There was something special about the city of New Orleans.
Despite being absent from it for over a century, the crescent city still pulsed with a unique aura that seemed to call to him.
Maybe it was because he had helped build it with his own hands, or perhaps it was the memories that refused to go away. Either way, it was clear that the 100 years since his departure had done nothing to dim the importance of the city to him.
It was home. Perhaps it always would be.
Still, he would give anything to be anywhere else.
Too much had been taken from him here. Mikael had certainly lived up to his moniker. He destroyed the city his children had worked so hard to build, tore down the feelings of accomplishment and peace they had attained., while taking away the first home they had had since their rebirth, and killing the newest member of their family.
Marcellus. His son. A casualty of a war he should never have been a part of.
He had failed him. Like he had failed Henrik all those years ago.
A mistake he would not make again.
Not even avenging his death by burying the white oak stake in his father's heart could alleviate the pain that flared at his memory, nor the ghosts that seemed determined to haunt him as he made his way through the quarter.
He shook his head. Now was not the time for remembering the fallen.
War had come to his family yet again.
Silas had been unexpected. For the first time they faced an enemy they had no knowledge of, one with the ability to bypass their defenses. The mind of an original was an impenetrable fortress, not even he could enter his siblings' minds if they did not want him to do so. And yet Silas had tampered with his mind, making him believe he was dying. Even now he could feel the phantom pain of the white oak stake entering his body.
There was no warning, no way to differentiate between illusion and reality. He read minds and could mimic voice patterns, body language and even the smell of the people he portrayed. Even Elijah had been fooled.
They needed a strategy. And because Silas could read minds, it would have to be layered, complicated, the details hidden from even themselves.
Luckily this was not the first time they had needed to fly blind into battle. One of the benefits of centuries of knowing one another, was the ability to read each other's tells. His actions at their family meeting to discuss the cure had been erratic. Random even.
A signal.
While Silas could no doubt gleam from his sibling's thoughts that his behavior out of character, he would no doubt attribute it to fear and anger at his trick with the white oak stake..
in case he decided to double check, Klaus allowed his mind to be filled with the anger and fear that he normally kept under tight control. Raw emotions had concealed his real agenda before.
It would do so now.
With the drama of prom, and the fact that the cure was in Elijah's possession, he was certain that Silas would have to split his attention amongst too many people to focus on him. Having his greatest threats fighting amongst each other would certainly go a long way to pushing his attention elsewhere.
It worked. And while he would lament not being able to share a dance with Caroline, who looked positively angelic in that golden dress, he was nonetheless pleased with the information he attained.
Silas had powerful abilities, but it appeared there were limits as to how many people he could ensnare at one time. it was likely he was not a physical threat, as he tried to stay out of the reach of those he toyed with. His immortality was clearly different than a vampire's, and already strategies for containment were being calculated in his mind.
First step. Eliminate their weaknesses. He needed a way to discreetly dispose of the white oak stake. Without it, Silas could incapacitate them all he wanted, but he could not kill them. Katerina's letter had been a welcome excuse and would allow him to kill two birds with one stone. Find a place to destroy the stake and eliminate those who sought to plot against him.
Normally he would not be worried about a single witch, but the French quarter witches were not to be underestimated, not even by an Original. They may not be able to be killed. But there were certainly ways to incapacitate and trap them.
Plus the distance from mystic falls would allow him to plan Silas's demise without fear of having his plans ripped from his mind He could always compel the memories away from any minions he would require.
He suspected Elijah would find an excuse to follow him soon, while Rebekah would stay and keep an eye on things in mystic falls.
Keep an eye on Her.
It was after all their usual roles. Elijah was a ghost when he wanted to be, and people tended to forget that behind his sisters temper and propensity towards sulking, was a sharp mind and lethal will.
Rebekah Mikaelson was a warrior, and anyone who underestimated her, would soon find themselves without the luxury of a spine.
He would find and kill this witch, and then find a way to put Silas back in his tomb.
No one crossed his family and lived.
Something was going on in the city. He had not thought it would be difficult to find a witch that could point him to Jane Anne Deveraux. In his time as king of the city, the witches were everywhere.
And yet three hours into his search, the only witches he could find were the frauds playing games with the tourists.
At least the Beignets were good. When this was over, he would have to bring Caroline here. She would be fascinated with the rich history, great music and incredible food. The blonde cheerleader had many appetites, and he knew that one day , she would allow him to satisfy them all.
