Chances

Chapter Seven: The Greying of Skin

Say something, I'm giving up on you

I'm sorry that I couldn't get to you

Anywhere, I would've followed you

Say something, I'm giving up on you

And I will swallow my pride

You're the one that I love

And I'm saying goodbye

Say Something - A great Big World & Christina Aguilera

"Tyler, what are you doing here?" Caroline asked cautiously. Right now, she didn't know whether to be happy to see him or run away as fast as she possibly could. Last time, Tyler had had a hand in her abduction and failed excecution, and she could only hope that this wouldn't become a habit.

"I was looking for you." Tyler answered.

"Why?" She asked.

"You see, last time, when Esther and I teamed up, it didn't work out for me. I had to run away. Hide, before Klaus would find me. And I'm sick of running." Tyler stated.

"Well, maybe you shouldn't have betrayed your friend. Maybe, if instead of helping Esther, you would've helped me, things would have turned out differently." Caroline replied.

"That was no option, unfortunately. Klaus has to die, you see. You on the other hand, you could be saved." His voice turned soft, almost pleading. "We could go back to how it was before, Care. Just you and me against the world."

Caroline's mouth fell open.

"Are you serious right now?" She asked, still processing what he had said.

"Of course. I forgive you for everything you did with him and his family. I get it, really. You don't need to be ashamed for what they made you do. For what he made you do. You can be free again, Caroline!" Tyler smiled at her.

"Ok, first of all: You forgive me? In what universe did I do anything to you that needs forgiveness? You cheated on me! And then, you tried to kill me! Forgive me all you want, Tyler, but I will not forgive you so easily." She made a short pause to catch her breath. "Second: They did not make me do anything! Least of all Klaus! He might be a dick, but at least he values my safety! So, thanks for the offer, but I have to refuse."

"He values your safety? Are your really that blind, Caroline? If anything, Klaus Mikaelson will be the death of you! The sooner you realise that, the better. Actually, if you want to stay alive, you should realise your mistake about right now and help me take him down." Tyler demeanour changed, making Caroline nervous.

"No. Even if his death didn't mean my death as well, I wouldn't betray him or any other Mikaelson. They are my family." Caroline stated confidently. "You should run, Tyler. Before Klaus gets here and kills you."

"Oh, I'm not running. Not any more. This time, I will make sure nothing goes wrong. Step one: don't let the prisoner escape." Caroline saw the yellow in his eyes come to life and wasted no time in turning around and running away from the hybrid as fast as her legs would carry her.

Unfortunately, her body was still weak and practically filled with vervain. This meant she was slower than usual and had to think of another way to loose Tyler. Hiding wasn't an option. His heightened hybrid sense of smell would lead him straight to her. That left one other option: find a way to slow him down or render him unconscious for a while.

While running, she grabbed a branch and quickly tore it of the tree. If she got this through his abdomen, she would probably be awarded with a few very necessary seconds to put some distance between him and her. She only needed to make it into the city to successfully escape him. Maybe she would even be able to get help.

Before she had time to realise what was going on, a force had rushed to her from the side and pushed her to the ground. The branch was yanked out of her hand and something was pinning her to the ground.

"I hate to say it, but I'm impressed. I never thought that you alone would be able to free yourself. But then, it was a worthy entertainment." Lucien grinned from above her.

"Stop complimenting that bitch. We have more important things to do." Came Aurora's voice from somewhere behind him.

"Like getting your brother back?" Lucien replied sarcastically. "Here's a little secret: I never really liked Tristan." He winked at Caroline.

"Enough." Aurora snapped and took a hold on the branch before ramming it into Caroline's abdomen.

She let out a pained cry and fought the tears from falling. She had to stay strong.

"I really wish we wouldn't have to do that, Care." Tyler sounded almost sorry. Almost.

Caroline bared her fangs at them, trying to fight off Lucien.

"Let's end her misery." Tyler said nonchalantly and Caroline feared the worst before her world turned black.

Locating Marcel had been surprisingly easy. It hadn't even taken him and Kol an hour to get to the place Davina told them. Now, if only locating Caroline could be as easy. But of course, either Lucien or Aurora had kept in mind to keep themselves protected from any kind of localisation charms.

