"You, he said, are a terribly real thing. In a terribly false world, and that, I believe, is why you are in so much pain." - Lewis Carroll

20. Klaus:

They were waiting for Elena inside the Lockwood Mansion, as apparently, her uncle had compelled Carol to allow him entry and access to everything. Leaning her head back on the couch tiredly, the blood-witch sighed, fingers reaching up to rub at her temples.

Taking a seat beside her, the vampire asked, "Are you alright, little one?"

Turning her head to him, she smiled sadly, "No, but does it matter? Klaus made his entrance, announced his plans, and figured my true lineage out while he was at it. My own father is planning to kill me, and now Elena thinks she can finagle a side-deal with you, and I have a terrible migraine to boot. So no, uncle E, nothing's alright."

"How did he react, when he found out? Has he spoken to you directly at all?"

"Yeah, he has. He looked surprised at first, but then right before everything blew up, he said we were similar, that I've inherited some Mikaelson."

Elijah smiled, laying his hand over hers, "You are a Mikaelson. Every personality trait that binds us, you've inherited, from our competitiveness and loyalty, to our fierce and dangerous anger."

"And the mildly unhinged psychotic episodes? Those belong to you too?" She questioned with a smirk.

He nodded, chuckling, before his attention was draw to the door. "It seems our esteemed guest has arrived, and she is not happy."

Chuckling, the raven-haired girl raised herself into a proper seated position, saying, "Good. Maybe it'll teach her that I'm not someone you should try to fool, or come near those I deem as mine. Just saying."

The door opened, the quick pitter-patter of footsteps following, before an. Enraged Elena. Made her appearance at the door. Looking up at her, Thea raised her brows, "Took you long enough. What, did you take the scenic route?"

"How could you? You saved him?" Screeched the girl angrily, pointing at Elijah.

"Did you expect me not too? Your plan was stupid, and would have lost me my uncle. I figured it out pretty early on, and managed to scheme one of my own. One that kept uncle E alive, and allowed you to realise just how ignorant and belligerent you actually are."

"Does Damon know about this? Because I'm sure he won't appreciate you going behind his back."

"Indeed he does." Intervened the vampire, raising a smug brow at the girl, adding, "I believe he's the one who carried me down to the cellar, and hid the key in my pocket."

Keeping his eyes on her, he pointed towards a single chair and commanded, "Sit. Your attempt to awaken me wasn't out of the pureness of your heart, rather for selfish intentions, so state you demands."

The human obeyed silently, taking her. Seat, fidgeting with her hands nervously, before looking back up at the vampire and saying, "I want to renegotiate the terms of our deal."

He laughed. Actually, Thea laughed first, and his amused chuckle followed, as they both tilted their heads at the oblivious girl. "There are no deals. You've proven yourself to be treacherous and untrustworthy, and I do not negotiate with children."

'Look, I know you need me alive to kill Klaus, so you're gonna hear me out." She tried to convince him, rather unsuccessfully, which she soon realised when she heard the blood-witch's snort, "Nope. We do need you alive, that's true, but that could be arranged by putting you in your house, and placing an unbreachable barrier around it. You've got no hands to play, Elena, so any deals you wanted to make, consider them off before they've even begun. Uncle E and I have agreed on a couple of things, and now that we're here, you're gonna nod your head and agree, so we can be done with this entire situation that you've dropped us into."

Nodding, she waited as the vampire explained, "Your presence is needed for the ritual, necessary even. But there is a way to bring you back, which we shall utilise. In the meantime, you're going to tell me everything my brother's done since his appearance into town. Every word he uttered could be a clue into his psyche."

"You know him that well?" Questioned the brunette softly.

"He's his brother. Of course he knows him that well Elena, keep up please." Huffed The impatiently, looking at her uncle, who sighed wistfully, "I assumed the Martin witches are no longer with us?"

She nodded regretfully, "Yeah. I'm sorry uncle E. Martin saved my life a couple of times."

"And Katerina?"

"Her compulsion was lifted for the non-second you were dead, so she fled the tomb. Klaus has her though."

"We're sure he killed her." Added the human.

"Nope. I don't think so. I mean, if she betrayed him, and he's been chasing her for all of these years, my guess is he wants to make her pay. Torture her, drive her insane, break her. The game's been on for centuries, now that he's won, he's gonna relish in the victory. Killing her wouldn't achieve that." She argued, shaking her head.

Elijah nodded in her direction, "Exactly. It wouldn't be his style to end her life this quickly, lacks satisfaction. Death would be too easy for her after what she did."

