This is stupid. I can't just sit here and let my hybrid and werewolf captors do whatever they want. I need to figure out an escape; or at least how to fight back.

I pulled against the chains wrapped around my right wrist. I didn't pull with all my strength, not at first. I pulled slightly and let my strength build steadily. One of the male hybrids noticed what I was doing.

"Stop that. It's pointless. You'll just waste your strength."

But I kept pulling. Why would he tell me to stop if it was pointless? Why would he care about me wasting my strength? Shouldn't he want me to be weak?

Maybe he was afraid they had overestimated the resistance of the chains. Or perhaps he thought they might have underestimated my strength. Both of those suggestions gave me hope.

I continue pulling. The hybrid who told me to stop tried to intervene.

"Stop!" As he reached down to stop me, the chain snapped. I was shocked, but I reacted quicker than anyone else. With the one end of the chain still wrapped around my wrist, but the other end no longer attached to the bars of the stall behind me, I plunged my hand into the hybrid's chest, squeezed his heart, and pulled it out.

"Troy!" More than one hybrid yelled. I guess that was the name of the hybrid whose heart I was now holding on to.

I managed to get onto my feet before the body fell on me. My left wrist was still chained to the bars of the stall. I dropped the hybrid's heart on top of his now gaping chest.

Before I could turn, another hybrid grabbed me from behind and pinned my arms behind my back. I struggled against the hybrid's hold, but I knew it was pointless. He was stronger than I was.

"How could you?! He was my friend!" The female was seething as she ran over to me, glaring.

She lunged at me and landed fangs first against me. She tore a chunk out of my neck.

That alpha-wannabe bitch!

I think I was more startled by her ferocity and her proximity than anything else at first. But soon, I was terrified. I had been bitten by a hybrid. The werewolf venom is lethal to a vampire.

The female grabbed a syringe full of vervain and stabbed it into my neck. I crumpled against the hybrid behind me. Even though my eyes became as heavy as the rest of my body felt, it took a few moments for the vervain to render me unconscious this time. I was able to listen to the hybrids and werewolves for those few moments. And I tried to keep my eyes open.

"Chain her up! Better this time," the female ordered.

Two hybrids obeyed, while a third dragged the dead hybrid's body away.

Then I felt something wonderful and unexplainable: my wound began to heal. I greatly enjoyed the shocked look on all of their faces.

"Not possible," the one who bit me muttered.

I heard other questions as I drifted out of consciousness: "How can she be immune to hybrid bites?"; "Has Klaus protected her?"; "Or is that why he's with her?"

They were perplexed and I loved it.

I passed out from the vervain feeling smug and satisfied, yet a tiny bit bewildered. But I'd have to wait until I regain consciousness to figure this one out.

I was jolted awake by a sharp stinging in my neck. At first, I thought they were vervaining me again.

So soon?

But when I opened my eyes, no one was near me.

The stinging intensified, and I hissed, trying to supress my groan of pain. The closest hybrid to me was the guy who seemed to be the most devoted to the female. He looked at me, then my neck, and he smiled. "Is that a rash?" He stepped closer to me, moving my hair to examine my neck. "And blisters," he said with a large smile. They were all watching me now.

If I closed my eyes and focused on my neck, I could feel the wound festering.

"Ooo, that looks painful," the female alpha said.

I opened my eyes and winced in pain, but I managed to sneer at her. "Let's not pretend that you're not loving this."

She tilted her head, mockingly. "I guess you're not so special after all, are you little vampire?"

C had only briefly mentioned to me about the time Tyler bit her. She never gave the details, just that she would have died, had Klaus not saved her.

For example, C never told me how excruciating the pain was. I could feel the werewolf venom spreading slowly through every vein and every artery in my body. It felt worse than any fire. It was worse than vervain. It felt like acid had been injected into my bloodstream.

C told me that Damon had suffered from a wolf bite once, too. He had strange visions and delusions. I wondered if what I was experiencing fell into that category. I wasn't hallucinating; it was as if I had this incredible clarity.

