He breathed a soft, aggravated sigh as he finally hung up the phone. Elijah had called him to let him know that Damon Salvatore was in his custody. That stupid, arrogant, and reckless mate of his was more trouble than he was worth. Klaus would lock the man up if he believed doing so would get him under his control. Threats had not worked and had only proved what Klaus had already known. It had proved to him that his mate was nothing but pathetic, weak, and a liability to himself. Now with Damon found, he would have to keep him close and get him under control. Heavens forbid anyone finds out about Klaus's new and currently only weakness. Not only had Damon forced him to hunt him down, but he had also put Klaus behind schedule to find the werewolf packs.
Thankfully, he did not need to search for the man anymore. Once he saw Damon in front of him, they would have words. Not only did they need to discuss the boy's disappearing act, but they also had to discuss how he had managed to interfere with Klaus's sacrifice. Maddox and Greta had been confused and quite unsure of what had happened. The only explanation Klaus could come up with was that Damon somehow did something to interfere before taking off. It would explain the gap in his memory from right before Damon had left. Klaus had seemingly blacked out for a time, and when he had regained his senses, Damon was gone.
His witches had shown up to help him with the ritual the next day, only to inform him it was no longer necessary as the spell had already been broken. Klaus swore to himself that he would get answers from Damon and solve the mystery that was his mate one way or another. Of course, he had still gone through with the ritual not only to ensure the curse remained broken but also to keep up appearances. After all, if he had just stopped trying to break his curse, everyone would start questioning why he had suddenly given up. That would have inevitably led to them discovering his and Damon's connection, and that was not something that he could allow to happen. If their connection was discovered and something occurred to Damon, Klaus would ensure blood spilled throughout the streets. He felt a wave of protectiveness surge through him as he thought of Damon. Klaus shook his head; he didn't want a mate, and he especially didn't want one like Damon. Someone pathetic, weak, Klaus's thoughts started to wander.
His mind drifted to Damon, who he saw when he first entered Mystic Falls and felt the connection waiting to be formed. That Damon was strong, smart, talented, and didn't take an insult lying down. Of course, that Damon was the one meant to be his mate, not the one that he had seen in the stupid vampire hunter's room. No, that was the Damon that Klaus would ensure he got back. He couldn't afford to have a pathetic, weak, and stupid mate. His mate had to be everything Damon had been when Klaus first saw him.
Damon forced himself to suppress the growl threatening to leave his lips. The Mikaelsons were officially pissing him off and making it very difficult not to curse them into oblivion. He had already agreed to go with Elijah to meet up with Klaus, but was that enough for the Original? Of course, not! As soon as Damon had come back outside after grabbing his things, Elijah had captured his left bicep and refused to let go. He did not trust Damon not to run off. 'Would you trust yourself not to run off?' Damon asked himself as they kept trudging through Chicago in search of Klaus.
Grudgingly, he could not fault Elijah for being cautious, especially as Klaus seemed to be holding their siblings hostage until Damon returned. It didn't mean that Damon had to like the situation he was currently in. He attempted to pull his arm free from Elijah's grip only for it to tighten, effectively ending any possible escape attempt. "Damon." Elijah chastised, pulling him along to an alleyway so they could wait for Niklaus. "Why does my brother want you? Why was he so earnest to have you back with him?" Damon gazed up at Elijah, making out not only curiosity but also concern and sadness. Elijah was worried about him, of that Damon was sure.
Elijah sighed and glanced around when his questions were met with silence, determining that Niklaus had not arrived yet. Looking back, he saw Katerina hiding in the shadows of the alley. Obviously, she hoped Niklaus would forget about her if she were not seen or heard. "My brother always knows how to make a mess of things, and I believe that you have seen that firsthand. If you would inform me of his intentions then, perhaps I may be of some assistance to you, Mr. Salvatore." Damon shook his head, his hair falling into his eyes as he surveyed the street in front of him. "Elijah…" he was cut off as Klaus appeared before them.
His blond hair sparkled in the sun, and his blue eyes flashed as he caught sight of Damon. Klaus's eye's narrowed at the sight of Elijah's hand on Damon's bicep. "Wonderful, looks like you found the wayward Salvatore brother. If you and Katerina would excuse us for a moment. Damon and I have something we need to discuss." He grabbed Damon's arm, yanking him closer to him as Elijah and Katerina headed off. As soon as they had left his sight, Klaus slammed Damon's back into the alleyway wall. "Now, would you care to explain to me, my love, how you interfered with my curse? Also, why you thought it was a smart move to try to escape from me?" Klaus growled as he pushed him harder against the wall.
