Another long chapter for you all to read.

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I woke the next morning to the loud chirps coming from chicks that were nested inside the tree that stood outside of my window. I rolled over onto my stomach and stretched out, elongating all of my limbs as I yawned. It took me a few moments to realise where I was. In a slight disoriented state, the memories of yesterdays events quickly flashed through my mind like a movie reel. Reminding me of all that happened. I instantly frowned and felt deflated as I hunched my shoulders, sitting up in the large bed. Rubbing my eyes, I quickly threw the sheets from of my body and climbed out of the comfort that the bed provided.

I walked across the room and entered into the private bathroom and brushed my teeth before washing my face in the sink. I gazed up at my reflection in the wall-to-wall mirror as I combed through my hair, removing the pins that held the curls against my head. Once I was finished in the bathroom, I rifled though some of clothes that Klaus had given me. I chose a pair of black jeans, paired with a cream-coloured top before I threw them on.

I picked up my phone from the bedside table to see three unopened messages from Caroline and one from my mother. I chose to reply to my mom, to let her know that I was alright, but left my sisters unread. I couldn't be bothered to deal with her right now. Walking back into the bathroom, I straightened my shirt and done up the buttons on my jeans before taking one last look in the mirror.

It was a little after nine before I peered out of my door. The hallways were eerily quiet as I stepped out of the room and closed the door behind me, softly. I looked towards Klaus' room, his door was also closed. Slipping my phone into my back pocket, I took a left and ventured down the hallway. Retracing the steps Klaus and I had taken last night until I was stood at the top of the staircase, gazing down over the railing into the foyer. It was silent.

I took a step to the right before faltering, as a voice appeared out of nowhere.

"Mm-mm," I turned around at the top of the staircase to be met by a brown-haired man, leaning against the railing as he looked me up and down. "Aren't you just delicious." He grinned from ear-to-ear.

I instantly narrowed my eyes as I took in his features. He looked familiar to me, but I couldn't place him. Then it dawned on me. He was the one Damon tossed off of the balcony last night.

"Kol, I presume?" I said as I crossed my arms over my chest and shifted my weight to one foot.

He smirked, "You presume correct." Kol took a few steps forward, "I see my brother has already robbed me the pleasantry of introducing myself."

"I'm afraid so."

"Who might you be, darling?" He eyed me, curiously.

I cleared my throat before I replied to the cocky original. "I'm the one who broke your fall last night." I instantly ran my left hand up my right arm. "My name is Jessica."

"Well, Jessica." Kol grinned, "Thank you for breaking my fall. I hope I didn't cause to much pain to your beautiful body."

"Not at all." I replied in a sarcastic tone. "Just a cracked skull, a split forehead and a possible dislocated shoulder."

He broke out into a small fit of laughter as he pushed himself off of the railing.

"I think you and I are going to get on very well!" He smirked.

I rolled my eyes at his comment. "Where's Klaus?" I asked in a bid to change the subject.

"Come. I shall walk with you." Kol waved his hand to the staircase before he began to walk down them.

I followed on behind as he guided me through the ballroom Klaus and I had danced in the night before. I smiled to myself as I remembered the warmth of his touch as he held me close. Kol continued walking as I picked up the pace and followed him. We entered into the parlour room Klaus had brought me into last night after the incident outside.

"Look who I found wandering the halls." Kol said loudly as we entered the room.

He walked to the right and threw himself over the side of a leather chair, a cheeky grin plastered on his face as he stared back at me. I rolled my eyes and walked further into the room, only stopping once my eyes met with his.

There he was. Sat with his back in the corner of the sofa, one leg tucked under the other as he rested a drawing pad on top of his thigh. Klaus looked up from his sketch pad and flashed me a tight-lipped smile as I crossed the room to join him. Resting my arm on the back of the sofa, I leaned my head on my open palm as I watched Klaus as he continued to draw. Taking his thumb, he began to smudge the charcoal lines that he'd drawn onto the page to blend the shadows of his drawing.

I was instantly engrossed in his sketch as the lines began to take shape on the paper. He stopped briefly to watch me out of the side of his eye, smiling as I gazed down at his art. My attention quickly shifted to his brother, Kol as he jumped to his feet and Rebekah entered the room.