"I don't understand," mumbled the human in confusion, "You say that you want Klaus dead, but you still made Katherine pay for betraying him."

"Yeah, I'm kinda curious about that story too." Added the witch, throwing a smile smile in the man's direction.

The vampire sighed, "I have my own reasons for wanting Katerina to pay. There was a time...I'd have done anything for Klaus." Before he began explaining their complicated history.

—

They'd moved the discussion to the gardens, strolling as Elijah recounted his old history. Coming to a stop, Elena looked at him flabbergasted, "There's a whole family of Originals?"

While Thea asked in wonder, "I have an aunt? And uncles? I have more family?"

He gave her a sad smile, shaking his head, "You did. But. They're all dead. Rebekah would have loved you, she would have spoiled you rotten, and relished in your fashionable tastes, while Kol would have caused disaster. He would have been fiercely protective over you, but also helped you spread trouble and mischief everywhere."

Thea closed her eyes, understanding why. Her uncle wanted to kill his brother so. urgently. "He killed them? Didn't he?" She whispered.

"Yes. And now, he will follow them." Grabbing onto her forearms, linking theirs together, he began walking again, gesturing to the human to follow with a lordly, "Come, I believe Althea needs some more fresh air."

"So if nothing can kill an Original, and the sun doesn't burn you, then why does Klaus want to break the Sun and Moon curse?" Questioned the brunette, running after them.

Thea chuckled, shaking her head, before looking at her uncle mischievously, "Sun and Moon. Sounds Medival, biblical almost, doesn't it?"

Elijah laughed, giving her a fond look as he sAID, "I should have known you would be the one to realise its inauthenticity. You are far too smart for your own good, little one."

"Wait, its fake?" Screeched Elena.

"I mean, it was a little obvious to me. Plus historically speaking, it didn't mesh. Werewolves came much before vampires, so how are both species bound by the same curse? It just doesn't make sense, ergo, the curse is fake. Of course, it was just a theory, but uncle E here just confirmed it so.." Shrugged the blood-witch humbly.

"Your father and I scoured the world, drawing the legend, spreading it from country to country. My favourites were the Aztec sketches, the ones that Isobel collected."

"Wait, so Klaus drew the Aztec sketches about the curse?" Asked Elena, voice filled with confusion.

The man sighed, looking at his niece and asking in French, "Is she always this stupid?" The witch snorted, nodding her head, as he explained slowly, "Roman scrolls, African tribal etchings, and any other culture or continent we felt like planting in it."

"But why?" She continued obliviously.

Rolling her eyes, Thea looked at her impatiently, before saying, "The easiest way to discover a doppelgänger's existence, and get ahold of a mystical moonstone, is to plant a fake curse, one involving both supernatural species, and wait until someone drops them into your lap."

"So it's not Aztec?"

"Christ Elena! No it's not Aztec, nor is it African or Roman or Greek. If anything, since they both created it, it could be considered Viking, but even that's pushing it. It's not real." Exclaimed the witch in aggravation.

"What?!" Running infant of them, she made them come to a complete stop as she asked, "But if there's no curse…"

"Oh, there is a curse," added the vampire, "Just not that one. The real one's much worse. It's a curse placed on Klaus."

"What are you talking about?"

Thea looked at her uncle, head tilted in curiosity. She had no idea what he was talking about, but she had a feeling she would not like it even a little bit.

"Klaus has been trying to break it for the last thousand years. And you are his only hope."

Elena's phone began vibrating in her hand, but she ignored it, as Thea questioned her uncle, "Uncle E, what's the curse?"

Before he could answer however, the brunette's phone began buzzing again, and the man looked at her in irritation, "Your phone will not stop its incessant buzzing. Answer it, please."

She nodded, complying, "Stefan...what's wrong?" Her face dropped, becoming paler as she clearly began panicking, "No. No, no, no, no. Okay, I'll be right there."

Hanging up, she looked at the man, saying, "Klaus went after Jenna. I have to go to her."

He shook his head solemnly, "I'm afraid that isn't part of today's arrangement."

"She's my family, Elijah. I have to. I'll be back. You have my word." She pleaded.

Elijah snorted elegantly, shaking his head, "Your word means nothing, based solely on the amount of times you've broken it. Go, and perhaps you can learn what will happen if you come back." With that, he held onto Thea's arm, turning them back to the house, leaving Elena behind, to go mitigate the damage done to her family.

—

She was on the phone with her bonded, who had some news to deliver, "What do you mean you broke into Klaus' place?" She asked, pacing back and forth across the living room.

"Angel, I had to see if Katherine was still alive, and if she could be of any use to us. She was, by the way."

