Tangled: I Want You To Stay

Chapter Six

"Wakey-wakey..."

I feel a sharp prodding sensation on my ribs just below my heart.

"...Don't make me stake-y you. Ha, like that one, Bex?"

I am fully awake now, but I keep my eyes closed because I don't recognize the voice speaking. He's male, sounds young, and has the same accent that the blonde girl who vervained me has...I try and get a grip on my reality. The floor beneath me is cold and rocky. A basement? Jail cell? Cave? My arms are hanging above my head, my wrists bound tightly by a metal chain. I'm locked up! There are no sounds except for the shuffling of two pairs of feet nearby, both belonging to a vampire owner.

"No. No I don't like any of your jokes, Kol, because you are not funny. How many times do I have to tell you before you get it through your thick skull? Why I allowed you to come with me in the first place, I have no idea, but I am really starting to regret it."

That's the girl who hijacked me from the motel after Stefan freed me! But where did she take me? Who's Kol? Why does that name sound familiar...? What is she doing with me?

Mumbling now, the one called Kol comments, "Maybe you just have no sense of humor."

"Give me that," The girl demands, and suddenly I'm being jabbed even harder in the ribs than before. To me, she hisses, "Wake up, you useless girl, or I'll dump this whole bucket of vervain over your head."

No thank you! My eyes pop open, wide and alert and searching for any signs that the girl may be telling the truth about the bucket of vervain. I'm already weakened from the vervain she injected in my neck before I passed out. I quickly take in the sight of the small, dark room and the two people hovering above me. I was sort of right when I guessed this is a jail cell; it almost looks like the cells in the Salvatore basement, but this isn't the Boarding House. I sit up, scraping my heels against the floor to get a grip so I can sit up, but I can't go too far as my arms are chained above me at such an awkward angle. I glare up at the face of the blonde-haired girl who vervained me and mentally will her to tell me what the hell is going on.

"That's better," She smirks evilly. She's pretty, with large eyes, pouty lips, and light blonde hair. Her skin is spotted with a light dusting of freckles, making her appear like a normal 17-year-old girl, but I know better. She is exuding much too much confidence and determination to be a normal girl…

And suddenly I make the connection. This girl doesn't just smirk like Klaus, or talk like Klaus, or even share similar features to Klaus; this girl is Klaus' sister. Testing my theory, I query, "Rebekah?"

Her blue-green eyes widen slightly, but she recovers from her surprise quickly. "Ah, she is smarter than she looks. Has my brother told you much about me?" She quirks an eyebrow up curiously.

Instead of answering, I size up the brown-haired boy with the cheesy jokes and conclude, "And you're Klaus' other brother, Kol. At least now I have a face to put with the names."

"Yes, well, that doesn't seem fair," Kol pouts, his eyes glinting playfully, "We don't know who you are."

"Is that why you vervained me and locked me up here?" I ask, perhaps not realizing that I'm in no position to be rapid firing questions at two Original vampires, especially not when I'm chained up in a cell somewhere.

"Maybe you're not that smart," Rebekah corrects her earlier statement, again pointing that stupid wooden stick at my heart, "But I'll be asking the questions around here. Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal," I reply sarcastically.

"I think I can see why our brother likes her so much," Kol smirks at me, causing me to squirm under his intense gaze.

"Really," Rebekah says drily, "Because I can't."

"Don't be such a bitch, Bex," Kol chides good naturedly, seeming to ignore the deathly glare his sister sends in his direction after he insults her. Or maybe he does notice, because he quickly changes the subject as he offers, "Shall I go check on our other guests?"

"Yes, do," Rebekah encourages sourly.

"See you soon, love," Kol speaks to me in a sing-song voice as he walks backward to the door to my cell. He waves before leaving, the door clicking soundly as it shuts so that I know without a doubt I'm locked in. Locked in a cell with Klaus' sister Rebekah.

I want to ask Rebekah what Kol meant by 'other guests'. Is Stefan here? But I know I can't ask, because Rebekah already warned me I'm not here to ask questions and she doesn't look too happy as it is. I can't believe my luck, though. Seriously. I finally escaped from the motel Klaus locked me up in, thanks to Stefan, and now I'm locked up in a cell by Klaus' two younger siblings. This is just fucking great!

