AN: Hey guys, I'm so very sorry for the horrific delay. Thank you all for the well wishes, it really brightened my days when I was stuck in the hospital. I've been stuck in my bed for the last month and was just now able to use my computer, so the chapter took a long time to write because I can't sit in my computer chair for long. So I apologize now for the many errors I'm sure are in the story; I thought you'd want to read it now and let me edit it at a later date when I have more energy. It's not my best work, so I apologize, but I hope you like it anyways. Thank you all again for the kind thoughts.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to TVD or TO.
Chapter 23
Klaus quietly entered the room, a tray held aloft in one hand so he could close the door silently. Moving over to the bed, he sat the breakfast tray down in his empty space before sitting next to Sophia's curled figure.
"My poor sweetheart." Klaus murmured softly, fingers skimming over the witch's tear stained cheek, hating he couldn't take away her pain.
Sophia had slept fitfully, waking from nightmares throughout the night and crying against his chest until she dozed off again. She'd finally been too exhausted to fight sleep in the early hours of the morning and had, thankfully, not woken in terror since. He'd never seen the strong-willed woman so distraught and it was tearing him up that there was nothing he could do to help her. He couldn't kill his mother in her place and he couldn't compel her to forget it either. He was lost and angry and he hated it.
Being careful not to wake her, Klaus slowly pulled the duvet down towards her hips. He couldn't help himself when his fingertips skimmed down her creamy skin, relishing in the constant reminder that she was there; that she'd chosen him and she was his to touch and enjoy. But as lovely as her pert breasts were, his attention was captured by the slight swell of her abdomen.
Sucking in a breath, his fingers hovered over her lower stomach for a moment before finally lowering. He wouldn't have even noticed the change in her if Sophia hadn't pointed it out, so slight was the swell. But now that he knew it was there, Klaus could feel the softness of muscle and fat had been replaced with hardness underneath her smooth skin. His child was growing there, protected by Sophia's womb, and it was completely and totally mind boggling.
"I don't know if you can hear me, but I want you to know that your mother and I love you. You will be cherished more than any child in the history of the world. That I promise you." Klaus murmured quietly, bending over so his lips brushed the bump before he turned his head to press his ear there.
The heartbeat was still so faint that he had to concentrate just to hear it, but it was there, fast and fluttering. The hybrid couldn't stop the small smile the sound caused; still shocked he'd ever been allowed something so precious. He was terrified of losing it and would destroy the world itself to protect it if he had to. He finally had the family he'd always wanted and he'd never give that up, no matter the cost.
Klaus started when a hand was suddenly skimming through his hair, his focus having been so absolute he'd completely missed Sophia waking. Tilting his head so he could see her face while keeping his ear against her stomach, he gave the witch a tentative smile and squeezed her hip.
"Good morning my love." His voice was husky, the emotion he only allowed her to see nearly choking him.
"Morning." Sophia said, her own voice scratchy from the frequent crying during the night. Her eyes were red and puffy, her cheeks stained with tear tracks and the make-up she hadn't washed off. Her curls were in a knotted mess, having been worked out of their styled twist. She was a mess, but he'd never thought she'd looked more beautiful, no matter how clichéd that was.
"I brought breakfast." The hybrid announced, placing a kiss against her skin before sitting up.
Sophia rubbed at her face and pushed herself up, leaning against the headboard. She accepted the button up shirt he offered her to cover up, watching as Klaus moved around, straightening the blanket before setting the tray across her lap.
"I'm not really hungry." She muttered, shivering, her entire body cold despite the cover and the fact that she didn't really get cold anymore. Her body apparently didn't care about that fact; she couldn't stop the shiver that coursed down her spine when goose bumps pebbled across her skin.
"I know, love, but you have to eat. For the child." Klaus replied, sitting next to her and giving her thigh a squeeze through the thick blanket.
"Nik…I can't—I—" She broke off, eyes dropping to the tray, tears prickling and threatening to fall. She was completely exhausted and drained, emotionally and physically.
"Please." He whispered, sea-green eyes pleading. Her throat tightened at the emotions she could read in his gaze, all his walls down, leaving him bare before her. He'd been just as affected by the night before as she had.
Hands and lips trembling, the witch grabbed the tall glass that she could smell held blood. Pulling the straw to her lips, she watched him as she began to drink, her eyes bleeding red as his taste exploded over her tongue. Klaus's blood had always been the most delicious since her transformation; and the most powerful, filling her tired body with renewed energy. It didn't do anything for her emotions though, unfortunately.
"Sweetheart, I know last night was…difficult, but you protected your friends. Your family. Esther would have killed us all." Klaus said gently, wanting the broken look to forever be gone from her eyes. Not even her hybrid form could keep that expression hidden and he despised it.
"I killed your mother, Nik. I killed someone." Sophia muttered, setting the empty glass down, her stomach rolling viciously.
"Sophia—" She pushed the tray away and vamped away from the bed. Klaus rushed into the bathroom after her, finding her kneeling in front of the toilet, gagging.
Crouching, he swept her hair away from her face, wincing as she continued to gag. You'd have thought the blood she'd just consumed would've come up, but her body had apparently been in desperate need of the nutrients and it'd already joined her own blood cycling through her veins. It left her dry heaving for several minutes before her stomach finally gave up, having nothing to lose.
"I'm a killer." She whispered, face pressed into her arm, body shaking as the sobs finally came.
Klaus gathered her into his arms and walked to one of the plush chairs that decorated the room. He cradled her in his lap as she cried, hands never stopping their soothing strokes across her hair and back. They sat like that for several minutes before her cries puttered out, leaving her hiccupping against his neck.
When she calmed down, Sophia burrowed further against him, wanting the feel of his embrace to chase away the cold. But it refused to leave her bones, its clutches too deep to release her. Her body was punishing her for what she'd done; for turning into the very thing she'd been terrified of one day becoming.
A killer. A murderer.
"Talk to me love, tell me what to do to help you." Pulling away so she could see his face, the witch searched his expression.
There was no hate or disgust in his gaze, only love and a helplessness she'd never seen. At least not in his present state; it was a look young Klaus had worn all too often in the face of his step-father's hatred and abuse. She hated seeing it now.
"I don't know, Nik. I—I don't know if you can do anything. I—" She broke off, eyes lowering to gaze at his throat, a lump choking her.
