AN: okay so I'm so so so sorry for not updating. It's been a crazy month. Lots of stuff to deal with but I'll try to update regularly. Hope you guys enjoy this.
Chapter 19: A battle won or lost
Cami looked to Caroline in a mix of confusion, bewilderment and fear. She was sitting on a wooden chair on the other end of the room. Before she met Klaus, before her eyes were opened to the supernatural world, things were black and white for her. Now everything was just so complicated.
"The cure" Cami says in what could be interpreted as a question and a statement. Caroline could relate to what Cami was going through in this moment. She remembered when she had to wake up in a hospital bed alone and afraid and craving blood. Things got even more stranger as time went on. "Yeah. If Aroura feeds on me she will turn human and I won't die because my human self is not hundreds of years old. I'll be fine" Caroline says determinedly. This is the only plan they have. Granted it may not be the best plan but they had to try.
Cami looked to Caroline in worry. "And what's stopping her from Killing you. Cami says. Caroline sighs and pushes herself off the wall she was leaning against. "She won't. Not yet. She may want the Phoenix stone but she'll gladly give that up if it means getting her revenge on Klaus" Caroline looks to Cami. "She's waiting for the perfect opportunity" Cami concludes. "We can't give her that opportunity" Caroline says. "Alright. Lets do it" Cami says with a new found determination.
,KC*
The moon shone brightly above them. Klaus and Elijah walked quietly through the docks. Tristan had sent a location and Klaus and Elijah had rushed off, leaving the others at the compound. As much as Klaus wanted to make sure the spell went of without a hitch, he knew he had to be here.
They came to a stop and looked around. There was no one around. The silence was deafening. Klaus turned to see Elijah regarding him curiously. "What?" He questions irritability. "You love her don't you" Elijah states plainly.
Klaus could have said something snarky in return to Elijah. Something that would jab at his relationship with Hayley but in a rare moment he decided to open up. Both Klaus and Elijah knew who the 'her'they were referring to was. The question was did he feel what Elijah thought he felt. Did he love her? Was he even capable of such an emotion?
He knew he loved his daughter. He knew he loved his siblings, even though they drove him to insanity all the time. But this certainly was different. Klaus cared for her. She's helped him be a better person. Helped him realize that showing kindness and forgiveness was not a show of weakness.
But what they had was not love. It was... friendship."No" he replied and Elijah covers his look of shock at being wrong.
Of course Klaus could have just been lying but Elijah knew his brother better than anyone else. He could see it in his brothers eyes. Klaus was not lying.
*KC,
Caroline and Cami steel themselves as they hear the door being opened. Aroura walks through with a wicked smile on her face. "Oh, still alive I see. And here I thought that one of you would kill the other." Aroura says in a light tone, as though she had done this a million times, not that Caroline would put it past her. "I mean wouldn't anyone want to kill her" Aroura gestures to Cami while looking at Caroline. "Let us go!" Cami demands. "Oh well since you've asked so nicely" Aroura says sarcastically. "Not happening darling" Aroura looses her light tone.
"He's going to come for us" Caroline says confidently allowing Aroura's attention to shift onto her. "You may be stronger than us but I know you're not stronger than him" Caroline adds. "Maybe so" Aroura starts while moving in closer, "but I have the most important thing. I have his weakness" she says, her wicked smile growing.
Caroline knew what she had to do. She just had to hit Aroura where it would hurt. "So that's what this is all about. Klaus" Caroline begins as Aroura steps closer. "You're pissed off that he was smart enough to get away from you psychotic ass" Caroline says. Aroura's eyes turn deadly at Caroline words. "From what I hear, even your own brother would rather have you locked up than to deal with you."
Aroura vamp speeds in front of Caroline faster than she can comprehend. "He left me!" Aroura clenched her jaw. "My brother and I had to run...for decades. He left me!" Aroura yelled out. "He deserves to suffer. Theyall do. I will be the one to make them suffer" she adds in completion.
For a brief moment Caroline felt pity for the red head. She had a glimps of what running would be like. She couldn't imagine what it would be like to do it for decades...for centuries, or even forever.
Aroura's hatred only grew and turned her into what she was today. She had to be stopped. "I wonder who he would choose" Aroura says bringing Caroline's attention back to the current situation. I think think it would be her" Aroura glances toward Cami.
Caroline is unsure of what was hidden behind Aroura's words but now was not the time to analyze it. "But no matter what happens, he will never choose you. You're just a jealous, weak ex girlfriend. You are pathetic"Caroline whispers harshly, pushing away the guilt she felt.
Aroura grabs Caroline and pushes her against the concrete wall. Caroline felt her head crush against the wall behind her. Her first instinct was to clutch her stomach in a protective gesture.
If she dies then so do Alaric's babies. Unfortunately Caroline had to put herself in danger, which meant putting them in danger to.
"Do you think I'm stupid Caroline" Aroura asks. "I've been around for quite some time now. I've had spies everywhere. When Klaus first set foot in Mystic Falls, I knew about it. You're attraction to each other, I knew about it and...when you came to New Orleans. I know you're trying to get me to feed off you, thus turning myself into a human. Well your silly little plan will not work on me" she ends.
