Hello, my lovely readers. In this chap, we get a sneak peek at the future and see the downfall of Wes. On with the show…

Chapter 10: Killing Wes Maxfield

2056:

Damon and I laid on the grass of the old Mystic Falls High football field. A game had not been played here for well over a decade. After the air became toxic to humans; outdoor games seemed to be the least of our world's problems. I still remember what it was like to sit in the bleachers during our senior year. Our fellow students, our teachers, and our families would appear to cheer on the team. And I would be there to watch Caroline. I can see her now. She's looking up at me with that luminous smile her eyes alight and her arms raised above her head waving her pom-poms in my direction. Those days are long over, but I recall the promise of a future. Now, the future is here, and we still have so much work to do...

The sound of a car pulling up in the parking lot alerted me to company calling. Doors opened and banged closed. The sounds of three sets of footsteps on the pavement made me glance at Damon. Damon kept his eyes closed. With his arms crossed behind his head and the lazy smile on his face; you'd think we were back in high school, awaiting Care and Lena's appearance.

I got to my feet. "I assume you'll be getting up sometime this decade, to join us." Without waiting for an answer, I sped to the parking lot. My throat closed up at the sight of my son, Dylan. We had not spoken in five years. But he was here. He was alive. My relief was overwhelming. "Dad!" Dylan crossed the parking lot and threw his arms around my neck. Holding onto him for dear life, I patted him on the back.

Our reunion was interrupted by Aiden. "Uncle Nik!" He had the same boyish smile, but the hair at his temples had begun to turn gray. He'd grown a full beard and he wore a gold wedding band. However, the evidence of his father's taste had not changed in the past two decades. Aiden wore a black suit and tie which I felt might be a little too apropos, given our current dilemma.

"Hey, Klaus." Joshua Salvatore-or was it Mikaelson now-came to stand beside my nephew, their rings making a soft clinking sound when their fingers entangled. "My big brother around?" Josh looked around with a slightly Haunted expression.

"Rumor has it his derelict ghost haunts this town!" Damon's voice made me glance over my shoulder to smirk at him. He held out his arms to the boy he rescued from a manger, one special Christmas, decades ago. Josh made the distance between himself disappear with several strides. They hugged each other with the ferocity of the Salvatore family before Damon pulled back to say, "Hope you got a babysitter for the kids who don't mind staying overnight. Or for a week." He patted Josh's cheeks with a grin.

"Anna. And Lexi." Aiden offered with his arms folded over his chest.

"Huh? They're still around." Damon shrugged like he didn't care that much but I knew he was happy to hear our childhood babysitters were walking the earth.

Before Damon could utter another word to the couple, an irritable brunette stomped over to us with a scowl. She shoved her phone in her back pocket and stared at us under hooded eyelids, one high heeled boot dug into the ground. "Well?" she demanded.

"There she is!" Damon cried with a huge grin. "Where's your sister, D?" He tried to chuck Davina Gilbert under the chin like she were still a little girl. Her eyes widened and then narrowed before she swatted the offending appendage away.

"Nadia is being Nadia. She'll show up when she feels like it. And not a single minute before." Davina's sour look made me smirk. Right now, she had no idea how much like her mother she looked like in one of Katherine's more dramatic moods.

Soon, the witch snapped me out of my thoughts by shooting me a dark glare. "You owe me." My brows rose before she continued. "You have no idea what it took to get Dylan away from the New Orleans coven. He really screwed up this time."

Dylan's dark eyes went from Davina to me. "I asked for a little spell. It was meant to -"

"Save it. The damage is done!" Davina snapped, holding up a hand. "You're just lucky I got there before they removed your tongue." Dylan's eyes widened and Davina rolled her eyes.

Speaking of witchcraft, Bonnie should be arriving within the hour. Or so I hoped. Caroline would be greatly disappointed if they did not get to spend some time catching up.

Returning to the current drama, I looked from Davina to Aiden. "Where are your parents?"

"Mom's dealing with some pack business in Mexico. And Dad is visiting Katherine. Danny went with him." Aiden supplied. He glanced at Davina who looked at the stars and stayed silent. Tonight was not the night to ask her why she did not go with my brother, and her own sibling, to visit her mother.