"Well, well, well, there's our girl!" Kol grinned, as Rebekah came into sight. Still dressed in her emerald-coloured dress that she wore the night before.

She made a move to round her brother but he was quick to block her way. "Get out of my way, Kol." She sighed.

"Out all night. What a scandal!" He teased her. "I trust you did better than that commoner? Matt, was it?"

I frowned at the words he chose to use to describe a friend of mine, but I chose to bite my tongue.

This time at least.

"If you don't shut your mouth, the next thing to come out of it will be your teeth." The blonde original hissed.

Klaus' lips curled into an amused smile at his sisters remark, and It didn't go unnoticed by her.

"Don't start, Nik." Rebekah moaned before shoving Kol out of her way. He slumped back down into the chair he was seated in before and hung his legs over the side. Swinging them gently.

"I didn't say anything." Klaus said as he looked up at Rebekah, smirking as she walked over to the sofa. I smirked as I took a sideways glance at Klaus, he was already watching me as I done so.

"What is she doing here?" Rebekah groaned in annoyance at me presence. "Come to stick another dagger in my back? Hmm?"

I shook my head, "I never daggered you, Rebekah." I protested my innocence.

"You might as well have." She glared at me. "You didn't do very much to stop it either."

"What could I have done?" I asked as my legs dropped from the sofa onto the hardwood floor. "I was outnumbered."

Not an excuse, I know. But it was true, none the less. There were three other vampires in the house at the time, and one of those vampires was her father. An original and a hunter. I wasn't about to risk my life just to pull a dagger out of her back.

"Rebekah, drop it." Klaus warned her from the sofa.

A loud sigh broke through the tension in the room as all eyes fell on Kol. He lulled his head back in the chair and looked up at the ceiling before he began to speak. "I'm bored. Our sister is a strumpet, but at least she's having fun." He moaned. "I need entertainment."

Klaus looked over to his brother, "What are you waiting for? Go on, have at it."

"It's no fun going alone." Kol tutted before a grin grew on his face, "Join me, Nik! It's the least you can do after sticking a dagger in my heart." Klaus remained silent as his pencil swept over the sheet of paper. Kol waited for his response, but when it never came. He fixed his gaze upon me. "How about you, darling?" He smiled wickedly, "Fancy showing me around your little town."

I had absolutely no intention of joining him, and I was about to tell him just that as Klaus began to speak. "Okay, why not?" He flipped the sketchbook over and closed the box of pencils before placing them on top of the coffee table and got to his feet. "I didn't have nearly enough to drink last night, what with you trying to kill Rebekah's date, and nearly mine in the process."

"Apologies again, dear." Kol said as he flashed me a coquettish smile as he got to his feet.

"Yes, please, go, this house has enough men rolling around in in."

"Just like you, Bekah." Kol squeezed in one last insult before he whooshed out of the room. Rebekah aimed high and threw one of her shoes in his direction, only just missing him as he vanished.

I laughed lightly at the entertainment.

Klaus leaned over me as I sat on the sofa and tilted my chin up to meet his gaze before he spoke in a soft tone. "Are you staying here, sweetheart?" He asked.

I nodded my head, "Would that be alright?"

"Of course. Stay as long as you need."

"Thank you." I smiled up at him as he let go of my chin before walking over to Rebekah.

"Play nice, Rebekah." He warned her before he left the room. Only looking back once to smile at me before he disappeared from my sight.

Once they were both out of sight, Rebekah made her way over to me and took a seat on the edge of the coffee table.

She held me in her heated gaze as she narrowed her eyes, looking over my attire before she sighed.

"Are those my clothes?" She asked in a knowing tone.

"Uhh, yeah." I replied, biting my lower lip as I looked back at her. "I didn't have anything else to wear, so Klaus lent me these."

"Of course he did." She rolled her eyes in annoyance at her brother.

"I'll give you them back once I go home and change." I reassured her, but she shook her head.

"No need, sweetie." She smiled, "Consider them yours."

I blinked at her unexpected response.

"Ohh, okay." I smiled. "Thank you."

She pushed her hair over her shoulder, "So, do you want to tell me what's going on between you and my brother?"

I felt the heat creep up onto my cheeks as Rebekah smirked.

"W-What do you mean?" I stuttered, idiotically.