"I don't know how to be okay with what I've done. I killed someone and it doesn't matter why or who. I took someone's life; I murdered her." Her voice was barely a whisper, her words hanging in the air like a poisonous fog.
"You protected us, Sophia." She shook her head, fingers digging into his upper arms.
"It doesn't matter. I'm—I have to pay for my crime, Nik."
"What?" He straightened, his hand against her shoulder blades keeping her from toppling off his lap.
"The witch spirits said I'm supposed to be the light to your darkness, to be good and pure of heart. But I killed one of my own people and I have to face justice for that." Sophia explained, pushing up out of his arms and hurrying to the closet.
"That's rubbish! You didn't do anything wrong." Klaus argued, following her angrily.
"Yes I did. I know it's been forever since you've had a conscience, but I know right from wrong. And what I did was wrong and I'll face my punishment, no matter what it might be." She replied, knowing it was a low blow but unable to help herself. She couldn't let him talk her out of this.
"What if they demand your life in retribution? Or our child's? You're not thinking clearly. Just…east your breakfast and calm down. It'll be okay." Klaus tried to placate, but the witch ignored him, quickly pulling on clothes and brushing her hair into a ponytail.
"I have to do this, Nik." She said firmly, moving past him. He grabbed her wrist and spun her around to face him.
"I won't let you. I won't lose you." He gritted out, his grip harsh. Sophia's hand came up to cradle his face, throat tightening at the fear she saw.
"I'll be fine. I doubt they'll do anything as drastic as taking my life, or our child's. They have too much invested in us. But I still have to face their judgment, Nik. I can't just forget what happened and sweep it under the rug. I can't live like that."
"I detest your humanity." Klaus scowled fiercely, refusing to release her.
"No you don't. It's one of the things you love most about me. And I can't lose it. I don't want to be a monster." He jerked sharply, wrapping her tightly in his arms.
"You're not a monster." He growled, his embrace nearly squashing. It was only the swell of her abdomen that kept him from crushing her against him.
"Not yet. But if I just let this go, what's to stop me from doing it again?"
"You're being ridiculous."
"Maybe, but I have to know that I faced judgment for killing Esther. I won't be able to move on until I do. It'll eat away at me until there's nothing left."
"Fine. Go. But if they hurt you, I will burn that house to the ground and have the entire town exercised so they'll have nowhere to go but back to the Otherside where they belong. I will hunt down their descendants and kill every last one of them if you or our child are hurt." Klaus promised fiercely, releasing her so she could see just how serious he was.
Sophia swallowed, knowing he'd keep his threat. He may have repressed his killer instinct for her, but she never forgot just how deadly he could be, how vicious. And while it bothered her a little, the majority of her was glad he loved her so completely. Because she knew deep down that she'd kill again if it meant saving Klaus.
And that terrified her now that she'd actually done just that.
"I'll text you before I start the trance and if it takes more than the day, come get me. I love you." She pressed her lips to his, breathing in his scent, letting it calm and center her.
Klaus pulled her tighter against him and deepened the kiss, his tongue delving between her parted lips to battle with hers. The kiss was demanding and almost brutal before it slowly turned loving.
When they pulled apart they stared at each other, breathing in the same air.
"You tell those witch bitches that I'll destroy everything and everyone they've ever loved if they hurt you." He growled, making her lips twitch a little before she pressed a chaste kiss to his mouth.
"I'll deliver the message." She stepped back and grabbed her purse.
Klaus watched her disappear, his body nearly shaking with the effort to keep himself from going after her and keeping her there. He wanted to chain her to the bed and keep her safe and away from anyone who'd want to harm her. He needed to protect her and he hated that she wouldn't let him.
He'd rain down hell the likes never seen before if those spirits did anything to Sophia or his child. Oh yes, they would feel his wrath for the next thousand years if one hair on her head was out of place. Oh yes, he'd make them pay all right.
/*/
Sophia had to take a calming breath before she could enter the decrepit house. Once she crossed the threshold there was no going back and she'd have to face whatever punishment the spirits deemed fit to give her for killing Ester. There was no telling what they'd decide, especially since Ester had been a sister witch. Evil, undoubtedly, but a witch none the less.
She knew Klaus thought she was over reacting and looking for trouble, but she just couldn't pretend last night had never happened. She'd killed a person, a living being, and she couldn't go to the authorities to turn herself in, she had to find some way to face justice. The spirits of the 100 witches killed here would surely see she paid for her crime.
It wasn't that Sophia wanted to be punished; she wasn't a masochist. But she'd been raised to believe in right and wrong and that when someone does something wrong, they have to face the consequences of their actions. She couldn't live with herself if this was swept under the rug and forgotten.
Sophia had to keep the pieces of herself that kept her human, no matter how strange and supernatural her life became.
Entering the house quietly the witch quickly made her way down to the basement and prepared the room for the summoning. Once shadows from the lit candles danced across the walls, Sophia placed the cushion she'd brought into the circle and took a seat. What? A girl always needs to be prepared and the floor is cold and hard. She'd learned that lesson the hard way.
/*/
"Where's Sophia? Is she alright?" Rebekah asked immediately when he entered the kitchen, the room blessedly empty of any working humans. Their help had the weekends off, upon Sophia's insistence, which paid off now since he really didn't want to be around the walking blood bags today. Not after the night and early morning he'd had.
"She went to speak with the witch spirits." The hybrid replied shortly, setting the breakfast tray on the counter and removing the uneaten food.
"She's being a little overdramatic, don't you think?" Kol questioned, eyes not looking up from the handheld he was currently playing on.
"Sophia is merely responding as any normal human would." Elijah retorted, giving his younger brother an arched look. Kol rolled his eyes and paused his game.
"But she's not human, not anymore. And Ester was going to kill us. What's the big deal?" Klaus bristled at Kol's flippant tone. He hadn't been the one to hold Sophia through the night, to calm her down after her nightmares, to feel actual fear at the thought of what the witches could do to her and their child.
"Watch your tone, Kol. I do not have the patience to deal with you today." The hybrid nearly snarled, the glass in his hands splintering into the sink from his harsh grip, spilling orange juice over his fingers.
