A/n: Edited on 10/17/2019.

Disclaimer: I do not own TVD. The only thing I do own is the plots I write for this story and the Original Characters I create.

Chapter 9: Howl

The Other Side was in chaos. Some of them were outraged, and some were doubtful, but a resolute few were set in their beliefs in this plan. There was no changing it now. They had done the deed. She was the sacrifice.

They still watched from beyond. The future was bleak. The past and present always would pave the road that leads to the future.

Anything can happen, but is it worth the cost?

Sacrifices were going to be made. They didn't want any more death as much as the next person, but the desires of the few are always outweighed by the needs of the many.

Manhattan, New York

Present - February 5, 2011

New York City. The city that never sleeps with too many people and too much going on for anyone to notice. It was the perfect hunting ground for any average vampire, but Katherine Pierce or formerly known as "Katerina Petrova" wasn't just your ordinary average vampire.

She sat comfortably on her couch in her current apartment, bored as hell as she surfed the over 800 channels from Dish Network. Funny story about that. She compelled a newlywed couple to get the hell out of dodge. They were about to fall apart, anyway. If anything, they ought to thank her for doing them a favor. The wife was a ditz, and the husband had already made it known to Katherine what he was: a cheating douchebag. He flirted with her first, and Katherine only played with the puppet strings a little to let the chips fall where they may.

It was fun to mess around with human minds. She took pleasure in it. Katherine had to have fun sometimes, even with her current matters. She was still on the run from a certain psychotic Original Hybrid, but she was an expert on covering her tracks.

She was often curious as to how everyone coped in Mystic Falls now. No new piece of information went unannounced before it came to her. Katherine had kept tabs on them for a while.

Surprisingly, she had been curious of how Elena had been progressing as a vampire. But, then again, she really didn't. The Salvatore brothers were danger magnets with anything Petrova added into it. Ask, Katherine. She experienced it herself since she brought their fates.

Katherine almost laughed out loud when she found out about their current predicament with the sire bond. Oh, how she wished that she could just laugh in their faces, showing them how pathetic they were. Stefan, she understood well enough because they were an "epic" love, according to some sources. But, really? Damon Salvatore? Someone must have replaced Damon from the one she recognized. Poor Elena, always the victim. It was growing comical in Katherine's mind.

To be honest, she thought he'd go for someone who at least be able to stand on their own two feet. Damon wasn't one for weakness as far as she grasped the situation.

She also had heard of Caroline Forbes' tragic death. Now, she had to admit at least that vampire had a strength that Elena failed to possess. Geez, what the hell has the world come to?

The ringtone of her cell phone stole her attention.

Caller Unknown.

She might as well let it ring for a little bit because she wasn't going to talk to strangers. People really ought to use their common sense when it comes to things like that. Stranger Danger actually makes sense in some weird way. The phone rang until it hit her voicemail. The unknown caller didn't leave any message. They only left a missed call.

"Oh, well. It's not my problem." She drew her attention back to flipping channels still bored as ever. But, that's when the phone rang again.

Another unknown.

Annoyed with the constant pest, Katherine silenced her phone pressing the ignore button on the screen when her phone beeped with a text alert.

"Oh, what now?" She exasperated. Picking up her phone, she unlocked her phone heading to her message app. The brunette vampire peered at the new text message with curious interest.

Unknown: You better call back or there is no bloody deal!

Katherine scoffed at the text. "Okay, Mr. Big Shot. Two can play at that game."

Kat: I'm not doing anything until I see proof of your word. Take it or leave it.

She typed in the message and press send. There wasn't another reply for a few minutes. Before she was just about to give it up though, her phone rang again. Sighing, the brunette vampire answered it, but she stayed silent. The other voice on the other end surprised her, but she kept it under control. If things go according to plan, success would be within her reach.

"Long time no see. So, he sent you? What did he say?" Katherine asked as she walked out towards the balcony, a chilly wind blowing through her hair as she spoke.

