Author's note: Hey Guys Sorry for the long wait I just lost inspiration for a while. I'm not sure when I'll have another update, but I do have another chapter in the works. Hopefully next chapter I'll finally be able to add some Klaroline, if not the next chapter then probably the one after that.
Katherine POV
Freedom, something that has eluded me for the past 500 years. I heard in this century they are telling children that we are born free. That the sky is the limit. That we can do anything with the aid of hard work and perseverance. That's cute. It's a nice fantasy. But that's not what they told me.
I never had the luxury of being coddled with lies, in my time lies were only used to manipulate someone into doing your bidding. People say I'm mean, cruel, vile, but rarely ever ponder the reason why. Ever since my first breath, my life has been a web of betrayals, lies, and manipulation. I'm simply a product of my time. People hate me because it's easy. They condemn my actions because they don't want to face the facts. They despise the sinister glint in my eyes because they are terrified. Terrified of the reflection staring right back at them. The world is cold, and I am the embodiment of its coldness. With my innocent face and devious aura, I'm the perfect example of reality's dichotomy. A beautiful and alluring exterior with intentions that will leave you devastated. Perhaps it's better that they are repulsed by me. Many people can't cope with the true nature of the world. After all most are better off with a really good lie.
But I'm not blind to the irony of the situation. Despite I know that freedom is a dream. That what I desire is my very own fairytale. That I most likely will never be free. But this knowledge does little to deter me. I still continue my never-ending chase after it. I've spent the past 500 years of my life running, looking over my shoulder, and surviving by any means necessary. After all, what's the alternative? I've lied, I've cheated, and I've killed for my freedom. I have and will do anything to live, even die.
In my defense, despite the slight hypocrisy between my philosophy and life goals at least my boogeyman has a name. The face of the gatekeeper of my freedom haunts me a night. The man who hunts me out of spite, who blames me for his continued cursed state. I have spent my entire vampire life looking over my shoulder because that damn insufferable hybrid didn't get his way.
Klaus Mikaelson. The Man. The Myth. The Monster. The one who hates every bit of my spirit down to the breath in my lungs. The one who vowed to chase me to the end of the Earth has a weakness. I thought with Mikael in play all my troubles would be over by now. I thought that Klaus would be a pile of ash and I'd be on some island somewhere without a care in the world. Finally free. But now. Now I'm in the same place I started only with an even heavier burden.
Thankfully this burden is my third and best shot at freedom and this time failure is not an option. Stefan and Damon have been blowing up my phone with half-cocked plans and requests to regroup. As if I'd work with them again, they can't even trust each other 70% of the time. You'd think I learned my lesson when it came to brothers. Apparently, Stefan has been going door to door like a pre-pubescent girl scout, looking for witches that will give him the time of day, and Damon is up to his ears in bourbon. Although Stefan's side is more promising, I've decided to work my own angle.
As soon as I got hold of Mikael and the stake I flew out like a bat out of hell and kept going till I hit an old abandoned house on the outskirts of town. I had to keep his neck twisted like a pretzel till I could get a safe house set up. Thankfully, the grenades kept Klaus's bitches- I mean hybrids down so I hid my trail and have yet to meet any inference. Also, unlike Stefan, I can actually get a call back from a competent witch who I've had cloak us and the building.
I have Mikael locked up tight whilst I set up. I refuse to take any chances with this. I have this place coated in so much vervain that my eyes are still watering even under my hazmat suit. I've put a lot of thought into this. Unlike others, I haven't spent this past week twiddling my thumbs and running around like a chicken with its head cut off. However, It did take me a minute to decide if I want to set him free like a rabid dog or gift wrap him for Klaus.
My internal thoughts are cut off by Mikael awakening once again. He's been in and out of consciousness ever since I stole his body. I haven't moved out of a 50-foot radius ever since I had him out of fear of his escape. I didn't even call any of my minions for this, if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.
"You treacherous whore, let me go and I'll think of sparing your insufferable life." Mikael bites out at me with as much malice his energy-depleted body can muster.
