Back again, this time with a slightly longer chapter. This was originally written as two separate chapters, but I decided to make them one so you wouldn't be stuck with a really short one again. And don't worry, I talked this fanfic out with a friend and we have quite a bit outlined for future chapters. It's just a matter of me taking the time to get everything written out. I hope you enjoy this story and continue to follow along. Despite its faults, it has been really fun to write.
This takes place around Season Three Episode Three.
Chapter Twenty Seven: Memory Lane
With an unidentifiable emotion rattling around in his body, Klaus did the only thing he could think to do. He turned to a friend. The only one he had at the moment. Stefan Salvatore.
Not even bothering to knock on his door, Klaus used the spare room key he collected when he checked them in and walked inside. He found Stefan awake, sipping on a beer from the minibar on the floor. There were empty beer cans next to him. The bed was untouched. And the lights were off.
"Welcome to the party," Stefan said, a sarcastic greeting.
"Well, this," Klaus said as he flipped on the light switch. "is a cry for help if I've ever seen one."
"I'm fine. You, on the other hand, look like you could use a drink," Stefan lifted his beer as if toasting to something grand and gestured to the little refrigerator. "Help yourself."
"Actually, I have something better in mind," Klaus told him. "A trip down memory lane. Pack up. We're leaving in an hour."
Stefan straightened up. "What do you mean? Where are we going?"
"I think I'd like to leave that as a surprise. Give you something to look forward to."
The answer seemed to annoy Stefan more than anything else, but Klaus needed to take some control of his life back, and having control of Stefan's made him feel just a teensy bit better.
"Fine," Stefan sighed and stood up. "How's Kiara?"
"Don't act as if you care."
Stefan lifted his hands and said, "I'm not, just filling the awkward silence."
"Well don't."
"Did… something happen?" Stefan wondered.
Instead of answering, Klaus just glared at him. Silently telling him to keep his mouth shut about her before he really got agitated. And, for whatever reason, Stefan decided to push it. "Is it Kiara? Did she remember something about last night?" Stefan asked, making Klaus look at him with suspicion twinkling in his eyes.
Klaus stepped slower to him and said, "That's the second time you've asked about Kiara remembering what happened to her last night. Just what is it that you worry she'll remember? Hm?"
"Nothing," Stefan shrugged and placed his drink down on the dresser in front of him. "It was just a pretty intense attack, I thought it might… scar her."
"Really?" Klaus looked like he didn't believe him. "She hasn't mentioned anything. Perhaps she's stronger than you give her credit for."
"Then why do you seem so—"
"So what?"
"I don't know, pissed?"
Klaus considered this for a moment before he leaned forward, placed his hands on the dresser, and grabbed the abandoned beer—downing the rest of it. "It seems the succubi are a complicated lot. I don't know what to do about her at the moment."
"You…" Stefan hesitated. "wanna talk about it?" When Klaus gave him a pointed look, Stefan continued, "What? I hear it helps."
"A strange thing to offer. Something almost a friend would do."
Stefan shrugged, leaving Klaus to decode his motives with only his body language for clues. He'd been emotionally distant since they left Mystic Falls. Yet remarkably easy to read. Now, it was obvious Stefan was attempting to keep something from him. Though Klaus couldn't begin to guess what it was. The only thing he knew for sure was that it had something to do with Kiara's attack last night and that alone made him untrustworthy. It was a disappointing realization given the timing.
"Yes, well, I appreciate the thought, but I'm afraid this is something I'll have to deal with on my own," Klaus told him. Not doubting for a moment that Stefan would use any information he might divulge against him. "I have some arrangements to make. Be ready to leave within the hour."
When Klaus arrived back at their hotel room, Kiara was waiting for him. She was staring out the window. Her arms crossed and her eyes thoughtful as she took in the waves of green ahead. It appeared as if she was searching for something in the trees. Answers. Or perhaps a sense of comfort she couldn't find in the hotel room. Klaus felt his face soften at the sight. He'd been vibrating with his anger every second since she woke that morning, rattled by her unease, but now he was suddenly struck by her mixed emotions. He let them wash over him. Tasting the guilt, fear, and confusion. He suddenly remembered how young she was. How lost. And his inner fire dwindled under the weight of it all.
"Are you going to yell again?" she asked. Her eyes found his reflection in the glass.
"Not if you don't give me a reason to," Klaus said. His voice was playful and offered her one of his little side smirks that women usually find quite charming. But she just blinked in response.
She turned away from the window. Her eyes were suddenly void of emotion, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't hide her feelings from him. Thanks to the link, her disappointment poured into him like poison. And Klaus's heart dropped into his stomach because he realized he was the one making her feel that way. Just like that, she was pulling away from him again and he wished he could start the day over. Surely he could have done something to prevent their little spat from happening. But of all the extraordinary things Niklaus Mikelson could do, time travel wasn't one of them. No. Even the great hybrid had to live with his mistakes.
