The More Things Change
by Aivaeh
Disclaimer: Familiar characters, plot elements, dialogue, and settings belong to L.J. Smith, Julie Plec, and the CW. The author of this work of fanfiction has made no money from it.
Summary: I have no idea how it happened, but one morning I woke up in the world of The Vampire Diaries. Which, aside from the insanity of waking up inside a television show made real, might not be so bad—if I weren't stuck in the body of vampire magnet and doppelgänger herself, Elena Gilbert.
Pairing(s): OFC x Damon, OFC x Stefan, OFC x Elijah, OFC x Klaus
Rating: M
Warning(s): Graphic descriptions of violence on par with the show itself. References to sex and drug use. Mind control and all the issues of consent that go along with it. Character death.
Author's Note: Things get bloody.
Chapter Seventeen
Klaus was comfortable with silence. Me? Not so much.
Seated in the passenger seat of his SUV, I never-the-less kept my mouth shut and my eyes fixed on the darkness beyond the window as Klaus drove. The sounds of classical music filled the space between us. The occasional swelling of the orchestra or rapid staccato of the strings fed my anxiety, but I didn't dare ask Klaus to turn the station.
I didn't dare ask where we were going, either.
So it was a surprise when the Welcome to Mystic Falls sign was lit up by the SUV's headlights. Klaus must have felt my startled glance, because he answered my unspoken question with, "Where did you expect me to keep you?"
The sign glided behind us as I answered, "Wherever you'd been."
"It was time for a change of address." I thought of all his enemies and frowned. Instead of confirming my suspicion, Klaus said, "There would be more questions if I moved you out of your hometown. For now."
"Not my hometown," I muttered.
"Elena's, then. Elena." Klaus had an amused smirk on his face. One that made me think he was humoring me. "Where to?"
A chill of dread spread across my skin. "Like, a motel?"
"No." There was a whole world of derision in that short answer. "Where you've been staying."
"Why?"
"Because I asked." His voice was soft.
The hair along my arms stood on end. "Keep going to Grotto Avenue." I whispered.
"Good girl," he murmured. The song flooded the cab as it crested its crescendo.
It was almost midnight by the time he pulled up the driveway. Staring at the front door, I realized I'd been gone for two days. Jenna was not going to be happy. I braced myself as I grabbed the handle. "Thanks for the ride."
Klaus turned off the engine and smiled. Dread coiled my gut into knots as he pushed open the door and stepped out.
Panic seized my lungs before my heart kicked them back into gear. I shoved the door open and hurried out behind him, so intent on catching up I almost forgot to shut the door. I trotted as fast as the heels would allow to catch up to his strides. "What are you doing?" I whisper-hissed.
He didn't bother answering. He didn't even look at me. He continued up the sidewalk and the porch to the front door before pressing the doorbell.
I gaped. "Do you know what time it is?" I asked as I jogged awkwardly up the steps.
Klaus shrugged. Before I could say anything else, the door swung open. My heart leapt in fear as Jenna appeared on the other side, oblivious to her would-be murderer standing before her.
"Elena?" She pulled the door all the way open. "What are you doing out this late?" Her questioning gaze shifted to Klaus.
"Jenna," I answered weakly. "I can explain."
"Perhaps we can take this inside?" Klaus tried for innocent, but the aura that surrounded him kept him from pulling it off. He exuded a quiet menace, like the feel of electricity gathering in the air just before a lightning strike.
I was swift to interject. "No, we don't have to do that." At Jenna's questioning glance, I forced a smile. "It's nice out."
Going by the look she gave me, Jenna questioned whether I had any sense. "It's midnight, Elena." My chest tingled and my fingers grew cold as she said, "Come in before we wake the neighbors."
Klaus' triumphant smile was a wicked thing. I followed, hands gripping my clutch hard enough to cause the plastic makeup cases inside to give a protesting creak.
Jenna shut the door behind us. Klaus barely glanced over the hallway before his sights fell back on me, a smug glint in his eyes. "Thank you, Miss—"
"Jenna Sommers." Jenna's brows pushed together in question. "Elena's aunt."
"Nik," Klaus replied.
The sound of footsteps warned us someone was moving on the second floor. John appeared at the top of the staircase. My shoulders tightened, clutch creaking even more as I remembered the reason I'd been on the way to the Salvatore's before Anna's ambush. As he descended I noticed the same chalky paleness to his skin as the day before. He still had a huge bandage taped to his neck where Katherine had torn into it.
"Elena." His smile was wide and caused his eyes to crinkle with happiness. "I was worried."
Confusion pulled Jenna's brows low. "You knew she'd gone out?"