Damon nodded. "Well, if you don't mind, I'm going to explore while we wait for the others." He headed toward the bent and rusting structure that used to be the bleachers. I followed up to the precarious top. We took a seat and looked around. "Remember when we were freshman," Damon began, "and Wes and his pals took me up here? They dangled me over the edge for the longest time. Just when Wes told them to let me go. they dropped me. My leg broke in two places and I had to go to Homecoming in a cast."

"Yes." I nodded. "I remember." Frowning, I wondered why Damon would bring that up. "I wonder what happened to Wes," I mused.

"Wonder no longer." Damon's wide smile told me Wes' future was not as bright as our tormentor would have hoped. "After three failed marriages, two children who would not even talk to him on social media and his business collapsed, Wes Maxfield was found dead in his own panic room. Seems even his maid could care less if the creep starved to death, or if he was reduced to chowing down on his own failed autobiography. Or at least that is the official report. Did someone lock him in the panic room? Who cares! King Wes is officially, and truly no longer roaming this planet. And I raise a drink to that!" Damon pulled out his flask and took a sip before passing it to me.

Now, Damon turned to me. "Remember the 'Killing Wes Maxfield' plan you thought I didn't know about?" He nudged me with his shoulder and relieved me of his flask, taking another, longer sip.

I did not remember that plan. But I do now. And I remember why I came up with it, too...

2006-ish:

After my New York adventure with Caroline, all I wanted to do was to go to bed and sleep until my senior year. However, life rarely gives us what we desire.

"Where have you been?" That would be the greeting my father bestowed on me the moment I entered our house.

"I thought you would be at work." Yes, I knew better than to answer in that manner and the dark cloud that erupted in father's blue eyes told me of an on-coming storm.

Father placed his hands on his hips and stared at me through narrowed eyes. "It is fine for Elijah to disappear for a day, or two; he is a grown man, but you are still a boy. A boy who lives under my roof. Eats food from my table. And has clothes on his back thanks to my efforts." I did not remind him of the years he was in jail and could not do any of those things.

Rolling my eyes, I moved past my father and headed for my basement room. "I won't be here for much longer."

"When you are living on your own, you may do as you please, Niklaus!" Father followed me to the door and stood in front of me. "But you will not so long as you're under my roof!"

I let out a growl and side-stepped around him. Stomping down the stairs, I dropped my bag and jerked my closet door open. With one hand I pulled random bits out and stuffed them into the bag before zipping it and heading back up the stairs. My father stood in the doorway and I glared at him. "Perhaps I should find new living accommodations then!" I snapped at him.

For a moment, my father's expression froze. Seconds later, he moved aside and I stalked to the front door. Twisting the knob, I exited the house and strode over to my bike which laid on its side on our front lawn. Kol probably used it while I was gone. He never could put anything back where he found it.

Righting the bike, I climbed atop it and saw my father in the door. I expected for him to try to stop me, but he stood there, watching me before saying, "So, help me, Niklaus, if you leave now; do not consider coming back!"

My eyes widened. Then my mood set along with my jaw. I turned my bike toward the street and set off having no idea where I was going. I heard the door slam shut and the lock snap into place. A couple of houses away, I paused to glance back at my home. My father's light had gone on inside his office, but the blinds were closed and no sign of movement told me he was watching my progress.

My eyes went back to the road and I continued onward. I would need to find a place to sleep tonight.

~0~

Deciding to try one of the five places my father would never think to look for me, I pedaled there and then ditched my bike in the lawn. I strode to the front door and rang the bell. This had to be better than attempting to sleep under the bleachers-which would be my fifth option-I waited for someone to answer the door. Jeremy Gilbert answered the door. He spoke before I had a chance to. "Hey, Klaus. Kol with you?" He asked, baseball bat in hand and a plastic bag in the other.

"No." I shook my head. "Are your parents?"

"Hell, no!" Jeremy shook his head and came out the door. "Just the girls." He wrinkled his nose and headed past me. "Later."

Nodding, I headed inside the house and closed the door. Taking the stairs up, I thought I heard a girl crying, but I wasn't sure until I made my way down as quietly as possible. Sure enough, Elena, Bonnie and Caroline sat on Elena's bed. Bonnie had a hand on Elena's knee, her eyes on her friend's face. Caroline had her back to me. And Elena stated at a tissue, her face puffy from crying. "I can't ever go back to school!" Elena sobbed.