"I mean—" he searched for words as she walked past him, out the door, and towards the elevators. He closed his eyes in frustration before turning to follow her. "Oh, come on, sweetheart, I was only teasing." He was only a couple of steps behind as she pushed the down button. "Aren't you a little old for the silent treatment?" he asked her.
"It's the safest alternative."
The words made his chest ache.
The three of them spent the entire day on the road. Kiara, clearly still upset, remained silent the entire time. It even made Stefan uncomfortable. She pretended not to even notice them, not even when Klaus asked if she wanted to stop to use the bathroom or grab something to eat. She hardly even looked up from the book she was reading. And although Klaus tried to pretend it didn't bother him, it was obvious that it did.
After nearly nine tense hours, they arrived in the city. Klaus pulled the SUV into a parking garage and the semi-truck that trailed behind them carrying his slumbering family pulled in right after. "Welcome back to Chicago, Stefan," Klaus said as he parked. He stepped out of the car and turned to open Kiara's door for her.
"Come on, love," he told her. When she didn't respond or move right away, he growled. Her eyes moved from the page she was reading to him before she shoved the bookmark in place and stepped out. She didn't take the hand he extended to her, but still, she did as he wanted. "Better…" Klaus mumbled, slamming the door shut behind her.
"What are we doing here?" Stefan asked as he forced himself to also get out of the car.
Klaus led them to a door and opened it to reveal the city. Large towering buildings alive with lights crowded their view of the night sky. "I know how much you loved it here," Klaus told him. "Bringing back memories of the good old ripper days?"
"Blocked out most of them," said Stefan. "A lot of blood. A lot of partying. The details are all a blur."
"Well, that is a crying shame. The details are what makes it legend."
Kiara rolled her eyes as Klaus began to summarize Ripper Stefan's activities in the 1920s. He seemed to revel in reminding Stefan how much havoc he created in this city. How many lives he took. Stefan folded his arms in front of him and leaned against the doorway trying to look nonchalant.
"Chicago was magical," Klaus said, glancing back at Kiara.
"Yeah, well, I'll take your word for it," Stefan told him, turning away from the view, clearly not interested in playing whatever game Klaus was trying to get started. "Like I said, I don't remember most of it."
"Ready to get down to business, then?" Klaus asked, his voice suddenly cold.
Stefan scratched the back of his neck. "Why am I still with you?" he asked, turning to face Klaus. "We had our fun. Your hybrids failed. The succubus won't even talk to you. I mean, don't you want to move on?"
"We're going to see my favorite witch," Klaus told him. "If anyone can help us with our hybrid problem," Klaus said, turning back to the car. "It's her."
And so they piled back into the car, much to Kiara's displeasure, and headed into the city.
The three of them made their way to a building that was large, fancy, and clearly quite old.
"Looks familiar, doesn't it?" Klaus smiled as they stepped inside.
There was a long bar top in the back of the room. The back wall was crowded with pictures and bottles of alcohol. All the dark-tinted tables seemed to be positioned around the stage, which was the focal point of the room.
"I can't believe this place is still here."
A door opened to their left and a woman stepped into the empty room. She was beautiful. Blonde hair. Smooth dark skin. Her eyes locked on the two vampires before she said, "You got to be kidding me."
"So a hybrid walks into a bar, says to the bartender—"
"Stop. You may be invincible, but that doesn't make you funny." Gloria stepped closer to them and turned to Stefan. "I remember you."
"Yeah. You're Gloria."
"Mm-hmm."
"Shouldn't you be?"
"Old and dead?" Gloria asked. "Now if I die, who's going to run this place, huh?"
"Gloria's a very powerful witch," Klaus said, sounding almost proud.
"I can slow the aging down some. Herbs and spells, but don't worry, it'll catch up to me one day."
"Stefan, why don't you go and fix us up a little something behind the bar?"
The suggestion that they could just make themselves comfortable seemed to bother Stefan, but he smiled and turned to do as Klaus asked anyway. Kiara turned to follow him, figuring a drink sounded nice. Plus there was the added bonus that she wouldn't need to be within two feet of Klaus for a few minutes. She watched as Stefan settled behind the bar. Neither of them said anything. They didn't really need to. They were thinking the same thing.
What are we doing here?
"You look ravishing, by the way," Klaus said to Gloria.
"Don't," Gloria put up a hand to stop him. She turned to a table and sat down. Klaus sat down across from her. "I know why you're here. A hybrid out to make more hybrids? That kind of news travels."
Stefan lifted a cup and raised an eyebrow at Kiara. She just nodded her head as if to say whatever you can give me. And although he busied himself with making something, he was clearly listening intently to whatever Klaus was saying.
"So what am I doing wrong?" asked Klaus. "I broke the curse."
