A/N: I know you all probably hate me and have every reason to since it's been awhile. Therefore, I'll try to make it up to you with this chapter. It has been very hard coming up with inspiration with the lack of Klaroline in my life. Writing this chapter was like pulling teeth. But it's a long one woohoo! I finally think I have an idea of where I want this story to be after writing it so next chapter shouldn't take so long!...don't hold me to it though.

A word of caution: Does contain some mild torture scenes and probably many grammatical errors (wrote this all late at night).

*EDITED

Chapter 7: Hopeless

Hopeless, I'm falling down
Filthy, I can't wake up
I cannot hold on, I will not let go
Worthless, it's over now
Guilty, there's no way out
I cannot hold on, I will not let go

Klaus wordlessly led Caroline back up to his vacant suite while the others had already vanished into their new rooms for the remainder of the early morning. By now, the fading moon sat unwantedly low in the pale, blue sky. The inevitable sun was trailing closely behind, still hidden beyond the horizon.

Confused by Klaus's action, Caroline followed silently behind him, devoid of any protest. She felt incredibly worn out for no apparent reason. Klaus, on the other hand, appeared perfectly attentive with his normal charming self.

"I'd prefer if you'd remain with me for the time being, love." Klaus quietly spoke as they re-entered his suite. "Your appearance is still a mystery, and nothing will harm you here while I'm around."

Without hesitation, she sharply replied. "I suppose I don't have a choice, do I?"

Klaus smirked to her retaliation as he closed the door behind them. He did not respond, but instead made his way into the other room, leaving Caroline alone in the dark.

In seconds, he returned to her.

"Here, you must be thirsty." He offered, generously holding out a blood bag.

Caroline felt the dark veins beneath her eyes ravenously emerge at the sight and smell before her, and she eagerly grabbed the blood bag from Klaus's hand. She popped the bag open and brought it up to her mouth, draining the delicious fluid.

"Thanks." She flushed as Klaus took the empty bag from her to discard.

Caroline froze in place as Klaus suddenly reached toward her face with his free hand. His thumb gently brushed against the upper side of her lip, leaving her feeling lightheaded from his touch.

"You missed some," He said, voice low.

He leisurely brought his thumb to his own mouth to delicately suck the blood, keeping his eyes steadily upon hers. For a brief moment, his blue eyes were dark with thirst, but Caroline couldn't decide if it was from the blood or something else.

"You should get some rest, love."

Caroline blinked, sensing a pain behind his words.

With that, Klaus closed his eyes and turned away from her to disappear into a different room, leaving Caroline deserted and utterly stunned. She couldn't help but feel…disappointed. She instantly tossed the outlandish thought from her mind. Stop! She silently screamed to herself.

Instead of chasing after him and demanding an explanation, she gathered her things, placing them next to her recent purchases. She then voyaged into Klaus's bedroom, recollecting his open invitation to use his bed. She had the impression that he sought to be left alone for now, whatever it was he was doing.

Caroline crawled onto his large bed and wrapped the thick, silk sheets around her body. What a comfortable bed. She closed her eyes and in only a matter of minutes she had once again drifted to sleep, forgetting all her troubles for the time being.

"Klaus?" A woman's distraught voice echoed around Caroline's dream. "Klaus?"

A few moments later, the voice beckoned once more, growing louder with alarm.

"Dammit, Klaus! Where are you?"

Caroline blinked her eyes awake, now realizing that this pestering voice was not only in her dream as she imagined, but was also coming from somewhere inside the suite. Caroline shielded her eyes from the sun's bright rays, shining through the windows which were now open, carrying in a soft breeze and a quiet clamor from the streets below. She then heard the loud footsteps of the woman drawing nearer to Klaus's bedroom.

Why on Earth was someone here so early in the morning? And why did they just barge into Klaus's suite?

Shit! Caroline mentally yelled. She was in Klaus's bed, and it seemed painfully clear that Klaus was not here. This should go well, Caroline huffed as the woman was right outside Klaus's door. There was no use in trying to whoosh away anymore, not with all of Caroline's belongings tossed around the place. So much for Klaus remaining with her, Caroline reflected back to his words from last night. Now she had to face his acquaintances, or whatever they were to him.