"Ohh, please." Rebekah groaned, "Don't lie to me. I seen the looks you were giving each." She smirked, "Not to mention, here you are. In our home."

I sighed, "I-I don't know, truth be told." I folded my leg back up under the other on the sofa and leaned back. "We danced last night, and it-" I smiled as I remembered back to the night before. "It was just...perfect."

A smile crept onto Rebekah's face, "You're smitten."

I frowned, "I am not!"

We both broke out into a low chuckle.

I may not have known her for long, but I truly missed her. We didn't get on well in the start, but the more I got to know her the more I'd grown to like her. Her energy, her confidence. Ever since Elena daggered her, I've wanted to tell her that I was sorry.

"Rebekah?" I muttered.

"Hmm?"

"I'm truly sorry about what happened to you." I leaned forward and braced my elbows on my knees, "I wanted to remove the dagger from you, I really did. But with your father in the house...I didn't know what else I could have done, other than go along with the plan afterwards."

She sighed as her lips pressed into a fine-line. "Nik told me it was you that returned my body back to him." I nodded, agreeing with her statement and she smiled. "Very well then. Let's put it behind us and move on. Shall we?"

"I would like nothing more." I grinned as she forgave me.

A loud, dominating voice entered the room.

"Rebekah."

I turned in my seat just as Elijah entered the room from the far right. Rebekah stood as her brother met her on the middle of the floor.

"I'm worried about mother. Have you noticed her strange behaviour?" He asked softly as he approached her.

She shrugged, "Shes been dead for a thousand years. What's strange for her?"

Elijah opened his mouth to reply, but quickly closed it again as his eyes fell upon me seated on the sofa.

"Jessica." He smiled as he acknowledged me.

"Hi." I waved from the sofa. "Sorry, I didn't mean to intrude."

"No, no," He shook his head, "It's no intrusion at all." I think Elijah gauged me as no threat as he continued his conversation with his sister. He handed her over a burnt bunch of sage as he continued to speak. "Burnt sage," Rebekah took the herbs from his hand. "She was doing a privacy spell."

"You know she fancies such things." She tried to brush off his concerns, "Why don't you ask Finn? He's been doting on her."

"I don't trust Finn." Elijah replied sharply. "He hates what we are, he always has."

Rebekah nodded slowly, "That's true. And as for mother, she returned for one reason...To make our family whole. She loves us. What trouble are you looking to find?"

I listened as Rebekah tried to brush off Elijah's concerns once more. He placed his hands into his trouser pockets as he looked at her in annoyance at her gullibility. Even I knew that when a witch used a privacy spell to conceal a conversation, they weren't just doing it for the fun of it. A serious conversation took place last night, one that worried even me.

I excused myself from the the parlour room as Elijah wished to speak to his sister, alone. I granted them their privacy and averted my hearing as I pondered about the Mansion. I found myself in Klaus' art room moments later as I opened the french doors and entered. I stood in the centre of the room as I reminisced about last night. He brought me in here to show me his passion, as we took a well deserved break from the ball. I walked closer to the large, marble table and placed my hands flat on the surface. Thinking back to last night, when he ran his hand up my silk glove, stopping just as he reached the top before he touched my bare skin.

The small hairs on the back of my neck stood tall as I trailed my fingers along my arm in the same fashion as he done. Trailing my fingertips up my arm, across my collar bones before gliding my thumb over my bottom lip. I gasped slightly at the thought of his lips, lightly brushing over mine for the briefest of moments before we were jolted apart.

I cleared my throat to bring myself back to reality. I was getting way to lost in the moment. Lost in the memories.

I swept my hand over scattered sheets of paper that lay on the desk and stopped as my hand touched a note pad, hidden under sketches. I moved the paper to the side and lifted the note book up and opened it. I thumbed through the pages before stopping. I stared in awe, as I came across drawings. Drawings of...me.

I must have flipped though twenty or so pages, all of which were drawings of myself in many different portrait fashions. I didn't know if Klaus ever intended to show me the drawings. So I placed it back into the same spot I found it in and covered it back up with the loose sketches.

"What are you snooping at?"

I snapped my head around to the door as Rebekah entered, her arms swinging freely as she walked in.

"Hmm? Nothing." I replied quickly as I turned to face her.

She grinned at my sudden nervousness.

