Chapter 9
The silence that filled the room was interrupted as Rebekah was heard through the mansion. Klaus was still on the edge from his encounter with Caroline and it had left a bitter taste in his mouth.
"How about we see what this is all about Niklaus?"
Elijah really did have point. The self-pity can be postponed for a later date. Leaving the room he saw Elijah trailing behind Rebekah who was looking for someone. When she saw him she smiled and came to him.
"Finally decided to show your face Nik. Splendid."
The next he felt was a slap that made his face twist in discomfort, her eyes still ablaze.
"That was for letting father put a dagger in me and for you giving us a scare of dying properly with him."
She really was something else. Despite her behavior the concern could be heard in her voice as she ranted to Elijah to take her shopping because she needed therapy after this ordeal, so he just agreed with her.
"I will try not to involuntarily die before you tell me to."
She nodded in agreement as if it made perfect sense.
"Good. Now let me show you to your room."
With that she took his elbow and led him away from Elijah who finally spoke as they walked away.
"Do not be overbearing 'bekah. Let him breathe."
She looked over her shoulder and yelled to him "Sod off you suit wearing poof."
As they rounded a corner Elijah's laugh could be heard. He really did miss them and was glad to see them grow into such fierce creatures. He expected nothing less from his siblings. For him, there was a much steeper learning curve.
When they arrived to his room he was a bit surprised at how well decorated it was. Dark walls and high ceilings shaped the space. A giant bed that looked more comfortable than anything he will ever lay on lay in the corner. He suddenly felt tired as the day caught up to him. Rebekah noticed and patted him on the back before shoving him towards his bed.
"Go on before you fall off your feet. We will talk tomorrow. I don't like how you drove Caroline away. She seemed lovely and like someone who could actually care about things I like. Not that you and Elijah don't, but you conversation consist of doom and gloom more than shoes and dresses."
As he sat on his bed and started to pull of his shoes, he heard her sternly say, "Be sure to remedy that Nik. I mean it."
With that she turned to leave.
"I'm willing to try."
-kc-
The door mocked him. He was here not that long ago and then he was full of arrogance and power. Eager to make an impression. Now he couldn't care less about the Salvatore's.
The day was spent mostly with him, Rebekah and Elijah tearing up the shops. More like Rebekah doing so, while him and Elijah wore pitiful looks waiting for her to end their torture. Still it was fun and reconnecting with them gave him a sense of belonging he didn't have in a long time He learned about their lives and he told what little he had of his.
They listen and offered support and he was startled that they accepted him so quickly but they as they both said, he protected them before and now it was time for them to step in. He learned that Elijah fell in love, with a Petrova and it seemed to be a big deal. She was a wild one from what he concluded, but his brother chased her down and wore her defiance down. He will meet her at a later date, but Elijah warned him about the Gilbert girl who was her doppelganger so their appearances were basically the same or similar enough to be mistaken for the other.
Rebekah shared her many romance laden stories, but also revealed how she met Stefan, the younger Salvatore brother, and he left a lasting impression on her. What she failed to mention, but he could easily see was that it still meant a lot to her and probably to him too.
At the end of the day, she told him that he had to help Caroline. How it would be nice to have another girl with them, but she failed to realize that he also wanted her there, although for entirely different reasons than Rebekah's.
That is how he found himself in front of the door that led to the Salvatore mansion. He figured that these were Caroline's friends and before he could step a foot to make his presence known he heard an anger ridden discussion going on inside.
He just stepped back into the shadows and decided to hear a bit of the conversation before he made his presence known.
"I can't believe he did that to you. We would've went and found you but he snapped Elena's neck and he was a new player in town so we didn't know what to do."
He recognized the voice of the younger Salvatore brother, Stefan and he leaving Caroline behind was not winning him any points no matter how much his sister fancied him.
"Yeah blondie, what did you expect us to do. The big bad wolf was outside our door."
He should've known. Damon.
"You help your friend, that's what you do. No matter what I would've helped you if it was the other way around."
The ever loyal Caroline, as much as he admired her, he couldn't understand how she didn't see that she never was one of them. Just a blonde distraction, if he could frame it like Damon would.
"Look Caroline, they said they're sorry. I am sorry for what happened but how can you go with them after what they did? The Originals aren't known for their good nature."
The Petrova doppelganger it would seem if the self-righteous tone was anything to go by. He hated this bunch already.
"So what, I was just supposed to take it all in stride? No clues whatsoever on who I was- they knew much more than any of you would. For God's sake Klaus is the only Original."
He could hear anger in her voice as she defended her actions. Actions which didn't need defending in his mind. But as he continued to listen he could hear her agitation grow with each moment. At least he could appreciate that Stefan tried to calm the situation.
"Caroline, we were wrong. Should've gone the other way about this. It is on us, but you need to calm down."
Before he could say anything else he heard a laud crack and Caroline threating "Don't tell me to calm down!"
There was a sudden silence and the only thing that could be heard was Elena's gasp. Demon's next words made it all too real.
"She still hasn't fed on human blood. It means she hasn't transitioned completely. If she doesn't feed soon she will die."
Like in hell Klaus would ever let that happened. He was already moving towards the mansion.
