A/N- *Looks at watch* Okay, yes, I realize it has been months and you guys are about ready to give up on me and I don't blame you, but I have not abandoned this story so I hope that you guys don't abandon me either. Again I'm really sorry about disappearing for like a million years, but I have good news for you guys: Summer break! Whoo! I will be writing this Summer and hopefully I'll finish at least one story.

Anyways, hope you like it :)

New Orleans, Louisiana

Filling another crystal tumbler with bourbon, the hybrid brought the alcohol to his lips as he sulked on how awry his plans had turned. Every effort he'd done to drive Rebekah and Marcel apart only strengthened their bond, he still hadn't overthrown the reigning king of New Orleans, not to mention that he sent the one of the only people he truly cares for into the arms of his greatest rival.

It was not a good day to be Klaus Mikaelson.

"Niklaus," Elijah called, coming down the stairs to see his brother attempting to drown himself in alcohol. "Oh, good. You haven't reached black out drunk yet."

"Give it a moment, Elijah." Klaus threw back the rest of his drink into his throat.

Elijah took the tumbler from his brother, setting it down on the coffee table. "Have you decided to swallow your pride and convince our sister to come home, yet?"

Klaus chuckled darkly. "I don't know, brother. Do you still pine for the treacherous wench who stole from me, albeit you pretend otherwise."

"Leave Katerina out of this," Elijah ordered through gritted teeth.

"Imagine what Katerina is doing at this very moment, now that's she's rid of the noble Elijah. After she had used you and found you useless. Probably found another bloke to toy with the second you stepped foot out of Mystic Falls. You know what they say about Katerina."

Elijah pushed Klaus against the concrete wall, grabbing the front of his Henley. "Say another word about Katerina, and the next painting you make will be made from your own blood."

Klaus smirked wickedly. "I heard Stefan Salvatore is available."

"Silence!" Elijah threw a punch hard enough to hear a crack.

"Imagine how she allows him to pleasure her."

He punched him again.

"Tells men what they want to hear."

And again.

"Then throws them away once she's done with them."

Elijah violently yanked his brother by his collar. "And what of you? A man who deems others inferior for opening love into their hearts, yet you blame the world for your loneliness, for all your woes. You lash out at the people closest to you for not granting you the affection you feel you deserve when you guard your heart more heavily than the white oak stake. You pass judgment on me because you don't understand what I sacrificed to ensure your survival."

Klaus scoffed. "I'm stronger than you."

"Not your physical survival." Elijah relinquished his grip from Klaus's shirt and stormed out, slamming the front door behind him.

Klaus clenched his fists as he sank down onto the floor. He knew that Elijah was attempting to guilt him into making up with Rebekah and it was working.

Feeling the cool night breeze graze her skin, Katherine briskly rubbed her arms with her hands. Her mortal state forcing her to jog in order to keep up with Caroline's rapid pace. "Caroline, can I be honest?"

"Aren't you always? You know, when it comes to your blunt opinions." Caroline searched the area like a hawk, looking for a dwelling that she could picture Klaus living in.

"True," Katherine admitted, "I don't think it would be wise to go around town throwing around, arguably the-most-hated-vampire-in-the-history-of-time's name. You know Klaus doesn't play well with others."

"I've considered that, Katherine. That's why I said it would be my last resort. Plan A will be finding a phone charger so I can get Klaus' number from my phone. We'll find out where he lives and everything will be fine."

"Problem," Katherine told her.

"What?"

"It's hard to tell whether you look like the victim or the killer from a slasher film."

Caroline looked down, remembering that she was covered in now dried blood from their encounter with Silas' friends from the gas station. "Shoot!"

"But in this case, you do kinda count as both," Katherine giggled.

Caroline glared at the brunette, causing Katherine to avert her eyes, having trouble hiding her smile.

"Relax. We can hit up the club up ahead and steal some clothes." Katherine pointed to the colorful beams of light emitting from a massive property not too far away. The stereos were so loud they could feel the sound waves pound against their hearts.
The two girls approached the entrance, noticing an enormous line stretched out for at least half a mile behind a red velvet rope.

Caroline walked up to the muscular security guard who was managing the rope. She looked into his eyes as hers dilated. "Let me and my friend go through."

The man dressed in black stared at her with a stoic face for a moment before letting out a chuckle. "Marcel, you better come here!"

"Yeah, man? What's going on?" Another voice called.

"We have intruders."

Katherine's and Caroline's eyes widened. Spinning on their heels, they ran in the opposite direction. This place obviously wasn't as mundane as it had seemed. The girls skidded to a stop when they spotted a handsome, dark-skinned man with a warm smile in their path.

Caroline carefully stared at him, her nerves on fire. She launched herself at him; her hands reaching for his jaw and the base of his skull to snap it. However, he was able to headbutt her, letting her weakened body fall to the ground.

"Caroline!" Katherine began to run towards the blonde but halted when she saw the intense look in the unfamiliar man's dark eyes.

