Hi guys! It's been a while! I've had a really stressful period so the motivation has been difficult to hang onto... But here is a brand new chapter, and I look forward to hearing what you think - and to hear of your predictions for the finale as we inch closer with every update! Thank you for caring about my writing, it's crazy and it means the world. Enjoy, xx.
Chapter 31: I walked with you once upon a dream
The night before
New Orleans, Louisiana
Blood, the entirety of Kol Mikaelson's life had revolved around it. For nearly a thousand years, it drove his every decision, affected his every cell. Brought him to act ruthlessly, heartlessly, impulsively...
Not for a single day during those centuries had he ever considered a different life. He was never tempted by humanity, never interested in giving up the abilities he possessed. Strength, speed, power; they were all in his blood. It kept him healthy, young, virile…
Unlike him, Rebekah and Elijah had always resented what they were. Niklaus had never been content as long as he knew what he could have been, was it not for the choices of their mother. And Finn? He had not been awake for long enough to even experience his new life in the first place. But Kol had always known what he was, he hadn't feared it nor regretted it. He had embraced it, rejoiced in it, taken pleasure in it.
Until her.
If anyone had told him ages ago how a teenage witch would turn his entire world around, make him question his existence and everything he thought he knew about himself - he would have never believed it. In fact, he would have likely wrung the neck of the person responsible for spewing such nonsensical lies and delusions.
No, he would have refuted all claims and taken it upon himself to prove them wrong. Not even if it had been he himself who appeared from the future and showed the past Kol what the years had to offer… He still would not have been capable of understanding the truth - that he could one day become more than what he was. Than who he was.
Perhaps that was why, when Davina Claire offered to help him return to the living once more, he chose to accept. Despite the uncertainty of what form he would take nor what it may come to cost or even what consequences it would bring - he wanted it. He wanted a new chance at a second life. One where he was no longer a puppet in his mother's plans nor a boy wreaking havoc in the body of a beast.
He wanted to live again, with her. He wanted to do better, to be better. He wanted to be worthy of the stunning and strong young woman. He wanted to start anew.
These were the thoughts running through the Original's mind as he was gradually crossing the veil and returning to his former body. Thoughts of everything he wished to do differently. Thoughts of all that he wished to repay.
So when he saw the familiar shape of his reflection meeting him in the vast light, he knew where he was and what meaning it held. He understood that this was the spirits granting him a choice, placing him at a crossroads with different paths spread out before him.
He could return a vampire; as he had once reveled in being. Or, he could become something else. Someone new.
He could become human again.
"Do you understand?" the question hummed in the air around him as he gazed down at the two roads created for him.
"Do you recognize the implications of your choice?"
"Do you accept this as your final chance?"
"Do you know which life you want to live?"
It was tempting to glance back in an old direction, to see the glimpses of the centuries from his supernatural life. To reminisce over the rush, the exhilaration, the freedom of being a vampire. Of being strong again… feared… immortal.
He caught flashes of memories; the faces of victims fallen by his bloodlust and the women he had pursued in mirth. He sensed echoes of the different sensations it had brought him, the way he had dismissed all responsibilities and instead marveled in a carefree existence.
But in that life he was enslaved by his emotions, by his hunger. It was filled with rage, abandonment and fear. He was alone, the jubilant smirk on his face a constant mask covering the misery he always carried. His siblings pushed him away, his parents disparaged him… He had only the humans he compelled, the men and women he deceived, the victims he entrapped.
It was an eternal life of solitude. Of pain.
He peered over at the other path, seeing how a human life would play out. He would be weak, weighed down by a conscious and in constant fear of various dangers the world exhibited… however, he would not be alone again. He would love and be loved in return. He would live in urgency with the perpetual threat of death hanging over his head and affecting every decision he made. He would learn to enjoy life, as fleeting as it were. Health, time, family - he would not take any of it for granted again.
He would be happy.
A smile spread on his face as he turned away from his former existence, bidding a farewell to the life he would never experience again, and walking towards his future instead.
The last thing he felt was a warmth, filling him with such peace and bliss, right before he opened his eyes.
"Kol?"
Her voice flowed through him as the dark-haired woman filled his sight. Her features covered in light, hope, love… A relief washing over her as he met her eyes with a beaming smile. Knowing then that he had made the right decision, as for the first time in Kol Mikaelson's entire life – he felt like he had, finally, come home.
Present day
New Orleans, Louisiana
The wind woke her up, making her stare out into the dark room with furrowed brows and heavy eyes. The balcony doors were open and by them he stood, turned away from her.
"What are you doing?" she asked hoarsely, but he didn't look back at her. She sat up from the bed and studied him closer. Wondering what had happened to his clothes as they looked dirty and rumpled. "Klaus?" she asked and walked over to him with careful steps.
"I didn't mean to wake you." he said, the voice sounding so strange and cold as she glanced over his pale face. His skin glowing from the moonlight as his eyes remained trained on the horizon. "I'm leaving." he added, causing her to still in panic.
"What?" she breathed out, shaking her head in disbelief. "What are you talking about? Wh-where are you going?"
"Away." he replied lowly.
"Klaus, what is going on?" she stammered, reaching for his arm but flinching back as her hand burned from the touch. "What happened to you?" she hissed out in pain, moving to stand in front of him as panic built in her chest.
"I can't stay." he murmured, his eyes not meeting hers as she studied him intently.
"Why?" she pressed, stepping forward and framing his face with her hands. Her skin sizzled at the contact, making her grit her teeth as she forced herself to stay in the position. "Look at me, Klaus." she whispered, the lack of reaction crushing her heart.
"Klaus?" she breathed, pushing closer as she tried to force him to face her. "Look at me, Klaus." she demanded firmly, her hands gradually glowing as flames spread over her from his burning skin. "Klaus! Look at me!" she cried out, fighting the excruciating pain in her body as it matched with the one in her soul.
"Look at me, Klaus!"
Klaus!
Her body jumped in a startled gasp as she woke up, blinking at the new environment before her with confused eyes. Having apparently fallen asleep in her chair as she sat by Klaus' bedside. She reached for him in a sigh, having wished to find him wake up on his own in time… But the past twelve hours hadn't given her much hope.
She brushed her hand over his cheek, swallowing hard as she still had trouble seeing him this way. Frozen. Dead. Her eyes went to the dreadful weapon in his chest, wondering if she could will it away with hard enough of a glare.
Propping her chin on his shoulder, she took a few deep breaths and traced his arm with her fingertips. "I don't know what else to try, Klaus." she murmured. "I could really use your million-year-old expertise." she teased, her face falling as she secretly hoped he would give her some reaction.
A twinge of guilt hit her as she looked him over, realizing that if the roles were reversed; Klaus would not be sitting there, moping around and feeling sorry for himself. He would do something. Find something. And he'd turn the city upside down in search for it.
Placing a hand over his forehead, she closed her eyes and focused. She hadn't ever tried entering someone's mind before, but it could be worth a try… Right?
She waited for something to happen, for her to see something… but all she got were her own thoughts, making her sigh in disappointment. "Come on, Klaus." she muttered, reaching for his hand and holding it in a tight squeeze. "Work with me here. Open up, let me in... Help me."
Pulling at his hand, she pressed her lips to his knuckles with closed eyes and tried again. Clearing out her mind with a few deep breaths and trying to imagine what Klaus' head would look like. Trying to reach into his subconscious and hoping his paranoia and age hadn't created too many walls for her to climb.
There was a flicker. A flash of something she didn't recognize… She clenched her jaw and concentrated on it, pulling on whatever threads she could find as she pushed on further. The flash turned into an image, a young boy hiding by some trees in the woods. His hair ruffled and his eyes filled with tears as he scrunched together next to some bushes and rocks.
"Niklaus!" the gruff call made her wince, watching the boy shake with fear as a dark silhouette trudged past him.
She recognized the man right away; he wore the same cold-hearted look in his eyes as he did back in Mystic Falls… Mikael.
"You come when I call on you, boy!" he growled out, causing her to roll her fists as she suddenly wanted to go after him.
The image changed swiftly, the woods turning into a dark city. Heavy rain falling and horse-drawn carriages passing her by. She glanced around in search for this dream's Klaus, wondering what country they were in as she didn't recognize the buildings at all.
"Well, aren't you just darling." a voice purred from behind her, causing her to turn in surprise as she saw him then. His hair long, his face sly as he looked her over slowly. Wearing a long coat and a dark hat as he gave her a little bow. "Are you lost, dear?" he asked, bringing her to fight back an incredulous smirk.
"Not at all." she replied. "I'm looking for someone."
He nodded at that, his hands clasped behind his back as he stepped towards her with a curious gaze. "Your... husband?" he asked, making her snicker shortly.
"No. Not a husband." she smirked, faltering as she watched him approach with a dark expression. "You mean you don't recognize me?" she asked, earning a raised brow of interest from him then.
"Oh, I would not forget someone as exquisite as you." he chimed. "What is your name, love?"
She felt torn, her eyes burning and a lump forming in her throat as she stood before him. It was Klaus - but it wasn't. It was a memory of him, a dream. One where he didn't know her, one where she didn't mean anything to him.
"Niklaus?" the familiar calling from Elijah made him turn back to look for the older brother, giving her the perfect opportunity to flash away and hide behind a still carriage.
Crouching to keep out of the men's sight, she watched Klaus glance around with a frown. Seeming to wonder where she disappeared. The curiosity only lasted a moment before he shrugged it off and faced Elijah instead, the two diving into some argument right away.
Leaning back against the carriage, Caroline gulped down the sob that threatened to escape her. Covering her mouth with her hand as she fought to keep from falling apart.
It was so bizarre seeing him. Talking to him. He looked the same, sounded the same and even spoke like he normally would. And yet… He wasn't her Klaus. He was a stranger, just as she was to him. The bitter taste of it gripping her heart tightly as she fought to shake off the sudden wave of grief washing over her.