"Hm, That is tempting, but sorry I've spent 500 years working with maybes, a girl needs a bit more stability in her life." I respond back knowing damn well I'm just riling him up.
After much deliberation, I decided on the latter. Besides the immediate threats on my life upon waking, their fight reminded me of a pissing contest rather than an actual battle. It was pretty disappointing, to say the least. Well, if he came to town risking his life to resolve his deep-seated daddy issues in the most violent way possible perhaps presenting Mikael's head to Klaus on a silver platter is the better approach for gaining my liberation. However, I decided to go a little farther. It wouldn't be a plan of mine without that signature Petrova flare. I'm setting up a little playground for Klaus, outfitted with chains, knives, vervain, vervain water, and all the other items that encompass that sadistic hybrid's wet dreams.
"You think the bastard will grant you freedom after our attempt on his life? It is a wonder you survived this long with that level of ignorance." Mikael goads once again.
Wow, I'm dumb huh? You know I expected more originality from, well, an original.
I roll my eyes but decided not to grace him with a response as I go over to load my tranq gun with a vervain dart. However, He may be right though. I'll probably have to sweeten the deal even further. Hm, perhaps I should pay certain Salvatore a visit after all.
"Hm I'm not too sure about that, I think the real wonder is how you spent 1000 years chasing your son only to be bested by daddy's little girl. I guess life's full of surprises isn't it." I reply back after a beat.
I don't give him a chance to respond as I shoot him with a vervain dart. I set up an vervain drip to keep him down while I'm gone. Although Stefan hasn't told me where he hid the bodies I have an inkling it won't be hard to find. Especially since I caught a scent of that unmistakable hair gel a while back on a vervain run. I didn't go after the coffins initially as I didn't want to bite off more than I could chew, since Papa Original is more unpredictable than his son.
But now, now I have a ripper to find.
Caroline POV
What the F-
Why the F-
HOW THE F-
"Is that- It can't be." Bonnie cries out breaking me out of my internal questioning.
"Mom?" Her voice an amalgamation of shock hurt, and angry. No not angry, furious. Understandably so, due to the unexpected mother-daughter reunion. Well, one-sided reunion.
"Bon I-" I go to start trying to comfort her, but quickly realize that there's nothing I can say. In favor of any empty words, I grab onto her hand to give her some semblance of comfort.
"What is your mother doing here? Is she yet another person with a vendetta against my family?" Rebekah interjects.
"I- I don't know. I haven't seen her in 15 years. I have no idea what she's doing here. God is she gonna see us. I- I don't if I can face her. It has been so long. I can't- " I squeeze Bonnie's hand and cut her off.
"Hey, Bon calm down, no she can't see us here no one can, not even the spirits. Listen, the only to answer your questions is to listen in." I explain, having to take on the role of the voice of reason. Bonnie looks slightly relieved by my explanation, but her shoulders remain tensed in anticipation for the conversation we are about to eavesdrop on.
"Where is he-" Rebekah begins to ask but is cut off when I shush her in favor of listening into the ripper and the flight risk's conversation.
"So wait, you stole his family?" Abby Bennett, Bonnie's mom, askes as she entered the basement.
"He's been terrorizing us for far too long. He and his hybrid army have been breathing down our necks ever since he's step foot into town. We needed a leg up on him and this is the best way. " Stefan states sounding slightly fanatical.
"And what exactly have your dragged me out of my home for? Seems you and the spirits have it handled." Abby asks a question she probably should've asked before she came out here. Now, what the hell did Stefan tell her to get her here? Free vamp blood for life? Money? Track Shoes?
"Would you believe me if I said it was time for a mother-daughter reunion?" Stefan askes somewhat lessening the growing tension. Bonnie scoffs and Abby gives him a flat look. Like Mother, like daughter.
"Alright, one of the coffins is sealed, and I'm assuming there's something that Klaus really wants to keep locked away. Since the last protected coffin contained his murder-happy father, I'm guessing we have another secret weapon in that coffin." Stefan explains. Didn't know good Ol' Steffy was a gambling man.