"Over there!" Kol pointed out.

And surely, Marcel was stumbling through the streets of New Orleans.

The originals flashed to his side and realised that their ally was covered in a layer of sweat, eyes unfocused and mumbling.

"Wolf venom." Klaus stated the obvious.

"It's not a full moon." Kol thought aloud and Klaus growled.

Lockwood. When Esther died, Lockwood had escaped with Finn. The mutt obviously hadn't learned yet how to choose the winning team.

"Marcellus, you have to drink this." Klaus said and offered his wrist to his protege.

It took Marcel a few seconds to respond, but in the end he did and savagely tore open Klaus' flesh.

His blood fought off the venom an soon Marcel stopped drinking, retreating his fangs.

"Thank you." His sore voice sounded before he lost consciousness.

"Great. Could have waited until he gave us some info." Kol sighed, grabbing the vampire before he collided with the ground.

"We'll take him back to the cemetery first." Klaus stated.

Kol nodded and together they carried Marcel through the streets of New Orleans.

"Is he ok?" Davina worried upon seeing them carry her only father figure into the tomb.

"He will be." Klaus assured her. "Anything on Caroline yet?"

"No." Henrik answered, head down.

"Don't give up yet, mate. Maybe Marcel can tell us more once he is done napping." Kol reassured his little brother.

"Time to wake up." Klaus announced and out of nowhere, he had produced a bucket of water.

The water hit Marcel's face, making him sit up straight instantly.

"Now it's time to chat."

Caroline awoke with a start and realised that, once again, she was tied to the chair.

She wanted to scream from sheer frustration. How many times would she have to wake up in situations like these?

"Good, you're up. Then we can finally begin the fun." Aurora's voice sang.

Caroline doubted that whatever definition of fun Aurora had, it differed seriously from her own.

"We can do this the easy way, or the fun way. You decide." Lucien announced.

"What do you want?" Caroline asked.

"Well, I want Nik to finally wake up and remember that I am the love of his life. However, you had to go and get yourself pregnant with his child and mess things up for me. So, right now, I want that little bastard child of yours." Aurora explained.

Caroline couldn't believe her. How far from reality did that woman live exactly?

"Never!" She spat. "And also: Klaus must have been seriously demented to have ever had a serious relationship with a bitch like you. I guess he woke up in time to realise that actually, he prefers himself a sane woman. Like me." She didn't know what had gotten into her, baiting her enemy like that. But it felt good and for right now, it didn't look like she would survive Aurora anyway. Might as well go down with a bang.

"How dare you, you worthless piece of trash!" Aurora roared before slapping Caroline hard across the cheek.

"I don't know, but I'm rather enjoying this show. What about you, mate?" Lucien laughed.

"Don't know. I think I have seen enough catfights between cheerleaders to last me a lifetime." Tyler shrugged.

"Still mad because blondie refused to take you back?" Lucien teased.

"Shut up and get the camera, Lucien." Aurora ordered, separating herself from the baby vampire.

Caroline looked at them with wide eyes. What the fuck did they need a camera for, she wondered.

"The fun way it is!" Lucien declared happily.

Caroline didn't dare ask what he meant, but she had an idea. An idea that made her stomach turn.

"She is still looking too fresh, if you ask me." Tyler said. "I remember a pack of wolves that came into our home town before Klaus did. If I'm correct, they used something like this for entertainment purposes."

A lound bang was heard and Caroline screamed in pain as the all too familiar feeling of vervain laced wooden bullets overtook her.

"That looks fun! Let me try!" Aurora clapped her hands before ripping the gun from Tyler's hands.

A series of bullets was fired into Caroline's abdomen. Nothing that could kill her, but that didn't mean the pain she felt was any less important.

"You could have waited for me!" Lucien accused, camera in hand.

"Oh, we were just preparing our little movie star for the shoot. Wouldn't want her to look bad on her very special day." Aurora said cheerfully.

"Shall we, then?"

"The bayou." Marcel croaked out hoarsely. "That's where they are."

"No time to waste, then." Klaus announced.

"Wait, brother. Henrik and Davina exhausted themselves and it wouldn't hurt to have Marcel with us, too." Kol reasoned.

"I think two originals will suffice." Klaus said through gritted teeth.

