Author's Note: I just noticed that in the last chapter I sometimes wrote Caroline instead of Carolina. Whoops.

Part One: Chapter Seventeen

"Why does the rest of the world put up with the hypocrisy, the need to put a happy face on sorrow, the need to keep on keeping on?... I don't know the answer, I know only that I can't."― Elizabeth Wurtzel

"Every life has a measure of sorrow, and sometimes this is what awakens us."― Steven Tyler

[1492/England]

There was a flurry of activity all around him, but chaos was where Kol thrived. Everyone was flitting this way and that trying to set up everything to prevent upsetting his brother. They were all clamoring around, each one of the servant pushing another out of the way to finish their tasks. Kol moved around them, in the sea of madness but not a part of it.

Did no one see that his brother was nothing more than a grown man with a child's impulse? A man with the temperament of a child?

Kol let his eyes flit around the bustling hallway but continued on. If they were too controlled by fear and ignorance too see beyond the visage of violence and blood then who was he to attempt to enlighten them?

He was in his room faster than anyone could blink and he moved about the room, packing bags and generally destroying any and all evidence that he had ever step foot into the room. His brother would do the same once he broke his curse and all that. Unless he intended to stay here and fight their father once and for all, end this game that they had been playing.

It mattered not, Kol would not bear witness to that battle or the devastation that it would wrought. As another chest was slammed shut, the door to his room creaked open. Kol did not stop his packing but his eyes did flicker to the sound.

"Leaving so soon?"

Kol laughed as another chest was packed and shut. "Why yes, Elijah. Any and all grandiose lectures about family and togetherness can wait until the next time we meet can they?"

Elijah sighed and entered the room. Kol still whirled around at top speed, moving around his brother since he stood solitary in the once full room. "I have no ideation that my talks with you have an effect on you, but Kol…"

"I thought you said there would be no speech, 'Lijah!"

"Kol, listen here. You are far too old to be running from father. We all are, Klaus will break his curse tonight, and if we all stand with him together. We would be a force to be reckoned with."

Another chest slam shut and Kol began to push them towards the door. He was debating on whether it would be faster for him to put them in to a carriage himself…but then he would still have to awake animal caretaker and fetch the driver. Elijah continued.

"When we are united in front of the witches and the werewolves they can do nothing but tremble before us. Now it is Mikael's turn."

Maybe Kol could drive the carriage himself? How hard could it possibly be? Sure animals were slightly afraid of him due to his nature as a predator, but usually after extended exposure they tend to calm and listen. Huh, driving the carriage did not sound so bad after all. He was always up for trying something new.

"Kol…please said with us."

Yes…fleeing was possible. Now where was Carolina? The girl had to come with him. She would make such a marvelous companion. And he saw the looks that his brother gave her. Leaving with him would be such a good way to spite him. One last chance at gaining the upper hand in this long drawn out chess game that they played. Oh, now this journey sounded oh so appealing.

"KOL!"

"No! Elijah, no!" Kol's back was tense, fist clenched. "There will be none of this standing together as you want? Where will Finn be when we are all standing like a united army? A wounded family against their blight father?"

Elijah let out the smallest of sighs, "You know why Finn cannot be let out. He would throw himself into the stake rather than fight against it entering his chest."

"You know I suggested the same thing none too long ago. Was it back in Transylvania? Or was it in Germany? I suggested the same thing to you all several times. A united front. Family cannot take on all of us. But now, you claim that we were too weak. You said we have no power."

"But now," Kol made wild gestures with his hands, fluid and erratic. "Now, Nik gains a little beast that has a little edge and all of a sudden family means something to you? Suddenly 'always and forever' is extended to Finn and I? We are suddenly Mikaelsons when you need us? No, brother. Kill Mikael with this united front. Finn and I were never invited to the party."

Elijah looked particularly cowed but Kol paid no mind to it. He had a girl to go get and a carriage to fill.

"What have you done?! Carolina!? Carolina!? Ca―"

Trevor's large meaty hands were suddenly over her mouth and nose, restricting the air that could enter in. Katerina beat at his hands and bit at them. He finally let go, just long enough to suck in some air and scream. The world spun around her, and Katerina knew that Trevor was using his vampire speed. He wished that Rose was here, but she had left to scout ahead a clear route.

Katerina's back firmly met with the harsh bark of a tree but she was staring into Trevor's darting eyes. His eyes moved everywhere, rolling around his their sockets until Katerina almost feared that they would fall out. Trevor sighed when the threat that he feared did not seem to be present.