I miss you, she thought to herself. Squeezing her eyes shut as she decided to leave his mind, not at all interested in running through his dreams without being able to actually reach out to him.
"Caroline?" the voice startled her, making her glance back and find that the setting was different again. She was standing in a very familiar garden, wearing the dress she'd worn when organizing the Miss Mystic Falls pageant years ago.
When she was on a 'date' with the hybrid.
"Are you alright, love?" he drawled, the lost look on his face making her shake her head.
She watched him for a moment, wondering if this was yet another dream or memory or whatever… Or more accurately, wondering whether he would know her this time. "Sorry, what were we talking about?" she asked, chuckling lightly as she eyed him for clues.
"I was asking you if you wanted to step away for a moment. Clear your mind after the tiff with the doppelganger." he explained, a charming smile on his face that melted her heart.
"Yes." she said, nodding firmly. A flash of surprise crossing his features as he took in her reply.
He quickly brushed the confusion off before offering his arm to her. "Shall we then? I believe I saw a bench a few yards from the party." he chimed smoothly. "Unless you feel the need to remain close to your subordinates, that is."
She chuckled at that, shaking her head before taking his arm and turning a smile his way. Deciding not to leave just yet, not now when she found a memory she could blend in with. Not now when he remembered her… Not now when he was him.
"Your mind is working awfully hard there, love." he quipped as he led her away. "May I ask what you are thinking of?"
"You." she replied honestly, causing him to halt to a stop. His curious eyes traveling over her features as he stepped closer, a gorgeous color in his eyes as she looked up at him with a smile.
"I'm sorry, what was that?" he snickered in disbelief, something in his smirk challenging her to repeat it.
"I was thinking that I never really asked you…" she drawled cautiously, nerves causing her voice to tremble lightly as she inched closer.
His glance fluttered to her lips shortly as his parted in a breath. "Ask me – what, Caroline?" he pressed gently, the way his tone changed causing her to gulp as he suddenly sounded exactly like him. Like the Klaus.
A pulse of grief brought her eyes to burn with secret tears, pressing her lips together firmly as she fought back the scowl that threatened to take her over.
His face fell as the seconds passed without her response, hardening as he turned away with a shaking head. "I see." he muttered bitterly. "You are keeping me distracted again."
"What? No, no I'm not." she stammered as he scoffed. His hand running through his hair before turning to her again.
"What is it this time, Caroline?" he asked exasperatedly. "Which of my siblings are your friends targeting? What weapon are you stealing from me?"
"Okay, I want out of here now…" she muttered to herself, glancing around as she wondered how to make the scene change on her own.
"Could you at least be honest with me?" he demanded, the sad look on his face heartbreaking as she gazed back at him.
She opened her mouth to reply but wasn't sure what to say, not quite remembering what she was supposed to be doing in this particular memory. "I'm sorry." she said, walking over to him. "You need to wake up now, Klaus."
"What are you talking about?" he scoffed darkly.
"Right now." she demanded, framing his head with her hands as she gave him a pointed look. "Now, Klaus. Wake up."
He looked thrown-off by her sudden proximity, his eyes falling to her lips shortly. The spark in his irises suddenly drawing her in as she decided to try a different approach.
With that, she leaned in and kissed him. Pushing into him firmly and braiding her fingers through his hair. He stood frozen at first before responding, his hands finding her waist as he kissed her back. Wrapping an arm tightly around her and cupping her cheek, drawing out a sigh from her as she leaned into him with a smile.
She chased after him as he suddenly pushed her back. "Enough, Caroline." he bit out coldly. "As much as I must applaud your performance, I believe you have gone much too far this time."
"No, Klaus. That's not-" she stammered, reaching for him as he refused to meet her eyes. Turning his back to her and flashing away then, leaving the blonde to gape with a shaking head.
"God, I'm the worst vampire in the world… Can't do anything right." she muttered to herself, bringing her fingertips to her lips as they tingled from the kiss. Wondering if he could have felt that despite being unconscious…
Some strange sounds began to fill her head as she slowly realized it was coming from outside both their minds. She snapped back to her body quickly and looked around the room in search for the source.
Further rumbles echoed from the courtyard, making her stand up as she hesitated on leaving Klaus alone. But as another strange sound hit her then, she squeezed his hand shortly and rushed to find out where it was coming from.
She crossed the hall and leaned against the railings facing the courtyard, scanning the grounds as she heard Freya's voice. "How is this possible?" she said, the words making Caroline's heart still as she dreaded the identity of whom she was speaking to.
Running down the stairs, she followed the sounds to the entrance and froze up in chock. Davina stood grinning from ear to ear as Freya hugged someone next to her, pulling away and revealing the stranger to the vampire then.
Caroline stifled a gasp as she recognized Kol Mikaelson's face. Elijah stepping forward then and sizing his brother up and down in apprehension.
"Kol?" he drawled in disbelief, earning a cocky smirk from the man as he shrugged his shoulders in response. "Is it really you?"
"Why, do you know of someone else with these irresistibly good looks?" he quirked, earning a snicker from the older brother in response.
"You brought him back?" Caroline asked, unable to stay silent any longer as she watched the witch with a grim frown.
Davina's face fell as she met her eyes, looking to Kol and squeezing his hand tightly. "Yeah, I did." she said, earning a smile from him in return.
The blonde couldn't think of what to do as she watched the miraculous and happy couple return to their reunion. Hugging the others cheerfully as Caroline's stomach turned in nausea.
"I can't believe this." she muttered to herself, the others glancing back at her with raised brows. "You were the one who made the weapon."
The young witch frowned with guilt, her eyes diverted as Kol stepped forward with a pointed look. "Let it go, darling." he demanded, causing her to shake her head incredulously.
"She is the reason all of this is happening!" Caroline yelled out. "Klaus nearly died because of you. And now…" she sighed with a dark scowl, not finding it in her to stay with the happy family any longer. "Whatever, it doesn't matter as long as you guys get what you wanted. Right?"
"Caroline." Freya tried, taking a step towards her but stopping as the vampire raised a palm in gesture.
"Don't." she muttered, turning away and leaving. Not interested in watching them move on as if everything that had happened was worth it. As if Klaus being hurt, was worth it. It just pissed her off to think about.
Instead, she went back to his room and lied down next to him on the bed. His cold body still grey and frozen as she wrapped an arm over his torso. Tears burning her eyes as she leaned into his neck with a shaky breath.
Desperately wanting to get her happy ending too, she focused on his mind again and entered another memory. Deciding to get whatever comfort she could find, even if it wasn't real.
Caroline didn't sleep a blink the following night. The sun rising and filling the sky at dawn was like some sick mocking. The cruel reality of another day beginning and everything going on as if nothing had happened. The world spinning and time still moving despite her feeling frozen and stuck… and left behind.
Having gone through his armoire and closet, folding and refolding all his clothes as she fought to stop feeling restless. She cleaned the bathroom and stored away some paint tools and supplies from the studio.
It had been twenty-one hours now. Twenty-one hours since he was daggered. Twenty-one hours since they were lying in that bed and made promises of an eternal life together.
Twenty-one hours… It felt more like twenty-one years.
A knock drew her attention away from washing the window panels of the balcony doors, putting the rag down as she turned to meet the visitor. Surprised when Kol entered the room.
"I had to see for myself." he said with a smirk. "Nik was never quiet for longer than five minutes at the time, and now I hear it has been an entire day."
She nodded shortly, realizing she might have been selfish in her complete monopoly on the unconscious hybrid. Understanding that his siblings might want to sit with him too.
Her eyes followed Kol as he walked over to the bed and scanned his brother's body slowly. "Always had to be the center of attention, brother." he snickered. "I come back from the dead and somehow you still manage to make things about you."
Caroline couldn't help but feel a smirk tug on her lips, watching him as he looked up to her then. "I wish we'd made our reintroductions under better circumstances." he said with a sigh, compassionate eyes turned to her as he spoke on. "Just know, Caroline; I am going to do whatever I can to help him."
"What can you do?" she pressed, studying him as she tried to figure out whether he'd returned from the dead all the way.
"I may not be an Original vampire anymore, but I am a witch." he replied, understanding her question. His voice sounded genuinely happy with that fact as he let out a sigh and walked over to her. "And I'd like to think that my quite literal centuries of expertise will account for something."
"I'm glad you're back, Kol. Really… I mean, it's clear that everyone has missed you and I'm sure Klaus would be thrilled too if he wasn't…" she stuttered anxiously, letting out a long breath as she changed direction. "I'm just having trouble swallowing all the happiness, I guess."
"Well, I had truly never expected to be welcomed home with open arms and certainly not so by you. However, even if you do consider me a stranger, darling, you are not one to me." he quipped, a charming twinkle in his eyes. "In fact, it has been fairly entertaining watching my brother bend over backwards at each and every one of your whims for the past couple of years."
She snickered silently, glancing back at the man in question and wondering what he would think of having been spied on from the Other Side. "Can you help him?" she asked softly, turning back to him with a somber face as she studied the man's empathetic eyes.
He glanced back at Klaus' body before facing her with a nod. "I may have a few ideas as to what we could try."
"Like what?"
Crossing his arms over his chest, he tilted his head and looked her over slowly. "What progress have you made so far?"
"None." she scoffed. "I keep trying to enter his mind and talk to him, but all I get are memories and dreams."
"Does he recognize you in them?" he asked curiously.
"Sometimes." she sighed. "The ones from when we knew each other in Mystic Falls come up every now and then."
"And the rest of the time?"
She swallowed hard, a sad smile playing on her lips as she eyed her feet shortly. "I don't know if he's doing it on purpose… But he relives the past a lot." she said. "Most times I'm watching it play out like some movie, other times he sees me. And he's tried just about every pick-up line in the world by now." she mused, earning a chuckle from the Mikaelson in response.
