Alright guys, here it is. The second to last chapter of the fic! Damn that's bitter-sweet. It will be one final two-parter since it's so high-paced.

The ending is coming, and I pray you will enjoy it. Bye for now, xx.


Chapter 35: Hold your breath until it's over, part 1

Present day
Mystic Falls, Virginia

The grey sky was slowly lighting up above the forest, bringing the night's dewy fog to ease and a warm hue of orange to cover the heavens. The vampire breathed in the balmy air, inhaling the cool breeze deeply as she took it all in.

So much had gone into this moment. She had waited for much too long… and now that it was finally here, Aurora found it hard to grasp. She was in awe, brimming with triumph, ready to move along with the dream she had spent centuries imagining; the fall of the Mikaelson's. One by one.

After the phase involving her brother had succeeded, she was more convinced than ever that she was doing the right thing. That a higher power was allowing her everything she needed to go through with her plan. And now, there was only two more ends to tie up. One for each coffin placed in the middle of the marked circle. One for each death which would be brought on by the most powerful weapon the woman had yet to come across.

Now, who would have expected that to reside within the body of Caroline Forbes? A girl turned vampire, one who had managed to catch the eye of the one man Aurora intended to end…

It was all lining up perfectly. The witches were strong, fueled by Bonnie Bennett's magic as she remained tied to the veil through the Sisters. The ritual was set for dawn, everything was prepared and ready. She had ensured it herself, double-checked each ingredient and gone over every page of the spells needed. They were ready, all that was missing was Lucien Castle.

"Well?" she asked as she noted Aya's company, not bothering to turn around to see her frown since she already knew the answer.

"Still no." Aya murmured darkly. "But we cannot afford to wait any longer. The sun is rising, we need to begin."

Aurora nodded in agreement, sighing as she glanced over the candles being lit by one of the witches. Earning a meaningful glance from the girl before she decided to move on without the second ingredient. Unconcerned of the subsequent ones being affected by the order, since it had all been set up for a mere poetic symbolism from the start; beginning with the older of the Original's, and ending with Rebekah.

She supposed Niklaus' line would have to wait until last now, and the whispers in her mind agreed. Anything to get on with it, anything to finally see it all through.

We won, they proclaimed as they already begun to celebrate.

We did, she thought. Smirking to herself as she turned a nod to Aya then. "Send her out." she ordered, earning a smile of relief before it was repeated to one of the guards. Putting him into action as he left to retrieve their long-anticipated weapon.

"It has been nearly a thousand years." Aurora snickered, shaking her head in disbelief as she watched the witches line up and link their hands in preparations. "I have been hunted, enslaved, abused, betrayed and cheated… of everything. My life, my freedom." she mused with a long sigh. "But now? Now I shall finally find peace, we both will."

She met Aya's teary-eyed look with a grin, sharing in her display of emotion as she reached for her hand and grasped it in hers. "It has been so long." her partner breathed out. "With this, I shall owe you everything that I have."

"No, Aya." the red-head protested softly, smiling as she spoke. "Your debt will be paid as soon as your witches finish what we have started. You will not owe me anything, for we have served each other equally in this quest." she insisted. "And I will always consider you a trusted ally in result."

"Well…" Aya snickered, stifling a sob as she shook her head with a wide grin. "If that is the outcome of all our hard labor and respective sacrifices; then it will have been worth it."

They broke apart as Caroline was brought out then, restrained by Julian along with one of his men as she had seemed especially difficult this morning. Having apparently spent the night crying out foreign words out of nowhere and nearly tearing her cell apart in a fit of rage. Her outbursts were ominous, but Aurora refused to be deterred. Not now, not when they were so close.

After today, Caroline Forbes would cease to exist. And the powerful being that was to take over her body would become strong enough to aid in taking down all of her enemies. Including the Mikaelson's themselves. They needed only make it through today.

She noticed the blonde's attention being scattered, her mind appearing vulnerable to whatever magic that was working so hard to control her. Her eyes were flashing with fear and anger, but her body exhumed something entirely different.

The golden veins that had started to spread across her skin since she first connected with the weapon were more prominent than ever. Her hands were clenching and unclenching, fidgeting as they longed for that connection once more. Knowing what would be expected of her, knowing what was coming. And instead of the slumped shoulders and scowling features that they had become used to by now, Aurora could swear that the girl looked positively glowing…

As if the baby-vampire had spent her entire life waiting for this moment, just as she herself had.

The witches walked towards the coffins, mixing handfuls of dirt with the prepared potions. Chanting as they began to hone in the powers necessary for their next step. Allowing Aurora a moment to walk over to the blonde vampire slowly as she examined her conflicted eyes.

"Are you ready, Caroline?" she asked, smiling as she saw the struggle flash over her in reply. She reached for her fair face, avoiding her attempts of pulling back and leaned in swiftly. Placing a kiss to the vampire's lips, breathing in deeply as she wished to savor it all to the fullest possible extent.

"Do you believe he knows?" she pressed on silently as she pulled away to meet the blue irises again. "Niklaus? Do you think he realizes what you can do? Does he comprehend your potential?"

The girl merely sneered in response, turning such a dark frown her way that it brought the sentence 'if looks could kill' to Aurora's mind. "I'm going to kill you, you know." the blonde suddenly said, surprising the older vampire.

"I will happily meet my end by your hands, love." she proclaimed leisurely, bringing the concealed weapon to press into Caroline's hands and watching the immediate response in delight. "Only, after the Mikaelson's meet theirs of course." she crooned as she took in the shining light crawling over the girl's face, the brightness in her narrowed eyes and sinister smirk forming her lips.

"Don't worry, my sweet Caroline… I will start you off with an easy one." she murmured softly before turning to the side as she called on the others. "Children!"

At once, dozens of her allied vampires spread out over the grounds. Appearing from behind trees and through shadows as they swiftly restrained Aya. Several others immediately grabbing ahold of Julian and pushing him down into one of the prepared coffins.

"Aurora! What are you doing?" Aya called out in terror as Caroline was set free and turned towards Julian's strained scowl.

"What needs to be done." the red-head explained calmly, urging Caroline on with a light push to her shoulders. "Go on, dear. It is my understanding that you hold deep resentments towards this one."

"She does." the voice came from the blonde's lips, but it did not belong to the young vampire whatsoever. A wide grin spread over Aurora's face at that as she watched the girl kneel beside Julian. Growls of pain and sorrow falling out of Aya rapidly as she pleaded for the man's case.

"Silent! She will not kill him." Aurora sighed out, rolling her eyes as she tired of her partner's short-sightedness. "She will leave enough of his magic to keep him alive."

"But why!? He does not belong to your line… he doesn't belong to any of them!"

"Well, that is precisely the point." Aurora smirked, glancing over at the crying woman with a shrug. "I never intended to sever my line, only change it. And for that, I needed someone from outside of the three standing bloodlines." she relayed calmly before sharing her conclusion. "Julian here is therefore the key, since he belongs to Finn's."

"What?" Aya breathed out in chock, the same reaction echoing from Julian right away.

"It's true." she relayed as she eyed Caroline closely, watching the blonde tower over the caged-in man with a malignant grin. "I figured it out a long time ago, finding that the vampire who turned him was in fact Finn's beloved; Sage."

"Th-that's not possible…"

"It is. I saw it myself." she insisted with a nod, holding her breath as Caroline raised the dagger high into the air before plunging it inside Julian's chest.

A sharp gasp escaped Aya as she was forced to watch her child being drained of his magic in such an excruciating way. "Aurora, please…" she called out in desperation.

"Not yet." the vampire in question replied, waiting as Julian's skin darkened with veins whilst Caroline's glowed stronger in result. Taking delight in the vicious and triumphant look on the blonde's face as she slowly drained the life of the man she clearly hated.

"Aurora!" Aya shrieked again, bringing the woman to focus as she quickly pulled at Caroline's shoulder then.

Julian fell back with a heavy thud as the weapon left his body, a long silence spreading amongst them as his attacker fell to her knees on the ground. Her eyes squeezed shut as her hands gripped the weapon tightly, groaning through gritted teeth as she tried to control the chaos wreaking inside. The magic gradually being absorbed by her, the light of white and gold sweeping over her body swiftly.