He smiled. She could cover their connection with hostility all she wished but she could never hide the excitement in her eyes. The way she seemed to perk up in his presence. She had feelings for him.
Maybe one day he would tell her that his werewolf senses could smell her arousal whenever they fought. Or how sexy she looked when her face was flush with passion and frustration. How often he wanted to silence her fury, with his lips, how he wanted to redirect that passion into something more pleasurable.
Perhaps not.
He was drawn from his fantasizing by the movement of older woman sitting a few tables away. She obviously knew what he was because she started quickly gathering her things. Not a vampire, because her human blood called to him even at this distance.
A witch.
"now now, don't get up on my account. "he sat down at her table, quelling her attempts to leave with a threatening look.
"I don't have anything to say to your kind"
"That's no way to treat a guest in your city. But no matter, I'll be brief. I'm looking for a witch named Jane Anne Deveraux. point me to her and I'll allow you to keep your liver"
"I can't help you"
"Oh I think you can. It's obvious you're a true witch. Even if you don't know who she is, you can help me find her. "
"No, I can't. It's against the rules. No magic is allowed without permission. Marcel will kill any witch who dares."
Klaus felt his stomach sink at her words. Impossible.
"Tell me, where might I find this Marcel".
…..
It couldn't be.
For a second he allowed himself to feel hope, believe that somehow his son had survived, but he quickly stamped it out. Hope was for fools, and this was not the time to be one.
Clearly this was all a part of some witch plot, and when he found the one responsible, he was going to paint the city with her entrails.
So intent on his thoughts of vengeance that he almost missed it when he arrived at the bar the witch had pointed out to him. He noted two vampires at the door, and a gaggle of people dancing to music inside He considered making an entrance, by throwing the corpses of the two sentries through the door. But decided that violence could wait. For now.
It only took a second to spot the handsome black male singing on the stage. Time seemed to stop as he absorbed the powerful shoulders, and the smooth lyrical voice singing into the microphone. It was him, Marcellus. Alive and well.
He approached the stage slowly. he was dazed, and half afraid that it was some kind of illusion. Clearly his son had done well for himself. He spotted a dozen vampires gazing at him with open admiration, daylight rings glittering on their fingers.
Marcel finished his song and made his way over to the vampires, a bright smile on his face.
Convinced this was real he made his way over, noting the look of shock on Marcels face as he turned and saw him.
"Klaus." he said with surprise. Almost as if he too thought it, was an illusion.
"Marcellus. I'm pleased to see you alive and well, but please tell me the state of bourbon street wasn't your doing."
The man laughed and embraced him hard. Before moving back to look at him, soaking in the n who had raised him.
Before he could speak a voice from behind him interrupted.
"who is this?" asked one of the vampires. "he looks a little rough around the edges. need us to handle him?"
noting the look of annoyance on his sires face Marcel held up a hand. "its fine. this is Kl.."
"An old friend" interceded the hybrid with a look to Marcel to be silent. Turning towards his son he whispered" Do you have somewhere private we can speak?"
They moved towards back room, and after using his vampiric hearing to make sure there were no eavesdroppers, he sat down.
"Is there a reason you didn't want me tell them your name?" asked Marcel, pouring a glass of scotch and handing it to the hybrid. "Mikael's not still causing you trouble, is he?"
"No, my father is dead, courtesy of a stake in the heart by yours truly. I'm here searching for a witch. Jane Anne Deveraux, have you heard of her?"
"
Yeah. I know her. What's she done?"
"Not sure yet, just received some information that she's hatching plots against us, thought I would check it out. You know how I like to deal with such things."
"How could I forget?. I can point you into her direction. even take you myself if you like. "
"No need. I'll attend to it on my own. Better to use stealth until I know the lay of the land. "
"same old Klaus. I assume I should be expecting Elijah sometime soon?"
"Most likely." Klaus paused. Looking torn between continuing his mission and reconnecting with his son. "I thought Mikael had killed you. Everything was so chaotic that day. When you didn't make it to the rendezvous point. we feared the worse."
" I'm not sure why but he let me live. Snapped my neck and disappeared. Perhaps he thought I could lead him to you. When I couldn't find you, I decided to stay here and keep a hand on things."
" You've done well for yourself. King of the city it appears. An army of loyal vampires. And you've gotten a handle on those pesky witches in the French quarter. Care to tell me how?"