"So..." Rebekah starts, folding her arms in front of her in a business-like fashion, "Tell me why my brother's art room is entirely full of pictures of your face."

Pictures of me? "Klaus...? I don't know." I shrug, hoping my face magnifies my confusion. "I mean, he gave me a picture that he drew once, but I didn't know there were others. He never took me to his house. I've been locked up for almost three months..."

"Why?" Rebekah demands.

"I don't know," I repeat, starting to get annoyed with these questions that I don't have answers to. "Why don't you ask Klaus?"

"Oh, what a clever idea," Rebekah says in a snarky tone, rolling her eyes, "Don't you think I would have already if I'd known where he was? Why do you think you're here?" I blink at her cluelessly and she sighs, "I'm using you to get Nik's attention. What do you think? Will he come back for you?"

"I'm going to have to say no," I reply honestly. Why would I think he'd come back to me when he just abandoned me? He doesn't care. He got what he wanted from me, and he left. I failed him, so he left. "I don't know what is on your brother's agenda, but I'm no longer part of the plan."

"Well then lucky for you, you're not the only one my brother and I invited to the 'party'." She smiles nonchalantly, and I'm worried immediately by what she's not saying.

"Who?" I question, "Who else? Where are they?"

"Easy, Blondie," Rebekah says, sounding curiously like Damon, and crouches down in front of me so that her eyes are level with mine, "One question at a time. And, I think I'll go first." Her pupils dilate as she laces compulsion with her words, "When is the last time you saw Niklaus?"

My jaw falls slack before I hear my voice answer of its own volition, "Last night."

She seems satisfied at first, but then second-guesses herself. She compels me again as she asks one more question, "When is the last time you've consumed vervain?"

"Never."

"What a good baby vampire," Rebekah applauds. "Well, while your friends have the vervain bled from their system, you'll just have to wait here. Hope that's not a problem for you. Anything that you need to make your stay more...comfortable?"

I don't think she'll actually give me anything I ask for, but it's worth an attempt, "Well, it'd be nice to be released from these chains, but...if that's asking for too much, I'll settle for a little blood."

"Oh, all right," Rebekah relents, "But only a little."

.

A day and a half after being taken by Rebekah and Kol Mikaelson, I am finally allowed out of my tiny jail cell. Rebekah compels me to follow her and leads the way down the dank, musty hallway of what must be a basement to a much brighter and more open area. The musty smell remains, but the chains have been removed from my wrists and I can see a round table with a basket of blood bags on top, so I'm hopeful one of those will be for me. Rebekah orders me to sit in the chair and not get up until she says so, but she does offer me my pick of the blood bags. I am quick to grab one and suck it down. I've only been given two tiny shot glasses of blood since I've been held captive.

"What-"

"Caroline," Rebekah cuts me off, using my name now that she knows it, "No. More. Questions."

"Sorry," I sigh under my breath. She's threatened to compel me to not speak at all, so even though it's killing me I'm trying to remain on my best behavior. But I'm really very curious now as to what is going on. What's with all the blood bags? I certainly don't need this many. What's with the table and the chairs? The smug smiles on both Mikaelson siblings' faces?

Rebekah nods to Kol and he takes off down another hallway. Rebekah turns down another, and it is then that I realize this basement is a huge maze. There are hallways going off from this room in almost every direction. No wonder I haven't heard anything with my vampire hearing, even though I've been trying...it's just too far, and maybe the rooms are sound-proof. I wouldn't put it past Klaus having a basement with sound-proof basement cells. Wait...am I in Klaus' mansion? I hadn't even thought about that before now. But that could very well be where I am. It would make sense, because I haven't been invited inside, and Klaus' mansion isn't owned by a human.

All at once, I hear four sets of footsteps, and I perk up in my seat, eyes flashing back and forth as I wait for Kol and Rebekah to return with the other prisoners. Kol emerges from the dark hallway first, leading a shirtless and bloody Damon. He shoves Damon into one of the chairs next to me and compels him not to get up unless asked to do so. Damon agrees, not that he has a choice, and grabs a blood bag. When I see that Rebekah is hauling Stefan behind her, I'm not too surprised. If Damon is here, then it would make sense why Stefan is here, but it doesn't make sense why Rebekah thinks Klaus will give a shit what happens to the three of us. Stefan is compelled into the other chair beside me, and when I see he is also shirtless and bloody, I realize why I've been locked up for a day and a half.