I turn to Rebekah with questioning eyes.
"What in the coffin?" I ask bluntly. Rebekah seems slightly hesitant to answer, but she eventually caves in.
"My mother, the original witch. Her friend Ayanna persevered her body when she died and kept her sealed in a coffin. She can be awoken, but my brother has never allowed us to entertain the thought of doing so." She says in a voice devoid of emotion. I can tell she cares more than she's letting on. I mean what daughter would be happy about their mother being sealed away in a magical freezer bag.
I just nod my head and choose not to comment as we turn back to the unfolding conversation.
"His father?" Abby questions.
"Mikael the destroyer, he was our initial plan, but he's uh indisposed at the moment." Stefan answers in the vaguest manner possible. All three of us in the void roll our eyes at Stefan's sugarcoated response.
"Wait, what. Mikael? You awoke Mikael? How could you be so stupid? I desiccated him for a reason. What the hell happened to Mikael?" Abby bites out, obviously upset at him being awakened. Bonnie's mom sealed him away? Hm, I'd question it, but I don't look gift horses in their mouths.
"Katherine, Elena's doppelganger, took him. I have no idea what she's doing with him, she won't contact me or Damon from what I've heard." Stefan says disgruntled. Ah, so Kitty Kat cut both Salvatores out huh? Good choice, perhaps she can be an honorary member of Team Caroline. I won't get my hopes up though.
A bothered look takes over Abby's face, but she remains silent. Stefan just sighs and continues.
"Listen, I went to you because I need a witch and figured that the spirits would be more agreeable to one from the Bennett line. Plus aren't you glad I left Bonnie out of the equation, she's young and you guys always wished for her to stay out of vampire business." Stefans adds on making both Bonnie and Abby scoff in unison.
"So what I'm hearing is you went to Bonnie and she told you to shove it and were unable to get in contact with any other witches until you held my estranged relationship with my daughter over me." Abby bluntly blurts out. Stefan looks sheepish and rubs the back of his neck for a beat.
Rebekah and I turn towards Bonnie with an eyebrow raised. She failed to mention a certain ripper knocking on her door.
"I didn't think anything of it. He was doing his normal cryptic weirdness just at my front door. I told him to go to hell and that was that." Bonnie rushes out. I tilt my head to the side obviously not believing that was all that happened.
"Fine, I might've also given him an extra-strength witchy migraine to reinforce the message." She grumbles out. I fix her with a smile while Rebekah pats her on the shoulder before turning back to the unfolding scene before us.
"Listen, whether or not Bonnie's involved, Klaus is a threat to everyone. Unless you'd like Bonnie to join your mother in the afterlife I suggest you help me." I can see on Abby's face that his words have an impact. They strike a chord with me as well and I turn to Bonnie.
"Has Klaus been threatening you?" I'm worried that my friend kept yet another thing from me. Either she's hiding stuff or we have to have a long talk about what is and is not important. At least have the decency to tell me that you're hiding stuff.
"No, I don't really know what he's talking about. Klaus has pretty much left me alone."
"Any danger the witch is in is most likely out of association with the doppelganger, Salvatores, and their ludicrous attempts at besting my brother." Rebekah chimes in. She's probably right. All the more reason to be on my team. No old mutt interference.
Bonnie hums her agreement and watches as her estranged mother, convinced by Stefan's words, goes over to the coffin in question.
"I had to tap into dark magic to desiccate Mikael. I lost all my powers after, so I won't be much help to you, but I can sense the strength of the spell." Bonnie looks intrigued by her mother's loss of power but remains silent.
Abby checks the coffin over and looks to be somewhat shocked at the outcome.
"That's some strong Bennett magic that's sealing it, but I don't have the power to open it. I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do." Abby begins to walk away but is stopped by Stefan.
"That's it? You're not going to do anything?" Stefan flashes in front of her and cuts off her path to the door.