John's smile softened, turning almost benevolent. "Of course."
Now it was my turn to be confused. "You… didn't know I was gone?" I asked Jenna.
"You didn't tell me you were going out," Jenna replied.
"Yes I did." I'd told her I'd be going to the Salvatore's. She'd sided with me against Not-John.
"Oh. I must not have heard you," Jenna said.
She had, but I guessed she didn't remember.
"I'm John," John said, extending a hand to Klaus. "Elena's uncle."
Klaus accepted it, eyes narrowing slightly before relaxing back into his attempts at an unthreatening façade. "Nik." They shook longer than seemed polite, staring at one another, until their hands fell back to their sides. "Looking a little peaky there, John," Klaus said.
John put his hand into his pocket. "I've been under the weather."
"That so?" My heart hammered as they stood in each other's way, staring and smiling creepily at one another.
"Did you give Elena a ride home, Nik?" Jenna asked.
Klaus shifted his grin to her. "I did." And looking directly into Jenna's eyes, added, "It's a long drive back and very late. I should stay the night."
John's smile fell.
Jenna motioned to Klaus. "You know, it's late. You should stay the night."
"That's a bad idea, Jenna," John said, voice once again taking on that strange, soothing tenor.
Jenna blinked and turned to him. Brows pinching together, she frowned as she said, "It… is…"
Klaus' eyes narrowed to slivers, mouth pursing in thought before he stepped forward, forcing Jenna's attention back on him. "It's an excellent idea."
Jenna squinted, hand lifting to her head. She rubbed her temple. "I—"
John sighed. "It's alright Jenna." He stared without blinking at Klaus. "I suppose one night won't hurt."
Klaus grinned.
Jenna's hand fell back to her side, any evidence of pain smoothed from her face. "I'll make up the couch," she said, moving down the hall.
The hell was that?
"You'll be taking that," Klaus told John.
John answered with his creepy grin again. "Of course. I wouldn't be so rude to suggest otherwise."
"Fantastic."
I couldn't help but study Not-John, wondering how he was alive and what he was doing here. And what had that been with Jenna? Had his suggestion somehow warred with Klaus' compulsion?
What the hell was he?
Klaus either knew or was wondering the same thing. The two continued to stand still in the hallway and stare each other down like a couple of statues. Even after Jenna came back with a blanket and pillow, they remained locked in their odd battle of wills. Neither moved until Jenna had set the bedding on the couch.
"Thank you, Jenna," John said, still staring unblinkingly at Klaus.
"You're welcome, John," Jenna practically simpered.
Okay. Since when did she stop hating him?
"Can you show Nik to the spare bedroom, Elena?" Jenna asked.
No. But better me than Jenna or Not-John, so I smiled, said, "Sure," and started up the stairs. Klaus finally took his eyes off John long enough to follow me.
When we were halfway down the hall, Klaus nonchalantly said, "You do know your Uncle is dead?"
I grimaced. "I figured it was something like that." Looking at him, I found his eyebrows pulled low and a contemplative look in his eyes. "Do you know what he is?"
Klaus' brows arched. "Some sort of zombie."
I stared, nonplused. No. Way. "Seriously?"
"Deadly. He reminds me of witches in the Quarter who used to raise the dead to send after one another many decades ago." His brows furrowed. "Though, he seems to have a mind of his own. A proper zombie can only answer their master's will." His lips dipped into a scowl. "And I've no idea how he was countering my compulsion."
"I didn't think that was possible."
"It shouldn't be." Klaus said, eyes narrowed. We stopped outside the spare room and Klaus met my worried gaze. "I'll wait until morning and then find a proper place to stay."
"I'm surprised your not ripping John into pieces," I admitted.
"Little point if he's undead." Klaus frowned. "There's only one way to stop a zombie."
"Shoot it in the head?"
He scoffed. "No. Kill the witch that raised it."
I startled. "Really?"
He nodded. "I've seen bits of bones trying to beat would-be victims to death." His brow arched. "It's not a sight one easily forgets."
Picturing it, I shuddered. "How could they move?"
Klaus looked at me as if I were slow. "Magic."
"Right. Because that's sensible."
Klaus tilted his head, smirking, and opened the door to his temporary room. "Welcome to my world, luv."
He walked inside, shutting the door behind him. "Your world sucks," I muttered, heading down the rest of the hall.
I opened the door to Elena's room and found myself shoved against the wall, a hand wrapped around my throat. A confused Katherine stared at me with crinkled brows. "What are you doing here?" She wondered.
I couldn't draw breath to answer. My mouth moved uselessly.