"it's a bit hush hush because she's hidden away. But her name is Davina. She's a witch and my adopted daughter. "
"Hidden away? Is she in danger?."
"Just some issues with the witches. Long story, but essentially, I prevented them from sacrificing her and they want her back. I keep her hidden so they can't come after her. "
"I see. I'll have to meet her then. Perhaps we will have a family meal when this is all over. Something tells me that your problems with the witches and mine are linked." he smiled dangerously. "I'll have to remind the witches what happens when you go after a member of our family."
He made to leave but stopped and hesitated. "I'm sorry Marcellus. I was never the best father to you. No surprise since I never had much in the way of example. I never saw myself in Mikael. In fact, the first time I saw myself in another was the day I met you. Throwing apples at the man who whipped you raw."
"I made so many mistakes… held you too close. You have no idea how proud I am that you have grown up to be a better man than I. "
Marcel looked stunned and touched "Thank you, Klaus. Everything I am, I owe to you. We're family, and I will always be grateful you took me in." Klaus nodded in thanks.
"I'll see you when it's done"
…
Klaus made his way through the city, reflecting on all he had just learned.
His son was alive.
He had been hurt briefly at the knowledge that Marcel had not sought them out but decided that was foolish. Mikael had likely left him alive for that very reason. And its not like there were phones for them to call each other. Not even they had known where they would head next.
He was thrilled he had continued their legacy and protected what remained of what they had built.
he wondered what Caroline would make of him.
Sweet Caroline. How was it that even heading into certain danger, the young vampire was never far from his thoughts.
When he reached the restaurant that Marcel told him he could find the witch at, he was unsurprised to see his brother was already there.
"That was quick, even for you, Elijah"
"What can I say, Niklaus. We all have our talents " he paused. "Have you heard the news?"
"About Marcellus? Yes. We just finished catching up'
"No… about something more. …Delicate. Come with me, and mind your temper until you have heard everything"
They made their way to the back of the store where two young women were waiting.
"I presume one of you is Jane Anne? My name is Klaus. I believe you have heard of me"
"Yes You are famous you know. The boogieman in the dark for most of the supernatural in this town. Even the witches tell bedtime stories about you."
The hybrid smirked and gave her a look that said get to the point.
"We know that Marcel was nothing but a street rat before he met you.. You taught him everything he knows, and we want you to help us take him down."
He restrained a grin. Their ambition would be their undoing.
"Take down Marcel. An interesting idea." He leaned in dangerously. "And what makes you think I would be willing to do that? Or that I would need your help to do so, if I were so inclined"
"Maybe because we have something, or rather someone, to incentivize you to listen to reason." said one of the girls. She went into another room and brought back a woman in chains.
A very familiar one at that. Hayley. The werewolf girl.
Klaus laughed, genuinely amused now.
"This is your leverage? what's your name again?"
"
Sophie. "
"Sophie. You really think a drunken one-night stand, means anything to me? You have much to learn about leverage little witch"
"You may not care about her, but I'm sure you will care about what she's carrying. Because Marcel may prevent us from practicing magic, but smaller spells go unnoticed. Ones to detect pregnancy for example"
" it's true, Niklaus," said Elijah. "The girl is carrying your child. Some kind of loophole of nature. After all you were born a werewolf, not a vampire. And the aftereffects of unlocking your werewolf gene have are not fully known to us yet."
"this is impossible" snarled the hybrid
"
It is true. And the lives of this girl and your baby are controlled by us. if you refuse to help us, Hayley won't live long enough to see her first maternity dress."
"
Wait what." stated the stunned Hayley.
"
How dare you presume to threaten me" snarled Klaus, readying himself to put these witches in their place.
He had but three weaknesses. His Siblings, Caroline, And fine whiskey. disappointing one night stands appeared nowhere on this list.
"Don't even try it" said jane Anne. "we have linked our life force to Hayley and her child. If you kill either of us, both of them will die with us.
"so you think you have power over me? go ahead and kill her. "he snarled before angrily speeding away.
"My apologies." Said Elijah. "give me a moment to speak with him."
He smiled at them "You have my word, that Niklaus will do the right thing."
Left unsaid of course, was what they would determine the right thing to be.
….
Elijah caught up to him in a nearby alley.
