Note: I... finally… managed to update…*cries* Thanks for waiting patiently and all the support for this story has been lovely.

Chapter 15

The light scratch of pencil on paper was the only sound throughout the large mansion. An artist's hands were busy at work, creating the image they had pictured effortlessly in their own mind—

"Nik! There you are! I've been meaning to ask…"

Klaus sighed as he looked up from the paper to meet the sight of his youngest brother heading down the stairs, a mischievous smile already on display. The peace and quiet was nice while it lasted, Klaus thought, already resigning himself to at least an hour of Kol's vexing antics.

Klaus waved his free hand absently in a shoo gesture. "Go bother someone else with your questions, Kol."

The younger Original was not deterred at all and stood before Klaus, the grin now wider. "I know what's got you down."

"Please, enlighten me," Klaus drawled dispassionately.

"Blonde curls and blue eyes. The exact kind," he leant over to get a complete view of Klaus's current work, "sketched onto that very paper."

Klaus remained impassive despite wanting to snatch those very drawn features away from prying eyes. "There's nothing wrong between me and Caroline," he lied, glad when Kol finished inspecting his latest artwork and moved over to the couch opposite.

"And yet she left that evening with Matt—the commoner, of all people!—and not you." Kol leant back in his chair, enjoying the irritation blatantly displayed on Klaus's face before continuing, "As your brother I am truly ashamed."

Klaus shrugged; an attempt to cover up just how much the fact that he had practically pushed Caroline into Matt's arms annoyed him. Judging from Kol's smug grin, it clearly wasn't working so he decided to retaliate with: "Well now you know how I've felt about you these past thousand years, Kol; shame, shame and more shame."

He was only able to remain pleased with his comeback for a few seconds before Kol spoke again, effectively erasing any satisfaction.

"At least my interest in a girl doesn't scare them off."

That one certainly caused a dent in Klaus's ego, with Caroline's rejection of him still fresh in his mind. Not that he would ever let Kol know that.

"And why do my social affairs interest you so?" He inquired, though he didn't particularly care for the answer.

"Because I'm bored!" Kol whined childishly, flopping back on the chair and looking up at the ceiling as if it held the answers he needed. "I can only get so much entertainment from bothering you—"

"Glad to be of service," Klaus muttered, most of his attention still on his drawing.

"—and Rebekah isn't back yet, no doubt still snuggled up against whatever poor fellow she's decided to string along this time. Elijah is still far too moral and dull and don't even get me started on the lack of killing I had yesterday, all thanks to your baby vampire. My conclusion? Boring and in desperate need of entertainment."

"Then what are you waiting for?" He spared Kol a glance of contempt for the new nickname he appeared to have given Caroline before returning his gaze to the sketch. "Have at it," he encouraged, hoping it would work so he could be left to his piece of art once again.

"It's no fun going alone," Kol admitted with a pout before he abruptly sat up. "Join me Nik!" At Klaus's obvious denial through silence, Kol's tone turned dark and his playful demeanour disappeared as he said, "It's the least you could do after sticking a dagger through my heart and threatening to do the very same thing yesterday."

The twisted persuasion forced Klaus to actually look at his brother properly. He couldn't deny the thread of regret that reached him because of his past actions. Although his threat from yesterday was an action he didn't feel any remorse for. While he had been absent from the start of the fight between his brother and Caroline, he wasn't naïve enough to believe she had been the one to start the violence. Klaus was also quite the (unwilling) expert on just how troublesome and provoking Kol could be.

Over a thousand years he had also picked up on a few useful skills, one of them being that he could easily detect and pick up on lies. Of course, Caroline not being a very efficient liar may have had something to do with it too. Caroline lying to him didn't particularly bother him, what really bothered him was why she had lied to him.

