`Chapter 8: Pictures of You

"We have a problem," Stefan said and he could see Damon rolling his eyes at his words.

"Elena with no humanity, blood bank being robbed, Silas freed, Katherine has the cure, what else?" Damon asked, bored.

"It's Vanessa," Stefan said urgently.

"We'll deal with her later. Let her grieved and take her revenge on another day-"

"No, she's stop grieving, alright. Her humanity's off," Stefan said.

"Oh well, twin telepathy alright," Damon joked.

"You're worried Elena feeding from the local? Well, Vanessa just massacred the locals," Stefan said.

"What?"

"Everyone in Mystic Grills are dead."

"Vanessa love, where are you?" Klaus called out, seeing her room was empty. She'd her meal last night and it wasn't just one guy, it was a whole lot of them. He was going to close the door when something glistening caught his eye making him take a double look.

On the dressing table, was Vanessa's daylight necklace.

"Oh, wow, look at this mess," a voice said as I reluctantly opened my eyes as sunlight filled the room. "Someone had a little too much fun," the very familiar voice said and I looked up in confusion, groaning at the headache.

Impossible.

"Kol?" I asked, sitting up. He just smirked at me.

"Hello, darling," he said.

"I'm hallucinating. You're dead," I said and Kol shook his head.

"No darling, I'm here. This is the work of Silas. The Expression Triangle is completed last night and all he needs now is the cure," Kol said.

"You were against him. If he has the cure every dead supernatural will return-"

"Including me," Kol cut me off and took my face into his callous hand. My heart skipped a beat as I could feel his touch.

"Jenna, Alaric, Isobel, Finn…" he listed and I could feel my humanity crawling back inside me.

"Your enemies will return!" I said and Kol searched for my eyes.

"I could be with you again," he said sternly and I just stared at him, my face blank. He tilted his head to the side, narrowing his eyes. "Ah, your humanity is off."

"And you're not Kol," I hissed, slamming Silas against the wall. I had suspected that there was something off with him and I was right.

"Smart girl," Silas said, still wearing Kol's face. "You are way quicker than the mighty Klaus Mikaelson, I must say." My eyes widened in surprise and I vamp sped out of my room, searching for Klaus.

"Klaus!" Klaus was shirtless and leaning against the piano, surrounded with knives and pliers that were covered in blood.

"Stop! Torturing! Me!" he yelled and threw a vase at me to which I dodged.

"Klaus," I called him much gentler.

"Stop it with the image of her!" Klaus groaned in pain but I could see that it wasn't from his injuries.

"Klaus, it's me," I said, approaching him slowly.

"Vanessa?" he asked before sighing in relief.

"What happened?" I asked, kneeling before him.

"It's Silas. He staked me with the white oak. I can-there's a -a piece of it stuck inside me," he said and I quickly assessed his injuries.

"I'm going to have to cut you opened," I said.

"What do you think I've been doing all this while? I can't reach it!" he said and I rolled my eyes.

"That tone isn't going to make me help you, mister," I said mockingly but grabbed the knife nevertheless. "It's just a little knife, stop whining," I scolded when he grunted in pain loudly, that his knuckles turned white.

"Silas said the Triangle is complete. I thought you being there last night was to stop him?" I asked.

"Caroline completed the Triangle before I could stop her," Klaus said. "And look where it got me, trying to be the good guy," he said.

"He wants the cure?" I asked.

"Yes, and if I do not hand it over he's going to hound me for thousands of years!" he said.

"Kol died so that Silas isn't awakened and the Other Side remained intact," I reminded him. "We can't just give Silas the cure."

"Even to have Kol back in your life?" Klaus asked and I dug the knife deeper into his flesh causing him to groan.

"There's nothing. Not even a piece of the stake or even a splinter of it," I said, ignoring his question.

"It's there! I can feel it moving to my heart!" Klaus yelled and I twisted the knife in annoyance.

"There's nothing in here," I said before smirking. "Oh look at that, you do have a heart! Oops, my bad. It's just a bloody rib," I joked and Klaus growled.

"Remind me to compel you to turn your humanity back on again," he said under his breath and my eyes widened at his word. Compel me again? I felt my jaw clenched in anger and I pulled the knife of off his body in one sharp, fluid motion, earning a scream of pain from the Hybrid.

"You compelled me!" I accused, raising the knife threateningly at him. I hadn't remembered how and when the hell did I turn it off. I had suspected Klaus compelling me since I hadn't been taking vervain ever since Kol died but I had trusted Klaus to never compel me not after we had gone through so much together. "I'd never, not in a thousand years turn my humanity off despite my grief and my loss!" When Klaus didn't reply I let out a sob.