"What crawled up your ass? Not been getting any lately? I hear that can be a problem with pregnant women. Better prepare yourself for months without sex if this keeps up, not to mention after the birth. Woo, sucks for you." Kol smirked and chuckled, barely having time to set his handheld onto the table before he was violently slammed against the wall, the plaster cracking under the abrupt weight.
"You would do well to mind your tongue unless you want me to rip it out." Klaus snarled, double fangs bared and golden eyes glaring into his brother's unconcerned ones. The desire to bury his fangs in Kol's throat and make him suffer made his heart race, his pulse pounding through his ears as he fought to remain in control.
"That's enough, the both of you." Elijah's calm voice washed over them, brooking no argument, even from the hybrid. Klaus bared his teeth for a moment longer before releasing Kol, resisting the urge to kick him before he went back to unloading the tray, needing something to focus his attention on. Anything to keep him distracted from what those witch bitches could be putting Sophia through.
"The two of you are no better than children." The oldest brother muttered behind his coffee mug, wondering once more why his family had to be so childish. One would think after a millennia they'd have grown up a little. But alas, he was not that fortunate.
"Do you think the spirits will do anything?" Rebekah asked, worried. Sophia was the only sister she'd ever known and she never wanted anything to happen to her; especially not when her own mother was to blame.
"If the witches want to keep their precious decedents alive, they'll not hurt Sophia." Klaus said fiercely, wiping the tray down before putting it away.
"Do you really think they'd harm her?" Elijah wondered, worried for the little witch and the life she held within her. But he didn't think the spirits were naïve enough to risk the Original family's wrath if they tried anything.
"I don't—" Klaus was interrupted by his phone ringing.
"What?" He snapped upon answering, not wanting to deal with any more of this town's problems. After Sophia graduated they were getting out of this one horse pony town, that he was damned sure of.
"Klaus, we have a problem." Stefan greeted.
"When do we not? What is it now?" The hybrid sighed in frustration, fingers pinching the bridge of his nose, head already beginning to throb.
"Yeah, I know. Bonnie was tricked into giving Alaric her blood last night after we'd all left. He's completed the transition." The younger vampire continued to explain.
"That's just fantastic."
"We need a plan. Something. He'll be in hiding until sunset, but then he'll come for all of us."
"Elijah and I will meet you."
"We're at Elena's."
"Fine." Klaus ended the call, barely resisting the urge to throw it against the wall. As satisfying as it would be to watch it break into a million pieces, he'd need it later.
"Alaric completed the transition?" Kol was already standing, handheld and the fight with Klaus forgotten.
"Yes and we have to find a way to stop him. Rebekah, go to the plantation house and get Sophia and get her out. Kol, get out of town and warn Finn. Elijah and I will meet with the Salvatores and come up with a plan." Klaus commanded, moving quickly from the room, his siblings hot on his heels.
"Is splitting up the best idea? We're stronger together." Rebekah said, uncertain about what to do. It was like they could never escape their mother and her dastardly plans to kill her own children. And her grandchild and daughter-in-law. Would they never be free of her?
"We don't know what Ester has unleashed, so we need to be prepared to flee. I need you to go get Sophia and get her away from here. I trust you to keep her safe, Beks." Klaus stared at her, his eyes hard, leaving no room for argument.
"Okay. I'll get her away." She nodded, squeezing his arm before she was gone, the front door slamming against the wall in her rush.
"Why do I have to go? I'm just as capable of fighting as either of you." Kol was not whining. He wasn't. He was just…annoyed at being treated like a child.
"Kol, you need to find a safe place for us to go from here. Just do as you're told; we don't have time for arguments." Elijah said firmly, hand on his younger brother's shoulder, giving no sway. Kol glared at him for a few seconds before rolling his eyes and going upstairs to grab a bag.
"Let's go." The two brothers grabbed their coats and headed out, bother wondering what more their once beloved mother had in store for them.
Would it never end? Would they always be looking over their shoulders, afraid she'd come after them again? They'd spent the last thousand years running from their father and neither wanted to repeat it. Especially not when there was a baby on the way.
When they got to the Gilberts', they discovered Alaric had Caroline, Tyler and Elena at the school. He wanted Klaus to come of he was going to start killing them. Just peachy.
"So what do we do? While we're twiddling our thumbs, he has Elena and is doing god knows what to her." Damon grumbled, irritated they were doing nothing. Alaric could be torturing Elena and they were just sitting there, talking.
"We can't just storm in there with no plan. He'll kill them if we do." Stefan replied, far beyond annoyed and pissed off. If Damon thought he wasn't scared for Elena, he was mistaken. Just because they were no longer together didn't mean that he didn't love her and fear for her safety. But if he gave in to that fear and rage, he'd surely go on a ripper spree. And the was the last thing they needed right now.
"I think I actually have one." Bonnie spoke up, a little uncomfortable being the only human and female there. She normally wouldn't notice, but all the men were imposing and made it impossible to ignore.
"What do you have in mind?" Elijah questioned, eyeing his pacing brother, watching to make sure he didn't snap. He'd been tense since Rebekah's call, when she'd told him she couldn't breech the basement. The spirits were keeping our out while they conversed with Sophia. Klaus had been on a short fuse ever since, angry the witch was still in Mystic Falls, still in danger.
"My mother was able to desiccate Mikael, so I figure we can do it to Alaric."
"That's very dark magic, Bonnie." The older Mikaelson warned, knowing the path that type of magic led down.
"If we can't stop him, I don't see any other option." She shrugged, willing to do anything to save her friends.
"Do you even know how to do that spell?" Damon demanded bitterly, getting a glare from Bonnie before she turned back to the others, ignoring him.
"I can call Jamie and see if he can get my mom to come."
"That won't be necessary. I know the spell you speak of." All eyes turned to the hybrid, who'd stopped pacing and was checking his phone. Rebekah hadn't called back or texted and his agitation was growing with every minute Sophia was still in harm's way.
"Do you still have it written down?"
"I possess the grimoire the spell is written in. But Elijah is right, it is dark magic because you have to stop a human heart." Klaus revealed, making her stop short.
"What?"
"To stop a vampire heart, to desiccate them, you must stop a human heart. That is the price."
"I can't just kill someone!" Bonnie groaned, her anxiety mounting. Elena, Caroline and Tyler were all counting on them, on her, and she didn't know what to do. Why did Sophia have to speak with the spirits today? She could really use the witchy support right now.
