Damon had since left in attempts to stop the ritual yet again and Antonia had dozed off on the couch, succumbing to the tiredness of being a human. Katherine had been pacing around, feeding off of blood bags and left-over muffins. Katherine knew that Antonia was Klaus' mate but she still worried about her, Klaus could be impulsive, and if he thought Antonia was lying or making a plan against him she shuddered at the thought of what he could do to her little Toni.

"Promise me you'll be careful, you won't let him hurt you simply because he's your mate" Katherine pleaded with the sleeping girl as she sat on the couch by her running a hand through Antonia's hair that now was strewn about. Stirring at the touch Antonia turned over facing into the couch burying her face into the pillows. Katherine couldn't help but be pulled back to memories of the girls' actual history.

Katherine was the one who took Antonia in but their relationship had been far from abusive. Antonia had suffered a great deal as she never was able to keep up as times changed, and often found herself in homeless shelters, forced to work odd jobs and really had lived a rough life but Katherine was not in any way contributing to it. She took pity on her when she saw her singing on the street corner in NYC long ago, and she compelled that bar owner to offer her a job. Following her back to the dressing room Katherine had witnessed the musician try to force himself on Antonia and that was when she stepped in. When Antonia was less than shocked, and had called her Tatia, Katherine took her in treating her like family after hearing her story.

Many saw Katherine as a heartless bitch which was true as could be but her soft spot was her Toni. Each girl was like a sister and a mother to the other. There wasn't a real "ploy" but rather Antonia tapped into her human self, a shy obedient girl in order to get a foot in the door. Katherine had been running from Klaus to an extent, she had but she was also trying to help Antonia find him without getting caught, and in return Antonia was to try to Katherine pardoned when she came clean to Klaus.

Antonia could have lived her life without ever finding her mate but she wanted family, the elders had told her mate had been born but her father forbade her from meeting him as he claimed it would bring shame to her family being with a child born to someone who had an affair. Ansel and Antonia's parents made a promise that no one was to tell her who her mate was and it wasn't until she had come back to the village the night Mikael slaughtered them all and found Ansel barely breathing that he confessed that it was his son, Niklaus that was her mate. While Ansel was the pack's Alpha he understood where Antonia's parents came from and had respected their wishes but on his death bed he threw it all out the window. Antonia hadn't known what to do with that, she was still reeling from seeing her entire pack everyone she ever knew slaughtered leaving her alone. She hadn't actually thought much about finding her mate until she met Katherine and realized how much she wanted to have her mate, to have a family and to be loved.

Katherine must have been sitting watching Antonia for longer than she thought because the sun started to shine through the shades.

"Is he not coming back?" A small voice asked muffled in the couch. Katherine smiled at her, "I don't know, but how about some breakfast?" Katherine had a million different questions running through her mind right now, did Klaus complete the ritual, did he turn, was he coming back, or should the girls go on the run? Food always got her mind off the horrible.

"It is as if I can see the wheels turning in your mind 'Rin" Antonia said as she got up with a groan. Sleeping on a lumpy couch had nothing for her lower back. "I'm glad you're observant, why don't you go shower and change while I make us something to eat huh?" Katherine asked turning away to rummage through the fridge. "Okay, I think I saw some frozen waffles in the fridge the other day if we can't find anything else" Antonia said as she peeled her boots off leaving them in a heap on the floor before making her way to the bedroom.

The hot shower spray beat down on her back as Antonia stood lost in thought. The terrible thunderstorm last night had encroached on her dreams and she saw a wolf rampaging through the woods killing any unsuspecting people it found. She had always longed to fulfill that part of who she was, the werewolf part but wasn't sure if she wanted to become a mad killing machine like the wolf in her dreams. She felt it was pretty obvious that the wolf was Klaus and that made her apprehensive about telling him the entire truth. He was completely in control last night and it was as if he had made the conscious decision to lose control and go on such a horrendous killing spree.

Cleaning off from the shower making her way back out into loft after throwing on the same clothes she was wearing earlier she came to the couch again as Katherine continued to cook.

"I feel like this is all so real, like what I've wanted is finally happening but what if I'm making a mistake coming to him and trying to fulfill something that was meant a thousand years ago?" Antonia asked. She didn't really want an answer but it was what both girls were already thinking so why not literally put it out there into words?