"You wanna go, too?" Marcel challenged.

"No, no!" Katherine feigned a smile. "Just got a manicure. Can't risk breaking a nail."

Caroline slammed her right foot into Marcel's left knee, knocking him off balance.

Katherine took off her anklet and shoved it into Marcel's mouth, watching the inside of his mouth burn as he screamed in anguish.

Several vampires from inside the party appeared outside to seize Katherine and Caroline. A few others helped Marcel remove the vervain from his oral parts, throwing up a pint of blood as he spit the jewelry out.

"Bitch," he growled as his eyes grew crimson. Using his vampire speed, he appeared in front of Katherine, staring down at her like she was road kill. "I have a special death reserved for the two of you." Marcel signaled for the vampires to bring them inside.

Slinging back shots and dancing with every man on the dance floor while not having to answer to any bastard brothers, Rebekah Mikaelson was having the time of her life. She spun around admiring her former and current home. Relishing that not only did she have a boyfriend who adored her, but she would reign over New Orleans alongside him.

Rebekah ran her fingers through her smooth blonde hair. Closing her eyes as she allowed herself to get lost in the music. Opening her eyes, she had to blink a few times to ensure it wasn't a hallucination. "Caroline?"

Caroline hadn't noticed the Original until Rebekah grasped her wrist. "Rebekah! Thank God you're here."

Katherine gasped when she locked eyes with Rebekah. "Rebekah…"

"Doppelganger bitch," Rebekah smirked wickedly then gnarled her hand into Katherine's roots, bringing the human's face intimately close to her own. Katherine cried out, struggling to free herself from the lethal Original. Rebekah opened her mouth to speak, but stopped when she heard the sound clear as day.

Thud thud- thud thud- thud thud

"No." Rebekah shook her head as she began to tremble with rage. "I know that those fools did not waste the cure on your bloody life."

"Rebekah, you seem a little tense," Katherine joked as she attempted to unravel Rebekah's firm hand from the knot in her hair. "Maybe we should sit down, have a cup of tea, talk like reasonable people, and blame all our problems on Elena."

"I could," Rebekah agreed, "but since she's not present I'll have to settle on you." She threw Katherine across the room, breaking in half a table filled with food.

"Rebekah, please stop!" Caroline entreated, trying to free herself from the vampires who held her back.

"Why are you protecting her, Caroline?" Rebekah looked at her with disbelief. "Do you even know who she is?"

"I can't let you kill her."

"I knew that you were irritating, but I never took you for dumb," Rebekah told Caroline and then appeared in front of a half conscious Katherine. Taking the brunette's face in her hands, she head butted her and kicked her in the abdomen until Katherine was spitting out blood. "There's always a price, Katherine. You took the cure that was supposed to be mine and you didn't even want it. Now it's time to pay up." Rebekah punted Katherine in the head. "And it's been a long overdue payment."

"Rebekah, stop! You'll kill her!" Caroline brushed off Rebekah's witty response and bit one of the vampires restraining her. The vampire cried out, causing his partner to turn to him. Thankful for her advanced cheerleading skills, Caroline performed a backflip, twisting their arms until she had them both pinned on their stomaches. She looked up to see Rebekah preparing to end Katherine's suffering and jumped onto Rebekah's back, using her hands to cover the Original's eyes.

"Get off!" Rebekah screamed, peeling Caroline off her back and slamming her onto the ground, landing on her back.

Caroline wailed in anguish. She felt a jolt of pain run down her spine, the impact powerful was enough to split a human spinal cord in half.

Rebekah towered over Caroline and crouched down next to her. "I'm not here for your blood, Caroline. Nik and I may not be on the best of terms at the moment, but if I kill you he'll kill Marcel for sure. So do us both a favor and stay out of my way."

Katherine's eyes widened. "It's true... Klaus cares about sweet little Caroline Forbes."

Rebekah grabbed Katherine by the base of her skull, bringing her to her feet. "So it seems. Unfortunately for you, however, no one cares about Katherine Pierce. Not anymore at least. Not Damon, not Stefan, not Niklaus, not even my noble brother, Elijah. Goodbye, Katherine." Rebekah raised her hand to plunge into Katherine's chest.

"Wait! Rebekah, you don't want to kill her," Caroline insisted.

"On the contrary, Caroline, I've been waiting half a millennium to behead and rip out her heart and keep them as souvenirs. Although, it's not as satisfying without a guillotine; I hadn't anticipated the people getting rid of them... but using my bare hands will have to do."

"Rebekah, listen to me-"

"No, Caroline, you listen. Do you know how it feels to have a taste of happiness and then have someone rip it away like it was nothing and be forced to smile as if it never happened?"

"I do, actually," Caroline admitted.

"Then, let me do this," Rebekah insisted.

Caroline cautiously stepped closer to the ancient vampire. "I'll admit that there was a time that I wanted Katherine dead just as much as you do, but if Katherine dies so will everyone in this town."