"Niklaus, you must come up with a more elegant way to have these little meetings. The mother of your child is no doubt terrified you are going to abandon them"
"Why mess with what's worked for a thousand years.. besides I'm seriously considering it"
"Do you truly not believe it's your child? You heard its heartbeat as well as I."
"It doesn't matter if it is. Have you forgotten we are at war? We have Silas to deal with, even when that's done, our list of adversaries is vast. A thousand years of enemies would hang on that child's head from the moment it took its first breath. It will be mortal Elijah, unable to truly live due to the constant danger that surrounds it. "
He sighed. not wanting to upset his brother, but being unwilling to sugarcoat the facts "It would be a yoke around our family's neck. We can ill afford the weakness, or the heartbreak."
"Speaking of Silas. I assume from you dramatic performance the last few days, that you have a plan, one you are unable to share"
"I do indeed. In fact, I decided to borrow one from our friends in mystic falls. Silas is not the first enemy we have faced that we could not fight head on and he certainly won't be the last" He grinned "never fear, brother, I have everything in order."
"Good, you may want to procure a gift for our sister. Ruse or not, Rebekah is quite put out with some of the things you said to her. If you don't make peace, you may find her up to her old tricks."
"Well the last thing we need is for Rebekah to go on another arson spree. Last time she managed to take out a Rembrandt, two Van Gogh's and my signed copy of Henry the V"
"Miss Forbes was most displeased as well. It seems Rebekah let slip that you were leaving, and she was a rather put out you neglected to inform her"
"I don't suppose explaining the strategic value of stealth in a shadow war will help anything."
"The last time you tried that with our sister, she decapitated your favorite pianist and burned down your castle. I suspect Miss Forbes will be no less vengeful. "
"the girl is a stubborn as she is beautiful" said Klaus fondly.
He knew all to well the hell that Caroline Forbes could rain down if he vexed her too much. She had a fiery temper and a sadistic streak a mile wide. He loved that about her. Loved that she could challenge him as well as she could inflame his passions.
"Niklaus. As much as it pleases me to see the look of tenderness on your face, we have more pressing matters at hand"
Klaus thought hard. While a part of him knew the easiest path forward would be to call the witches bluff, he knew he could not. Caroline would never let him hear the end of it , and besides. Mortal or not this child was his blood. And no one attacked his family and lived.
"We are bound forever to those with whom we share blood." He whispered. Remembering his brother's old adage.
"Indeed, we are. Always and Forever Niklaus. Those words mean as much to me today as they did then"
"I have a plan." said Klaus finally." Force feed the witches your blood and kill them. The transition should sever their link to Hayley. Compel them and ask them how many people knew about their plan then rip out their hearts. Get Hayley to Marcel And be stealthy about it. We will need his help for what comes afterwards."
"Consider it done. Where will you be?"
The Hybrids Eyes were molten gold. "it's time to remind the Witches of New Orleans why the Original family is not to be trifled with. Anyone who knows of that baby's existence will die."
….
It was a glorious slaughter. It had been so long since he had been able to unleash and fully let his monster out to play. The enhanced speed and strength his hybrid nature afforded him came to good use as he cut a bloody swathe through the witches, killing all the elders, but leaving a few of the younger generation alive. He made sure to loot any grimoires he could find. They would be essential to the next stage of his plan.
I
t was frighteningly simple. Until the child was old enough to protect itself, no one could know its connection to the Mikaelson family. Hayley was to stay in New Orléans under the protection of Marcel, who would see to the child's training when it got old enough. He would also discreetly help the girl find the remains of her pack, for both protection and additional camouflage . Klaus and Elijah would avoid the city completely to prevent any suspicion. It was helpful that very few people knew they had even been in the city.
They did discover some interesting facts about the harvest ritual from some of the stolen grimoires. Marcel would supervise the ceremony and get things settled on that end with the remaining witches, which in turn would keep Davina Safe. He gave Marcel the white oak stake and told him to destroy it in a place unknown to him.. Once it was done, he compelled his memory of it away.
It took a few weeks to settle all this, until at last it was time to return to mystic falls. He met
Marcel at the bar again, watching with interest as he flirted with the pretty bartender.
I
t seemed his son shared his predilection for feisty blondes.
"When will I see you again," asked Marcel, as he made his way back to him." I assume Elijah has already left."
"Yes, one last loose end to tie up. Katerina has made a nuisance of herself for the last time." he turned to his adopted son." Speaking of troublesome women, you may want to inform Rebekah of your continued existence. If she finds out on her own, she's likely to burn down the entire city."
