Disclaimer: I do NOT own TVD. If I did the world would be a much darker place.
A/N Sorry this took so long, honestly? I forgot about it, but here is the next chapter anyways.
Chapter 6: Not all secrets are lies.
Klaus stood up from his stool slowly, dangerously, his jaw tensing; a small vain jumping along his neck.
"Why haven't the others done anything to stop this?" He said looking at Anne.
"It was Luke that called, his sister has been dragged into it too sir," even she seemed afraid of the beast in front of her.
Caroline frowned, hadn't she said that it was humans being held hostage.
"Fine, I'll go and sort this out. Get James, Luke and Graham on the boundary's and as much as the others as we can spare. This could be a rouse." He made for the door and Caroline jumped from her stool stretching her arms over her chest.
"What do you think you are doing?" Klaus snapped when she began to follow him to the door.
"I'm coming?" Her voice implied the 'duh,' at the end but she refrained from saying it aloud.
"Care," Elena warned from behind her, sensing danger in the air.
"No you are bloody not." Klaus growled ignoring Elena.
"Come on, I won't get in your way, this just seems more fun than getting drunk."
Over the many years on the run Caroline learned that she had an affinity for fighting, Damon was sorely impressed with her. It was one of the things they bonded over. She liked that she wasn't in danger anymore, but she didn't like sitting around when people were in trouble.
"She can handle herself Elena," Damon murmured when Elena moved to protest against Caroline again. Elena sighed and nodded, she knew she could but that didn't mean she had to like it.
Klaus searched Caroline's stubborn features and ran a hand over his face.
"Fine, but do hurry love, we hardly have time to spare." He grabbed her elbow and they both flashed out of the bar and towards the plaza leaving a bustling bar behind in their wake.
Klaus never let go of Caroline's arm the whole way to the plaza, his grip strong and unwavering: even if she wanted him to let go there was no way she would be able to force him to.
"Ah, Klaus, you finally made it." The smooth voice of the Vampire Marcel sang from his advantage point; holding a young human woman by the throat. At his feet another six lay unconscious surrounded by three more steely Vampires.
There were several people watching from the windows of the surrounding building safely hidden in their domain where the vampire could not reach: for now.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world mate," Klaus said in a deadly calm voice quickly assessing the situation. It was nothing for him. He would manage to kill them all and set the hostages free with minimal injury. And even if he didn't, there was only one hostage the really needed saving.
Marcel eyed Caroline a cruel smile on his coffee coloured skin.
"Who is the girl?"
Caroline had been doing her own scouting for the situation, and concluded that it was too simple. Far too simple a job to call Klaus in. She was sure that Luke or Graham would have managed this single handily. Especially if it was the Hybrid. No something was being held back from her, and she had a feeling it had something to do with the sibling involved.
"I'm just a tourist," Caroline replied back casting an impression of utter ease towards the hostile Vampires.
"We don't get many of those anymore honey," Marcel called back a grin licking his lips; there was something interesting about this one.
Caroline only smiled and shrugged; Klaus's hand on her elbow tightened; so much so she could feel her bones beginning to crack and heal, but she held back from trying to escape his hold. That would only make things more difficult.
"Enough Marcel, let the humans go and we can settle this like men." Klaus interrupted his tone calm but his jaw clicking with rage. He did not like this one bit. Caroline should never have come here with him but he could not say no, now when for once, she actually wanted to go somewhere with him of her own free will. She was in no danger when he was there but there was always a small chance something could go very wrong…
Marcel let out a bitter laugh, dragging Klaus from his wondering thoughts.
"Look at you, defending the humans. Never thought I would see the day old friend." His tone was as mocking as his laugh. Caroline glanced up at the man gripping her elbow and frowned, he did have a point. Why would he be trying so hard to protect a bunch of humans?
Her eyes moved towards the girl being held by her neck, she certainly seemed human. But that didn't mean she wasn't anything else.
"So, what exactly is going on?" Caroline voiced her thoughts and tugged her arm from Klaus's grasp. She knew the only reason it had been possible was because of her sudden question. That and it wasn't directed at him.