"I…" she began shyly, some sense of guilt building in her gut as she spoke. "I play along sometimes, in the memories where he doesn't know who I am… I know it isn't really him, but there are these moments when I could just swear that it's my Klaus talking. And those are ironically the ones where I miss him the most." she explained, meeting his thoughtful expression with an anxious snicker. "I don't know, maybe I'm going crazy. Seeing him like this and everything…"
"Hey, I am not in any position to judge others on such a topic." he countered amusedly. "I spent the last few years haunting my girlfriend, and most previously; talking to her through magic crystals."
She giggled a little at that, nodding as she couldn't help but feel like he understood her right then. "So, you don't think I'm pathetic for holding onto him?" she asked cautiously. "Even if it isn't really… him?"
He stepped closer and placed a hand on her shoulder with a kind smile on his face. The look of it strange to the young vampire as she never would've associated it with someone like the infamously reckless and cruel Kol Mikaelson. "Why don't you get some rest? I will sit with him while you do." he suggested softly. "I could try my hand at reaching him… He was never able to avoid biting my head off in an argument, so I'm certain I'll be able to annoy him into breaking his slumber."
"Yeah." she chuckled. "I guess I could use a little break."
They shared a nod as she glanced at Klaus one last time, watching Kol take the seat by his side as she moved to the door. "You don't leave a girl like that hanging, Nik." she heard him murmur. "Now, why don't you wake up and celebrate my return to the living, yeah?"
An amused smile covered her face as she left and walked down the hall. Trudging down the stairs and listening in on the various conversations in the house. Elijah was making calls about finding Lucien. Freya and Davina were discussing possible ways to wake Klaus up. Hayley was making Cami company down in the cellars... Caroline overheard their conversation about someone named Vincent and how she considered leaving before Aurora decided to come after the vampire once more.
Everyone had something to occupy their time, to get through the day. They had someone to talk to, to think aloud with... And Caroline realized that she didn't. And she desperately needed something. Something to get her mind off it all, something to help her forget that her boyfriend's life was hanging in the balance...
Boyfriend, she scoffed to herself, remembering Klaus' opinion on the term. She realized she agreed with him that it didn't seem accurate enough. The label felt childish, flippant and just unimportant. It didn't cover what he was to her, what they were. Not that she knew what else to call him herself, she couldn't think of anything better at the moment… The one thing she was sure of, however, was that the kind of love she felt towards Klaus wasn't like the others from her past. She had loved Tyler and Stefan and even Matt, and they had all been meaningful loves too, but Klaus was different.
When she was with Tyler or Stefan, she had given parts of herself away. Her heart, her soul... Her values, dreams... Perhaps to better fit with them or to become what she thought she had to be for the relationship to work… and both times, they had not repaid the effort. Tyler couldn't give up his feelings of revenge and hate – even if it meant tearing them apart and leaving her behind. Stefan wasn't able to see past his askew sense of right and wrong, nor what he should or shouldn't do in order to follow said rules – even if it caused him to put everything and everyone else before the person he claimed to love.
Both men had seen what was necessary for their relationship to work, and both had purposefully made the opposite choice. Both had made it abundantly clear that she wasn't as important to them as they were to her. Both times she had given far too much of herself to them and received little to nothing in return… Both times they had left her behind.
And now, she was finding herself lost and alone due to love once more. However, there was one major difference this time; Caroline had no doubt that were it up to Klaus, he would never let her go. The sureness of it filled her with warmth and peace. She knew he was fighting with all his strength, fighting for her and, for once, giving her everything he had. He was doing his part – she just didn't know how to do hers.
She hadn't often experienced it in her life before… No, Caroline was used to always having an idea, a plan, a sense as to what to do or where to find what she was looking for. She knew that there was always a way, an answer… But what the hell was it this time?
"Hi." a tiny voice said from a sofa in the far end of the courtyard, bringing her to turn around in surprise. A wave of familiarity suddenly hitting the vampire as she was met with a pair of green eyes.
"Hi." she said in response, taking in the sight of the young girl's auburn hair and freckled skin in awe as the child spoke again.
"Who are you?"
The question brought a smile to the blonde's lips as she neared the girl with easy steps. "I'm Caroline." she replied. "And you must be Hope."
The girl in question showed a timid smirk, nodding her head as she patted the spot next to her on the sofa. "Do you want to paint with me?" she asked friendlily.
A flutter spread in the vampire's chest as she couldn't help but beam over at her. "What are we painting?" she chimed softly as she joined Hope on the couch.
"I'm drawing flowers." she answered happily before handing the woman a blank paper and some crayons. "But you can paint whatever you want."
The reply brought a thought to the blonde's mind as she glanced at the child with a knowing smirk. "Your dad once told me that you like sunflowers. Is that right?" she asked, earning a nod as Hope responded.
"Yes, they're my favorite." she explained. "I think they look happy, or at least happier than all the other flowers."
"I think so too." Caroline smiled.
"What's your favorite?" she pressed in return, bringing the blonde to purse her lips as she mulled it over shortly.
"I think I have a lot of favorites, really." she mused as she picked some new colors from the stack on the table. "Lilies, orchids, hydrangeas… but if I have to pick one, it would probably be peonies."
Hope nodded in agreement, chewing on her lip as she concentrated on her drawing. The girl's kind nature gripping Caroline's heart as felt blown away by the incredible child. Amazed at how sweet and relaxed she seemed, as if she could tell that the vampire was someone trustworthy. And considering the abilities she had understood the child possessed, Hope's intuition was likely very astute and rarely inaccurate.
Her wide eyes looked up at the vampire, blinking as she studied her shortly. "You're pretty." she chimed.
Beaming back, Caroline snickered lightly as the child returned to her drawing again. "Well, aren't you a charmer?" she smirked.
"My mom says it's important to be nice to people."
"Well, your mom is very smart." she said, looking at her a little longer as she came to think of something. "I like the color of your eyes, Hope." she noted, earning a fluttery giggle from the girl. "They are kind of a favorite of mine, actually."
"They're like my dad's." she noted timidly.
"Yes, I think that might be why I like them so much." Caroline chimed, sharing a smile with her before Hope turned to her paper again.
"Aunt Freya told me that you used to know him." the child said leisurely as she focused on her drawing. "Are you his friend?"
"Yes, something like that." she drawled, suddenly unsure of how much to reveal to about her relationship with the girl's father. "I happen to care a lot about your dad."
"Can you help him?" The question threw the vampire off-guard as she glanced back at her with a solemn frown, the girl's wide and expecting eyes meeting her as she spoke.
"Are you worried about him, sweetie?" she asked gently, only receiving an anxious expression from the girl in response. "Are you scared?" she pressed on, causing Hope to wince as she straightened up then.
"I'm not scared." the young girl said sternly, as if having rehearsed it a hundred times over beforehand. It urged the vampire to quickly speak again in order to help ease her mind.
"Hope, it's okay if you are." Caroline assured her softly. "And I can promise you that every single person in this house is doing everything they possibly can to help your dad." she told her, squeezing her shoulder lightly for emphasis.
"You too?" the child asked, bringing something dark and filled with guilt to rise up in Caroline's chest.
Was she?
"I won't stop at anything to make sure he comes back to you." the blonde said surely. "Do you believe me?"
Hope pursed her lips shortly, her eyes furrowed as she seemed to consider it before answering. "I believe you." she whispered silently with a slow nod, averting her eyes and shying away as she quickly busied herself with the drawing once more. The act felt familiar to Caroline as it reminded her of herself in that moment, with the need to keep focused on something other than what was worrying her mind... or breaking her heart.
She caught a motion in the corner of her eyes and looked up to note Hayley standing by the balconies above them. Leaning against a pillar and watching the two with a fallen face. Caroline wondered shortly when she'd passed by them and how she had failed to notice the young mother's presence. Meeting her eyes then, the hybrid's features were filled with pain but eased as she locked eyes with the blonde, perhaps trying to stay strong and confident for the people around her… doing her best to help in any way she could.
Hayley directed the vampire a kind smile, making her return it before looking down at the papers again and wondering what Klaus would think if he'd seen her just then... The thought made her stomach drop as she realized she had just reminded herself of the one thing she was trying to put out of her mind. But that was when something occurred to the young blonde.
"I'm gonna check on someone, Hope. Will you be alright by yourself?" she asked gently, earning a nod in response. She patted the girl's head, smiling to herself as she got up and stepped away.
Determination filling her soul as she realized there was something she could do after all. That there was some action left, some lead to follow, something to try... And it was locked up in the cellars below. Her eyes went back to the child while she turned the corner and headed for the basement.
She reached the last steps and glanced around the room, listening for the right sounds and allowing them to guide her through the dark space. Entering the wide hall with sealed up doors and magical cells, she took a breath and walked towards the familiar scent.
"Care?" Marcel's voice called out, having noticed her presence right away.
She gulped at the easy way he used the nickname, as if they were still friends helping each other… As if he hadn't stabbed her in the back and put everyone she cared about in danger with his hidden motives.
Shaking her head quickly, she forced the anger out of her head and moved closer to his door. "Do you know what's been happening?" she asked flatly, not ready to open herself up for his supposed friendship quite yet. No, she had important business to attend to and no time to lose.
"What do you mean?" he asked hoarsely, causing her to take a deep breath as she tried to calm herself once more.
She turned away and walked back to the table opposite the cells, reaching for the box on top of it and raising the lid. Accessing the covered control panel with buttons and latches and swiftly pressing her finger over one of them. There were sounds of metal moving as the doors unlocked and opened behind her. Showing a confused vampire as he stood with apprehensive eyes and awaited her next move.
"What are you doing, Caroline?" the voice of the willing prisoner in the cell next to Marcel's made the vampire frown.
"Everything I can." she said flatly to Camille before nodding towards Marcel and urging him forward. He stepped out of his cell and walked over slowly, studying her as he closed the distance and scanned her face.
"Tell me." he said softly, something in his eyes telling her that he already suspected what she was going to say.
"Davina brought Kol back." she explained, watching as he blinked in chock at that. "And the weapon she used to do that with… Aya took it."