"Obviously you did something wrong," Gloria said. The words made Stefan tense up. Kiara could only wonder why. "Look, every spell has a loophole, but a curse that old… we'd have to contact the witch who created it."
"Well, that would be the original witch. She's very dead."
"I know and for me to contact her, I'll need help."
Stefan placed a mystery cocktail on the counter in front of Kiara. Then he turned, a picture behind the bar catching his eye as he placed a bottle of rum back in its place. He picked it off the wall and stared down at it.
"Bring me, Rebekah," said Gloria.
The name made Kiara perk up. She recognized it. Rebekah was Klaus's sister. His favorite sibling. His precious person. If Gloria needed Rebekah, then Klaus would have to go to wherever he keeps his siblings. Which meant that he would need to go to wherever he has Elijah. This could be Kiara's chance to wake him up.
She took a sip of the drink Stefan made and lifted her eyebrows in surprise. It was quite good. Fruity with a hint of coconut. She hardly tasted the alcohol in it.
"Rebekah," Klaus said, looking around the room. "Rebekah is a bit preoccupied."
Kiara snorted, but Klaus ignored it.
"She has what I need. Bring her to me," Gloria said.
Kiara should have been excited. After all, she was facing the possibility of seeing Elijah again or at least learning of his location, but Stefan looked so disturbed by what he was looking at, she couldn't enjoy the moment.
"What's your problem, Stefan?" she asked him.
He looked up at her, confusion in his eyes before looking across the room at Klaus. "What is this?" he asked, turning the photo around for Kiara to see. It was a black and white picture of Stefan with his arm around Klaus. They were both wearing tuxedos. And smiling.
"Well, I told you, Stefan," Klaus stood up and approached the bar. "Chicago's a magical place."
"But, this is me. With you."
Kiara allowed her fingers to reach out and touch the material. "You don't remember this at all?" she asked him.
Stefan met her gaze. He looked terrified. "No."
"So… you knew Klaus back in the 1920s and you don't remember ever meeting him?" Kiara asked him.
"Seems so."
"Well this is encouraging," Klaus placed a hand on the back of Kiara's chair and leaned towards her. "Are we back to talking again?" Kiara looked up at him and kept an impassive face. "Really? You'll talk to him, but not to me?"
Kiara just lifted a shoulder.
Meanwhile, Gloria walked around the other side of Kiara and looked her over. "You're a succubus, aren't you?"
"Yes," Klaus answered. That same proud smile on his face. "How'd you know?"
"I've met one of her kind before. Mirebelle," Gloria said, keeping her eyes on Kiara. "You look just like her. Almost thought I was seeing a ghost for a minute there."
Kiara's entire body deflated, like all the anger and upset she had been holding in her body seeped out of her. She knew that name too. Mirebelle. Holly had been telling Kiara for years that she was the spitting image of her, but the memory Kiara held of her was not the best. Tired and withering away on a queen-sized bed. She had been so sick for so long. Kiara never knew what she looked like as a young healthy woman. "Mirebelle was my mother," she said.
It was a shock. This witch had answered a question that Kiara had been asking herself for a while now. Had Mirabelle been a succubus too? And as it turned out, Mirabelle had been. And knew it too. So now the new question was if Mirabelle was a succubus, a supposedly immortal creature, how did she die?
"I figured as much," Gloria smiled and took Kiara's hand. "It's nice to meet you."
"You too," Kiara said. It was an automatic response. Her mind was reeling with the news that this witch had known her mother. She could hardly breathe, much less think.
"You knew her mother?" asked Klaus. "What a small world."
"When? When did you meet her? Where?" Kiara asked.
"Here. She came here one night looking for help. She was terrified," Gloria recalled with a shake of her head. "That was almost twenty years ago now. I heard she passed. Never thought I'd see another one of you again. Funny how things end up. Though I'm surprised to see you here with them," Gloria nodded at the men. "Succubus aren't known to socialize with other supernatural folks if they can help it."
"Yes, well, we get along quite well," Klaus said, rubbing circles on her back.
Kiara leaned away from him and shot him an annoyed look, clearly not liking how he was talking about her. Like she was a possession of his to show off or something.
"Really? Now that's surprising," said Gloria.
Klaus's face dropped. "What makes you say that?"
"You don't know?"
"Know what?" Klaus asked.
"Werewolves. They're resistant to succubus charm," Gloria's eyes went from Klaus to Kiara. "It's one of the reasons they usually avoid them. Trust issues."
To the reviewers:
Tammy: Yes, I agree, it will be interesting when Kiara finally merges with Sky. I hope I can find a way to balance out her humanity and succubus nature.
Guest: Kiara's name is going to be the same in the book. Most of her story will be the same as well. However, the family based on the Mikelson's will be a little different. They are going to be a "found family" made up of different mythological creatures (not just vampires). It's been a lot of fun to figure out and I'm really happy with it so far. I will keep you all updated on the progress.
As always, thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed it.