"Katerina, my love, please you need to be silent. If they hear you they will―"

Katerina stared at him with stubborn eyes. "Why has Rose gone? And where is Carolina? I refuse to move another step without her by my side?" Trevor sighed almost frantic at the thought of her stationary stance but calmed himself. Katerina open her mouth again, a shout scratching at her throat but Trevor quickly began to talk to her again.

"Katerina, darling please. Rose went to stop Carolina from following us. She could not come with us," said Trevor. And that gave her pause. Carolina could not come with them? Why? She voiced her thought.

Trevor looked uncomfortable with the thought. But Katerina persisted. In a low and still voice she commanded, "Tell me why Carolina is not here with us? She is my friend."

"Katerina…"

"No. If you love me you will tell me. If you had even an ounce of love and respect for me you will tell me!"

"Love and respect?" Trevor intoned lowly. Katerina nodded her head. Heat simmered between them. Katerina throwing daggers and Trevor, his face stale.

"When have I not loved a respected you?" Trevor asked. He continued without an answer. "I have respected you the moment you made your wish to leave the home of the Mikaelsons known to me. I have loved you since the moment that we escaped from the Originals! I have cared for you all you to this point! And now you, you petulant puny child, wish to question me!—and my motives when all I have ever done is love and respect YOU!"

As he spoke his voice grew in strength and volume, the visage of Trevor melted away to show malevolent blood stained eyes and white fangs. Katerina shrunk away from him scared of what he could do to her when he was like this. Trevor had never gotten mad at her before. He had never exhibited any negative emotions towards her.

But now she had provoked the bear and she was scared.

"You, girl, have no right to question me!" A fist slammed into the trunk of the tree, the girl jumped away. He could hurt her like this. He wasn't in control of himself.

Her hands inched into her sleeve where she kept a small garrote, a weapon that she never thought that she would need. One that Caroline had given her. Trevor loomed above her, ever close and wanting. And fear rolled off her to appease him.

His rave continued. "You will show me the respect I deserve! The love I deserve!" His arms wrapped around her and he pulled her in close. His lips pressed against her own with bruising force. The joints in her arms popped. Fumbling, her hands caught the garrote from her sleeve and she slivered her hands from in between their pressed bodies to around his neck.

Katerina kissed him back. She needed air. She needed to end this soon.

Trevor moaned and pulled away.

She had her moment.

Even as she gasped for breath, Katerina was quick in wrapping the garrote around his neck. And then she pulled. Trevor's eyes bulged out of his head and they looked towards her. He quickly pushed her away and she stumbled and fell against the tree. Trevor coughed, his hoarse voice asking for an explanation.

Katerina was quick and she dug into her pouch for the powdered vervain she kept there. She tossed it and cringed as it sizzled against her lover's skin. He hissed but Katerina was on him again, a small fallen branch in hand.

She stabbed him in the chest. Before jabbing him in the throat.

"When in danger always remember this: to snap a neck just push up and twist."

Trevor was recovering from the vervain burns and she looked quite put out. Katerina rested her hands on his neck. She prayed that this would work. She tilted his head up and pushed and pushed and pushed and pushed—

Something gave and a sickening snap resounded around her.

Trevor collapsed and Katerina watched the body fall.

She had done that. She had ended Trevor, if only temporarily. Katerina sighed and looked around. Should she go back and look for Carolina? No, no it was too dangerous for her there and the sun was getting low. It was almost time for the ritual. If she went back now she would be on time to die.

Katerina was not in favor of dying.

She picked up her garrote. Katerina had to continue on. She had to keep going. Carolina…she was a vampire and she seemed to know to take care of herself. If Katerina was a vampire she would never have to struggle as much as she just did. Fight Trevor would be easier.

She eyed his body.

Katerina was in favor of living.

Kol knew the moment that he entered the room that something was wrong.

Nothing was outright wrong with Carolina's room but something was just off. Maybe it was residual witch magic that resided within him but something was terribly wrong.

Her room was too clean and the window was open. Carolina almost never had to window open despite how much she enjoyed the sunlight. She preferred the gardens over the filtered light of a window. Second her vanity was not set up the way that she enjoyed. Her perfume glasses were clutter together when everything about Carolina was strict when it came to organization.

Kol may not have lived in this room, but he noticed enough to know that something was wrong.

There was a large lump on the feather bed of Carolina's room. Kol stalked closer to it keeping his knees bent to center himself should whatever that lump may be decides to lunge. His fingers grabbed hold of the sheet and with no bravado Kol ripped the sheet away. Only to reveal a broken Carolina.