Even more frustrating was that Kol had played along in the lie. They had been 'working together' in a sense, which irritated him greatly. Could it be that she was… protecting Kol? Which was absurd; Kol would have easily killed her if he had the chance! Then again, she had done the very same thing with his disobedient hybrid only weeks before. She always had been far too selfless…

"Okay, fine," Klaus finally gave in. "Why not?" He placed the sketch book down, leaving the drawing half finished—he could easily finish it later. "I didn't have nearly enough to drink last night, what with you trying to murder both Rebekah's date and my own."

It might also give me a distraction from thinking about her, Klaus silently added.

"That's the spirit, brother!" Kol followed eagerly behind as Klaus left the living room. "Also, my intention was never to murder your date, Nik."

Klaus didn't even bother to keep the sarcasm out of his voice when he replied, "You could have fooled me."

"I speak the truth – it was really just a test." Klaus's only response was to give him a glare so he elaborated, "An experiment to see how far you had fallen for her. I have to say; even I was surprised when you showed up like a white knight to save her."

"Kol." He said flatly.

Kol looked over at him in questioning. "Yes?"

"Be quiet."

The younger brother actually obliged for once, but his satisfied smile stayed on his lips for the whole journey. Which, in Klaus's opinion, was even more infuriating.

Caroline had been the first to leave Bonnie's house after their little get together. As she was now in one of her favourite clothes shops she allowed the happy pretence she put up in front of her friends slide of her face and to be replaced with…what? Sadness? Regret? Hate for herself? It wasn't hard to figure out the cause of these horrible emotions either.

Bonnie's earlier words repeated throughout her head again. "He'll be dead by the end of the night."

By the end of the night Klaus will be dead, then. How did she feel about that? She had no idea. She should have known, no, she did know this would eventually happen. It was just something she had been pushing aside, avoiding to confront because of the confusion it would cause. Wasn't this the inevitable goal they had been trying to reach ever since Klaus had appeared?

A ringtone brought Caroline out of her chaotic thoughts and she glanced at the caller id. Damon. With a huff she stashed the phone back inside her bag and kept raking through the sale section. It was doubtful he was calling to check if she was okay or, god forbid, to make small talk.

When it got to the fourth ring (he was never one to take no for an answer) Caroline gave in and finally answered, fully prepared to exclaim her annoyance to the vampire on the other line when she was greeted with Damon's own frustration.

"It's about time! A second later and I would have been forced to run over to your place, something I wasn't too keen on if I'm being completely honest. Although," he said with unrestrained annoyance, "it would have been a lot quicker."

Caroline almost wished she hadn't answered now. If Damon had dashed through her front door with no warning what so ever, her mother—the one and only Sheriff Forbes—would have put her shooting skills to good use on the intruding vampire before realizing who it was.

"I'm happy I'm not actually back home yet then," she said with a pointless smile. "So what do you want?"

There was a clink that sounded very much like a whiskey glass being placed on a table. "Straight to the point, hm? How about some girly gossip to pass th–"

"I'm seconds away from hanging up and turning off my phone," Caroline interrupted, severely tempted to do just that. She expected some sort of playful remark back, so when Damon's next words were said so seriously she found herself unable to respond straightaway.

"I'm sure you've heard of the plan from Bonnie by now. Tonight will be a full moon, our chance to finally get rid of all the Originals at once."

"I know," was her curt reply as she mentally vowed to never answer her phone again if it was Damon.

"Well there's been a little…modification to the plan." His rare apprehensiveness immediately put her on alert. "Elijah found out about his mummy's plans. As one might imagine he wasn't exactly thrilled."

He went silent for a few moments and she found that, when Damon did eventually speak, she had gripped a random piece of clothing so hard she had created holes in the lovely fabric. Hopefully none of the workers would notice.

"He has taken Elena as a…bargaining chip."

Oh. That explained Damon's behaviour. Instead of bombarding him with questions and several insults for letting Elena get held captive she held her tongue and waited for him to speak. He wouldn't be telling her this for no reason, which meant they must need her help.

"Not to worry though, as yours truly has come up with Plan B," he informed her with pride. "We still have one dagger on us and, as you know, if one of them goes down while they are linked together by Esther's spell – they will all go down. Apart from Klaus that is," Damon continued, "And this is where you come in."