Katherine stabbed the French toast with her fork turning it over in the frying pan. The sizzling of the food was the only sound that filled the air for a good minute before Katherine could find the words to say. "I think if you're truly meant for someone you will be, there's no expiration date on fate". Her mind couldn't help but drift to another as she hoped that was true for herself.

Antonia still seated in her chair slid her upper body down on the counter with a huff. Katherine slid a plate of French toast to Antonia who let out another huff before jabbing the breakfast with her own fork taking a bite. Filling her own plate Katherine sat down next to Antonia.

"You know I think you're just nervous, you've never had your own pack before since well…" She didn't dare bring up Antonia's family, the subject was always too sore to talk about. "anyways I just think you're over thinking. Klaus may be a son of a real bitch but fate is fate I know he can be sweet maybe you're the sweet 'thang that will bring it out" Katherine teased seriously.

The two-finished eating in silence, both lost in thought yet again. They spent the rest of the day catching up on tv, being nosy in Alaric's apartment and just plain gossiping.

Realizing there was little left in the apartment to eat Katherine ordered and compelled Chinese food for them. Amidst an egg roll Antonia inquired where Alaric was. "I believe he's staying at the Salvatore's, since I'm playing compelled to stay here I don't think he wanted to hang out with me" Katherine said rolling her eyes, "I wonder why!" Antonia teased which resulted in Katherine pelting her with a fortune cookie.

It was like old times, nights spent in indulging in all the bad-for-you-take out there was and a silly chick flick. If anyone was to be a fly on the wall they would have thought that Antonia and Katherine were nothing but high schoolers enjoying their night but there was much still weighing on their minds. All they had worked for was about to come down to if Antonia could get Klaus to accepting who she was while pardon Katherine. With every passing moment the suspense grew.

The pair were laying spread out on the rug, Antonia was reading laying down with Katherine was lounging on the couch twiddling with her hands facing the door. She was nervous, wondering if he had actually broken the curse and what that could mean for Klaus and her deal with the Salvatores. Antonia knew about the alliance, she couldn't blame Katherine for wanting Klaus dead, hell she had told Katherine as much and Antonia felt what was meant to be will be so she didn't mind.

Antonia knew how fucked up that sounded but after all this time she felt if Klaus and her were truly mates than that will happen, she will work for love but not to the extent that she was willing to fight fate. A long time ago she made peace with being whatever immortal character she was she knew it was meant to be, there had to be a reason for her living a life of pain and tragedy was meant. She wasn't religious but she was spiritual and if the universe wanted something to happen it was going to happen. If Klaus was to die it wouldn't matter if she forced Katherine to break the agreement but she threw her trust into fate.

Checking for Klaus Stefan glanced around as he slipped in, "Hello Katherine and friend?"

"Two days I've been waiting! And I'm supposed to be free of Klaus' compulsion by now, he's supposed to be dead!" Katherine bellowed out, stomping right up to the unknown man to Anotnia. Glancing up from her book brown waves fell around her face, tossing them behind her ear Antonia said, "Are you Stefan?"

Ignoring the girl on the floor, "We ran into complications." Stefan said.

"Complications?" questioned Katherine.

"It doesn't really matter I just need to find him" Stefan kept his hands in his pocket as he shrugged his shoulders, "Do you have any idea where he may be?"

Suddenly Katherine grabbed Stefan by the collar and flashed him to the wall in the bedroom, the door left open and Antonia could see Katherine shushing the vampire. She rolled her eyes before going back to her book.

Not a moment later Klaus came waltzing in the apartment with a man in a suit following in tow. "Klaus you're back" Katherine said as she left Stefan and walked out of the bedroom. She motioned back to the bedroom at Stefan who now stood in the door way. Walking over Antonia she walked towards Klaus, "Look who came for a visit"

Not in the mood to be stepped on with people now walking around she rolled over and up to sitting on the couch. Antonia looked between the man and the suit, Klaus, Katherine and Stefan. Klaus looked rather amused noted Antonia while the man in the suit looked at the younger vampire with distain.

"You just keep poppin' up don't you?" Klaus asked with a smile. Stefan stepped forward "I need your help" the state of his brother was taking a toll on him and it was evident in his voice "for my brother" finished Stefan.