What Aroura did not see was Cami slowly coming up behind her. "But this might" Cami puts all the force her human self can muster behind her attack as she brings the knife up behind Aroura's back and plunges it into her shoulder.
Aroura screams out in pain and releases Caroline, who drops to the floor. Aroura grabs Cami around the throat and squeezes. Cami tries to get out of Aroura's grasp by clawing at her hand and backing away, the natural instinct to breath taking over but to no avail. Cami drops the knife as Aroura's grip tightens.
Caroline sees the knife fall and looks around for anything that can help in a 'plan B'. Caroline sees the old wooden chair next to her.
This was their only chance. Aroura was distracted. Caroline quickly moved forward and broke off a leg of the chair. Caroline runs behind Aroura and before Aroura could sense it, it was to late.
Caroline jumps on Aroura's back, her legs wrap around Aroura's waist as she plunged the make shift stake into Aroura's chest. In a panicked reflex, Aroura vamp speeds backwards and pushes Caroline into a wall but the young blonde does not let go.
Cami comes up in front of them. For the first time she sees fear in Aroura's eyes. "Bet you didn't think that would work" Cami says quietly.
Aroura's body grows limp and she falls onto the floor. Caroline released her grip and allows the body to fall. "W-we did it" Cami says unbelievingly. "We did" Caroline whispers.
Looking down at the body, Caroline felt a hint of guilt. Aroura was crazy, she had to die but it just was not in Caroline to be glad about it. She pushed her train of thought away and looked to Cami. "Lets get outta here" she says and they both move quietly through the doors.
It was dark and there was no one around. Caroline had a weird feeling about this. Tristan and his lackeys were no where to be found. Both Caroline and Cami turn around in shock as they hear a loud masculine roar. They know exactly who it is.
They both rush outside, trying to get away. The moist, sticky New Orleans air clings around them as they breath in deeply. Caroline feels a wave of unknown emotion wash over her as something prickles at the back of her mind.
She finds herself walking back toward the building. "Cami" Caroline says desperately as she realizes what has happened. She continues walking but turns her head to notice Cami walking in the opposite direction.
*KC,
Klaus and Elijah her footsteps as they turn to see Tristan come up to them. "Ah gentlemen, I see you've made it" Tristan says, his posture confident and relaxed. He would be, considering he thought he held all the cards.
"Where are they?" Klaus says, skipping what ever evil monologue that was about to come, courtesy of Tristan. "Oh, they're fine. My sister is keeping them company" Tristan says, a smirk playing on his lips.
Tristan moves forward. "You know we've been waiting for centuries for this. Elijah moves forward at Tristan's words. "I'm the one you want Tristan, let them go" Elijah demands.
Sure, they could kill him without hesitation. It would be easy for them, even with only a hundred years between the originals and their first sired. But they needed to find Cami and Caroline first. "You think I'm going to let them go just because you asked nicely" Tristan smirks wickedly. "For centuries my sister and I had to run, hide, live in fear of your vile father."
Klaus didn't want to feel guilty but he knew better that anyone how truly evil his father was, having been the constant target of his rage. He pushed aside the thought as Tristan continued "We have thought of only one thing in that time. I will take everything from you my sire" Tristan's eyes hold the hatred that developed for centuries and it was turned directly on Elijah. "Now unless you want collateral damage" he says referring to Caroline and Cami, "I suggest you hand over the Phoenix stone"
Klaus knew that Tristan would do it. That he would kill Caroline and Cami if he had to. The thought alone made him want to shed blood, made his earlier guilt disappear. He wanted to kill everyone who stood in his way.
Klaus chuckled menacingly toward Tristan. "You think you can demand, from us. You are nothing and will always be nothing. The only thing I will be giving you mate, is a slow and painful death" Klaus says.
"I don't think so" Tristan retorts without missing a beat. Klaus and Elijah see movement in the shadows as vampires flock out of the shadows.
Soon they are surrounded by dozens of vampires, all loyal to Tristan. "Do you believe this is going to stop us. We are immortal. You cannot kill us" Elijah states, reminding everyone of that fact.
"Oh but we can" Tristan says in a quite tone. One that would send shivers down anyone's spine. He takes something out from behind his back and points it directly at Elijah.
If Klaus and Elijah were shocked they did not show it. They were masters at hiding their emotions, however whatever hidden emotion Tristan wanted to see he did because he gave a wide smirk at Elijah. "You did not think that you got rid of it all did you?" Tristan taunts. "As long as the originals are alive it will alwaysexist. Something about nature and having a balance" he continued.
Klaus clenched his jaw. There was not supposed to be any more white oak. Yet Tristan held one in his clutches. He did not have time to consider where Tristan gotten the stake from. They had to get it away from him and even then they did not know if he only had one or an entire arsenal of white oak weapons.