Caroline swiftly sat up against the massive headboard as the mysterious girl marched into the room. In a second their eyes had locked. The woman shrieked and jumped a decent foot back after seeing a complete stranger in Klaus's bed. Her face was filled with confusion, fear and…revulsion?

"Who are you?" The blonde hissed, looking Caroline up and down. The woman had dark lashes and green-blue eyes, resembling much of Caroline's own appearance - even more particularly her wavy, golden hair. However, this woman's eyes were bloodshot, and she appeared to be lacking sleep or had been crying.

"You must be another one of his playthings." The woman mumbled before Caroline had a chance to reply. "Where's Klaus?" She asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

A wicked grin emerged on Caroline's face. She was not in a mood to be messed with, especially not from a complete stranger who had the nerve to mock her. In less than a second, Caroline had the woman tightly pinned against the wall on the opposite end of the room with her neck beneath her fingers. Elijah must be rubbing off on her, Caroline quickly ruminated. The woman's ruddy eyes were now wide with horror, starring down at Caroline.

"Listen here, I'm nobody's plaything. And second," Caroline hesitated as the woman squirmed between her strong grip around her neck. "I'd watch out what I'd say if I were you."

"Easy, love." Klaus said, leaning against the doorframe, watching the two woman.

Caroline and the woman both turned their heads to look at him. Caroline sighed and let the woman go from her hand.

Klaus was dressed in his normal attire of a dark, half-button up long sleeve shirt with black jeans. He must have changed clothes from when Caroline last saw him. She tried to hide the blush forming as she imagined him coming in to the room during the morning while she was passed out.

The woman clutched at her neck where Caroline's hand had just been. "You sure know how to pick them, Klaus," She choked out.

Caroline snapped out of her thoughts, deliberating if she wanted to throw the bitch out the French windows next.

"It's nice to see you too, Camille." Klaus paced further into the room, hands behind his back. "I see you've already met Caroline."

"Klaus, can I speak with you…in private? There's an important matter that my -"

"Marcel has boldly pleaded with me not too long ago. As I'm sure it's important, you're gonna have to wait a tick. I have another obligation that requires my immediate attention." Klaus nippily cut her off. "Now, run along."

Cami gasped at his abruptness.

"Please! It's Kieran." She pleaded back at him, taking a daring step forward. "He's all I have left."

The strain in Cami's voice began to escalate as tears were pooling in her eyes. Klaus ran his hand through his hair.

"I'm just going to step outside for a minute." Caroline finally mumbled and strode out of his room, avoiding eye contact with either Klaus or Cami.

Klaus dejectedly watched Caroline leave the room as he exhaled, turning his harsh attention back to Cami. "Let's get this over with."

Caroline quickly gathered a few of her new belongings from the other room and went to find where Elena and Damon were staying - not desiring to hear about that fanatical woman's issues she had with Klaus.

With a white tote hanging from her shoulder crammed with clothes and other items, Caroline knocked on Elena's front door. Fortunately, Elena opened the door to her.

"Good morning!" Caroline happily sang.

"Morning, Care. Is everything okay?" Elena asked, rubbing at her eyes.

"Already kicked to the curb, Barbie?" Caroline heard Damon call from somewhere inside the rooms.

"Ha-ha, very funny," She uttered, annoyed, and spoke back to Elena. "No, everything's fine. Some crazy bimbo showed up at Klaus's room, so I bailed. Can I get ready with you? Please! It can be like old times!" She flashed her a wide grin.

"Yeah, of course!"

Later in the morning, Caroline and Elena both walked down the metal stairs to the deserted courtyard below. Caroline was dressed in a pink tank top with a blue leather jacket and black skinny jeans in high black boots.

Caroline had been explaining to Elena the shortened story of the events that transpired the other day.

"Why didn't you tell me right away?" Elena conclusively asked once they reached the bottom of the staircase.

"I didn't want you or anyone else to worry about me," Caroline quietly answered, looking away from her friend's quizzical eyes. "You've been going through so much, and now this is only adding to everything. Urgh, it's all such a mess!"

