"Shouldn't you be at family dinner right now?"
"Nope," Charlotte replied smoothly, taking a drink. She whisked the drink around in her glass. "It's an intervention that I don't think will be productive. 'Jeremy, want some salad? You're spiraling and everything you're doing is wrong so you need to stop without us giving you any actual advice.' It serves its purpose, but when I talk to him after the first blow it'll be much more effective."
Damon laughed. "Still, that doesn't mean you need to be here."
"Of coure it does. You're my only friend and I'm your only friend."
Damon shrugged in agreement, knowing he couldn't argue much. "Okay. Even as a vampire booze go right through me. I'll be back."
When Charlotte returned she heard an all too familiar voice.
"I think it´s about time we had a drink, don't you?"
Charlotte grinned and waltzed into the room. "Gentlemen."
"Charlotte, maybe you should go." Damon said.
"No, no. Miss Charlotte is perfectly welcome. Would you like a drink?" Klaus offered.
"See, Damon. This is the hospitality I've been missing."
Charlotte took the glass from Klaus and took a drink.
"Well, I'd say we're long overdue for this chat." Damon insisted. As usual, Charlotte would need to make sure Damon didn't do anything idiotic around an Original, as usual.
"Well, you`ve both been so busy with all your plotting and scheming."
"You know us. Never miss a chance to plan an epic failure." Damon shrugged.
"Don't be so hard on yourself. Who could have guessed your own brother would betray you?"
"Well, I did have a front row seat when your sister lied to you."
The two sparred back and forth. Charlotte rolled her eyes.
"Well it looks like everyone's a traitor in their own right, doesn't it?" Charlotte took a drink.
"Speaking of traitors, you don't happen to know of my sister's whereabouts, do you?" He asked this to Damon.
"That's the thing with younger siblings. You just never know what they're gonna do."
Charlotte couldn't agree more to that.
Damon poured himself and Klaus a drink, and Charlotte a refill.
"Cheers."
"Down the hatch."
"You know, the three of us have a lot in common," Klaus observed.
"What, the irresponsible younger siblings or the hatred for Stefan Salvatore?" Charlotte asked.
Damon smirked. "Why are you so mad at him? Did he steal something?"
"My family, the Originals. I had them daggered, boxed-up awaiting the day when I saw fit to wake them. And he went in and pinched the bloody lot."
"That's low." Charlotte feigned sympathy. "But then again, so is killing and boxing up your siblings."
"Hey, hey, hey." Damon played her game. "Leave the man to make his choices. See, Klaus, I'd love to help you find my baby bro, the only problem is that I sure as hell don't work for you."
"Damon, you're about to do something stupid again." Charlotte muttered, uncaring of whether Klaus heard her or not. "And when you do something, it usually makes the rest of us have to deal with it."
Klaus grinned at her warning, then looked to Damon.
"You know, your drink stinks of vervain- so I can't compel you. There be no point in killing you because your actually the one with the most help of getting me what I need. And yet it would seem a demonstration is in order. Perhaps I wasn't clear enough when I told you to find Stefan."
And then he looked to Charlotte.
"And you, Miss Gilbert, while I may have a soft spot for someone with such tenacity, you have been nothing but a pain in my side. And you, too, apparently, are on the bloody herb. Find me Stefan Salvatore. It's a simple task, benefits us all, but apparently you lot only respons to acts of violence."
And then he picked up his phone.
"That thing you were supposed to do? Do it."
Charlotte walked a thin line between over exaggerated emotions and the complete lack thereof. She thought being a vampire would make her cool, calm, like Damon was. But she was exhausted, now. She wished she could give up. But she knew she couldn't.
"This is my fault. I was right there when he did it. I could have stopped him. If I would have been at this stupid dinner."
"Shut it, Gilbert." Damon remarked sarcastically.
"Things would be smoother if I weren't here."
"No. Things would be smoother if Jeremy weren't here."
"What are you suggesting, Damon?"
Charlotte sat in her bedroom, knees hugged on her bed. Damon stood at the edge of the room.
"Elena and I talked about it. She wants your permission. She thinks it would be best to send Jeremy away for a while, your cousins in Denver."
Elena wanted to send Jeremy away. Because Jeremy was in danger.
"That's hysterical." Charlotte laughed. "Really, really, funny. Elena actually sees Jeremy as lesser than she is! As more in danger, and less capable of taking care of himself!" Charlotte's laughter was hysterical. She was hysterical. "No, really. You two. Of course. Just send Jeremy away! Elena knows best, she always does! Send him my regards, really!"
She got up, then, patted Damon on the back, and left without another word.
How dare Elena decide that she had the right to determine where Jeremy goes, to determine herself smarter, more capable than Jeremy? Granted, the plan wasn't bad. It just pissed Charlotte off that, as always, Elena was the one calling the shots. Apparently she was qualified to stick around, but Jeremy wasn't. Charlotte would be more than happy for them both to be shipped off.
But, no! We could never send Elena away- she is the one running the operating here, apparently!