"Caroline. You don't want to become a monster like Klaus. Maybe it's better this way."
Caroline's pitiful growl could be heard as she struggled with her hybrid side trying to break through. He had had enough. Breaking down the door he came in with smile on his face.
"I beg to differ friends."
-kc-
The gang that greeted him was distraught and on edge. He didn't do much to resolve the growing tension.
"Tough crowd to please, brother. Maybe they deserve a demonstration in carnage."
It would appear that his mostly docile brother now wanted to pull his fangs out and do damage. He felt the same after he heard the conversation that pretty much condemned Caroline to death. That simply would not do.
Yet as he tried to get a hold of his other side he saw how on edge Caroline was, her eyes wide and wild with an oncoming hunger, hands on her sides curled in fists drawing blood. She was barely holding herself together.
He needed to resolve this fast.
The Salvatore brothers snapped to reality and came to stand before Elena and that caused another flash of hurt on Caroline's face.
"Nice to see you treat all your friends the same."
Damon chose to ignore him, but he saw Stefan flick his gaze worryingly to Caroline but was too cautious to approach this side of Caroline.
He had no such problem. Taking steps towards her until he was almost by her side he said softly, seeing that she was slowly losing control of herself, "Want to get out of here, love?"
She looked at him as if he was a ghost, right through him as she tried to comprehend what he said. Her hunger was making her mind go blank. The bloodlust will grow unless she finished the transition.
"Why don't you turn around and leave us to deal with the blonde here. You are just a nuisance. Leave this to the grown-ups."
He turned to Damon and smiled before tearing a piece from the door and stabbing him in the chest. He didn't have time for his wit, but still he knew that Caroline wouldn't approve if he slaughtered the lot of them.
She was already taming him and he doesn't believe that is a good thing. He needs to retain his edge.
He looked for a moment as Elena rushed towards Damon to help him while Stefan growled at Klaus. He was one step from attacking Klaus. He could understand it, not that he wanted to have to break him also. Rebekah would have his head and he just got in her good graces.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you mate."
He just looked over this bunch and decided now was not the time for squabble. He needed to act.
"I am here for Caroline, you lot don't concern me. I believe it would be in your best interest to let me leave in piece. I really don't want to leave a bloodbath here."
He saw them stiff and nod. They just wanted to be rid of him. Caroline once more was not on their list and rage flashed behind his eyes. He will make them pay for this.
Turning back towards Caroline, he saw that she had crunched to the ground while holding onto her stomach. He crunched beside her and laid a soothing hand on her shoulder. She snapped towards him but he stayed where he was before she just leaned into him and whimpered.
"It hurts so much. I can't take it."
He heard her shallow breathing and the way she clung to him. A protectiveness rose in him and he just wanted to help her as soon as he could, so without further thinking he picked her up and stood to take her away. He heard Elena speak but decided not to acknowledge her. She irritated him more than enough.
"Caroline will never want to be a monster like you. She would rather die."
That was something he feared himself but right now he couldn't debate on it. He will not let that happen no matter what Caroline wanted. She had to live, as simple as that. His steps thudding over the broken door leaving behind the second choice she called her friends and took her here where she was an absolute priority.
She was feather light and he enjoyed the moment of peace as he rushed through the woods, but that peace was interrupted as a nearby growl came and the heady scent of blood could be smelled. Caroline stirred in his arms and he saw that the wolf was coming at them fast.
In a moment he side stepped the attack and turned to run but the paw from the wolf caught and slashed at his back. He saw red. Placing Caroline on the ground he went at the wolf. No matter how the said wolf tried to attack Klaus just slashed over it. Ignoring the pain of wolfs bite and claws he just pummeled at him, all the rage that built up being let out, until he stood over a bloodied mess of flesh.
Breathing heavily he moved on but saw that Caroline wasn't where he left her. He looked around but saw nothing until he heard her sobs in the distance.
He ran as fast as he could and what he saw broke his heart. A mingled body, probably one left from the wolf he just killed. From the scent it was human, blood gushing everywhere as it had met his end not long ago. The blood was fresh and pulsing with life. Next to it he saw Caroline lying in a fetal position, her hands bloodied as she sucked the blood from them. She couldn't resist it any longer.
Her eyes were full of tears as she sobbed, her fangs drawn out. The change was complete. The yellow eyes stared into nothingness as she repeated like a mantra, "I don't want to die... I'm sorry... I don't want to die."
He went to her, to her side and as she saw him she fled to the other side of the clearing. Even her powers were already manifesting. Her terrified eyes met his.
"What have I done? What have I done..."
She repeated over and over and he went to her. No matter where she fled he would follow. They were the same. She needed someone to guide her through being a hybrid and he needed someone to show him how to be human.
He leaned against the tree beside her and put his hand over her shoulder, let her lean into him and just empty all her sadness in his comfort. He will take it all. Had done so on his own for years.
"Shh, I know. I know. Just let it out sweetheart." soothingly he whispered until she fell asleep from exhaustion.
When he saw her still, he picked her up and went to the mansion. There he placed her in his room and sat by her side as she slept. This will be a long journey for them. Hopefully they can stand by each other and help ease the burden for a bit.