Her face furrowed deep in thought as she heard the voice on the other line explain what was going on.

"Okay, I can go along with that. But, you tell him this, and I'm not going to say this twice. Any delays or any tricks, and he can kiss this deal goodbye. That's all I'm going to say about it. I'll talk to you later." She hung up the phone without saying another word.

New Orleans

Past - January 25, 1910

Indeed, Caroline had been right. The night was long, and it seemed to never end. It would have felt even longer if it weren't for the delectable food and champagne. The champagne had done its work, slightly relaxing her as time passed. Marcel's ever watchful eyes almost made her feel naked in his gaze.

"Are you familiar with the foundation of New Orleans, Charlene?" Marcel asked testing of the young witch's intelligence.

"Who from Louisiana isn't familiar with a little history of our beloved state?" Marcel laughed at the witch's remark. "Perhaps, you would help Caroline as to teach her a little history lesson?" Charlene suggested.

"So am I going to learn the old boring history book version, or are we going to talk about the supernatural one?" Caroline asked in hoping to move the conversation along.

"There's a bit of both actually. Marcel, if you would start…" Kol said handing the task to the vampire king.

"Very well then," Marcel began. "I'll give you the easier version. New Orleans was founded May 7, 1718, by the French Mississippi Company, under the direction of Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville. I know. The name is terribly long. Anyway, it was named for Philippe d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans, who was Regent of France at the time. His title came from the French city of Orléans. But, that's getting rather boring explaining that piece of information. The interesting part gets to Klaus actually. He was one of those who founded New Orleans."

Caroline sputtered while drinking her glass of champagne, ending up spitting the drink almost across the room almost to Charlene. Thankfully, the witch wasn't too affected being in the line of fire.

"Seriously? Klaus founded New Orleans?" Disbelief was all over her face listening to this new piece of information.

"This is a new one for me too." Charlene agreed as she grabbed a napkin from the table trying to clean herself off.

"He's quite right. My family helped in its beginning. Marcel was with Klaus when our family helped build New Orleans years ago. Our family ruled for a while until Mikael came around, and there was a struggle and drama beyond our control. Klaus and the rest of our family had no choice but to leave New Orleans." Kol explained.

"Yup, that's the story of his life. That about sums it up." Caroline muttered referring to Klaus.

"You're more interesting than you look, Caroline. I like that." Marcel complimented her. Caroline seemed more uncomfortable by the second. Caroline sent a silent pleading look to Charlene, but she was at a loss.

"I think I know what we can to get the edge off." Kol said sipping the last remnants of the bloody champagne. Who'd thought Kol would be her savior in this situation?

Oh, let's see what he would come up with this time. "And, what would that be?" Caroline asked with skeptical eyes.

Kol smirked, waiting for something else to give away his answer. Rich rhythms of the accordion, fiddle, and other instruments that blended with the music filled the air. Caroline listened in as her foot subconsciously tapped to the beat of the composition.

"I think that will be my answer for your question." Kol said getting up from his seat.

"What kind of music is this?" Caroline asked, her curiosity setting in.

"This is the music that brings us to life down in Louisiana," Marcel answered proudly. "Kol, why don't you take her for a dance? The night is still young."

Caroline's bubble was being invaded by Kol as he walked closer to her, waiting for her to stand. Caroline turned to Charlene in hope for her to save her from the situation, but Charlene didn't come to her aid. Damn.

"You two have fun. I need to get up, anyway. My legs feel numb from not moving for so long." The blonde witch pushed her chair out and proceeded to stand heading out from the already suffocating atmosphere.

So, Caroline was left alone to fend for herself. She can totally handle Kol, but dancing with him? She'd rather handle torture than dancing with him. But, the alcohol in her system was another situation. It made her more relaxed than she anticipated. So, what the hell? She needed to let off a little steam.

"Why not? It might be fun." Still having her dignity intact, she got herself up on her own moving out on to the dance floor where other patrons were dancing to the rich tempo.

