The Reckoning
The classroom was dark. Caroline had turned the light off. Senior prank night and I don't think any of us were really thrilled about it, except for a certain blonde vampire. Someone walked into the room and set off all of the mouse traps.
Matt turned on the light and we all jumped up. "Oh! Oh, come on! Seriously? Do you know how long it took for us to set all this up?"
"Forgot about senior prank night, huh?" Tyler asked him.
"Clearly."
"You and me both, buddy." I sighed.
"How could you forget? Louise is a scatter brain, so I guess she's excused a little-" I shot her a mock glare and she stuck her tongue out at me. "-but you've been talking about this since freshman year. We all have."
"Yeah, Matt. If I'm doing this, you're doing this," Elena spoke up.
"I'm kind of surprised any of you are doing this," Matt responded.
"Caroline's making us," Bonnie told us.
"We're about to be seniors. These are the memories that will stay with us forever, and if we don't..."
"And if we don't create these memories now, then what's the point of it all?" Elena quoted our blonde best friend.
"Go ahead and make fun, I don't care."
"You're all lame. And I've got ten more classrooms to prank."
Tyler took his bag and left. I texted Damon for about the one hundredth time. He hadn't called me since yesterday and I was beginning to worry about him.
"Hey! Where are you going?" Bonnie said.
"To superglue Alaric's desk shut. I'm making memories."
She smiled at Caroline, who smiled back.
"I love you!" Caroline called after her.
"Are you hungry? Let's stop for a bite. A truck stop. Or a trucker," Katherine said to a moody Damon.
"Oh, stop being cute."
The Petrova doppelganger smirked. "It's not possible."
"We've been driving around aimlessly for hours. Where are we going?"
"Far enough away so that you can't go running back," Katherine said.
"Not to worry," Damon assured her. "Mystic Falls and I are on a bit of a break."
"You and Mystic Falls, or you and Louise?" she asked him.
"Let's just say Louise and I are having a bit of difference of opinion on how I should behave."
"Ooh. Let me guess... little Louise wants you to be the hero, and you don't like playing pretend," she said.
Damon shrugged. "Something like that."
"Her loss."
Katherine put her lips onto his. He kissed back, but then pushed her off of him like she was a wolf on top of him.
"What are you doing?" Katherine growled.
"I thought I'd give it a shot. Truth is, you just don't do it for me anymore."
Mystic Falls
Bonnie, Matt and I draped toilet paper around the pool and dumped it in the pool. "This is fun, right?"
"You sound like Caroline," Matt said to Bon-Bon.
"Come on, I am embracing her philosophy. You two should be more into this," Bonnie said to us.
I shrugged. "I know. Where's Jeremy tonight?" Matt asked.
"He's at home," I told him, turning to Bonnie. "I'm sorry, by the way. That I didn't tell you about him seeing Vicki and Anna."
Bonnie smiled. "It wasn't your secret to tell."
"Oh, good, you two know."
"Jeremy can't keep anything from me." I grinned.
"Is it weird talking about your sister like this?" Bonnie asked the quarterback.
"No, I... I just kind of want to see her myself, you know? I mean, I never got to say good-bye to her." Matt let out a long breath. "Do you realize that just last summer, the three of us were lifeguards at the pool? And the only two problems I had in my life were that Elena was breaking up with me and I sucked at CPR. Louise should have given me lessons. You were pretty awesome at it."
I smiled a cocky smile. "I'm simply amazing." My happy face fell as I remembered my old, normal life. Before my parents and Jenna died... No. Stop. Stop thinking about them. "Everything was so different then."
"Yeah. Now Elena's dating a vampire, you two are witches, my sister's a ghost, and... I'm... I'm just a guy who's wondering how life got so screwed up."
"It's crazy, Matt. I... I can't imagine what it must be like for you," Bonnie admitted.
"It just, uh, kind of explains why I'm not that into senior prank night. I'll go grab a couple more rolls. Then we'll hit the gym."
Bonnie and I stood up, marvelling our amazing pranking skill. I held my hand up and she gave me a high-five. I laughed, as did she.
Matt came out of the bathroom. He had put the used toilet rolls in the bin.