"You know, Nik doesn't let anyone in here." Rebekah admitted as she ran her finger along the edge of the table.

"Really?" I asked in confusion, "He brought me in here last night."

Rebekah just smiled at me, "I'm sure he did."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked.

"He likes you." She narrowed her eyes as she circled me, "And you like him, too."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "What's with the interrogation?"

"Ohh, it's not an interrogation." Rebekah folded her arms across her chest, "It's an observation. He's not smiled this much in a very long time. And I'd bet all I have on you being the reason behind it."

"I-I guess I do." I admitted to her.

Damn. First I tell Klaus I might like him back, and now I just told his sister. Ugh!

"You're either incredible brave, or incredible stupid."

I snickered, "If you ask my sister, she'll go with the latter."

"Ahh, so that's why you're here." Rebekah nodded.

"Yeah, we had a fight and...And I didn't know where else to go."

"So you came scurrying here?"

I nodded, "Yep." I said, popping the 'P' at the end.

Rebekah's phone began to buzz from inside of her pocket, she quickly looked at the screen before looking back at me. A quick flash of concern crossed her features before she gathered herself.

"What's wrong?" I asked worriedly.

"Nothing for you to worry about, sweetie." She smiled and placed the phone back into her pocket. "Elijah just requests my help with something."

"Ohh," I nodded and leaned back against the table. "Do you want me to leave so you can help him?"

She chuckled lightly, "He's not here. I'm going to meet him. Besides, if my brother returns and you're gone, he'll think I've killed you and he'll stick one of those pesky daggered into my heart again."

I laughed.

"Okay, I understand." I walked Rebekah out of the room and down to the front door before saying my goodbyes.

Turning on my heels, I jogged my way back upstairs and into the bedroom that I was staying in before flopping down onto the bed. The chicks from the tree fell silent as I watched out of the window. They must have gotten fed by their mother and went for a nap whilst I was downstairs. I loved animals, always have done. So I was pleasantly surprised when I seen little, fluffy birds this morning.

I rolled over onto my back as my phone began to vibrate loudly from my pocket. I read the name on the screen and scoffed before tossing it up onto the pillows.

Drama free day. Drama. Free. Day.

I chanted that mantra inside my head, over and over, hoping it would come true. Sadly, I wouldn't be that lucky.

I answered the phone on the fifth ring. "Yes, Damon?" I hummed into the speaker whilst rolling my eyes.

"What the hell, Jess!" Damon's voice echoed into my ear. "I've called you four times."

"Five, but who's counting?" I snapped back in a sarcastic tone.

"Listen, I need you to do me a favour." I could hear the urgency in his tone, but I wasn't about to bend to his every wish.

"No." I replied sharply.

"What? Why?"

I sat up straight on the bed, "Well for a start, you almost killed me last night when you decided to toss a body on my head!"

"How was I supposed to know you were there!?" He yelled back through the phone.

"Don't go throwing people from balcony's would be a start!"

He sighed loudly, "Look, Jess. I'm sorry for the part I played last night, but I don't have time for your drama. You're gonna do me this favour."

I frowned at his words.

Who does he think he's talking too?

"No, I'm not!" I snapped back. "Find someone else to do your bidding."

I moved the phone away from my ear, ready to press the red button as Damon called for me through the phone. The desperation in his voice was the only thing that made me place the phone back to my ear.

"What do you need me to do?" I sighed.

"I need you to go to The Grill, and distract Klaus." He replied more energetically. "Get him away from his brother."

I narrowed my eyes. "Why would I do that?"

"I can't tell you, I just need you to do it."

I shook my head, "No, I'm sorry but I can't help you, Damon."

I'm not about to be apart of another ploy.

"Yes, you will." Damon lowered his tone.

"And why would I do anything for you?"

He fell silent, "You're un-triggered, which means you're easily compelled."

My mind instantly shot back to last night with Caroline. If I hadn't reacted as quick as I did, god knows what she would have compelled me to do.

"You wouldn't dare!" I hissed and got to my feet. Much like all the other times where I've felt threatened, the anger began to rise.

"You're the only one that can get him out of the way." He replied. "Just do it, and I won't have to make you. You have my word."

I pulled the phone back from my ear and pinched the bridge of my nose.