And then she called a number she didn't think she would. Surprisingly, there was an answer.
"Stefan Salvatore! The traitor and the free agent!"
"Charlotte Gilbert, what can I do for you?"
"Whatever you're doing, I want in. Elena's not running the show anymore, got it? Klaus threatened my brother. Let's hit him where it hurts."
"This is the one I've been dreaming about."
Bonnie approached the coffin, trying to open it.
"Don't bother. It won't open."
"What do you mean? Is it locked?" Bonnie asked Stefan.
"Of course. Centuries old Original Vampires protect their most valued possessions with keys." Charlotte rolled her eyes, impatient at just about everybody in the world.
"I've tried everything. Blow torches. Crowbar. Can't even scratch the finish."
"Have you tried the power of friendship, Stefan?"
"It's protected with a spell." Bonnie decided.
"Obviously."
"You don't have to be here if you're just going to make sarcastic remarks." Bonnie snapped at her. Charlotte nodded.
"Sorry. All the rebelling is getting to my head. It's been a rough day. Please continue."
She turned back to Stefan. "You said you wanted to make him suffer. The witches led me here for a reason. I think whatever is inside this coffin is our answer."
Charlotte hadn't been home in a bit. Her anger with Elena and Damon bore too strong for her to be in the same household as Elena. Elena, as always, was calling the shots. Next thing she knew Charlotte would be sent away, or locked up, or told condescendingly to leave town. She didn't even plan on going to school if it weren't for the fact that it was Caroline's birthday.
Charlotte loved birthdays. Something about having a day specified just for you was euphoric. Even though she shared a day with Elena her entire life, her parents always made sure to treat them like royalty individually.
And it's amazing, the theory of a birthday. The fact that if 9 months before birth, two people had done something slightly different, that someone might not exist. Birthdays are a celebration of existence!
Charlotte walked into school expecting to see Elena and Bonnie already on Caroline's locker. No such luck, however. Looked like Charlotte would be the one to appreciate Caroline for the day.
Lottie smiled to herself as she carried her bag of supplied to Caroline's locker. Having a summer birthday always made her jealous of the decorated lockers. So Mara would always make sure to decorate Lottie's bedroom on her birthday.
Charlotte thought for a moment. She would never, ever, give up her Birthday. Even if she was technically dead.
Charlotte was taping streamers onto Caroline's locker when Elena arrived.
"Hey, I didn't expect you to be here before me."
"You know I love birthdays." Charlotte acquiesced. "Hand me the tape, will you?"
"I brought balloons." She remarked.
"Perfect. The only thing I forgot."
The two decorated in silence, Lottie not allowing Elena to touch much. About five minutes later, Bonnie arrived.
"Hey, sorry I'm late. I got held up."
"It's okay. I only just got here."
"Balloons?" Charlotte asked. Bonnie passed them to her.
"I was working on some new spells, you?"
"Working out with Alaric. So, I have something I need to tell you, and you're not gonna like it."
Charlotte knew what Elena was about to say, so she pursed her lips and violently tied the balloons around Caroline's locker.
"What happened?"
"Jeremy is gonna be leaving town for a while. He'll be staying with some old family friends in Denver, until this whole Klaus thing blows over."
"Jeremy wouldn't just leave you to deal with Klaus on your own."
"How right you are, Bonnie. Jeremy would never." Charlotte couldn't help but butt in. "The noble Damon Salvatore compelled him, under my sister's request."
"I asked Damon to compel him." Elena confessed.
"You what?"
"I know, Bonnie. But it's not safe for him here anymore. Leaving will give him a better life. The only reason I'm telling you is because I know that you two haven't really worked out your stuff. And I thought that maybe you'd wanna say goodbye."
Bonnie looked over to Jeremy and frowned.
Charlotte looked at Bonnie. "I know. I'm not too happy about it either."
Bonnie shook her head and went to talk to Jeremy.
"I know you're going to miss Jeremy. . ." Elena started.
"What a genius you are, Elena." Charlotte laughed. "No. That's not my problem. I lived away from the both of you guys without missing you for a second. I'm upset, angry, furious, even, at you. Just you."
"Lottie-"
"Stop. Don't call me that. Don't be patronizing like you always are when you think you're doing the right thing."
"He's better off not here-"
"So are you, Elena! Do you want me to compel you to leave town? Because if you step one more inch over the line a sure as hell will!" Charlotte screamed back at her. "You don't have the right to make that decision for Jeremy, with your hypocrisy and righteousness. You're in as much danger as he is. In all honesty, I think you're send him away because you don't want to have to give out the extra effort to talk to him, to protect him. You don't want to expend the energy that everybody else in this goddamn town does for you."
Charlotte looked at Elena.
"I'm not leaving until I'm done here. Making the dramatic exit is on you."
Charlotte shut her locker with a sigh and then stared over at Caroline's untouched masterpiece. She heard someone approach her.
"Elena, I really don't want to talk to you right now."
"I don't want to talk to her either." She heard the voice of a familiar witch. "That's why I'm talking to you."