"Maybe you aren't hearing me properly. I. Don't. Have. Magic. Ever since Mikael, I haven't been able to do anything. No spells, charms, I can't even lift a feather. I can't help you." Her temper flares. I look over at Bonnie and she seems even more put off by her mother's words. Perhaps there's hope in repairing their relationship yet.
"Well then, I guess you'll just have to help me convince Bonnie to do it."
"You stay away from her. A spell that size would kill her if she did it on her own." Abby replies. Bonnie tenses at her words and I squeeze her hand to provide her some comfort. Stefan will have his head on a spike before Bonnie is forced to do anything she doesn't want to.
"And Klaus will kill her and everyone she loves if we don't deal with him." Stefan counters. I'm really not liking this emotional manipulation that's going on here. I definitely dodged a bullet when bunny killer rejected me. God if I had to thank Elena for one thing.
Abby looks over at the coffins then at him and sighs.
"The best I can do is guide her, but I doubt that she'll want anything to do with me." Abby states sounding resigned. Oh poor me I actually have to talk to my daughter. Let me play you a song on the world's smallest violin. With that they both exit, mostly likely to plot the most awkward family reunion that's ever graced this town.
I look over at Bonnie and struggle to get a read off of her. I go to ask her how she feels when I'm cut off by Rebekah.
"So now will you tell us where the hell we are?" Bonnie and I trade looks, one that says we'll talk later.
"Uh, I kind of call it the void. Nothing can see, hear or sense us in here. It's like an alternate plane in the same space." I can tell my explanation only serves to peak their curiosity further.
"So wait it's like the other side?" Bonnie chimes in.
"Somewhat, except we aren't dead and can't see dead people. The other side is on a different plane." I respond while taking us out of the void.
"So, what's the plan here?" I deflect their additional questions. I'd rather not have an interview while standing in a literal ghost house with spirits nosier than relatives at Christmas.
"Well it's obvious, isn't it? We're taking the coffins and releasing my family." Rebekah states matter-of-factly.
"Hm, yeah while I'd love to do that and give Stefan a huge symbolic middle finger, it may not be the best course of action, releasing 3 more originals while we still have Katherine with your father and a white oak stake still on the loose." I point out and Rebekah goes into a fit of curses that I struggle not to laugh at.
"Bloody Petrova strumpet, always a thorn in my side. So many of my problems would've been fixed if my pompous ass of a brother could keep it in his trousers." I can no longer suppress my laughter, and release a low giggle in conjunction with Bonnie's strained snickers.
"What are you guys laughing at? You lot are lucky you have no siblings. Eternal pains in my arse." She prattles off.
"Ok ok, how about we leave trackable things in their coffins so that we can find them no matter where they move to." I suggest ending Bekah's rant.
"Bonnie if I leave my earrings and bracelet in the coffins can you trace them? I'd rather not lose them."
"Ah yes, worried about your earrings why don't you, it's not like it's my brother's we're talking about losing as well." Rebekah mumbles under her breath. I Ignore her and look towards Bonnie. Is it wrong that currently my earrings and bracelet are worth to me more than literal people? Probably.
"Yeah, you wear them often enough for me to do a tracking spell on them." Bonnie reassures me, also ignoring Bekah's grumblings.
I go to take off my jewelry and put them in the pockets of each man in the coffins.
"I still don't see why we are not taking them with us. I can't in good confidence leave them in the hands of that bloody ripper." Rebekah chimes in again.
"Well, can you in good confidence leave them in the hands of your brother who threatens to chuck them in the sea if you so much as think of going against him? Plus I can't think of a good place to hide the coffins, can you? Got a hybrid-proof basement I'm unaware of? A vervain and wolfbane infused crypt?" With that Bekah opens and closes her mouth a few times. It takes a minute for her to come up with a response.
"Well, what about my mother? If you can't open it, you can't put anything inside it to track." Well yeah, but 3/4 ain't bad right?
"Their plan is dependent on Bonnie helping, so I'm pretty sure that no matter what Bonnie will know what happens to the coffin. She can be like our double agent. Bonnie the Teenage Spy-witch. Witch-spy? Hm, I'll have to work on that." Bonnie give me a flat look and her new elongated title. She's right, titles sound better in threes anyway, we'll have to give her something else to do. Pottery? Rockclimbing? I'll think of something.
