed when he dropped to the ground, a pool of blood immediately flowing from his head. Another man came closer and fired another bullet into the back of his skull, bursting it wide open and splattering its contents everywhere. Jeremy felt his knees get weak and his stomach recoiled violently.
"That's enough," a voice said from the other side of the car. "We don't want to scare them too much."
Caroline whimpered and wrapped her arms around Jeremy to pull him back into the house. The men raised their guns at them and they immediately stilled. A man came around the car dressed in a sharp business suit and blood red tie. He had wispy blonde hair and his cold blue eyes glittered in the sun with his cold smirk.
"Jeremy Gilbert," he chuckled as he stepped over Trevor's body. "You are one hard person to catch. I was beginning to worry that we would never meet."
Jeremy stood petrified as he came closer and stopped just at the beginning of the walkway. Caroline sobbed into his neck and he pressed into her as much as he could for comfort. He could feel her trembling behind him and he was sure he was no better. He prayed that the utter terror he felt didn't show on his face. His mouth felt dryer than sandpaper as he stared at the one man he never wanted to meet in person.
"Nothing to say?" he chuckled again. "You know who I am, don't you boy?"
Jeremy gulped and took a shuddering breath.
"Mikael."
"Hey," Tyler sighed when he answered Damon's incoming call. "You got out okay?"
"Yeah, they didn't rough us up too much. But I got a text from Stefan. He wants us all to meet at his house. He says it's important."
"I thought they were leaving today?"
"So did I. Maybe something happened," Damon sighed. "Are you still with Mason?"
"Yeah, I'll tell him to turn around. See you soon," Tyler frowned when he hung up the phone. "Stefan wants to see us."
"Why?"
"I don't know," he murmured. He felt dread seeping into him and he couldn't shake the feeling that something was really wrong.
"I thought they were going to Japan?"
"So did I," Tyler muttered as he dialed Jeremy's number. He frowned when he got no response both times.
"Something's not right," he said anxiously. "Drive fast."
It took Mason half the time it usually did to get to Stefan's lavish house. His frown deepened even more when he saw Katherine, Damon and Alaric parked outside the gates.
"What's wrong?"
"He's not answering," Damon tried dialing him again. "What the hell is going on?"
Tyler felt his phone buzz in his pocket and he smiled when it was Jeremy.
"Hey babe, we're outside—"
"Good. You're right where I want you."
Tyler felt terror grip him and bile rise in his throat when he heard Mikael cackling on the other line.
"Where is he?" he cried.
"Jeremy's in good care. He's not the one you should worry about," Mikael chuckled. "Stefan and his wife, however…"
"I swear to God you fucking bastard if you hurt them—!"
Suddenly the house exploded right in front of them, throwing them all back at least four feet. They covered their heads as wood, brick, stone, gravel and debris flew over the trees and even beyond them as he landed in the barren fields.
Tyler raised his head blearily and saw the fire the explosion had created licking the sky, could hear their car alarms going off and sirens of the fire trucks in the distance. His ears rang and he felt disoriented.
"No!" he rasped as he stumbled to his feet, ignoring the large gash on his forehead. "Stefan!"
He coughed as smoke and dust got into his eyes and he dropped to his knees. Someone wrapped their arms around him and pulled him backwards towards the grass and he realized it was Katherine. Her face was covered in dirt and streaked with tears, her clothes torn and stained.
"Stefan!" he screamed again. He couldn't even begin to comprehend what this explosion meant because it would mean something he wasn't ready to face. He called Stefan's name again but was cut off by coughing on the smoke.
"We have to—we have to get him out!" he cried as he scrambled to his feet. "He's still in there Kat!"
"No he's not," she sobbed as she grabbed his legs. "He's not there Tyler."
"What are you—it's Stefan! Stefan can't—he c-can't—!"
"He's not there," Alaric said looking just as dazed.
She brought him back down and wrapped her arms around his neck, sobbing heavily into his shoulder. Tyler felt his own tears threatening to choke him when a smaller explosion happened in the back of the house. He just barely noticed Damon and Mason in front of him, Damon gripping the gate and screaming for his brother and Mason not letting him get any closer.
"Let me go!" he screamed as he fought against Mason with everything in him. "He's still in there Mason! He's my fucking brother—he's still in there! Stefan!"
"He's gone Damon," Mason choked as the fire trucks pulled up. "Stefan's gone."