The young Mikaelson followed her to the middle of the floor. "We're going to have to get closer. The song calls for it."

Caroline sighed heavily knowing somehow she was so going to regret this later on down the road. She relaxed her tense body just enough for Kol to have one hand on the small of her back and his other hand grasping hers. She put her free hand on his shoulder, and warned him. "No funny business."

He played naturally in role as the lead in the dance. "And when do I ever give you funny business?"

Caroline scoffed as they danced to the fast beat. "Do you not know yourself?" She replied loudly over the music.

"That be true, darling. That be true." He agreed with her. "Now, go along with the beat. Don't think."

Caroline rolled her eyes, but she worked her way through what he said and soon followed through with the beat.

Meanwhile...

Charlene walked slowly through the place taking her time. Her light blue eyes took everything in around her; to be frank, this place gave her the creeps. Whether it was being around so many vampires or the whole theme of this place, it didn't matter. She was still on edge. Something wasn't right, and something was wrong. Her witch senses were all over the place. Her instincts kept screaming at her to run; to get out as fast as she could, but she ignored them.

Good thing she didn't take in so much alcohol or she wouldn't be able to function. Observing the duo out on the dance floor, the cajun music became refreshing surprisingly. Marcel rarely ever played it, but tonight was one of those rare occasions. Caroline was having a hard time hiding the fact she was sort of having a good time. Charlene figured that it's been a while since she had done something of that nature.

Charlene declined offers to dance from the men dressed in their suits, even though she did admit some of them were handsome. She was supposed to be having fun, but someone had to maintain visual guard of what's happening. She still could feel the security of the hex bag she had safe in her clutch, but she can't shake off this instinct to take Caroline and Kol and run away from here.

Deciding that she needed a refresher, the blonde-haired witch sauntered towards the powder room. When she opened the door, the knob wouldn't nudge, the deadbolt in place. Intent on finding out why, the blonde witch leaned against the locked door, placing her ear against the wood hoping to hear any sound that would tell her what was going on. When she thought she would hear two people just having one of those affairs, she heard a muffled guttural moan.

"Hello?" She knocked on the door three times. "Are you all right?"

She barely heard the voice reply back, but it sounded very forced and…almost demonic. "…stay…away…fro…me…"

The sound of bones cracking and breaking sent alarms blaring inside of Charlene's brain. It was a full moon tonight. How could she have forgotten?! Now a werewolf was turning in the damn place! What the hell?! Marcel had a strict no werewolves' policy on a full moon. Everyone in New Orleans understood that rule. Even Charlene did, and this had been the first time for her to come to Marcel's domain.

"Do you need help?!" She tried to help once more seeing if she had another chance.

Indiscernible mutterings and agonized moans were all she heard through the door as more bones broke and became more pronounced.

Her instincts were now at their highest peak. It was impossible to shake them off. Charlene backed away from the door, ready to run, when a pair of dangerous blue eyes stared right back at her almost as if he saw her very soul.

"Oh, my God." That's all she could say.

"Not even close, love."

Back to the dance floor...

"You up for a little competition?" Kol dared her as they got on top of one of the long rectangular tables as people were already going crazy with the dancing. His haughty stare just irked Caroline into wanting to prove him wrong. The music was now at a much faster pace, evoking cadences that readied Caroline for another intense round.

"Kol, don't even think you're going to win this," she said matching his smug face with her own.

"We'll see!"

He had already tossed away the coat of his suit leaving him in the white button-up shirt and dark pants. Both hands in his pockets, his feet worked in its own way to the music. Briefly, she could almost make out the humanity he had as a young man coming back to life through the song.

Caroline sizing him up, she tossed her shoes away, letting her hair down cascading down to her back, and picked up her dress letting her dark pantyhose show as she let the sounds of the Cajun rhythms take over her feet.

Kol's not one to back down from a challenge. He took it in stride as the friendly competition escalated as both of them danced on top of the table with the people cheering around them.