"Aya?" he echoed in disbelief, shaking his head but freezing up as she spoke again.
"She daggered him, Marcel." she added, bringing the man to visibly gulp as he seemed to understand just whom she meant as well as the severity behind it. "Whatever you and Davina were hoping to do with the Candle, whatever it is that you've been hiding from everybody…" she went on with a thick voice. The words getting caught in her throat as she saw the image of Klaus falling with the dagger in his chest, the horror replaying over and over in her head.
She focused on her determination once more and looked at the vampire seriously as she got to her point. "I want to trust you, Marcel." she concluded firmly. "Because I need you if I'm going to kill Aya and stop Lucien and hopefully get rid of Aurora in the process too."
Ten days ago
or Six days after Caroline's arrival
New Orleans, Louisiana
"Do you have any idea as to why Klaus would be asking around for Alice-May Denver?"
Marcel raised a brow at the question, glancing across the dinner table with a short shrug as he met Davina's awaiting expression. "Can't say that I do." he replied truthfully, noticing something strange flicker in the girl's eyes as she kidder in response. "Why do you ask?"
"She told me that he coerced her into doing some ritual to help a blonde friend of his contact Leila Gardiner." she explained with a furrowed face. "At first I thought he might have been with Cami, but she is nowhere near New Orleans."
"No, that would be Caroline, actually." he smirked above the rim of his wine glass.
"Caroline?" Davina echoed in disbelief. "And who exactly is she?"
"If you were to trust Klaus' explanation, then she is an old friend of the Mikaelson's."
"If I didn't take him by his word, then who would she be?"
Marcel sipped his drink before letting out a content sigh, placing the glass on the table carefully as he spoke. "Someone special." he concluded. "Didn't Josh tell you about the baby vamp I invited into the ring a few days ago?"
"That was Caroline?" she said incredulously, a sharp smirk on her face as she bit back a retort. "The girl you apparently invited to several other places in the past few nights?"
"Hey now!" he coughed in mild outrage. "You don't see me asking about your 'private life', D."
"That's because I don't have one." she scoffed, earning a deep snicker in result. "I didn't realize Klaus Mikaelson had friends… even less that he had someone who he would turn the city upside-down for."
"Well…" Marcel began, some defensive feelings spurring in his chest at the girl's words. "Caroline isn't just anyone. She carries a certain… allure."
He had to cut himself off as the impulse to go on suddenly overcame him, making him gulp as he studied the witch across him. He saw the realization on her features before she said it, sighing already as she spoke up.
"You like her don't you?" she pressed, causing him to shake his head as he tried to think of a reply.
"It's not like that, she's just…" he stammered shortly, scoffing at his own weird nerves as they made him sound like some teenage boy with a high school crush. "She holds herself with this incredible strength and has an optimistic view of the world as well as an incredibly deep heart. All in all… she just has this unique effect on others, I guess."
Davina's scrutinizing gaze brought him to clear his throat and straighten his back swiftly. "Okay." she drawled. "Just, please, don't tell me history is repeating itself here. I don't think NOLA could handle another triangle drama like that again."
He chuckled at that, licking his lips and tilting his head to the side as he replied. "What I'm trying to say is that if Klaus needed Alice-May for something - it will have likely been for Caroline."
She nodded in reaction and scratched the back of her head - in a move which he realized she had gotten from him. "I don't like Klaus sniffing around the witches, Marcel." she sighed out. "Especially not right now."
"We have everything under control, D." he assured her warmly but saw that it didn't quite sink in. "Are you worried about the Dawning?" he asked, wondering if there was in fact something entirely else on her mind.
"Not really, no." she said with a short frown. "I'm way more worried about everything leading up to it."
"We could always clue the Mikaelson's in." he suggested, for the twentieth or so time.
"No." she insisted with a shaking head. "I can't trust them with the truth."
"Davina…" he began but she cut him off with a sharp breath.
"Don't!" she barked out, anger flaming in her eyes as the apartment trembled in result. His attention quickly turning to the sparking lights around them as plaster fell from the ceiling.
"We are so close, Marcel." she sighed out, gritting her teeth and squeezing her eyes shut as she fought to collect herself.
The shaking slowed down and the walls were soon still again as she faced him with a determined expression. "The invitations will be going out soon. The witches are ready… The ball is happening and I can't have Klaus catching on and ruining everything for some long-lost girlfriend."
He watched her as she turned pleading, something familiar and vulnerable on her face as he nodded slowly. "I promise you, D. Klaus doesn't know anything, and I will do whatever I can to make sure Caroline's mission doesn't interfere with ours."
She mirrored him with a quick nod. "Okay." she breathed out, her hands relaxing as they unclenched and rested on the table. "What do you know about her being here?" she pushed. "What does she want?"
If Marcel had not stood up from his chair just then and turned to refill his drink, he might have seen the reaction on the young witch's face as he responded to her question. "She's looking for Lucien." he said. "And since we've spent multiple years doing the same, I have a hard time believing that she will accomplish what the rest of us haven't."
He returned to the table to note her eyes downturned in a strained grimace. "It's going to be fine, Davina." he promised, reaching for her hand and squeezing it reassuringly. "We've got this, right?"
"Right." she echoed with a shaky voice, meeting his analyzing gaze then and wearing a brief smile on her face. "It's going to be fine."
Klaus was still buzzing with some strange sense of euphoria within his chest as he returned home in the wee hours of the morning. Memories of her haranguing him as he realized he was wearing a stupid grin on his face. He had been doing so all night, particularly after dropping Caroline off by her hotel at the end of their date.
"Where have you been?" the voice brought him to a stop in the middle of the courtyard as he quickly put on a stoic face. Turning to his sister as she stood leaning against one of the pillars with crossed arms and squinting eyes.
"Freya." he drawled slowly. "Would you mind holding off on the interrogation until the pending, hopefully late, sunrise?"
"Would you give me an answer?" she countered.
He snickered darkly, raising an index-finger as he responded. "Considering how you are not my mother and I am not a school boy in need of supervision…" he drawled with a shrug. "Highly doubtful." he concluded then before turning away from her and flashing across the courtyard.
Letting out a grunt when he hit an invisible barrier, he shook his head in an incredulous chuckle. "Interesting tactic, sister." he scoffed out and glanced back over at her with a raised brow. Raising his arms in the air in defeat as he continued. "Go on then, what do you want?"
"I want you to stop fooling around and start taking things seriously here." she sneered, making him purse his lips as he nodded in response.
"Before or after I have your head?" he retorted calmly as she stepped towards him.
"Go ahead, Niklaus." she scoffed. "You have no chance against me."
"Care to place a wager on that?" he smirked.
"Enough." Elijah interjected as he joined them with a bored expression, his eyes fixed on his cufflinks as he adjusted them swiftly. "Answer her question, brother." he said and nodded towards the hybrid. "Where were you tonight?"
"I have had far too little alcohol and even less blood to work up enough patience for this." Klaus sighed out, resenting his sibling for souring his mood as he had hoped to hang onto it for longer than a mere hour or so. "And when exactly did you begin to care for my indulgences and the ways which I choose to spend my time?"
"Oh, around the time when you began keeping such secret from your family." Freya scoffed back.
"Do we have reason for concern?" Elijah chimed in before the younger Mikaelson could reply to their sister's remark.
"Of course not." he said firmly, deciding it was the end of the conversation and turning away from them again. A thought occurred to him though, causing him to slow down and look back at Freya. "What can you tell me about some cursed object called the Candle of Hades?"
The witch furrowed her brows and watched him in silence, shaking her head slowly before speaking. "Nothing good." she told him grimly.
He nodded at that before turning and heading to his room. "I feared as much." he muttered to himself while leaving his siblings behind with confused frowns on their faces. Resenting the way they had managed to foul his good mood as he had hoped to prolong it just a little more…
Considering then the possibility of dropping by the young vampire's hotel in the morning. If he could come up with a good enough of an excuse, of course. He smirked to himself as he thought of the solution, glancing over at the time piece on his nightstand and noting the sight.
Merely three hours until dawn and less than five until breakfast time, he could wait that long.
Meanwhile, he had the lingering buzz of joy within him and the remnants of Caroline's ambrosial scent on his clothes. It would be enough to keep him company until morning comes.
Worst case scenario, there were always long steamy showers as a back-up pastime.
Present day
New Orleans, Louisiana
Perhaps she had been hungry without knowing it. Starving. Bloodthirsty. Or perhaps she simple craved to tear something apart. To let the anger and pain out and spread it through the city. And perhaps Marcel had sensed this, and that was probably why he didn't stand in her way as she urged him to follow across town in search for Lucien Castle.
A cloud of dust filled the air as Caroline kicked down the double doors to the penthouse. Her fists rolled up and ready for attack, her eyes scanning the environments intently with a dark and threatening scowl.
"They've already been here, Care." Marcel reminded her as she trudged through the living area and passed several rooms. All of which were trashed with flipped furniture on the floor and broken glass crackling under their soles. "What do you expect to find that Hayley's men haven't already?"
"Something." she scoffed out. Eyeing the emptied bookshelves as their contents laid splayed all over. "Anything." she murmured, mostly to herself, before moving ahead and entering Lucien's bedroom.
Stepping up to the wall where the hidden keypad stood bare to the world. Scratches clear on the metal as she spotted signs of someone attempting to force their way into the secured storage room. "Clearly, they didn't know the password." she snickered lightly.
"What, and you do?" Marcel scoffed, stilling as she threw him a glance. "Wait, do you?"
She responded by pressing in the code and smiled shortly as the door opened up in result. A constricting feeling in her chest surprising her as she was thrown back to when Klaus let her into the very same room days ago. She shook her head and quickly put the awful grief aside, following Marcel to scour the cabinets in a very familiar manner.
Her eyes went to the mirror as she wondered whether Lucien had managed to clear out his secret stash before going on the run. She took determined steps forward and mimicked Klaus' action from when he'd unlocked it. The click informing her that it worked, she knelt down and threw the cabinet doors open swiftly.