I realized that, before Mystic Falls, I was living my life as a ghost. I shut everyone out. I always made myself as small and as insignificant as I possibly could. I never allowed other people to get close to me. I went through life with no emotions whatsoever. I never wanted to get to know other people because if they get close, or if you get to know them, then they have the ability to hurt you. So I kept everyone at arm's length. I didn't feel. I didn't care.

Maybe I had shut my humanity off before I even became a vampire; heck, maybe I'd shut it off before I even knew vampires existed outside of fictional works.

But this one little strange town changed everything.

Or maybe, being a vampire changed everything for me.

And now, thanks to that stupid, alpha-wannabe hybrid, my existence was coming to an end before it even had a chance to begin. I refused to let the smirking hybrids and werewolves see me cry, but that is exactly that I felt like doing.

I was losing my forever.

All of my plans were falling away as the werewolf venom spread more and more through my bloodstream. I wouldn't finish high school and get out of this silly little town. I wouldn't get to see the world and everything it had to offer.

And the worst part: I wouldn't get to say goodbye. To anyone.

Not to Matt or Jeremy or Bonnie, or even Tyler.

Not to Caroline.

And not to Klaus.

I'd die, chained up in some stupid barn.

I only had one hope at this point: I hoped they would know what happened to me so they would be able to move on with their lives. I wanted them to forget about me (but not too quickly) so they could enjoy what the world had in store for them.

I just wish I could tell them that myself.

Suddenly, the hybrids and werewolves seemed to be panicking. The female went on high alert.

"What's that?" one of them asked.

I stayed quiet and tried to focus my hearing. But my head and my heart were pounding too loudly from the pain for me to hear what they obviously could.

"Tires," the female smirked. "Klaus must be here."

Some of the others looked nervous, but she looked triumphant.

She turned to face the others. "You all know what to do."

And with that, they all left, except for four of them. My four guards?

Klaus was trying to keep calm by thinking about Riley. She drove him insane. She constantly fought him, argued with him, questioned him, and challenged him. He would never tolerate that from anyone else. But Riley got away with it all. Because that had become his notion of normalcy between them. Even when she was most defiant, he wouldn't have it any other way.

She was completely different from anyone he had ever met. For as much as he knew her, she was still an enigma. He knew she wouldn't agree, but she was. She constantly surprised him by never acting the way he expected and never responding the way he expected her to. He quickly learned that he should give up any expectations surrounding Riley. But because he was a highly paranoid person, he couldn't give them up completely.

"I'm beginning to suspect who is behind this, but I doubt they'll be there when we arrive."

"Who?" Rebekah asked as she started to pull her long blonde hair into a ponytail.

"The hybrids. The idiotic Lockwood mutt has been banding them together, thinking they can all break their sire bonds. Fools. They're even bigger string puppets than he is."

"And they went after Riley?"

"Taking Riley was done to spite me. They're angry." He sighed in annoyance as he shifted his gaze to her. "Now, are you done playing with your hair? I'd like to go get my girl back," Klaus asked impatiently.

Rebekah put her hands on her hips. "I don't want to get blood in my hair," she said, outraged.

Klaus rolled his eyes and shook his head before heading over to the barn. He stopped halfway and smiled when he sensed company. Two werewolves showed up, bearing their fangs as a silly little threat.

He looked over at Rebekah. "Werewolves."

Rebekah smiled. "I've got this. You go get Riley."

Rebekah easily kept the wolves' attention on her so Klaus could walk around them and continue on to the barn. He stopped when he reached the main door of the barn and listened to the sounds coming from inside. He could hear several sets of footsteps, and he immediately recognized the soft unsteady breath of Riley. He tilted his head in fury and prepared to bring down the entire barn.

He stepped inside the darkened barn. He saw three more werewolves, likely pack members of some of his hybrids; these three would die easily. Then he spotted the fourth one that he would take pleasure in killing as painfully as possible. This one had just stepped away from a stall near the other end of the bar, revealing his precious Riley chained to the bars of the stall. He could smell the vervain and he saw her bleeding wounds. Klaus had a hard time coping with the horrible image but decided to use it as fuel to inflict as much pain as he possibly could on the doomed werewolves.

Rebekah joined him, breathing a sigh of relief when she saw her friend was alive.

