Chapter 7

Elijah looked up, surprise written on his usually stoic face. He clearly didn't expect for him to return. Klaus started to move his head and saw Rebekah lying on the bed next to him and his look soon followed back in question.

"She will be fine. Just taking her time to wake. Always had a flare for drama."

Even as he said that a fond smile stretched on his tired face. Soon he returned to look back at Niklaus.

"I had my doubts that it would work. Foolish, I suppose, not having fate in our mother's knowledge. Still you waking up so soon is a bit of a surprise. Always the resilient one Niklaus."

The proud tone in his voice could not be overheard. He smiled in gratitude and then tried to sit up slowly which didn't work so well. As if sensing his confusion Elijah answered, "Yes it appears that when you unlink someone from a powerful spell there are certain ramifications. Nothing you won't recover from though."

He settled back into the soft bed beneath him, with his brother watching his every move before coming before him and setting his hand on his shoulder.

"Glad to see you well and back with us brother."

There it was. The face and the voice of the person that kept him sane for centuries. What could he possibly say to express his gratitude for that? Grasping his elbow with his hand he firmly squeezed and let go, but not before saying, "Thank you."

Elijah shifted a bit and returned at the front of the bed, clearly not comfortable with affection as much as he was.

"Didn't I say it'll be awkward?"

His hallucination was sitting on the floor by the bed, leaning against the wall and finding this entire situation extremely funny. Not wanting to raise any suspicion he said, "Tell me Elijah, how did you manage this incredible feat?"

His brother looked at him before turning towards the window. In a suit no less. What a funny world.

"As you know Niklaus our father made it his sole mission to hunt us down and destroy us. During his hunt after Rebekah and me he came across the journal's that belonged to our mother. In it, a spell to link us as one and by this killing one, you kill us all."

He was growing tired and didn't need a lesson in history. Mikael has baited him with all kinds of information that would lead to his death so he didn't need to hear it again.

"I do not need a recap in history 'lijah. What I need are the facts. How did you manage to separate me from him?"

He was startled but continued quickly.

"Yes most certainly. We came across an old journal of mothers that was hidden by one of the Bennet witches. They were and are powerful force in supernatural world. We managed to acquire it in our possession."

He always knew that his mother was a powerful witch. She also regretted what she made them but before she could undo her regret he hit first.

"As we heard of a vampire in Mystic Falls that was much stronger than all we grew suspicious. Rebekah wanted to check it out immediately but I persuade d her to wait. The wait part paid in full as we came to information that there was a rumor Mikael was there also. It was time to do it smart."

He didn't see his siblings since that moment he stayed to stall Mikael and he knew they will learn to stay cautious when it came to him.

"The hatred of our father towards you was well known and we suspected that he left you alive in case he needed a way to lure us out."

His hallucination nodded along and a comment once or twice swirled in his head.

"You got to give it to real me. I am fantastic. A bit stoic but at least with a sense of fashion."

He always went back to suits. What a pain in the brain his make believe was.

"So we came with couple of scouts. People who followed you and learned all about father and his witch, the plan he wanted to go through."

He looked back towards Niklaus a face of determination said it all.

"This time we wanted to be ready."

He went to the cabinet with liquor and poured himself a glass.

"And we were. But, my dear brother all of it comes with a price."

He watched as Elijah struggled with his decision. Don't they all have regret, a lie they told to convince themselves they were doing it all for a right reason. Righteous path to be walked by few. His prison taught him no better in the end. He got a taste of freedom and the monster came out to play. There was always a catch, a price to pay to move on as the abominations on this earth. He fears of how many more can he keep on paying.

"Continue Elijah. What was the price for my freedom?"

Elijah wasn't any better. He suffered for his mistakes and no matter how much he cared for him, the cost of it all stays with him.

"The cost was threefold. Niklaus as you had quite the confusion lately you must have understood you are different."

He knows this, always has. The torture that was at the hands of Mikael was more than physical damage. It was constant belittling on how he was the bastard, the failure of family. He knows he is different all too well.

"Through the witches, Rebekah came to some very sensitive information. One which you were aware of I am sure. You carry besides the vampire curse something from your true father as well. The wolf gene."

He suspected at first, but he got the confirmation of it during his sessions with Mikael. The cruelty in which he treated the entire wolf infested humans. The gene of an animal. He knew during the full moon, as he was already enraged with all of it and Mikael pushed him over the edge on how his mother also tried to put him down before he killed her in the fir of rage. Like an animal. He gritted his teeth as he pushed out, "I am aware of the less than fortunate outcome."

His hallucination only chuckled from the side.

"That outcome being you."

A glare his way and he was back to the real thing. Elijah followed his actions carefully but then relented and continued his story.

"Yes, as I said. There was a factor in the spell, if we wanted to separate you from Mikael we needed to sacrifice an equal life force to all your sides. The wolf, the vampire and the human."

And there it was. Even though he couldn't care who the people were he felt that in honor of their sacrifice he should know their names.

"Who were they?"

His brother sighed and let himself fall down and looked from his position that mirrored his hallucination.

"It does seem appropriate that at least you know that much."

He took a swing of his beverage and his look drifted somewhere far away.

"For a vampire we didn't have to search much. Just took one on our way to Mystic Falls. It was supposed to be our back up but we ended up having to use him. Next for the wolf some uncle or cousin of the Lockwood's. They are a well known family here. We also have Tyler Lockwood here. Just in case for your wolf side. He is locked in a cellar. Now for the human..."

He swallowed and took his story in a different direction.

"The vampire we wanted to take was Elena Gilbert. We arranged for a car accident and had her where we wanted but she fled somehow. The doppelganger always posed for their survival."

He smiled, a real smile and it left Klaus a bit dumbfounded. His brother bore affection towards someone.

"Katherine would be proud I think, but she left someone in that car. A human."

Pieces started to add up and his fear started to grow. It could be a coincidence. There are dozen accidents. It didn't have to mean it was her. That all stopped when his brother said.

"A certain Caroline Forbes."

He felt himself grow agitated and angry. He gave her redemption and his brother wanted to take that from her. An irrational hate burned within him.

"Elijah chose your words wisely."

The growl in which he said it did nothing to determinate the sadness over his action.

"I am aware you tried to save her, but we didn't have time so I will face your wrath brother. I am not sorry for it brought you back."

His tired and battered body moved on his own fueled by the blind rage and he had Elijah by the throat and slammed on the wall in a second.

"You had no right! You could have taken anyone. Not her!"

The confusion cleared from his brother's face and acceptance on whatever Niklaus had for him shone on his face.

"Never her."

He slammed his head on the wall and his brother let out a groan but didn't do anything to retaliate. Before he could do anything else, Elijah said,

"That is why she will need your guidance Niklaus."

He stepped from him as if he was burned.

"What?"

His brother traced his hand over his neck. Tracing the red lines.

"You never had a chance to make anyone one of us. Until now. You gave her your blood and when she died she became one of us. No- one of you."

He started to shake his hand in denial.

"A hybrid. That is what you are brother and what she will be."

And with that the door of the room tentatively opened and in came the very person they talked about. She looked fine, no better than fine. Beautiful. As her eyes connected with his her whisper on what the ruckus was about was stopped and a whisper in wonderment released only one word.

"You."

-oo-

A/N: Sorry for the cliffhanger, but there was quite a lot of information to take in this chapter so I thought it best to leave the Klaroline confrontation for the next part. What do you think Caroline will do, how will she react to all this? I'd love to hear what you guys think!