"Speaking about your mother, what's your stance on the whole tattle to mommy plan to kill Klaus?" It's a bit pre-school for my tastes if I'm honest, but I guess it could be effective.
"I'm not in favor in the murder of my brother any longer, however I'm not entirely opposed to awakening my mother to be honest. She's been toted around like luggage for far too long." She's resigned in her statement. I don't blame her as it's been a draining day for all of us. I figured she wouldn't want her mom packed tight like sardines any longer.
"Ok, so Team Caroline will have to form a temporary alliance with the Salvadores to open the coffin then. That is if you're ok with attempting to open the coffin, Bonnie." Bonnie sighs before responding.
"I'm not sure, today has been a lot and I don't know what I want to do yet. I'm too mentally fried to make a concrete decision right now." I look towards her sympathetically and I nod my head.
"That's totally fine Bonnie, take your time. No one is going to force you to do anything you don't want to do." Rebekah looks as if she wants to argue but I shut her up with a look. A beat of silence passes before Rebekah timidly pipes up.
"Team Caroline?" I slap my hand to my hand forehead. Ugh how could I forget to ask Rebekah to join Team Caroline? What kind of captain am I?
"Yes, would you like to join?" I put my Miss Mystic Falls smile on as I ask out of habit. Rebekah looks at me amused.
"Well, who's on the team?" I turn a little sheepish at the question.
"Just Bon and I right now, we are small yet mighty, but hey we are still recruiting. As a team, we denounce the Salvatires, reject manipulation, make informed well thought out decisions, and worship our beautiful, talented, and bountiful team founder Caroline on Tuesdays. " Bonnie faces palms at my sales pitch, while Rebekah shakes her head at my antics.
"I'm not sure Tuesdays works for me though, I do all my dubious planning on Tuesdays." Rebekah replies with mirth in her eyes.
"Well I'm not sure you'll qualify for the t-shirt but you can still come to meetings." Bonnie perks up and the mention of t-shirts.
"Wait, we're getting t-shirts?" She says confused. Crap am I actually going to have to make t-shirts for this? This cult lead- I mean team captain thing I harder than I remember it being.
"Well, you have yet to denounce the Salvatores, so technically Rebekah is closer at getting the t-shirt than you are." I stick my tongue at her, before remembering that Bekah has yet to agree to join. "Wait, so are you joining?"
Rebekah rolls her eyes at me before nodding her head. I pump my fist in the air in celebration while my fellow teammates laugh at my excitement.
"Awesome, ok teammates let's get out of here. Where are you guys going now?"
"I'm just going to go home at process everything. Hopefully, Stefan has the decency to let my mother at least unpack her toothbrush before knocking on my door for group spells." Bonnie sighs out tiredly. I tsk and shake my head. I wouldn't bet on it.
"I think I'll do the same. Nik has been keeping tabs on me as well. I don't want him having those bloody hybrids following me any more than they already have been."
"What? Hey Bekah, don't you have a bridge to burn?" I reminded her of the stilling stand threat to her and her family's livelihood. With that reminder, her face goes pale and she flashes away without a single goodbye. How rude, I might cry.
"Well, wanna go cry over our long day with romance movies and ice cream?" I suggest.
"Yes, a million times yes." She loops my arm and begins walking out of the structurally insecure house.
However, unbeknownst to my witchy, human-hearing companion, on our way out I heard the familiar sound of stilettos crunching against leaves and branches in the distance. Hmmmm I wonder who's traipsing the woods in heels? Could it be Rebekah forgot something and… is… embarrassed? Unlikely. Is Stefan cross-dressing? Unlikely, but I'd love to see it. Is it a female hybrid? Likely, but I hope not that's no fun. Or could be a certain doppelganger? Who knows, but I'm keeping my mouth shut.
Oh, how I love when the pot gets stirred.