"And then? What did you do?"

"I gave her some vervain, should keep him from being able to compel her. She wants to help you, Thea. You've somehow managed to gain Katherine's loyalty."

"Yeah, well, we understand each other. Did she tell you anything else, about his plans maybe? Because you feel very calm and relaxed for our current situation."

"You're not in danger." He said simply.

Coming to a stop, she felt her mouth hang open for a second, before she asked, "I'm about to get sacrificed for a ritual by my own danger is very real, Ace. Real, and according to uncle E, he looks like me."

"He's not planning on killing you baby. According to Katherine, and the conversation she overheard, the minute he realised you were his daughter, any plans for using you went out the window. But he still needs you there, because of something else, so we're gonna be wary."

"What do you mean, he changed his mind because he knows?" She whispered, voice lowering in confusion.

"I mean, that he doesn't want to kill you, but he wants to get to know you. Apparently he kept asking her questions about you, like who your friends are, and what you're like, and if you're strong and able to keep yourself safe."

Her head whipped up when she heard footsteps, only to find her uncle heading in her direction calmly. Swallowing, she closed her eyes, murmuring, "I don't understand. Ace, I don't get it."

A wave of love flowed over her, before her bonded's soft voice said, "It means, that you're safe baby. You're safe and you get to have a family now. He wants to know you, wants to know how similar you are, and how different. All that's left for us to do, is figure out how to get Elena out of it."

"Uncle E may have a way. I'm not sure Stefan's gonna like it, but t's way, and I trust him."

"Alright Angel, if the old man says it works, then we'll defer to his millennia of expertise." He joked. She could feel his happiness spread through her when she giggled, before she said, "I gotta go, but I love you Ace, and we'll be alright."

"I know baby. Love you too." He whispered, before she heard the dial tone rising through her ears. Pulling her hand down, she turns back to her uncle and asked with a smirk, "So. How much of my conversation did you actually hear? Because I know you've been eavesdropping for longer than you want me to think."

"Long enough to understand that you've managed to get my brother to care for you, on some level at least." He said, smiling.

Thea shook her head, "He doesn't know me. You can't care for someone without knowing them. He's probably just curious, that's all."

"You can, if the person is your child. You may not know this, but the bond between parent and child is unbreakable. And in your case, where magic is involved, then it is even stronger still. Niklaus has always longed for children, though he never made the knowledge known. But for him to backdown from his plans so immediately, to announce the knowledge, knowing Katherine would overhear him, then he truly means it." Walking up to her, and stroked her hair softly, "I told you you would be alright little one."

Thea rolled her eyes good-naturedly, "Yeah, yeah. Don't gloat uncle E, it's unbecoming for a man of your age."

"Anymore old jokes you want to make, before you drop it and move on?" He questioned, a single brow raised, and a smirk on his lips.

"No, you fossilised bat, I'm all good now. We've just gotta wait for Elena to come back, so you can explain to hr that the curse is probably placed on Klaus' hybrid nature, suppressing whatever else he is, and that the originator of her matriarchal line's blood was used in its creation, therefore forcing nature to keep replicating it." She answered, tilting her head and looking at him smugly.

She'd figured it out all on her own, and based on his incredulous stare, she'd been correct. Honestly, it was the only explanation that made sense, the only one that linked all of the pieces. Perhaps she'd cheated a little, since she'd known before anyone else that Klaus was a hybrid, but nonetheless, she'd pat herself on the back for that one.

Walking back towards the couch, she sunk on it with a laugh, "Well come here then uncle E, don't stand there with your jaw having open all day, its can't be good for your ageing joints."

—-

When she finally showed up, she found both uncle and niece engaged in a lively discussion over the creation of viking runes.

"So you're telling me that your clan was the one who created. The Elder Futhrak runes?" Asked Thea incredulously.

"Yes. My father wished for a better way to commune with oncoming tribes, he understood the popularity of the written word in the Indies, and wished to mimic it." He nodded.

"Holy shit," she whispered slowly, shaking her head, "My family created history." Looking back at her uncle, she smiled widely, "Oh, the questions I have for you, uncle-dearest. You should never have opened this topic, because I'm a sponge for knowledge."

Their moment was interrupted by the human, who joined them quite loudly. Looking at her, Elijah simply said, "Welcome back."

"Tell me. What is Klaus's curse?" She asked immediately, pulling off her jacket.

Gesturing towards her previous chair, he said, "Please."

The brunette complied, taking her seat, before staring at him expectantly.

