Chapter 2: Elijah and Klaus

I rolled out of the bed, feeling empty inside as I looked around, seeing how bare the house was still. I faced the ceiling and thought about turning the emotions off, maybe it would be better that way. Anything had to be better than life like this. I wanted the pain to stop, I wanted to flip the switch, I wanted to do it so bad. Yet I wouldn't, I swore I would never turn it off, I would not become the monster…not like them. It was a promise I made at the beginning. Bonnie had left after the funeral, to stay with some of her other family, that it was too painful to be here right now. I let her go, knowing how she must be feeling, not wanting to be around here either. But I had no where else to go, the Bennett's had been family to me.

I remained at the house for a long time, but I heard that Bonnie returned and was doing okay. I wanted to comfort her, I wanted to make her feel better but she now knew the truth and I didn't want her to feel my burden like the rest of her family had. I only caused trouble where I went, it was just easier if I stayed here and listened for what I was waiting for. If it meant a happier life for her, I would stay here, I wouldn't put my problems on her or any other of the Bennett's. So day after day, I spent it reading books, solving puzzles, anything to pass the time so that I wasn't tempted to leave and check up on her. I lost track of the days when I overheard something as someone was passing the house.

"Why would Elijah let them go?" I rushed to the window and saw Caroline talking on the phone to someone. I listened hard, trying to figure out who was on the other end. "No clue. We have already got Elena safe in her house. She's trying to let herself get killed for us." I leaned back, that was Bonnie. What had happened? I threw some clothes on and walked outside, shielding my eyes after being inside for so long, but thankfully the sun was setting. I followed Caroline, trying to listen more but she had hung up before I could get close enough to hear. She went to The Grill and I paused, sensing too many people inside, my body urging me to go in, just a taste, no one would have to know.

I sighed and walked off, I couldn't risk being inside with so many people, I couldn't risk losing control that I have. I would have to find another way to see if this was the Elijah I was thinking about. If they were protecting Elena, I would go to her house, I needed to find Bonnie. As I got there, I could hear them inside, their heartbeats, their breathing. I knocked on the door and waited, unsure of what I was going to say, but knowing this was the right thing to do. Elena's brother opened the door and I realized how old he had gotten, then Bonnie saw me and ran over, hugging me tight.

"Kara, you're back…" I nodded and pulled away, asking if we could talk. "Of course, let's go outside." she said and told the others we would be back. She led me outside and onto the porch swing, her face filled with worry. "Is something happening? Are you all in danger?" she nodded, but patted my knee. "I'll fill you in later, right now, I wanna talk about what Grams told me." "Sure…what did she tell you about me?" "That you were a vampire bound to our family for generations. That you were the family's secret, no one was to know. You helped keep the family safe and we hid you from something in your past. That was it."

I agreed, that was what was passed down through the years, what was told to them. "This is so confusing. I remember you coming by through the years, but you always seemed to be different ages…how is that possible?" "Because of a spell placed on me by the strongest witches in the family. To help hide me, it doesn't last long, which is why I would stay away for long times and only return for short visits." I explained and she seemed to understand, but I was more worried about her and her friends. "Bonnie…now that you know about your family, your powers and me…tell me what's happening now so I can help."

She told me about Caroline being turned by Elena's doppelganger, how two witches are in town with some vampire called Elijah. "He's an Original apparently, that's different from normal vampires." I stood up, this was not possible, they were not here. "Is he the only one here?" I asked her, twisting my ring again and again as I began to pace. "Kara, what's wrong?" "Is…he the only one." I asked again and she nodded, telling me about Rumors that someone named Klaus was searching for Elena, the moonstone and some other things to break the curse of the sun and the moon. I scoffed and faced her, "It's not like that. We need to kill Elijah before Klaus comes."

"Kara, calm down. We have a plan. We have a dagger and some ashes that are supposed to kill an Original." I faced her in a flash, "You are sure it's the right stuff? Can you trust John?" I asked, knowing that Elena never liked her uncle. "I want you to keep me up to date on everything from now on. I'll get a phone…today." I gave her my address and told her to come here if they needed a place vampire free as I was the only vampire that had ever been invited in. "Kara, shouldn't you meet Damon and Stefan and the others? Maybe we can figure out a way for all of us to work together." I shook my head, "No, I work alone. It's best that way. When others get involved…others get hurt." I gave her a look and walked away.

If Elijah was here, I needed to find him and end him. I needed that ash and dagger though, I needed to get things finished before the others came along. I went to the store, grabbing a prepaid phone and several plan cards so I wouldn't have to come back that often, paying and tearing into the phone to turn it on and get service. I trashed the things I didn't need and went back to the house. I placed the phone on the charger and found the phone numbers Shelia wrote for me before she passed, knowing I would need them in the future. I paced around, listening as I twisted my ring, trying to figure out what I needed to do first.