Marcel turned pale. Logical or not, Rebekah was less likely to be cavalier about his not informing them that he lived. Not that he had a way of doing so, but Rebekah was selective when it came to details, she did not care about.
"Davina is a nice girl. Strong too. I think she is a worthy addition to our family."
"Wouldn't that make you a grandpa" teased the black man.
"
Shut it , or I'll tear out your liver" the two men laughed." When this war dies down, there's someone I want you to meet. "
"I'll look forward to it."
"I'm leaving Esther's grimoire here. Feel free to let Davina learn from it. We may need her help to resurrect Kol."
"She will be ready."
…
Caroline Forbes was going to Murder someone.
Probably her best friend. Preferably her best friend. Or anyone that looked like her best friend.
Kathrine had somehow managed to slither her way back in town, so she was fair game too.
Screw it. It was open season on doppelgangers.
The next one she saw, was going down.
Her world was spiraling, and despite her every attempt to reign in the chaos, things seemed to slip further and further out of her grasp. Elena had shut off her Humanity and tried to kill her. Bonnie was doing who knows what trying to match wits with Silas. Stefan and Damon were running around like chickens trying to keep Elena from hurting herself or burning the town down.
Add in Matts struggles with school, An ancient immortal trying to unleash hell on earth, and another, decidedly more attractive immortal vanishing off for weeks on some mysterious mission, it was safe to say that nothing was going her way these days.
She had tried to be nice. to be the same chipper and positive Caroline that her friends often needed her to be. She supported Stefan, respected Bonnie's wishes and tried to be there for Elena. Only for the emotionless girl to use her knowledge of her insecurities to rip her world apart.
What was even more frustrating was that she wasn't even wrong. In fact, she was more right than she knew.
Everyone did tend to leave her, and despite the growth she had as a vampire, she still tended to say the wrong things. Do the wrong things.
She tried so hard to keep her true feelings and fears at bay but having them exposed by the girl who knew her best of all, had opened a box of raw emotions that she wasn't sure she could shove back inside.
Uncomfortable truths circled her mind, and it was all she could do not to pick up the phone and unburden herself to the one person she knew would listen. Would understand.
The truth was that Tyler was gone. And that sucked sometimes, despite the break up. But it was the pending loss of the other hybrid in her life that was settling like a lead in her stomach.
Screw you Elena. She wasn't a tease. She was in love, and she was so sick of trying to hide that fact.
It wasn't something she had ever experienced before, but then again, she'd never been in a relationship with anyone like him before either.
Not that they were in a relationship, she reminded herself.
He just flirted with her, protected her, and hooked her up with really out of this world dresses.
Totally not a thing.
Matt had been attractive and fun, but she knew from the beginning that his heart belonged to someone else. Tyler had been about lust. A way to have companionship in this new world of theirs. They had barely started dating before the day of her infamous birthday.
After that he was always gone, and rarely did he pick up the phone to talk to her. When they saw each other, it was more about physical release than a genuine connection. She wasn't even sure if he knew her plans for after graduation.
Honestly if she had never met Klaus, she likely would have broken up with him a long time ago, but when she realized she was starting to have a genuine interest in the immortal hybrid, she threw herself into her relationship with Tyler, wielding it as both a sword and shield against the feelings that sometimes threatened to overtake her.
Klaus wasn't leaving her because she was a tease. He was leaving her because she refused to give him anything, not even a glimpse into the way he made her feel. She couldn't. she was terrified that once that door was opened, there would be know closing it again..
It was just getting harder and harder to remember why that door needed to stay shut.
If Elena could string both Damon and Stefan along, if she could love the man who tortured her childhood friend. Then why couldn't Caroline have what she wanted for once.
Why shouldn't she let herself feel for the one man who made her feel safe. Who listened to her hopes and dreams, and made plans for the future with her. Bought her gifts and made her drawings and looked at her like she was his entire world sometimes.
Even when they fought, even when he did horrible things, and they tore at each other with words, she knew deep down he would always be there for her.
He thought she was attracted to his darkness, but the truth was that to her, he had always been the light. He saved her life. He sacrificed his agendas and pride to make her happy. He had been furious with her, with everyone, and yet there was never any doubt that he would help her find the perfect dress for prom. Because he knew it was important to her.