Empty.
The word caused her heart to hurt as she stared in disbelief. "It's gone." she whispered, vaguely recognizing Marcel walking towards her as she felt herself spiral down the deep pit of anger and misery. "He took everything."
"Everything?" he asked, the tone making her raise a brow as he seemed to think of something then. "Cami's old objects too?"
"I guess." she drawled slowly as she stood up, glancing back at him in question. "What?"
He shrugged shortly as a smile began to cover his face. "He must have been in a hurry, that's all." he said with a snicker. "Not to think about what he was taking with him when he ran like that..."
She sensed more to his words and squinted at him as the pieces began to shape in her mind. "He took something that we can track?" she guessed, earning a wide grin in response which began to mirror on her lips. "We can find him."
With a pointed nod of his head, he urged her to follow him out and through the penthouse again. However, they both stopped dead in their tracks when they were met with a silhouette by the entrance.
"Elijah…" the blonde began with a try at explaining herself, looking over at Marcel guiltily as she wondered what the Original may think of the odd pair before him. "How did you know-"
"Where you were?" the Mikaelson filled in with a subtle shrug. "We may not be closely acquainted quite yet, Caroline, but I believe I know you better than you give me credit for." he chimed, straightening his sleeves as he watched the two closely. "Furthermore, I recognize when someone is acting recklessly. What, having had a few centuries of experience on the matter and all."
"Klaus would do the same." she pointed out, earning a sad smile from him then.
"Yes. That is precisely my point." he interjected, turning to Marcel then as he stepped closer to the invisible barrier between them. "You should have known better."
"Yeah well, I'd much rather follow her lead than yours at the time being." the vampire threw back, making her fight back a smirk as she glanced at him. He met her eyes with a nod then. "I'll prepare everything Davina needs to start the locator spell." he explained to her, earning a nod from her in response as he quickly flashed out of the apartment then.
The Original, however, still stood standing in front of her with a calculating look on his face as he eyed her closely. She sighed as she started to get restless, having taken way too much of a break from her search already. "Are you going to force me to go back home?" she pressed.
"That is yet to be determined." he replied with a tilt of his head. "Why are you running off on your own like this, Caroline? Why did you not ask me to join you?"
"For what, protection? Back-up?" she snickered bitterly. "I don't need your help, Elijah. Not when it includes idly waiting for Lucien to come to you on his own."
"You are putting yourself in unnecessary danger." he interjected. "What do you imagine Niklaus' reaction will be when he awakens to hear of your impulsively self-inflicted demise?"
"Yeah well, I'm not going to sit around and watch any more of you Mikaelson's become resurrected while that dagger stays stuck inside Klaus' chest."
He shook his head in a short chuckle, digging into his pocket and retrieving a phone which she recognized right away. "Why do you have that?" she asked as she watched him hold his brother's phone in his hand, twirling it leisurely as he spoke.
"You are fortunately not alone in your quest to save him." he said with a sigh. "Damon Salvatore has been calling non-stop, you see."
Damon, right… she thought as she realized she'd forgotten about him inviting himself to New Orleans. "I don't want him here, Elijah." she admitted exasperatedly. "He's partly responsible for Klaus'… state."
"One which the Salvatore has no knowledge of." he filled in, causing her to raise a brow in surprise. "I have not told him anything yet, out of respect for your privacy. However, I am afraid his pending arrival can no longer be avoided."
"He's here?" she breathed out sharply, feeling like the air was suddenly knocked out of her.
"He will be." he clarified, nodding towards her as he turned and gestured pointedly with his hand down the hall. "He, along with Mr. Saltzman and Mr. St. John are about an hour away." he said with solemn eyes. "And they will be expecting you to fill them in once they get here."
She grinded her teeth and fiddled with her hands, not at all excited about facing the men. Not since she lost the candle and risked Bonnie's life because of it. Not since Damon appeared to want to use the candle on Klaus. And now, Klaus was hurt by the same weapon the Salvatore needs to help Bonnie. Her two worlds were closing in and would inevitably collide with each other the moment her friends stepped foot into New Orleans.
As she exited the penthouse and followed Elijah out, it became clear to the blonde that things could get messy really fast. Part of her understanding that she couldn't help Klaus if she was busy helping Bonnie too. But another part painstakingly aware that she had made promises to both; to save them, to bring them back... To protect them. And she was starting to fear that one may get in the way of the other.
Six days ago
or Three days before the Strix ball
New Orleans, Louisiana
Marcel was surprised to find the young witch waiting at his home when he returned. Having run errands all day aside from aiding Caroline in planning a meeting with Klaus. The last thing on his mind was Davina.
"Hey, have you been waiting long?" he asked as he placed his phone on the kitchen island and poured himself a glass of blood.
"Why didn't you tell me about you and Caroline?" she pressed in a rushed voice, surprising him yet again.
"I thought I did." he drawled before taking a long gulp.
"Not that you two are dating." she quipped and crossed her arms over her chest. "When were you going to tell me about that?"
"It's…" he sighed with a tilted smirk. "It's a cover, D. We're not together."
"You're not?" she drawled with sceptic eyes.
"No." he snickered. "In fact, I pretty much set her up to spend tonight with Klaus Mikaelson - whom I'm sure she might be in love with."
"Wait, really?" she pressed with wide eyes as he frowned in response.
"Yeah." he said before reaching for the nearest bottle of spirits and mixing the blood with it.
"You said it was a cover, what kind?" she asked, making him shrug shortly.
"She's looking for someone who took her friend, and I guess she was hoping Klaus could help her out." he explained and threw the drink back swiftly. "But we all know that any friend of Klaus Mikaelson's is a target for every supernatural enemy around, so I'm trying to help keep her safe."
"By pretending to date her?"
He let out a breathy scoff and studied the witch closely. "Did you really think that I would go behind your back, D?"
She looked guilty for a moment as she dropped her arms to her sides and neared him cautiously. "I'm sorry, Marcel. I'm really worried about everything going wrong… Especially when we're inching closer every day to the finish line."
Reaching for her hand, he squeezed it warmly and gave her a genuine smile of assurance. "I get it." he said with a nod. "But you don't need to worry about Caroline."
"You're sure?" she pressed.
"I am." he chimed, something heavy hitting his gut as he tried to sound convincing enough. He had to. At least until he understood the big picture better. And he was nowhere near it yet.
"Okay." Davina smiled softly, letting go of him and turning away to reach for a laptop on the coffee table. "Because I found something."
"You did?" he said slowly as she walked back over and showed him the screen.
"Remember how Klaus told you they wanted to move Rebekah's curse to a dark object?" she told him before drawing his attention to a document with translations. "I realized that the Candle is that object."
"What?" he breathed out as she watched him with eager eyes while beginning her explanation. Relaying how the curse put on the Candle connected to dark magic - and that the curse put on Rebekah was likely as well.
He felt himself zone out as she spoke, the pieces suddenly fitting together in a much clearer light than before… They had a way of saving Rebekah. Everything else blurred in comparison.
Even his loyalty towards Caroline Forbes.
"There's more, D." he said as he grabbed his phone and showed her the images the female vampire had sent him. "Caroline's friends may have figured out what we need for the Candle to work."
She visibly froze at his words, gulping as she took the phone in her hands and studied the material with a frown. "I have to go…" she suddenly said as she gave him the phone and pushed away.
"Davina!" he called as she rushed out of the apartment, losing her and hurrying to the only place he could imagine she might be hiding at.
He heard the voices as he hurried past the halls of the library. The conversation filling his ears as he used his supernatural ability to locate her. Not surprised to find that she had already turned to the dead Mikaelson in need for guidance.
"I can't tell her."
"Why the bloody hell not!?"
It pained him to know that she could not confide in him in the same way, especially since he would be willing to die before letting anything happen to her. But that kind of love that he felt for Davina did not require to be returned. It was selfless, focused, unwavering. And it was enough for him to accept her turning away in the moment where she needed someone the most.
"I can speak with Nik, I can reason with him -"
"He won't care about saving you! If Klaus finds out that there is something out there that can kill him, he will destroy it without a second thought. Everything and everyone else be damned."
"Which is why I didn't tell them what we know." Marcel said as he interrupted the witch then, her fearful eyes turned to him as she gripped the glowing crystal in her hands tightly.
"You didn't?" Davina pressed, making him nod with a stoic face as he felt uncertain in the presence of the ancient ghost.
"No, I only told them about the ball." he explained for the sake of the man in the crystal, turning to the witch again as he continued. "But we need to work faster now, before they start catching on."
The witch nodded shortly at that before glancing at the crystal. "What do we tell them?"
"The basics." the distant voice replied. "Confirm what they already have, perhaps throw them a bone too… nothing more. I was never a fan of the older Salvatore anyhow; I wouldn't mind him struggling for a little while longer."
"Then it's settled." she concluded, turning to the vampire beside her with a sad smile, it mirrored on his face in return. "We go through with the plan as discussed. After the Dawning, we can tell them the truth about the Candle."
Marcel nodded before a plan formed between the two. He called for his personal chaffeur and wrote a short message, hurrying to give it to the man before compelling him to fetch Caroline. That way he could meet with her at the loft and finally get the headstart they so badly needed.
Present day
New Orleans, Louisiana
When the three dark-haired men entered the abattoir, Caroline stood awaiting them with a strained smile on her face. Ric was the first to speak as he walked over to her with open arms. "I missed you." he said.
"You too." she murmured into his shoulder. He pulled back and studied her with kind eyes.
"Alright, is this the entire welcoming committee or is the Big Bad wolf waiting around the corner?" Damon quipped, the smug face rubbing Caroline the wrong way.
"Don't make me send you back." she sighed out, nodding to Enzo as he watched her with a sad smile. "Come in." she said, guiding them into the courtyard as two of the men looked around in awe.
The third was still studying her, clearly sensing something was wrong. However, she was in no mood to talk about it.