Charlotte turned around to see Bonnie and Matt.
"Caroline bailed on school today, so we're taking the party to her."
Charlotte gave them a genuine grin. "Fabulous." She pulled Caroline's gift from her locker.
"Away we go."
Charlotte rode with Matt, whom she hadn't had a genuine conversation with in ages. She forgot how genuinely good of a person he was. They talked TV shows, Caroline, their lack of love lives. And she laughed.
The quartet arrived at the Forbes' house when Charlotte had realized that she was never invited in.
"Are you kidding me?" Charlotte murmured in disbelief and frustration. "Perfect. I'll just wait outside and you three can be the shining knights of birthday fun."
"Sorry, Lottie."
Somehow she didn't mind when Matt called her that.
"No, it's probably meant to be. I would have upstaged you anyway. I'll tell you what, I'll go and decorate the falls and wait there for you. I'll build the fire, hand g some ballons, set up the custom bar. Text me when you're on your way, Matt."
Charlotte gave them a smile and ran to pick up her car.
"Welcome, friends!" Charlotte beckoned from within the crypt.
"Lottie, you're here?" Caroline asked. "Of course. You know I love birthdays!" She tossed Caroline a present, who was able to catch it with her vampire reflexes.
"Change of plans, Charlotte." Elena grinned, walking in. "This isn't a birthday anymore. It's a funeral."
"That's creepy. Even for us."
"No, Caroline was right... technically, she's dead. Sorry. But you don't need a birthday, you need a funeral. You need to say goodbye to your old life, so that you can move on with your new one." Charlotte disagreed with the premise, but if it helped Caroline, so be it. They could have a little vampire heart to heart later.
"Okay." Caroline nodded. "Here lies Caroline Forbes-"
Elena stuck candles into Caroline's cake as she spoke. "-Cheerleader, Miss Mystic Falls, third grade hopscotch champion..."
"...friend, daughter, overachiever..." Bonnie said.
"All-star party thrower, pep talk giver, and genuinely fantastic person." Charlotte remarked.
"...Mean girl, sometimes, no offense."
"None taken."
"She was 17, and she had a really good life. So rest in peace, so that she can move forward. That's what you really need. What we all really need. Amen, or cheers or whatever. Bonnie?"
Bonnie lit the candles with her powers.
And Caroline made her wish.
Amidst all of the drunken truth or dare and shots of tequila, Charlotte sat next to Caroline, who was not exactly feeling the celebration.
"It's still your birthday, you know." She told Caroline quietly. "It's the day of your birth. It's still a day. Just because you're physically stuck at seventeen doesn't mean that the world around you doesn't change, and that you don't change with it."
"You're just saying that because you love birthdays." She smiled at her.
"I mean it! I mean, I'm a vampire, stuck at age seventeen for the rest of my eternal life as well, and if you don't think that I didn't celebrate my birthday than you are horribly wrong."
"How exactly did you celebrate, Lottie?" Caroline asked her with a smile.
"We are not going to talk about that right now. It was a dark time, but a very, very fun time. Anyway, birthdays are supposed to be about marking your life experiences of the past and a celebration of the future, that you made it another year. You can do anything now. You can change your life, you could literally do anything with your new year. And now that you're a vampire, it's not about being stuck. Think of all of the cool stuff there is to do now! Just do me a favor and cheer up, okay, Blondie?"
She nodded with a grin. "I'll cheer up when you do."
"Deal."
As the four ate their cake, Matt went to take a drink of tequila.
"Ah-ah. I need it more than you do, trust me. Caroline, what are you doing?" Elena looked over at Caroline, who was on her phone.
"What? Nothing."
"You're a bad sober liar, an even worse drunk one."
"Okay. I might have texted Tyler."
"Caroline. . ."
"What? I'm delicate."
"Look, I hate Tyler Lockwood literally more than anybody else here. . ." Charlotte started, trying to ease the tension. "But it is Caroline's birthday, right? And she absolutely freaking loves Tyler, and he loves her too. He does have a right to be here."
"Are you kidding me?" Elena asked.
"Give her a break, Elena! It's not like you can control what everybody does all the time!"
"Wow." She drawled lowly.
"Ouch, Bon."
"Sorry, I know it's Caroline birthday, funeral or whatever but, I just feel it's really wrong that you compelled Jeremy to leave town."
"I'm doing it to protect him, Bonnie. I want to give him a chance to have a quiet normal life."
"How do you know he wants a normal life, Elena? Do you want a quiet, normal life with some random family members?" Charlotte snapped at her.
"Of course I do! We all do!" She replied.
Charlotte rushed over to her. "Then maybe I should do what's best for you, shouldn't I? I am the older sibling, and you're just a fragile human in danger of the big bad hybrid and I don't feel like actually protecting you. Take of your bracelet, Elena. It's time we have a chat."
Matt pulled Charlotte away, slowly. "Cool it," he whispered.
"He should be able to choose how he wants to live it, you're taking his choices away." Bonnie replied.
"You can't tell him."