She tried to enjoy seeing Tyler, but secretly there was another man she wished she could dance with instead.
The walls around her heart shattered when she heard him speaking to Tyler after their dance. Heard him Granting him a reprieve, just so she could have the perfect evening. He cared more about her happiness than revenge and in that moment, she could have kissed him senseless.
Even at his lowest point he was putting her first . And instead of showing him how much she appreciated him, letting him see how much she had grown to depend on him and his presence In her life, she had pushed him away. And now he was leaving.
Classic Caroline. So much for wrapped around her finger.
So absorbed was she in her thoughts that she almost missed it when the wind shifted.
I
t was quiet. Eerily quiet.
"Who's there ?" she asked quietly. Glancing around to see who was lurking around.
A whoosh behind her and a familiar voice answered her question.
"Hello, Caroline."
There he was in all of his glory, and pained smile on his face.
Caroline. Not Love. Not sweetheart. Back to regular old Caroline. Of course.
Steeling herself, she responded. "Klaus."
…
"Everyone said you were gone for good" she said tentatively as they stomped through the nearby woods. She really hoped they were mistaken.
"That's true" he responded, stealing a glance at her." But I never meant to go without saying goodbye."
So, it was goodbye. Of course it was. well, she wouldn't let him see her cry.
"you don't owe me an explanation "she said, trying and failing to keep the hostility out of her voice. The disappointment. "You are moving on. By all means go"
Everyone else did. Somehow, she had managed to ruin this as well.
"Well that's just the thing. I never had any intention of moving on"
Hoped sparked in her chest. "You didn't?"
"The truth is, I've tried to stop thinking about you. But I can't. " the solemn look he gave her sent her insides to twisting…even if something about it felt…. off.
She moved past him, trying desperately to keep her heart from pounding so quickly. This was too much, too soon. One wrong answer here and it could shatter any chance of them forever.
"Come to New Orléans with me" he smiled when she hesitated. "What do you have to be afraid of."
"
You " she whispered. "I am afraid of you" and the way her heart was leading. If she accepted, there would be no quick fling,. No quiet romance or tumble in the sheets. He would want forever. Could she really give him that?
"Wouldn't it be more accurate to say that you are afraid of yourself. Of the darkest desires that lay deep in your soul."
His stance was angry now, hostile, and so very different from the man she had come to know. This wasn't Klaus.
"Silas." she stated angrily.
He grinned menacingly at her. "Bravo Caroline, you get a gold star. "
"What do you want from me?" she asked. Backing into a tree.
He loomed over her. fangs blazing in anger. his hands gripping her shoulders so hard that it hurt.
"Your friend Bonnie. Where is she?" when she didn't respond, he screamed at her. "Tell me or I'll start pulling off limbs" He shook her now, savoring the terror in her eyes.
She tried to break his hold, but his grip was too strong.
"Your friend bonnie is playing games with me, and I don't like it" He reached in his pocket and pulled out a long stake. "Tell me where she is, or I stick six inches of this in your chest."
Her eyes hardened. If she was going to die, she refused to give this asshole the satisfaction of seeing her tears. She closed her eyes.
She wished her hybrid was really here.
There was so much she wanted to say to him. Confess to him.
She felt the tip of the stake start to enter her body and clenched her teeth to avoid screaming in pain.
Suddenly there was a loud squelch and Caroline screamed as a stream of blood exploded all over her. A loud crack sounded next and when she opened her eyes a familiar set of eyes stared back at her.
Golden Eyes filled with pain, worry and a deep, endless rage.
Klaus.
He was covered in blood, his left hand clenching a beating heart. On the ground next to him was the head of fake Klaus. Silas.
The head and body began to vibrate, and with a howl of rage, Klaus bit into the body, filling it with venom, and draining all the blood until it was a grey husk.
Klaus's work was not done as he tore the limbs from the body next, his primal growls sending a jolt of arousal through her.
"Are you okay, Caroline?" he asked, voice half snarling with rage.
She nodded, quickly, her body still trembling with shock.
"Elijah. Help me wrap the pieces of him in the spell chains and get them to the coven. I want each of his limbs on a separate continent by nightfall. Tell them to find the deepest, darkest hole and toss them into it. All but the head."
Caroline had not even realized the elder original was there as well.
Elijah said nothing, just assisted in wrapping the body before nodding at his brother and vanishing with the pieces. They were finally alone.
