AUTHOR'S NOTE: I know I know, I said I'd have another chapter up in a day or two and that turned into more weeks. So sorry everyone! The trip I'm planning is proving a hassle and tie that in with holidays it makes everything bonkers. More official dialogue mixed in with quite a few changes as well hehe. Working on finishing up the next Nikita chapter as well. Witching hour has begun. ;-) Also, it might be a bit confusing for some in part of it. Just stick with it and all will be revealed.

DISCLAIMER: No I don't own Elijah, Elena, or anything to do with that which is The Vampire Diaries series. This is just my version of it. ;-)

Bound By Blood

~Previously in Bound By Blood~

Klaus grinned and the look in his eyes only intensified. "Well, that's why I like you."

Short, simple, and to the point. As well as totally honest. One little sentence and he totally takes her breath away. Softly smiling at him, Caroline couldn't help but to feel like something was different now. This definitely was not part of the plan.

Chapter 8 - Trusting Your Instincts

Standing next to Abby, okay, her mother, Bonnie knew she'd feel somewhat uncomfortable, but she thought being surrounded by fellow witches would've cancelled that out. Watching Esther as Finn lit the torches in the circle, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Grams had always taught her to trust her gut about everything. Hers was currently screaming and Bonnie was going to find out why.

"What's the spell you're doing?" Watching Esther share a look with Finn, Bonnie narrowed her eyes. Glancing at Abby, she could feel how tense she was through whatever witchy familial bond they had. Seems she wasn't the only one on edge. She forced herself not to jump when Esther finally responded.

"As the witch who cast the spell that made them vampires... I can also reverse it. When they become human again they can be killed." When Esther glanced away, Bonnie felt the knot in her stomach tighten further. "As they are linked as one, my brave Finn will be the sacrifice. With his death will come theirs." Feeling a sharp magical pulse at those words, Bonnie fought not to gasp. Looking around it seemed whatever she felt hadn't affected anyone else. It had only been meant for her. And it felt so familiar...

Abby scrunched her eyebrows together in disbelief. Like Bonnie she couldn't let go of the feeling of unease. Looking at Finn, she couldn't figure it out. "And you're just willing to die?"

Holding the torch Finn sadly looked over the two Bennett's. So magical. So full of life. How he wished he'd been allowed to live a human life. Wished that all his siblings could've had a human life. Not one as this, this, thing. It was the right thing to do. To set them free. If it meant innocent people like the poor Doppelganger girl wouldn't die at their hands. If it meant that the Servants of Nature wouldn't be used by his siblings. Then he would do it in a heartbeat. His mother promised him no more suffering. He believed her.

"My mother's released me from an eternity of shame." Shaking his head, he held their gaze. "It's not a sacrifice. It's a gift." He just hoped his siblings would one day see it that way in the afterlife.

Crossing her arms over herself, Elena burrowed further into her coat to keep warm. Watching Rebeckah who seemed totally unaffected by the chill, she sighed wistfully. "There's one vamp perk I wouldn't mind having."

Snapping her head towards Elena, Rebeckah's eyebrows were up to her hairline. "Beg your pardon? What on Earth are you talking about?"

Waving her hands in the blonde's lightly dressed direction, Elena leaned her head back a bit. "You're not cold, right?"

Scrunching her eyebrows together, Rebeckah nodded. "Correct... Why?" When Elena burrowed further into her coat, she understood. "Oh! I suppose for you it's damn near freezing in here isn't it? I could start a fire... If you want?"

Smiling gratefully, Elena sat forward and crossed her legs. "That'd be great. If you bring the wood, I'll start on a small fire pit. Before you ask, no I will not try to stake you. Wouldn't do either of us a bit of good. Like I said, immunity to cold is one perk I'd enjoy."

"Trust me, Elena, that perk isn't worth all you have to trade for it." Standing up to go find them something to burn, Rebeckah paused for a moment. "I wasn't going to ask by the way. I think we're past that atrocious mess, you and I." When Elena grinned in reply, she nodded and started to go down the tunnel. Feeling pain spreading through her chest, she gasped. "What's... Happening? Kol?"

Watching the blonde come to an abrupt stop, Elena jumped up and grabbed the blonde's arm. "Rebeckah? Rebeckah, what's wrong?"

Looking up as best she could, Rebeckah tried to warn Elena, but it was too late. Her face turned entirely grey and she collapsed.

"Rebeckah!" Elena yelled, catching the girl's lifeless body as she fell, only to gasp in pain and drop to her knees with Rebeckah leaning against her. When a red spot started forming on the blonde's shirt, Elena frantically checked her over, coming up with no sign of injury. Wincing again she pressed her hand to her chest to try and stop the pain only to feel something wet beneath her hand. She started shaking when her fingers came away red. Blood.

Sliding Rebeckah gently to the ground, Elena started undoing her coat as gently as she could, hissing when her hand pressed against her skin through her shirt. Feeling liquid running onto her hand, Elena pressed down harder and tried to shake the Original next to her. "Rebeckah. Rebeckah, wake up." When there was no reaction she started to panic. Digging in the girl's pocket, Elena jerked out her cell phone and dialed Elijah's number. "Damn it!" she yelled when it went straight to his voicemail. "Elijah, it's me. Rebeckah's corpselike, and I'm... Elijah, I'm hurt. I don't know what happened, but it's bad. Please hurry!" Something was wrong. The ritual wasn't supposed to happen for another hour and a half!