A cough tore its way from Damon's lungs as Klaus pushed hard against his throat. "Well!?" Klaus snarled when Damon hadn't answered him. Damon shook his head, "In case you didn't notice, I was in the apartment you left me in. I couldn't interfere with your curse even if I wanted to. Also, dickhead it's hardly escape when you don't own me." Damon spit out, forcing his magic to thrum softly beneath his skin rather than exploding out from him. The last thing he wanted was Klaus to find out about his magic. Nothing good could come from him finding out about it.
"You did something, Damon. One minute we were in the apartment together, and the next thing I remember is you're gone. Then, my witches tell me that my curse is not a problem anymore. So, I'm going to ask one more time, What did you do?" Klaus growled out. Damon's mind was running as he thought about the possible implications if Klaus was telling the truth. He didn't think his magic had been accessible before he got his memories back, but could it have started to leak out before then. Could it have been exploding out of him without him even realizing it?
"Damon." He growled, pushing him harder against the hard, rough alley wall. Anger surged through Damon as Klaus continued to apply pressure. 'Breath, Hold it in.' he tried to force himself to think and concentrate, but, at that moment, Klaus's eye's turned golden yellow. Suddenly, he could not keep his magic at bay as his anger exploded out from him. It threw Klaus backward towards the entrance of the alleyway. The windows on the walls beside him shattered; glass cut into his skin before immediately healing. The wind whipped through the air as if a storm was approaching, shaking the few trees that lived throughout the city.
Damon took a step away from the wall breathing deeply as he tried to force the magic back down. After years of being ignored and left to simmer, his magic seemed to want to ignore his command. It was struggling against his hold, begging him to let it out and handle what it deemed a threat to him. 'No,' Damon thought, pushing against the energy singing through his veins. 'Control it. Breathe and Calm down.' Glancing at Klaus, Damon saw him standing up and staring at him. Disbelief, awe, and wonder could be seen written across his face as he started to approach Damon again slowly.
"Damon. Stop, this!" Klaus shouted as the wind attempted to drown out the world around them. That was not the correct thing to say evidently, as a rock flew through the wind towards Klaus's head. Klaus stared at the young Hybrid that stood shaking in front of him. Hybrid. That thought alone brought him up short. There was no other way to truly describe him, for that's what he was. A hybrid the likes of which Klaus had not seen for centuries. The last time he had found one, several witches had killed them. When questioned, they would say that Heretics were against nature and should not be allowed on this plane of existence.
He had originally thought Damon to be a young and weak vampire, but that is not who stood before him. No, the individual that stood before him could never be described as weak. As he gazed at Damon, this Klaus thought was the mate destined for me. He forced himself forwards, attempting to get closer and get Damon to control the magic that rammed through the air. As he got closer, he could see his young mate shaking as he attempted to control the power coursing through his veins.
Not one to apologize, Klaus surprised even himself as he neared Damon. "I am truly sorry, love." Damon's eyes shot open from where they had slid shut, and his magic tried to force Klaus back, but it was too late. His hands shot up and grasped Damon's head tightly before yanking it to the side, effectively snapping his neck. Immediately, the world around him quieted, the wind died down to a soft breeze. The leaves and rocks that had been flying around dropped to the ground with a sharp crack. He caught Damon as he collapsed to the ground in front of him.
Glancing at him, Klaus was struck by the innate beauty his mate seemed to have. Klaus could not say whether he was attracted to the power that Damon exuded or whether he was attracted to the man himself. However, for the first time, Klaus felt a true wave of protectiveness hit him like a tide. It was all-encompassing and for a second, he couldn't breathe as he stared down at his mate. His breath escaped in a short gasp and he forced himself to brace against the wall to avoid hitting the ground and dropping Damon. Klaus growled under his breath as he straightened up. He hadn't wanted to care for him or accept him as his mate.
And yet, his wolf disagreed with him. It pounded, banged, and growled against his skin, demanding a release to claim his mate for his own. His wolf didn't see Damon as weak or incompatible; No, his wolf wanted him desperately and seemed to be willing to do anything to keep him. Even…even if doing so would make him hate him in the end. Perhaps, it would be better if Klaus hid him away and made it so he could not leave a location of Klaus's choosing. At least, until he had eliminated all the threats that could lay harm to his mate. Damon would hate him but, Klaus could handle such a matter if it meant Damon's safety was ensured.
Leaning down, Klaus grabbed Damon's bag and headed out of the alleyway. First, he had to get his mate to safety, and then he would handle the threat that his brother and Katerina presented. Damon would understand, Klaus assured himself as he continued down the road, after all this was for his own good. Doubt tugged at the edge of Klaus's mind as he glanced down at Damon again as if to reassure himself that he was still there. He rarely doubted himself but in this one aspect, he could not stop the question that continuously rang through his mind like a gong. Would Damon truly understand the steps Klaus was taking to ensure their future together?