When her protests stopped, Aurora knew the magic had finally won over the vampire's will. That the spirit inhabiting the blonde's mind was now fully in control.

Caroline Forbes was gone.

"It was London…" the whispering words made her turn towards Aya as she broke away from the detaining vampires and flashed towards her son. Pulling him out from the casket and cradling him in her arms as he remained weakened and on the brink of dying.

"That's when you discovered his lineage, wasn't it?" the adoptive parent added as she glanced up at Aurora with a dark look of hurt. "When you gained the ability to compel vampires… that was why Tristan sent you away. Because you learned of something which you refused to share with him."

The red-head nodded in confirmation. "Yes." she relayed softly. "I knew then that it would become useful to me one day, so I chose to keep that information to myself."

"Y-you told me he belonged to Klaus's line. That you would only use him as a last resort. For if Lucien betrayed us or if the ancestors brought Kol back a witch and not a vampire…" Aya spat out accusatorily. "We gave you the Bennett witch, we turned Caroline to your will… Not to mention that Finn's sire-line has already been eradicated - so why the hell would you do this!?"

"You're right." she agreed. "Finn's sires are dead. All but one." she corrected, taking the glass vial from inside her jeans pocket and opening it before swallowing the potion quickly.

"Do you have any idea how powerful that makes Julian? How special he is?" she added, grimacing shortly at the bitter taste of the liquid.

She moved towards Caroline then as the girl straightened up and watched them in silence, seemingly listening intently as she awaited further instructions. "He is the only one of his line, the sire of which is no longer alive. Having miraculously escaped it due to an unfortunate incident within the renowned Phoenix Stone." Aurora explained in conclusion before nodding to the blonde then.

"Was it not for you, Aya, I would have continued to think him lost to the world. But when I learned of the news from Lucien, after he had seen you both with his own eyes, I knew I was given a final chance at revenge. At salvation. And I would be damned if I did not take it." she snickered with a shaking head, reaching for Caroline's hand as it was still wrapped around the dagger. Pulling her closer as she took her place above the second casket.

"I understood then that I no longer needed to break my sire-line. What I needed was to bind myself to a different one, to make me the head of my own line." Aurora shared as she moved the vampire's hold, bringing the weapon to point towards her chest. "With his contribution, Caroline will make that dream come true."

"No, you've already gone too far, Aurora. This… it will be too much power for her." Aya protested as she came to pull at her arm in attempt to stop her. "You won't be able to control her anymore. She'll kill us all."

Aurora studied the vampire shortly and smirked at her. "That is not my view on the matter, Aya. In my eyes, she will absorb enough magic to be able to kill the Mikaelson's all on her own. And it will start with the one we already have in shackles under these grounds… as soon as I become exempt from her line, that is." she countered, nodding towards Julian then as the color slowly returned to his skin once more.

"Now, tend to your own matters and I will tend to mine." she instructed, turning to Caroline again with a smile. Kneeling down inside the coffin while holding the weapon closely to her. "Go on, my dear." she told her, looking up into the pale white eyes with triumph and excitement in her hazel ones. "Bring me some of that power that you have engorged, and I will return it to you in tenfold."

The blonde nodded slowly before moving her hand back, preparing to strike as instructed, but froze when they all caught a strange sense in the air. An abrupt wind flashed past them, prompting them to stare as they searched for whatever had caused the disrupting noise.

Aurora jumped up, noticing then that one of the witches were missing. She moved away from the coffins and began to scan the woods for the responsible party. Instead of finding it, something came to land on the ground just by her feet. Bringing her to stifle a gasp in result as she took it in; the severed head of Lucien Castle.

Aya helped Julian up quickly, the both of them joining her side and gaping at Lucien's remains in surprise. Lost to what was happening as yet another wind rushed by them, taking a second witch with it.

Recognition brought a slow smile to form Aurora's lips as she calmly glanced over by the trees. "It is futile to fight me." she called out just as she caught the scent of the tormentor who had haunted her dreams for years now. The reason for all of them being in this place at this time... "Niklaus."

At the sound of his name, the hybrid appeared from the forest, his shoulders heaving as he watched her. His brother, Elijah, appearing by his side with a leveled look of calm on his face.

"I am glad to see you've finally decided to join us." Aurora crooned as she watched Aya step up to stand closer to her in apprehension. She met Caroline's furrowed expression and nodded to her with a reassuring smile.

"Worry not, love." she told her calmly, gesturing towards their intruders and rejoicing in the hesitance that appeared on their features then. Noting others coming to stand by the Mikaelson's side; The Claire witch, Hayley and even Kol himself glaring over at them with determination in their eyes.

Aurora only snickered as she nudged at Caroline pointedly. "You know what to do." she told her, springing her to action along with the rest of her allies. And with that, the war began.


The chaos that ensued at Aurora's fighting words was immense. Vampires flashing over and ripping each other apart right away, witches chanting spells and aiding in taking down men from both sides, growls of pain and anger filling the forest within seconds.

"Go! Get Bonnie, we'll deal with the others." Damon had called out, bringing Enzo to nod as he sprung free from one of Aurora's men then.

He hesitated only for a moment as he questioned shortly whether Damon would rethink his latest focus; the attitude of fighting to save both Caroline and Bonnie equally. But as the vampire glanced over to find the blonde tearing into Elijah and attacking Davina fiercely - he decided that someone else was in need of his assistance for now.

Tracking Bonnie's scent was easy enough, he had caught it the moment they all entered the enemy's camp. He followed it and reached the cellars where she was being kept. Breaking doors down and tearing out the hearts of anyone standing in his way. His eyes falling on her as she lied dead on a marble table, herbs and candles purposefully placed around her.

"Bonnie." he whispered as he ran towards her and shook her shoulders, hoping to get her to wake up on her own.

He pushed off some of the occult ingredients surrounding her, aiming to break whatever spell was keeping her in her state. Biting into his wrist, he hurried to feed her his blood and waited with bated breath as he scanned her body for any reaction.

"Come on, darling." he murmured pleadingly. "I didn't come this far to lose you now, so you better bloody wake up!"

The lack of response unnerved him, bringing panic to fester within his gut as he quickly looked around for any possible object anchoring her to the spell. He rushed over and found some grimoires, flipping through the pages rapidly with no luck. Moving then to some symbols carved into the altar, he destroyed every single one in sight.

He was stopped cold when a searing pain brought him to his knees, his hands holding onto his temples as he groaned loudly in agony.

"You cannot free her." his attacker said; a woman with fair hair and equally fair skin. Her hand was raised as she focused the spell on him, bringing further suffering as he strained against her magic. "She is connected to us now." the woman mused on. "The only way of breaking that connection is to kill her, and something tells me you are not too keen on that idea."

He was about to growl out a protest when suddenly her hand dropped and her face turned slack. Her body collapsing and revealing a silhouette from behind her, a tall woman with a heart staining her fist as she sneered at the body on the ground.

"Guess I'll just have to opt for killing you instead." the stranger scoffed, tossing the heart away as she looked him over then. "I reckon you are to thank for the trail of snacks left behind back there." she snickered before wiping at her red-tinted lips, studying him shortly as she spoke. "Not that I'd normally go for non-human blood, nonetheless vampire, but it did help with breaking out of my confinement."

Stumbling to his feet, he straightened his back and fought to hide his disrupted balance as he assessed her silently. Watching her as she kicked the body away and stepped towards him, her eyes running over Bonnie's unconscious form.

"Now… considering your obvious attempts to save the Bennett witch over there, am I right to assume that you are not on their side?" she queried with a raised brow, earning a snarl from him in reply.

"I'd say." he muttered, determining that she was no threat for the time being. "Can you help me wake her?"

"I have some ideas we could try." she said with a slow mod while she studied the seemingly dead woman, shrugging as she continued. "That's the benefit of having been locked up and slowly desiccating in the dark for so long; eventually people start acting reckless, discrediting you as a threat, and share rather sensitive information amongst each other with no fear of being overheard."

"You mean you know what they've done to her?"

"I do." she smirked. "In fact, they had initially planned to use my brother to draw power from instead. Supposedly, they failed and were forced to change their anchor for the spell."

"Anchor…" he repeated with a gulp, brushing some hair back from Bonnie's still face as he pondered it shortly. "They're using her to tap into the veil."

