Hello all! You guys seriously keep blowing me away with your reviews and kind words. No scaring you guys this time, I'm pretty pleased with how this turned out. Almost 4,000 words and I somehow cranked it out in a day. Hopefully the next update will be sooner (it technically hasn't been a month since the last update so please don't hate me)!

In her frustration, Caroline left the Mikaelson home in a swift rage, ignoring any calls of her name and meeting no one's gaze. She was blocks away on a random street she'd never seen in her life when she realized someone was following her. Stealthily, she tried to lose their trail. When that proved futile she focused her efforts on making them slip up and reveal themselves.

Finding the perfect window of opportunity, she turned into an alley and waited patiently until her stalker passed. She let out a breath of relief when she noticed it was only Elliot, the Hybrid from the night before. "Did Klaus order you to tail me?" She asked as he walked pass, watching him jump slightly at her voice. It may have been louder than she intended.

"He uh," Elliot stammered, clearly not intending to be caught. "He kinda expanded the whole 'have my heart for dinner' thing to anyone who touches a strand of your hair."

"Well I'm fine, you can go on home now," Caroline said dismissively.

"Yeah, I can't do that," Elliot replied, standing taller than when she caught him stalking.

Huffing, Caroline glanced around the alley in annoyance before her eyes fell on Elliot one more time. "Sire bond?"

He gave her a curious look before speaking. "That, and I kinda like having my heart in my chest."

"Typical," Caroline rolled her eyes before storming away. "Of course he has someone follow me even though I'm really mad at him. It's so Klaus. He has to control everything. Un-freaking-believable." She continued her musings as Elliot followed her down the street.

"I know you're ranting, but can I ask you something?" Elliot asked, falling into step next to Caroline.

"I'd make a remark about how you already did but I'm not feeling quirky. Go right ahead."

"How do you know about the sire bond?"

And Caroline couldn't help but scoff at that. "You're not the first of Klaus' hybrids and you're definitely not the first I've met."

"How many have you met?"

Caroline shot him a glance out of the corner of her eye, recalling the twelve hybrids Klaus slaughtered and then Tyler. Tyler who keeps chasing his own death. Tyler who just can't seem to love her more than his revenge. "Enough," she finally replied, her voice dropping octaves after her rant. "Now since I'm stuck with you," she began, changing the subject, "point me in the direction of a bar. I need a drink."

It was nearing lunch time with the sun high in the sky. The people of New Orleans were out full force for lunch and good times. Enjoying being in the center of it, Caroline could almost feel all her animosity slipping away. She was always a strong believer in vibes. Good vibes meant good times and New Orleans was a bundle of good vibes. Strangely, Caroline could see herself here; visiting, living, being a tourist, whatever it was, she could see herself in New Orleans. The colors, the street performers, the allure, she, like everyone else, was drawn to it. And then there was that thrum, that ephemeral thrum she felt in her blood. She couldn't put her finger on it, it was gone before she could really feel it. Whatever it was, it was exhilarating.

"Soo," Caroline began to speak as they side stepped a street dancer. "Are you like the leader of Klaus' hybrids or something?"

"Or something," Elliot chuckled, shaking his head in the bright noon light.

"Okay," Caroline replied slowly, her mind sifting through questions for her next one. "Then how did you first react to becoming a hybrid?" She really wanted to know what horrible thing Klaus did to turn him but figured it might be a bit delicate, and since they only just met, delicate probably shouldn't be broached. Especially considering Caroline had no clue how long Elliot had to cope with his new bloodlust.

All those thoughts flashed through her head, which is why when Elliot spoke next, Caroline was at a loss for words. "It was relieving."

"I'm sorry, what?"

"It was a relief," he reiterated, turning his head to meet her gaze. "Do you know how werewolves trigger the curse?" Caroline nodded her head slightly, clinging to each word. "Well, it was relieving to know I wasn't bound by the moon anymore. Changing is just a reminder of what we did to deserve it."

"You don't think your supernatural abilities are a gift?"

"Well it is called the werewolf curse," Elliot chuckled before sudden realization dawned on Caroline.

"Right," she laughed. "Sorry."