"We'll figure it out Bonnie." Stefan reassured, squeezing her shoulder.
"The only reason I'm here is because I promised to protect Sophia's family. I don't care what mojo you have to do, little witch, you will do what you must to stop Alaric. Or we'll all be dead."
/*/
"Welcome back, Sophia." The witch opened her eyes a the words, spying Analisa sitting before her.
"I killed Ester." Well, that was blunt. So much for wanting to ease into the confession.
"Yes, we know. We witnessed what Ester attempted to do and your resulting actions." Analisa nodded, legs crossing demurely and her hands folding in her lap.
"Have you decided on a punishment? I mean, I want to face up to what I did, but if we could avoid death or bodily harm, that'd be awesome. Klaus really doesn't want me to get hurt." Sophia babbled, hand pressed against her knotted stomach.
"Why would we punish you?"
"Uh, because I killed Ester?" She replied, bewildered by the spirit's flippant attitude.
"Ester wanted to create another Original, this one impervious to even white oak. She wasn't going to stop until she'd killed ever vampire and hybrid, no matter that they were her own children and grandchildren."
"Yeah, she was a bitch, I'm not denying that. But…she was still a person. I still murdered her." The last part came out a whisper, Sophia's throat tightening over the word.
"No, young witch, you protected the ones you love from someone who wanted to harm them. You stopped Ester from murdering thousands of people in her delusional quest for redemption. You protected your family." Analisa corrected, sitting forward to keep the witch's gaze, her face conveying how serious she was.
"I don't understand. You said I couldn't do evil, but I still killed someone."
"You are painting in only strokes of white and black. You know better than most the world is made up of many more shades. You are not evil, Sophia; you acted instinctually to protect your family."
"Killing is still killing, no matter the reason." Sophia muttered stubbornly, not wanting to let this go. It couldn't, shouldn't be this easy.
"Perhaps, but we all do what we must to protect others. Soldiers kill enemies, people kill those that attack them in self-defense. It is about intent, and your intentions were pure. To keep Ester from killing anyone else." The spirit explained.
"It can't be this simple. I took a witch's life; that has to mean something!" Sophia exclaimed, agitated with how unconcerned Analisa was acting. Does life and death really mean so little to the spirits?
"The taking of a life is never easy, nor should it be. It is a truth you will have to accept, as everyone before you has. You are immortal, young witch, and Ester will not be the last person's life you take to protect others."
"I'm going to kill more people? I'm turning into a monster." She whispered, tears spilling down her cheeks.
"You are not a monster, nor will you ever be. There are times when brute force will be necessary to stop another's actions, but those instances will be few and far between. Killing is always a last resort and should only be administered when no other solution is possible."
"So I just…I just get away with killing Ester?"
"You will not receive punishment from us, as her death was justified. It will be up to you how you deal with it, as you are the only one seeking chastisement."
"I—you're really not going to make me do anything in penitence?" Sophia questioned, completely mystified. This was not how she'd envisioned this conversation going.
"We see no fault in your actions, Sophia. You did us a service by removing Ester and preventing her from destroying the vampire and hybrid races."
"I can't believe it's this easy. I thought…my parents raised me to believe in right and wrong. There should be consequences for killing someone, no matter the reason."
"You seek sentencing based on a human idealistic perspective. Tell me, would you seek the same punishment if the hybrid had been the one to deliver the killing blow?" Analisa asked, arching a brow in challenge.
Sophia but her lip, not sure how to answer. Would she blame Klaus for killing Ester after everything she'd done? Was she so hung up on this because Ester had essentially been human instead of a vampire? Because she hadn't been so messed up about Klaus killing Mikael or her attacking Damon. But he'd been the one to kill the hunter, not her. It was different.
"Np, but it's his nature."
"Yes, it is, but it's in your nature to protect those you love. That's what you did. The only person at odds with this is you, and that is something you'll have to come to terms with on your own."
"But—"
"Our time must end Sophia. You are needed." Analisa stood up sharply, her face paling, which was just odd for a ghost.
"What? Why?" Sophia shot to her feet, becoming aware of the pain in her abdomen that was dulled by the trance.
"Ester was successful after all. You must stop her plan before it can be fulfilled. You mustn't let the new vampire take any lives, for he'll be truly lost."
"What? You're not making sense!" She exclaimed in frustration, not understanding what was going on.
"You'll know when the time comes. You'll need—"
Sophia was suddenly, violently, jerked back to her body, her entire being screaming in agony. It was a pain more severe than anything she'd ever experienced, and it wasn't even really her stomach, though that was searing too. Her skin felt stretched taunt as fire licked at her, threatening to boil her alive. She didn't know what was happening, but one thing was absolutely, 100% clear to her.
Klaus was in trouble. Klaus was hurt.
"Sophia? Can you hear me?" The witch's eyes snapped to the stairs, where Rebekah was pushing against and invisible force.
"Yeah, wh—" She broke off on a gasp, her back arching as the pain hit a crescendo before something inside her snapped.
The connections she hadn't been fully aware of linking her to Klaus was suddenly gone. The pain vanished along with it. She was left numb and empty, her heart twisted.
"Sophia!" The Original suddenly had her in her arms, the barrier dropping and allowing her entrance.
"S-Something…wrong…K-Klaus." Sophia gasped, tears spilling down her cheeks as her mind raced, trying to understand what was going on. But she couldn't think clearly; the only thing she could focus on was that something had happened to Klaus.
"Shh, catch your breath. I'm sure he's fine." The blonde soothed even as her own fear rose. Had Alaric killed Klaus? What about Elijah? She didn't know what she'd do if she lost her brothers. No matter what hell they'd put each other through over the centuries, they were her closest family and she loved them.
Sophia leaned against the vampire for a few minutes, letting her mind calm down. She didn't know what could have possible happened to the hybrid, but she needed to be able to think, to understand what was going on.
"What happened Beks? Why are you here?" She asked, pulling away and pushing to her felt. The vampire steadied her when she swayed before getting her footing.
"I don't know. Klaus sent me here when we found out the teacher completed the transition. I've been here since trying to get in."
"How—I thought he planned to die?"
"The other witch fed him her blood. Says she was tricked into it." Rebekah explained, following her up the stairs. She cast a glance over her shoulder, watching as the candles all went out, leaving them in darkness.