"Well, aren't you smarter than you look?" she crooned in happy surprise, prompting him to smirk shortly before he thought back to her statement once more.

"You said 'brother'." he noted, raising an eyebrow at her as recognition dawned on him at that. "You're one of them." he concluded. "The Original's."

"Rebekah Mikaelson." she introduced herself, snickering as she continued. "Charmed, I'm sure." she added, crossing her arms over her chest as she walked over to Bonnie with a gesturing tilt of her head. "Now, I've never really been one to leave all the fun to my brothers … So, what do you say we get on with awakening Sleeping Beauty here and go join the others upstairs?"

"I was just about to suggest the same thing myself." a third voice chimed cheekily, the familiar faces of the dark-haired witches easing Enzo's sudden apprehension as he sighed in relief. Noting Rebekah's white face as she spun around in shock, gaping at her resurrected brother by Davina Claire's side with watery eyes.

"Kol."


Klaus tumbled back as one of the vampires punched at his jaw, grunting as he struggled to keep his strength despite the proximity to the dagger - and to Caroline.

He managed to rip off the man's head and turned then in time to see the blonde in question being attacked by Hayley. The female hybrid kicking at one of her knees and breaking it loudly, causing him to sprint forward in panic.

"No!" he yelled as he pushed her off, watching the surprised scowl in result just before Damon appeared to trade places with the brunette.

"Don't hurt her!" he called out as he watched Caroline's arms be twisted behind her back.

"I'll try my best." Damon muttered sarcastically as Hayley appeared by Klaus' side.

"Caroline, you need to stop." he pleaded as Hayley raised an arm in front of him protectively. The girl broke free from Damon's grip and turned to stab him with the dagger, her hand freezing as Elijah swiftly pushed her up in the air by her throat.

"Easy, brother!" Klaus roared, his stomach filling with dread as he watched the young vampire grunt against Elijah's grip.

Suddenly, a large branch was pushed through the Original vampire's chest. Causing him to drop his hold on her as a man from behind pushed him away. She fell to the ground as Hayley quickly flew over to keep her in place.

"Julian." Damon growled then, bringing Klaus to glare at the man whom he had heard far too much about. "If I wasn't in such a rush to tear out your throat right here, I'd trap you in a Hell Stone of my own making."

"I'd love to see you try, mate." he grinned as he threw himself at the Salvatore, Elijah remaining on the ground as he slowly pulled the wooden branch out and stood up again.

Klaus noticed the movement in the corner of his eye, but before he could register it, Aya had pushed her fist into his chest and had his heart in a tight hold. "This has been a long time coming, Niklaus." she sneered, drawing out a grunt from him as he fought to push her off.

"I am disappointed with your choice of company, Aya." he snarled at her, making her scowl as she gripped his heart tighter.

Before he could push her back, a hand flew up and separated her arm from her body in one movement. Aya let out a shrill cry as she staggered back from him, only to be met by blonde waves as Rebekah ripped off her head and dropped it to the ground in a thump.

Klaus released the severed arm from where it stuck out from his chest, panting heavily as he grinned over at his sister in a mix of shock and relief. "Rebekah…" he breathed out, shaking his head incredulously. "The years have not slowed you down one bit."

"You can thank me later." she scoffed, taking his hand and helping him on his feet. "Let's get you far away from here, brother."

"No, we have to save her first." he grunted out.

"What are you going on about!?" his sister scoffed in disbelief as he pushed off of her and turned towards the bloodbath again. Nodding to the blonde in the middle of it just as she aimed to stab Damon in the back.

"She is clearly handling herself just fine, Nik. Now let's go!" Rebekah tried and pulled at his elbow.

However, he was frozen in place as within merely a few seconds, another vampire appeared out of nowhere with a stake in hand. Clearly aiming for Damon, but the cunning Salvatore pushed out of the way in time for the weapon to dig into Caroline's abdomen instead.

He growled and pushed away from his sister in a flash, snapping the neck of the stranger immediately and reaching for the blonde with dread digging into his stomach. "Caroline!" he called as he cupped her face to assess her injuries.

When she met his eyes though, she moved forward so quickly that she took him by surprise. Bringing him down on the ground with a grunt as she held her hand to his throat. The cold hollow he saw in her gaze was enough to turn his blood to ice, staring up at the face that had until then worn such warmth and affection for him - and now finding none.


They had allowed Enzo's presence, after lengthy protests from the vampire's part, while they held their hands above Bonnie's body in attempt at wakening her. However, Kol was quickly coming to regret it as the man kept pacing nervously in the room. It was already difficult for the weakened Original along with Davina's drained powers to reach Bonnie Bennett – the distraction of Enzo's nagging was only making things worse.

He glanced over at him shortly, noting his head twitching and his hand clenching with nerves. Informing the former vampire that he was listening in on the battling above them and making him uneasy in effect.

Kol was unaccustomed to not being able to hear like he once could, to be cut off from his surroundings in such a way. He used to be able to catch a pin drop from several blocks away, now he had trouble hearing anything outside of the current room. He used to be one of the first to sense a new presence in their proximity, to feel a strange scent or a malice in the air, but now all he could do was dig through Bonnie Bennett's mind and hope it would be of help.

And not even that he could do as easily as he'd used to without the need for deep concentration.

Davina's hands twitched in his, bringing his attention back as he stifled a cough of exasperation. He'd managed to find some objects at the Salvatore boarding house to channel magic from, to strengthen him temporarily and fight off the absurd changes happening in his body and soul. His head still ached lightly despite it, and the level of power necessary for breaking the heavy layers of magic on Bonnie's conscious proved to be far from his expectations.

Enzo cut his thoughts off with a low grumble of his voice. "Please, tell me you are getting close." he asked them as he walked closer with a dark frown on his face.

"We are." Davina breathed out in reply. "She's just… she's not there."

"What's that supposed to mean!?" Enzo sputtered in panic. "She's not where!?"

"Her spirit, it's not in her body." Kol explained calmly, hoping he'd keep from distracting them further. "She's alternating between the veil and the Other Side… and we're having trouble pinning her down."

"Well then ring the bloody dinner bell or something and get her to come back!"

"It's not that easy." Davina protested firmly, opening her eyes to glare at him over her shoulder. "The Other Side is clear enough but any time she slips back into the veil - we lose her. It isn't as abstract as our plane… she could be anywhere in the world and in any form; a whisper, a reflection in the mirror, a shadow in the night…"

"Okay, we can finish writing poems of souls and ghosts at another time, yeah?" Enzo bit out. "Just find her!"

Davina turned an eyeroll at her partner then, earning a smirk in response. "I thought it was beautiful, darling." Kol crooned, squeezing her hands gently as he met her raised chin.

"Thank you." she said, shrugging her shoulders before they both closed their eyes and focused again.

"Alright, sport, perhaps you could be of some help…" he realized with a pointed tilt of his head to the vampire then. "Is there any place she might go to find peace? To refuel or calm herself in such a tumultuous time?"

Enzo nodded eagerly as he considered it shortly. "Yes, actually. There might be." he mused. "This trail at the Connemara National Park in Galway, Ireland." he began with a hopeful gleam in his eyes and a tiny smirk tugging at his lips. "We went camping there for eight days, it was an incredible place… Full of beauty and serenity."

"Yes, well, the Connemara is – what, 2000 hectares?" Kol scoffed in annoyance. "Try being a little more specific, mate."

"Try Ross beach." he instructed. "We went there after leaving the park, I remember her looking back and taking in the sight of the mountain hills from there… It could make a grown man weep."

Kol closed his eyes and brought Davina with him to the place, ending up standing in rocky sand by dark waters leading to the Atlantic. She grinned at the sight, causing his chest to swell as he raised her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.

"Over there." he said as he nodded behind her, towards the horizon filled with blue mountain tops and clear skies.

Down the long span of the empty beach, they saw a woman sitting in the sand. Her legs stretched out before her as she rested against her elbows with her head turned up at the sun.

"Is that her?" Davina asked.

"Either that, or we've unintentionally tapped into some unknowing witch's place of solitude." he quipped with a wink before tugging her forward by her hand. Trudging through the sand with determined steps as they walked over to the woman.