Riley's eyes met Klaus's, and she smiled as she breathed a sigh of relief too.

Klaus clenched his jaw in rage. He said nothing as he flew over to the first wolf and easily removed his heart. The wolf was dead before he realized there was a threat coming his way. Klaus showed a dark, sinister smile as the blood gushed everywhere out of the wolf.

Earlier in their relationship, Klaus would have rescued Riley with the least amount of bloodshed and violence. But now, he knew he could come in and unleash his wrath without even caring that Riley was witnessing him in his Hybrid killing-mode. He no longer worried about scaring her away because she had accepted him for what he is and that included the bloodshed moments. She chose him. Riley had proved that she wasn't going to leave his side.

And she proved it again in that very moment by not wincing when he killed the werewolf. She watched it all.

Riley cared about him; she was still getting to know the man behind all of it, and the more she learned about Niklaus, the more she loved.

The second werewolf seemed cautious and hesitant, but he still came at Klaus anyway. His head landed clear across the room after Klaus snapped his neck so hard that he detached the wolf's head from his body.

The third werewolf flashed to Klaus, trying to make the hybrid falter; but he was unsuccessful. The wolf ran straight into Klaus's hand, which dove into the werewolf's chest and emerged clutching his heart. Klaus dropped the heart and cleaned some of the blood off his hand on the lifeless corpse of that wolf.

Klaus raised his eyes and found the last werewolf. He had tried to escape, but Rebekah was blocking his path.

"Not just yet, mate," Rebekah smirked.

Time for Klaus to really inflict pain.

Klaus carefully came closer to his sister and the last werewolf standing.

"I take it that you have a message for me?" He finally spoke and the werewolf gulped down in panic.

"I…" he looked around, jittery and confused with fear.

Klaus tilted his head and looked at the pathetic, shaking man. "Where is the courage you had when you chained up and tortured my girl?"

The werewolf shook his head but said nothing. Klaus felt his rage build up so fast that his eyes turned yellow and his fangs descended. He flashed closer to the werewolf, bit his own wrist, and shoved it into the man's mouth, forcing his blood down the wolf's throat.

Klaus then grabbed the man's head by taking hold of his jaw firmly. "You stay here and you tell whoever you're working for that this was the last mistake they will ever make."

The werewolf nodded frantically.

"Try not to die completely until they get here," Klaus hissed and twisted the wolf's neck. He landed in a crumpled pile on the ground.

As promised, this one would die slowly and painfully. He'd awaken in transition. But without the doppelganger's blood, he'd bleed out. A painful and slow death indeed.

"He'll go rabid, Nik."

Klaus didn't answer Rebekah. He turned around and his face softened when his eyes landed on Riley.

He walked over to her and easily broke the chains wrapped around her delicate wrists. His jaw was clenched as she winced when she was able to move her arms again; he wanted to rip another 200 heads off just to begin to tame his wrath down because someone had dared to harm her in any way. Her eyes never left his face.

"Nik, you found me," she breathed.

Klaus took a deep breath and steadied his ongoing rage mixed with the pain of finding her this way. He stroked her face, moving some hair away from her features and bend down to kiss her forehead. "Of course, sweetheart," he said, stroking her cheek gently. "I told you, I will always protect you, Riley."

Riley moved her hands slowly, managing to lace them around his neck. He noticed the blood on her hand, but realized it wasn't her own. He effortlessly scooped her up into his arms. She sighed, relaxing into his embrace as he carried her away from this awful, desolate place.

It hurt. Every part of my body ached, and it seemed to radiate from the wound in my neck. I could feel my energy draining, just seeping away from my body.

Nik carried me home, into his bedroom, and lowered me onto the bed.

"Who did this?" He sat down on the bed in front of me, wiping stray hairs away from my face.

"Hybrid," I breathed. "The female one. She thinks she's an alpha. Or wants to be." I could feel the beads of sweat gathering on my forehead.

"Looks painful," he said as he examined the wound on my neck. His fingers traced the skin around it gently and his touch made me shiver slightly.