"Lena..." Caroline began and I made my way back down the hallway and out the door. Pausing for a count of sixty seconds, I hit the doorbell. To my surprise, it was Elena who came to the door. Her eyes were still puffy from crying, but she offered me a bright smile. "Hi, Klaus! Are you looking for Care?" Her tone was too cheerful.

"No. I had a favor to beg you... Are you alright?"

Elena's smile tightened. "Me?" She let out a false laugh. "I'm fine. I just have a cold."

Caroline edged in between Elena and the door. "Hi, Nik! What are you doing here?" My girlfriend's voice was also too cheerful.

"I need a place to stay. My father and I had a fight about my disappearing for so long..." I watched Caroline's expression soften. "I need a place to stay until things cool off."

"You could stay with Tyler. He's always complaining about not feeling like part of the group anymore," Bonnie said, popping up behind Care and Elena.

Caroline nodded. "Mikael would never think to look for you there."

"Right." I nodded and shouldered my bag.

Caroline came out and put her arms around my neck. "Are you sure you're going to be okay?" she questioned me, her eyes peering into mine. I nodded and bent my head, kissing her on the lips while Bonnie and Elena found something else to do. "I feel much better now."

"Maybe I could sneak over to Tyler's tonight, and we can hang out," Caroline cocked her head to the side. I grinned back at her.

"Perhaps," I muttered, hugging her before returning to my mission of finding a place to rest my head for the night.

~0~

This would be a second, and, with any luck, final attempt at finding a bed to sleep in that night. I rang the doorbell. Waiting for someone to answer, I wondered about what happened at Elena's house. Did she and Damon have their weekly fight? Or did something else happen while Caroline and I were in New York?

The door opened forcing me to press pause on my inner thoughts. Tyler Lockwood stood in the doorway. If at all possible, he looked worse than Elena. He certainly smelled worse. "Klaus?" he grunted, peering at me through bloodshot eyes. He blinked and shaded his eyes from the sun. "What are you doing here?" he groaned, arms folding over his bathrobe clad chest.

Tyler kept his body angled between the door and the frame. This did not put me off. Instead, I offered him a wide smile. "How, Tyler is it that that is any way to greet an old mate?" I shook my head and stepped forward making it clear that he needed to let me in.

Backing up, Tyler frowned as I stopped in the foyer. "What's wrong? Are you sick? Elena Gilbert seems to have come down with something as well..." I allowed my question to hang in the air before I made way to the staircase. I'd been here often enough that I could find my way around in the dark, if need be.

Heading down the hall, I paused and sniffed the air outside of Tyler's room. My hand went to my nose. Did he kill something and leave it in there? I wondered, noting clothes strewn about, a pizza container and several bottles of liquor lying about.

With a shake of my head I continued my way down to a guest bedroom, far from the stench in Tyler's room. I dropped my bag and fell on the bed. It felt much better than the one I had at home. Perhaps I would enjoy staying here for the time being.

Tyler stood in the doorway. "What's with the bag?" he asked me, running a hand through his hair and then grimacing, wiping his hand on his robe.

Sitting up, I smirked back. "The usual. Father and I had an argument. Now, I need a place to crash. Of course, your place seemed like the most logical fit."

Tyler's brows rose. "Um. Okay." He left the room and I stared at the place where Tyler had stood. Weeks ago, he would have been jubilant at this turn of events. Now, he seemed less than pleased. Something must have happened. Again, I wondered if Damon was involved.

Pushing myself off the side of the guest bed I made my way down the hallway and leaned against Tyler's doorframe. "Tyler."

The younger boy turned to face me. "Yes?"

"What, exactly, transpired while I was away?"

"Nothing."

Tyler's answer came too quickly to be true. "That is a lie. Try again."

Moving to take a seat on his bedside, Tyler's head fell and I moved to grab his desk chair. Pulling it out from the desk, I straddled it and leaned forward, staring at Tyler. "Confession is good for the soul. Or so I've heard." My remarks were meant to be glib, but Tyler began to cry and I frowned.

