Ties That Tear Apart

Summary: If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. And if that still doesn't work, steal their prized possessions, the girl. Yeah the girl.

Chapter II: The Empress

Damon stumbled as he walked along the grounds of Klaus's estate, tossing back the flask he had for a while now. He was fighting the urge to go back and face Caroline. He wanted to grab her and shake her memories back into her. Marcel had probably compelled them away. He could understand. A beauty like Caroline, he'd do that same to where she was filled up with nothing, but him. Only he wouldn't be completely selfish. He would have left her will some of her memories, he wouldn't have taken them all.

He tosses his flask back, a small drop touches his tongue. He groans, about ready to throw it only to come to realize that Bonnie had placed a spell for him. He shakes it, hard, twice, waits a second and then he hears the swish. He cracks a smile. Bonnie may have hated him, but she always thought of him.

Continue on, he thought and for what. Caroline didn't know who he was and probably told. Marcel should probably be looking for him. He should sober up, get it together. He chuckled, shrugging. He had more over Marcel though. He protected Klaus from his father. Marcel had thought he was dead and took over New Orleans, leaving Klaus to take over the small town of Mystic Falls. Klaus would prefer his loyalty over Marcel's right?

"Damon Salvatore, sweet to meet you."

Damon turned around to face the voice. He couldn't believe this. This was too good to be true. He slid the flask back into his jacket pocket, brushing himself off as he turns around, his arms crossing over one another. His brow arched as he realized who it was.

"Mason Lockwood. What brings you on this side of town?"

Mason had appeared from the shadows, topless, only wearing ripped jeans. They looked like they could barely hold on. "Nothing, Damon. I'm trying to get to someone. Thought I'd take a break."

"Break? Don't tell me you attacked our guests?" Damon rose his hands up in the air, clapping them together. "Why?" His face turned to stone, eying his old friend.

Mason shrugged, sliding his hands into his pockets, standing taller, puffing out his chest. "Yeah and what of it? They have something that belongs to me. I want it back."

Damon tilted his head to the side, staring at Mason confused. "Ask and it's yours."

Mason shook his head, reaching out with his hand to grab Damon's shoulder. "It's Caroline, Damon. She killed Tyler."

Damon shrugged off Mason's touch. He couldn't believe this. He pushed Mason away from him only to back hand him in the process. Mason fell straight to his knees before losing his hold and falling on his side. He let out a light groan. "You don't touch her, Lockwood. She's mine."

Mason scoffed, his eyes boring hard at Damon. "She killed my nephew. There has to be justice."

Damon growled, an overwhelming feeling to protect Caroline was high on his mind. "She doesn't remember, Mason. Not you or me. Marcel fucking compelled it away. Don't be that guy."

Mason wiped at his mouth, shaking his head. "And if it was Stefan? Would you not seek justice too?"

Damon groaned, letting out a loud roar. "I…this isn't about me. This is about you and your will to hurt Caroline. She saved us both from Stefan. Don't." He threatened.

"You were always an idiot when it came to Caroline, Damon. I don't see the hold she has on you. She's not Katherine."

Damon's eyes almost darkened, but by control he head it back. "This isn't about her. Caroline isn't Katherine and that's why I can't let you hurt her."

Mason pulled himself to a stand, looking over his shoulder to stare at the mansion. "I'm not a hybrid, but I did learn to master the pain. I can change at will. I'll be seeing you. "

Damon rushed at Mason, wrapping his hand around his throat. "She was once your friend too. I won't let you hurt her. Sure, go head and go attack Marcel. But Caroline is my problem to deal with."

Mason didn't even struggle as Damon's gripped tightened. "What are you going to do, Damon? Kill me? You wouldn't. You couldn't then and you won't now."

Damon's blue eyes became like the night sky, dark, mysterious. He bared his fangs, flashing them. "I have changed, Mason. I'll kill Caroline. Make her memories come back. We'll see if she really did kill Tyler."

Then, as he dropped Mason, he realized. She hadn't. If Tyler was who he was, Caroline did not harm him. If it was true, Tyler had rejected her, from what Damon remembers from her dream or was it real? Had her thoughts been strong enough not to erase, but to push themselves to the back of her mind until she was ready?

Damon cracked his neck, facing Mason with his dark eyes, his veins throbbing under his features. "Change at will, huh? Bite me."