Marcel grinned and squeezed the woman's neck making her emit a breathless whimper. Klaus bared his teeth his anger flashing amber in his eyes. Caroline didn't change her casual façade, these types of situation hardly made her skin crawl anymore.
"Just business, nothing something so pretty as yourself should be concerned with." Marcel answered back his own eyed flashing to Klaus.
The three other vampires took offensive positions and began to stalk their way towards their outnumbered enemies. Klaus grinned and beckoned them forward with one outstretched hand, his long calloused fingers curling and uncurling.
Caroline sighed and raised her hand to her hip. Something still wasn't right.
Why wasn't there more people here? Why did Marcel only bring three people to try and take back the city?
"Of course it's a trap love, just not a good one." Klaus whispered lowly his eyes never leaving the three advancing vampires. Caroline tried to keep her face neutral as she looked ahead at the grinning Marcel.
Klaus knew this was a trap and yet he was still here, the answer to all of the questions running around her head was in the woman being held against her will be an ancient vampire. She just had to find a way to get said woman away from Marcel.
"Cover me?" She said flashing away from Klaus, who swore and tried to stop her, though he knew it would be pointless to even try. Caroline's stubbornness was a gift and a pain in the neck. Caroline had decided that she could probably get the woman if Klaus was at her back; all she had to do was run.
And she was right.
Klaus killed the vampire before they could even register Caroline's presence, their bloodied hearts falling to the ground before their bodies. Marcel was shocked at her sudden charge and hardly had a time to pull away from her as she flung her fist into his face.
It might not enough to do any damage but it was enough to pull the suffocating girl from his grasp and make it halfway back with her before Marcel screamed:
"Now!"
Klaus had watched the idiot baby Vampire charge in and take back the girl, he had watched as Marcel was stunned in surprise and he watched as he made the order for the people hiding on the rooftops to fire their weapons on her.
He didn't know what to make of the gut wrenching feeling in his abdomen as he watched Caroline throw the girl out of danger before dodging the bullets in an elegant flip and twist back towards Marcel. He only knew that it brought bile to his mouth and anger in his eyes.
"Caroline!" He yelled as Marcel lunged for her, Klaus was pulling her away in an instant, his leg kicking out and hitting Marcel on the side of the head launching him into the side of building: cracking the bricks.
"Nice save." Caroline commented brushing a stray hand of hair from her face, curling it behind her ear where it stayed. Klaus growled and gave her a pointed look: shut up.
She rolled her eyes and searched around for the girl. She was lying on the pavement not moving but Caroline could hear the blood thrumming through her body. She was alive at least.
Marcel was standing back up from the wall, blood dripping from his head but the wound was already sealed; not even a scar. He felt his pride fall to the ground as he thought about the young blonde vampire almost breaking his nose. He was right to notice something different about her it seemed.
"So much for just passing through; huh?" He spat wiping the blood away his eyes focussed on Caroline.
Caroline raised her hand and smiled sweetly at him.
"I was; you were in my way."
Klaus grabbed her elbow again and began dragging her towards the fallen girl. His eyes darted to the stunned men on the rooftop, still holding their weapons pointed at the two Vampires below, but his attention was mostly on Marcel who had begun to walk towards them.
Klaus was already imagining his heart in his hands if he got within ten feet of him and Caroline.
But his thoughts never got a chance to come into play for Marcel had stopped in his hunt, his brows furrowed and his lips jutting out into a scowl.
"Damn, looks like it's time for us to go. It was nice meeting you Caroline."
Caroline didn't get a chance to respond, Marcel and his followers vanished into the night air just as a group of man ran into the plaza. Among them were Luke and Graham.
Klaus did not look pleased.
"What are you doing here? I told to stay at the borders!" He yelled throwing his hands towards them angrily.
They had scared Marcel off; if they had just stayed away he might have had the pleasure of sinking his fangs into his neck and the feel of his dead heart in his claws.
Caroline looked back at the girl then to Luke her curiosity bubbling when he dashed to her and pulled her into his arms, his eyes checking for any wounds.