Chin tilted down, Katherine studied me through thick lashes. "How did you get out?"
Again, I could only mouth silently in response.
Then, as suddenly as it had captured me, Katherine's hand was gone. I slid down the wall to the floor, coughing as I struggled to suck down air and rub my smarting throat. Wincing, I looked up.
It was Katherine's turn to choke as she hung from Klaus' effortless grip. He studied her with the cold regard of an executioner as he dangled her an inch off the ground. "Hello Katerina," he said, voice soft and all the more menacing for it. He looked over his shoulder to cock an eyebrow at me. "This is exactly why I'm not taking my eyes off you."
Rubbing my now tender neck as I coughed, I could only muster a reedy, "Thanks."
Katherine was holding onto Klaus' forearm, eyes wide and panicked as her legs kicked towards the ground.
I took another pained breath before managing a hoarse, "Klaus. Please."
Klaus' already lifted brow ticked higher before he turned back to Katherine. I could hear the creak of bone as his grip tightened. Finally, he brought Katherine closer and said, "You won't run."
Katherine mouthed the words.
As soon as Klaus released her Katherine collapsed to the floor. She stared up, fear bright in the whites around her eyes. Klaus' own gleamed with pleasure as he basked in her terror, a tiny smile on his face. "You are lucky my doppelgänger is so very soft-hearted, Katerina."
Katherine's gaze darted to me before fixing back onto Klaus. "What—"
Klaus lowered himself into a crouch. Katherine flinched and leaned back. "Am I doing here?" That small smile deepened into a self-satisfied smirk. "Why, keeping an eye on Miss Gilbert." A hint of possessiveness shone from his eyes as he added, "She's mine, Katerina. And I don't like anyone touching my things."
I didn't care to be referred to as a thing, let alone his, but I wasn't about to voice my objections.
"Do you understand?" His voice turned hard.
Katherine hurried to nod. "Yes."
"Excellent." He glanced around the room. "I take it you've been playing the role of high school student while Miss Gilbert's been away?"
"Yes," Katherine admitted.
"How tedious." His grin widened. "Keep it up."
My brows flew up. "I don't think—"
"Or I could kill one of your teachers and take their place." Klaus slowly turned his head, looking over his shoulder to meet my horrified stare. "Then Katerina's impersonation solves the problem of how to keep my eye on you during the day. She'll continue to be you. And you'll continue to be with me." His attention fell back to Katherine. "From your little message, I take it you know of a suitable werewolf?"
Message?
Katherine frowned. "Yes."
"Well, now. You're proving useful."
Katherine looked earnest as she insisted, "Whatever you need, Klaus."
"Now you're overdoing it," Klaus chided before standing. "But continue to be so very helpful, and should the ceremony go off without a hitch, I'll grant you your pardon."
Katherine's eyes practically glowed.
"You're staying nearby?" he asked.
I almost told him she was boarding at the Salvatore's when Katherine surprised me once again. "I have a house here. You can have it if you'd like."
"I suppose it'll have to do for now." Klaus curled his finger and Katherine reluctantly rose to her feet. Klaus waited until he could meet her eyes again to say, "You will not leave Mystic Falls."
"I won't leave Mystic Falls," Katherine repeated in a monotone.
I frowned.
"Give me the address, then," Klaus said. His upper body turned towards me. "Pack a bag, luv. Turns out we won't be staying the night." He looked back to Katherine. "The Uncle. Does he know where this house of yours is?"
Katherine nodded.
Klaus frowned. "That's unfortunate." His eyes narrowed. "Keep an eye on him. I want to know if he follows." While Katherine quickly agreed, his sights found me again. "If you don't want to end up with nothing, I suggest you get to it."
Grimacing, I pressed a hand against the wall and pushed myself back up.
Klaus waited, arms folded as I pulled various shirts and pants from the closet and stuffed them into a suitcase I found sitting on the shelf. Katherine had moved off to the side, out of Klaus' direct line of sight, doing her best to appear nonchalant as she leaned against the desk. Her gaze, constantly flitting back to Klaus, said she was anything but indifferent to the Original.
I practically scooped up the contents of Elena's underwear and sock drawers before rushing into the bathroom. Elena's makeup bag, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush and toothpaste joined the now bulging contents of the bag. I shoved all of it in before struggling with the lid. Once secured, Klaus came over and picked up the bag.
And then me.
I eeped as I was unceremoniously tossed over his shoulder. "What are you doing?!" I hissed.
"Jumping out the window," he informed me matter-of-factly as he strode across the room. He paused, and I was swung around as he turned to address Katherine. "Don't disappoint me, Katerina."