Mason's eyes flashed a brownish gold. "A plan? What would it be? You fight me? Kill me?"

Damon shook his head. "Maybe. Just do it. You know you want too." Damon stepped forward with his vampiric speed, hitting Mason in his nose. Mason growled, putting forth his change. A sinister grin along his features.

"You asked for it, Salvatore."

"Come on, it'll be just like when we met."

Mason kicked out his leg, falling to his knees as Damon slashed him across his back. "Dick."

Damon chuckled in the night sky. It echo. "That's what they call me."

;..:

"Talk."

Caroline shrugged, slightly. "I have nothing important to say. I'm Caroline. Human. Blonde."

Klaus tilted his head to the side, eying Caroline. He didn't want too, but here he was sitting for thirty minutes in silence. She didn't say a word and he hadn't either. He wanted to know what was so special about Caroline. Why Marcel was protecting her when she was just a bloodbag, there were millions more and more so, why Damon was acting like he was.

Klaus had heard of Caroline. Sassy. Feisty. She had boys wrapped around her finger and she had skills, talents. She had planned on becoming a part of something in high school when he had first met her. Damon had been stalking his brother, planning on making his life a living hell when he saw her. From what Klaus knew after that, Caroline had denied him at every turn, it was Damon who had to make the effort to be with her. They had dated for three years, if he recalled, before Katherine came back to his life, throwing herself on him. Caroline caught the whole thing, ran out and he hadn't see her, until today.

He rolled his eyes, uncrossing his legs to push himself toward the edge. Caroline tightened her grip around the sheet. "Take whatever you have too. I won't scream."

Klaus stared at her confused. Had Damon been right? Was Caroline not talking because she wanted to get it over with? He scoffed mentally, if Caroline was truly who she had been. Marcel broke her, domesticated her. This was pathetic.

Klaus pushed forward, grabbing for her chin, holding his gaze. Caroline quickly closed her eyes. "I'll scream if that's what you like. Just don't compel my memory away, okay? I hate that."

Klaus chuckled. Did she know she had been compelled before? "I won't make you do anything stupid. Just talk to me."

Caroline opened her eyes, nodding. She looked hard into his eyes. Instantly feeling a sense of calm as he spoke. "My dear, tell me why you are running? What hold does Marcel have over you?"

"A werewolf was killed because he was flirting with me. Marcel didn't like it and killed him, but I think he didn't like me. I believe he was gay. Gay men don't like women, not like that." She swallowed, continuing on. "I've been with him for a while. After my mother died, I ran away and moved to New Orleans. He found me and took care of me…I…"She froze, pulling slowly away from Klaus. "I…don't. Stop it." She said, pushing herself away from Klaus only to grab at his jacket collar to pull him toward her. Her head was pounding with pain. It felt like something was scratching at her head to get the memories out.

"You're lying, Caroline." Klaus replied, his body landing on top of hers with a hard thump. His head bounced to and fro before he caught himself, eying her. "You and Marcel brought your problems upon us with no warning. But you do know that that werewolf was one of mine, correct?"

He pulled himself to stand over her, balancing himself on the back of his legs as he grabbed for her throat, pulling her up to look at him. His eyes boring into hers. "A hybrid." She whispered, her eyes strained to close, but she could not. Pain ran through her body like electricity. She dare couldn't bring herself to break away from it.

"What?" He eyed her, his eyes turning black. He could feel the werewolf part of him come forth. How did she know? Was it the reason they had killed Tyler in the first place was because of him being a hybrid or him being a wolf?

"I know…" she said, tightening her grip around his jacket, hauling herself closer to him. Her bare body against his clothed body, her legs coming out to wrap around his waist.

Klaus tilted his head, catching a whiff of something sweet. It made his nostrils flare, his inner beast growl to get closer towards it. He brought his attention back towards Caroline, realizing it had come from her. He tried to pull himself away. He would not get pulled in this. He had come to speak to her for answers and hoped Marcel had walked off and was not on the other side of the door listening to their conversation.

He had never spoke of him being a hybrid, a werewolf and vampire mix. All Marcel knew was that he was a vampire and he wanted it to be left at such. With this, the attack, he was starting to question the actions of his child and would rather keep the secret to himself and hope the other mini versions of him kept that to themselves as well. He didn't want Marcel to have any doubt in his mind. Klaus was going to kill Mason Lockwood send Marcel and his party packing and continue. He didn't have time for games.