"If you kill me then you die as well" Elijah says. "Oh I have no desire to kill you" Tristan says. He points the stake to Klaus without breaking eye contact with Elijah "You see I want you to suffer my sire, and the only way to do that is to turn them against you. You see I was going to use this on Kol" he waves the stake around elegantly, "and the Phoenix stone on dear sweet Rebekah all the while taking the two woman in Klaus' life away from him. And it will all be because of you. But no matter, we'll just settle for killing them all" Tristan says.
At his words the vampires rushed toward them. A young looking vampire reached Klaus first. He threw a punch but Klaus easily blocked. Klaus side stepped and reached for the vampires neck, effectively snapping it.
More came at him as he saw his brother pull out the heart of another vampire. He turned around to his enemies only to be punched in the cheek. His eyes turned golden as he growled viciously at the vampire who dared touch him. He roared in anger as he grabbed the vampire and tore into his throat, giving him a nasty bite.
Elijah was working his way through the crowd. Two vampires came at him, grabbing hold of his arms. He used his strength to kick the kneecap of one of the vampires so that she would let go of him. He moved toward the other attacker and allowed his vampire face to come to the surface. He ripped the mans head off in one fluid motion.
Sensing some one behind him he turned around to see a young woman standing tall with her vampire features on full display. She hisses at him as she lunges forward.
Before she can however, Elijah notices the change in her posture. She looks shocked as blood runs from her mouth. She drops to the floor as he sees Kol stand behind her. "Couldn't let you have all the fun brother" Kol smirks as he vamp speeds away, killing more vampires as he goes.
Klaus sees that his siblings have joined the fight along with the Mystic Falls gang. He sees Damon and Stefan ripping out hearts as the go along and Bonnie giving some vampires a severe headache. Damon comes up to him. "Freya, Bonnie and witch junior completed the spell. Where's Caroline?" Damon questions.
"We have to find them" Klaus says as Marcel comes up behind them. "I'll help you look" he states. "Go we've got this" he sees Hayley come up to them. Klaus sends a silent question her way and she immediately understands. "Mary's got her. I was not gonna stay out of this" she states, referring to hope as she vamp speeds toward Elijah.
Everyone continues on with the battle as Klaus, Damon, Stefan and Marcel vamp speeds to the building. Once they enter, they make a silent agreement to go their separate ways.
The vampires scatter quickly as they look for the blondes. Klaus moves from room to room trying to find them getting more and more enraged when he does not find anyone. He finally comes to the end of a corridor and opens the last door at the end.
He walks in and his breath is knocked out of him. His heartbeat quickens as he sees her, however he does not see the knife in her hand. "Caroline" Klaus moves toward her. "No no!" Caroline screams. "Don't come any closer please" she continued.
Klaus couldn't help the flash of hurt that went through him at her jarring words. "He...he compelled me" Caroline says in a broken voice. "We got out. Cami and I but then the compulsion took over the second we were outside. We...I...I had to come back in" Caroline says frantically.
Klaus tried to move closer to her but Caroline lifted the knife and turned it toward herself. "It's okay love" Klaus says calmly while moving his hands toward her even though they were still a distance away. "I'm going to get you out of this" he says as the tears fall from her eyes.
Klaus can see that she is struggling to fight the compulsion. "He told me to do it when I saw you. I can't fight it anymore Klaus" Caroline cries.
Caroline knew that she along with Alaric's babies would not survive this. She was okay with whatever was coming to her, she was ready to die but the worst thing was that the babies would die to. She looks him directly in the eye. "I have to tell you" she begins. If this was the last time that she would see him then this time she would give a fullconfession. Not half truths. "You changed my life. Made me realize the world is bigger than some small town" the tears stream down her face as she chuckles at the thought that a 'monster' would make her feel.
Klaus shakes his head when he realizes what she is doing. "Don't" he clenches his jaw. "Your going to be fine love. I'm fast enough to get to you. I am notgoing to say goodbye to you " he struggled to get the words out, as though the thought of her dying was unfathomable.
"What if you don't?" She asks. "I will" he replies immediately. "What if.."she begins. "I willhe cuts her off with a stern look.
Caroline huffs in annoyance and Klaus had to chuckle at that. Even when facing death she can be so stubborn. "Please Klaus" Caroline whispers. "I have to say it" she adds. "No. Not now" he pleads with her. He can't lose her. He can't hear those words as though it would be the last time to grace her lips. "Say it when I get you out of here."
He is relieved that she nods but only a little. He still has to free her from the compulsion. "You ready sweetheart?"he asks and she nods again. "Klaus?" She says softly and he waits for her to continue. "I don't want to die" she utters the same words that brought them together and she can see it have an effect on him as he clenches his jaw again.
Caroline didn't want him to feel guilty. She just wanted him to know. She regrets nothing. It may have taken her a while to realize it but she does not regret meeting him, caring for him, falling for him.
She takes a deep breath as Klaus moves forward and her hand lifts up to plunge into her heart. She waits for death to claim her.
AN: yeah I left it there. I hope that I will get the next chapter up faster than this one(again, sorry for being late). I hope you guys liked this. Please review. Thank you :)