"Why? Are you gonna compel me not to?"
"You know, you guys are ruining a perfect funeral." Matt announced.
"I'm sorry. I'm just gonna go sleep it off or something. Happy birthday." Bonnie left.
Charlotte nodded. "You're right. You're so right. I'm sorry, Caroline. Today's about you, not me, not Jeremy, not Elena. You. Caroline Lockwood. No more talk of Jeremy, okay? Elena and I can truce for tonight."
Caroline nodded. "Thank you."
"Now open your present already!"
"She's been gone for a while. I'm worried."
Lottie was the only sober person left.
"She probably just left with Tyler."
"Even so, I'm not sure that makes me feel any better. Let's look for her, split up. We'll find her. Matt and Elena, you go."
Charlotte stood up and left the area to look for her friend. "Caroline! Hey, if you're out here I'm a bit worried about you, so feel free to give a shout!"
Nothing. Charlotte tried to track Caroline by scent. When Charlotte finally found her, she was lying on the ground, a bite in her neck Charlotte had only seen with Damon and Rose before.
"Oh my God. Matt! Elena!" Charlotte picked Caroline up.
Nobody responded. "Hello?"
Lottie ran Caroline to her car and drove about a hundred miles an hour to the Forbes house. She banged on the door to find Liz inside.
"Oh my god. What happened?"
"Tyler bit her. Sheriff, I need you to let me in. Please."
She nodded. "You can come in, Charlotte."
Charlotte walked inside, trying not to break. Caroline was barely awake.
"Oh my god, sweetheart." She laid her hand on Caroline's cheek. "Oh, honey. Caroline, honey, can you hear me?"
"I'm sorry, Mom."
Lottie gently carries Caroline over to her bed. "She's hallucinating. It's one of the first symptoms. I've seen this a couple times. And nobody is picking up their phone."
Liz sat down next to Caroline. "It's all right, sweetheart."
"I'm going to get her some blood. It will work for the time being. I can get in her head and try to make this as painless as possible." Charlotte told Liz.
She nodded, crying.
"Caroline isn't going to die, Sheriff. I won't let her."
Charlotte knew the one person who could save Caroline Forbes, and that was Klaus.
Charlotte gave Caroline some blood and sat in the room with her, trying to play nice images into her mind, but she was still in pain. She tried calling everyone she could in order to get ahold of Klaus, even Tyler. But nobody would answer her calls. And then the doorbell rang, and Charlotte opened it, and there stood Klaus like a savior.
"Tyler came to see me. Poor boy, he seemed quiet distressed, he said Caroline had a terrible accident."
"Klaus, I don't care why Tyler did it. I know you made him do it, but please, just help her. Caroline doesn't deserve this. It's her birthday, for God's sakes! Is nothing sacred." Charlotte pleaded weakly. Klaus smiled.
"I'm here to help, Charlotte. My blood will heal her. Please, ask the Sheriff to invite me inside."
"Liz!" Charlotte called. The sheriff emerged from Caroline's room. "I know how this works. You want something in return."
"It doesn't matter." Charlotte whispered. "He's the only one who can help Caroline."
"I only wish for your support."
"Come in." The sheriff spoke reluctantly.
Charlotte stood outside of Caroline's door as Klaus walked in to heal her.
"Are you here to kill me?" He voice was devastatingly weak. It almost made Charlotte break.
"On your birthday? You really think that low of me?" He spoke softly.
"Yes."
She heard a pause.
"That looks bad. My apologies, you're whats known as collateral damage, it's nothing personal." Pause. "I love birthdays."
"Yeah. Aren't you like...a billion, or something?" Charlotte smiled, putting her hand to her mouth, trying not to cry.
"Well you have to adjust your perception of time when you become a vampire, Caroline. Celebrate the fact that you're no longer bound by trivial human conventions. You're free."
Leave it to Charlotte to actually agree with Klaus on something.
"No, I'm dying."
Don't say that, Caroline.
Please, don't say that.
She heard Klaus sit on the bed next to her.
"And I could let you die, if that's what you want. If you really believe your existence has no meaning. I thought about it myself, once or twice over the centuries, truth will be told. But I'll let you in on a little secret. There is a whole world out there, waiting for you. Great cities and art and music, genuine beauty. And you can have all of it. You can have a thousand more birthdays. All you have to do is ask."
Charlotte could barely hold it in. Klaus actually didn't seem like a complete monster, for once. Maybe there was a little bit of good in everyone, even those who seem darkest.
"I don't wanna die."
She was so weak. Please, please let her live, Klaus.
"Here. Have at it."
Nothing.
"Happy Birthday, Caroline."
Charlotte rushed away, not wanting Klaus to know she was listening.
And Klaus walked out like a storm, saying nothing. Charlotte followed him.
"Klaus, wait."
He stopped, and turned around.
"Yes?"
"Thank you. Thank you so much. I know there was nothing for you to gain from saving her, but you did." Charlotte was still near tears. "She is one of the best people I know. Thank you so much. I owe you a favor."