Elena groaned. "Caroline, things have been crazy for years now. Our lives are always going to be this way. We've both been through so much and seen things that we probably wish we could forget. But we will get through this thing just like we have in the past– as long as we're all together." Elena smiled, placing a hand on Caroline's shoulder.

"Yeah but - ." Caroline started with a small laugh.

Elena narrowed her eyes. "Don't ruin my little speech." She teased and pushed off Caroline's shoulder. They both found a table with chairs around it to sit down at.

"Well, thanks, I needed it." Caroline grinned as she sat back in her chair. "By the way, when is Bonnie getting here?" Caroline tried not to think of Tyler who was also with Bonnie, apparently. Why does he need to be here, too? And how is that going to go over with Klaus?

"I don't think until later. Jeremy said she's still not feeling well."

"What's wrong with her?"

"We don't know." Elena huffed, "She's not telling us yet. I guess we'll have to wait until we see her to ask."

The two chatted some more until they heard Damon striding down the stairs with Enzo following closely behind.

"Soo." Damon called out from behind the girls, clasping his hands together. "When do we start our little witch hunt?"

Elena turned around, clutching the back of her chair to face him. "What are you talking about, Damon?"

"Oh, you know, the usual. There's a barrier spell. A witch is involved. We find said witch and we kill them. We go home – away from the Travelers. End of story." He smiled his patented Damon-I'm-about-to-start-trouble-and-don't-care smile.

Elena sighed, rolling her eyes. "You heard them last night, right? Besides, we're waiting until Bonnie gets here."

"Yeah but, honestly, where's the fun in any of that?" Damon rhetorically questioned. "And who knows when Bon-Bon is going to show her face. Where's Klaus?" His bright blue eyes now focused on Caroline.

Caroline replied, irritated. "Apparently, he's more notorious than we think. He's off helping some Camille, or whatever."

"Whoa. Is that jealousy I'm hearing, Goldie?" Enzo snickered. Damon seemed to be pleased with his friend's comment as he cackled in response.

Caroline scowled at him. "Not even close." She muttered back and crossed her arms over her chest. "I have no reason to be."

As in sync, everyone drew their attentions to the courtyard's entrance as Elijah came ambling in from the streets. He was wearing a navy blue dress shirt with a black tie and black dress pants. His black jacket draped casually over his arm. Behind him were five vampires. However, Caroline recognized one from the previous night.

Elijah continued walking and discussing with the five vampires surrounding him, appearing not to take notice to Caroline and the others by the neighboring tables.

"So, it's fine for him to go about as he wants? What's stopping us?" Damon quietly bid. He was now standing behind Elena with his hands resting on the back of her chair, surveying over at Elijah and the others.

"What's our point if we're to be sheltered away here all day? We'll never figure anything out hiding like rats," Enzo added.

"Good idea," Damon murmured and released Elena's chair from his grip. He turned his head to Enzo and they both headed to the stairs.

"Where are you going?" Elena called to Damon.

"Getting Stefan so we can get to work with this whole shin-dig." He and Enzo began climbing the stairs to the upper levels.

"Ughhh." Elena shook her head. "Can't he listen? Just once?"

"Good morning, Caroline. Elena," Elijah spoke, who was now unexpectedly standing over the two girls.

Both girls uncomfortably leapt in their seats due to his sudden voice and company. He was literally just on the other side of the courtyard a second ago.

The five other vampires were nowhere in sight.

"Is everything all right?" Elijah asked, perceiving the frightened new looks on their faces.

"Everything's fine!" Caroline quickly responded, smiling. She sat up in her seat, placing her hands in her lap. Something about Elijah made her feel the need to appear more etiquette. "Any news?"

"Nothing at the moment. Although, I can assure you that I have eyes and ears inspecting every inch of the Quarter for anything…unusual."

"What do you think they want? The Travelers or witches?" Elena clarified.

"I can only assume something concerning yourself and Stefan. Perhaps even you, Caroline. But the list goes on. These are only presumptions, nonetheless."

"Yeah, right. What would make me so special?" Caroline quietly asked, more to herself as she stared down at her hands that were fidgeting in her lap.

"Whatever their motive or plans may be, we'll uncover them eventually." Elijah delicately spoke without a sense of setback in his voice. "Now then, would the two of you be interested in taking a much needed stroll with me?"