"Love," he said, trying hard to get on his feet and I threw the knife at him, missing him by an inch.

"I trusted you! I trusted you and you compelled me. Now I can't even feel anything! Silas appeared to me as Kol and I felt nothing! Nothing! I don't even love him anymore!" I yelled in frustration, shoving him and hitting him with every words and he just let me.

"You were going to kill yourself!" Klaus raised his voice and I froze. His blue eyes glistened with tears and he looked torn as he said the next word. "You were so consumed with your own grief that you didn't think about me. Do you really think I won't be devastated losing another-another family?" he asked, his hands gripping my shoulders tightly. I didn't know what to say but then Klaus narrowed his eyes, before he looked at me, eyes wide.

"It's gone. The pain…it's gone. It was-it was never there. He got in my head. Silas got inside my head. You took my mind off it," Klaus said and I shook my head.

"He can appear as anyone to play mind tricks with us. That's how he's been controlling Bonnie, by playing with her emotions," I said.

"Your humanity's off. It didn't work with you," Klaus said and I shrugged.

"That would actually be because I'm smarter than you," I said and he rolled his eyes.

"Help me clean this up?" he asked, gesturing to his bloodied carpet and I made a face.

"I was going to make a mess somewhere else," I said.

"What? Mystic Grill wasn't enough?" Klaus asked and I smirked, not feeling remorseful at all.

"I was going to kill some Mystic High students but that would affect the attendance at prom and Caroline would kill me…with her babbling and all."

"Whenever you're ready, love, I can make you turn it on again," he offered and I smiled.

"Miss me already?" I asked teasingly but Klaus just smiled, almost sadly.

"Have fun," he said softly, leaving me speechless. I felt a tug in my heart, like my humanity trying to crawl back inside me. The little fight that we had earlier had sparked some emotions in me…but I didn't know how to let it in.

I woke up to the voices of the Mikaelson siblings bickering downstairs and rolled my eyes. Apparently, the chase for the cure from Katherine was a success for our part. It's just that Elijah had now joined the group and had taken charge of everything, with the cure in his hand.

"He will open the floodgates for every supernatural being that has ever died," Rebekah argued.

"Including our dear brothers, Kol and Finn. We'll have our family back," Klaus quickly replied.

"Please, you hated Kol and you kept Finn in a box for most of his life," Rebekah snapped and I felt something stirred inside me. Anger. Klaus did not hate Kol. He was there grieving with me while Rebekah selfishly went ahead with the crazy hunt for the cure.

"Elijah, please," Klaus said smugly, knowing Elijah would do anything to have their family back.

"Your personal discomfort might not be sufficient reason for putting the entire world in jeopardy, Klaus. I think our sister deserves a shot at happiness," Elijah said and Klaus looked at Elijah in disbelief.

"Tell me you're joking. Tell me you're not fating me to an eternity of torture," Klaus growled lowly and Elijah remained stoic.

"I made my decision," Elijah said calmly.

"Am I allowed to have a say in this? Or is it just family?" I interrupted, crossing my arms. I met Elijah's brown eyes and heard a surprise gasp from Rebekah, not expecting me to be there. "Oh wait, you Mikaelsons weren't there to cremate Kol…so I don't think you deserve to be called 'family'," I said loathingly.

"Vanessa," Rebekah called to me pleadingly and I only glared at her spitefully.

"Are you really going to give the only cure to vampirism to a self-centred, whiny, cry baby vampire for her own selfish gain?" I ignored Rebekah, looking at Elijah. He straightened his posture and met my eyes calmly.

"I will not let Silas opened the door to let every dead supernatural into our world," he said and I looked away, trying to control my anger.

"Including your own brother who was murdered selfishly by the people who were obsessed to have the cure?" I asked him and looked at them. "He died trying to stop you from raising Silas and look at this," I said.

"As if his life didn't even matter," I said and scoffed. "Always and forever," I said in disgust as I walked passed Elijah.

"You've changed," Elijah said after a while. I had felt his presence as I fed from the human staff in Klaus's house and had simply ignored him. I let the woman felt with a thud to the marble floor that was stained in dried blood and turned to look Elijah.

"Oh I'm sorry, the love of my life just died," I said and licked the blood on my lips. "You'd know. Your sweet Cassandra died in front of your eyes, didn't she? Of course lucky for you, she wasn't really gone!" I scowled and huffed. I plopped down the couch and cracked my neck.

"You see, I remembered you saying how you hold family above everything else and now you're simply going to let Silas tortured Klaus for eternity, and also your dead brother remains dead and unavenged," I said, tilting my head to the side. "You're just a sad hypocrite in tailored suit."