"I just wanted them to like me! No one was supposed to get hurt!" Tyler shook his head.

"Hurt? Who was hurt?" Tyler's face was buried in his hands. "Tyler, tell me: What happened?"

Sucking in a breath, Tyler looked back at me with the same puffy eyes Elena had been sporting earlier in the day. "Elena. I think. I don't know. She wouldn't tell us what they did to her. She just wanted to go home. So, Matt and I walked her there. And I haven't left my room since..."

"That would explain the smell," I muttered. "Where did you go?"

Tyler moaned and ran his hands through his hair. "Wes Maxfield's."

Now, my stomach tightened. Bloody Wes Maxfield. He'd been pursuing Elena Gilbert for weeks. And I'd been more worried about any interest he showed in Caroline. "Damon did not come with you?"

"Nope." Tyler shook his head slowly. "I guess he'd heard about a party from Ric. And he went to check it out. Elena was stuck here because your dad had mentioned you and Care disappearing. So, Lena's parents were keeping a closer eye on her."

"And she went to Wes' party because..."

"Because I talked her into it!" Tyler cried, burying his face in his balled fists. "It was so stupid. I am soooo stupid!"

"Tyler, mate, focus!" I got up and pushed the chair to sit in front of Tyler. My instinct was to shove him in a bath, but I needed answers first.

Tyler nodded. "Wes told me that he knew how things worked with the football team and he could put in a word, during my junior year, to help me become captain." Rolling his eyes toward the ceiling, Tyler gritted out the last part between his teeth, "and all I had to do was ensure that Elena came to his party." Hands shaking, Tyler looked back at me. "I should have known better. Everyone knows Wes is a dick. So, I talk Matt into coming with us. With the three of us, things would be cool. We just had to stick together. Right?"

"Right."

"We get to the party and there are so many people, they're spilling out of the house. Someone, not Wes, lets us in. It looks like it's mostly seniors and freshman classes only. Maybe a couple of people from the other classes. Five minutes in, these girls from the senior class give me and Matt drinks. They're talking to us like we're movie stars and keep touching my biceps. They give us drinks. Want to dance. At some point I notice that Elena is missing. I say something to the girl I'm with and she starts kissing me. Then she pulls me into a closet. I've been with a girl before but this girl. She... Anyway, what feels like an hour later, someone knocks at the door, and the girl leaves. I jerk my pants up and find some senior guy pushing the door smirk at me. Then Elena comes down the stairs. Her makeup is a wreck and she's trying to get to the door. Wes appears at the top of the stairs and shouts: 'So, you don't want to stay?' Elena jerks the door open and runs out. Wes starts laughing and goes back with his buddies."

Pausing, Tyler shakes his head. "Matt goes after Elena and I follow them. Elena kept telling Matt she did not want to talk about it. Matt's stumbling around like he's drunk a keg and started saying he was going to go kick Wes' ass. Or he would find Damon, and they could kick Wes' ass. Elena keeps yelling she wants to go home until I force Matt to help me get her there."

"And that's all you know?" I demand, thinking the worse.

"Nope!" Tyler shakes his head. "I thought this was some kind of myth on setting to score points with other guys, but one of my teammates once told us that Wes had a wall devoted to freshman girls in their underpants. This started as a revenge fantasy. Then it became a thing for him, and his groupies, to get off on."

"Apparently, it started after' freshman year. See, Wes used to have this huge crush on Kat; back when he was a freshman. He would leave roses. Jewelry. Love notes. Stuff like that, inside her locker. Kat being Kat, decided to get the girls to help her with a prank. Her own, special dare. She left a note telling Wes to meet her in the girl's locker room. On the door, she left a note telling him to strip. Another note told him to go into the showers and turn the water on. He didn't know the girls fixed the water so it would come out icy cold. He also didn't know the girls' soccer team would be getting ready for practice. They came in, saw Wes, got a big laugh, and told the whole school."

"The next year Wes' parents get him a sports car and allow him to use their house as his own, personal party central."

"So, Wes went after Elena because of Kat?"

"Probably..." Tyler still looking miserable. "I am such an idiot."

"Tyler, Wes would have found a way to get to Elena. And what you did was stupid, but we've all done stupid things in the past. What matters is what we're going to do to Wes, now."