Caroline felt her breaths start to even out, her mind clearing of shock, when she suddenly found herself engulfed in powerful embrace.
Klaus was gripping her tightly, his hands moving over her body, as if to make sure she was still there. instead of recoiling from the sudden contact she leaned into it, surrounding herself with the familiar scent of him that had always meant safety.
She noted that his body was still shaking, the excess adrenaline and rage finally leaving him. she wrapped her arms around him, trying to reassure him that she was there. That she was safe.
The last ten minutes were a blur for her, and she was sure there were details that she had missed in the speed of the attacks. But one thing was perfectly clear.
She'd been a fool.
Klaus wasn't over her. She hadn't lost him. In fact, the way he felt about her was almost tangible now in the relief coursing through his body. Klaus Loved her. There was no point in denying it.
No point in running from it.
She gripped his arms, placed a gentle kiss on his lips. "Thank you for saving me."
He seemed stunned at first, but he quickly pulled her close and captured her lips again. She met his embrace eagerly, before playful pushing him into the nearest tree and moving forward to kiss him again.
They had both waited long enough.
No words were exchanged. just raw primal need that threatened to consume them both.
They tore at each other's clothes, neither caring what was damaged as long as the passion that had been coursing them for so long was finally sated.
He let out a growl of contentment when he filled her for the first time, and She would have been embarrassed had it not been for the matching groan that escaped her own lips.
They consumed each other, letting their fingers, lips and teeth explore every inch of their partners flesh, leaving evidence of their passion in each exposed piece of skin. His fangs bit into her neck as she peaked and she screamed before sinking her own fangs into him, both savoring the blood that flooded into their mouths.
This wasn't lovemaking. This was claiming. A primal joining of two souls that had spent their respective lifetimes searching for the other.
He was hers. And she was his.
Always and Forever
…
It was dark by the time their passions finally cooled. He curled his arms protectively around her waist and she allowed herself a moment to bask in contentment before she moved to sit up.
Their clothes were ruined, and she felt a strange surge of pride at the broken limbs and torn leaves their coupling had left behind.
The man was an animal, savoring and marking every inch of her flesh and she felt another surge of desire at the memory of his touch.
Time to focus.
Forest sex was one thing. Being naked in a forest of creepy crawly things where anyone could come up on them was another.
She let out a moan as he wrapped his arms around her from behind, feeling him harden against her backside and her flesh rippled with need as his lips moved to caress the sensitive skin around her neck, where his teeth had bitten her.
"Penny for your thoughts love?" he asked seductively.
Damn him.
With a growl she twisted around and attacked his lips again.
This time she was taking charge.
...
Finally sated, he wrapped her in his arms and sped towards the Mikaelson mansion and placing her gently on his bed and sitting down next to her.
"I presume you have questions" he asked, placing a soft kiss against her lips.
"Several. But let's start with the big one. Is Silas dead?"
"Not quite. Silas is immortal and the only way to kill him is to attain the cure which he has no doubt hidden somewhere. However, as an immortal he is bound in blood just as we are. The plan was to take him by surprise and desiccate him, much like your friends did to me. Without blood he cannot access most of his powers. I figured removing his limbs and hiding them would make reviving him nearly impossible."
"Won't he just regenerate? "
"If we destroyed his body parts then yes he would revive. Even if we exploded his body into a thousand pieces, he would eventually stitch himself back together. However, there are ways to counteract this. While in New Orléans, I obtained some spell chains that prevent a witch from utilizing their magic. Without access to the magic, he can no longer heal himself completely. It's not a permanent solution, but it should buy us enough time to find a way to safely kill him"
"Can't we just feed him the cure?" she asked, reaching down to curl her fingers around his.
"Possibly. But I worry that curing him could cause even more problems. Remember, Silas was an extremely powerful witch before he became an immortal. I suspect the powers we witnessed were just a fraction of what he is capable of when whole. Better to have contingencies in place. I have Kol's witches looking into it. "
"Kol had witches?"
"Yes, my brother was a bit of a prodigy when it came to magic as a mortal. When he turned into an Original Vampire, He did his best to maintain a relationship with magic and witches even though he could not use it anymore. Once he realized that Silas was trying to rise, he contacted a group of witches he knew that would be able to help. The witches do not want him roaming the earth any more than we do." he looked both proud and sad at the mention of his brother's foresight.