Breathing through the pain, Elena tried shaking the girl again. "Please wake up, Rebeckah! Come on, please! Wake up!"

Feeling dizzy, Elena shook her head to clear it, but felt her energy fading more as she did so. Her vision started to go dark as she wrapped her hand around Rebeckah's arm trying to steady herself. "Rebeckah... Please... Help," she whispered, as her strength gave out and she slumped to the ground next to the Original. Elijah... where are you?

Elijah was walking to the Mystic Grill to meet his brothers and warn them when he felt agonizing pain shoot through his chest. Stumbling into an alley, he leaned against the brick wall trying to breathe. "Kol." His vision went black and he felt his back hit the cement as he collapsed. Elena.

Bonnie jumped when Finn went rigid before falling into a heap in the circle.

"Something's wrong," Esther whispered, looking around anxiously.

Sharing a look of confusion with Abby, they both knew when the other felt the magical pulse this time. Something wasn't right. Looking at Esther, she seemed unaffected except for Finn turning into a corpse. Bonnie looked at Abby again who could only shrug in response. Whatever was happening was trying to tell them something important. What was it?

Klaus grabbed his chest and stumbled to his feet. Looking down at his chest, he felt the pain fade. He was fine, but then what caused the pain?

Caroline nervously glanced towards Mystic Grill. "What is it?" she asked, rising to stand in front of him. She knew Damon and Stefan had something planned, but she wasn't expecting to feel concern at the Original hybrid being in pain. When he looked up at her, she stepped back in fear. He was furious.

"What did you do?" Klaus growled, clenching his hands into fists. He knew she was hiding something.

"N-Nothing'" Caroline stuttered, flinching when he lunged at her.

Snarling, Klaus' hands squeezed her sides and jerked her closer to him. "What. Did. You. Do?!"

Wiggling around, Caroline tried to loosen his grip. She couldn't breathe! "I didn't do anything! Stop it! You're hurting me!"

Huffing he released her like he'd been burned. Watching her rub her side, Klaus felt guilt seep into him. He'd lost his temper with her and had hurt her. That was the last thing he wanted to do with this remarkable woman. "Forgive me, Caroline. My behavior was out of line. Are you alright?"

Biting her lip, Caroline nodded anxiously. Times like now when she saw his humanity showing, it made it hard to deny him. When the situation felt wrong to begin with, him being kind made it even more difficult. "I'll be fine. Vampire healing you know? I just... I'm sorry."

Raising his hand towards her face, he paused when she flinched. Smiling apologetically, he slowly brushed his hand through her hair to push it back of her ear. Letting his hand return to his side, he felt joy erupt in him at her slight blush from his actions. "Sorry for what, love?"

Looking away, she prayed Stefan and Damon didn't find out about this. They might actually try to kill her if they did. Cautiously looking back to Klaus, she felt horrible that she'd done this to him. "Your behavior may have been out of line towards me, Klaus, but... It wouldn't have been towards someone else."

Furrowing his brows, he felt suspicion creep up in him. She knows something. "What are you saying, Caroline?" When he saw the remorse covering her expression, he grew concerned. "Caroline, what is it?"

"I... I was the decoy. They wanted to split you up, so I was used to distract you, and I'm so sorry! You've been nice, and kind, and absolutely wonderful to me. I shouldn't have helped them. I'm sorry," she whispered softly.

Being careful to keep his anger in check, Klaus inhaled deeply and let it out. He had a pretty good idea who they were. This wasn't her fault. "I see. Since you appear to know more than I about what happened to me, care to enlighten me on the details?"

Shrugging helplessly, Caroline shook her head. "I only know what they told me. Somehow, you and your siblings are connected. If one of you gets hurt, you all feel it to an extent. That's all they told me. I'm sorry."

Klaus felt stunned at what she said and then quickly thought back to the pain. It felt like he'd been... Daggered! Kol! Something happened to his brother! Straightening his coat, he went to go back in the Grill until he saw the devastation on Caroline's face at his actions and the slump of her shoulders. Turning back to her, he saw her freeze when he touched her hair.

Stroking his hand down to her face, he watched her eyes. They fascinated him. One look and Klaus could see everything she was feeling. He knew she felt dreadful. Why make her feel worse for it? "Stop apologizing, Caroline. This isn't your fault. You're trying to help now. That's all that matters. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Thank you for your honesty." Quickly leaning forward, he felt her gasp as he gently kissed her forehead.

Feeling her whole face get flushed, she smiled slightly, and nodded. "Your welcome. Go help your family." Shooing him off, Caroline felt pleasure burst in her chest at the grin he gave her as he left to help Kol. Maybe her instincts weren't wrong about him after all. Sighing happily, she started the walk home. Her job here was done.

Klaus saved the look Caroline had on her face away in his memory to think back on later. He was right to not just leave her there. She was a lady and deserved to be treated as such. Plus, he liked to think she got a slight kick out of the old courtship ways. Chivalry was not lost with that girl. She flourished in it. Grinning to himself, he promised to himself that he'd check on her later. Right now he had some meddlesome Salvatore brothers to deal with and a brother to save.

Stalking towards the alley by the Grill, he let the rage return now that Caroline was out of harms way. "Salvatore's, you really don't know when to quit. Not to worry. I'll happily remind you."