"Sophie! Hey, Sophs now would be a grand time for you to use that witchy brain of yours."
Witch?
Caroline's eyes darted to Klaus who was steadfastly ignoring her and ordering his 'minions' to go back to their posts, save a few to move the still unconscious people and desiccating Vampires.
If this girl, this woman, is a witch where does that place her in Klaus' circle? And how the hell is she Luke's sister if he was once a Werewolf?
Caroline sighed and crossed her arms over her chest, it didn't look like she was going to get much answers from him anyway. What did it matter to her, if he was keeping secrets? He had no need to tell her anything, none what so ever.
"I'm gonna head back, it looks like all the fun is over now." Caroline said already edging back the way she came earlier with Klaus.
Luke looked over to her and nodded, in thanks, and turned his head back to his unconscious sibling. The two Vampires that had stayed behind to move the humans looked up from their jobs to give Caroline and odd look. They hadn't even noticed her until then.
"No stops, love. And don't go for a wander." Klaus said giving her s steely look.
The urge to flip him off right then was so overbearing she had to count to ten before nodding and flashing away. There was no point in creating anymore dram for one night.
Klaus watched her go a frown on his face, he noticed how angry she was. The why just wasn't coming to him. When she was out of sight he appeared before Luke and Sophie his emotionless mask in place as he listened to the listless breathing of the child.
"Take her home Luke, then go back to your post. She will be fine in Elijah's care." Klaus' tone was final, and under the weight of the sire bond Luke agreed with his master without a single word.
Klaus ran a hand through his messy hair and looked around him at the destruction of his home. The crack in the wall, the blood on the ground and the tell tail holes of bullets.
Marcel sure knew how to play dirty.
With another warning to his minions to go straight back to their posts when they were done he headed back to his bar at a normal human pace for a change. It had been an interesting night; he hoped the walk would bring him some answers to the many questions dancing in his mind.
When Caroline returned to 'The Rabid Dog' she wasn't surprised to find her friends still sitting there, though now they looked far less drunk and a little more on edge.
"Care! What happened? Are you alright?" Elena yelled the minute the blonde stepped into the rowdy bar.
She wasn't the only one to turn in her direction the second she entered, many turned to ask her what had happened: if anyone had died. Caroline gave clipped answers at best and took up the spare stool beside Stefan again.
She had a feeling they had been saving it for her.
"Anne, I need Vodka. Please."
Anne gave Caroline a curious look but went about to get her drink for her without question. Caroline was grateful of the blonde.
"Caroline..." Stefan began, trying to prompt his friend into talking.
Caroline groaned and swivelled in her chair to face her worried friends with as much patience as she could. She had used up what little she had tonight.
"Nothing really happened. That Marcel guy had a few humans, Klaus kicked his ass and he ran away when backup decided to show up." She said agitated by her own annoyance.
Her curiosity wouldn't let her settle down.
"Here you go." Anne placed down Caroline's glass onto the bar and Caroline drank it all before a certain hybrid could pop up from nowhere and snatch it from her. Damon quirked an eyebrow at her, smirking at her in his oh-so-annoying way.
"And that's it? Somehow I don't think so." He sang bringing his own glass of amber liquid to his smirking lips. Elena frowned and looked past Stefan to look at her properly.
There was definitely something not being said here.
"That's it Damon. End of story. Anne! Another." She pushed her drained glass towards the bartender. Damon chuckled.
"Poor Blondie." He whispered into his glass earning a scowl from his girlfriend and brother.
Caroline tuned out the family bickering and focused on the now refilled glass in her hand. The liquid inside tinged the air with its alcoholic scent, even more so than what was already floating around, it wasn't a pleasant smell she decided.
It was bitter, not at all to her tastes. At least it hadn't been all those years ago. She preferred sweet things.
Sighing she downed the glass again, angry for thinking about the past. There was no point in dwelling on 'the good old times,' right now, she had something a little more interesting to think about.
Klaus. Klaus and his strange war, the witch and the hybrid.
Ha, she thought as she slid the empty glass across the bar again, sounds like a cheap version of a 'Narnia' novel.
"Anne! Same again."