"That's why you asked if I was on vervain," I say to Rebekah in a disgusted tone, "You wanted to know if you had bleed me out too." She told me that was what she'd do, but I didn't even think that the other captives could be Damon and Stefan. What purpose does she have to make sure we're vervain-free? What does she want to do to us?

"And lucky for you, I didn't have to," Rebekah agrees. "Now...what are we waiting for? Oh yes...our last guest has yet to arrive."

"Hmm, I know," Kol confirms, "I thought she'd be here by now. Maybe she's not coming."

She? Why do I have a bad feeling about this?

After a moment of silence, my ears pick up the sound of more footsteps. These ones are quieter and more timid, and...have a human heartbeat behind them. As the footsteps grow closer, I can hear the heartbeat pick-up speed. Whoever it is, they're scared.

When she steps into the light, I gasp. Her wide, innocent brown eyes land on me first, and she questions disbelievingly, "Care?"

"Elena!" I try and jump up from my chair to run over to her, but I can't move. Right. Almost forgot I've been compelled to stay put in the chair until told otherwise. "What are you doing here?"

"I called her," Rebekah talks over Elena in an authoritative tone. She turns to Elena and asks, "So, who'd you come for? Stefan, or Damon?" She seems to know about Elena's recent indecision over her feelings for the Salvatore brothers. How does a girl who's been daggered for about nine-hundred years know so much so fast?

"I didn't know Stefan was here," Elena says firmly, "You only told me about Damon. What's going on here? What do you want from us?"

"Well, we'll see about that, won't we?" Rebekah's voice holds just enough threat in it to make Elena look nervously over at the table where Damon, Stefan and I are seated. Rebekah sees her looking and tells her, again using compulsion, "Have a seat, Elena. You and your friends are going to help me and my brother." Elena sits, and then Rebekah turns her eyes on all of us, telling us, "You've all been compelled to stay in your seats. Now I'm going to compel you to tell the truth, at all costs, and you are going to do just that. I will ask you a question, and you will answer. Simple enough, right? Let's try not to screw it up, shall we?"

I can't believe Elena is here. I haven't seen her in close to three months, and I'm so relieved to see she is alive and well. But...she doesn't look too happy to see me. I don't blame her. I mean, I do remember that I left without even saying goodbye or explaining why I was going and why it had to be with Klaus. Of course she's going to be angry with me. I can explain, though. I can explain everything...if only Rebekah would let me. I hope Elena will hear me out and try and understand my point-of-view.

"So, you're the Doppelganger?" Rebekah asks Elena, even though she clearly knows the answer is yes. Elena nods in confirmation anyways, since she's compelled to do so. "And you two," She points to Damon and Stefan, "Are both in love with her?" Damon and Stefan reluctantly nod their heads. "Hmph. I don't see what's so special about her." Rebekah stalks around the table, scrutinizing Elena with hateful blue eyes. "The last one was prettier."

"Really?" Kol speaks up, "I think they look the same. Isn't that the point?"

Rebekah sighs, "Shut up, Kol. I think it's time to make the call, don't you?"

"You're absolutely right, sister," Kol agrees, pulling his cell out of his pocket. "I'll do the honors."

"I would expect no less from you."

Kol waves a hand at her before leaving the room.

"Now that he's gone," Rebekah says mysteriously, "Let's have some real fun. Tell me, Caroline, what have you and my brother been up to in that lovely motel of yours, eh? Don't leave out any of the juicy details, either. I want to know the truth. Why did Klaus take you from Mystic Falls?"

I swallow nervously before opening my mouth and allowing words to spill out, "I think he...loves me. He didn't take me away, he asked me to come, and I said yes." I can see three pairs of judgmental eyes on me, and I wish I could stop the words, but I can't. "He said he would show me the world, all the reasons there are for me to be alive forever, but he...he wouldn't take me until I trusted him. That's why he locked me away in the motel. He compelled me to stay there until I trust him enough, and…"

"And?" Rebekah prompts, "Did it work? Did he gain your trust?"

I shake my head, "He did, because he started to trust me, to open up to me, but then he shut down again. I thought he finally trusted me enough to lift the compulsion, but I was wrong. He left me, and I...I can't forgive him for that. And I can't trust him again."