Before Caroline could ask that indelicate question that was itching at the back of her throat, Elliot continued, leading her into a rather quiet bar. "I didn't really have much of a choice anyways. Half of my pack had already decided to change."

As Elliot flagged down the bartender and Caroline slid onto her bar stool her brows furrowed in confusion. "Change?" she inquired, tilting her head to the side.

"Yeah, Klaus came to us and offered us a choice."

"Us?"

"My pack. I was the alpha," Elliot answered, his eyes drifting off behind Caroline's head for a moment. "One of the weaker wolves–he was new–he couldn't handle the guilt and the change. Most of the time when the curse get's trigger, we become pariahs to the humans. That's why we escape to the woods. He took Klaus' choice and came back to us a new, better, man. It wasn't long before everyone else did too."

"But you're the Alpha," Caroline pondered. "Didn't it make you angry that Klaus was taking your pack?"

"Oh extremely," Elliot chuckled as the bartender finally came around to them with tumblers filled with amber liquid. "But it came down to being with the people I love or sticking to my pride. I guess I'm just glad it was a choice."

"And so you came here?" Caroline asked skeptically. It seemed too perfect. Now she was just looking for the flaw. This, offering a choice, this was not the Klaus she knew. The Klaus she knew demanded what he wanted as if were entitled to it. If those demands weren't filled, he took what he wanted.

"We were pretty much nomads. We tried living normal lives but it was hard. So we started living in forests, stealing clothes and food when we needed it. Klaus gave us the life we couldn't have." He paused to take a gulp of his drink before chuckling. "He likes to call it his kingdom, but it's home to us now."

"So are you the undeclared alpha of the hybrids?"

"Undeclared maybe," Elliot shrugged.

Another presence joined the two, entirely unannounced. Caroline felt a shiver crawl up her spine when he spoke. "Now, now, Elliot, careful what you say. Klaus is the alpha male, isn't he? We wouldn't want him to think there's mutiny in any corner of his kingdom. " Marcel spoke with obvious restraint, like the smile on his face wasn't enough to convey his charming guise so his tongue needed to compensate.

There was malice hiding under that smile that Caroline hadn't seen the night before. She remembered what Klaus had told her this morning over breakfast and was struck by how long ago it felt.

Pulled from her thoughts by Marcel, he spoke to her gently. "Caroline, if I remember correctly. I see Klaus has graciously granted you permission to stay."

She wanted to say she was staying to save Stefan regardless of what Klaus said but she couldn't. She's still the innocent blonde girl who's just passing through. "He was incredibly kind," she replied with a smile.

"And I see he left you in the very capable hands of Elliot here," Marcel smirked, his face conveying a message his words did not.

Caroline did not appreciate the insinuation, any incarnation of it. Before she could say anything however, Elliot did on her behalf. "Actually, I offered to show her around a bit."

"Right, right," Marcel nodded as if he understood completely. "Oh but what happened to Enzo?"

"He had some things to take care of," Caroline replied as dismissively as possible. Best not draw any attention to themselves. Before anyone could say anything more, Caroline's phone began ringing against the bar table. She had planned on ignoring it but "Mom" flashed across the screen. It was her 7th or 9th call, Caroline lost track, and for the sake of getting away from Marcel, she figured now was as good as any time to face the music (i.e the wrath of her mother). "Excuse me, I have to take this," she said as cheerfully as possible before heading for the door and stepping out of the bar. The tension in her shoulders slipped away for the briefest moment before glancing at her blaring phone once again.

Shaking her head as if to clear her thoughts, Caroline answered the phone as innocently as possible. "Hi mom."

"Caroline Forbes where on earth are you? And why haven't you been answering my calls?" Liz Forbes sounded frantic and just angry enough to make Caroline pause and think how long ago it had really been since she'd last spoken to her mother.

"I'm-I made an impromptu road trip," she said slowly, her voice turning up at the end in hope that she'd take the omission of truth.

"Really?" Liz Forbes asked, doubtful. "Because Elena and Bonnie have no clue where you are. Stefan is missing and Damon can't seem to find his new friend Enzo. Tell me what's going on Caroline."

She was using her mom voice, 18 years later and it still worked. Sighing, Caroline caved. "I'm in New Orleans."