"I didn't do it for you."
"I know you didn't. You did it for her. And I'm taking the favor that she may owe you at some point."
"It was a birthday gift." He replied.
Charlotte smiled weakly. "No one deserved to die on their birthday, do they? I was listening to what you were saying, just as insurance that for whatever reason you would, I don't know, decide to put her out of her misery instead of saving her. You aren't as bad as everyone paints you to be, Klaus."
He wanted to reply something sarcastic, condescending, but he didn't.
"Your loyalty is something of which to be envious, Charlotte. You're not as dark as you paint yourself to be."
Maybe, maybe even Klaus deserved to be alive.
"Oh, and you ought to check on your sister. I doubt anybody informed you of her activities this evening."
"And you're sure you're okay?"
"Positive."
"I'm going to rip is throat out."
"Don't do that."
"I'm sorry I wasn't there."
"Don't mention it."
"I'm sorry that he almost killed you and our final words would have been an argument."
"Lottie."
"No."
"I'm sorry, too."
"You almost died."
"Is Caroline okay?"
"Klaus saved her."
"I should have been there."
"You were a little busy not dying."
"Stefan Salvatore I am going to rip out you're throat. I'm not bluffing anymore. Show yourself, coward!" Charlotte yelled through the Salvatore mansion. She walked upstairs, looking for her least favorite brother. She looked around before he emerged.
"Sure, thing, Lottie. Try and kill me. See how far that gets you."
"You tried to kill my sister."
"But I didn't."
"Wipe that goddamn smile off of your face!" Charlotte shouted, running towards him at full force. "When I joined your little operation I didn't expect for you to try and kill my sister!"
Charlotte broke one of his chairs into pieces before pinning Stefan to the wall. "I'm going to kill you. And I will not feel remorse. I will not feel guilt. I will only feel like a hero for freeing the poor world of Stefan Salvatore." She tried to stake Stefan in the heart, but he only smiled, grabbing her arms and snapping her wrist before she could make a move.
"This is why nobody consults you on anything, Gilbert. Because you're an idiot. I wasn't going to kill your sister. Klaus just needed a little push, go it?" He picked up the stake that was once held by Charlotte, throwing it at her. She was able to roll under it. Typically, she tended not to be the best fighter, but Damon had taught her a thing or two and she was filled with so much emotion that the adrenaline, even for a vampire, was pushing her to do better.
"You almost killed my sister!" She shouted. She grabbed the stake and rammed it through Stefan's abdomen. She looked him in the eyes, ripping it out again and placing it just under his heart. "The only reason I'm not killing you right now is because my sister sees some good in you. Because she still loves you, for some God Forsaken reason. And to be honest I have some hope left for you, too, and I don't want your blood on my hands." She pulled it gently from Stefan and tossed it away. "Don't fucking touch Elena again. I might not kill you but I sure as hell can find a way to make you suffer for it."
She marched down stairs. And saw Klaus sitting in a chair, having a drink.
"Just spectacular."
Stefan walked down as well, about to retaliate to Charlotte's attack, but saw Klaus instead.
"Am I interrupting something?"
"What are you doing here, Klaus?"
"Enjoying our stalemate." He replied.
"What do you want?"
"The question is what you want? My hybrids left town as you demanded, so please tell me what I need to do to get my family back." Klaus replied.
"Your hybrids are gone?" Charlotte asked.
"As negotiated."
"Well, see, Klaus? I'm not negotiating." Stefan smirked. Charlotte rolled her eyes.
"And you understand that holding them indefinitely is the same thing as dropping them in the ocean?"
"No, No. You leave Mystic Falls and then give me call in a few years and we'll talk."
"That's stupid. His hybrids are gone, give him is family, they agree not to hurt anyone. Making him wait is just going to stir up more of a thirst for revenge."
"You made it very clear you don't want to be a part of this anymore, Charlotte." Stefan hissed back.
"I can give you another chance. Just one more. Let's make a reasonable deal." Klaus insisted.
"Or what? You make one move and I will drop..."
Klaus laughed. "Yes, right. Crazy Stefan. How is that working out for you? Any friends left?"
Charlotte shook her head and walked out of the house. Klaus was soon to follow.
"Oh, Charlotte!" He sang. "What did Stefan mean when he said that you didn't want to be a part of the plan anymore."
"Exactly what it sound like. I wanted to be a part of his diabolical plan and now I don't. Got it?"
"Does that mean you know where he's keeping my family?" HIs voice was desperate. She lied.
"No. He wouldn't tell me."
Apparently her lies were sufficient.
He nodded.
Later that evening, Charlotte received a call. "Charlotte, I need you."
"Of course you do. You all do. What is it this time?"
"I'm giving Klaus his coffins."
"Oh." She was surprised, nonetheless. "Okay. I like it. Sounds good."
"Really? On board, that easily?"
"No, maybe having his family will make him a bit more merciful. Plus, I have a vendetta against your brother."
"Witch house. Five minutes."
"Thanks for the notice, pal."