"My family was quite close," he began explaining, "but Klaus and my father did not get on too well. When we became vampires, we discovered the truth. Klaus was not my father's son. My mother had been unfaithful many years before. This was her darkest secret. Klaus is from a different bloodline. Of course, when my father discovered this, he hunted down and he killed my mother's lover and his entire family. Not realising, of course, that he was igniting a war between species that rages until this day."

"A war between the species?"

"The vampires…and the werewolves." He stated.

Thea gasped, shooting out of her seat. Her father was half-werewolf. That was the part of him that was suppressed. "Fuck me fuck me fuck me." She mumbled slowly.

"So Klaus' real father was from a werewolf bloodline? What does that make Klaus? A werewolf? Or a vampire?" Continued Elena, ignoring the witch's panic.

"Both. He's both." Murmured Thea slowly. Looking at her ex-friend, she elaborated, "He's a hybrid, one that would be as powerful as both species, negating their weaknesses. Unbeatable and indestructible. That's why he was cursed. Nature could not stand for such a creature to exist, he would be viewed as a monster, as a…" she hesitated, heart dropping along with her next words, "as an abomination. Like me."

"That's the curse that Klaus wants to break?"

"He wants to trigger that part of him that's a werewolf." Elijah agreed, looking at. His niece in worry, before continuing, "If allowed, Klaus would sire his own bloodline. He'd build his own race. Endangering not just vampires, but everyone."

The two continued talking, but Thea had stopped listening long ago. She understood her father a little better now. Understood his rage, his anger at the way the world had treated him, the way his own parents had probably treated him. She knew what it was like, after all. To be called an abomination, to have legions of people wishing you didn't exist. But unlike him, she'd had those legions systematically take away everyone and everything she'd ever loved.

"Could Thea do it?" The mention of her name snapped her out of her daze, and she turned to the human girl with a confused frown. Noticing her stare, the girl explained, "Elijah says only a witch could kill Klaus. Maybe you could do it."

"I…I don't know. Maybe. I don't know the extent of the curse, or his powers, and…Yeah, maybe." She muttered, indecision clear in her voice.

"No, she would not. They share the same blood, to eliminate him, would be to eliminate herself." Interjected the vampire sternly. At Elena's hopeful glance, Thea snorted angrily, "of course you'd be down with that plan huh? I mean, you'd have an unobstructed road to Damon if I'm gone, and the world will go back to rotating solely around your axis. Elena, Elena, Elena."

"I'm willing to die to get rid of him, aren't you?" She questioned.

"No. No, I'm not. I have things to do, people to live for and goals to achieve. Can't do any of that if I'm dead. And I won't. I won't leave my bonded, not for you, not for anyone." Said the witch, glaring at the human girl, eyes narrowed in fury. She could feel them burning, knew they were glowing slightly.

"Nor will you, little one. I have told you, no harm will come to you, and I keep my word." Soothed Elijah slowly, before turning to look at Elena with a fierce glare, "To insinuate otherwise, would be to ask me to betray my family."

Thee girl swallowed fearfully, nodding her head, before saying, "What if I told you that I knew another witch that could channel that much power?"

"Then I would tell you there's one more thing that you should know." He replied, before explaining his method of keeping her alive.

Once he was done, she stared at him, before wondering, "You found a way to save the life of the doppelgänger?"

"Yes, Elena. I did. But unfortunately, Katerina took matters into her own hands first. I believe you already know how that played out."

"You cared about her, didn't you?" She asked.

Standing up, Thea grabbed the human girl's jacket, throwing it at her, "Doesn't matter. His personal life is of no use to you. Now we have to go." Before turning on her heels, and making her way out the door, and back to her car.

She needed her bonded, because this entire day had taken far too much out of her. And sleep, she also needed some sleep, and maybe a gallon of coffee to go with it.

—

Walking into the boarding house, they could hear fighting, and the blood-witch could feel and see bruises forming on her arms from whatever injuries her bonded sustained. Granted, they healed almost immediately, but she wasn't exactly in the mood to feel any kind of pain. As Elena hurried worriedly towards the sound, the witch walked at a more leisurely pace, leaning against the doorway, and observing as the human attempted to separate the two brothers from each other. Realising how futile her efforts were, Thea rolled her eyes, clearing her throat slightly before screaming, "Hey, assholes! Quit body jamming each other, I'm in enough of a bad mood as it is. Do not force me to put the both of you in time-pouts like kindergarteners."

Damon straightened suddenly, cursing under his breath, before speeding towards her, grabbing onto her arms and checking her for injuries, muttering, "Are you okay? Do you need some blood? What hurts?"