We walked away from the pool and into the Gym. When we walked in, it wasn't at all what I expected. "Bonnie, Louse, get out of here!" Elena yelled.
My eyes lingered over to the hybrid who killed Jenna. As much as I wanted to, I wasn't stupid enough to harm him, since he'd harm me worse. Thank God Jeremy hadn't come... But I could really use some Damon muscle.
"Ah, I was wondering when you'd show up. Now we can get started." He looked over at Dana, who was holding her foot up in the air like her life depended on it. "Ah, Dana, why don't you relax? You and Chad sit tight."
And by my guess it did.
"I assume you're the reason Elena's still walking around alive?" Klaus asked Bonnie.
"That's right. If you want to blame someone, blame me."
"Oh, there's no need for blame, love. Just your witchy interference seems to have caused some undesirable side effects. And since you caused the problem, I'm going to have you find the fix."
A blonde chick stormed into the Gym, Tyler in her clutches. "Get off me!" Tyler yelled.
"Hush now," Rebekah hissed.
"I'd like you all to meet my sister Rebekah. Word of warning... She can be quite mean," Klaus said with a smirk.
Great, another Original. This one rolled her eyes. "Don't be an ass."
She looked like a stereotypical blonde bitch you'd see in movies. She threw Tyler in Klaus' arms roughly, like he was a piece of meat.
"Leave him alone!" I said, forgetting he was a super-strong hybrid who could snap me like a twig.
"I'm going to make this very simple... Every time I attempt to turn a werewolf into a vampire hybrid, they die during the transition. It's quite horrible, actually," Klaus said. He forced his blood into Tyler's mouth. I knew what was coming next, and I really didn't like it. "I need you to find a way to save my hybrids, Bonnie. And for Tyler's sake... You better hurry."
He snapped Tyler's neck. I gaped at him, shocked. As were Elena, Matt and Bonnie.
Klaus just smiled.
Matt kneeled next to Tyler's body. "He killed him."
"He's not dead," Elena assured him. "Klaus's blood will turn him into a vampire."
"And if Bonnie's successful, he'll live through his transition. Go on, then. Go and fetch your grimoires. and enchantments and what not. I'll hold on to Elena... For safe-keeping. And the Gilbert witch. Think you can do it on your own?"
Bonnie glared at him. Klaus gripped Elena's arm roughly. My twin gestured for them to leave. And they did.
I sat down on the floor of the Gym, not knowing why he didn't let me go with Bonnie. Two witches were better than one, right?
"So this is the latest doppelgänger. The original one was much prettier," Rebekah taunted as she examined Elena.
My brows furrowed in confusion. "How is that even possible?" I muttered.
Rebekah, who had heard me, vamped out and approached me. "Enough, Rebekah. Take the wolf boy elsewhere, would you?" Klaus said, stopping her from turning me into lunch.
Rebekah reluctantly took Tyler and left with him. "Just ignore her. Petty little thing." He turned from Elena to me. This monster... the man who had taken my aunt away from me, he looked so human. Feral, perhaps, but I would have never thought he was capable of what he had done. "Try not to provoke my sister next time, love. I mightn't be there to save you."
I rolled my eyes and I pursed my lips.
Elena was comforting Dana. I was fighting my inner demons as everyone else fought the big demon - Klaus. I still hadn't dealt with my grief over Jenna's death, I wasn't even sure if I healed from my parent's death. I didn't exactly... grieve like most people. I ignored the pain and searched for distractions.
Death numbers were going up and up. First my parents, then Jenna and even John! Who was next? Elena? Jeremy? Alaric? One of my best friends? It seemed like every time I loved someone, they just died.
The doors busted open to reveal my best friend... who was a ripper now. I got onto my feet. "Stefan," Elena and I both said.
"Klaus," Stefan almost growled.
"Come to save the damsels, mate?"
I was not a damsel! That implied that I couldn't fight back. I was simply staying here... out of my own accord.
"I came to ask for your forgiveness. And pledge my loyalty," Stefan said.
Klaus scoffed. "Well, you broke that pledge once already."