"No, he's right. The place was crawling with vampires. And there was a hybrid." Marcel agreed with Kol.

"Tyler Lockwood, I know." Klaus said.

"No way! He's not really fighting us again?" Kol groaned.

"The mutt just doesn't learn." Klaus nodded.

"Aren't hybrids usually sired to you?" Davina asked.

"Not that one. I set him free. Looking back, it just proves me again that mercy never gets you what you want." Klaus growled.

"Well, I don't need rest. I'll go with Nik. I don't want to waste time." Henrik said.

"I know you love her, little brother, but you shouldn't get yourself in danger like that. Caroline wouldn't want that." Kol disagreed.

"We'll ask her once she is back." Henrik replied stubbornly.

"Klaus Mikaelson?" A new voice called.

They all turned to see a middle-aged woman enter the tomb.

"What do you want?" Klaus snarled.

"This is for you." She handed him a stick and before any other question could be asked, she pulled a knife out of her pockets and cut her throat.

"No!" Henrik and Davina yelled in unison, while the three vampires looked at her somewhat dumbfounded.

"Compulsion?" Marcel asked.

Kol gave him a look that clearly stated 'obviously'

"So, they know where we are." Klaus stated. "Bring me a laptop." He said to no one in particular but Kol vanished and came back with the electronic device within seconds.

While Kol busied himself starting the laptop and attaching the stick to it, Klaus had a thought.

"Henrik, Davina, go get something to eat and rest. We'll be off soon." His tone left no room for discussion.

"Smart thinking." Marcel praised. After the death the two kids had just witnessed, they probably weren't ready to see what was on that tape. If it was anything similar, that is.

On the stick was one single video which Kol clicked.

The screen turned dark for a few seconds before the camera was moved and a single person, tied to a hair was seen. Her pale ski contrasting the fresh blood that was flowing freely out of her abdomen. Golden hair covered her face as her head hung low.

"We're on!" Lucien's voice announced.

Klaus felt a lump in his throat, dreading what he was sure was about to come next.

Aurora entered the screen and took her spot next to Caroline.

"Hi, Nik." She greeted with a smile.

At her words, Caroline's head moved and her wide eyes locked with the camera.

"No, please don't do this." she begged weakly.

"Don't speak unless spoken to! Didn't your mother teach you that?" Aurora snapped as she shot Caroline in the leg.

Caroline yelped at the pain, tears streaming down her face.

Aurora's face turned to the camera again.

"We got ourselves in quite the situation, Nik. You see, all you had to do was raise your baby with me. Instead, you cheated on me and played me for a fool." Her eyes shone with anger.

"While we can't compel your blonde bimbo to find out where she is hiding your child, we have quite the talent in other interrogation methods. Lucky us that they are so much more fun than compelling, too!" Aurora explained happily.

As if on cue, Tyler Lockwood joined the women with a huge bucket in his hands.

"Now, Caroline, where is your child?" Aurora asked.

Caroline was seen with her eyes closed, obviously trying to contain her frequent sobs.

"Huh, she remains silent." Aurora stated, shrugged and took a step back, so Tyler could empty the bucket over Caroline's head.

Caroline screamed at the top of her lungs as the acid like fluid attacked her skin, making her entire body burn.

"Please stop." She begged quietly.

"We only just started, darling." Lucien was heard again.

The procedure repeated itself for quite some time. Aurora asking Caroline something she wasn't willing to reveal only to be followed by a torture procedure that would make the woman scream.

At about half-way through the video Klaus' rage overpowered him, so he took the device and crashed it into the wall. Not another second. He couldn't bear to watch Caroline in pain any longer.

"Get Henrik and Davina. We're going. Now." Klaus growled and turned to get a head start.

The other men nodded, knowing that just one move out of line would make the hybrid go absolutely ballistic. Not to mention the anger they felt themselves.

They gathered quickly, Marcel and Kol taking a blood bag with them to drain on the way. Best to keep their strength up.

Klaus already sat in the car, urging them to hurry up and get in. Not waiting for anyone to fasten their seatbelts, Klaus got the car into motion with a loud screech.