"So Ester's vampire hunter is alive and out to kill us all. Great." Sophia muttered, pulling Rebekah's keys out of her pocket when they got outside. She really needed to get her own car. The sun had already set, meaning they were in danger if they stayed out in the open.
"Pretty much, yeah."
"Does Alaric have a white oak stake? Did he—no, I refuse to think it." Sophia shook her head, hand unconsciously clutching at her chest, where the feeling of loss was the strongest.
"I don't know." The vampire shrugged helplessly, just as clueless as the witch.
"Try to call the others. We'll head home in the meantime. Hopefully they're there and I'm freaking out over nothing." Even as she said, Sophia knew something was wrong. Knew it on a cellular level.
Neither Klaus nor Elijah answered their phones, which most definitely didn't bode well. Sophia sped all the way back to the mansion, desperation growing with each failed dial. Klaus could not be dead, he just couldn't. She refused to let that be a possibility, no matter how empty she felt.
"Nik? Elijah?" She called out when they entered the house, but only salience greeted her. Sharing a worried glance with the blonde, they hurried through the house, searching to the missing men.
"Sophia, in here!" She rushed into the parlor, nearly tripping over her own feet when she saw the mess.
The couches were askew, the coffee table shattered, the wood splinted and one long piece coated in dry blood. Several of the wooden floor planks were broken from where someone was powerfully slammed onto the floor. A fight had most definitely taken place here.
"You don't think…" Rebekah trailed off, throat closing as her fear mounted. It was becoming clearer and clearer that her worst fear, to lose her family, might actually be happening.
"No…just no." Sophia shook her head and crouched next to the broken table, sniffing at the dried blood. She didn't react to it at all.
"It's human." She announced and stood, even more confused.
"Why would there be a human here?"
"I don't know." Sophia looked around, at a loss to what to do. She needed to check on everyone, but he absence of both Mikaelsons was throwing her into a panic.
If Alaric had killed them here, she very much doubted he'd have bothered moving the bodies. And there weren't any extra-crispy stiffs lying around, which was reassuring, if only a little bit.
Where are they? And who was here? Who got in a fight? What was going on?
So many questions and no available answers. It was maddening.
"Go home."
Sophia jerked at the sudden voice, head turning quickly as she searched for the newcomer. But the only one there was Rebekah, who was once more on her phone, trying to find her missing brothers.
"What?" She asked quietly, wondering if she was going crazy. At this point, after everything she'd seen and done, it wouldn't surprise her.
"The answers you seek can be found at your home."
The voice spoke again before going silent. Confused, the witch glanced around the room once more, but nothing new was jumping out at her. Why would the voce, who she really hoped was a spirit and not just an extra voice in her head, say to go home when she was already there? Did they like being frustrating or was it part of the gig they couldn't help? Because it was oh so annoying.
"Oh jeez, duh." She felt like slapping herself.
"What? What is it?" Rebekah asked, slipping her phone into her pocket. Useless thing.
"Uh, nothing,. Let's head over to see Elena. Maybe she'll know something." The blonde shrugged and followed, willing to put up with the annoying human if it meant finding her brothers.
They parked a couple houses down, the street in front of the Gilbert house full of cars.
"Wait."
Sophia stopped at Rebekah's tug on her arm, giving her a questioning look. She pointed to her ears and then the house. Brow furrowed, Sophia titled her head and focused her hearing on her childhood home.
"…with Klaus was necessary to keep him safe from Alaric, but has anyone thought about what Sophia is gonna do?" Bonnie's voice caught her attention.
"Hey, it was either desiccate him or risk Alaric finding him and killing all of us along with him." Caroline replied.
"Do you really think she'll just be okay with that? Seriously?"
"Look Bonnie, I don't like it any more than you do, especially because of Elijah, but until we can find a way to stop Alaric, I don't know what else we could've done." Elena interjected.
"And let's not forget he planned to just snatch Elena away. Probably wanted her for his brainless hybrids if he wasn't going to kill her." Caroline continued snidely.
Sophia stood there, listening as her friends, her family, admitted to desiccating her boyfriend and doing god knows what to Elijah. Even after all they'd been through, the progress they'd made, they were still ready and willing to hurt Klaus, to hurt the man she loved. How could they be so cruel when she'd done nothing to deserve such ill treatment? When Klaus had been on his best behavior, not even threatening anyone who didn't deserve it? She just didn't understand.
"I still think we should call Sophia, tell her what's going on. Maybe if we explain about Alaric, she won't be mad." Bonnie murmured.
"I think it's too late for that. But hopefully they've gotten the two Originals somewhere safe before Alaric can find them." Tyler's voice suddenly sounded up, revealing it wasn't just the girls inside.
"Damon didn't tell me where they're taking them."
"You know Stefan is friends with Klaus, for whatever reason, so he won't let it be somewhere horrible."
"I just hope we can stop Alaric soon."
Sophia met Rebekah's angry gaze, her vision bleeding red as her emotions swirled within her. Hurt, fear, sorrow, anger. Oh yes, she was more than merely angry, she was furious.
How dare they, people who proclaimed to love her, hold such little regard for her feelings. How dare they dismiss their actions so easily, as if they hadn't broken a vital piece of her that she could barely breath without. She felt like a shadow, like a mere shell of herself and they just didn't care.
The only think that mattered to them was their own lives and how best to save them without ever having to sacrifice anything. She was always the one who had to suffer, who had to pay the price. And she was done with being the willing sacrifice.
Rebekah stepped away from Sophia as her eyes turned red, the air thickening as energy began surging around them. Their hair whipped around them as the wind picked up and the sky started to darken eve more, the moon and stars disappearing behind storm clouds. Electrify arced down the power lines, traveling through the air, making it crack and sizzle until she could nearly see the air itself.
"I think Sophia just found out."
"What? How do you know?"
"Because there is a lot of angry power headed this way."
"Damn straight." Sophia muttered and stalked down the sidewalk, Rebekah at her flank.
The door slammed open before she'd even reached it, leaving the path clear. Her anger grew with each step, heightening the already chaotic magic swirling around her. The dying grass and plants along her way burst into sudden bloom, leaving a path that was going to mystify people in the morning.
Rebekah stayed out of the way, willing to let Sophia take the reins, even with as spitting mad as she was. She'd never seen the witch so infuriated before and she didn't want to get between her and those she was angry at. There was no telling what the witch was going to do in the mood she was in.