As Elena and Caroline agreed to accompany Elijah, Damon and the others returned down to the courtyard. Instead of causing trouble, Elena convinced Damon, Enzo, and Stefan to tag along with them. And so, the six of them left the compound to walk the streets.

Elijah first led the group to the barrier spell, allowing the others to have a grasp on the size of the barricade.

"Wouldn't a witch need to be concentrating all day and night to keep this puppy up?" Damon asked, knocking on the barricade.

"For the size of this barrier, yes, which makes me believe that there is more than one witch involved," Elijah said. "As you are all aware, there are many witches living in the Quarter."

"Shocker. Well, when there's one there's usually two," Damon said.

The group continued walking along the barrier as Elijah laid out safe areas that the factions agreed upon in the Quarter. And, since most vampires in the Quarter were night walkers, they did not have much to fear during the daytime.

"This is where I woke yesterday," Caroline said as they reached the familiar café's green and white canopy.

"Why here?" Stefan asked, examining the premises.

"No idea. Maybe something about coffee since I fell asleep in a similar place? I don't know, just trying to find a connection, I guess." She sighed.

"Maybe the witches thought you could use a more succulent cup rather than what you would find at whatever place you two stopped at. You know, keeping an eye out for you and all." Damon grinned. Elena elbowed him in the side and rolled her eyes.

"Ah, forgot to mention this." Enzo suddenly spoke up from the back of the group. He had remained silent up until now. He reached into his leather jacket's pocket and pulled something small out. Enzo opened the palm of his hand to reveal a golden coin. It was approximately the size of a fifty cent coin, however, it had rather strange and unreadable engravings.

"I found this after Caroline had disappeared the other day. I didn't think anything of it at first - just lying there where she last was."

Elijah was the first to make a move. "May I?"

Enzo handed the coin over. Elijah brought the coin to his face to study its features.

"This may be of use to us. Do you mind if I hold onto it for now?" He asked Enzo, turning the coin to inspect the other side as well.

"By all means, mate."

"What is it?" Damon asked Enzo. Enzo shrugged, and Damon then turned his pondering expression towards Elijah.

"I'm not certain, however, I may know someone who will be able to tell us." Elijah dropped the coin into his breast pocket. "Let's continue on, shall we?"

The remainder of their afternoon carried on with exploring the rest of the streets and checking a few more of the establishments. Damon suggested they stop at a bar, which no one seemed to turn down his proposal, figuring they all could use a drink.

Klaus was still missing from the group, Caroline couldn't help but notice. She threw back the rest of her drink and hastily ordered another. Why were his whereabouts bothering her so much?

After staying at the bar far longer than expected and more drinks than intended, they headed back to the compound as it was now late in the afternoon.

Caroline meandered back up to Klaus's floor without thought. Most of her things were in his place, after all, she mentally reminded herself. She removed her jacket and threw it over one of the open chairs surrounding the table.

"Klaus?"

No reply. His place was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

She exhaled and decided to go find her things. She brought the bags into his bedroom and placed them in a chair in the corner of the room. She looked to his bed. It was still a mess from her earlier this morning. The disarray of his bed was distracting her beyond reason, so she resolved to make it back up. She then unpacked her shopping bags and laid her clothes out in a neat and tidy matter on top of his dresser.

Suddenly, the sound of rustling could be heard out in the courtyard. Caroline quickly went back outside to see what all the commotion was.

She found Damon and Enzo both running down the stairs, while Elijah was on the ground, panic spread all over his regularly composed face.

"Hey, what's going on?" Caroline yelled down to them.

"There's been an explosion." Stefan answered her. Caroline didn't notice Elena and Stefan standing on the walkway across the courtyard from her until now.

"Wait, what? Where?" Caroline asked back.

"The Bayou!" Elijah quickly responded from below before Stefan could reply. "You three, stay here!" He warned in a bitter tone to Stefan, Elena, and Caroline.

For some unknown reason, Damon and Enzo were departing along with Elijah. In seconds, the three of them had cleared out of the courtyard and were off.

Caroline marched over by Stefan and Elena. "Okay, I'm so confused! Someone please tell me what the hell is going on?"