Then Kol came around to Caroline, grasped both of her hands, and spun both of them around.

"Kol, no!" Caroline cried trying not to show she was having fun.

Kol just grinned at her wildly yelling, "WHOA!"

Caroline couldn't stop the squeals and laughter that had escaped from her throat as they spun. "Oh, my God. You're about to make me sick!"

Listening to her, Kol let her go, but he didn't let her go at the right time. She was too close to the edge of the table. Caroline couldn't stop herself, her footing wasn't fast enough. Her foot twisted on itself, and she knew right then she was about to fall. Just when she thought the hard floor would break her fall, Caroline landed into a pair of strong arms instead.

Not bothering to turn around, she thought Kol had saved her. "Thanks, Kol. That was a close one."

"Unfortunately, my brother wasn't the one who came to your aid."

Her blood ran cold hearing that voice. No, it couldn't be. She desperately looked to Kol, who was still standing on the table, also as shocked as she was at the person standing behind her. There was only one person in the entire world who owned that delectable voice, accent and all.

She turned around seeing her worst fears coming to life.

There was Klaus, standing in the flesh.

There he was. Niklaus Mikaelson. An Original. A wolf in sheep's clothing. A devil.

You might as well call him that. That's one of the ever adding names they call him from what Caroline saw. There's too many titles.

The heavy weight of anticipation dropped onto Caroline's shoulders as she saw him standing there in front of her. It only took just one glance at him to dampen her almost joyful frame of mind. It was over and done with now. Dead.

A century. Practically that much back into the past, and she was naive to think that maybe there was the slightest chance that she wouldn't run into him. Too naive.

Remember that old expression, "You can cut the tension with a knife?" Yeah, try that, but multiply by a hundred. That's how it felt for Caroline, and probably for everyone else too.

She glanced all sides of the room, desperately searching for any sign of Charlene. Where was she?

"Let me go!" Charlene demanded to be released. "I had nothing to do with this!" A guard slapped her hard across her face in an effort to silence her. An ugly red handprint of the administration of her wound festered on her features. Charlene quieted herself, but she still struggled against their hold with her eyes glaring at them angrily. There was almost no time left. Soon enough, they wouldn't be able to stop it.

Caroline saw Charlene captured by the guards, being held by each arm. She looked back to Kol, then to Charlene, and back to Klaus.

That's when she realized. It had all been a trap. It had to be!

"It's been a long time, Kol," the most hated Original of the Mikaelson family greeted his younger brother as he approached the table, deliberately slowing down in each step. Even then, he looked regal. "We finally meet after I caught up to you in this little game of hide and seek."

Kol remained unaffected outwardly by his sudden appearance. "You know me better than I thought. I commend you. It is my favorite game, and it never gets old. Even with you after all these years."

Caroline wanted to run away so bad knowing full well what the damages would be, but she didn't move. She was frozen. Never in her life had she been so afraid. Not since…she can't even remember the last time.

"Let's cut the chit-chat. You know why I'm here, don't you?"

Kol grimaced. "I'm sure. I thought I smelled a trap. And I smell the presence of a dirty traitor in our midst. I wouldn't be surprised if that certain traitor…was the vampire-king himself."

In one part of the crowds, the audience watching the exchange momentarily parted for Marcel as he paraded his way to the two Originals like he was a famous celebrity on the red carpet. "Two of the Mikaelson brothers in my province. This is a special treat."

"We don't need more delays, mate. Get on with it." Klaus impatiently stated.

"What deal did you make with him, Marcel? I should've known you were nothing, but his lapdog." Kol taunted disgusted with the vampire-king.

Marcel humorlessly laughed. "You really think I would let anything threaten my throne? You were never the one for honesty, Kol. I thought you understood me more."

Kol's face held no emotion. "Deal or no deal, I am not going to be daggered and put into a box. Not by you or my brother."