"Wow, Blondie, you're a real genius, aren't you?" Damon insults bitingly, sending me a glare that says he thinks this is somehow all my fault. I hate his cocky face. Definitely didn't miss that while I was gone.

Rebekah clucks her tongue, stating, "That's too bad." Turning to Damon, she glares, "Did I ask your opinion? No, I didn't. So don't open your mouth unless you're spoken to. Understand?"

"Yes."

I can't help but smile a little to see Damon be put in his place. I don't like or trust Rebekah, but anyone who is willing to bully Damon a little bit is okay with me. Well, so long as she doesn't kill me or Elena or Stefan...or Damon, I guess. And since Rebekah seems to think one of us will be able to lure Klaus back into town, I have a feeling she's not planning on killing us anytime soon. At least, I sure hope not.

"Stefan," Rebekah says, his name rolling off her tongue in a familiar way, "How long has it been? Ninety years?"

Wait a minute. What did she say? I thought she's been daggered the past 900 years? What happened 90 years ago?

All eyes at the table shift to Stefan now.

"Yep."

"He gave you back your memories, I take it?"

"He did." Stefan keeps his answers short and sweet. It's driving me, and Damon and Elena, crazy; I can tell by the confused frown on Elena's face and the annoyed ticking of Damon's jaw. I can just hear Damon's thoughts right now, Why do baby bro and Barbie Klaus have a secret past nobody knows about? I'm thinking the same thing.

"He put a dagger in my heart that night," Rebekah tells solely Stefan, "And hasn't let me out of my coffin again since. So, if you're as good of friends with Nik now as you were in the 20's, I imagine he'll be worried about you. Yes?"

"Uh...no," Stefan replies, "We're not friends, Rebekah. Klaus doesn't have friends."

"He also doesn't love, but this one here," She points at me, "Seems to think he's in love with her! I remember how close you and Nik were, Stefan. He hasn't forgotten, either. Even if you don't feel the same, he will come for you. I know he will. You, or Caroline, or maybe just his precious Doppelganger." Rebekah settles her blue-green stare on Elena, eyes cold and calculating. "He needs her to make more hybrids, and the threat of his human blood bag going 'bye-bye' is sure to bring him running home."

"He won't come back here for anyone," I speak up, "Not until Mikael is dead."

Suddenly, Rebekah is in my face, hand at my throat as she hisses, "What do you know about Mikael? I thought you've been locked away the past three months?"

"Klaus told me," I answer honestly, not that I have a choice thanks to Rebekah's compulsion, "About everything. Your childhood, how Henrick died, and how your parents turned you because they couldn't bare to lose you. I know Mikael is not Klaus' father, and that's why he's a hybrid; his real father was a werewolf. Should I go on? He told me all of it, Rebekah, and that is why you should know most of all that he's not coming back here. Not for anyone."

"You're wrong," Rebekah says, once she's swallowed the anger which I was worried for a moment might consume her, "If he told you that, then you're far more special to him than I thought. If he thinks your life is in danger, he'll come for you."

I have mixed feelings about this, none of which I voice out loud. Kol is back now, and is a welcome distraction from the current topic. I hope Rebekah doesn't repeat our conversation to Kol as well.

"He's not convinced," Kol shrugs, "So he's on his way to the motel where Caroline is supposed to be."

Rebekah smiles, "Well, once he sees she is not where he left her, I'm sure he'll give us a call back."

"What do we do now?" Kol asks. According to Klaus, he is older than Rebekah by a year or two, but he doesn't seem to have a mind of his own. He turns to his baby sister for answers to everything. Then again, she is kind of scary, and being the youngest of four, three now, older brothers she probably had to develop a spine pretty quickly.

"We wait," Rebekah sighs, tapping her polished nails against the table where she stands between Elena and Stefan. After a moment of silence, she seems to notice the same thing that I do. Elena and Stefan are not looking at each other, and they even seem to be turned away from each other, almost like they're... "Hold on a moment; aren't you two supposed to be a couple? Why do you both look miserable?"

"We're being held hostage," Elena points out.

"We broke up."

My eyes snap to Stefan's in shock, but he doesn't look at me.