There was a short pause, an intake of air and then, "Oh sweetheart, are you-"

Before she could go where Caroline knew where this was going, she cut her off. "No, mom, I'm not here for him."

"Okay," Liz answered, recoiling quickly. A pause fell over their conversation as Caroline contemplated how much to say to her mom with Marcel and Elliot probably listening in. "Caroline, if you were, not that you are but if you were, I just want you to know, I want you to find love." Before Caroline could even contemplate what her mother was telling her, she continued. "You're gonna take on this world forever sweetie. I want you to come home to someone who loves you."

This was absolutely insane, Caroline thought to herself. Her mother was actually saying this to her. Caroline wanted to pinch herself in case it was a dream but she hasn't really felt tiny pain since she'd turned, it would do no use. "He's done horrible things, mom," Caroline replied softly, her hand falling to her forehead before running her fingers through her hair.

"We all have," Liz shot back in response. "And we all will. For the ones we love, we always will."

Caroline didn't want to have this conversation anymore, it was too bizarre and touched too close to a topic she didn't want to think about. "I don't know how long I'll be here," she said, clearing her throat and standing a little taller. "I wish I could explain more but I can't. There are people in town, Travelers, be careful of them."

"That's my line," Liz chuckled dryly. "Caroline, you're okay right?"

"I'm fine mom," she replied. "There are just a few things I need to take care of. I'll be home before you know it."

"Just be careful," Liz warned. "And please check in every once in a while. You're 18 and can snap anyone in half, I know, but I'm your mother and I worry."

Laughing to herself, Caroline nodded, though her mother couldn't see. "I will mom, promise. I love you."

"I love you too sweetie."

That's all the goodbye either of them needed. And it seemed it was perfectly timed. As Caroline was poised to step back into the bar, Elliot came out in a rush nearly colliding with her. "We have to go. I have to get you back to the compound."

"Why? What's going on? What happened?" Caroline asked quickly, her eyes wandering over Elliot and then finding their way back to Marcel through the open door of the bar.

"A day walker's been murdered. It was a vampire attack. We need to go." As he spoke, Caroline met Marcel's gaze through the open door. Across the bar he smiled at her, smug and sinister.

Staring down Marcel next to Elliot, Caroline realized two things. One, Marcel had figured out she wasn't innocently passing through town despite how vague her and her mother had been. Two, Klaus had been tactical. He knew he needed an army. The choice of redemption bred more loyalty than forcing the undead life on people. And while she'd grown used to vilifying him, she couldn't help but feel relieved that he hadn't inspired the same thirst for revenge that seemed to weigh Tyler down.

Elliot dropped Caroline off at the compound in a rush before leaving immediately. She wondered briefly if Klaus would be there or if he'd ventured off to the scene of the crime once he'd heard. Try as hard as she did, Elliot was adamant in his decision to take her back to the compound. At first she argued, and then argued again, and then pleaded. That is until she realized this was probably her only chance of being in the compound without Klaus hovering to hear her conversation with Bonnie. So she accepted defeat.

Upon arriving she headed straight up to the room she was staying in and dug out of her phone. Ignoring the missed calls and 'where are you?' texts, Caroline called Bonnie before she chickened out.

"I knew you were alive but what rock did you crawl under Care?" Bonnie asked, her tone sharp before Caroline could even say a simple hello.

"Well hello to you too. I'm okay, how about yourself? Good? Good," Caroline said, playing out how she wished the conversation had started.

"Caroline!" Bonnie exclaimed. "This isn't a joke. Where are you? We've been calling and texting you for days."

"I know, I'm sorry Bon," Caroline sighed. "Things just got complicated."

"Tell me something new," Bonnie sighed, finally relieved to know Caroline was okay and being, well, Caroline.

Caroline had taken to pacing and almost started biting her nails before realizing she'd just gotten them done and there was no time for a new manicure. "I need to tell you something. A few things actually. And I need you to not freak out on me, okay?"

"Why would I freak out?" Bonnie asked before quickly amending her statement. "You are okay, right Caroline?"

"I'm fine. It's Stefan I'm worried about. The Travelers took him."

"What? Why?" Bonnie asked, standing up quickly in their empty dorm room, ready for any action.