"Do we always have to do it the hard way?" Klaus stuck a hand inside of his suit, brandishing a silver dagger in his grip with the blade covered in white ash. Klaus flashed to his brother ready to aim for the heart. Before Caroline rethought of what she had done, using her new hybrid speed and strength, she pushed Klaus away from Kol.

Several gasps erupted as Klaus landed on several tables, many of them breaking into pieces as collateral damage. He shook his head, getting rid of the dizzy vision for a second. His eyes widened. It's impossible. There can't be a hybrid. There's no way, but her scent said it all. The sweet yet undead scent of a vampire, but also earthy and natural like a werewolf. It made sense. She was a hybrid.

"You're not going to hurt him. Not if I can help it." Caroline stood her ground with the beast inside of her ready to take Klaus on if she had to.

"I don't need any of your help, Caroline." Kol said full of his own pride, pushing her aside.

She glared at him. "Don't start that with me. Going against him, you're going to need all the help you can get."

Klaus stopped in front of "Caroline" as to what his brother calls her, looking at her dead in the eyes. She appeared unfazed, but inside she was reeling with fear. She didn't know what she was doing. "What makes you possibly think I would relent to your orders?"

She gulped, stomaching her fear down putting on a brave face and said. "Because I know you would regret it in the end."

"May I remind all of you a little something? WE HAVE ANOTHER GIANT PROBLEM ON OUR HANDS!" Charlene yelled, fighting more than ever to be free from their damn hold.

Not too far from the altercation, a distant rumble can be heard through the walls. Everything seemed to shake slightly almost like a hallucination.

Then time slowed, but gained speed with the sounds only they could hear, but not see.

The locked door to the powder room burst into pieces, making wood rain on top of the other vampires and human servants below. A piercing roar echoed through the silence, revealing where the roar belonged to. A massive brown wolf blurred over to one of the vampires, holding it down with its weight. The monster sunk its sharp teeth into the screaming vampire, tearing and shredding into the meat of the body.

Caroline gasped in horror reliving Tyler's transformation in front of her. Marcel fled from the scene like the coward he was, seeing the werewolf's yellow eyes glaring at him. She went after him first, but the spicy coppery smell of blood wafted to its nose. In a frantic haze with an insatiable hunger, the wolf jump started into a run and ran into the night, damaging more things in its wake. Widespread panic arose as the people of Saints and Sinners fled from the place.

"That's it!" Charlene had enough of being helpless. In the rush of the moment, she had inflicted a shot pain to both of the vampires who held her prisoner before, making both of them drop to the ground holding their heads.

"Wow, I never thought I would do that." Charlene commented, surprised by her own strength.

Kol took the opportunity of Klaus distracted, to try to take away the dagger ensuing a fight to the death between the two brothers. Caroline checked over the witch seeing if there were any injuries.

"I'm fine. I'm fine. Right now, you need to get out of here." Charlene warned Caroline.

"I need to help you." Caroline argued stubbornly.

"You're the only person that's able to turn. You need to stop that wolf before it kills any more people." Charlene said. "There's no time. You need to go."

"But-"

"Go! I can help Kol for a little while. Don't worry about me now. Go!" Charlene demanded, running into the fray hoping to do something right for a change.

Caroline had no choice, but to do what she said. Caroline rushed after the werewolf with every ounce of energy she could muster out of her new body. She zipped through the streets of New Orleans, her undead heart pumping fast inside of her chest in overdrive.

Soon enough, after jumping many fences and crossing many alleys, she came across a dense forest with thick branches covering any sight of the dark sky.

There was no way she could excavate through the entire forest all night. There was only one way to do this.

She would have to do it. Closing her eyes, she concentrated.

Every bone in her body twisted and cracked as she concentrated on turning. Anger was the trigger to start, so she tried to dig up any negative feelings she had left to ignite the transformation. Flashes of what used to be her present came forward as clear as she wanted them to be. The rawer, the faster she would be able to turn. Caroline groaned as the wolf part of her hybrid nature finally came into play, revealing her true wolf form.