The entire party instantly became so silent, vampires could hear drops of sweat plop onto the floor.

"Poppycock," Rebekah claimed. "I'm not afraid of you, Caroline, or your friends from Mystic Falls."

"I'm not threatening you, Rebekah."

"If not you, then who?"

"Silas."

"What does that face-lacking wanker have to do with anything?" Rebekah questioned.

"He wants Katherine so he can do God-knows-what and if she dies he'll come after all of us," Caroline informed her.

"Then what the bloody hell are you waiting for? Drive her to his house in a pickup truck, dump her on his doorsteps, then ring the doorbell and drive away if you have to. This is your problem, not mine." Rebekah pointed to Katherine.

"I can't-"

"Why not?"

"You do not just relent and give the bad guy what he wants. This is Silas we're talking about. He's 2,000 years old. The last thing we should do is give him more power over us. Katherine is the only leverage we have over him."

"Fine," Rebekah stated. "I'll just let you be on your way, Caroline. When Silas drops by, I'll be sure to mention seeing you with the doppelganger and point him in the opposite direction you're heading in."

"Rebekah, we're not going anywhere." Caroline stood tall, staring down the opposite blonde.

"Oh? Oh, that's right," Rebekah giggled. "You came here thinking that he would protect you because Caroline Forbes asked, isn't that right?"

Katherine, still trying to catch her breath, could barely believe what was happening before her eyes.

"Rebekah," another voice called.

Rebekah turned. "Marcel."

Marcel came up to the three figures who were the center of attention of the entire party. "What's going on? How do you know these girls?"

"You could say we're old friends." Rebekah feigned a smile.

"They're no friends of mine." Marcel glared at Caroline and Katherine. "They just assaulted me and a few friends to force their way into my party, but why don't you tell me who exactly you are and what you want."

"They're looking for Niklaus," Rebekah blurted out.

Marcel froze, looking into Caroline's eyes. "And why would you want to do something as stupid as that? Tell me what he promised you because I can guarantee you'll end up in a ditch with your pretty little head on the other side of town."

Rebekah pulled Marcel behind herself, trying to stop her boyfriend from making a fool out of himself. "I can handle this it's fine."

"You sure?"

"Oh, yes." Rebekah turned back to the girls. "Caroline, you and I haven't always seen eye to eye, but I am warning you: Niklaus only knows how to destroy the things he cares about and if you're not careful he will hurt you in more ways than one. Go find some place else to hide from Silas because you're no more safe here than in Mystic Falls."

"I appreciate your concern, Rebekah, but I can handle myself and I can handle Klaus."

Rebekah sighed. "If you want to be a fool that's fine by me, but I will not allow you to take me and this town down with you. If Silas finds you here, he will incinerate New Orleans and I will not idlely stand by and wait. Last chance, Caroline."

"You can't kill me without dying yourself," Caroline reminded her. "What's Klaus going to say when he finds out what you did? You're going to end up back in your coffin with a dagger in your heart. Don't do this, Rebekah."

"I'd rather have a dagger in my heart than the white oak stake." Rebekah gestured for Marcel and his vampires to attack. "It's nothing personal. We both do what we have to protect those we love."

Caroline grabbed Katherine, attempting to run towards every exit, but they found themselves surrounded and Marcel's vampires were slowly closing in on them.

"And who here do you love? Huh? You've known these people for about three months? I'm sure you're love has grown real strong since then," Caroline quipped. "And what about your brother who's been at your side for over a thousand years? You repay him by killing someone he cares about."

"Niklaus is the source of my misery!" Rebekah yelled. "He's taken every happy moment from my life. He threatened to kill Marcel if I ever saw him again."

"Yes, he's done all of that, but I saw how you guys were when you came back to Mystic Falls. He loves you, Rebekah, and maybe he thought that none of those guys were good enough for you."

"Spare me, Caroline." Rebekah rolled her eyes. "You're always the first one to criticize Niklaus' choices and now here you are defending his actions as you simultaneously fight for your life."

"Okay, yes, I admit that I tend to call people out on the things they do, but it doesn't mean that I don't see the shades of gray. I may not have been there in the twenties with you guys, but I know that Stefan knows that there was at least one person your brother thought was good enough and he would have let you guys be happy if it wasn't for your father. He wouldn't have been a good brother if he just went off not knowing if you would be safe."

Marcel clenched his fists, anger and jealousy tasting like acid in his mouth. "Kill them both now."

"Marcel, wait!" Rebekah urged, but he shook her off.

Caroline jumped in front of Katherine, kicking the first vampire that lunged at them square in the jaw.

Another vampire attacked, jumping high into the air, intending to attack from above, but was cut short when a tree branch was thrown straight into his heart. Pinning him to the brick wall, his arms were spread out on the ledge making him look like he was crucified.

I wonder who could've possibly thrown that tree branch... ;)

Thanks for reading!

Let me know what you thought of this chapter in a review and I hope you all had a great father's day :)