"I won't," she swore. I couldn't tell if she was telling the truth. From Klaus' long pause, I guessed he couldn't, either. Knowing his paranoia, I doubt he believed her.
Reaching the window, the world turned to a smear of darkness until it abruptly resolved back into the passenger side of Klaus' SUV. Slightly nauseous as my organs tried to bounce back to their original positions, I wobbled on the thin heels and would have fallen if not for Klaus' sudden steadying arm wrapped around my waist. I struggled to regain my bearings as he pulled open the door and guided me back inside.
He was beside me before I had the chance to blink. The driver's door shut, the engine turned, and Klaus backed out of the driveway before speeding down the street. His sights shifted to the rearview mirror as he raced down the block. I hurried to pull my seatbelt across my body and slide it into place.
Klaus didn't slow down. In fact, as soon as we reached the main road, he only sped up. "Where is two-oh-seven Ferry Lane?"
"No idea. I just got here myself, remember?"
Klaus frowned before scanning the dark buildings gliding past. He eventually slowed down once he reached a gas station. "Come along," he instructed after parking the SUV.
Not wanting another experience of being tossed over his shoulder and hauled around, I dutifully followed behind him. The clicking of my heels echoed across the lot into the empty streets as we walked to the glass door. An electronic chime greeted us as Klaus and I entered the store.
"If you want something, now's the time to ask," Klaus said.
I hugged my arms, wishing I'd gotten a shrug or jacket to wear over the bare arms of the dress as the store's chill brushed across my skin. I shook my head.
Klaus took a slight detour towards the soda and slushie machines, grabbing a large cup, a lid, and a straw before continuing to the counter. A man I didn't recognize stood behind it. To his credit, he didn't give a second glance at our formal attire, he merely waited.
Klaus plucked a map from a wire stand. "I need directions, mate." He unfolded the laminated sheet. "Ferry Lane."
The station attendant leaned over and traced the various lines of the map before pointing off towards the eastern side of town. "Here." His finger slid along the lane back towards the Main Street. "Take a right off Hargrove and go about twelve blocks. It'll be the next four way stop."
Klaus' eyes followed the route the attendant traced. He looked up and gave a short thanks. "Now," he stared into the attendant's eyes and handed over the empty cup. "I'd like for you to pick up one of those pocket knives and slit your wrist."
"Klaus!" I reached for the man's wrist as he reached for the small display of swiss army knife keychains on the counter, just over the lottery advertisements.
Klaus grabbed my arm, stopping me cold. As the man lifted a keychain from the hook, Klaus added, "Direct the blood over the cup if you'd please," Klaus asked, voice pleasant.
"Don't—Oh god!" As the blade pressed into skin, I turned away, hiding behind the thick curtain of Elena's hair.
I couldn't shut out the pained gasp followed by the steady dribble of blood streaming into a big gulp cup.
It felt longer than the few minutes it took to fill Klaus' grizzly drink. "Cheers," Klaus said as he pressed the lid onto the top.
Leaning heavily on the countertop, the man was still bleeding. He stared at the self-inflicted wound in confusion.
"Heal him," I begged.
Klaus snorted before grabbing my upper arm and moving back to the exit. He paused, however, and whistled sharply to draw the man's puzzled and alarmed study of his arm. "Get rid of the video before you pass out."
The man stumbled towards a door behind the counter.
"Klaus! He doesn't have to die!"
Klaus pulled me bodily out of the store, dragging me alongside him back to the SUV. My heels scraped uselessly against the concrete sidewalk. Finally, he opened the door and pushed me inside. As soon as he pushed the door shut, I moved to open it—only to be stopped cold by a hard look from Klaus on the other side of the window.
I shuddered as he walked back round to the driver's side, a phantom echo of the man's blood draining into that cup haunting my ears. But I knew it was useless to try and go back. Even in sneakers, I had no chance to outrun Klaus. Or to escape his hold.
My eyes burned as he climbed into the driver's seat. There was the crinkle of a wrapper and the sudden crack of plastic and low groan of a straw being lowered. There was a moment of quiet, then a thick swallow and a pleased hum. "You should be grateful," he said before dropping the cup into the holder. Dark red liquid clung to the sides and slipped slowly down to rejoin the rest. "I've been hungry since leaving Richmond."
I gripped the belt and squeezed, keeping my head angled away as I screwed my eyes shut.
The motor turned over as I struggled to keep my breaths steady. My heart hammered wildly in my chest as Klaus reached forward to turn up some new classical piece. He hummed along, pausing only to sip, as we sped down the street.