Everyone in the kitchen barely had a chance to move away from the island before they were flung around the room. Elena and Matt slammed into the dining room table, Bonnie hit the sink before falling to the floor. Tyler and Caroline were back on their feet instantly, their vampire sides letting them move quicker than the humans.
"What the—" Caroline's bewildered words were cut short as every window in the house exploded outward in a shower of glass. Every dish in the kitchen splintered, crumbling into jagged pieces and dust; the plastic started melting, filling the air with the stench and making it difficult to breath. The only pieces let unscathed were the ones that had been her parents' favorites or heirlooms; everything else was destroyed.
"S-Sophia?" Elena stumbled to her feet, her eyes wide in shock as she spied her sister standing just inside the kitchen. The witch's eyes were a bright red, her small fangs pinching her bottom lip; she was nearly shaking with rage.
"Ow." Matt muttered, climbing to his feet and holding his side, sore from where it'd hit the table.
"Where is Klaus?" Sophia demanded, her voice barely above a whisper; she was struggling to hold onto her rage and not simply decimate the house to smithereens.
"Sophia we—" Red eyes turned to glare at once matching brown, her lips peeling back to show her fangs.
"What have you done with Klaus?" She demanded again, stepping further into the room, allowing Rebekah to walk in behind her.
"We didn't have a choice. Alaric—" Caroline's voice was cut off on a choke, her hands going to her throat. Sophia glared at her, her once treasured friendship with the blonde completely broken.
"You had to what? Desiccate him? Lock him and Elijah away somewhere? Where is he?" The witch snarled, her magic raged through her like a volcano. The vampire gasped and fell to her knees, her brain exploding in pain. It was so rapid and fierce her vampirism was having trouble repairing the damage; blood ran from her ears, nose and mouth.
"Sophia stop! You'll kill her!" Elena pleaded, moving to crouch next to the withering blonde. Tyler took a step forward before he found himself face-to-face with one severely pissed off witch.
"What are you going to do, Ty? I'm stronger, faster than you and a hell of a lot angrier." Sophia quirked a brow, hand lashing out to circle his throat, nails digging into the soft flesh.
"Alaric is trying to kill all the Originals." Bonnie said, drawing their attention.
Rebekah just shrugged, leaning against the doorframe and glaring at all of them. She'd already have ripped their throats out if they weren't Sophia's friends. The vampire hadn't had many in her life, but even she knew they weren't acting like Sophia's friends, not even a little bit. But even so, she knew Sophia wouldn't want them to die, no matter how hot her temper at the moment.
"We tried to desiccate him, but he was too strong." The other witch continued, remaining against the sink, not wanting to appear threatening. She was powerful, being a Bennett, but she'd never felt anything like what Sophia was projecting right now. She had access to an astounding level of power and wasn't thinking clearly; meaning she could do some serious damage if riled even more.
"Why go after Klaus? He went to help you." Rebekah asked, arms crossing over her chest.
"Because he started their vampire line." Sophia murmured, fingers tightening around Tyler's throat. He'd completely betrayed Klaus, the man who'd answered his prayers and relieved him of his werewolf burden; Tyler had betrayed her trust in him, in his loyalty and friendship. Would she ever learn her lesson with this group?
"Yes." He replied as best he could, eyes focused on her red ones.
"So instead of waiting for me or coming up with another plan, you decided that desiccating my boyfriend was the way to go. And then to hide him away, keeping him from me."
"I didn't know that was the plan. We thought he was gonna kill Elena." Sophia released him and turned to her sister, brow arching, demanding answers.
"Care—" The witch rolled her eyes and released the vampire.
"Why would Klaus want to kill you?"
"Ester linked Alaric's life to mine. So if I die—"
"He dies. Makes sense, smarty move. But Klaus would never kill you, even if it meant killing Alaric. He wouldn't." She denied, believing it completely. After all they'd been through, Klaus wouldn't hurt the ones she loved. He loved her too much to do that.
"I know." Rebekah stood straighter at Elena's soft words.
"Then why—"
"I knew he wasn't going to kill me, but the others didn't. They just stormed in, broke Elijah's neck and went for Klaus." Elena stood, steadying Caroline.
"That explains the mess we found." Sophia nodded in acknowledgement of Rebekah's statement.
"You were hurt. We smelled human blood."
"I was pushed into the table by accident. But I'm fine; vampire blood." The human doppelganger shrugged, at this point used to being injured.
"That doesn't tell me where Klaus is or how any of you could do this. How you willingly took him from me." Her anger surged anew, now mixed with hurt and sadness. How had they gotten so far apart?
"Damon and Stefan took him and Elijah, to hide them."
"What choice did we have? If Alaric gets to Klaus, then it's not just your precious boyfriend that'll die. Me, Tyler, Stefan and Damon are all from his line, Sophia, and I really don't want to die!" Caroline said, frustrated the other girl just wouldn't understand. She honestly didn't get why she was so upset; it's not like they can't' wake Klaus up when they're safe.
"And if it'd been Tyler who's heart was stopped? Huh? How would you feel then, Caroline? Would you be so flippant about it if it was anyone but Klaus?" Sophia demanded angrily.
"Soph—"
"Or what about Stefan? Or hell, even Damon? No, you'd be torn up and demanding they be brought back. But because it's Klaus, it doesn't matter." She said hotly, the cabinets shaking as a wind blew through the room.
"That's not true." Elena tried to deny, but the vicious glare she got made her go quiet.
"It is true! As long as its Klaus, then it doesn't matter what you do; he's just a monster, so who cares. Right? He's this strange hybrid that hasn't actually done anything to any of you since we've been back, but he's evil and deserves to be mistreated because you're the "good guys". Isn't that what you guys think?" Her voice lowered as she went, showing just how pissed she was. A calm and quiet Sophia was infinitely more dangerous than a shouting one.
"You never stop to think about what you're doing, who you're hurting; if it doesn't involve you or your "friends", then it's not important. Did you even give me a passing thought? Or did you really think I'd be honky dory with you stealing my boyfriend away from me? Tell me!" She demanded, the dining room table groaning loudly before cracking down the middle.
"Jeez, it's not like he's dead. Chill out." Caroline muttered before she found herself up against the wall, a snarling Original at her neck.