Could I do this? Would he go back on his word and compel me whenever it suited him?

"And you can't tell me why you want me to separate them?" I asked once more, returning the phone to my ear as I sat on the chair in the corner of the room.

"No."

"How do I know I can trust you to keep your word?"

He sighed, "You're just going to have to trust me, blondie."

I scoffed, "That's never going to happen again." I replied in a bitter tone and leaned back. Thinking over my options.

But what options did I have? None...I had none.

"Okay, I'll do it." I gave him my answer and I was already regretting my decision. "I can be there in half and hour."

"Good, your help is appreciated." He said quickly before hanging up the phone.

I dropped my phone to the side of me on the chair and sat up straight, turning my head to the side until I heard the crack of my neck as I released the tension on my shoulders.

Gain Klaus' attention. Get him away from Kol. Couldn't be that hard, right

I groaned loudly as I realised that I didn't have any clothes to wear. Only what was on my back as I dragged myself off the chair and walked into the bathroom. I needed to freshen up if this was to work. So I made quick work of washing my face before brushing my hair out. I looked at myself in the mirror, taking note of my sheepish appearance as my skin paled more than usual.

I was riddled with worry at Damon's threat. I thought we were friends, but that seem unlikely now. After tonight, I was done. Done helping him, done being his go-to when he needs something...I was just done.

Moments later, I left the bedroom and wandered throughout the upper part of the house, searching for Rebekah's room endlessly until I finally found it. If I was ever going to make this work, I needed to change my clothes into something a little more, appealing. I walked into Rebekah's room and closed the door behind before crossing the room to her closet. Just like I was hoping for, It was sacked full of outfits. A wide verity of dresses in every colour hung on a rail as I began to finger through them. Looking for one that I thought I could pull off. I eventually found what I was looking for in the style of a black, low V-neck dress. I smiled as I trailed my hands over the soft fabric before pulling it from the hanger.

"Please don't kill me." I muttered to myself as I walked over to her bed and placed the dress on top.

I made quick work of tossing my clothes to the floor before slipping into the dress. Walking over to her dresser, I noticed that she had some make-up products laid out on her vanity. I thanked the lord that we were pretty much the same skin tone as I applied a thin layer of foundation. Pretty much anything to cover up the sheepishness of my skin would do. I finished applying the rest of the make up and took one final look in the mirror before blowing a long sigh at the reflection staring back at me. I was far from the person I once was, and I seemed that I just kept falling more and more as time passed by. Giving myself a well needed shake, I mustered up the courage to commence with this evenings agenda.

I grabbed a formal, black blazer and a pair of Rebekah's heels from the rack behind her door and scurried down the staircase and rushed out to my car.

It was dark when I arrived at The Grill. I messaged Damon to inform him that I was here, but he never replied.

I looked around the car park as the car came to a stop, and judging by the lack of spaces, I was guessing it was going to be packed inside. I collected my jacket from the empty seat beside me and slipped my phone into one of the internal pockets before I climbed out of the car. The air was raw as I stood in the middle of the parking lot, trying to compose myself enough to make it though this.

"God help me." I muttered under my breath as I pulled open the door and entered inside.

Just like I had thought, it was packed. I took a few steps further inside and undone the button on my blazer, exposing my cleavage before I looked to my right. Alaric stood beside the pool table, a cue in his hand as he stared at me, worryingly. I raised my eyebrows at him before looking dead ahead as Klaus' voice travelled towards me.

Game on.

I took large, confident strides towards him as the loose curls in my hair bounced in the motion. He wasn't hard to miss as he and his brother leaned their backs against the bar, staring in my direction as I approached. Klaus' face instantaneously lit up as I stopped in front of him. I smiled confidently.

"My, my." Kol grinned as he looked me up and down. "You look even more delicious now than you did earlier." I rolled my eyes at his crass comment as he continued to check me out, but it didn't go unnoticed by his brother. Klaus glared at him as his lips pressed into a fine-line and the grip on his glass tightened.

I cleared my throat to bring his attention back to me, and it worked like a charm. The furious look in his eyes melted away as he faced me head-on.

"Jessica, love," He grinned, bearing all his teeth, "What brings you here?"