"The Bayou - that's where the werewolves supposedly are. And Hayley," Elena said. "Elijah just got a call from Hayley that someone tried to blow their home up."

Caroline's eyes widened. "Man, and we thought we couldn't get away from all this stuff. It's just as bad down here as it is back home!" A thought came to Caroline's mind then, back from when Klaus had mentioned the werewolves. "Wait a minute, the Bayou is outside of the spell. How on Earth do they think they're getting there?"

"I think Hayley and a few others are on their way to meet up with Elijah. But that doesn't explain why Damon is going." Elena exhaled, irritated.

"Well, this is just great." Caroline threw her hands up and paced around in frustration.

"Is Klaus back? Elijah was about to check before the call came in," Stefan asked Caroline. Unlike Elena, he seemed to be unaffected by the surprise. Then again, Stefan was good at hiding his emotions.

"Unless he's hiding in the walls. I have no clue where he is."

As Caroline answered Stefan, Elena pulled out her phone that had been buzzing. "Hey, Jer. Everything all right?" She asked.

Stefan and Caroline watched as Elena spoke with her brother.

"Wait, slow down, Jeremy. What happened?"

Stefan uncrossed his arms and moved in closer to Elena. Caroline followed suite as curiosity got the better of her. The stir concerning the explosion had subsided. Caroline tucked a strand of hair behind her ears, listening in on the call.

"A Traveler had been controlling Tyler's body for some time now. He was acting all strange the whole way down here, but Tyler took back control over his body. The knife is also missing, which Tyler remembered having back in Mystic Falls." Jeremy paused. "I'm not sure how long we have until the others come looking for him. But Tyler is with us…for now."

Stefan and Elena made eye contact, and Elena put Jeremy on speakerphone for Stefan.

"Jeremy, can you bring the Traveler here to talk?" Stefan asked, now that Jeremy was able to hear him.

"Uh, yeah, I think we can. But we'll have to let him take back over Tyler's body."

Caroline stayed back with her arms crossed across her chest. She had no words. She couldn't deny that she was troubled with what is going on with Tyler. As much as she hates to admit it, she still cares about him like any friend would. And it was infuriating that someone else was controlling his body.

"We need to know where they are and what they want." Stefan insisted in a firm tone. "Any information we can get from him would be helpful."

"I'll see what we can do."

"We'll see you later tonig - Ah!" Elena's cell phone slipped out of her hand and onto the walkway. She clutched hold of her head, screaming out in absolute pain.

Stefan and Caroline both felt the same excruciating surge running through their heads. A pain they were all too familiar with, one only caused by magic. The three of them cried out as the agony brought them down to their knees.

Through her derisory haze, Caroline spotted a group of a dozen or so people heading right in their direction, all chanting in unison. When the group was no more than a few feet away, a man with dark eyes and black hair was the first to approach the three of them on their knees.

"Take them," The man said.

Behind him came two others, each grabbing Stefan and Elena, forcing them to stand.

"No!" Caroline whimpered. She tried reaching forward, but it was no use.

"Leave the girl, she is no use to us yet," The man said. He then turned around and the group followed, taking Stefan and Elena with them.

"No," Caroline tried to yell, shout, anything, but her words came out as a hoarse whisper.

The pain continued throbbing through Caroline's mind. She tried to get a better glimpse of the group as they left the courtyard below, however, her body could only handle so much. She dropped dead to the ground as the Travelers left with her friends.

Caroline later woke, blinking her eyes open. She was all alone, lying in the same spot where she had passed out.

"Elena! Stefan!" She shouted as she brought herself up to her knees. Her voice was still raspy, having just fully recovered from the Traveler's incantation.

With one hand, she held the side of her head which still terribly ached for some reason. She then crawled up next to the railings to look to the ground below. But there was no one in sight. No sign of Stefan or Elena. Who knows how long she had been knocked out. A few minutes? An hour?

As she was about to stand back up, a shadow could be seen rushing into the courtyard entrance below.

"Caroline?"

Caroline's heart picked up from the voice. "I'm up here," She said more quietly, knowing that his hearing wouldn't miss the faintest of sounds.

A fraction of a second later, Klaus was standing over her. His face was ashen at the sight of her. He quickly knelt down next to her, placing his hand on her knee, inching closer to her face.