"Well whatever it is it's just going to have to wait a tick. You see I have an obligation to my brother".

"You understand how important family is otherwise you wouldn't be standing here" The man in the suit said with a grim tone, walking right into Stefan's personal space. "My brother gave me his word that he would reunite me with my own"

The man in the suit didn't notice Klaus flash behind him with a dagger, "And so I shall" Klaus said as the suit man whipped around and was promptly stabbed in the chest with the dagger and he gave out a harsh moan in agony.

Both Katherine and Stefan immediately went into a defensive stance. Antonia's hands flew back to the back of the couch as she gasped. Klaus let the desiccating body fall down softly onto the rug. Antonia snatched up her legs to her chest when she realized that dead body was going to be anywhere near her feet. If Klaus was willing to do that to her own inferred brother Antonia got nervous, what the hell had she gotten herself into? Taking a moment to relish in his kill he smirked at the body. And not a moment later Stefan was slammed into the exposed brick which crumbled at the force of which Klaus held him against it by his neck, "Now what am I going to do with you?"

Antonia sat wide eyed on the couch, suddenly feeling very vulnerable. Katherine stood silently watching on horror as Klaus punched his arm into Stefan's chest grabbing his heart in his literal hand. "He just wants you to help his brother" Katherine said. "The witches said you had a cure, make me a deal just give me the cure and I'll do whatever you want!" Stefan choked out.

Klaus read his eyes for a moment before pulling his hand out leaving Stefan to fall on his knees gasping for air as his chest started to heal. Katherine stood wavering for a moment before deciding to not help Stefan she didn't want to get on Klaus' bad side at the moment.

"Trouble is I don't know if you'd be any good to me the way you are now" Klaus said pouring a blood bag into a tumbler taking a sip, "You're just shy of useless" Klaus walked around to crouch in front of a very in pain and now confused Stefan as he said "I've heard about this crazy vampire, really crazy bloke, always on and off the wagon for decades. When he was off he was magnificent. 1917 he went into Montgomery. And he whipped out an entire migrant village. A true ripper. Sound familiar?"

"I haven't been that way in a very long time" Stefan said his eyes glazed over. "Well, that's the vampire I can make a deal with. And that is the kind of talent I could use when I leave this town. Katerina come here" Klaus said downing the last of his blood in his cup.

Katherine went to Klaus hesitantly, Antonia looked on nearly jumping off the couch when Klaus bit into Kathrine's wrist. Even Stefan looked shocked. A silent tear sprung from Antonia's eye.

And just as quickly Klaus bit into his own wrist before forcing it to Katherine's mouth. They all looked on as her bit mark from Klaus stitched itself back together. His blood was the cure to a werewolf bite.

"You want your cure? There it is." Klaus said as a trickle of blood rolled down his chin. Antonia shuddered as she was fuming from the emotional rollercoaster of her friend dying now suddenly finding the blood down Klaus' chin arousing.

Klaus wiped his chin as Stefan concluded out loud, "Your blood is the cure."

"Got to love mother nature. Now let's talk business."

Antonia zoned out for a moment as she stared at Katherine who too was frozen in her spot processing the last thirty seconds. Klaus and Stefan were standing by the island as Klaus took a knife to his palm cutting it letting in drain crimson into a little bottle, "There it is". Klaus admired the cure. "You want to save your brother? How about a decade-long bender? And I have big plans for you when we leave this town"

"Well I'm not like that anymore" Stefan retorted, Antonia sighed, he seriously wasn't getting that Klaus wasn't going to take that for an answer even a damn chipmunk could see that.

"Well that's too bad, you would have made one hell of a wingman" He said as he leaned over and started allowing the blood to drip out of the bottle and right down the sink drain. "Wait" Stefan said lurching forward a little at the sight of his brother's only chance literally going down the drain.

"Now that's more like it. I want you to join me for a drink" Klaus smirked as he slid a blood bag across the counter to Stefan who eyed it with clear conflict.

"Finish it" Klaus said as Stefan took an itty-bitty sip from the bag, "All of it" Stefan looked at him with clear hatred, but it was clear that his love for his brother was stronger than his hatred of Klaus, "You do all that I say and I save your brother, that's the deal"

And before they knew it Stefan was drinking from a blood bag as he closed his eyes taking in the blood spilling down his throat. Katherine turned her head truly dumbfounded at the scene before her. Just as Stefan drained the first blood bag Klaus threw him another, "Again" he commanded. Stefan grunted as he fought the urge to go off the rails, the human blood was more euphoric than he remembered.