"Bonnie!" he called, noting how her shoulders remained still despite it. "Bonnie Bennett!"

They reached her and studied her silent smile, her eyes distant as she seemed unaffected by their presence. "Bonnie, can you hear us?" Davina tried as she kneeled by the witch's side.

"Can you believe it, Enzo?" Bonnie hummed with a dreamy gaze, nodding to the mountains pointedly. "It was… magical." she mused. "I've never felt such a pure connection to nature before… I swear I could taste the sun, hear the wild sheep and cattle across the park, feel the earth move through the soil beneath my feet."

Kol watched her with furrowed brows, realizing she was stuck in some memory when she nudged an invisible body next to her and chuckled at unspoken words. "We need to shake her into focus, make her see us." he relayed to Davina.

"Okay, and how are we supposed to do that?" she asked with a frown, reaching for Bonnie's shoulder then but stopping as he held her back with a raised palm.

"Wait." he said quickly, watching the witch grin at her nonexistent company. "Let me try, she might recognize me from Mystic Falls. Could remember that I'm supposed to be dead…"

Davina nodded and backed away slightly as he sat before Bonnie with a determined nod. "Are you there, Bonnie Bennett?" he asked calmly.

"I'm going to live in a place like this someday." she mused, not noticing his question whatsoever. "Maybe I'll let you have a room, if you're nice enough." she teased her memory of Enzo next to her, giggling lightly as she seemed enthralled by the pleasant dream.

Well, I reckon we need something unpleasant to wake you up, Kol thought to himself in conclusion.

He glanced over at Davina and gulped, already feeling unsettled by what he was about to do. Her eyes filled with worry as he watched her, twisting his stomach further as he turned to Bonnie again. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and tried to summon the curse lingering in his veins. The dark power still being diluted in his blood.

His face began to crawl in that familiar matter again, his gums itching as he slowly opened his eyes and let out a loud and primal hiss. The monstrous face rattled the distant witch, making her flinch back as she stared at him in shock for a short moment. His vampire features slowly fading away as she shook her head in disbelief.

"Kol Mikaelson?" she breathed out in a cautious drawl.

"So, you remembered after all?" he smirked teasingly, avoiding the fiery scowl on his girlfriend's face as she remained silent despite his surprising act. "This is Davina Claire." he introduced the witches with a soft smile, nodding to Bonnie as he held his hand out for her. "We need you to follow us back into the living now, darling."

Bonnie looked at his hand with a disoriented grimace as she glanced between the strangers quickly. "Caroline. Is she-?" she began, prompting him to shake his head in a hush.

"Don't worry." he assured her gently. "We're bringing you in as cavalry, that's all."

"She's okay?" the witch pushed, earning a hesitant smile from him before he gestured with his hand again.

"Come on, sweetheart. Let's go make sure." he suggested.

She studied him for another moment before nodding in decision, grabbing his hand in hers and immediately transporting them out of her dream. Bringing them back to their bodies as hers sat up in a sharp gasp between them.

"Enzo?" she coughed out hoarsely as Kol and Davina broke apart and moved away to give the couple some privacy. The Mikaelson smirking lightly as he watched the vampire scoop Bonnie up into her arms in a tight embrace, peppering kisses to her face in relief.

Davina cleared her throat, prompting him to sigh as he met her pointed glare. Her arms crossed over her chest as she raised an eyebrow meaningfully. "We're going to talk about that later." she muttered.

"I know, beautiful." he said with a slow nod, frowning shortly before cupping her cheek in his hands. "But how about we go save the day first, hm?"

She looked unconvinced but leaned into his touch anyway, sighing as she conceded with a tight-lipped smile. "Fine." she whispered, looking over at the overjoyed pair on the other side of the room before meeting his pleading eyes again.

The threat was clear on her face before she spoke, raising a finger to point at him accusatorily. "If you die in some heroic act to protect me before we get a chance to have that talk – I swear, I will bring you back and kill you again all on my own."

He grinned and nodded in agreement. "Oh, darling, surely you know better than to expect something so honorable from little old me?" he quipped teasingly. "But I promise to keep it in mind."

An exhaustive eye-roll was her only reply.


"Caroline." Klaus coughed, balancing on the fine line of fighting back without accidentally killing her as she squeezed his throat firmly. Pinning him down beneath her as he clawed at her hand with deft fingers. "Caroline, stop!"

"Nik!" Rebekah yelled out as he sensed her rush towards them.

"No, don't!" he called back through clenched teeth, turning to the blonde currently with his life in her hands. "Caroline, listen to me… You have to stop."

Her eyes widened suddenly, causing him to think that she might've reacted to him but was immediately proven wrong when her head shot up instead. She threw a glare across the grounds until finding what she was looking for, drawing his attention to Davina and Kol as they stood chanting across from them. Hayley protectively covering the witches as Caroline sensed the magic directed at her then.

With an animalistic growl, she pushed off him and kicked at his side so hard that it propelled him over at Hayley – bringing her down like a bowling pin. He barely caught her next motion as he stumbled up on his feet, the blonde suddenly throwing her dagger through the air. The weapon heading straight for Davina and drawing protests from Kol as he rushed to block its path. His hand raised as he made it fly in the opposite direction instead.

Caroline ducked in time, the dagger hitting the grass behind her. She bent down and picked it up, straightening her back as she scanned the crowd shortly. Her attention zeroing in on Klaus as he leaned against Hayley, his arm slung loosely around her shoulders for balance. Before the young vampire could sprint forward to try her luck with him again, a voice broke through the pained cries and angry voices of war like a knife cutting through butter. Causing everything to stop for a second as the blonde turned to see her childhood friend being steadied by Enzo a few yards away.

"Care!" Bonnie called out, looking exhausted as she held onto the man by her side as if her life depended on it. "It's okay, you can stop. I know how to help you."

Klaus studied the vampire closely as she cocked her head to the side, wincing at something he couldn't see - or hear – as she fought with herself for a moment. His eyes then met Elijah's, seeing him hold off a group of vampires with fatigue coloring his face. He looked to Kol and Davina next, seeing that they were both drained by their attempts of magically restraining the young vampire-turned-machine that was Caroline Forbes. Even Rebekah was covered in bruises and a deep frown, and Damon was struggling to escape Julian's hold across from him as he tried to reach Bonnie and Enzo.

In a second, the hybrid understood that their first plan had failed. In another, he concluded that he needed to act fast if he hoped for a shot at their next. So, he took the opportunity of shock around the others to grab a branch from the ground close to him. Launching it at Julian and freeing Damon at once as it pierced through the older vampire's throat.

With that, everything resumed. Elijah got the upper hand on his attackers, ripping out their hearts one by one. Kol and Davina stood straightened, their hands linked and eyes closed as they murmured a repeated chant. Rebekah broke the spines of every last enemy witch, before joining Damon and Enzo in covering Bonnie Bennett while she joined the dark-haired couple in their chanting.

As Caroline finished shaking off Bonnie's surprise appearance, Aurora came to her side with a brief scowl. Her whole body drenched in blood from the various vampire's she'd thrown at the others in self-persevering attempts to avoid attacks. "Take him, I'll deal with the wolf-slut." the red-head sneered, receiving an obeying nod from the young vampire before they both moved forward.

"Caroline." Klaus breathed out as her blonde hair appeared right before him then. Turning to see Aurora's hand inside Hayley's chest as she kept the female hybrid from intervening. "Don't do this, love." he pleaded as the blonde gripped his throat and raised the dagger above him.

"Stop!" Elijah cried out hoarsely. Flashing over to them with panic in his features as he stared between the two women; one squeezing his wife's heart and the other about to kill his brother.

Whatever the witches were chanting seemed to be working as it brought the blonde to a stop. Hesitance flickering across her white eyes as she glanced over at her friends shortly before turning to Klaus again.

"He has to die." she gritted out, pushing her arm to his throat and pinning him back against a tree. The dagger pressed to his chest, slowly digging through his flesh as it aimed for his heart.

He saw Damon and Kol attempting to jump forward to intervene but held out a hand quickly to keep them back. "No! Keep the spell going." he called out, earning a scowl from Caroline then as she threw a torn look over her shoulder.

"Hey, focus on me, love." he murmured softly, reaching for her face but wincing as she immediately swatted it away. The motion nearly breaking the bones in his hand.