"What happened? Who did this to you?"

Caroline grabbed the railing next to her with one hand and pulled her body to stand up. Klaus watched fervently, awaiting her response. He, too, stood back up.

"They took Elena and Stefan. We have to help them, we have to go..."

"Caroline, who did this?" His tone could cut through steel. She wasn't even sure he if he even cared about Stefan or Elena at this point. The yellow rage she was seeing in his eyes terrified her, a fear she hadn't experienced in some time. She had to look away from his gaze.

"There was a group of Travelers," She said.

"How?" Klaus demanded.

"T-They just appeared out of nowhere, and we couldn't do anything to stop them! I don't even know why I'm still alive. But they took them! They're gone…"

Klaus exhaled, seeming to diffuse. "Caroline –"

But the moment was short lived once Klaus's cell phone began vibrating.

"What?" He answered, growling into the phone.

"Niklaus, where are you?" Caroline could hear Elijah's firm voice.

"I'm in a bit of a situation here, brother."

"There's been an attack in the Bayou. A suicide bomber."

"What?" Klaus asked.

"Why haven't you responded to any of Hayley's calls earlier?" Elijah irately questioned. "She tried you initially. It's been well over an hour."

"Are you upset she chose to reach out to me first when in desperate need of help?"

"Niklaus, so help me..." Elijah sharply said.

Klaus turned back to look at Caroline, and his dark eyes softened. She knew she probably looked like a disaster. On top of it, her two friends were now missing.

"While we've been away and distracted for the past hour or so, the Travelers decided to make an appearance in our home. What a coincidence, don't you think?" Klaus began, waiting for Elijah to assess the news.

"I made certain that the premises were being protected. What happened?"

"They came and took what they were searching for. Stefan and Elena."

Once hearing the news, and after ensuring Hayley was now safe, Elijah quickly returned to the compound with Enzo and a very infuriated Damon.

Caroline had to reiterate her encounter with the Travelers to the others.

"And you just let them waltz on in here?" Damon snapped at Caroline.

"Easy now," Klaus warned, lowly, eyeing Damon.

Caroline, on the other hand, couldn't care less that Klaus was stepping in for her. She could handle Damon just fine. She was also about to have a break down over her friends, and the last thing she needed was Damon to get up in her face about it. "What was I supposed to do? There were, like, twenty of them and only three of us! We were outnumbered."

"This is just perfect! After we've been running around all day, getting absolutely nothing accomplished, the Travelers show up and snatch my brother and girl. Maybe we should've thrown in the silver platter while we were at it," Damon scuffed, pacing back and forth.

"Yeah, well, yelling at me isn't going to solve anything," Caroline said.

Damon stopped pacing. "You're right. I'm calling Jeremy. Let's get that hybrid here now." He was already dialing Jeremy's cell.

Caroline sat down at the same table Elena and she had shared earlier in the day. The rest of the group was either going to meet up with Jeremy and the others at the Quarter's border, or went out searching for any signs of Stefan and Elena. Klaus and Elijah made it abundantly clear that the witches around here were more than reluctant to lend them a hand, proving them unreliable.

But in no time, their lead had arrived and everyone returned. Jeremy and Matt filled them in with all the information that they knew, including the witch curse the Travelers were planning to break that would destroy all the magic and purify the land. As they had already suspected, Stefan and Elena's blood was key. Tyler also mentioned the name Markos, who was the leader of the Travelers. That's who Caroline saw take Stefan and Elena.

Knowing that their lives were in danger should the Travelers complete their spell, the group had to act fast.

After Tyler explained everything he remembered, Elijah led everyone down to the crypts below the compound to conduct their interrogation of Tyler's passenger, Julian.

Klaus had disappeared once again, Caroline sighed. She stood with Bonnie as the others had bind Tyler in chains.

Damon was becoming impatient. "Let's get the low-life Traveler out and find out where this Markos is so I can kill him."

"I don't think I can watch this," Bonnie murmured. She turned around and went back up to the courtyard. Caroline, on the other hand, wanted to stay.

Caroline and Tyler briefly locked eyes, and Caroline couldn't help but offer a faint smile, hoping to encourage him to remain strong through this.