"You're without your humanity," he stated.

"So?" I asked.

"I understand the grief-"

"And yet you hardly care to even show up when your own brother died," I said.

"Katerina offered me the cure as soon as she retrieved it from the island. I wouldn't want the cure to get in the wrong hands," Elijah explained calmly.

"And you think it's in the right hands now?" I asked, cocking an eyebrow before scoffing. "How long are you going to keep this charade? You're not this honorable vampire with virtues, Elijah. I know you," I said and he met my eyes calmly.

"You are hurting, I understand-"

"I don't feel anything," I snapped and he looked torn.

"You are better than this, Vanessa. You were passionate and strong. Turn it on," he said softly.

"Is the image of Cassandra without humanity is hurting you? Is it shattering the image of your sweet, pure lover?" I sneered before downing the scotch and turning to Elijah, tip-toeing to whisper at his ear. "I will find her and I will make you watch as I rip her heart out. Only then, will you understand how hurt I really am."

"Klaus! Klaus!" I arched an eyebrow at Klaus at the sound of Caroline yelling his name at the top of her lungs. She didn't sound angry but she did sound desperate.

"Kl-" she stopped in her tracks as she found him. "Did you not hear me?" she asked, frustrated.

"The whole Mystic Falls can hear you, Care," I said, rolling my eyes and she turned to me, only realizing my presence. Her eyes widened in surprise as she took in the surrounding. Klaus was painting me holding a glass of wine, with two dead girls on the couch, posing next to me.

"Nessie! What are you doing here?" Caroline asked.

"Last time I checked, my dear sister burned our house down," I replied, taking a sip of the wine.

"No-no, I mean, what are you doing here?" Caroline asked, shaking her head. "You're not going to prom?" she shrieked.

"I'm not in the mood for prom. Besides, my date's dead," I said dryly and she sighed.

"Look, we're all going as friends. Come on," she pleaded. "Humanity or not, prom should be something you can't miss!" she said and I rolled my eyes.

"If I go, will you shut up?" I asked and her eyes lit up. I felt a tug in my heart, a little bit happy to have made Caroline happy this night since she didn't get to be with Tyler.

"Yes! And Elena is going to be there too. Maybe you can kick her stealing ass for me?" Caroline asked and I snorted.

"What did that murderer wrench did now?" I asked, amused.

"I went to pick it up and the tailor said that somebody else already did. And when I asked who, she said she couldn't remember. That bitch!" Caroline said in anger.

"And why are you here, really?" Klaus asked, amused at her outburst.

"Could you please go back into your creepy trophy case of family collectibles and dig me out something of royal calibre?" Caroline pleaded with her puppy dog eyes and Klaus chuckled.

"Two dresses for the ladies, coming right up," he said, placing down his brush and headed upstairs. An awkward silence fell upon us.

"Um, so, how are you doing?" Caroline asked and I looked at her pointedly.

"It's a nice break. Not to feel anything," I told her.

"Well, at least you're not as bitchy as Elena is without her humanity," Caroline said.

"That might be because I've always been a bitch," I said with a slight smile and Caroline grinned.

"We all really miss you. And Bonnie is really sorry about what had happened. She was manipulated-"

"I don't care. Sorry," I said. "Kol's dead. If Klaus had killed Tyler maybe you'd understand," I said and tilted my head to the side.

"I'm not judging you or anything. It was really hard for you with Kol and Jeremy…and us betraying you. But we do love you."

"Save by the Hybrid," I said, relieved as Klaus appeared with a beautiful silver dress and a gold dress in each hand.

I did my makeup as Klaus did my hair, and to my surprise he was as good as Rebekah in hair-styling.

"Don't tell anyone about this," he said and I smiled, applying some blusher.

"Did you use to play Barbie with Rebekah?" I teased and he rolled his eyes.

"Speaking of the she-devil," he said and I met his eyes through the mirror.

"Yes, you don't have to ask me. I'll make sure she fails," I said and Klaus smirked.

"Thank you," he said softly, clipping the black butterfly clip on my hair. "Would you like a picture?"

"Without a date?" I asked as capped my lipstick back and grinned at Klaus.

"You could ask Elijah," he said with a wink and I rolled my eyes.

"He'd know I'm faking it," I said, hitting his arm.

"If Kol's here, he wouldn't stop staring and his mouth would be hanging open, gaping at you," Klaus said and I looked at the mirror, feeling nothing but void.

"But he's not," I said indifferently and gave Klaus a smile.

"Thank you for making me look gorgeous," I said. "You'll be rewarded handsomely," I said with a coy smile and he chuckled.

"Make sure my baby sister messes up," he called out and I winked playfully at him.