"We've been here before, haven't we?" he hurried to ask, doing his best to distract her from driving the weapon deeper into his body. "Do you remember?" he added with an anxious stutter, attempting a smile as he watched her reactions closely. "You made me promise to never return."

She became slightly disoriented as she narrowed her eyes at him in response, making him gulp as he quickly pushed on. "Normally, I wouldn't even attempt to ask for your forgiveness." he mused gently. "However, I hoped you would consider this a just exception."

Her hand faltered slightly around the dagger, keeping it still as it remained pointed at his heart but without the same force as before. "I did break that promise once before, after all." he chuckled, cautiously placing a hand on her arm as he continued. "Texas." he reminded her. "You were in trouble then as well."

Steadily tapping on the wall to her subconscious, he managed to place the memory in her mind. The words she'd uttered after his confession that day in his studio so long ago now…

"So, you thought my wellbeing was more important than keeping your promise? Even if it meant that I might hate you for it?"

"Of course."

He couldn't get further before a sharp ringing filled his ears, her walls rising back up and shutting him out forcefully. "Caroline, let me help you." he pleaded as she shook her head slowly.

"You're trying to trick me." she muttered, prompting him to exhale deeply in relief at her finally responding.

"No, I am showing you the truth." he protested. "That was real, Caroline. That was us."

She leaned closer briefly, her eyes flickering with an internal struggle as she studied him. "You're lying." she whispered, shaking her head before pushing her arm tighter to his throat. "You don't care about me, you're only trying to protect yourself."

"I am trying to protect you!" he retorted grimly. "I wouldn't give a bloody damn about my death if I knew it would do nothing to hurt you." he scoffed. "But if I die, you die."

"I'll be fine." she interjected with a cold grin. "She told me."

His eyebrows furrowed as he studied her in confusion. "Who did?" he asked. Glancing over at Hayley's attacker then where she seemed to be paying close attention to their conversation, standing still as she kept the female hybrid frozen under her hand. "Aurora?" he questioned with a dark scoff. "She is only using you!" he bit out as he turned to the blonde again.

"You are using me!" she yelled back as she pushed the dagger further into his chest, drawing out a bloodied cough from him as he fought to hold her back.

"Caroline..." he grunted as he struggled to focus his eyes on her face. "Your friends, everyone within my sire-line… they will all die."

"That doesn't matter to me." she grinned as she continued to twist the dagger closer to his heart.

"I'll die!" he spat out in a last attempt to stop her. "Caroline, if you do this; I will die."

"Why would she care?" a strange voice spoke up through her lips, turning his pained grimace into a scowl.

"Let me show you." he groaned as he grabbed her arm tightly, working to force himself back into her head but hitting a mental wall of concrete instead.

"Caroline, please…" he hissed slowly as he felt his chest desiccate, his body beginning to shut down. Realizing he was running out of time, he looked over at the witches with one final play in hand.

"Davina, now!" he cried firmly before his eyes snapped back to Caroline's again. Wanting them to be the last thing he saw before he met his end.

Something flashed past her face at that, her features twitching as she stared at him with something curious and peculiar peeking through. He focused on her mind once more, and this time he managed to dive in fully.


The drumming felt off in the midst of all the darkness. A sound seemingly belonging to nothing and no one - yet it was so loud that she could barely hear herself think.

Thud-thud.

Thud-thud.

Thud-thud.

Forcing herself further down the pitch-black path, she felt the beating grow stronger. Clearer… Faster.

Thud-thud. Thud-thud.

Thud-thud. Thud-thud.

She pushed on in the night, following the noise with quick footsteps as she began to run. Hurrying to catch it before it disappeared. Chasing it blindly as she moved on instinct alone, the calling digging deep into her bones as it forced her to continue.

A grunt fell off her lips when she slammed right into something, nearly pushing her to her knees as bright light burned her eyes. She held her hands over her face, squinting as she tried to see where she was. Who she was with.

She heard the voices then, the first immediately familiar as she struggled to focus her sight on the strong glow before her.

"I need to ask for some discretion from your end, love. Surely, I am not wrong to assume that you can keep a secret or two?"

Klaus, she realized. That was Klaus. It was his voice. It was the way he talked, the endearment he always used…

Who was he talking to?

A young girl soon replied, her presence gradually forming in front of her as she began to get used to the light. Her hair dark and her body petite, the opposite to the tall man across the room.

"Klaus." she called out, a wide grin forming her face as she watched him. "Klaus, I'm here!"

He didn't turn to her, didn't acknowledge her whatsoever. His focus instead directed at the small girl as she spoke on. "You're worried." she stated. "You think there's a chance that Caroline might actually kill you."

What? she scoffed to herself, shaking her head as she watched the two in disbelief. "Of course not, what are you guys talking about?"

"We need to prepare for every possibility." Klaus told the girl grimly, giving her a meaningful look and earning a surprised gape in response.

"No, you're not actually considering-"

"I am."

"I can't." the girl protested. "I barely survived when trying it with my full strength and the Strix' magic as back-up - and you're saying that you want me to do it now!? Like this? After everything-" she shook her head profusely and raised her hands in a scoff. "No, it's way too dangerous."

"Not nearly as dangerous as risking the lives of everyone that I care about because I could not save Caroline from the dark magic of that wretched weapon." Klaus countered, sighing before calming himself and continuing with a lower voice.

"If it becomes inevitable, if she is indeed lost… I will need your help to ensure that my line does not follow me to my grave." he explained gently. "More importantly, we have to make sure that Caroline does not gain access to such a level of power… Three entire lines, each with tens of thousands of vampires - maybe even hundreds of thousands; all absorbed by the Candle."

Caroline winced as she watched the hybrid frown, pinching the bridge of his nose with his fingers and breathing deeply before meeting the girl's eyes again. "You may be under the impression that I stopped caring about others a long time ago, if you even believe me capable of doing so in the first place." he scoffed amusedly. "But I will always try to protect my family, no matter what it takes - a trait I reckon we both share. And I suppose I hoped you would therefore feel inclined to assist me in doing so now."

The girl didn't seem convinced quite yet, prompting Klaus to walk closer towards her with a serious look on his face as he nodded to her.

"I know there are spells taught within the Sisterhood specifically to protect Strix members from harm. Spells which prevent a select few from being cursed by outside sources, for example." he mused. "They would drink a potion which shielded them from the magic of other's, chant a few words or wear a token to be kept hidden from foes… I want you to re-engineer a spell like that but devise it so that it will do the opposite."

"The opposite?" the girl and Caroline both echoed in unison, the blonde's heart twisting as she gaped at the hybrid's morbid smile. "You…" the young girl stuttered. "You want to absorb the Candle's magic?"

Klaus nodded slowly in response. "If Caroline truly cannot be stopped, if she does come for me - let her. Bind the magic to me instead."

"And use that to break your sire-line."

"What!? Klaus, no!" she cried out, reaching for him but jumping back as the ground suddenly broke beneath her feet. A rift spreading out through the room, keeping her separated from the others as she felt her cheeks burn with tears.

"And then, let her kill me." Klaus said, the words tearing her apart.

"Klaus!" she called, watching as the walls around her began to shatter. Light seeping through the cracks as strong vibrations pulled her to fall.

She felt the strange sound once more, the drumming, only she was hit across the face with the recognition of what it was.

A heart.

Klaus' heart.

Her eyes suddenly caught sight of her own hands, wrapped around that cursed dagger as it dug into his chest. His warm blood covering her skin and his pulse echoing in her ears. Her brain working so rapidly to put all the pieces together, understanding that what she was seeing was a memory. Of him and Davina. The witch's voice still sounding in the back of Caroline's head.

"You would do that? Sacrifice yourself to protect everyone else? Marcel, Josh…"

"Yes."

"And what happens when she finds out what you did? When she realizes the ramifications of what she has done?"

"Don't tell her."

The answer made a shudder crawl down her spine as she stared at the vision before her. It seemed to refuse to not be seen, to not be felt as it shredded through her soul firmly.

"She isn't stupid… She'll figure it out on her own, you know." Davina scoffed, clear incredulity on her face as Klaus merely shrugged in reaction.

"Not if Elijah compels away her memories of me."