Within three minutes, she was at the witch house, waiting in the coffin room with Damon.
"What took you so long? Hiding behind your witchy friends. And in squalor no less." Klaus entered, reciting the comment of mockery before being punished via a breakdown of pain.
"Insulting a bunch of dead witches... not smart. I made the exact same mistake first time I came in here." Damon remarked.
Charlotte smiled, knowing she hadn't given the witches a reason not to trust her.
"Well, you know, the funny thing about witches is, that living or death, they care about their own. A hundred dead witches have a thousand living descendants... And I have no problem, killing every last one of them, if I don't get my coffins back. As we speak, my hybrid friend is prepared to end the Bennett line."
The witches stopped, causing Charlotte to sigh in relief.
"Now... please... show me the coffins."
And the coffins were revealed.
"Here we are. Where's the fourth? Show me!"
Charlotte didn't realize that one was missing. This was more than she thought it was.
"Well, here's the thing. They can't. It's not here."
"What did you do, Damon?"
"Well, Bonnie gave me the heads-up. I didn't have enough time, to get all four, but I did have time to get one."
"Damon, this is not what I signed up for," Charlotte whispered in fear.
"I will tear you, limb from limb. And only then, when you're a riving mass of blood and flesh, will I rip your heart from your chest."
Charlotte subconsciously moved behind Damon, shaking with fear. She thought she would just be giving Klaus the coffins!
Damon rolled her eyes at Charlotte's fear.
"Sorry. The same rules apply. You know, leverage and all. I know you want your family back. But something tells me, you want what's in that coffin a lot more."
"Fine. I get my coffins, but the math still doesn't work out, does it?" Klaus looked over to Damon with menace. "One is still missing, so I'll cut you a deal. One for one." Within moments, Klaus was over to Charlotte, pulling her away from Damon and pinning her wrists behind her back.
"Damon," she pleaded.
"You're okay." Damon mouthed.
"I get my last coffin, you get your friend back."
And then Klaus snapped Damon's neck. He looked at Charlotte.
"Say goodnight."
When she awoke, she was still in the grasp of a hybrid who put her on her feet as soon as she was conscious. She was heavily breathing, terrified.
"Morning, sunshine!" Klaus sang. Charlotte spoke, nothing, only looked around the room as the hybrid behind her held her wrists tightly. "Oh, don't be so scared. I'm not going to kill you, or anything. You're my guest, here, for the time being. And this perfect hostage, really. People like you just enough to take action, but not enough to do something crazy. I imagine they're talking it out just about now."
He looked to his hybrid. "You can let her go. She's too smart to try anything."
The hybrid nodded, realeasing her. She rubbed her wrists. The hybrid walked over to a coffin that Charlotte assumed was one of the four.
"You've got yor family back. Finally. You gonna open them?" He asked Klaus.
"Not quite yet. I stíll have some unfinished business to take care of."
"What business?"
Suddenly the hybrid started squirming. Klaus wasn't paying attention, but Charlotte was watching the entire time. Her hand went to her mouth as she tried to stifle a scream. Elijah was standing their with the hybrid's heart in his hand.
"So, Niklaus..."
"Elijah?"
"What did I miss?"
Klaus had called a hybrid to escort Charlotte to her "quarters." It was a guest room, much nicer than she expected. Like Caroline, Charlotte assumed she was just collateral damage. And Klaus granted Caroline life, did he not? And Klaus and Charlotte has had a good note back on Caroline's birthday.
He wouldn't kill her. And Elena would be doing everything in her power to get Charlotte back, right?
And Elijah wouldn't let Klaus kill Charlotte. Even if he did betray them.
But really, did Charlotte actually expect Elijah to kill his own brother? That was Charlotte's fault.
They had taken care of her. No torture, death threats, a fair amount of blood. She mostly kept to herself, and it's not like Klaus and Elijah insisted upon conversation. The days passed and droned on until there was a knock and and enter at her door. Klaus walked in holding a cover hanger.
"Your saving day has come, Charlotte! Dinner tonight with the Salvatores, you'll be attending of course, if not just to provide the Salvatores some solace. Again, you'll be leverage, of course, but don't feel bad." He talked swiftly, casually. "Here, your wardrobe for the evening." Charlotte took it and unzipped it. It contained a basic, slim fitting back dress. "The shoes you're wearing now will work quite nicely."
"You have good taste." She complimented.
"Flattery will get you everywhere, darling. I hope you'll see that your bathroom has everything you see fit."
It did. She had showered before, changing back into her clothes.
Klaus left the room and Charlotte prepared herself. Even in captivity, she held herself with style and grace.
Klaus retrieved her later, walking her down the mansion. "I'm sure you're feeling like you're leaving tonight. But you're only leaving if they give me what I want. So do yourself a favor and behave."
"I always behave." She grinned slyly at him. Dressing up gave her an air of confidence.
"I'm sure."
When she arrived at the bottom of the steps, she saw Damon and Stefan.
"Niklaus, our guests have arrived." She head Elijah call. Klaus stepped forward briskly, greeting the brothers.