Rebekah laughs bitterly, placing her hand to her heart in mock-disbelief, "Oh no! Really? Why? Seriously, what could have possibly happened between now and when you pulled the dagger out of my heart?" Her question is directed to Elena, whom I had no idea even awakened Rebekah until just now. "You told me he was The One, your epic romance. Isn't that right? And now...you broke up? I wonder if that has anything to do with Mr. Dreamy Eyes over here." She jerks her thumb in Damon's direction uninterestedly.

"I wanted to believe that was true when I said that to you," Elena is forced to answer because of the compulsion, "Because I did feel that way about Stefan once, and I hoped I could again. But he's changed. And...so have I. I don't think we can ever have back what we used to."

"Is it because you have feelings for Damon?" Rebekah pushes even further.

Seeing that Elena, Stefan and Damon are all uncomfortable with this, I demand, "Is this really necessary? What does this have to do with getting Klaus back here? Mind your own business, Rebekah."

"I asked you a question," Rebekah reminds Elena.

"Yes, yes," Elena says, "I do have feelings for Damon, but I-I don't want to hurt Stefan. I don't want to be like Katherine."

"But you are like her," Rebekah concludes, now bored with Elena. She turns back to Stefan, "How does that make you feel? To hear that your ex-girlfriend has fallen for your brother? Does it make you angry, Stefan? Do you wonder if she felt that way the whole time you were together? If she maybe snuck a few kisses with him when you weren't looking? Maybe even more? Come on; don't tell me it hasn't crossed your mind."

"You're twisted, sister," Kol comments quietly.

"You're not funny, brother." Rebekah rolls her eyes at him, but keeps her focus on Stefan. "Come on, give me something, Stefan. Are you mad at Elena for falling for you brother?"

"Of course I'm mad," Stefan sounds it too, "I'm fucking furious, but I can't do a damn thing about it. It's not like I didn't know. I can't change how she feels." The hurt on his face breaks my heart, the immense amount of pain and heartache he must be feeling right now…ugh I wish I could do something to stop all of this, and to comfort Stefan, but I can't do anything.

"No, you can't," Rebekah nods, seeming to be making a point to Stefan that only he and she understands.

I'm starting to wonder if maybe Rebekah and Stefan had a thing back in the 20's...

Elena, who hasn't been compelled not to open her mouth unless spoken to, decides to speak her mind, "Ask him about the night Caroline left town with Klaus." Stefan and I both look to Elena in confusion. "See? Do you see how guilty both of them look? Something happened and he won't tell me."

"Nothing happened," Stefan starts, but Rebekah shushes him by putting her hand directly over his mouth.

Slowly, the blonde Original asks, "What happened with you and Caroline before she left town with my brother?" She pulls her fingers off his mouth so he can answer, her expression showing how amused with this situation she is.

After as much hesitation as the compulsion would allow, Stefan confesses, "We…kissed."

Stefan looks at Elena; I suppose needing to see her reaction after keeping the truth from her so long. I didn't even know she suspected anything, but then again, I haven't been around. Has Stefan been acting strangely? Did he hint that something occurred between us? I don't know, but I know for sure this is my fault. I know it wasn't Stefan's. I kissed him that night, not the other way around. He kissed me back, yes, but he didn't initiate it.

Before Rebekah can make some stupid sarcastic comment, I cut in, "It's not his fault. It was me. I did it. I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking. I was…I thought I was dying. I just-" I stop short and shake my head, my thoughts a jumbled mess because suddenly it's not unclear why I kissed Stefan. It wasn't just because I thought I was dying, it's because I've been wanting to do it for a long time. I needed him, and he was there, like he always is. It was bound to happen at some point, and that night just happened to be the night.

I realize Elena is glaring at me half a second before she accuses, "Do you ever think of anybody but you, Caroline?! God, you are so selfish. I can't believe you."

"Elena, I," I shake my head, trying to reach out for her, but she folds her arms in her lap and refuses to meet my eyes, "I'm so sorry. I don't know what else to say. If I could take it back, I would, because I never wanted to hurt you, and I would never come between you and Stefan. I know how much he loves you. I know that you two are like destined to be together. Please don't punish him for something I did. He doesn't deserve that."

"Now hold on," Rebekah speaks up, after sitting back and smirking at the growing cat-fight in front of her, "Let's see if that's what Stefan thinks as well. Stefan," She stares down the green-eyed vampire beside her, "Was it all Caroline's fault? Or did you want it too?"