"What do you mean?" Caroline asked, even though she was sure she already knew where this was going.

She had been expecting a call from one of the Salvatore brothers ever since she learnt about Esther's goal from Bonnie. While she had known she wouldn't have been able to escape the Original drama, she had hoped on at least being able to spend the night watching crappy television shows and remaining blissfully unaware (or at least, trying her best to) as Esther's plan began. Now that Elijah was using the life of Elena over them Caroline had to help in any way she could. The Original had the upper hand on them now.

"Klaus is…smart." Even over the phone Caroline could easily make out Damon's reluctance to admit that. "So we'll need some sort of…distraction."

She kept silent. Maybe she could play the old trick and say they got disconnected, an excuse that was painfully obvious but right now Caroline would take anything she could get to buy a little time. What she would do with that time was a mystery—perhaps shout and scream about how unfair life was and in the process get kicked out of the store?

Damon, oblivious to her inner turmoil, didn't seem to be affected by her silence at all as he hinted, "Preferably a blonde one."

"This sucks!" Caroline suddenly snapped, beyond caring if she sounded immature. "Why can't you get someone else to seduce him? Or…or you can piss him off, or something! You're good at that."

Damon sighed and she knew that was an eye roll to accompany that. "Because Blondie, love is much more blinding and distracting than hate – with extra emphasis on the distracting part here."

What Damon was saying actually made sense, annoyingly for her. If anyone else was to try and keep Klaus busy they would probably end up losing a vital organ or, knowing his short temper (not that she knew Klaus that well, of course), dead.

"Also, I would like to continue living my... un-dead existence past tonight," Damon added, unknowingly proving her thoughts right. He said it with a tone that suggested he was recalling every injury Klaus had inflicted upon him.

"…Fine. I'll do it," she conceded. (Did she really even have a choice anymore?) There was a pause as she considered just exactly how she would go about this. "Wait, hang on…what am I going to wear that will seduce a one thousand year old hybrid?"

"I'm not entirely sure why I would know the answer to that and if I should feel offended that you asked. Besides," his tone turned heavy with amusement, "whatever you've been wearing so far seems to have done the trick."

"Oh, shut up Damon!" Not waiting for his next snarky reply, she went to end the call but Damon cut in first.

"Are you sure you are up for this?"

At first she felt a little offended. Was Damon really doubting and questioning her ability to keep a man interested for a few minutes? But then she noted the underlying caring tone in his voice; he was asking the question for her sake. It was a shock to realise that, out of everyone, it was Damon who was the most aware of what was happening between her and Klaus.

Despite wanting to blurt everything to her friends she had effectively been keeping them in the dark and all they knew was that Klaus had taken an interest in her (and maybe if she kept telling them that she would begin to believe that was all there was to it herself).

Caroline countered with a question of her own. "Is there anyone else who can do this?"

They both already knew the answer to that, but Damon decided to humour her anyway, "No."

"Then I'll do it," she concluded with determination, "For Elena."

She tried to remember what she had stowed away in her wardrobe as she raced back home. Somehow she didn't think her cheerleader outfit would quite do the job…

Klaus downed another drink, satisfaction lasting only an instant before the alcoholic taste was replaced with the stinging hunger that never quite disappeared. By this time of night the Grill was already full with several intoxicated humans—easy pickings.

Lucky fools, being able to drown out those sorrows so easily.

Or unlucky, by the time he and Kol finished with them.

The last time he had been at Mystic Grill—or any bar, for that matter—was when Stefan had been in possession of his coffins. It was also the time that he had witnessed Caroline half-drunk, which was rather amusing as she slurred pathetic insults towards hi—

Bloody hell.

Even now he couldn't stop thinking about the peppy, bright eyed, blonde vampire.

With a frown he reached into his jean pocket to get his mobile and call Rebekah. Usually by now his sister would be bothering him about some problem or a complaint, yet he hadn't heard from her all day. This was unusual for Rebekah, being the pampered drama queen that she was.