Matt, knowing the spell to awaken the Traveler, spoke, "Vyjdi."

Tyler blinked and his solid, black eyes opened. He blinked once more and the Traveler, or Julian, was present. He gasped and tried to back away, only to notice the chains withholding him from fleeing. He tried pulling and yanking himself free, yet the chains were too strong.

"Where's Markos?" Matt asked Julian, snatching his attention.

Julian looked to Matt and smirked. "Go to hell."

Damon rolled his eyes and grabbed the bottle full of vervain and wolfsbane from Jeremy's hand that Jeremy had concocted before arriving.

Matt held back Tyler's head while Damon forced the drink into the Traveler's mouth. They backed away as Julian shrieked in pain as the liquid burnt through his hybrid skin and throat.

"There's plenty more where that came from. Now, answer the question," Damon demanded.

"What does it matter anyway? From the sound of it, he's already got the doppelgangers. There's nothing you can do to stop him," Julian snorted.

Elijah now stepped forward. "Gentlemen. Please, allow me." He rolled back the wrist cuffs of his shirt on his right hand and immediately drove it through Julian's chest, clutching hold of Julian's heart.

Caroline gasped and brought her hand up to her mouth, looking away.

"This is what I like to see," Damon praised.

"Don't kill him!" Jeremy shouted.

"Our friend is still in there!" Matt added.

The Traveler cried out in agony.

"Calm yourselves. I don't plan on killing him. But I do plan on getting some answers…one way or another" Elijah twisted his wrist, tugging more at Tyler's heart.

"Stop!" Julian shouted. Elijah loosened his grip. "I can't tell you where Markos is because I don't know!"

"That isn't going to suit me." Elijah continued to pull.

Julian began to yell out once more, the sounds of his cries echoing throughout the crypt.

"Enough, brother." Klaus appeared behind the group. Elijah removed his hand from Julian's chest.

"While you all have been toying around with this pointless Traveler, I've gone out and found my own candidate to question. He and some of his companions were chanting near the border. He practically offered himself up to be killed in doing so. It's really quite a shame what they're doing to the locals."

Klaus led out his hand and behind him came a male vampire with a Traveler struggling in-between his embrace. The vampire threw the Traveler to the ground in the middle of the group. The Traveler looked around with hasty eyes. The Traveler then backed himself up against the rock wall as the others watched above him. His hands were tied together and a cloth tightly wrapped around his mouth, suppressing him from chanting any spell.

"Now we're talking," Damon said, stepping forward. "See, we all already know that Markos and your passenger comrades are planning some big, flashy spell to undo some super boring ancient witch curse. And where that sucks for us, it just happens to undo all witch magic i.e. kill me and everyone you see here. Besides the quarterback."

Caroline stepped forward. "If you know where Markos took Stefan and Elena, you need to tell us."

"Yep." Damon grabbed a wooden stake off the ground. How convenient. He walked toward the Traveler and leaned in close to his face. The Traveler did not make a sound. "Sorry, you're gonna have to speak up."

The Traveler remained silent, starring adversely at Damon.

"Mmmm nope, nope. Didn't catch that either." Damon raised his hand with the stake and struck it into the Traveler's thigh. Damon held the stake in place. After much torment and screeching from the Traveler, he began to mumble something into the cloth.

"I think he's trying to say something," Damon said, removing the cloth from the Traveler's mouth. "Come here, Sweetie pie."

The Traveler's expression was blank as he said, "It doesn't matter where Markos is. Nothing any of you do can stop him now."

"Oh, I wouldn't count on it, mate." Klaus stepped in now, electing himself to take over. "Or is this Markos forgetting that I'm the most powerful creature to walk the Earth? Quite the nerve he has to come here. Now, tell us where they are."

"He's taken them out of the city." The Traveler quickly concluded, drawing his attention to Klaus.

Julian sighed and lowered his head.

"Which means the spell should be lifted," Elijah declared, with a theory coming to his mind, "Was Markos behind the bombing at the Bayou as well?"

The Traveler just laughed. "It was all too easy for Markos to capture the doppelgangers."