"What do you know? Who told, Caroline?" He shook her like mad. He needed to know who was leaking secrets. His brain rattled with names, people who knew.

"Tyler. He told me…I…" She paused, shaking her head. Klaus kept his eyes trained on her, curious as to what else would fly from her mouth. He hoped Caroline dare wouldn't mention this. If she brought it up, he'd compel her. He didn't care what it took.

Suddenly it was like something in her change, she tilted her head. Her eyes looked livelier than before. Klaus leaned back to shift Caroline off of him, but she tightened her grip around him.

"Hybrid? How? Isn't that like a myth?"

Klaus arched a high brow. He wasn't sure what was going on. Was this some sick game? Unless…

He had heard of it before. Mind wipe. He was an original, his siblings and himself could do it. Compel everything away, although it was permanent. He could rearrange Caroline's life around and make it seem like he was her lover, her anything. But this, whoever had attempted to try that, had failed. She was slowly getting pieces back and when they finally came back she wasn't going to like it. She'd either become a crazed lunatic. She wouldn't tell the difference between reality and what was placed in her mind. Or, she had enough will to figure out what was what and she would be okay. Only whoever had done this, had probably erased half her life. She didn't remember Damon or her life.

They were desperately trying to rid her of something, but what?

"Klaus turned you with Elena's blood? She's still alive? I can't…Wait…"

Klaus turned his attention back towards Caroline. His eyes on hers, boring into them before she closed them. She shook her head, casting her gaze down as she opened her eyes. "I'm sorry. What happened?"

Her eyes. Whatever had shown in them had slowly died away. It was gone. Klaus huffed. He didn't feel like playing games. He knew that if he brought this to Marcel, he wouldn't answer him. Probably telling him that what he did with Caroline was his own business. But if Caroline had information on the death of one of his hybrids, he needed this fix.

"Nothing. Now, stay away from the vampires. I would hate for you to become one of us." He joked, moving Caroline off of him so he could leave the room. Talk to Damon, ask more on the subject of him and Caroline's relationship. Then speak with Elena, if Elena knew Caroline, this would make it easier for him.

"I would hate to become one of you guys…"

Klaus silenced her with a raise of his hand. His hearing picking up something close, but far away.

He rose from the bed, glancing over at Caroline. "Put on some clothes." He didn't look back at her once he stood, heading for the door, opening it, leaving her alone.

;..:

It was in complete chaos. He could smell blood. It smelled familiar, but there was so much noise, he couldn't place it.

He reached out, grabbing for the closest lackey, pulling him to look at him. "What happened?" he barked.

"Damon was attacked. He is bitten. We are trying to heal him." Klaus roared almost, reaching forward with both hands to snap the hybrid's neck.

"Kale" he called out, following the smell of the blood. It lead him towards Elena's room. He dare didn't asked. If Damon was attacked, then this was serious. He would worry on why he wasn't told as soon as it happened. He entered the room with two heavy thuds of his boots, alarming everyone that he was there.

Elena was the first to turn to face Klaus. A wet rag in her hand as she patted Damon's sweaty forehead. "Mason Lockwood bit him. Marcel carried him in here before he left. They have brought us nothing, but trouble." She snarled, turning back to face Damon, cooing over him as she wiped at his head.

Klaus cleared the room with a bark, stepping further into the room only speaking once it was just them.

"Marcel brought along his girl, Caroline. Do you know of her?"

Elena scoffed, pulling herself to a stand to head towards the bathroom to wet the towel some more.

Klaus quickly became angered. He was not dealing with her childish attitude, especially right now. He sped in front of her, grabbing for her wrist and waist to stop her from any further movement. "You will answer me, Elena. Do you know of Caroline?"

Elena shouted out her reply. "No. Only from what Damon has told me. She sounds like a bitch. I'll slap her if I ever met her. She hurt him. Now let go." She struggled, nearly ripping her arm off to get away from him. Klaus stared at her in shock. He felt sick, even angrier. Someone was playing games with him. He did not like this. He did not like this at all.

And then as if called, Caroline opened the door, entering the room. Klaus turned to face her, dropping his hold from Elena to stop Caroline from whatever she was going to do only what happened next was what he hadn't expected.

Caroline ran towards the bed, throwing herself on top of Damon, half straddling him. "Damon, please don't die on me. It's me, you're blondie."

What?