Her neck was bent at the oddest angle and both her knees were broken, they almost appeared shattered. Her clothing was wrinkled obvious from the struggle that she gave as she tried to resist her attacker. Annoyance prickled at the back of his head but he did not falter.

Kol set the bones in the correct position and then went on to bite his own wrist open. "Drink up, Carolina, we have no time for you to be resting," he muttered impatiently. At first the blood did nothing but gather at the sides of her mouth and slide down the sides of her chin, but the moment a drop was able to slide down her throat her instincts kicked in. Her fangs were around and scraped at his wound keeping it open long enough that she was able to suckle.

He could hear the bones resetting into their proper positions and pulled away at the exact moment that Carolina reached to bring his arm closer to her wanting mouth. She growled at him, displeased but Kol growled back.

"Get up, pack your things," commanded Kol. Carolina's eyes flickered around the room assessing where she was as she tried to understand everything that had happened to her. Kol did not time for this folly, his father could be upon them any second.

"Pack, Carolina," Kol said once more. Carolina only looked around the room once more before her gaze rested on him. Her hands crept up to her neck.

"She killed me," was all Carolina could get out.

Kol rolled his eyes. "Death is temporary for us. She, whoever she is, only put you down for a quick nap. Nothing more. Now pack."

"And after everything we had gone through together I thought that she was my friend…" A low burning anger roused deep in Carolina's eyes and while the thought of vengeance and chaos were amusing to him, they needed to go.

If she was not going to pack…

Kol darted around the room throwing things into the chest at the end of her bed. Carolina watched fuming. "We were friends and she killed me. Rose killed me!"

Now, that gave Kol pause. "Rose? What kind of spat did you get into?"

The blonde girl seemed to debate over telling him but by then he no longer cared. He had returned to the task at hand.

"Why are you packing my things? Did Klaus say we are moving somewhere?"

A sneer almost etched itself onto his face, "No, we, only you and I, shall be leaving."

"What? Why?"

"Because I say so!" Kol closed the chest with vindication. Carolina looked troubled by the thought of leaving. Don't tell him that she became enamored with his dichotomous brother also. "We are leaving. Now. I'll let you choose where we are to go."

"I cannot leave! The curse!"

Kol raised a brow. "And how exactly do you know about the curse, hm?"

"Trevor and Klaus explained everything. I…I need to make sure that Klaus releases us from this curse. Don't you want to walk in the sunlight, Kol?"

For the longest time all Kol could do was stare at her. There was no way that the girl could be that naïve. It was impossible. It was so obvious that everything that Nik was doing was for his own personal gain. He cared nothing for the others and whether they gained the ability to wander underneath the sunlight or not. Klaus cared for no one but himself.

He laughed. Kol laughed right into the ever so hopeful face of Carolina. He laughed even harder when he saw that hop dissolving into confusion and rage. He wiped a tear from his eye. She was still a child in this world. He sometimes forgot that she was not as old as him.

"Why do you laugh? This is a serious matter! We can walk in the sun!" Carolina argued. But the older vampire said nothing as his chuckles quieted. He knew that she was waiting for an answer so he waited until he was more composed to give her the response she seeked.

"Oh, I forget that no one but we know the true nature of the curse," his cacophonous laughter was smoothing over into small chuckles. He continued. "You truly believe that my brother cares about the good of the vampire race? You think he honestly cares whether you or I am able to walk outside in the light and not burn? 500 years and I have never heard my brother utter a word of concern towards any of the vampires we have made."

"The true nature of the curse?" Carolina asked.

Kol was about to open his mouth but a loud crash came from somewhere inside the house. Kol furrowed his eyebrows and was about to disregard it as his brother throwing one of his nervous tantrums, but then he heard the scream.

"Release me witch!"

Carolina and Kol exchanged a curious glance. Kol's eyes darted to the chest. "You should leave."

"And what are you going to do?"

"Save my brother obviously."

She was going to destroy the monster.

He had taken everything away from her everything!

He deserved everything that was coming to him.

She would be rewarded for this. Yes, Donatella would be rewarded for what she is doing. She would be heralded as the witch that wiped the Original scum from the face of the planet.

Yes, yes, yes. Rewards and commendation would await her.

The power talked to her. Warned her of another threat approaching. Her hand shot out. Her magic gripped the brother. No, not the older and definitely not the hybrid. It was the magic loving one.

She tossed him aside. She would have to deal with that one later.

It was the hybrid she wanted.