"They're trying to locate his doppelganger. So in order to free him I agreed to find Tom with Enzo."

"You're with Enzo?" Bonnie asked incredulously. "And who's Tom?"

"Bon no freaking out, okay? I'm freaking out enough as it is, please."

"Okay, okay, no freaking out. Promise," Bonnie said, her voice softening.

"Okay," Caroline breathed out, gathering her thoughts. "Tom is Stefan's doppelganger. Enzo and I kind of found him."

"Okay, well, where are you?"

Caroline paused, her mouth opening and closing before she finally bit the bullet. There was no reason to explain the semantics of how the trail led them there, she just needed to get it out there so Bonnie knew. "I'm in New Orleans."

"You're what?" Bonnie exclaimed. Caroline could hear the pitter patter of her feet through the phone as she began pacing. "You're in New Orleans? Did you run into them?"

"Well funny story," Caroline huffed. "Tom is being hidden by Klaus because he can make hybrids with Tom's blood."

"What? That's not possible."

"Oh, it's possible. There are tons of hybrids here and I haven't found Tom so Stefan is still captive and there's still more."

"What else could there possibly be?"

Taking a deep breath, Caroline steeled herself for the worst part, the part she knew Bonnie would like the least because it went against everything she ever stood for: the balance of nature. "The Originals want to bring Kol back to life and Klaus somehow brokered a deal with the Travelers to free Stefan, turn over Tom, and get Kol back."

Bonnie was silent for a moment before Caroline was sure realization dawned on her. "And you're telling me this?" she trailed off.

Taking a deep breath, Caroline said what she'd been dreading since speaking to the Travelers earlier that day. "Sloan, the Travelers leader, she told me to bring the anchor to New Orleans, or she will."

There was a cold silence as realization fell on Bonnie. "Please tell me you have a plan."

"I do," Caroline rushed out, hating to be the bearer of bad news. "Just come to New Orleans before they take you."

"I have a few things to wrap up but I'll hit the road first thing tomorrow."

"No!" Caroline suddenly exclaimed. "When's the blood moon?"

"What? Why?" Bonnie asked as if her best friend had finally lost her mind.

"The blood moon Bonnie, when is it?" Caroline pressed.

"Ummm," Bonnie thought for a moment, "April 14th or 15th I think. Why?"

"Don't leave until a few days before. There's a lot more going on in the city than I can tell you in one phone call but I promise I'll explain when you get here."

Bonnie could hear the distress in Caroline's voice and worried for her friend. "Caroline, are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine Bonnie. I just need you and Stefan to stay safe while we figure this all out."

"I'll be okay Care," Bonnie assured. "We've been through worse. I'll leave in a few days, okay?"

"Okay. Be safe Bon." It was a warning Caroline prayed to whatever deity was out there Bonnie listened to. She doubted Sloan wouldn't keep an eye on Bonnie, she just hoped she left not too soon and not too late.

"Is she safe?" was the first thing Klaus asked Elliot when he arrived at the scene of the murder without Caroline. To everyone's dismay, it had happened in broad daylight and a human had found the body. The police were called before the Originals even knew what happened. A crowd had gathered behind the police line by the time the Mikaelson's had arrived with their entourage.

Elijah had taken care of the coroner and persuaded the police to drop any investigation. The death count numbered one and that body belonged to Chereen. Her petite form was found nearly nailed to an alley wall with a stake in her heart and blood in her tightly coiled black hair. She was a trusted day walker, one of Klaus' inner circle fending off offensives from Marcel's camp and planning their own.

Klaus wasn't one for sentimentality, he'd lost a soldier and he was at the scene to see what had happened with his own eyes and what was a proportionate retaliation. He was at war and could be nothing but tactical. From what he'd gathered before Elliot arrived was that there was a struggle and Chereen's lover, Perry, a hybrid, was currently missing.

So when Elliot came bearing the news that Caroline was at the compound, safe, Klaus turned to Elijah with a clearer head. "Judging by the look of Chereen, her and Perry were attacked and it reeks of wolf."

"Perry probably ran when he saw Chereen dead," Elliot piped up as he watched the coroner seal up her body bag and wheel it into the van. "He loved her."