Elijah clenched his fist at his sides, and Caroline took notice that he was going to great lengths to not lunge forth at the Traveler.

"Where outside the city has Markos taken them?" Elijah pressed.

The Traveler, who couldn't be compelled, persisted on being silent once again. This time shutting up for good.

"To hell with this." Klaus lunged and snapped the Traveler's neck. The dead body dropped to the dirt ground.

"Niklaus, why would you kill our only lead?" Elijah questioned. "This spell could may be fatal to us, as well."

"The fool wasn't going to say anything else we didn't already know. You were just going to confine him up next to the other. I don't desire hoarding them down here." Klaus turned around on his heel and began to retreat back up to the courtyard.

"Watch over the hybrid for now." Elijah instructed Jeremy and Matt. Elijah began wiping Tyler's blood off his hand with a handkerchief he pulled out of his pocket. "Come find me if he has anything else to say."

Caroline followed everyone else out of the crypt, looking back at Julian one last time.

As she re-entered the courtyard, Caroline walked forward to join Bonnie, Damon, and Enzo who were standing around a large table. Elijah had just ordered the vampire who had followed Klaus to check on the boundary spell.

"Caroline, will you please go search if my conceited brother is around? We must begin to fabricate a strategy if we are to find Stefan and Elena."

"Why does it have to be me?" She questioned.

"Because he listens to you. In the meantime, Bonnie will be explaining more Traveler and the Other Side details to us." He looked to Bonnie who nodded.

"Urgh, fine," Caroline moaned, turning around and headed up to Klaus's rooms. As she walked up the steps, she noticed the night sky already setting in. Today went by too fast.

Caroline, surprisingly, found Klaus standing over his desk with an older book open beneath him. So old and scrappy, in fact, it reminded Caroline of Bonnie's spell book.

"What are you doing?" Caroline asked as she walked in by him.

"Not now, love." He spoke without giving her a look. His eyes were quickly pacing the pages as he flipped through them.

Caroline decided to cut to the chase. "They sent me up here to get you. Elijah would like you down there with everyone else who cares about living." She stopped walking until she was standing three feet away from the desk, on the other side of it from him.

"I'm sure he does."

"Look." She began, seriously, her tone rising "You can't just keep cutting us out and going off on your own. If we want to figure things out, we have to be in this together. Now, let's just go back out there. Please?"

He stopped tossing through the pages. "I can't just do that, sweetheart."

"It's the whole trust thing, right?" Caroline asked.

Klaus finally looked up at her. His scowl and silence was enough of an answer for Caroline.

"Seriously? Gosh, you're still the same and back off as soon as y -" She couldn't speak anymore for his lips were upon hers. They were forceful and demanding, wanting her in the worst way imaginable.

Her eyes were wide with shock.

Oh God, she thought and kissed him right back, closing her eyes.

Within seconds, he lifted her up, pinning her tightly against the wall behind them as her legs wrapped around his waist. His mouth was hard on hers, his body pressing up against her.

Her hands found their way to the back of his head and began to knot themselves in his curls, tugging very eagerly.

He moaned and broke contact with her mouth, beginning his enticing trail of hot kisses and grazes down her neck. Caroline bit her lip and titled her head to the side, allowing him further access to her exposed neck.

He then pulled her through his suite with speed until they found themselves back on his bed.

"Now, where were we?" He snickered down at her.

He was leaning above her and had restrained her hands against the sheets. He captured her lips once again, more rough than the first. His hips rocked against hers, the friction sent shivers throughout Caroline's body.

Klaus then let go of her wrists. His hands delicately trailed down her body, over her curves and coming to a stop at her hips. He unbuttoned and swiftly rid her of her jeans, pitching them to the floor.

Caroline needed him at that moment. She reached for his jeans and undid the belt and button and began to wriggle them down his waist along with his boxers. He assisted and threw them off the bed.

"Let's get rid of these." Klaus tugged at her panties.

He glided her underwear all the way down and off her feet. He was back over her in a moment, and soon Caroline's world was spinning out of control.

Both were breathless in the end, panting as their warm breaths collided in each other's faces. Klaus's body then fell next to hers on the bed.

A/N: I thought you all deserved it.

What do you think? Stupid direction? Love it? Hate it?

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