"Wait… what?" she stammered, the broken look he wore so awful it nearly made her lose her breath as he spoke again.

"You cannot grieve what you do not remember."

No, no no no no-

She gasped sharply as she finally got her feet to listen to her commands, backing away from Klaus' body as it had started greying before her eyes.

"Klaus…" she whispered in disbelief, her voice cracking as she met his gaze. The hopelessness in it tearing her apart. "No… no, you can't…" she breathed as she pulled the weapon fully out of him, moving further away as she still shook her head profusely.

A presence alerted her then as she turned to see a head of red hair running towards her. The vampire's hand acting on its own as she spun around and plunged the dagger into Aurora's heart. Her wide, hazel eyes filled with shock and dread as she stared into the blue ones before her.

"But… how?" the wicked woman stuttered.

"Guess you underestimated the wrong enemy." Caroline muttered in a sneer as she turned the dagger firmly in her chest. Pushing it straight through Aurora's body and bringing her heart with it as she pulled the weapon back out.

The corpse collapsed by her feet, her skin grey and blood-stained as it lied lifeless and stiff. But the moment of victory was short-lived as Caroline's focus quickly shifted to the dagger in her hands. Bright gold lines spreading over her arms, covering her as a glowing light filled her chest. The power wrapping her head in a heavy fog as her hands shook from the impact.

"Caroline?" the voice came from behind her, bringing her to glance over her shoulder and see Klaus' questioning look.

Gulping hard, she watched the weapon again and gritted her teeth. Already starting to feel her control slipping away as the magic within her was drawn in by the ghost in her body. Before she could re-think it, she snapped the dagger in two pieces and dropped them from her hands. A breath of relief escaping her as she watched it go out like a light the moment it hit the ground.

Finally, she thought to herself. Ready to turn back to Klaus and celebrate having won. Having proven to everyone, even herself, that she was much stronger than people gave her credit for…

But the humming in her veins wouldn't subside, the stinging feeling of the bright light covering her skin wouldn't go away, the white noise in her ears wouldn't stop.

"No." she whispered, realizing she'd made a horrible mistake. Her knees hit the grass underneath her as she doubled over in pain. A guttural sound rising from her throat, her shoulders shaking violently.

She heard Klaus calling her name, felt his touch as he reached for her arm just before he was abruptly pushed off and thrown back. Sheer electricity sparking from her fingertips, her skin vibrating as she collapsed. The strong light still blinding her until she couldn't feel anything anymore.


Present day
New Orleans, Louisiana

Klaus carefully placed the unconscious vampire on his bed, brushing a few strands of hair from her face gently as he scanned her still face. She had been unresponsive the entire trip back home, no one understanding why as she refused to wake up. Bonnie had hoped that a similar fate to her own had been bestowed on her old friend, but nothing had worked to neither confirm or undo it. Davina had guessed that perhaps the vampire's body was slowly fighting off the remaining magic of the Candle, but they couldn't do anything to speed the process up.

Kol's theory however, had been one that Klaus refused to acknowledge.

"She's gone, Nik." he'd told the hybrid apologetically. "Any chance we had of getting her back was ruined when she destroyed the weapon."

Had his young brother still been a vampire at the time, he would have ended up with a dagger in his chest in result. Or a broken neck. And spine… Instead, Klaus had growled out something inaudible at him in protest and told them that they could all stop sharing suggestions until they became useful. Because the thought that Caroline's act of saving him could have cost her life – was unfathomable.

The moment that horrendous dagger had been broken in pieces, Klaus had felt immediate relief down to his bones. His strength had returned right away, his body healing normally once more, and even despite the effects of his and Davina's hidden scheme – he'd felt like himself again.

And at the same time, Rebekah had fallen to her knees in a groan. Because, as fate would have it, the price of ridding the world and their lives of Aurora De Martel once and for all was the fall of the very last sire-line. Klaus' having been broken just as Caroline stood on the brink of killing him, Elijah's already severed before that. But Rebekah's? That they hadn't been prepared for.

Yet, whilst his siblings were at each other's heads with dread and panic over the potential fallout looming in the horizon in the shape of vengeful sirelings out for their hearts – all he could care about was Caroline.

"I have prepared to melt the dagger down." Freya told him as she joined his side with a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Davina and Kol will take care of the Candle."

He nodded in response and bent forward on his seat by the comatose vampire's side, brushing his fingertips across her cheek as he took her in. Her state doing nothing to thwart her beauty, although he shouldn't have expected anything less. She still had glowing veins lining her fair skin, spatters of blood tracing her clothes as evidence of the past battle, her hair somewhat of an uncombed mess as it laid spread across his pillows. Yet, he was certain he hadn't seen anything more incredible in his life. Nor as full of tenacity, resilience, courage…

The little baby-vampire from the hole-in-the-wall town of Mystic Falls had saved them all. How extraordinary was that?

"Niklaus?" Freya called, bringing him to look up in question as he realized she'd spoken.

"Pardon?" he asked, earning a sympathetic frown from his sister in response.

"I was explaining the possibilities at our hands." she filled him in. "I will do my best to help her recover, of course, but I feel you should prepare yourself-"

"No." he cut her off firmly, glaring over at her with dark eyes. "Listen to me, Freya. Caroline is strong and exceptional, and she did not survive this long to die now. Do you understand me?"

She hesitated shortly before nodding to him then. "I'll start to examine her right away."

He let out a fatigued breath and attempted a smile to her before leaning down to the sleeping vampire again. "Don't worry, my love. Everything will be alright." he promised in a whisper, placing a kiss over her temple as he murmured against her skin. "I will ensure it."

His hand found one of hers and gripped it tightly, bringing it to his lips as he inhaled a slow breath. "I'm staying." he announced firmly, glancing over at his sister with a mute plea as she nodded in response.

"That's fine." she told him softly, directing a strengthening smile to him before gathering some crystals and standing on the opposite side of the bed. "I will do some readings, hopefully it can give us clarity as to what inner struggles are keeping Caroline in this state." she explained, raising a pendant above the vampire's head and letting it sway in the air. Her free hand was turned palm-down as she hovered over the still body, whispering some chants and closing her eyes as she got to work.

Klaus kept his gaze on Caroline, clenching his jaw as he begged for her to respond to his sister's efforts. Bringing him to curse himself for his past, the way he had lived his life, the sins and horrid acts he had committed – because if there was ever a time for Klaus Mikaelson to pray, it would be now. But considering who he was and all the suffering that he had caused during his existence, he wasn't sure anyone would listen.

So, for a moment, he wished he wasn't Klaus Mikaelson; Original hybrid, monster of all monsters, king of the fearful creatures that played in the night. Especially since he didn't feel like he was, not right then. He felt powerless, hopeless, scared… Things he rarely experienced and seldom all at once. He felt like nothing more than a man, sitting by his beloved's bedside and wishing for more time with her. Praying that all the horrible deeds in his past would not cast a dark shadow on her fate. Hoping that she would not be punished for his choices. Pleading that the light which he had spent centuries warding off and just recently chosen to let into his blackened soul would not leave him now.

Because he feared he would not survive it.

That pain, of having love ripped away from him so ruthlessly, it would darken his heart. Turn him bitter, resentful… and what kind of presence would that be for the people in his life that needed him? For his siblings, for Marcel and Hayley… For Hope. How could he be who Caroline continuously tried to convince him he was if she left? How could he ever cheer his daughter up when she was feeling upset, promising her that life would get better and that the hurt in her chest would dissipate – when he knew they were all lies? How could he encourage his littlest wolf to be positive, hopeful, to expect good things and happy endings – when he himself had seen that no such thing existed?

This is why you have to wake up, he thought to himself as he scanned Caroline's face closely. You must prove me wrong and yourself right. You need to show me that there is more, that mercy is not wasted and that kindness is rewarded.

Do not die.

Do not take the light with you.

Do not leave me in the darkness.

"Please, Caroline." he whispered under his breath, his eyes burning with tears that threatened to escape his will. "Please, survive this."

He didn't notice how Freya had finished her examinations, how she had stowed her crystals away with a forlorn frown as she debated whether to share her findings with him or not. It wasn't until she finally spoke up that he saw the defeated look in her eyes, his stomach twisting in knots of dread at her words.