"Damon. Stefan. Elijah tells me, you seek an audience. Very bold. Let's discuss the terms of our agreement like civilised men, shall we?"
"It's better to indulge him."
"Another point, we're looking for someone. Charlotte Gilbert, red head, great fashion sense, about yay high?" Damon asked.
"She will be joining us for dinner as well, of course."
"I didn't come here to eat, Klaus. Fact, I didn't want to come here at all. But I was told, I had to cause you would hear us out." Stefan snapped.
"Well, we can sit and eat or I can reach down your throats and pull out your insides. The choice is yours."
The quartet walked into the dining room, where Damon immediately walked to Charlotte. "You're okay? You're not hurt? Because if you're hurt I will gladly stop this from being a diplomatic mission."
Charlotte shook her head. "Do something stupid and I'll kill you myself. But yes. I'm fine. It was kind of nice not having to deal with anyone's problems." They sat around the dinner table. Everybody ate and drank, except for Stefan who was brooding. This was a business meeting, in the essence of the word. Charlotte was playing the part, as was Damon. Stefan, however, could not get a grip.
Damon got some blood from a scantily dressed, compelled woman. "Thanks, love."
"You lost your appetite." Klaus remarked at Stefan as Charlotte took a drink of her blood.
"Eat. I thought we agreed that we would leave the grumpy Stefan at home."
"That's the spirit. Isn't it nice? Five of us dining together? Such a treat. Is this what you had in mind when you pulled the dagger from my brother?"
Charlotte grinned a bit, admiring Damon's plan. Elijah was his favorite original, now that Klaus and Rebekah were his only other options.
"Well, I know how he felt about you, so I figured the more, the merrier."
"Well, Elijah and I have had our share of quarrels over the century. But we always make it through."
"Kind of like you and Rebekah, right? Where is she, by the way? Last I checked she was still daggered because you were afraid to face her."
"Christ, Stefan." Charlotte scolded. "Two hundred years alive and you'd think you'd have a better grasp on etiquette than an eighteen year old. Watch your manners."
Klaus smiled at her, then turned back to the brothers.
"If you're referring to the fact that Rebekah knows I killed our mother, I've already come clean to Elijah." Klaus confessed.
"Hey, Stef, remember when you killed dad? Might want to dial down the judgment until dessert." Damon warned.
"We're here to make a deal, Damon. Doesn't mean we need to kiss his ass for seven courses."
"I'm just saying we have a long evening ahead of us. Pace yourself."
"Stefan, you're here to negotiate my freedom. I'd appreciate it if you at least acted like you cared."
It continued silently until Elijah broke it.
"Stefan. Where is the lovely Elena tonight?"
"I don't know. Ask Damon."
"Oh, boy." Charlotte chuckled.
"I'm sorry, you've missed so much. Uh- trouble in paradise."
"Can we please refrain from saying anything about my sister's romantic life with either of these two morons?"
"One more word about Elena and this dinner's over."
Klaus continued to laugh as Charlotte grinned.
"You know what, probably best just to keep Elena in the do not discuss pile."
"You're probably right." Klaus agreed.
"Yeah."
"It's just the allure of the Petrova doppelgänger, still so strong. What do you say, brother? Should we tell them about Tatia?" Klaus began.
"Now why should we discuss matters long since resolved?" Elijah was not interested in telling the story.
"Well, given their shared affection for both Elena and Katerina, I think our guests might be curious to learn about the originator of the Petrova line."
"Gentlemen, please realize that your are talking both about my sister and the women who look exactly alike to her when telling the story," Charlotte requested.
"We're not going anywhere Elijah. Please, do tell," Damon insisted as he took a drink of his wine. Elijah sighed.
"When our family first settled here, there was a girl named Tatia, she was an exquisite beauty. Every boy of age desired to be her suitor, even though she'd had a child by another man. And none loved her more than Niklaus."
"Well, I'd say there was one who loved her at least as much," Klaus interjected.
"Wait, you two loved the same girl?"
Obviously, Stefan.
"Our mother was a very powerful witch. She sought to end our feud over Tatia and so she took her. Klaus and I would later learn that it was Tatia's blood that we consumed in the wine on the night where our mother performed the spell which turned us into vampires. Tatia wouldn't make a decision between the two of us, so for a time Niklaus and I... grew estranged. Harsh words were traded, we even came to blows, didn't we, brother?"
"But in the end we realized the sacred bond of family."
"Family above all."
The two clinked their glasses as Charlotte tried to stifle an eyeroll at the sheer ass-kissing that was happening on Klaus's behalf.
"So, why don't we move this evening along and discuss the terms of this proposal?" Elijah asked.
"That's very simple. Klaus gets his coffin back, in exchange, he and the Original extended family leave Mystic Falls forever. Charlotte comes back with us. Her, me, Stefan, and Elena live happily ever after. No grudges." Damon explained.
"The deal sounds fair, brother." Elijah told Klaus.