"Shut up Caroline, you understand nothing! Klaus is much more than my boyfriend and it's taking everything inside me not to let Bekah rip your throat out." Sophia said, completely serious. The younger vampire swallowed, the threat crystal clear.
"Give me your phone." She held her hand out towards Elena, who just gave her a confused look.
"Stefan won't answer my call if he's helping Damon stash Klaus and Elijah, so I need your phone." Elena hesitated a moment, but Sophia didn't move a muscle and neither did Rebekah. They weren't going anywhere until they had answers.
Sophia snatched the offered phone and scrolled the contacts until she got to Damon's name. There was no way the love-sick fool would ignore a call from sweet, dear Elena.
"Elena? What's wrong? Have you seen Alaric again?" Damon asked immediately after answering. Sophia poured her magic through the connection, using the radio waves that allowed the call the reveal their location.
"Hello Damon, I hear you have something of mine." Silence met her words before a soft curse was uttered, most likely by Stefan.
"Sophia, my least favorite witch. What can I do for you?"
"You know the neat thing about new cars? They have computer chips in them. Do you know what that means?" Sophia's vice was calm, appearing cool and collected despite the destruction around her.
"Great. They're one step closer to parking themselves."
"Funny. No, it means they can be shut down remotely." As she said this, the SUV gave a rattle before the engine shut off.
"Shit." Damon cursed as the vehicle eased to a stop, the key refusing to turn over.
"I'll be seeing you soon. If you don't want to have your head removed from your shoulders, you'll stay there." Sophia said before ending the call, their location a beacon in her mind.
"You found them?" Rebekah asked over her shoulder, fingers still clutching Caroline's neck.
"Yes. Let's go get the guys. We'll meet up with Kol afterwards. You're coming with us Bonnie. Since you're the one responsible for this, I might need your help." The other witch didn't have a chance to protest before Rebekah was at her side.
"Where are you going?" Elena questioned.
"I'm going to go wake Klaus up and free Elijah from whatever prison you've locked him into. And then I'm getting the hell out of dodge until we figure out how to stop Alaric."
"So you're just gonna leave the rest of us to fend for ourselves against an unkillable vampire? Nice, Sophia, real nice." Caroline said snidely, receiving matching glares from both Sophia and Rebekah.
"Considering you've locked two of my brothers away and didn't plan on telling us, you're lucky I don't kill you now and save the teacher the trouble." The Original spat angrily.
"You know what Care? I just don't care anymore. I've spent so much time and energy trying to be your friend, and it's just not worth it. You feel no regret for what you've put me through by continuously ragging on Klaus and always blaming him for everything that goes wrong in this town. So I'm done caring about what you want or what you think." Sophia replied shortly before focusing on Elena, who stood silently next to Matt and Tyler.
"I would suggest getting out of town quickly before Alaric comes for you. He might not be able to kill you, but that doesn't mean you're safe. Not with his crazy alter ego in charge."
"C-can we came with you?" Elena stammered, not knowing what to do. On one side, Klaus started Stefan's line, so they had to keep him safe or they'd all die, and she wasn't ready to lose her friends and both Salvatores. On the other hand, none of them had consulted Sophia or Klaus about Plan B and her twin was left not knowing where Klaus was or when she'd see him again. She understood both sides and really just wanted the Alaric mess cleaned up and for everyone to be friends again. But that seemed unlikely after Sophia's freak out, on everyone's part.
"I don't care. I just want to get to Klaus before those two idiots squirrel him away. Let's roll." Sophia replied and headed out, Rebekah leading a confused Bonnie after her.
"You really wanna go with them? After this?" Caroline motioned to the destroyed kitchen.
"Do you have a better idea? As long as Alaric knows where we are, we're in danger." Elena grabbed her jacket and left, soon followed by Matt.
"We'll follow in my truck." The humans got into the blue pick-up, waiting a beat before following Rebekah's retreating car. Tyler and Caroline never emerged.
/*/
When they reached the deserted highway, Stefan and Damon were under the hood, trying in vain to get the car started. They really should've asked Klaus what she was able to do with a cell phone and internet connection. Sophia had no idea how they thought they'd ever be able to keep her way. Idiots.
"Hello Stefan, Damon." They both jerked up at her voice, nearly butting heads as they spun to face her.
"Sophia, I can ex—" She waved her hand and Stefan's voice vanished, leaving him mouthing words before he realized he couldn't speak.
"I don't want to hear it Stefan. Klaus trusted you, I trusted you, and you betrayed him instead of just waiting for me."
"He was going to kill Elena. Or do you not care about your sister's life?" Damon demanded.
"I know that's the lie you tell yourself to justify your actions, but we all know it's not true." She glared hotly at him for a moment before stalking around to the trunk.
Stefan winced when Rebekah pulled up next to them, Bonnie in the back seat; Sophia must have hopped out to vamp to them as quickly as she could. He could already tell just how angry the two women were and he knew it was going to take a lot more than just apologizing to make things right. Even though he hadn't been okay with the plan, he'd still allowed it to happen and he was going to have to face up to his role. Fun.
The trunk door popped open and up without any assistance, the two coffins silently floating out the back and lowering onto the ground. It was an impressive display, Sophia not uttering a word or moving her hands; her magic responded to her will instantly and with no need of incantations.
"You better let me out of this! Do you hear me?" Elijah's voice came from one of the heavily chained coffins. The usually calm and collected man was gone, replaced by one extremely pissed off Original vampire.
"Elijah, Rebekah and I are here. If you stop moving, Bonnie will release the bonding on these chains."
Bonnie stepped forward when Sophia lifted the casket lid, staring down into Elijah's furious face. While Bonnie undid her spell, Sophia moved to Klaus's coffin and opened it. Klaus was bluish, veins protruding against his skin; his body was wrapped in chains.
"Oh, what have they done to you?" She murmured quietly. His eyes popped open, making her jump before she smiled.
"Don't worry, I'm going to get you out of these." The chains vibrated before falling away, the links broken down the center and falling to either side.
"Here." Sophia bit into her wrist and pressed it against his cold lips, allowing her blood to trickle into his mouth.
"I should rip your hearts from your chests." Elijah straightened, coming out of the casket like a phantom.
