Hello! Another update so soon! A lot sooner than usual lately. I thought you all wouldn't mind!
Enjoy :)
This time it was Rebekah and Damon holding Klaus back from running to Caroline. Was she dead? The dagger lay next to her unmoving, outstretched hand.
"Rebekah, the dagger," Damon seemed to have read his mind.
She nodded once and stepped forward to go retrieve it. But before she could do so, she dropped to her knees and cried out in pain. Damon growled too and lifted his hands to his head, grasping at his hair and stumbling back. It hit Klaus last. The brain bursting aneurysm that only a witch could produce. It felt like every synapse and vein was bursting inside of his head. It seemed like an eternity, but the pain only lasted a couple seconds.
"What the hell?" Damon snarled, "Did Bonnie tag along on this adventure?"
"No," Klaus replied. Damon looked at him and the hybrid nodded toward the coffin.
The door flung open with a violent woosh. The hybrids next to it backed away fearfully. Klaus saw Esther's long arms stretch to the sky and fold over the casket to grasp on to the sides. She sat up and twisted around, opening the other end of the coffin and allowing her legs to stretch. In one lithe, fluid movement, she swung her legs over the edge and sprang from the box, her green skirts twirling around her.
Esther took a deep breath and let it out, smoothing down her dress.
"Now that's more like it," she said smiling and observing the scene around her.
A soft groan came from the ground as Caroline lifted her head, rubbing at her temple. Klaus felt some of the tension leave his body. She was still alive. Esther had let her survive the transition. Thank fucking god.
"Wha—" Caroline murmured coming to a sitting position. She turned around and looked up. She saw Esther standing there over her, staring down. Caroline recognized the woman, even though she had never seen her. It made sense though. They had been sharing a brain. Caroline had seen her face in her mind's eye.
"You," Caroline growled, narrowing her gaze at the witch. Her fangs dropped and she lunged forward. But Esther stopped her with a flick of her hand, sending flying her back toward the ground.
"Ah-ah, Caroline," Esther purred, "I let you live. You should be grateful."
"I won't let you do this," Caroline said.
Esther laughed at her determination, which only irritated Caroline more. The woman signaled one of the hybrids with another flick of her hand and he moved forward, grabbing Caroline by the arms and dragging her up and away.
Caroline struggled against him, trying to break his grip, but he was stronger than her and her body was weak.
"Now then," Esther said walking over to the dagger and picking it up off the ground, "which of you wants to die first?"
"You really think you can beat us mother?" Klaus said, "You created us. You know our strength."
"Of course Niklaus," Esther replied, "but I have come prepared."
Esther raised her hands. Klaus felt a rush of wind. He tried to move and found he couldn't. His legs wouldn't work. His head spun to Rebekah and saw her in a similar state. Behind him Damon was struggling too. Caroline was still in the hybrid's grasp, but holding onto her was mostly useless at this point.
"Very brave mother," Klaus mocked.
"I never cared for your attitude Niklaus," she sneered and moved toward him," don't worry, I do not relish having to do this, your retribution will be swift." Somehow Klaus doubted that.
She approached him slowly, waving the dagger in front of her body. There was a madness about Esther that hadn't possessed her when she was alive. Klaus recognized that her years trapped in whatever limbo she was in changed her. His mother was hateful before, but she was never murderous or violent. That was always Mikael. She was a completely different woman than the one he had known in the past.
Esther stood very close to him now; he could see the madness reflected in her hazel eyes up close. The power of a legion of witches radiated off of her as she held him immobile. She pressed the flat of the blade into his cheek, the magical coldness of the dagger biting into his skin.
"Any last words my son?"
"Just one," Klaus said, "attack."
Esther's eyes narrowed in confusion and then suddenly a hybrid came barreling into her. Klaus had made a guess and he guessed correctly. Her limited compulsion abilities had been broken when she left Caroline's body. Klaus's hybrid knocked her away and her hold over him and the rest of the vampires was broken. Caroline swung her elbow back and slammed it into the hybrid holding her. He released her with an 'oof' and then the fight was on.
Esther quickly turned to the hybrids, trying to gain control of them again. Without their extra protection, it would be easier for Klaus and Rebekah to subdue her. She was successful, they turned and immediately started fighting against their creator. Others ran off the field like cowards. Caroline started grappling with the one who had held onto her before. Klaus could here her grunts and growls as he also fought his way toward Esther. It was good. It meant she was alive. He punched and twisted through the riot, noticing Rebekah snap the head off another hybrid. Meanwhile, Damon was retreating away with Elena, keeping the doppelganger far out of harm's way.