I shrugged my shoulders and walked closer to where he sat. "I was bored at the Mansion and fancied a drink." I gave him a playful smile as I leaned on the bar with my elbows. Klaus was quick to flash a playful smirk of his own as he flagged down the bartender. As he faced away from me, I took a fleeting glance at the door, wondering how on earth I was going to separate them from one another. And just like that, my prayers had been answered in the form of another blonde, and the one person I was avoiding-Caroline. She walked into the bar and headed in the direction of Alaric and his bitchy-friend, Dr Fell. I was thankful she hadn't noticed me sat at the bar, but this provided a great excuse for me to leave with the hopes that Klaus would follow.

I gently tapped on Klaus' shoulder to gain his attention.

"On second though, I think I'll pass on that drink." I muttered.

He narrowed his eyes and looked at me sceptically before speaking. "What's wrong?"

I motioned in the direction of my sister with my head as he followed on with his eyes. Immediately spotting what I was referencing to, he looked back at me, but before he could open his mouth, I pushed myself off the bar and headed to the doors before he had a chance to stop me.

The loud clacking of my heels on the concrete ceased as I heard him call my name from behind, followed by the loud honk of a car horn as he rushed over to me. I was half way across the street before he caught up with me. I turned to face him as he approached. "I'm sorry," I apologised, "I wasn't expecting her to show up. I just don't want to deal with her. Not yet."

"No need to apologise, sweetheart." Klaus cooed.

He took a step closer and I backed off a little, causing him to smirk in response.

"Why don't we sit out here and have a little chat?" He suggested as he pointed to a bench a few feet away.

"Okay," I nodded as he led me to the bench and took a seat. He eagerly waited for me to take a seat as he lay his arm across the back and looked up at me. "What do you want to talk about?" I asked once seated.

"I want to talk about you." He grinned, "Your hopes, your dreams, everything you want in life." Klaus shifted his posture to angle his body towards mine.

"Wow," I smiled, "That-That's a big question." I only just thought over what I was going to say before Klaus suddenly brought his hand to his chest, placing it on his heart as he softly rose to his feet. I looked back at the grill, wondering what was happening inside as I clambered to my feet. "Klaus..."

He turned around and looked at me with a wide-eyed, dread-filled expression. "What did you do?"

"Nothing?" I gasped as he grabbed my arms forcefully.

"What did you do?!" He yelled, inches from my face as I winced in pain.

"I didn't do anything!" I yelled back as he loosened his grip.

Klaus looked around before coming to the realisation of what had happened. "Kol." He whispered. He turned around as I looked at him, wide-eyed as to what he was about to do. Klaus grabbed a hold of my arm and tugged me in the direction of the Grill as he vamp-sped to the back where a flight of stairs were.

The doorway at the bottom swung open as Alaric shuffled out backwards with Kol daggered in his arms, followed by Stefan and Damon. Klaus faced me, "Don't move." He warned in a stern tone. I nodded my head and rubbed the area where he gripped me tightly before he flew down the staircase. He removed the dagger from his brother before throwing Alaric against the wall, followed by Stefan as Damon stood his ground.

"I should have killed you months ago." Klaus hissed.

"Do it," Damon replied, calling his bluff. In this moment, Damon wasn't someone I particularity liked, but I still didn't want anything bad to happen to him. Let alone be killed. I narrowed my eyes at the next words to leave his mouth, "It's not going to stop Esther from killing you."

"What did you say about my mother?" Klaus glared as he walked towards the eldest Salvatore.

My mind re-winded back to earlier, in the Mansion with Elijah and Rebekah. The conversation about the burning sage being used as a privacy spell and suddenly, it all became clear. The hesitance Elena had before she took a drink form her champagne glass, the secretiveness between Damon, Stefan and Elena. Not to mention when Stefan tried to make me leave.

They were all in on it.

I felt a lump forming in my throat at the realisation that I almost helped kill him tonight, not to mention the rest of his family.

I looked back towards Damon as he snickered, "You didn't know I was friends with your mummy?" He taunted Klaus. "Yeah, we have a lot in common. She hates you as much as I do."

Klaus made a move to pounce on Damon as I yelled for him to stop from the top of the stairs. Not a moment too soon, Elijah appeared at my side. His grey-tinted skin began to retreat along his body as he returned to full strength.