Chuckling under her breath, she cradled his cheeks, "I'm alright love, healed as soon as you did, I just figured this would be the quickest way to get you two bozos to quit beating each other's faces off."

He shook his head in mild amusement, before pulling her face up to his own, laying his lips over hers. She could feel his relief at seeing her safe and sound, could feel the love her had for her, and she sent hers back in spades and bounds.

The sound of a throat clearing behind her forced her to pull away, giggling slightly when her bonded pouted, "We better stop, before uncle E's protective instincts kick-in, and he decides to beat you into a pulp for kissing his beloved 'little one'."

"Good instincts, little one. You may avert from such displays of affection in front of me in the future as well." Added the original, smiling smugly at the couple when they both looked at him.

"Now you've invited him in?" asked Stefan in aggravation.

Thea looked back at the green-eyed boy, tilting her head, "No, that's actually an astral projection of him. He's still in the cellar."

"Thea…" he warned in a slight growl.

"What? You ask a dumb, obvious question, I'm gonna give you an even dumber answer. And don't you growl at me, Salvatore. We wouldn't be in this whole dilemma if you'd taken my feelings into consideration. At any rate, uncle E and I have an agreement, we're just here to inform you of it." She retorted, snorting slightly at the cross look on Stefan's face.

Her uncle stepped up beside her, laying a gentle hand on her shoulder as he said, "Neither you, nor the human will come to any harm at my hands. I only ask for one thing in return."

"What's that?" Questioned Stefan snarkily.

"An apology."

The green-eyed boy nodded, before saying in a calm voice, "I'm sorry for the part that I played in your supposed death. I was protecting Elena. I will always protect Elena."

Elijah nodded back, before speeding to Stefan and slamming his hands on either side of his chest, clearly pulverising the ribs. The brunette human screamed at the sight, running to her boyfriend in panic, while the bonded couple simply hung back, having known this answer would aggravate the protective original.

Staring down at the boy, the original vampire explained, "This wasn't for me, but rather my niece. Next time you create a plan, take her into consideration, or you shall truly see what the wrath of an original is like. Your ribs will heal within the hour, but next time, it will be your heart."

When the young man began complaining, Elena looked at him and said, "The sacrifice is going to happen, Stefan. Bonnie will be able to kill Klaus without hurting herself and Elijah knows how to save my life. I told you I'd find another way. And I did."

"Actually, you didn't find shit, Thea didn't." Interjected Damon smugly. At the aggravated look his received from his brother, he simply shrugged, wrapping an arm around his bonded's shoulder, pulling into his side before placing a tender kiss on hr temple, "What? It's the truth. Whether you want to hear it or not, Thea came up with a plan, coordinated with her uncle and managed to save everyone's lives, regardless of the fact that none of you deserved it. You all thought only of the human, and her feelings, not of my bonded, and yet she took all of yours into consideration, and since I know you weren't going to acknowledge it, brother, I had to."

The other two nodded their agreement, and he smiled in return, while Elijah looked at him and said, "I can take it from here. You should ensure she gets some form of rest, She seems like she hasn't slept in a couple of days."

The blood-witch snorted, "Hello, standing right here, perfectly capable of continuing."

"Angel, You're tired. And before you argue, let's just remember that I can feel everything you're feeling, so come with me quietly, or I will carry you over my shoulder and force you to get some rest." Argued her bonded, tightening his hold on her.

Thea sighed. She knew she'd lost the argument the min ute Elijah brought up how tired she was. Knew that her bonded would hone into those feelings immediately, and act on them, his protectiveness not allowing him to dismiss them. And they weren't wrong, necessarily. She was tired. Exhausted to the bones, but with the last week she'd had, filled with betrayals and emotional upheavals, who wouldn't be. Closing her eyes, she nodded slowly, "Okay, yeah. But, take it easy on them uncle E. And if Stefan keeps arguing, just snap his neck, it'll give you some peace and quiet while he heals."

Leaning her head back against her bonded, she allowed her body to sink into him, letting the tiredness turn her bones into jello. Damon chuckled softly, before picking her up, laying her head in the crook of his neck and he began heading towards their room.

Placing her underneath the covers, he sped to his side, laying down beside her and pulling her into his arms. Before she could argue that she didn't need to sleep, just relax for a little, he whispered, "It's okay, I'll wake you up in a couple of hours, but you need some rest baby. At least if you want to b ready for whatever happens next. And I need to hold you in my arms a little, I barely got any Thea-time today."

"Thea-time, huh?" She chuckled softly, snuggling into him, "Alright then, just for you, Ace."