One of the hybrids ran forward and slammed into him, knocking Klaus to the ground. Klaus groaned as he flipped the man over and stomped his foot into his chest. Really these hybrids had been more of a nuisance than a savior ever since he created them. He grabbed the man off the ground and glared into his eyes, compelling him free of the spell and sending him back into the fight, this time fighting for Klaus instead of against him. Esther backed away near her coffin, trying to focus her powers. She couldn't hold them and control the hybrids and make her kills all at the same time.
Caroline saw Klaus go down and tried to rush toward him, but another hybrid cut a punch to her jaw as she tried to move. She felt her teeth clamp together and bite down on her tongue. Blood flowed into her mouth. She spit it out to the side and glared at her assaulter.
"You're lucky that won't leave a mark," she growled and lunged at the hybrid.
Caroline swung her own fist back and then forward, connecting with the hybrid's cheek and knocking him to the ground. She stood over him and kicked him in the stomach, flipping him over with the force of the blow. The hybrid groaned in pain and Caroline flipped her hair over her shoulder.
"Mess with me again, I dare you."
Klaus felt another wave of magic rip through the air. Esther was still trying to stop them. He heard Rebekah cry out, but the magic wasn't affecting him nearly as much. He was different. Stronger. He looked toward his sister and saw her stumble back a bit, but recover and rip the heart from another hybrid.
He trained his eyes on Esther, watching her chant besides the coffin, feeding power and life into her weapon, making herself as invincible as she could. He had to get to her now. Had to kill her before she had the chance to cause anymore harm. He stalked across the field toward her, dodging the hybrids, flicking anyone who came at him away like so much junk. Esther's eyes snapped up and met his, the glare of hatred there was unmistakable.
You were my greatest mistake Niklaus, he heard her voice inside his head.
A thousand years ago her words would have cut through him like a knife. A thousand years ago when he was a weak little boy, desperate for love, for his mother's affections and his father's approval. But he'd had a thousand years to harden his heart to her. A thousand years to find something else to live for. He was an original vampire, a hybrid, the greatest and most powerful being on the planet and her petty hatred would not break him down.
Klaus ran toward her then. He felt another thrum of magic hit him, but her attempt to hold him at bay failed and he kept running toward her. Esther held the knife toward her at the ready, daring him to run straight into it. Klaus dodged the weapon and ran straight into her, knocking her to the ground. The knife went flying across the field.
Esther shot back, using all her power to knock him away from her. This time he felt it. He somersaulted backwards far away from Esther. He sat up and regained his bearings looking around for the dagger.
"Nik I've got it," Rebekah yelled, holding the dagger up from the ground. Before Klaus could crack a smile, two hybrids lunged at her, one grabbing hold of her arms and the other snatched away the dagger, holding it in front of her heart. Rebekah gasped and Klaus started forward, until her heard Esther's voice behind him.
"I wouldn't if I were you Niklaus."
He stopped short and whipped toward her. But all the bravado left him as he took in the sight behind him.
Esther had a hold on Caroline, her arm was buried inside Caroline's chest, hands squeezing at the girl's heart. A few tears escaped, rolling down Caroline's face as she gritted her teeth in pain. Blood covered her mouth and chest, some of it hers and some of it not. She winced slightly, apologetically, as his eyes met hers, as if everything was her fault.
"Time to choose Niklaus," Esther commanded, "save your sister and the dagger or save the girl you love. Which will it be."
Klaus looked behind him again at Rebekah. She struggled against the hybrids, the magicked dagger hovering at her heart. He looked at Rebekah and saw the past thousand years. His baby sister who he loved, despite everything they had been through. He had gone through heaven and hell to protect her from a thousand different enemies. Their relationship wasn't perfect, no pair of siblings ever was, but it was theirs and he wouldn't have traded a moment of it for anything. Everything he had done, he had done in part for her, for all of his siblings. She stood there, her eyes begging him to save her; the dagger over her heart calling out to him to take up arms and end this battle with his mother. The chance to finally bring his family together like he always wanted.
Then his gaze went back to Caroline. She stood there brave and tall, trying not to cry, trying her best not to reveal any of the fear that she may be feeling. If Rebekah represented his past, Caroline was his future. She was the one that showed him he was still capable of love, still capable of caring about someone outside of himself. Caroline showed him that he was worthy of another's love. That someone would love him even when he was a cold and heartless murdering bastard. The feel of Caroline's arms, the safety he felt there, he would never find that anywhere else in the world. He had been looking for a thousand years until he met her, never having realized that she was exactly what he was looking for. Her brightness, her life, her determination; the world needed her. He needed her.