Antonia's heart was nearly pounding out of her chest, "This is some crazy stuff" she said under her breath as she stood coming to lean against the loft's beam in the middle of the room next to Katherine. She was terrified but also curious to see Klaus in what she guessed was his natural habitat and see the undoing of the Salvatore brother.

A dozen blood bags later Stefan was kneeled on the floor blood pouring down his chin, he truly looked like he had just slaughtered a crowd. His eyes were crazy with blood lust and anger. Klaus stood in front of him as Stefan groaned and hiss at Antonia who shifted against the pole. Her feet had started to hurt from standing so long but was too scared to sit down as the only options were the bar stools right behind Klaus and the couch way too close to Stefan for her liking.

"you're very cooperative. It's almost as if you're enjoying it." Klaus said throwing another one at Stefan's feet.

"No more, not until you give me the cure" Stefan said.

"Not until we make a deal. It's your choice Stefan. You can either remain here, living your life in Mystic Falls or you can embrace what you truly are," Klaus stooped down to Stefan's level picking up the bag he just threw unscrewing the cap, "leave town with me and save your brother's life" And with that Stefan snatched the bag from Klaus and tore into it, "That's the spirit"

Klaus got up turning as he took the cure in the bottle off the counter before walking straight for Katherine. "Sweetheart" he said as he pulled her off the beam by her arm, "Take this over to Damon and come right back" he compelled.

"You want me to leave?" She asked

"No!" Stefan shouted, "Yes" Klaus said as he pushed a curl behind her ear. "And if I were you…" Klaus started but Katherine was already out the door wide open on her way out. "I'd hurry" Klaus finished smirking as he saw she was gone. Klaus winked at Antonia who stood up a little straighter.

Turning Klaus padded the chair intending for Antonia to come sit down. Antonia cautiously did so her feet dangled as she took a seat as Klaus took the one next to her. "She'll never take it to him" Stefan exclaimed, he muttered again hanging in head in defeat.

Antonia zoned out for a moment and suddenly Klaus was talking to her. "Are you ready sweetheart?"

"What?" Antonia asked looking up to him. How long had she zoned out for?

"I don't have all day love, do come along or I'll make Stefan throw you over his shoulder and I do believe you don't want that" Klaus said reaching for her hand on her lap pulling her to her feet.

"Go get in the car with Tony"

"Where are we going?"

"Go" Klaus snapped. Antonia looked for her shoes briefly until Klaus caught on to what she was searching for. "We don't have time for this" And threw her over his own shoulder. Shrieking Antonia felt all the blood rush to her head as he flashed them outside to the car. Opening the back seat, he tossed Antonia in ungracefully. He apparently tossed her more than he thought as her head hit the other door with a thud. "Tony watch her, I'll be down in a minute"

Slamming the door as he left Klaus flashed back to the loft. Antonia rubbed her head she left something wet? How hard had she hit her head that she was now bleeding, great!

"You alright back there?"

"Yeah, my head it just hurts, but I'll be fine" Antonia wasn't one to complain, she didn't want to be that human besides it seemed to be just a scrap not a concussion of any sorts.

She sat up pulling her feet underneath her as she got comfy against the door in the seat behind Tony. "Where are we going? Back to his house?"

"No"

"Where are we going then?"

"you'll see"

Tony wasn't being helpful, rude. "Whatever"

It felt like forever until the two vampires joined them in the SUV. Klaus slid into the front and Stefan in the back with Antonia.

Klaus spoke to Tony but Antonia just eyed the blood covered Salvatore. Stefan closed the door after himself and took a sniff of the air. His eyes shot to Antonia and she attempted to become one with the door as she pushed against it away from Stefan.

The SUV started and the drove in silence for a good twenty minutes all along with Stefan starring at Antonia. She was terrified that he could smell the blood on her. Thankfully she didn't have to find out as once the car stopped all three boys got out. "Stay put dear" Klaus said as Tony locked the door with a beep. "Great no shoes and locked in a car in the middle of the night" She said to herself as she watched the three of them retreat into what looked like a storage container facility.