"And where is he?" Klaus asked. "He knows who attacked them. Find him and bring him to me," Klaus demanded, his voice dangerously low and controlled. "And Elliot?" he asked, turning towards his most trusted hybrid, his face softening just the slightest. "Please inform Chereen's family of their loss so they can make their funeral arrangements."

Nodding, Elliot was off to do what he was told immediately, leaving the brothers to whisper behind the police line. "Certainly you don't think Marcel's working with wolves, do you?" Elijah saw the look on Klaus' face and it was the only think Elijah could think of.

"This is the work of Marcel. Who he sent however, got sloppy. This wasn't meant to be an attack. He wanted something."

"Marcel and werewolves," Elijah sighed in disbelief. "I thought we'd taught him better."

"You'd be surprised what a man would do for an army, brother."

Night had fallen on New Orleans when Marcel finally made his way to the cabin Hayley kept Perry in. To say he wasn't pleased was an understatement. His orders had been clear. Go in, lure Perry out, and take by force if necessary. He'd had his eyes on Perry for a while, watching how that particular hybrid flew under the radar, did as he was told, and tried to lead a mundane life. He was perfect.

The plan however, was contingent on Tyler Lockwood's ability to cooperate. Marcel had met him that morning while solidifying details and was not the hybrid's fan. The cabin was nearly silent when he walked in. The only sound that could be heard was Perry's heavy breathing and the occasional rattle of his shackles.

"What happened out there today?" Marcel asked, his voice booming and startling everyone.

Standing, Tyler came to his full height and faced Marcel. "Your target here, yeah, he wasn't willing."

"And I made it very clear that if he wasn't, then to take him by force inconspicuously. Do you call being the headline of the 5 o'clock news inconspicuous?!" Marcel exclaimed.

"The plan fell apart Marcel," Hayley finally chimed in, her voice a ray of calm in the storm brewing between the two males.

"You didn't mention the girl," Tyler spat, his teeth grinding together. "She came out of nowhere and saw everything. She wasn't even a hybrid, we couldn't take her."

"We did what we had to do," Hayley amended, "now we have our hybrid and a lot of work to do."

"I still don't see how this will work, he isn't willing," Tyler murmured under his breath in disagreement.

"Do you have a problem Lockwood?" Marcel asked, his voice harsh and demanding.

"Yes, the matter of fact, I do," he answered, temper flaring. "Hayley said I could get a shot at Klaus. Stealing his hybrids who are unwilling to break the sire bond and murdering an innocent girl is gonna get us nowhere."

"You were his first hybrid Lockwood, figure it out," Marcel said, his voice threatening. "Right now I want to focus on gathering info a what could be a new player in the game. She came into town yesterday and I want to know everything there is to know about her."

"Who?" Hayley asked, crossing her arms.

"She's linked to Klaus somehow. Blond hair, blue eyes, she goes by Caroline."

Tyler's eye widened before falling on Marcel. "Caroline?"

A/N: Cliffhanger, I know, my apologies. But everything is slowly falling into place so please be patient with me. Some of the ideas I've come up with and where I want to take this makes me so excited and I'm so glad you're all excited with me. Fun fact, it took me a while to settle on what I wanted Tyler to say to end this chapter and I eventually settled on just her name (maybe one day Caroline's name will carry just as much weight as Klaus')

I know you're probably wondering what the hell Liz Forbes is talking about and I thought about it a lot. I tried to stand in her shoes, someone who had a bad relationship with her daughter for years, who was left by her husband for another man, and never found love again. I figured wanting her daughter to find love is top of the list of things liz wants for caroline, especially if she intends to live forever. it made sense to me, I hope you guys can see it that way too.

I will shut up but I want to mention something about the timeline real quick. The blood moon that happened this year, April 14th/15th? Yeah that's the date I've chosen for the witches or travelers to be able to bring Kol back because there is lore and myth that the veil to the other side is the weakest on the nights of a blood moon so it seemed fun to incorporate it in this story. so all these pre-goings on happen technically the 2nd week of April even though episode 5x17 aired the last week of march. I'm hope that makes sense. Now I will shut up. Please review and tell me what you think!