Caroline felt odd as she stood on all fours instead of two, but she couldn't shake off the riveting sensations that as a wolf that she began to comprehend. With no time to waste, she tested her new body by running as best as she could with four legs. The pull of the moon called to her with its song as adrenaline coursed through her veins. The wind blew through her thick fur as she flashed through the forest floor. She could sense the wolf nearby smelling its scent not too far from where it was heading.

Where is it? Caroline wondered in frustration. That's when she almost jumped ten feet backward. Did she just talk?

Whoa. She voiced in her mind testing what's going on. That's so weird.

Clearing her mind, she focused on her main goal. Operation: Find Werewolf was in commence.

Her eyesight as a wolf was like when she was in her regular form, but transferred as a wolf. Caroline wondered what her appearance as a wolf was. She treaded carefully through the wilderness, her head turning side to side looking for the werewolf.

Then…snap!

A huge weight of fur pummeled into Caroline, causing her to land on her side against a tree. She opened her eyes again catching the wolf finally within her sights. With the shrouded trees covering the sky, little moonlight was barely able to penetrate it. Caroline strained her eyes to see where the wolf was. She couldn't see fully, but what she did see were fierce glowing yellow eyes and white canines stained with red from the blood of its victims.

Caroline struggled to get up as she tried to find her footing. There was little time for her to dodge when the wolf combated her again as it lounged in for the kill.

Stop this! Listen to me! Caroline mentally bellowed hoping to get the wolf's attention.

…kill…kill…won't let…won't lose…never…

A surprisingly female voice spilled into Caroline's mind as she listened in. The wolf's mind was scrambled with no end to it all. It was hard to decipher what was going on. The werewolf's thoughts were too muddled and cluttered. Caroline never would have imagined that the huge wolf would be a female.

The werewolf stalked around Caroline's ground snarling with a feral gaze. Caroline finally got her footing, and decided if she wasn't going to listen to reason, Caroline would have to talk through the language the other wolf would only understand.

With her instincts taking over, she jumped right into the wild side. Her blue eyes narrowed dangerously, the blonde wolf's fur bristled, her ears peeled back, and her lips curled back emitting a growl. They stalked each other in a circle, growls and snarls as their only mantra.

Both of them felt the power pour into them as both of them came closer needing to release. Then suddenly, both werewolf and hybrid collided. Blue eyes against golden. Caroline didn't have the luxury to think of what her next move should be. It was all instinct now.

It felt like a century of time passed as they fought for dominance. For the other werewolf, it was her anger and need to kill that fueled that stubbornness to win. With Caroline, it was for her survival, but she wanted the wolf to see reason. It wasn't her fault for having a curse of that magnitude.

They leaped at each other desperate to get moves in, at least trying to get some attacks somehow. Caroline felt unsure of this. She never anticipated fighting a wolf, let alone as one too. She was off her game.

Both of them clawed at each other trying to dominate the situation. Then the other wolf went sneaking in another move, knocking Caroline into the ground into submission.

The other werewolf had Caroline pinned down on her back, proving who won this round. Caroline pleaded silently, It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you. You don't have to do this.

…no…not again…will not…lies…control…kill…KILL…

She sunk her canines into Caroline's neck causing her more pain. Before she tore Caroline to shreds, the werewolf was lifted into the air and thrown away from Caroline. Caroline's new wound festered and burned, which was odd because werewolf venom shouldn't have affected her. But, that's when she smelled it. Vervain. The wolf had been ingesting vervain. Caroline then felt the cuts and damage the other wolf caused. They burned and stung like hell.

The wolf turned to attack Caroline again, angry even more for someone interfering with her fight. She pounced in, but then whined in agony of the pain present in her skull, making her coward into the dirt. The telepathic link was still open. Caroline's vision became hazy within minutes as she had a hard time telling who was it that saved her life.

Before the welcoming darkness pulled her in, there was a name spoken in the link that made her eyes widened for a split second before her vision became black.

…no…can't be…Adelaide…