He still heard Caroline's screams, couldn't turn out the pain she was in. Or the countless injuries on her body. The blood flooding out of her. It was pure mental torture for the hybrid. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt something remotely close to what he was feeling now. Not even Pape Tunde's blade hurt him as bad and intensely as that video did. After all, the blade had only made him hallucinate, it had all been in his head.

This time, it was real. Caroline was suffering in this very moment. And so far, he had done nothing to put an end to the ones who were inducing the pain on her. But he would. Anyone that stood in his way would suffer.

They reached the bayou in record time and Marcel quickly guided them to the spot he had been attacked before.

"They are coming." Klaus announced, sensing about a hundred or so vampires coming their way.

He glanced at Henrik and then at Kol who nodded in silent understanding. The message had been clear. 'You're in charge of protecting him.'

Kol knew that Klaus would not stay to fight those simple vampires. He would bite and claw his way through them until he got to Caroline's side. As much as Kol wanted to go with his brother, he knew that protecting Henrik was a priority. None of them could bear to lose their little brother again.

As soon as the vampire's were within reach, the group pounced.

Henrik and Davina channelling their power to break as many necks as possible while keeping the vampire's far enough away to stay safe.

Kol had brought his bat, punching in head after head.

Marcel, also staying close to the young withes, used all of strength to take out vampire after vampire.

Klaus, on the other hand, clawed and bit his way through the crowd, leaving a trail of bodies and loose limbs behind. He used his nose to make out Caroline's exact location and hurried her way.

Within minutes, he reached a small hut that was currently guarded by no other than Tyler Lockwood.

"I should have killed you the second you returned to Mystic Falls with that slut on your arm." Klaus snarled.

"But you didn't." Lockwood stated. "Actually, I'm surprised you were toying with Caroline for as long as you did. All that just to get Elena's blood and create your hybrid army? I would have expected something more impressive from a dude as old as you."

Klaus sneered. "Any last words, mutt?"

"You will fall, Klaus. If not by my hand, then by another's. After all, there are thousands of powerful beings out there craving revenge." Tyler said smugly.

"Then you will be one of those thousands that will die by my hand." Klaus said and flashed to his first successful creation, tearing his heart from his body.

"Didn't even possess the decency to put up a fight. What a waste." The hybrid muttered as he let the organ drop to the floor.

With a loud crack, Klaus broke open the door to the hut. Carefully, he placed his foot over the threshold, testing whether he would be granted entrance.

An evil smirk played on his lips when he realised that there was nothing stopping him from entering. Obviously, Aurora and Lucien had underestimated his capability at finding them and hadn't bothered to protect the place properly.

He heard voices whisper distantly and flashed to them in time to see Aurora raise stake.

His body moved on his own accord, running to protect the blonde woman from the deadly attack. But while his focus was solely on Aurora, he failed to pay attention to the other male in the room. Lucien attacked him with another stake and impaled it right between his shoulder blades, causing the original to fall to his knees.

He looked up and was forced to watch the red-headed vampire impale his Caroline with the stake.

"NO!" Klaus roared, desperately trying to remove the stake from himself.

"I want my brother back within twenty-four hours, or I will kill one of your siblings next." Aurora and Lucien ran.

When Klaus finally relieved himself from the stake, he flashed to Caroline's side, ripping the stake out of her body.

"Caroline." He whispered, not daring to think about the reasoning for her greying skin.

Quickly, he freed the limp body from her restrains and cradled her in his arms.

"No, Caroline. You're not leaving me." He told her, voice already strained as tears threatened to leave his eyes.

He carried her out of the hut and headed in the direction of the others. Henrik and Davina surely knew a spell. They had to.

The vampires that had attacked them lay dead on the ground and the group was about to make their way in the direction Klaus went.

"There's Nik! And Caroline!" Henrik yelled as he spotted them.

Kol watched the scene in disbelief.

"No." He whispered, remembering the last time he had seen his brother coming out of the woods, a limp body in his arms.

Klaus reached them and laid Caroline on the ground before directing his pleading eyes at Henrik and Davina.

"Please. There has to be something you can do."

Kol closed his eyes, the reality of history repeating itself too much for him to bear.

Wow. Ok. This was seriously hard to write.

Please don't hate me.

I will probably be able to upload the next chapter within the week.