"I believe we have a problem, Niklaus." she murmured lowly.

No.

Please, no.

"Tell me." he hissed through a locked jaw as she sighed in response.

"Even though the magic of the Candle was disrupted, it seems it hasn't been separated from her fully yet." she explained in a slow drawl. "Its presence is still very strong within her. We need to break that connection in order to put that dark magic down for good and bring her back."

"There's more." he stated, recognizing his sister's tiny scowl with a gulp.

"Yes." she nodded and glanced over to him with a sigh. "I can separate them. But the magic that she has absorbed... That she continues to draw inside of her. I don't know where to even start ridding her of it."

"Will it..." he gritted as the words caught somewhere in his chest, gulping as he forced himself to continue. "Will it kill her? The magic?"

"I honestly do not know."

"Then what do you know!?" he growled, reaching for the nightstand near him and throwing it across the room in rage. His shoulders rising in deep breaths as he fought to calm himself and refocus on the matter at hand. "How do we sever the connection?" he pushed on, his eyes averted as he couldn't bring himself to turn to her yet.

"The spell I used a few years back, when we separated Eva Sinclair from her body while Rebekah inhabited it? I can use it for this purpose as well." she suggested, prompting him to scoff bitterly in reply.

"If I recall correctly, you required both me and Elijah as anchors for that." he pointed out. "With the amount of magic that Caroline has consumed; you would need an even stronger source of power to channel for the spell this time, would you not?"

"Yes." she confirmed grimly. "I'm unsure of what source would be able to sustain the spell... I would have preferred to use you as an anchor this time as well, but I suspect you'd be much more useful inside of Caroline's mind rather than out of it."

His mouth shaped into a deep snarl as he grinned at her then. "Fortunately for us, we have yet another witch at our disposal." Klaus chimed before flashing down to the kitchen where Bonnie Bennett sat between Damon and Enzo.

The men must have overheard because the both of them rose to their feet with protective arms held up before the witch. Their frowns dark and glaring as Enzo spoke with a shaking his head of protest. "No." he bit out firmly, receiving questioning eyes from Bonnie as she watched the men in silence.

"I suggest you move." Klaus said coldly, the smile on his face not the least bit friendly as he glared at the vampires in front of him. "Or I will make you."

"Enzo?" Bonnie stuttered from behind them. "What's going on?"

"He wants to use you to wake Caroline up." Damon explained, crossing his arms over his chest as he dug his heels in determinedly. "Sorry, Klaus. That's not happening."

Chuckling coldly at that, his hands clasped behind his back as he watched them with wide and wicked eyes. "Mr. Salvatore... I forget, did I ever actually rip that insult-wielding tongue of yours out through your throat or was that a mere dream I once had?" he snickered as he walked over to him with two long strides. "Because I would certainly not mind re-creating it while awake if you continue to speak to me as if you have any say in this matter."

Damon had the decency to glance away from him then, his secure stand crumbling slightly as his mate watched him with his lips in a tight line. "What, just because you lost your girl the rest of us are doomed to live out the same fate?" Enzo sneered, drawing Klaus' angry look over at him instead.

"Are you oblivious to the fact that Caroline would not be in this state in the first place, were it not for the two of you?"

"He's right." Bonnie interjected as she stood from the table, pulling Enzo back by his shoulder. "Caroline went above and beyond to help us, I'm not going to turn my back on her now when she's the one in need."

"And why exactly isn't the witch using you instead?" Damon barked back, making Klaus roll his eyes.

"Because someone needs to enter Caroline's mind during the spell in order to pull her out of her unconscious state. To aid her in fighting off the magic that is keeping her incapacitated."

"And that someone has to be you?" Damon scoffed. "Not Bonnie then? I mean she's only like her childhood-long friend… Or hell, even Ric! Anyone would be a far safer bet than the Big Bad Hybrid who's only care in the world is his own evil prosperity."

Klaus gritted his teeth tightly, his hands clasping and unclasping as he struggled to keep from killing the lad... "Do not mistake the fact that I still haven't torn your heart out for my interest in your opinion." he muttered darkly. "Because, believe me, were it not for your relationships with Caroline - you lot would have all been dead by my hands long ago."

"That won't be necessary." Bonnie quipped then, glaring at the Salvatore quickly before nodding at Klaus. "I'll help in any way I can."

"Brilliant." he smirked and gestured for her to walk with him to his sister.

He sent a warning glare of shimmering amber in his eyes over at the gentlemen before following the witch out. Deciding to grant them both clemency this time.

For Caroline.


Caroline felt her mind wake before her body did, her thoughts running with images as her fingertips tingled. Flashes of memories covering her closed eyes, of blood and screaming, of pain and suffering.

"Caroline, you need to stop."

"It is such a seductive thing, isn't it? To feel in control, truly, for the first time in your life…"

"Worry not, love. You know what to do."

"Your friends, everyone within my sire-line… they will all die."

"You are drawn to the power."

She remembered it all in short flickers of light amongst the darkness. In moments of awareness, control, while otherwise feeling completely lost. They felt like tiny snaps on her skin, twitches in her muscles, aching in her bones as her body fought itself with every act and decision... For days.

There was another sensation, stronger than the rest. A scratch in her throat, a pit in her stomach, a clawing underneath her eyes.

Hunger.

She couldn't remember the last time she'd fed, she realized. And it was starting to affect her. Her limbs felt heavier, her skin drier, her head hazier...

"What do you want from me?"

"Your help. In return, I promise to help you."

"Help me with what?"

"To find peace. Once and for all."

Her eyes snapped open as she caught the warm liquid on her lips. The little taste immediately charging her body with energy, strength. She looked to find a familiar face above her, dimples framing a warm smile with clear green eyes.

"Klaus." she exhaled in awe, sitting up straight and avoiding the protesting cries of her muscles as she threw her arms around his neck. "You're okay." she gasped out into his shirt, taking a long moment to breathe in his scent as his arms held her close to his chest.

"I am, thanks to you." he murmured into her hair softly, drawing soothing lines over her back with his palm. "You saved me."

She pulled back and cupped his face tightly, her eyes scanning him closely as she tried to etch his features into her mind. "What about the weapon?" she asked in a stutter. "Is it gone?"

"You destroyed it, love. Remember?" he countered gently, bringing her to nod with a long breath.

"Good... Good." she whispered, turning her head into his palm as it touched her cheek. The warmth of his hand comforting her as she glanced around the room, finding none other but him there. "Where is everyone?" she asked. "Alaric, Enzo... Bonnie?"

"They're here." he replied with a leveled nod. The act causing her eyebrows to knit together in confusion as she swung her legs across the bedside. Standing up with Klaus' help as she steadied herself against his shoulders.

"Is she alright?" she pressed on as she limped out to the hallway. A low grunt escaping her as she pushed away from him and leaned against the railings.

Her heart stopped at the sight as she saw Enzo and Damon lying dead at the bottom of the courtyard. Their chests gaping with blood, their hearts ripped out and their skin darkened with grey veins.

"No." she hissed, her hand coming to cover her mouth as she shook her head in disbelief. "No, no... Bonnie!" she called out, hurrying down the steps as she scoured the grounds in short flashes. Her body still not entirely recovered as she stopped to take a breath between sprints.

Klaus ran up to her with wide eyes and raised shoulders. "Caroline?" he asked innocently. "What are you doing?"

"What happened to them, Klaus?" she gritted through her teeth, pushing away at his hands as he tried to reach for her. "No!" she bit out in protest, scowling as she glared at him. "What happened here?"

He blinked slowly for a moment, shaking his head as he tried to smile again. "I helped you." he said, the answer causing shivers to rush down her spine.

"Helped me?" she echoed, stuttering as she drew her conclusion. "You killed them... Why?" she pushed. "Klaus, where's Bonnie?"

His smile grew at her question, filling her with dread as she studied his cold eyes. She turned away and hurried through the rooms. "Bonnie!" she called as she searched. "Bonnie, where are you!?"

"Come now, Caroline... Let's sit down and talk this over." Klaus crooned as he followed her, prompting her to stop and spin around to stare at him.

"Why would you do this, Klaus!?" she pressed. "How could you do this?"

He closed the distance between them before she could jump back, gripping her chin tightly as his breath hit her face. "I had to protect what was mine." he told her calmly.