"I don't think you understand, Elena's doppelgänger blood insures that I will always have more hybrids to fight those that oppose me. I will never leave her behind."
"None of you have a claim to her. She is her own woman." Charlotte insisted, breaking her vow of diplomacy. She hoped that Elijah would respect her loyalty as usual and that her words would not put anyone in danger. "Her blood is not yours to claim, her heart is not Damon's or Stefan's to take possession of."
Klaus smiled at that last point.
"Very true, Charlotte, on that last idea." He stands up and stalks around the room and began talking to the Salvatores. "Let's say I do leave her here, under your protection, what then? How long before one of you turns her into a vampire? Or worse, how long before she dies caught between your feuding? Charlotte can only care for her sister for so long before even she perishes in the midst of the two of you. You see, each one of you truly believes that you're the one that can protect her, and that is simply a delusion. Gentlemen, the worst thing for Elena Gilbert is... the two of you."
Charlotte knew Klaus's words were manipulation, yet she couldn't help but agree with him, if only a little.
Damon seemed to fall for his trap, for he excused himself immediately. Elijah soon followed.
Why in God's name would Elijah care about Damon's feelings?
"All this talk has made me thirsty."
And then Klaus focused is attention on tempting Stefan with blood, until Damon and Elijah returned.
"What do you say, Klaus? It's time for you to put something on the table. We've made our offer, now you counter." Damon insisted.
"Okay. I offer Elena's future happiness. You see, what she needs right now is to be rid of you lot. And to fall in love with a human, maybe that nice football player, you know the blond one?"
Matt Donovan. The one person who valued Elena like Charlotte did.
"Matt Donovan? Really?" Damon asked.
"Yeah, why not? They'll marry, live a long and fruitful life, and pop out a perfect family."
Ew.
"And continue the Petrova bloodline. Every few hundred years, you'll have a new doppelgänger to drain and never run out of hybrids, right Klaus?" Stefan took the beauty out of Klaus's picture, bringing it back to the harsh reality, reminding Charlotte that they didn't only have Klaus's options.
"Consider it a small return on my investment in her well being. See after you hand me back the coffin, I'll ensure her safety for the rest of her natural life, you know it's what's best for her."
Except Elena would never love Matt Donovan like she loved either of the boys.
Klaus walked over to Stefan, putting his hand out. "Do we have a deal?"
Stefan smiled, taking his hand. "Sorry, Klaus, but no deal."
He then broke Stefan's arm and kicked Stefan's leg, breaking them as well as we pushed Stefan into the fire. Damon rushed over to Stefan, but Elijah kept him against the wall. It was up to Charlotte now. She tried to move and get Klaus off of Stefan, but Klaus took the fire poker and rammed it just under her heart keeping her against the wall. He then shoved two stakes through her hands.
"Told you to behave, darling."
"Now, bring me my coffin before I burn him alive."
"I'll get it."
"Go with him, brother, you keep him honest. And when you return, I will make good on my promise to you and I will hand over our family."
Charlotte tried to remove the fire poker, but every time she went to do it, Klaus pushed Stefan more into the flame. He sat there, taunting them.
"Go ahead and kill me, I know you'll do it when he brings the coffin."
Klaus pulled Stefan out of the fireplace. "You really have given up, haven't you? Where's the fight? Where's the ripper?"
Klaus pushed Stefan, Stefan pushed back, Charlotte was afraid to breathe as she screeched from the pain of her heart scraping the metal every time she let out a breathe.
Damon and Elijah entered the room again.
"Elijah... why haven't you left?"
"Where are you manners, brother? We forgot dessert."
He uncovers a dish carried by a blonde. It contained the silver daggers.
"What have you done?"
"What have you done? You see I've learned not to trust your vulgar promises, Klaus. We're doing this on my terms now."
A brunet man entered the room who looked slightly younger than Klaus. Charlotte struggled to breathe as she willed Damon to come over and help her out. No such luck, however. He was watching the scene unfold before him.
"Kol."
It was Stefan, surprisingly who averted his gaze and strolled over to Charlotte, pulling the fire poker from her chest and undoing the stakes in her hands.
She took deep breathes as Stefan held her up.
"Long time, brother."
He backed away as another man entered, grabbing a dagger. "Finn, don't!"
He tried to rush away, but ran into Rebekah, who stabbed him as well.
"This is for our mother."
He falls back to Kol, who restrained him. Elijah looked to Damon, Stefan, and Charlotte.
"You're free to go. This is family business."
Stefan and Damon took Charlotte through the woods to the Lockwood Cellar as the discussed their love for Elena. She kept quiet.
"Let's hope big witch and little witch got that coffin open." Damon commented.
"Something's gotta make this night worthwhile." Stefan commented.
"You've got me, don't you?" Charlotte remarked, smiling until she saw Bonnie on the floor. "Oh, God. Bonnie."
She rushed over.
"Bonnie?" Stefan asked.
"She's still breathing."
"Mama's still breathing, I can hear her."
"Coffin's open."
"Well, it's not gonna do us any good. Whatever's in it is gone."