Bonnie did come by a few days later, but we talked over the phone before she showed up. "We took down Elijah, we didn't know we couldn't take the dagger out, so it was a little crazy, but now he's down. Next is Klaus." "Without another dagger, how are they planning on taking him on?" "Not sure yet, it's all confusing." I gave her a bottle of water, letting her sip as I spoke, "Can I see Elijah?" "Why would you?" "I heard of the Original Vampire, I wanted to see him myself." "He's at Stefan and Damon's house. You'll have to ask them." I sighed, I didn't want to see any other vampires, I just wanted to make sure it was really Elijah and finish him off. She told me about Elijah's witches and that they were going to try to work with them. "Kara, I really need to go meet with them. I'll call you later alright?" I let her go, maybe with all of them busy, I would be able to get to Elijah.

I waited for a while, then I set out, sneaking into the house from the side and following my gut to the basement and paused in front of the door. I felt it inside of me, it was the truth, it was really Elijah lying on the ground in there. I swung the door open and stepped inside, looking down at his scorched clothes, his face gray with veins of death over his body. I bent down, tracing my fingers along his hair, his eyes, his chin. It was so insane that he was in front of me. I wondered how he would speak, how his smile looked, what color his eyes were…it was too much to have him so close, yet so far away. I looked at the dagger, it was within my reach.

If I wanted, I could see those things. I would be able to know him. I moved closer, my fingers almost at it when I heard a noise and I took off running, out of the house and far from the house. I cursed myself for running, I was so close, I was an idiot for leaving him like that. I debated going back, but found myself walking home. My dreams were of his face, I imagined what he looked like, what he sounded like…what they all sounded and looked like. I finally put a face to one of their names. Soon I would do it with Klaus as well.

The next day I realized Bonnie never called and I dialed her number, but no answer. I waited and waited, surely she would call if something was wrong. Finally after several days, I couldn't wait longer and went to her house. She wasn't there and I tried her phone again, but no answer. I went back home, trying Elena's number, but no one was picking up. I was getting worried, why were none of them answering. I couldn't take it anymore, I went to the school, they were going to be there for sure. I saw signs for a dance for that evening, students were laughing and talking about it as I searched the crowd, looking for Elena or Bonnie or Caroline.

I froze, sensing something around, it was like a chill ran through me…but what was it? It was different from anything I had ever felt before. I looked around but couldn't figure out where the feeling was coming from, I was pulled from my search when I heard Bonnie's voice. "Kara?" I whipped around, asking her if she was alright. "Right, sorry. I meant to call. A lot has happened." "And you are supposed to keep me up to date. I need to know everything Bonnie. Or I can't help." she told me about everything that had happened. About Elijah's witch taking her powers, then his son dying after trying to take the dagger out of Elijah, then about trying to kidnap Elena and giving Bonnie her powers back and a message before he was killed.

"We have a plan to take on Klaus tonight at the dance. He's here for Elena." I told her I was coming tonight. "Grams said you didn't do crowds of humans. Said it was hard for you. A school full of kids is not going to be good for you." I shook my head, "I'll be alright. Bonnie, I will be there to protect you all." "Kara, you can't take on Klaus, he's too strong." I told her that I was coming tonight no matter what. I rushed home, I had some things to get. I headed to the school once I was ready, it was getting late already, I could hear the music as I got closer. I rushed inside and the dance was already in full swing, I scanned the crowd but only saw Caroline and her date.

I listened hard as I felt a pull in my chest, I followed and could hear crying, I rushed forward, flashing and seeing the trashed room. "Who are you?" he asked and I looked at the ground, seeing Bonnie's body on the ground, Elena was being pulled away by another guy. The one who spoke grabbed my throat and slammed me against the wall. I coughed and met his blue eyes. "Damon wait, it's our friend!" Elena called before she was out of my sight. I grabbed his hand and jerked it away, breaking it as he cried out and I rushed to Bonnie. "No, Bonnie. This can't be possible. You can't be dead."

I took her into my arms, she couldn't be dead, this wasn't happening. "I have to get her out of here. What's your name?" he came over and I hissed at him, "Do not touch her!" "Easy there. Fine, come with me." I picked her up, following him as he brought us to a car. Opening the trunk, he told me to put her inside. "Bonnie trusted me. You trusted Bonnie. Trust me." "Damon? Right?" I asked as I trusted in Bonnie and her friends, placing her gently in the trunk. Elena's brother came running, asking about Bonnie and Damon told us both to get into the car. "You know where to take her, Jeremy. Bring this one along." he told him, pointing to me.

Damon explained what he and Bonnie had planned for Klaus, fooling him into believing she was dead. "I can't go to that place. The witches won't let a vampire on it." I said and watched Jeremy drive off with Bonnie. I had to trust them…as hard as it was to watch her leave. "So what's your name?" Damon asked me, walking up as he was rubbing his arm. "Kara." "Clearly you're older than me, stronger…what are you doing with Bonnie?" I walked off, asking if it was the time for this. "I need to find Klaus." "He's gone, what do you want with him?" "To kill him of course." I faced him, feeling a pulse in my body as I said the words.