"Wha-" she began before freezing up, realizing then that something wasn't right. That something was missing... "You..." she muttered darkly, gulping as she clenched her teeth. "You're not Klaus."

He snickered shortly, shaking his head as he walked closer and pressed his body to hers. Holding her face in his hands, stroking her cheekbones with his thumbs. "Caroline... You're not making any sense." he murmured softly. "You have been through a lot, perhaps you should rest for a while longer?"

"No, I don't think so." she scoffed bitterly, nodding to him with a pointed sneer. "Alzbeta."

The empty eyes flickered with sparks as he grinned widely, his face morphing into the ghost she had turned accustomed to by now. She stepped away from the vampire and lowered her hands to her sides. "What was it this time?" she asked, raising an eyebrow pointedly.

Caroline sighed as she scratched at her forehead exasperatedly. "How are you still here?" she gritted out, ignoring the ghost's query. "I destroyed the weapon, I stopped you from killing Klaus..."

"The dagger was never the source of my power." the witch corrected with an empathetic sigh. "And as impressive as it was when you broke my trance, do not mistake it for the reassurance that you have now broken free from my hold altogether." she spoke on. "As for this… Klaus… he was never a part of my initial plan in the first place."

"Your plan?" the blonde echoed with a hard gulp, studying the mysterious woman as she walked across the hallway. Her fingertips tracing the railings surrounding the courtyard absentmindedly.

"You should be flattered." Alzbeta crooned. "It took a long time to crawl into your mind, your soul. Much longer than it did your lover's." she shrugged lightly, raising a finger as she glanced back at the vampire with a smile.

"Him I could make see what I wanted to. Him I could not only put to sleep but keep so as well... You, however; the magic within you is much different from that which nourishes him." she mused, her dark eyes running over the blonde's form slowly as if scanning for signs of evidence to her hypothesis. "There is something truly special about you, Caroline. I sensed it right away, from the moment I saw you through her eyes."

"Whose?" Caroline pressed, not interested in following down this unproductive rabbit hole any further.

Alzbeta's lips curved as she seemed to consider it shortly, tilting her head before she replied. "Alice-May Denver." she said softly, the answer causing the vampire to shake her head in confusion.

"Alice-May…?" she murmured as she remembered the young girl who'd helped them search for Bonnie, who'd had a connection to Leila Gardiner. "She's your descendant?" she guessed, looking up to meet Alzbeta's proud grin and raised chin.

"One of the very last. Her and her mother are in fact the only two left in this part of the world." the witch replied genuinely. "The American witches have been far too knowledgeable... They shunned them all as soon as they found out of their heritage, their legacy." she shook her head in a bitter scoff, turning to Caroline again with a leveled smirk. "But Alice-May? She allowed me to see you, to feel you, and from that moment on, we were already connected."

Caroline frowned as she looked for hints of deceit, proof that she was lying or tricking her in some way, but she found none. Swallowing her breath as she walked closer to the ghost, she pressed her lips together tightly. "What are you talking about?"

"Did you think it was a coincidence? Your rescue mission turning into a treasure hunt for a weapon no one had seen nor heard of in centuries? No, I led you to it. To me." Alzbeta snickered, shaking her head. "You see, I was awakened a few years ago after a long slumber. People began to search for me once more, after having thought me lost to the world... But none of them were the right host for my powers. It wasn't until I saw you that I knew it was time. "

"Time for what?" Caroline pushed with an anxious frown.

"To start a new world order. A new line of witches, one founded on the source of my powers." the spirit replied leisurely. "With you, I will bring forth my lost practice once more."

Practice, the blonde mused as she mulled it over. "Blood magic." she concluded, earning another pleased smile from the other woman.

"Yes, but not only that." she explained with a short shrug. "The Marousek name has been tarnished and twisted for far too long. Witches used to respect us, fear us, idolize us... We even brought upon entire new covens with similar practices based on our old teachings... And when I felt that same magic, that branch of power from my own blood in your cells..." she let out a long snicker. "It was like fate."

"There are a lot of vampires out there, what makes me so special?" she countered with narrowed eyes as she scanned Alzbeta's face.

"Our connection had nothing to do with you being a vampire, Caroline." the woman protested with an incredulous look on her face. "This is about your powers."

"… of what, perception? Invisibility?" Caroline scoffed tauntingly, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Oh." the witch said silently, scratching at her forehead. "I must admit, I am somewhat disappointed that you have not put it all together yet."

She shook her head in an incredulous tsk, raising her palms as she glared at the spirit. "Okay, how about you drop the theatrics and the condescending speeches and just tell me what you mean instead?"

Alzbeta smirked shortly, raising her hand and gesturing towards the courtyard with a pointed nod as the air shifted around them. A vibrancy changing in the colors of the environment, drawing Caroline's eyes towards the center of the property. Where the bodies of Damon Salvatore and Enzo St. John had lied there now was a wedding taking place.

The rows of chairs, the draped lights and wide curtains, the flowers and music… She realized what she was seeing even before Alaric took his place by the altar, awaiting his pending - and pregnant - wife.

"Why are you showing me this?" she stuttered as her eyes locked on the gorgeous wedding gown Jo was wearing, every detail looking just as she had remembered from all those years ago.

"To remind you." the woman responded softly as the scene played on.

The couple began to exchange their vows, Ric's still bringing a harsh lump to the vampire's throat the second time of hearing it. Jo never got to hers however, and just as in her memory, Kai appeared as the bloodshed and chaos ensued.

Why was this important? Caroline pondered internally, thinking back to how this particular event had brought on her miraculous surrogacy - and evidently the belated deaths of Alaric's twins.

The twins.

The witch by her side turned her head at the thought, smiling encouragingly as she nodded at her in silent confirmation. Yes, the voice echoed through her mind, bringing the wheels to turn.

Her random surges of strength, her ability to take on vampires so much older than her, Aya and Aurora insisting on her having some odd connection to the magic of the Candle…

It was all slowly adding up to a strange theory, one that the blonde didn't quite know what to do with. "It all started here." she announced in conclusion. "The Gemini coven used magic to transfer the twins' fetuses to me, out of fear of being eradicated… Kai didn't realize that he failed to kill the coven, that there were two left." she mused, blinking as she turned to the witch. "'What they did - that was blood magic?"

"Yes." Alzbeta replied calmly, urging the vampire on.

"So, the Gemini coven, they were your disciples?" she pressed. "Their magic is related to yours… and when they died, that magic didn't entirely disappear, did it?"

"No." the witch agreed with gentle eyes. "It lingered inside of you, Caroline. You saved us, you saved me."

"Well, I didn't really mean to…" she snickered, earning a soft chuckle from the woman in return.

"Of course not! As I said before; the New World had no appreciation for our abilities, how would you know that your involvement in that building, on that day, would result in you bringing the ancient-old practice back once more." Alzbeta relayed with a wide smile. "Blood magic was born out of desperation. Out of need for survival, of protectiveness to our own kind. And even though the Gemini had long since diluted the use of it for ages; it had always been the core of their magic. The act of drawing power from outside of yourself, siphoning off others - at times even your own family - it is in fact how the practice was born."

The dark-haired witch waved her hand in the air as she went on. "It was the start of our line, and it made you into the perfect vessel for my rebirth. However, there was another special aspect to you which allowed for our connection to become so strong…" she shared with a pleased smirk, pointing to the young blonde with an opportunistic glint in her eyes. "Your pain, Caroline. You carry so much of it, and have for so long. It is what fuels you, pushes you forward; it strengthens you and that was something I felt connected to, in more ways than one."

The last words prompted a furrowed frown to cover the vampire's face as she watched the witch grin before she spoke again. "Tell me, dear child, did you ever learn the story of how I was banished from my coven?"

"Your sister, Lana; she died, and it drove you crazy." Caroline recited with a shrug, earning a tsk that surprised her as the witch interjected.

"I see the passing of time has allowed for others to take quite a few creative liberties..." Alzbeta muttered silently, shaking her head in disbelief that unnerved the blonde.

"You're telling me that's not what happened?" she pushed, studying the woman's smirk as she corrected her in reply.

"I am telling you there was much more to it than that."


Don't worry, the second part is coming right up. xx.