She walked slowly. She was sure that her power would protect her, warn her of any and all incoming threats. She was not dumb she would kill the hybrid and then she would have to go after his family

But that was later she had to kill this monster first.

The hybrid rose from his kneeling position. She had not let up on her assault on his head but he fought against the pain. A valiant but still futile effort on his part. Donatella gave a small smirk.

"Do not think witch that this will not go unpunished," the hybrid growled. He leaned against the desk, fighting the pain and sneering at her. Though it looked more like a snarl. His face was a mask of pain and anger.

"How can I take one seriously when they are obviously in so much pain…" she muttered. She knew the hybrid would hear it. Once the sound hit his ears his visage became more enraged than she had ever seen it before. His anger allowed him to ignore the obvious pain that she was inflicting.

Klaus moved, but his movements were sluggish and sloppy. It was obvious that he was going to bite her or something equally damaging to her person. Her smiled became more savage. Klaus ran straight towards her. Donatella smiled and with a simple flick of her wrist she sent his body twisted across the room.

Klaus landed with a sickening crack.

She chuckled lightly and used her magic to keep him down.

"Release me witch!"

Donatella smiled. "No!"

She was going to hurt him; she was going to kill him.

Something crashed into her body.

Donatella was confused at first, her mind wandering to what it could have been that was preventing her from her kill. But her mind quickly caught up with the rest of her thoughts and she noticed the hands.

Hands were hugging her neck and squeezing the life out of her literally. She gave a hoarse choke. Donatella's face began to glow red as she beat at the hands on her neck. There was no relief there was nothing but the hands crushing her neck, making her windpipe narrower and narrower.

Donatella released all the pent up power inside of her. She let out a torrent of it on her assailant, pushing the power out out out in order to push her enemy away from her. He went flying away from her in an ungraceful blur and slammed into the wall with an unflattering "oomph". Donatella smiled but was quickly assaulted again.

"You chose the wrong day to get on my bad side, witch." Klaus was spitting through his teeth, looking every part the wolf that he was. Donatella smiled through the hold on her neck and tried to summon the power within her again. Let experience the torrential downpour of her power. She looked deep within herself but came up dry. But that couldn't be possible because she had just used her power on Kol. She was not done.

A voice laughed in her head. No sacrifice. No power.

Donatella's eyes also bugged out of her head. She had sacrificed. She gave everything she had for this moment. She deserved to take out Klaus. She let her mother die for this! But what else had she left to give. Donatella had given up everything in hopes that this would her last hurrah. Donatella's hands gripped the hand suspending her as her feet kicked wildly.

"Y-you...ne-need me," she sputtered out. Black crept along the edges of her vision. Lights were going out and her focus was tunneling. Klaus and his demonic visage were soon going to take up her whole vision and even then it would be consumed by the encroaching darkness. Klaus gave a dark little laugh.

"Good part about planning ahead, love. You aren't the only witch I have."

Donatella's chest caved in. The pressure of Klaus' hand reaching for her heart was too much for her ribs to resist. And as she choked on her blood and the life steeped out of her eyes. She could only think about how this was all for naught.

Klaus threw down the heart like it burned it. It may have, you never knew with witches. Without a thought Klaus moved to his little brother. He had seen the witch unleash the full force of her power on him, it was odd like a grey smoke escaped her body and flew at Kol. He was too enraged to pay attention to where the smoke disappeared to, but that was no longer important because Kol wasn't waking up.

"Kol! Kol!" he shook his brother's shoulders, but his head only moved listlessly. There was no life in his mischievous little brother. This was the closest he has seen his brother to death since the last time he had daggered him. No, no, no, Kol could not be dead. He still had so many things to do and a world to explore. Klaus was going to hand the world on a platter to his family. All of his family. "Come now Kol wake up!"

"Sir?" A servant's head popped in obviously disturbed. "Is there any trouble? Do you need any assi—"

"Get my brother! And check on the girl!" Klaus hollered. The servant scampered away, fearing washing out of his every pore. Klaus held his brother still trying to get him to respond.

"You still manage to find a way to ruin everything you touch, boy." Klaus froze.

No.

"I'm not surprised. Considering your origins, ruining things is just in your blood."

Not now.

"But it's time to wipe this stain from the earth. Don't you agree?"

Heat rushed to his head. Klaus gripped Kol's body before setting him gently on the ground. At least now he would have someone to take his anger out on.

Author's Note: Long time, no update. How is everyone? This chapter took forever to get out, but here it is. Sorry for the long wait. College things you know.

Until Next Time,

wanderlust-bitethedust