"Elena and Louise mean nothing to me anymore. And whatever you ask of me... I will do."
"Fair enough. Let's drink on it. Kill them. What are you waiting for? Kill them."
I had known Dana and Chad my whole life. I was never close with them, but they were the kids in class I'd have a chat with every so often. I didn't want them to die.
"No! Stefan, don't. He's not going to hurt me. He already said..." Elena was interrupted when Klaus slapped her. She flew across the room and fell hard on the floor.
Stefan rushed over to Klaus, his fangs out. Could these people get any stupider? Klaus gripped his neck and held him at arm's length.
"She means nothing to you? Your lies just keep piling up."
"Let her go! I'll do whatever you want, you have my word!" Stefan insisted.
"Your word doesn't mean much. I lived by your word all summer, during which time I never had to resort to this..." He compelled him. "Stop fighting."
"Don't do this, don't do this," Stefan begged.
"I didn't want to. All I wanted was your allegiance. Now I'm going to have to take it."
"No, Klaus! Please!" I roared, my eyes glistened with worry. I guess it was my turn to do something stupid.
"Don't... don't..." Stefan pleaded.
Klaus ignored him. "You will do exactly as I say when I say it. You will not run, you will not hide, you will simply just obey."
"No!"
"No. Stefan!" Elena was almost crying.
"Now kill them." He grinned sadistically. "Ripper."
Stefan vamped out and killed Dana, draining her of every ounce of blood in her body. He moved onto Chad. It felt like I couldn't move. Fear and grief... that was all I felt.
"It's always nice to see a vampire in his true element. The species has become such a broody lot," Klaus said.
I shook my head. "This isn't him. I know him, he would never do this."
"I knew him too, love, back in the twenties," Klaus told us. "He was a true ripper."
"You did this to him," Elena said sadly.
"I invited him to the party, love. He's the one dancing on the table."
A very angry Rebekah stormed into the room and rushed towards Elena. "Where is it? Where is my necklace?" she shouted.
"What are you talking about?" Klaus asked her.
"She has my necklace. Look."
She handed him Caroline's phone. Whatever was on it, it made Klaus' face twist with slight hurt and lots of anger. He looked at Stefan. "Well, well. More lies."
"Where is it?" Rebekah pressed.
"I don't have it anymore."
"You're lying!" Rebekah roared. She bit Elena in the neck, but Klaus pulled her away from the doppelganger quickly.
"Knock it off!" Klaus bellowed.
"Make her tell me where it is, Nik! Make that one!" She pointed to me.
I glanced to Elena, who had her hand on her neck. Klaus sauntered over to me. "Where's the necklace, sweetheart? Be honest. We don't want Elena getting hurt, now do we?"
"She's not lying," I told him. "Katherine took it."
Klaus grinned ruefully at the mention of Katherine. "Katerina. Of course. Well, that's unfortunate. If we had the necklace it would make things a whole lot easier for your witch, but since we're doing this the hard way, let's put a clock on it, shall we?"
The buzzer sounded as the clock appeared on the score board. "Twenty minutes. If Bonnie hasn't found a solution by then, I want you to feed again. Only this time, I want you to feed on Elena. You know you want to."
"No, Klaus! Don't do this to him!" Elena said.
"No one leaves. If either of them try to run, fracture her spine."
The two of them left.
The three of us glanced to the clock every few seconds. I was sitting on the floor again, hugging my knees. Six minutes to go... "Caroline's dad! Stefan, he was able to resist compulsion. I don't know how, but he did it. Maybe it's possible," Elena said.
"Yeah, yeah. Maybe it's just mind control, right? Maybe it just takes some focus, a couple decades of training. No big deal," replied Stefan sarcastically.
"Stefan, you can control this. When that buzzer goes off, just... just drink from me."
"You don't get it. I can't stop, Elena! I'm a ripper! A ripper doesn't stop! I listen to the words that come out of your mouth, and all I hear is the sound of your heart pumping blood through your body. And when that clock ticks down... I'm going to have to feed on you. And you want to know what's worse? I'm not going to be able to stop."
"I don't believe that. You can fight it. You just have to want it bad enough," Elena said.