She gripped his fingers "I'm sorry about your brother, Klaus."
"So am I. Never fear. Not even death can keep a Mikaelson down for long. My brother will return to us one day. I will not rest until it is so."
She smiled. She had no doubt he would succeed.
"it's still incredible to me how much is possible in this world of ours. "
"You are still young, Caroline. Magic makes all things possible. There is a reason witches are treated with caution and respect, even by us. "
"You never seemed worried about Bonnie."
"Bonnie Bennett is a child, playing with forces she does not yet understand. She has power yes, but not the control or knowledge to use it effectively. A fully trained Bennett witch was able to incapacitate even my father if you remember. From werewolves to vampires, all supernatural species were born from powerful magic. It created us and conversely can kill us. There is no need to fear it, as the average witch is quite pathetic, but it's important to always respect it and those skilled in its use "
She was adorable when her curiosity was peaked. He could not wait to show her the depths of what their world had to offer.
"We need to find the cure, I have a few leads on some members of Silas's cult that he could have entrusted it to. "
"Where are they"
"In a fortuitous location. Southern Italy." She looked saddened by tis.
"So I guess I won't be seeing you for a while?"
he looked surprised briefly before he turned and kissed her. "Do you really think Caroline Forbes, that once I had a taste of your passion, that I would let it go so easily."
She smiled at him and returned his kiss with an energy that had him stiffening.
"I suppose not, but Klaus there is so much going on… I can't just leave"
"Never fear. It will take a few weeks to prepare. We can leave after your graduation. If you don't mind postponing your enrollment in Whitmore."
She laughed. "I have an eternity for college, Klaus. I want to go with you."
"You will love Italy sweetheart. It's a beautiful country with great food, art and music/ I cannot wait to show you the magnificence of Rome. The coliseum. The halls where Julius Ceaser walked, "
She smiled at him. His passion drawing her in like it had so long ago at his family ball.
"I love you, Klaus.".
the smiled that lit up his face was almost innocent in its tenderness.
"I love you too, Caroline. A thousand years of existence, and yet I have never felt more alive than the moments I have spent with you. Eternity is not long enough to show how much I adore you and I cannot wait to show you everything that this world has to offer"
Her eyes lit up with tears of joy, and with a smile she maneuvered them on the bed so she could lay her head on his chest.
"I will gladly embrace an eternity of the feelings that only you have managed to bring from me. I have never felt more like myself, than when I am with you. You have been my protector, my benefactor, and I will not let anything, be it time or a clever enemy, take you away from me."
She kissed him gently along his jaw.
"Thank you for never giving up on me. For always being there when I needed you. "
"I will always be there for you, My love."
she kissed him again, before pausing as a thought hit her.
"So I have a confession. I don't really understand art. "she giggled a bit at the confused look on his face. "I mean I know it's pretty and all, but I don't really get why people like it so much."
"I'll show you" he promised, unsuccessfully trying to hide his amusement at her randomness. "it's all about the details. A painter's stroke can tell you everything about him"
she twisted until she was on top of him and kissed him with all the hunger of ravenous lioness.
"In that case. Show me yours."
...
I hope you guys have enjoyed this, story as well as my first attempt at showcasing more passion.
It is becoming more and more apparent that the deeper you go into the series, the more and more nonsense you must essentially rewrite from canon.
For this fic for example, I hate to analyze Klaus's relationship with Marcel. They loved each other, he raised him. Besides thinking he was dead, there was no real reason for the hostility that they showed each other in the Originals. Marcel would have obviously known better than anyone how strong Klaus was and challenging him to a fight is stupidity at its best. I mean either they hate each other, in which case Klaus removes his heart their first meeting. Or they love each other, and they treat each other accordingly. The show tries to straddle both lines ineffectively, and frankly that's just lazy writing.
That being said season 3 of this fic will be for 5x16 of originals. To truly do the series finale of justice, I would basically have to rewrite 2 seasons of the show to make things coherent so I suppose I'll just have to accept as much from canon as I can tolerate. Klaroline of course.
I would love any ideas you all have for subsequent seasons, but for now season 3 is the final one I have planned. I may however come back and add a sequel to this season. I do have a few ideas that would be interesting, but I can't promise when and if I will get to it.
Who knows, it may be easier to do a what if this had happened series next, instead., although those would be more full length fics. Let me know what you guys think in the comments, and like always, feel free to use any prompts or ideas you see.