"Vanessa-" Stefan looked up, surprised as I walked in. Damon quickly appeared in front of me as Stefan made his way towards us.

"Unhand me, darling, or I'll rip out your spleen," I hissed at Damon and he raised an eyebrow. "What? Afraid that I'm going to kill darling Elena? Where's that lying bitch, anyway?"

"What are you doing here, Vanessa?" Stefan asked, alarmed.

"Attending prom? Besides, I came here with Caroline," I said and I saw Caroline quickly running towards us.

"Barbie, care to explain?" Damon asked and I rolled my eyes.

"No humanity doesn't make me a murderous bitch like Elena is, Damon. Loosen up," I said with a grin.

"Oh yeah, what about Mystic Grills?"

"I was hungry. Besides, Ripper-Stefan once killed the whole town and you used your sire bond to have sex with my sister. No judging, mister," I said and shoved Damon lightly, my eyes scanning for Elena.

"Oh no," I heard Rebekah's gasp and Elena looked up at me, her face blank.

"Hey, sis. Kill anyone yet?" I asked, pulling a chair next to her.

"Don't tell me they put you to this, trying to make me nostalgic and reliving perfect memories," she said and I grinned.

"Oh, the only thing you'll be reliving is the agonizing pain as I pull your nail one by one and force you to eat them," I said.

"Ah, no torture can top from being burned alive," Elena shot and I smiled.

"Like Kol did?" I asked and she looked at me blankly.

"See? You can't hurt me. I'm emotionless too, sis!" I said chirpily and raised to my feet, patting Elena on her cheek. "Oh, and Bekah, good luck," I said, smiling sinisterly before leaving to get my drinks. I heard Rebekah's panic whines to Elena as how I was there to ruin her test.

"May I have this dance?" A man's voice asked and I rolled my eyes, gulping down the drink and placing it on the table.

"No, you may not," I said, turning around, face-to-face with Kol. He smiled mischievously.

"What do I have to do to get you to do my biddings?" he drawled and I placed a hand on his chest firmly, preventing him from stepping any closer to me.

"You can leave me alone," I said.

"It's so much easier if you turn it on. I could make you, you know," he said and I smirked.

"Then why don't you?" I asked daringly and he clicked his tongue.

"Come on, don't you miss him? Dance with me," he said.

"You'll get what you want by midnight. Now please, leave me alone," I said. Silas took my hand forcefully and placed a firm hand on my waist. Kol's hand. I looked up to see Kol's face just mere inches from mine. His warm lips…

But it did nothing to me.

Because it wasn't real.

"Don't you want this to be real?" he asked, getting inside my head.

"I'll show you what's real," I hissed, my fangs lowered and was about to rip his neck off when Damon pushed me off a guy from my Chemistry class. He quickly compelled the human to forget what he saw and ran up to me.

"What was that? Were you trying to make a scene? A night to remember?" he asked me patronizingly and I huffed.

"It was Silas. He got inside my head," I snapped, leaving him to find Rebekah. If Silas wants the damn cure, he'll get it as long as he stays out of my head.

"Help! April, please, wake up!" I heard Matt shouted and I headed backstage seeing Matt cradling April Young's bleeding body. Rebekah looked horrified and I grinned.

"Ah, so my darling sister has already done the work for me," I said and Rebekah looked at me pleadingly.

"Vanessa please, you have to give her your blood! I can't do it," Rebekah said and I just looked at her cruelly. "You know how much I want to be human. Vanessa, please," she begged and I stroked her hair gently.

"Aww, Bex. And you know how much I want Kol back," I said and kissed her cheek. "Enjoy another thousand years, Bekah," I said snidely and left the scene.

"So how was prom?" Klaus asked. He walked towards the bar and poured himself a glass of bourbon.

"A night to be remember," I said, staring at the crackling fireplace before turning to him. "It's done then?" I asked and he nodded.

"It will be okay," he said softly after a long minute of silence and I chuckled softly.

"You spoke too soon, Klaus," I said. Klaus looked at me questioningly as I handed him a letter, sealed with the letter "K" for Katherine. Klaus's brows knitted together as he read the letter and he looked at me, an unreadable expression on his face.

"Trust me, you're not going to like it even more once we're in New Orleans," I said, and pat his chest gently. "I'm going to change. Don't leave without me."

So this is a little bit of a filler chapter but I still hope you enjoy it. What I love about Vanessa is her passionate feelings, the anger, the hatred and the love she felt so yeah, she's turning it on soon. I'm so sorry if I did a poor job for a no-humanity Vanessa. But the question is, who should bring her emotions back on?

Elijah or Klaus?