Eyes moving to meet mine, Tyler nodded. "Let's take him down!"

"I would like to make it one better: I suggest we kill him."

Tyler stared at me. "Kill him?"

Smirking, I nodded. "There are many ways to kill a man, my friend. And, no, I do not intend to literally kill him. I simply intend to end his reign of terror. You'll help me. For Elena."

"Yes." Tyler got up and my nose wrinkled.

"Good. Take a shower. I'll return soon."

"Can you pick up some food on the way back?" Tyler asked.

"I suppose." My thoughts had already moved in the direction of what I planned to do to Wes. And I felt certain I already knew what the perfect revenge would be.

~0~

I rode my bike towards the middle school hoping that I would find Kol and Jeremy hanging around the baseball diamond. I did not find them playing ball there, but I did find them in the parking lot. "Fire!" Kol shouted, hitting something which smelled as bad as Tyler's room with his bat.

Hopping off my bike, I headed their way. "What the bloody hell are you doing?" I demanded.

Kol pushed the bag Jer had with him behind his foot. "Nothing, Nik."

"Liar! What is in the bag!"

"Frozen meatballs. We're hitting them, trying to get them on the roof, or the music room, or the library. It's fun!" Jeremy told me and Kol groaned.

"I need a word, young Gilbert." I motioned for Jeremy to walk with me.

"No!" Kol shouted. He moved in front of Jeremy. "What's in it for me?"

My brows rose. "I won't tell father about the property damage."

Kol shook his head. "I demand candy. A Halloween's worth."

"Fine."

Kol moved and Jeremy walked with me far enough away from Kol who hit a meatball which collided with something in the music room. "Glee club sucks!" Kol roared and I rolled my eyes.

"I need you to perform a dare." I watched Jeremy shrug.

"Cool."

"You will be attending a party with Bonnie Bennett."

"Wait? What? No! Gross! She's a girl! And she sucks face with the other Brit dude... Elmo something..."

Rolling my eyes, I did not bother correcting Jeremy. "Yes. But he is a junior. Like me. I need someone to pass for a freshman."

Jeremy scratched his head. "Dare Kol."

I shook my head. "He looks too much like Elijah. That would make Wes suspicious. And you're the tallest boy in your class; you'll pass."

"Wes. Like Wes Maxfield?" Jeremy brightened. "Everyone knows he throws the best parties. I would kill to go to one. And Kol will kill you for daring him, instead."

"I will give you a Halloween's worth bag of candy."

"Cool. With Snickers bars. Reese's Cups. M&Ms -"

"Give me a list. Later." I strode off, leaving the boys to their game. I had another stop to make.

~0~

After picking up three milkshakes at the The Grill, and dinner, I made my way back to Elena's. Pulling out my phone, I texted Bonnie who ran outside and met me in front of the house two doors down. "What's up?" Bonnie asked me.

"I heard about Wes' party." I watched Bonnie frown as I held out the milkshakes. "Tell Caroline this is for her and her best mates."

"'Kay." Bonnie moved to leave when I said. "We need to take Wes down."

Turning back to face me, Bonnie said, "Agreed. I assume you have a plan."

Smirking, I nodded.

~0~

We had to wait two weeks to enact my scheme. In the meantime, Elena returned to school. She would barely talk, keeping her head down most of the time we were in class, or in the hallway. Other students would make rude comments and jokes behind her back and I could see my friend crumbling. Whenever Damon would try to touch her, she would flick away. Damon tried to ask me what was going on, but I played dumb. I knew Damon would actually try to kill Wes if he knew the truth. And I kept my silence as Elena shrank every day. This pissed me off...

Finally, rumor spread of Wes' next parry and it did not take long for an invite to reach Bonnie. Keeping Caroline occupied and unaware of Bonnie's plan to attend was my job. "Elena needs your shoulder to cry on. what with whatever has happened, love," I told Caroline the night of the party.

"You're right." Caroline had said. "So, you don't mind if I spend the night at her place?"

"Of course not." I'd pressed a kiss to her forehead and walked her to the Lockwoods' front door. Waiting twenty minutes, I left the mansion and grabbed my bike. What I would do for a car...