When she still hadn't answered after several calls Klaus left a rushed and blunt, "Call me."

The only other time Rebekah had not answered his calls was because she had been unable to—the time Elena had, quite literally, stabbed her in the back. Surely the doppelgänger's group weren't foolish enough to try something like that again?

Kol leant towards Klaus and said in a hushed tone, "Please try to smile, Nik. You're scaring all the pretty little things away." He then looked down at the phone in his hands. "Do you find it odd that the baby vampire won't answer your calls?"

That nickname was really starting to grate on Klaus's nerves.

(And it's not like he even had Caroline's number to be able to call her anyway.)

(Which he would also not let Kol be aware of. Klaus could easily obtain her number if he so desired.)

"I find it odd," Klaus began to correct with a snarl, "that the rest of our family has disappeared for the day."

"You know our sister is a strumpet." Kol said easily. "As for Elijah? Oh, he is probably reflecting on every sin he has ever done in life – no doubt joined by Finn. And mother?" He shrugged, not looking the least bit worried. "Your guess is as good as mine on that one."

Call it anxiety—paranoia, perhaps—but Klaus was on edge and, in all his immortal life, he had never been one to ignore his instincts.

Kol's mocking reached him again. "Don't tell me you're jealous because you may not be Rebekah's favourite brother anymore."

"Ridiculous," Klaus mumbled. He then tilted his head in the direction of two humans. "Why don't you help yourself to that doctor you've had your eye on since we got here?"

His brother didn't even need to look behind him. "And risk the wrath of a vampire hunter?" He asked mockingly, not concerned about the female's company in the slightest.

"That's never stopped you before."

"And it never will." Kol responded with a smug smile before setting of in the direction of his current obsession.

Klaus took that time to head for the backdoor of the bar, purpose clearly set on his features, and easily slipped away as if he had never been there.

Alaric Saltzman watched from the other side of the bar with panic and terror as the hybrid left the building, destroying the plan Damon had informed him of only minutes earlier; how could they distract someone who was no longer here?

Alaric was no vampire with heightened senses, that was for sure, but he'd have to be blind to not notice Klaus's calculating gaze as he spoke with his brother. His abrupt exit only confirmed Alaric's thoughts; Klaus had grown suspicious and was going to act upon it. If Klaus was also to find out about the Original witches spell, like Elijah, they would be in trouble.

To make things even worse, Kol was deliberately heading for them. There was no way they could stick to the plan anymore.

There was also no time to alert Caroline either.

All black had been the final decision after quickly trying on several outfits. Why? Caroline wasn't entirely sure—maybe because it made her feel more daring while playing the part of a seductress, a sinful and slightly villainess charade. Or perhaps she was dressed like she was going to a funeral because, in less than an hour, she would responsible for the deaths of a whole family.

"You are not doing this. Esther is doing this."

Those were the very words she had told Elena earlier. But, Caroline wondered, was she trying to reduce Elena's guilt or her own? Now was hardly the right time to be thinking about it though, as she stood outside the bar that both Klaus and Kol were in (two originals she hadn't exactly parted on good terms with).

She became more anxious with every second that passed; Elijah would order Rebekah to kill Elena at nine. She had no more time to delay or hesitate.

With a last check over of herself, she set her shoulders and opened the doors with as much confidence she could gather knowing she was seconds away from having Klaus's eyes on her again.

Note:

Oh no, has Caroline missed her chance? :o Yeah, I'm mean for ending it there! I'm soooo glad I finally got this finished. ;-; My forehead was hurting from all the face palming I did when I couldn't think of what to write next.

When I first post a chapter I think, 'Yeah, this is good!' then a few days pass and I think it's the worst thing ever. Why does my brain do this to me? Oh yeah, I may be editing some of the earlier chapters soon (a.k.a probably not for ages), so don't worry if this story has less chapters one day or something like that.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to let me know what you thought of this chapter, feedback is helpful and well, nice to read!