"Alright, tell us again." Ric said, putting a bag down on the floor and looking surprised when the staff showed up to take their luggage.
As a man reached for Damon's bags, Caroline raised a hand and quickly stopped him. "Hold on." she said and pointed between Damon and Enzo. "You don't need to take the bags from these two. They'll be staying at a hotel."
"Come on, Care-Bear." the Salvatore protested as the staff scurried away with Alaric's sole duffle bag.
"Let's focus." she muttered with squinting eyes, gesturing for them to take a seat in the couch group. "Elijah needed to take a call but he'll be here soon. Marcel took Davina and Kol to check out a few leads downtown."
"Did you say… Kol?" Ric drawled with a startled face, an equal one on Damon's as well. "As in Kol Mikaelson, the vampire Jeremy killed ages ago?"
"Yeah, it didn't take." she snickered as she sat down and crossed her legs in a sigh. Two women joining them then as the men looked up in surprised interest.
"Mr. Salvatore." Freya chimed. "Still haven't lost that tongue yet?"
"No, but you've clearly lost your mind." he retorted amusedly, nodding towards Hayley then. "At least you must be to team up with the backstabbing wolf."
In a swift blur, Caroline grabbed the Salvatore's hand and broke each finger in loud cracks – another move she had taken on from a certain Original hybrid.
He cursed under his breath and glared at her with fire in his eyes, stilling as he met her cold expression while she leaned over him threateningly. "You are a guest here, Damon." she bit out firmly. "Act like it."
The male vampire let out a displeased snicker as he straightened his limbs out. Making her glance to Hayley and share a short smirk as she walked over and took her seat once more.
Freya cleared her throat, unceremoniously breaking the tense silence then and stepping forward. "Lorenzo." she greeted with the same level of tact as Elijah himself. "And this must be Alaric."
Ric got up and shook her hand with a polite smile as they all spread out then. "Can we get started?" Caroline pressed, her usual social capacity lacking for the time being.
"Yes, let's." Elijah said as he walked out to the courtyard then, standing beside Hayley's chair as he addressed the visitors with a nod. "Gentlemen." he quipped before looking to Caroline. "Go on, dear."
A smile tugged on the corners of her mouth as she nodded back to him before speaking to the group. "Bonnie doesn't know where she is, but clearly Aya is connected to her which in turn connects her to Lucien and Aurora." she began. "And what do the first generations of vampires want? To break the sire-lines. So, I think we should assume that they want to use Bonnie to do just that."
"And we already know that they needed the candle." Hayley filled in. "Which you all apparently were looking for as well."
Enzo and Damon replied with a pair of nods as Caroline spoke again. "And Lucien let Davina bring Kol back for a reason. Maybe they want him now that he's an Original witch?" she mused.
"He's a what?" Damon scoffed out in humor at that but was quickly silenced by another of Caroline's glares.
"Or..." she drawled slowly before moving forward again. "Maybe they wanted Davina to use the weapon as a test-run? Making sure it worked before they risked using it themselves?"
"Didn't the legend mention that the witch who used it sometimes lost their magic?" Freya pressed. "The candle absorbs magic, so it's possible that they never in fact wanted the weapon, only her powers."
"Right, that's why Lucien fought for the Dawning to happen." Caroline agreed with a nod. "They wanted to boost Davina's magic so they could use it for something, something big."
"Like resurrecting Aya Al-Rashid." Hayley scoffed, shaking her head as she turned to Elijah.
"We should take their second dagger into consideration." Elijah added as he smiled at her softly before focusing on the group again. "It is possible they have more stowed away."
"But they're rendered useless without the candle." Caroline thought to herself. "Does that mean they will be back for it?"
This time it was Enzo who chimed in. "Wait, you have the candle?" he pushed with furrowed eyebrows.
"It's…" she began in response but took a deep breath before coming clean. "Yes."
"Then why aren't we using it?" Damon interjected.
"It isn't… accessible." Caroline sighed out. "But this could mean that they aren't done after all."
"You really think we can trust Marcel?" Hayley asked, glancing to the blonde and earning a sigh in response.
"We have no choice. Especially now that we're a man down." she mused, noticing the strange looks on her friends' faces. Seeming to wonder whom she was referring to as they apparently had learned to stay silent by then.
She decided to get ahead of it and face the topic before they made their own assumptions. "Klaus." she explained, her voice hoarse as she continued. "He… He was daggered. By Aya."
Sympathetic frowns flowed over their features before Damon quirked up in some twisted serendipity. "Does that mean it worked?" he asked, hopeful glimmers in his eyes. "The candle merged with the dagger?"
Caroline didn't like the opportunistic tone of his voice, gritting her teeth and clenching her fists as she glared at him in response. "Whatever you're thinking, Damon; forget it." she drawled in a threat. "You're not going anywhere near that dagger."
"I wasn't about to do anything." he protested with a shrug. "Just, call it professional curiosity."
"Well, drop it." she bit back. Standing up then, she looked to the Mikaelson's and earned understanding smiles in result. "I need a break. Fill me in later." she said, directing a pointed look at her guests. "Behave." she muttered before turning away from them and heading up the stairs.
She entered the room with a deep sigh, leaning against the door as it closed shut behind her. Glancing back at the still frozen hybrid on the bed, her heart aching as she was suddenly dying to talk to him…
Moving to lie beside him, she held his hand and rested her cheek against his shoulder. Closing her eyes as she focused and entered his mind, having gotten pretty good at it by now.
The usual walls of his subconscious were like a maze of dreams and memories for her to navigate through. Passing various scenes in his mind before diving into the currently strongest one.
He was sitting at a bar in yet another strange place, the language the people spoke around her sounding like something from the Balkans. She looked down her form in an attempt to pinpoint what time she had jumped into, the era looking pretty modern despite the dated technology around her.
As she walked towards him then, she strode on high heels and a long white sundress. "You look like you could use some company." she purred as she came to stand beside him. His head turning to her with a passive frown but lighting up as he looked her over. "Buy me a drink?" she asked, earning a smirk from the hybrid as he nodded in reply.
He waved over the bartender with a cheeky smile. "Edhe një pije për zonjën e bukur, zotëri." he chimed, the older man nodding at his patron before moving to prepare a drink. "Tell me, love..." he crooned as he turned to her with a charming look in his eyes. "What brings an American lady such as yourself to Tirana of all places?"
She shrugged coyly at that, taking a seat and turning to him with a flirty smile. "Possibly the same reason that brought a vampire such as yourself here." she quipped, bringing him to cock a brow in surprise. "I'm looking to enjoy the city. The culture, the art, the music…"
"A woman after my own heart." he chimed, the words gripping hers in response as she couldn't help but note the irony.
The bartender placed the drink before her with a cordial nod before moving away to tend to other costumers. She reached for the glass and smelled the liquid shortly, realizing it was bourbon and smirking as she wondered what else she had possibly expected.
"So, do you plan on keeping the mystery to yourself or would you like to give me your name?" she crooned, glancing at him with fiery eyes.
He moved closer, resting an arm on the back of her stool and scanning her slowly. "I have gone by quite a few names over the years." he mused with a low voice. "However, gorgeous and culturally invested women whom I meet in Albanian bars get to call me Nik."
"Nik." she smiled, faltering slightly as she wondered whether to give him her real name or not… "I'm Claire."
"No." he snickered deeply.
"No?" she echoed.
"No, Claire is not your name." he drawled, sipping his drink before eyeing her then. "Why don't you try that again, sweetheart?"
She chewed on her bottom-lip, shaking her head in disbelief as she enjoyed the familiar banter. "Well, maybe I do want to keep the mystery." she quipped, taking a sip from her glass and looking to him through her eyelashes. "I have a feeling you're the kind of man who tend to lose interest once you know everything about someone."
"Is that so?" he chuckled. "Go on then, tell me another false name." he dared playfully. "Not Claire."
Shaking her head in a light chuckle, she drew patterns over the counter and mulled it over. "Cara." she finally said before an amusing thought made her add to it. "Cara Michaels."
He squinted at her shortly before a grin covered his face again. "Now, that I believe was closer to the truth." he chimed. "Meaning your real name most likely does begin with a C."
"What are you, a detective?" she chuckled.
"No." he beamed in result, his eyes twinkling with something intriguing. "No, I am the furthest thing from a law enforcing man, love."
"Does that mean you're a criminal, then?" she pressed, receiving a thoughtful pout as he glanced away.
"I suppose that depends on how you see the world." he murmured, his fingertips grazing her knuckles as her hand lied on the bar top between them. The touch surprising her as it sent sparks over her skin and brought a blush to her face. "Charlotte?" he hummed, his gaze curious as he met her eyes.
"No." she smiled as she understood his question. "My name is not Charlotte."
"Hmm." he pursed his lips, his fingers tracing lines on the back of her hand. A flash of distaste covering his features as he spoke again. "Not… Catherine?"
"God, no." she scoffed, earning a grin from him in response. "You look relieved." she noted cheekily. "Don't tell me; bad experience with an ex?"
"Something like that." he snickered. "I'm curious, what do you think of the world?" he asked. "Is it black and white? Is there a right and wrong?..."
She was thrown off by the question, blinking shortly as she thought it over. Not having expected such philosophical topics from the smug hybrid charmer. "Yes." she said, his movements stilling as she did. "I think there is a right and a wrong for everything in the world… But I also think that one person's right doesn't necessarily mean the same for someone else."
His somber eyes turned to hers with a mix of surprise and awe on his face. "That is a rather wise perspective…" he murmured softly as he leaned closer. "Christina."
"Nope." she smirked playfully. "Let me help you narrow it down a bit…" she teased, winking as she continued. "It's neither Cecilia, Courtney, Cassandra... or Carrie."
"No, it is certainly not." he quipped, his touch venturing over her forearm in long lines. A pull drawing her in as her fingers traced the buttons on his shirt. A slow smile spread on his lips as something sparked in his eyes then. "I have it." he crooned.