Even now…
I'm painfully moving closer to death, yet his mere touch still causes me to tremble…

"You can stop making the angry face," I joked. "I'll be okay."

Nik rolled up his sleeve and offered his arm to me. "Have at it, love," he whispered.

I didn't hesitate before sinking my fangs into his outstretched forearm. I felt his warm blood flowing down my throat and all I could think about was how euphoric it tasted.

I detracted my fangs and pulled my mouth away from his arm. He pulled my head into his chest and I closed my eyes, finally feeling peaceful. "Thank you," I whispered.

When I opened my eyes again, I noticed the wound in his arm had already healed. I sat up straighter and Nik moved my hair off my neck, to look at my wound. When he smiled slightly, I knew that must have meant it was healing.

But I had to be sure.

I stood up and walked over to the mirror on top of the closest dresser. I looked only at the hybrid bite, examining my neck wound closely. It wasn't just healing, it was nearly completely healed. Oh, what a relief! I turned back around to face Nik and found his standing closely behind me.

"It really is healing," I said. I had doubts. The pain had been too incredible for me to believe otherwise.

He only nodded.

"Thank you," I said again, louder this time.

He stepped closer and brushed his hands along my neck, tracing down either side to my shoulders. My heart thudded loudly.

One hand continued down my arm to my wrist, leaving a trail of fire behind it. The other cupped beneath my jaw and pulled my face up.

"I missed you," he whispered right before his mouth covered mine.

He tried to kiss me softly. I could tell he tried. But his intentions went up in smoke.

There was fire everywhere, because he was everywhere. His hands traced my skin, burning it. His lips tasted every part of mine as his tongue explored my mouth. The wall slammed into my back, but there was no pain. I couldn't feel anything besides the burning.

My hands knotted in his hair, pulling him to me as if there were any possible way for us to be closer. His tongue twisted with mine, and there was no part of my mind that was not invaded by the insane desire that possess me.

He pulled his mouth free to place a few kisses along my jaw before his lips attacked mine again. I was on fire.

I broke away from his mouth to breathe, and his lips scorched their way down my throat. He moved slowly now, giving each kiss purpose. We were taming the fire, I realized. I buried my face in his shoulder, inhaling the scent.

His lips made their way back to mine. His tongue teased my lips open and I allowed it. I felt his tongue explore my mouth. Our kiss had slowed; the hastiness left and the comfort took over. I moved my hands from his hair down to his neck, playing with the band of a necklace there. His hands rested on my hips.

When our lips parted, we remained close. I couldn't identify the emotions I saw in his eyes. Lust, sure. And desire. But desperation and relief, maybe too. Or perhaps I was only seeing what I figured was showing through my own eyes.

"I thought I'd never hear you call me 'Nik' again."

"No worries, Nik," I gave his name extra emphasis. He smirked, and then it transformed into a huge, happy grin. "You can't get rid of me that easily."

"Good."

Then I yawned. How mortifying! I wasn't bored — not at all. But being kidnapped was tiring. And being full of blood made me feel sleepy, too.

Nik chuckled, but there was no humour in it. "You're exhausted, love. Come on. You need sleep." He stepped away from me but pulled me along with him by my hips. His hand reached for mine and pulled me to his bed.

I knew he wasn't staying when he didn't lie down beside me. He stood next to the bed and I closed my eyes as he kissed my forehead.

He straightened and turned to leave, but I grabbed his hand before he took a step. "Don't leave," I whispered.

He didn't respond, but he sat down on the edge of the bed and stretched out beside me, on top of the covers. That meant he wasn't staying. He put his arm around me and pulled me into his side. He then draped his other arm across my waist, holding me close.

I was so tired, but I had to tell him some of what happened. He had to know that I only did it because I saw no other option. "I tried to kill your hybrids. All of them. I'm sorry. I was only successful once." I couldn't keep my eyes open as I spoke; they were too heavy.

"Don't worry about any of that right now, love," he spoke against my hair.

I sighed. "You're going to leave as soon as I fall asleep, aren't you?"

I could feel his head move as he nodded. "Very shortly after, yes."

"I wish you wouldn't, but I know you will. Please be safe."

He kissed the top of my head and I fell asleep.