"Leave him!" Elijah bellowed in a surprisingly calm voice. Klaus turned around to stare up at his brother, his blatant annoyance at being interrupted was quite evident as he glared. "We still need them, Niklaus."

"What did mother do?" He asked his elder brother. When Elijah failed to answer, he asked again. "What did she do, Elijah?"

Elijah pulled out a phone from his inside pocket and began to descend the stairs in a controlled fashion. He stopped in front of Damon and held the phone in the air, "You tell me where the witches are, or I'll have my sister kill Elena, right now."

"Wait, what?" My voice echoed down into the alley.

Klaus looked up at me as his lips parted, ready to speak but I shook my head and fled. I couldn't handle anymore, it was pushing me over the edge. I had to get away.

I wandered for sometime that night. Not knowing what to do or where to go. I was a lost soul, wandering around in the darkness. My head told me one thing, but my heart? My heart yearned for one thing, and one thing only. I had to know if he was alive, but I had to know if Elena was alive, too. I chose to go with the former and fled off in the direction of the Mansion.

I asked myself when he became more important. I didn't have the answer, however. I just hoped and prayed that Damon and Stefan had found away to save Elena, all while stopping Esther from killing her children.

I hovered at the door briefly before knocking gently on the glass. It opened not a moment later and I was greeted by the same man that I had met the other night at the ball.

"Miss Forbes," He smiled. "How may I help you?"

"I-uh," I lost the power to speak as he stared at me cheerfully. "I-Is Klaus here?" I asked in a shaky tone as my voice trembled.

He nodded his head and I felt a sudden rush of relief. "He is in the parlour. Would you like me to announce that you're here?"

I shook my head, "No, no." I smiled at the kind man. He had answered the burning question. So there was nothing more for me here. "Thank you, I'll be on my way." I informed him and he nodded his head respectfully before closing the door.

I looked though the glass as he disappeared from my sight and headed up the large staircase on the left. I blew a sigh of relief. He was alive, and that was all I needed to know.

I began to walk down the courtyard, tugging the blazer tighter around my body as the wind picked up slightly. I froze on the spot as I was called from behind.

"Miss Forbes!" The man yelled as he broke out in to a slow jog to reach me.

"Is something wrong?" I asked in confusion.

"He requests to speak with you." He informed me. I felt the heat return to my cheeks as I gripped onto the cuffs of the Blazer.

Can't lie and say I wasn't happy that he still wanted to speak to me. However, I was terrified at what he might say.

I stared back at the man blankly as I was lost inside my own thoughts.

"Miss Forbes?" He asked with narrowed eyes.

"Hmm?" I mumbled, "Ohh, right, of course." I smiled to hide my instant fear.

"Follow me." He instructed.

I walked a few steps behind him as he led me back into the house. He turned around and locked the door before facing me. "Do you need me to show you to where the parlour room is?"

"No, that's alright." I replied before I headed for the staircase. I stopped momentarily and looked back. "What's your name?" I asked him.

"My name is Daniel." He said with a smile.

"It was nice to meet you, Daniel."

"Likewise, Miss Forbes." He dipped his head slightly before vanishing into the room on the left.

I ascended the marble stairs and stopped at the top. A million things flashed though my mind at what might happen when I seen him. Each step more agonising than the last the further I walked down the hall, closing the gap between us. I stopped outside of the parlour. The door was cracked open a little as the flames from the fire lit-up the walls inside with their amber flames.

With an unsteady hand and shaky breath, I pushed the door open and walked inside. The confidence I once had was long gone as I rounded the corner and seen him. Klaus stood by the flickering fire, his arm resting on the mantelpiece above as he stared blankly ahead. The relief I had at seeing him alive cooled my nerves a little but I still didn't know what was going to happen.

"Making friends with the housekeepers, I see." Klaus finally spoke in a monotone as he looked away from the fire and stared in my direction.

I shifted uneasily under his gaze. "Yeah, Daniel's nice." I replied to him with a soft smile.

"Why?" He asked sharply.

"Why what?" I asked back, and he shook his head lightly at my response.

"Do not play games with me, Jessica." He snarled as he stood tall.

I took my bottom lip between my teeth as I nibbled on it nervously. "It's not what it looked like."

"Do tell," He walked across the room, narrowing the gap that was between us. "What did it look like?"