She raised a brow in disbelief, shaking her head and chuckling lightly. "No, you don't." she chimed.
"I do." he grinned impishly.
"I highly doubt that, Nik." she quipped, their breaths mixing as his face leaned closer to hers.
"Then I will have to prove you wrong..." he purred, turning to the side as he brushed his lips against the shell of her ear. "Caroline." he drawled, the name sounding like a song as it fell off his lips.
A long sigh escaped her as she leaned into him, a part of her disappointed in the game already being over. But another part was jubilant, her heart swelling as she felt like he had somehow seen into her head. She reached for his jaw and pulled back slightly, her eyes scanning his face as she took him in.
"Is that your final guess?" she breathed, her lips brushing against his as she spoke.
"It isn't a guess." he murmured tauntingly.
"You're that sure of yourself?"
"Let's call it… intuition." he quipped before moving in and leaving a feathery kiss on her lips.
"Mm." she hummed in agreement, enjoying the tremors it sent through her body. Her mind emptying as she leaned in for another kiss, his warmth taking her over as she couldn't hold herself back anymore.
The electricity between them sparked a wildfire as the kiss quickly deepened, his hand threading through her hair as she tugged at his collar. Her heart fluttered as the tip of his tongue teased against her bottom-lip, drawing a sigh from her before he delved in. She marveled in his taste, having missed being close to him and intending to make the most of it now. He moved away shortly, looking into her eyes in awe as she gazed back with a grin on her lips before leaning in and kissing him again.
A flash of wind indicated that they had moved, but she wasn't sure where. Her back connecting with a wall as he held her by her waist and pushed into her body. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she suddenly craved to be closer. He moved a hand to tilt her chin and another to hold her in place by her hip, a thrill rushing through her as she felt the bulge of him press to her thigh. She gasped as his lips traveled down her neck and throat, making her smile widely as she braided her fingers in his hair and pulled him closer.
His breath hit her ear as he leaned in and whispered quietly. "You're exquisite, Caroline." he purred, his voice causing her insides to coil as a pulse of need coursed through her. Tugging at his hair, she brought him back to her lips and rocked her hips against his groin. Earning a low grunt as he nipped at her lip in response and dug his fingers into her flesh, kneading her curves and making her burn under his touch.
She felt her mind drift away, thoughts running through her head that she wished would stop trying to distract her. Feeling shortly like she was doing something wrong. Taking advantage of him in some way, adding the weight of him not being the real him… Something that caused a pit to fill her stomach as she suddenly couldn't shake the thought that she was somehow cheating on Klaus with his subconscious.
Her hands moved on their own, pushing at his chest hard and bringing a dazed look to his blinking eyes. "Something wrong, love?" he asked in a breathy voice.
Yes, everything, she thought. But how was she supposed to explain that to him?
Shaking her head in disbelief of herself, she let out a bitter scoff and felt a lump form in her throat. "This isn't what I want." she whispered. "You're supposed to be… Not like this."
He stared at her like she was talking in tongues, which albeit would be her thought too had the roles been reversed. "I don't know what I was thinking…" she muttered to herself, bringing a frown to cover his face in result. "I don't know why I thought it would be like the real you. Because it isn't you. No other Klaus will ever be like the real one…"
"What did you say?" he pressed with a dark pair of eyes, grabbing her arm tightly as he glared at her then. "Who are you?"
"I'm sorry… I should leave." she sighed before trying to pull out of his grip, his threatening scowl creating chills to pass over her. "Let me go." she said, surprised by his strength as she tried to push him off.
He raised a hand to her throat, squeezing it tightly as he pinned her against the wall. "How did you find me?" he hissed, the anger in his voice making her skin crawl. The red in his eyes strange as it lacked the glowing amber she was used to in the present. "Who are you working with!?" he growled out, causing her to wince involuntarily.
She closed her eyes in a slow breath, focusing her mind until he suddenly was thrown back and away from her. Lying on the ground, he looked up in shock at her as he seemed ready to rip her apart.
"I'm sorry, Klaus." she breathed out before turning away from him. The scene changing as she did, the world blurring around her and morphing into a long street as she stood in a dark alleyway.
Her eyes quickly found him as he hid amongst the shadows, holding onto a girl tightly with his face buried in her neck. Her expression glazed over and her skin pale as he fed on her blood. The sight made Caroline's stomach turn as she stood back, trying to think of a way to approach him.
"Seems like she didn't give you much of a challenge." she called out, crossing her arms over her chest as she watched him glance over to her then. "Why don't you pick on someone your own size?" she pressed on as he let go of the young lady then. Causing her to cover her neck with her hand before she ran away from the vampires with staggering steps and breathy whimpers.
He dried off his bloodied lips while leisurely walking over to the blonde, his eyes returning to normal as he scanned her from head to toe. "You must not know whom you have just stumbled upon, love." he snickered, shaking his head lightly.
"I think I recognize a smug, ancient vampire when I see one." she quipped back. A wave of different emotions flashed over his face in result; surprise... anger... intrigue...
He closed the distance between them and stared her down, gripping her chin as he wore a threatening grin. "You are a brave one, aren't you?" he smirked darkly.
The touch had the opposite effect to whatever he had expected as she swallowed hard. Feeling drawn to his familiar scent and cocky attitude. Her eyes traveled over his face without fear, her lips parted as she glanced down at his. His previous escapades having added a luscious color to them that beckoned for her to lean in.
"Who are you?" he asked slowly, probably stumped by her easy stance towards him. Letting go off her chin and instead drawing the back of a finger over her jawline.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." she smirked. Causing his eyes to narrow as he drilled into hers.
"Tell me your name." he requested, his pupils dilating as he attempted to compel her.
Leaning in closer, she moved her lips to his ear with an entertained smile on her face. "That won't work on me." she whispered, not waiting for his reaction before she ran off.
Flashing past the strange street quickly, she fought back a giggle before she stopped to find him standing in front of her. "I guess this means you wouldn't mind a challenge after all." she crooned, the fascinated look in his eyes flickering with something dark as he studied her in silence. Seemingly waiting to see what she would do next.
"How about this…" she mused, pursing her lips as she walked towards him with a thoughtful pout. "Every time you fight the urge to rip me apart, I will give you a new piece of information about me."
"What makes you think I care for such information at all?" he snickered.
She shrugged at that. "The fact that I'm still standing here, for one."
He wore an entertained grin, turning away with a waving index-finger as he chuckled to himself. "You are either fearless, or dangerously sanguine." he thought aloud, glancing back at her with a raised brow. "Do you know who I am?"
"I have my suspicions." she chimed, cocking her head to the side as she enjoyed seeing him riled up and lost in frustration.
Looking out down the street, she scanned the various signs and people passing by. His three-piece suit and slick back hair didn't give away enough about the time, but she drew a conclusion based on the whole picture. Post-industrial, sometime in the 1800s. Question was, where?
"I must have fallen asleep on the train…" she lied with a coy shrug. "What city is this?"
His delayed response made her gaze back at him with a questioning look. He walked closer to her with his eyes still analyzing her every move. "London." he said, bringing a bright smile to her lips.
"I've always wanted to go." she admitted, frowning as she felt somewhat sad about it not being for real.
"I am beginning to grow tired of this game, sweetheart." he sighed out.
"No, you're not." she teased, turning to him with a beaming smile. "I have got you all figured out, mysterious-ally-vampire."
"I highly doubt that." he scoffed, walking over and standing beside her underneath one of the lampposts. Leaning against it with a charismatic look on his face. "Give me your name, love." he crooned, the tone smooth like butter.
Leaning into him then, his eyes flashing in surprise as she pressed against his chest. Her lips brushing lightly over his when she spoke. "Not yet." she murmured softly, turning away and following the sidewalk. The Original close in tow as she took in the spirit of the city, wondering if it was anything like the real London.
"What brought you to England?" he asked, barely hiding the frustration in his tone.
"Would it be disappointing of me to tell you that love did?" she quipped, earning an understanding nod.
"Ah, of course." he murmured. "And where is this love of yours?"
She bit her lip and glanced over at him shyly. "He is… close." she drawled. "But I'm afraid he isn't doing too well."
"Come to say your farewells then?" he guessed, a twinge of hope in his voice. The question made her stop in her steps, turning to him with wide eyes.
"Do you think I should?" she asked genuinely. "Say goodbye? Give up? Just move on and find someone else?"
"That depends." he answered thoughtfully, turning to face her fully as he seemed to analyze her in search for a response. Perhaps assessing the situation as he tried to figure out in what direction to take it. "This love of yours; has he given you any reason to give up on him?"
"Well, he does have a bit of a narcissistic side to him, and he isn't always a particularly good person." she mused honestly. "He can be manipulative and smug and selfish..."
"I reckon I know the type." he quipped with a knowing smirk, making something flutter in her chest. "However, it seems these are all arguments not to care for him. So far you have not mentioned any which should prompt you to in fact leave."
She gulped as she wondered how he could still peer into her soul, even with them being misplaced in time and circumstance. Even with him not currently remembering her, he could still read her. "He told me something once." she began with a sad smile playing on her lips. "He said that he intended to be my last love, and he promised to wait for it to come true… To fight for me. However long it takes."
Something changed in his features, his eyes softening and his lips parting. Looking at her as if he hadn't properly done so until just then. "Caroline?" he said, bringing her heart to a stop.
"What?" she breathed, staring at him in disbelief as she thought she might have imagined it. "W-what did you say?"
He blinked in awe, looking down at his body with a shaking head as he seemed lost suddenly. Glancing over the street with wide eyes, a little smile crossing his face as he looked to her again. "Where are we?" he asked, the voice changed. Morphing into one she knew all too well.
"Klaus?" she whispered, stepping towards him cautiously. "Do you remember me?"
The world started to flash around them, the buildings shortly blurring into trees before going back again. A strong pull of hope gripping her throat as she didn't dare believe she might have actually done it. That she'd actually broken through the hybrid's defenses, maneuvering her way to the core of his consciousness.