Jeremy and Bonnie were waiting outside of Bonnie's house. Shelia Bennett stood in the doorway. "You three be careful out there." The woman called to us, nodding at me, and I wondered if she knew what I had planned for tonight. If she did, she did not try to stop me. Hopefully, that meant my plan would work...

~0~

I rode my bike a couple of houses ahead of where Jeremy and Bonnie were going. Sliding off my bike, I bent to tie my shoe and watched Bonnie and Jeremy head up and into Wes' house. Now, I just had to not attract attention. Seeing no lights on in the neighbor's windows, I ducked over, and into their lawn, shoving my bike under their bushes. I hid near the bushes until the music abruptly stopped. I made my way down the sidewalk. Bonnie came out on the lawn and I made my way inside the house. Inside, I felt like I was inside a wax museum. Not one of the guests moved an inch. They were frozen in whatever act they'd been in the middle of when Bonnie put her spell on them.

"Hurry up!" Bonnie snapped. "The spell will end. And we need to be far away when it does." She hurried up the familiar stairs and I followed her.

We went into the pool room. Bonnie led me to the back of the room. I had not noticed there was a door there the first time we'd come here. It stood open. Jeremy stood in the middle of the room, staring at Wes and his friends. They all seemed to have been having a good time when Bonnie's spell began. I doubted they would be when it wore off.

Wes stood, camera in air, pointing it at no one. "This jackass tried to get his fellow jackasses to take my clothes off, to snap pics of me in my less than. Just like Elena said they did to her." Bonnie took Wes' camera and took a pic. "How does it feel to be helpless?" she demanded, jerking a Polaroid out of the camera.

I shook my head and looked around. The wall of pics had to be here, somewhere. I began to push at the walls until the one with a dartboard gave way. Jeremy helped me push it open. Entering the secret room, I frowned at the sight of freshman girls in rows and rows. Jerking Elena's pic down, I pocketed it before unzipping my bag and pulling down photos. I placed each in my bag. Finishing, I found something was nagging at me. Placing my hands on the board, I found it felt like it was not flush with the wall. "Jer! Help me turn this!"

Jeremy came in and we turned the board. More girls. Only this board was at least four to eight years older. Walter Whitmore's had been scrawled above the pics of girls. "Is that my sister?" Jeremy cried. I looked down, wondering why Elena's pics would be there. Then I realized a pic of a thirteen-year-old Kat was staring back at me defiantly. She had mascara and eyeliner tracks on her cheeks but I could still see her rage pouring through. This. This is the moment that caused her to target Wes, years later. And for Wes to go after Elena. The cycle had to be broken.

Grabbing photos, I pulled them down. Jeremy took Kat's pic. We exited the room and closed the door.

"Let's go!" I called.

"No!" Bonnie shook her head. "Open your bag!" She waited until I had and she set the pics down and Jeremy helped arrange Wes and Co to look like they were staring at them. She took a series of pics before she opened it and took out the film. Going to a window, she dropped the camera. Jeremy looked around. He found a video camera and removed an old disc before tossing it out the window, too. I broke into a desk and found SD chips which I pocketed. This ended tonight.

~0~

The next day, I dropped the evidence, in a sealed envelope by the principal's office. During the day, I handed out photos to freshman girls with notes to let them know all the evidence was gone and Wes would be, too.

Shortly, before lunch, word spread that Wes and his parents had been in the principal's office. I stopped by to see him on his way out. His mother said, "Don't worry, honey, Whitmore will still take you." His father seemed less approving. Maybe because a man of his family got caught.

~0~

During lunchtime, I slipped Elena her pic and for the first time in two weeks. she smiled.

Silence descended not long after. My eyes went around the room. "Attention, students!" Damon called, a cup placed to his mouth as he climbed on top of our table. "The reign of King Wes is ended. Worry not; we have a new king! All hail, King Niklaus Mikaelson!" he shouted.

A roar filled the room as Damon waved. "Up!" he called to me.

"Up! Up! UP!" The students banged on their tables and stomped their feet.

I climbed on top of the table and helped Caroline, Elena, and Bonnie up to join us. "Long may he reign!" Damon cried. Linking hands with my friends, we took a bow.

If only my reign began on a happier note...but we're not there, yet...

Thank you for reading, faving, following and reviewing.

Be safe,

-J