I can feel my stomach turning in nervous flips, anxiety eating away at me due to the current conversation. I don't want Stefan to answer. Either way, it'll hurt me or Elena, and while it'd be better for him to deny that he wanted to kiss me because Elena can focus all her anger on me that way, I'd like to be able to think part of him wanted that kiss from me. If he didn't, then it was just a pity kiss; a kiss he gave away because he also thought I was dying soon…

With my first bit of luck in weeks, Kol's phone begins to ring before Stefan has a chance to answer, and he announces that it's Klaus. Rebekah tells him to put the phone on speaker so they can all hear the conversation. Kol nods and picks up the call, placing the phone on the table so all six of us can listen in.

"Kol," Klaus' deathly calm voice comes through, sending chills down my back because I know just how angry he must be if he's not yelling and screaming, "What have you done? Where is she?"

Rebekah chuckles mirthlessly, "Ah, Nik, you give our brother far too much credit. Did you really think he was the mastermind behind this plan?"

"Rebekah," Klaus sounds surprised to hear her voice, "I had no idea you and Kol were speaking."

"Yes, well, you didn't leave me with too many options. And now that Finn is dead, that leaves you, Elijah, and Kol, and you know how I like to be the leader. You and Elijah are too big-headed to team up with." Rebekah shrugs, "Kol might get on my nerves, but he's better than you. At least he hasn't run off to hide from our father."

"What do you want from me, sister?" Klaus demands, his tone becoming more venomous with each word.

"What I want is for you to return to Mystic Falls, and help us stop Mikael," Rebekah replies, as if it's the most obvious answer, "Unlike you, I refuse to spend the next thousand years of my life running from monsters of the past. We kill him, and then we move on with our lives."

"If you have a life to live, that is," Klaus points out. "Mikael could kill you in a heartbeat, Rebekah."

"Lucky for me," Rebekah snaps, "I don't have a heartbeat. Now are you coming, or not? Because if you aren't here by nightfall, I'm going to start killing off my party guests, and I think I'll start with your pretty blonde girlfriend here."

Rebekah pulls something out of the back pocket of her dark-wash denim jeans. It looks like a tiny spray bottle. She holds it up for me to see before squirting it in my face. When the liquid touches my skin, it begins to sizzle and burn like acid. Vervain. I cover my face with my hands and cry out in pain.

"Caroline?" Klaus' voice sounds much more concerned now than it did before, "Rebekah, what are you doing? I swear, if you hurt her, I'll kill you myself."

"Who are you and what have you done with Nik?" Rebekah demands, not believing the words coming out of her elder brother's mouth. "I thought love is vampire's greatest weakness. Isn't that right, Niklaus? If that's true, then I've got your weakness right here, and I will kill her! So come back to Mystic Falls, Nik. Come back home, and I won't have to kill her."

After a very long, drawn-out pause, Klaus replies, "Fine." Then the phone clicks as he hangs up.

"That was easier than I thought," Kol comments as he takes his phone back into his hands.

"We'll see," Rebekah sighs. She stands up and continues speaking to Kol only, "Come on, let's go get ourselves some fresh food."

"Now you're talking my language," Kol agrees with a smile. "But, what about them?"

"Oh, they'll be fine, won't you?" Rebekah says teasingly. "You four just sit here and play nice until we're back. And don't forget, no getting out of your chairs, and no lying. There's far too much of that going on around here." With a toss of her blonde mane over her shoulder, she flounces out of the basement room, with Kol in tow.

Thanks so much to all the followers and reviewers of this story so far. I appreciate the feedback, and I'm glad you like the story!:) I hope to gain more followers, and I'd appreciate any and all feedback my readers have for me.

This chapter was going to include more, but it's already 13 pages long as it is, so I've split it up. NEXT CHAPTER: Will start with Caroline, Stefan, Elena, and Damon still being held captive by Rebekah and Kol, more truths will be revealed, and Klaus returns to Mystic Falls. HINT: Will Caroline stay in Mystic Falls? We'll find out next chapter!

I might even have another update later on today;) We'll see...

Please, please review! Klaus will not be happy if you don't ;)

Check out my other Steroline fic: The Only Exception

-MissCarolineForbes