"Why, because I love you?"
"Yeah! That's right, Stefan. Because you love me. You'll fight because after everything that we've been through, you owe me that!"
"You know what, you're right. You're right. I owe you everything. Because through all of this, you are the one thing that has kept me from giving up; from turning it all off. But I can't help what I am, Elena. The more blood that I get, the more I want, and if I get so much as near yours... You are dead."
I stood up. "No. I'll stop you. I can knock you out."
Stefan shook his head. "Gloria gave Klaus a herb. It stops a witch's magic from working on a vampire."
"Who's Gloria?" Elena asked.
"A witch in Chicago." He shook his head again. "That's not the point. The point is that Louise can't do anything to stop me from killing you. I'm going to kill you Elena."
There was only a few seconds on the buzzer. "Elena, you're going to have to run."
"But Klaus said that if I run-"
"I know what he said, but if you stay, it won't matter. Elena, please, please, please. Elena, there's no other way," Stefan begged her.
"There is another way, Stefan. It's for you to fight."
The buzzer went. Elena was done for.
No. I couldn't let another one of my family members die. "Stefan... I love you. Fight, Stefan. Don't give up."
"I can't hold it."
He vamped out and speeded over to Elena, who screamed in fright. Stefan held onto the wall, desperately trying to kill the girl he loved.
"Elena, Louise, run! Go!"
She ran out of the Gym and I followed her, sprinting as fast as my legs could carry me. Elena opened a door, revealing Klaus. "We've got to stop meeting like this."
Klaus dragged Elena and I into the cafeteria. Stefan was there and he had a stake in his abdomen. "Now this is fascinating. I've never seen this before. The only thing stronger than your craving for blood is your love for this one girl. Why don't you turn it off?"
"No!"
"Come on. Your humanity is killing you. All the guilt must be exhausting. Turn it off."
"No!"
I hadn't seen no humanity Stefan before, and the prospect scared the living daylights out of me.
"Stefan..." Elena begged.
"You're strong," Klaus noted, pulling the stake out of Stefan. "But you're not that strong. Turn. It. Off."
"No!"
He pushed Klaus, causing the hybrid to press him against the wall. "Turn it off!" he compelled him.
"Stefan!" I yelled. "Fight him!"
The remainder of the light in his green eyes disappeared. His face displayed no emotion... there was nothing. It was like a part inside of him had died.
"What did you do?" Elena asked Klaus.
"I fixed him. But I think a test is in order, don't you?"
Klaus went behind Elena and looked to Stefan. "Ripper... Perhaps you'd like a drink.. From the doppelgänger's neck?"
Veins protruded from beneath Stefan's eyes as he plunged his teeth into her neck.
I ran towards them, but Klaus held me back by the arms. "Now, now, love. Do you really want to get involved in a lover's quarrel?"
Turns out, Elena's blood was the solution to the hybrid fiasco. Damon had rescued her - again - from being harmed. Now, she was Klaus' human blood bag.
I wasn't sure if he deserved it, but I needed to speak to Damon. He was a little insecure when it came to Stefan and being the bad brother. I made him feel like crap. I didn't like doing that to anyone... especially him.
I heard the front door open and shut. I stood up, hoping it was Damon, but also hoping it wasn't.
He flinched back a bit when he saw it was me. "Hey," I said.
Damon, as expected, turned to alcohol. "Have you come to give me a lecture on how I shouldn't have ran off with Katherine?"
"I know you don't like being compared to Stefan, Damon, but I wasn't doing that." I stepped closer to him. "I know you're a vampire, and I know you kill. That's who you are. But I want to draw the line when it comes down to my family and friends and their families."
"You're not going to try to change me?" Damon asked, not looking away from him.
I kept my gaze. "No."
He cupped my face in his hands and kissed me passionately. I wrapped my arms around his neck.
Pulling away from him, I pushed him on the arm chair. I knew he was letting me, but it didn't make me feel any less aroused. I got on top of him on his lap and captured his lips with mine. I pulled his top over his hand and took off mine quickly.
It was one hell of a night.
A/N: Review, follow, fave! I'd love to hear some of your suggestions.