"I-I didn't have a choice." I muttered in a low voice. Klaus eyes me sceptically as he stopped in front of me.

"What do you mean, you didn't have a choice?" His voice was low, threatening as his eyes narrowed.

I chose my next words carefully. Very carefully.

"I-If I didn't help distract you willingly, I was going to be forced to."

Klaus took note of my change in body language and placed a hand on my waist. It instantly calmed me as I peered up at him.

"Who threatened you, love?"

I chose not to answer his knowing question.

I released my grip of the sleeve and placed my hand on top of his as it rested on my waist.

"I was lead into the situation blind." I informed him before sighing. "Just know-Just know that I didn't have any intention of hurting you tonight."

His free hand was placed under my chin, before tipping my head back, forcing me to stare into his eyes.

"I believe you." He said in a whisper and I felt my body instantly relax.

I couldn't tell you how much that meant to me to hear those words.

"Is Elena okay?" I asked.

He nodded, "The doppelganger is just fine." My body relaxed even further at knowing Elena was safe. They were both safe. "The Salvatores held up their end of the bargain."

"I can't tell you how much of a relief that is." I smiled happily.

Klaus slowly raised his right hand and softly moved a strand of hair from my face, tucking it behind my ear before gently caressing my cheek.

I leaned into his touch as my eyes shut and opened in a slow manner. His palm was warm, comforting as he held still. My right hand still rested on top of his on my hip as I raised my left and placed it over his on my cheek. My lips parted ever-so-slightly as I looked up at him, holding his gaze before he dropped his eyes down to them. His thumb instinctively swept across the bottom lip, tugging on it softly as I breathed out.

I felt my cheeks begin to flush as his eyes flickered between mine before he lowered his head and I stilled. Inches away, I could feel Klaus' breath on my face. He smelled like bourbon as his lips parted. I closed my eyes, preparing for what was to come. When suddenly, the door behind us opened and Rebekah strode in. I pulled away from Klaus, his hand fell from my cheek and his grip on my waist vanished.

He cleared his throat as Rebekah came into view, "Rebekah," Klaus said as I backed off to his side, "I thought you'd have gone by now. Elijah's leaving. Kol's fled Esther and Finn are gone, too."

I felt saddened at what he said. Klaus had only just gotten his family back, and it was ripped from him once more.

Rebekah glared at her brother at first before her facial features saddened. "I hated you when I learned you killed our mother. But I realise now that after a thousand years together as a family, you're the only one who never left me."

Klaus smiled at his sisters words, "Well, aren't we a pair."

Her lips pressed into a fine-line as she fished her phone from her pocket. "There's something I need you to see." Rebekah held the phone in the air for Klaus to see.

"Come to brag about your skills as a torturer?" He scoffed.

I snapped my head in her direction. "Wait. You didn't hurt her, did you?"

"Relax," The original groaned, "If I did, she wouldn't be alive and kicking, now would she?" Her face slowly scrunched up as she looked over me and I instantly pulled the blazer tighter around my waist. "Are you wearing my clothes again?"

"I-" I smiled shyly before I laughed at her disappointing glare.

"Rebekah," Klaus drew her attention back to the matter at hand as he took the phone from her and looked at the screen.

"Look at the images on the wall behind Elena." She instructed him. I too, peered at the phone to see a panicked Elena, backed into a corner with doodles on the wall behind. "The natives told the story of our family history, look at the images on the far wall."

"What is it?" Klaus asked.

"A native worshipping at the Great White Oak tree."

Klaus tensed, "And? We burned that tree to the ground."

Rebekah shook her head, "Look at the markings that precede it. That's the native calendar."

He narrowed his eyes as he paused the video for a better look. "This can't be right." His lips parted as his eyes widened.

The look on his face was one I hadn't seen before-fear.

Rebekah continued, "A White Oak tree, three thousand years after we fled back to the old world. There must have been a sapling, a new tree to replace the old. That tree could kill us." My eyes widened at her words. "It's not over, Nik."

"What does this mean?" I asked Klaus from his side.

He eyed me sceptically, almost unsure whether or not to answer me and let me in.

He sighed deeply, "Now, we find out what's become of that tree." He looked back to his panic-ridden sister, "And we destroy it."

There you have it! I hope you enjoyed this long chapter.

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