"Klaus, say it again." she asked pleadingly, watching him with intense focus as she urged him on. "What's my name?"
He scratched at his forehead, as if having lost his train of thought shortly and looking her over in confusion. "I-I don't…" he stuttered, squeezing his eyes shut and pinching the bridge of his nose. "I can't..."
His words triggered the scene to flare again, flicker into different places around the world. Different times from his memories. Different people surrounding them. Night blurring into day, sunshine into deep snow.
The warping speed messing with her mind as she couldn't quite keep up, her head spinning as she fought to stay put. It became too difficult for her to focus, making her jump through the chaos without a steady memory or dream to anchor herself to.
Soon her eyes flew open, having been ejected from Klaus' mind as he lied frozen on the bed next to her. A ringing running through her head as she sat up with her feet to the ground. Leaning over to rest her elbows on her knees in a deep breath.
What was that? she thought as she glanced back at him in chock.
Standing up from the bed, she shook her head and ran her hands through her hair. Hurrying through the room and out into the hall as she felt like she needed to tell someone what she'd seen.
"Kol? Freya?" she called out, unsure whether the former had returned from the day's search yet. "Elijah?" she tried, going down the stairs as she looked around in panic. "Where is everybody!?"
She stopped as she felt a cold wind hit her, flowing through the courtyard and filling her with an eerie sensation. Her eyes went across the open space, but she couldn't find any source to pin the wind on.
A worry tugging at her then, she decided to go back to check on Klaus. Hurrying to the room and closing the door firmly behind her. She took a deep breath, calming her nerves as she figured her lack of sleep was playing tricks on her sanity.
Turning to the bed then, she froze up in chock as she saw a shadow standing beside him. Glowing eyes directed at her, pushing into her soul and filling her with ice.
"Who are you?" she bit out, slowly stepping to the side as she tried to steer the being away from Klaus. "What are you doing to him?"
The silhouette began to take form, tilting its head as if analyzing her. Or perhaps looking for something. It whispered in a foreign language, the sound sending chills down her spine.
"If you hurt him, I swear-" she began but was cut off as the shadow rushed towards her. Passing through her body with something malevolent and frigid that created a deep pit inside her stomach.
A sharp gasp escaped her as she sat up from the bed, staring out into the room with panting breath and a racing heart. Her eyes falling to Klaus' body beside her, seemingly unchanged alike the rest of her surroundings.
She pressed a hand to her chest, attempting to calm her heart as it became painful to breathe at its current pace. The door flying open as Freya and Elijah stormed into the room with wide eyes.
"What happened!?" the Original asked in a rushed voice, scanning the environments and turning to her with a bewildered frown. "We heard screaming."
"I think…" she panted, swallowing as her breathing started to slow down. "I was in Klaus' mind, but I must have fallen asleep or something."
"Asleep?" Freya echoed, walking over to her with furrowed brows.
"Yeah, I had a nightmare." she explained with a timid frown, apologetic to scaring the entire house with her dreams.
"Are you certain that was all to it?" Elijah pressed, circling the bed as he studied his brother's form. "You didn't... attempt anything?"
"Like what!?" she scoffed bitterly. "What haven't we tried yet, Elijah? What would work at this point?"
The witch's hand touched her shoulder in a kind gesture, bringing her to meet the hazel eyes in result. "It's alright, Caroline." Freya said softly. "Why don't I make you some nettle tea? It will help with the nightmares."
She nodded in response, deciding that the vampire had things under control. "Okay." she breathed out, meeting Elijah's eyes shortly with a hesitant frown.
"I will take good care of him." he promised with a sweet smile, earning another nod from her in response.
"Okay." she repeated, getting up and following Freya out the room. Throwing one last look at Elijah as he placed a hand on Klaus' forehead, closing his eyes as he began to search the hybrid's mind. Her heart going out to both of them as she closed the door and left.
The chilling feeling lingered in her veins despite her best efforts. Those chock-white eyes haunting her as she couldn't shake them out of her head. She couldn't stop feeling like it wasn't trying to get to Klaus at all…
In fact, it felt like it may have wanted her.
Five days ago
or Two days before the Strix ball
New Orleans, Louisiana
Throughout the centuries, one thing had always remained constant to Klaus Mikaelson: painting. The sound of the brush strokes across the canvas, the smells of the different acrylics, the charcoal that smudged his fingers and the colors that lingered underneath his nails. He could always dive into it, into the motifs and shadows as it all came along before him. The therapeutic drawings of the various brushes and pencils in quick and precise motions. Despite whatever else was happening, whatever had filled his mind or however he was feeling – he could always turn to painting.
As often times, he found himself enveloped by it. Disappearing into the abstract lines and dark colors, the movements rhythmic and spontaneous as he drew imagination from deep within his mind. It was possibly why he didn't notice the man rushing through the manor until his thundering voice neared his room.
"No, need to yell, Marcellus." the hybrid muttered then, looking away from the canvas in time to see him flashing into the room with wide eyes.
"Something happened. I think she got overwhelmed or panicked for some reason... Or maybe it's the venom or the cure isn't working the way it should-" he stammered out, the quick pace difficult for the original to follow.
"What are you talking about?" he asked incredulously, putting his brushes away with a sigh as he reached for a rag to dry off his hands.
"Klaus." Marcel called out firmly before his dread-filled voice continued. "Caroline drained one of Lucien's men and completely lost her mind. I haven't been able to find her ever since."
The words hit him like a hard punch in the stomach, his face hardening as his anger suddenly burned through his system and sobered him up right away. "How long?" he asked grimly, glaring up at Marcel as he shook his head.
"I don't know... A few hours?"
A dark scowl shaped his face as he took in the reality of what he was saying. "You wait until now to tell me, why?" he gritted furiously.
"I thought I had her but she–" he began, being cut off as the hybrid rushed forward and squeezed his throat swiftly.
"You better pray she is unharmed." he threatened lowly, before dropping him to the ground. He flashed to Freya's study, her eyes hit him with a strong sympathy as she proved to have heard what happened.
"What do you need to find her?" he pressed anxiously, turning his sister's face into a serious expression.
"I could do the spell we used for Lucien." she said with a nod, quickly reaching for a drawer and pulling out a map. "Do you have something of hers?" she asked over her shoulder, turning him to reach for one of his necklaces – the one where he had clasped on her late mother's ring for safekeeping.
"Can I help?" Marcel asked as he entered the room, the voice made Klaus' skin crawl as he resisted the urge to tear him apart.
"Just stay prepared for when we have a location." he told him firmly, glaring over at the vampire before turning to Freya again. He placed the gold band on top of the map as she nodded for him pointedly.
"Ready?" she asked, causing him to resist a cold and empty laughter in response.
"Start the spell." he demanded, holding his hands out and closing his eyes. She began chanting, the air around them turning as his palms began to bleed. They didn't use this particular ritual too often, and as his chest tightened up and his head began ringing loudly – he was reminded of why.
"Invenio sortorum senti anima. Invenio sortorum senti anima. Invenio sortorum senti anima." her chanting turned louder as the wind around them increased in force, all along with the draining pain inside as the hybrid gritted his teeth tightly.
"Freya…" he hissed out as she chanted on, worrying him as it was taking longer than usual for her to tap into the vampire's conscious in order to locate her. "Freya!" he bit out sharply as the pain turned into agony, the ringing turned into shrilling screams in his head.
"Wait!" she breathed out in response. "Something's blocking me, just hold on."
His hands were shaking, his head spinning, his body desiccating. "What the hell is taking so long!?" he spat out as he felt his knees turning weak beneath him.
"Something… Someone…" Freya muttered, sounding as frustrated as him as she chanted on. He fell to the floor then, kneeling with his hands just above the map as his body betrayed him. Just as he was about ready to tell her to stop, she spoke up.
"There!" she called out with relief. The images flickered in his head as she finally reached Caroline. "She's hiding."
He fought to see it clearer, but the vision was difficult to follow in his weakened state. "Where?" he hissed as he fully counted on his sister to narrate for him since all he saw was darkness.
"Underneath some fire escape stairs… She's covered in blood… I think there's traffic near..." Freya continued, the words causing him further pain beyond the spell. "Wait, just one more second…"
Her voice turned muffled to him, sounding like she was far away as he leaned towards the desk between them. He felt his chest turn colder as the desiccation neared his heart, the words as she spoke again just barely audible to him.
"A high rise between Loyola Ave and Girod." she said, his eyes caught sight of Marcel as he left to find the young vampire and disappearing into the wind.
The spell was finally cut off, but he didn't feel better, instead his head fell to the hard floor as his whole body froze up. Freya sat before him suddenly, turned in an askew angle as he couldn't get his eyes to focus. He felt the cold threaten to swallow him as his sister's voice fought to guide him back.
Blinking slowly, the blurry sight starting to lessen as his eyes found Freya again. "Niklaus!" she called anxiously as she helped him sit up on the floor. Her hands framing his face as she looked him over quickly.
"What happened?" he bit out, his breathing constricted as he struggled to shake off the weakness in his veins. He noticed Freya's averting gaze and glared at her as he urged her on. "Tell me." he gritted through his teeth, a sense of relief slowly finding him when the room finally stopped spinning.
"I…" she began with a shaking head. "I fear I may have a guess, but I cannot know for sure until I do some research."
"Is it about… her?" he pressed, earning a nod in response. "Find out what you can, Freya." he demanded then, stumbling as he got up on his feet.
She reached for him in an attempt to help steady him, but he merely pushed her away. "Don't." he groaned as he straightened up and swallowed shortly. Gathering his strength as he remembered Caroline's supposed location again.
"We cannot afford to be blindsided by outside dangers right now." he ordered with a firm scowl, turning away and leaving for his search as he called back with determination. "Figure it out and let me know when you have an answer."
.
.
.
Well, what are your thoughts? What's going on with Caroline? How are the gang going to help Klaus? Let me know guys, I'm dying to hear your theories! xx.