"Don't get your panties in a twist, we just needed you hidden from Alaric. We woulda freed you when he was dead…probably." The older Salvatore shrugged and smirked, as if he wasn't tempting very dangerous, very angry vampires to make good on their threats.
Sophia paid them no mind, too focused on watching Klaus, examining how the veins receded under his skin. But the blue tinge remained and her wrist had already healed since Klaus hadn't bitten her. She didn't know if he couldn't or if he didn't want to risk draining her in his current state, but whatever the reason, he needed more blood.
"I need more blood." She announced, grabbing their attention. Both Originals were beside her immediately, crouching close to the coffin to check on their brother.
Stefan went back to the SUV and grabbed the cooler from between the seats, ignoring Damon's annoyed questions as he went. There was no point denying Klaus the blood when the desiccation had already been broken. Besides, he hadn't been onboard with the plan anyway, so he thought it best to immediately start apologizing. He knew he'd really messed up, but he hoped he hadn't lost Sophia's and Klaus's friendship forever.
Sophia snatched the cooler from his hands with a glare, ignoring the approaching headlights. Her world centered on Klaus and she could care less about anything else. She made quick work of opening a blood bag and feed the tube into his parted lips, her free hand stroking his forehead soothingly. Rebekah readied the next bag while Elijah turned his focus back to the others, watching the car screech to a halt.
"Sophia, we have company." He murmured quietly, standing and moving in front of his family, body tensing as Alaric sauntered from the vehicle. The witch glanced up, having expected the headlights to belong to Elena and Matt.
"Damn." She muttered before joining Elijah, trusting Rebekah to protect Klaus's vulnerable state.
"Well looky here, most of my targets all in one place. It must be my birthday." Alaric smirked, fingers twirling the white oak stake Ester had made, the tip already stained red.
"I'm really not in the mood to put up with you." Sophia crossed her arms and glared, determined to protect her family.
"And here I thought we'd have a girl's night, braid each other's hair, before I kill your boyfriend." Stefan and Damon edged closer to the Originals, hoping for the safety in numbers. Rebekah kept her focus on Klaus, feeding him the third blood bag, hoping he'd recover soon.
"Your mistake, Alaric, is your hubris. You think you're unstoppable because you're immune to the stake. But you should've remembered that I have a direct line to the witch spirits on the Otherside." With that she flung her hand out, snapping his neck quickly and efficiently.
"That was…anticlimactic." Damon muttered, staring at the crumpled figure.
"That's because you're a bunch of idiots. Put him in the coffin and I'll secure it so it cannot be opened." Sophia shook her head and rolled her eyes, amazed they'd managed to stay alive all this time. Seriously, how could they not see the easiest solution was usually the simplest. Hell, they magically locked Elijah up, so shouldn't they have thought to do that with Alaric? Idiots.
Damon ignored her, not wanting to give her the satisfaction; he picked Alaric up and deposited him into Elijah's casket. He went to grab the stake, but the older Mikaelson was already there, sliding the wood into his pocket with a knowing look. There was no way he was allowing the deadly weapon anywhere near the Salvatores.
Sophia glanced down at Klaus, glad his skin was returning to its normal paleness, before she waked to the other coffin and closed the lid.
"Bonnie?" The other witch peered up from her phone, which she'd been trying to call Elena and Matt on. They really should have caught up with them; well, if they hadn't gotten lost, as Rebekah had done close to 90 mph for most of the drive.
"Yes?"
"We're going to bind the coffin the way Ester did hers, with two witch bloodlines. No one but us will be able to open it; Alaric won't be able to break through the wood. He'll desiccate over the years until Elena's death."
Bonnie joined her, allowing the other witch to take the reins and cast the spell. They joined their blood over the casket and allowed the magic to take hold before testing it. The lid would not budge; Damon tried to punch through, but all he did was break his hand. Why they hadn't thought to do this with Alaric in the first place, none of them knew. It really was the easiest thing, besides the drain it put on the witches.
"You guys can take care of him. I going to take care of my boyfriend." Sophia announced before turning her back on the Salvatores and crouching next to the prone hybrid. He finished his sixth bag before she helped pull him from the small space. Klaus leaned against her heavily, the blood working through him to restore him to normal.
"Let's go." Elijah slung his brother's arm over his shoulder and took his wait off Sophia, leading the way towards Rebekah's car. Sophia glanced at Bonnie, who glanced between them before motioning towards the SUV.
"I'll ride with them, make sure Alaric is secure."
"Fine." Sophia nodded and walked over to the hood, laying a hand over the cooling engine and sparking it back to life. She also released Stefan, her body sagging with the drain. She'd been on an emotional roller coaster since the night before and she'd used a lot of magic; she needed to sleep for a week to recharge.
"Sophia—"
"I can't, Stefan, not right now. I love you, but I can't stand to look at you. You were one of my best friends and what you did…it's going to take time before I'm ready to talk to you."
"I understand. I'm sorry." He said quietly, shoulders slumped. Sophia ignored the instinct to comfort him, instead joining the Mikaelsons in the car.
"How're you feeling?" She questioned as Elijah started the car and maneuvered it around Alaric's stranded one.
"I'll be better in a few hours." Klaus muttered, head leaning heavily against the backseat headrest.
Sophia snuggled against his side, arms wrapping around him and holding him close. The connection that'd broken earlier was starting to return, the numbness retreating and allowing her to finally breathe easy. Things were still messed up, especially with her friends, but at last she had him back now. She didn't know if she'd ever forgive the others, but she had her new family and she would protect them with everything she had. She'd never let anyone do this to any other them ever again, that she was sure of. They were her family and she'd kill to defend them, from anyone.
/*/
"Are you sure this is the right way?" Matt asked doubtfully, eyeing the dark road.
"Yes, they—LOOK OUT!" Elena screamed, but it was too late.
The truck hit the deer head on, the tires losing their traction and sliding over the road and fish tailing into the trees. They barely had a chance to breath before they slammed into a tree, the airbags expanding and making everything go dark.
They should've just stayed in Mystic Falls.
AN: I know, I know, it's not the best, sorry. But I'm nearly seeing double now, so this is how it's gonna be for now. I hope you liked it despite the mistakes.
PS: For anyone who reads my Arrow story, I am beginning work on the next chapter. With my lack of energy I don't know when I'll be able to finish it, but please don't give up on me. Thanks!