"My patience is waning, " Esther pushed, "make a choice."
Klaus looked between the two girls again. Taking a deep breath. Rebekah or Caroline. Caroline or Rebekah. He looked down at the ground, squeezing his eyes shut, hoping that he could make all of this go away by sheer will power. How could he possibly choose? Then he heard a rushing sounded, followed by a crunch and a quick gasp. His stomach dropped.
His eyes snapped open and he looked toward Esther and Caroline. Caroline had fallen to the ground. And Esther was being held back by her throat, over the side of her coffin by-
"Kol?"
Klaus's younger brother smirked. "Hello mother. Good to see you again."
Klaus's eyes widened and then he spun around to see Elijah take out the two hybrids holding onto Rebekah. Rebekah shook them off and each sibling dispatched one of them. The girl grasped the knife in her hand.
"Elijah," Rebekah nodded.
"Rebekah." A slow smile spread across the eldest original's face. "Shall we assist Kol?"
The two of them walked forward to where Kol was still holding on to Esther. Her magic was making it a bit difficult, but it became easier once Elijah and Rebekah joined them.
Klaus suddenly remembered Caroline and ran to her side, kneeling next to her on the ground. She was covered in blood, but alive, heart intact in her chest where it should be. His hands ghosted over her, checking her injuries.
"I'm fine," she said, "I'm alright. I promise."
Klaus brushed the hair away from her face and cupped her cheeks in his hands. He kissed her quickly, the blood on her lips smearing against his.
"Caroline I—"
"You need to go deal with your family," she said looking up at him. Her own hands came up and covered his. "Go."
Behind Caroline he saw Elena running toward her friend, Damon following close behind. Damon had stuck to the plan their earlier plan. Klaus nodded and joined his siblings.
Kol, Elijah, and Rebekah stood around their mother holding her at bay. Her powers weren't strong enough to keep them all back. Apparently Esther had been boasting when she said she had come prepared to fight them. Maybe she was ready to take on just Rebekah and himself, but defeating four original vampires was no easy feat.
The woman struggled and growled against the strength of her children.
"Death has made her feisty," Kol mocked.
"Shut up Kol," Klaus said approaching them. He yanked the dagger from Rebekah's hand and pushed her out of the way.
"Nik, you said I could do it, that I would be the one," Rebekah argued, but he ignored her.
"Yes Nik, you got to kill her the first time," Kol said.
Klaus looked into his mother's cold eyes. "I'll just find another way back," the woman whispered, "you know I will. You are all monsters."
Klaus's jaw ticked back and forth as he tightened his grip on the knife. "You made us this way."
"No," she said, "I made you immortal. I protected you. You chose to become abominations."
Klaus's eyes flicked to each of his siblings. To Kol, who had suddenly become bloodthirsty and hateful. To Elijah, who looked on with a cold passivity. Finally to Rebekah who stood there betrayed and hurt but as stoic as ever, all of them more than ready to end their own mother's life.
"I think we all owe you this time mother," Klaus said nodding to each sibling.
The three nodded back and each of them placed a hand on the dagger. Together they pushed the knife through Esther's flesh. The knife made a sick squishing sound as it slipped effortlessly into her body. Blood began to pour from the wound. The spell on the blade ignited her skin and her screamed ripped through the night. A bright white light flashed, blinding them all, the force of the magic throwing them all back against the ground. Esther's scream echoed in the air and then faded as the stadium lights dimmed and darkness took over.
Klaus sat on the ground, dragging a hand over his face. Esther's body was completely gone. She was gone. Gone for good.
Suddenly blue and red lights illuminated the field and the sound of a police siren broke through the silence. Klaus twisted around to see Sheriff Forbes and half the Mystic Falls police force behind her, guns raised at them all.
She her voice boomed across the field. "What the hell is going on here?"
Ok, really trying to work on my action writing a bit. But hopefully it made sense and was moderately exciting haha. I've been working on this story quite a bit this evening and I realize that for this being a Klaroline story, there hasn't been a whole lot of Klaus and Caroline interaction. Yet you guys are still reading it, so thank you! I'm glad that you all like it enough to stick with it. And don't worry, there will be some good moments before the end :)
Also, who do you think Klaus would have chosen to save? Caroline or Rebekah? Let me know what you think!
I would love some feedback on this story too, since I haven't gotten much so far!
Reviews are what keep me going. They are to writers what blood is to vampires ;)
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