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Chapter 015

TheOriginal Trouble Maker

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Friday, August 27, 2010

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I wake once around four in the morning when Matt comes into the house. His heart is beating steadily and he doesn't seem distressed or upset, so I decide to let him be, pull my wife closer to me, and go back to sleep.

I wake again at seven and get up after kissing Briseis who is still fast asleep.

After taking a quick shower, I head downstairs as I pull my t-shirt over my head, and after grabbing my laptop out of the living room where I left it last night, I enter the kitchen to the sounds and smells of Matt and Tyler cooking something, bacon and sausage maybe. "Hey man, good morning," they say when they see me.

I place the laptop on the counter and proceed to plug it into the wall socket as I reply to their greeting, "Good morning. Ty you went to bed the same time I did how are you up before me?"

He frowns but laughs and says, "My mom called because she went into my room this morning and noticed all my stuff gone. I'm kind of surprised she even noticed since it's been almost two months since I moved all my stuff out. Anyway, she was not happy, so I spent an hour trying to calm her down and then decided I wouldn't be able to fall back to sleep."

I nod and tell him, "I'm surprised she noticed too since she didn't seem to realize that you're never there anymore, so I just assumed she was happy ignoring it."

He nods, "Pretty much but when she went in and apparently expected to see me asleep and instead discovered all my shit gone she freaked and woke my ass up. She'll probably call me later too and bitch some more about how I'm slacking on my family responsibilities. 'Your father expected us to… blah, blah, blah', man was an asshole who liked to hit me when I didn't do as he told me to, so I don't really give a shit what he expected." He pauses then realizes what he just said and adds, "Sorry, obviously I have unresolved shit caused by my father's sudden death. Anyway, I should probably warn you that she might get it in her head to come here and bitch you out so consider yourself warned."

I laugh and tell him, "Oh I hope she does because guess what I'm not her kid and even though you are her kid you're 18 so ultimately what she wants no longer matters. Besides if she comes into my house she better show me the respect I deserve, or I'll throw her out on her ass."

He laughs and almost bounces on his toes as he says, "Let me know so I can watch, okay?"

I laugh back, "Will do, Brother," then I turn to face Matt and ask, "You got here at four shouldn't you still be asleep?"

He smiles and shrugs as he cracks eggs and puts them in a bowl, "Nah, I slept from 10 to 12 and then couldn't fall back to sleep, so I got up and went grocery shopping with my new expense account and picked up what I need to try a new recipe."

I frown and look at him pointedly, "You went shopping in the middle of the night, alone, when any ole Vampire looking for a quick and easy snack could happen upon you?"

Tyler stops flipping bacon for a minute and frowns as Matt stops cracking eggs for his batter and looks at me with wide eyes and an open mouth before he says, "Well, I didn't think of it like that, but yeah. I've been doing it since before I had a license. I'd 'borrow' my mom's car and drive to the 24-hour Walmart. I only got caught by the cops once, and that was back when I was 12, so they could easily tell I wasn't old enough to drive yet."

Tyler and I laugh as I pull out a chair and sit down at the counter, "Is there a single member of this family that isn't a trouble maker?"

They laugh at that as Matt turns his narrowed eyes on me, "You're one to talk man, Elena says you've been the original trouble maker in this family since she met you some 490,175 years ago."

I smile, "That depends on the type of trouble. I was a master at getting into stuff and breaking rules I shouldn't. Driving to the store in the middle of the night when I was 12 would have been right up my alley. The others were more likely to get into brawls and such. Mostly I just bent rules until they were about to break."

He nods. He and I have made some major headway in our relationship, and I know he's pretty close to completely forgiving me for killing Vicki. Still we're not as close as I am to the others, so I pause before I ask, "You want to talk about why you couldn't sleep, or should I leave that to the others?"

He smiles, and as he begins whisking the batter he says, "I'd tell you, but I don't know why I woke up or why I couldn't fall back to sleep. I didn't have any bad dreams, and other than this whole thing with Stefan there's nothing that's really worrying me. For once all my bills are up to date. I've been here constantly for the last two months, except pretty much when I rarely sleep at home like last night. Things are actually better than they've probably been since I was five or six so I'm clueless about what caused it."

I nod, "Okay but talk to someone if you figure it out, okay? Take it from an expert, bottling shit up just makes it more prone to explode later down the line."

"Will do. Now sit back. We've got coffee made, and we want you to just sit and relax for a single breakfast."

I smile and ask, "Whatcha making, Donovan?"

He smiles and sort of bounces on the balls of his feet while he mixes some sort of batter in the mixing bowl, "Tyler and I found these two recipes for crepes and blintzes. Since the blintzes require crepes we decided to make both."

The good news is Matt and Tyler were pretty decent in the kitchen two months ago, and since then I've been teaching them and Ric everything I know about cooking, so if anyone other than me or Ric can pull this off it'll be them, so I smile and tell them honestly, "Sounds great."

Matt pours my coffee and adds one sugar just how I like it and then as he hands it to me he tells me, "So you haven't really commented on what we found in the forest up in the mountains. I've never seen so many dead bodies. Do you know what was up with the dried blood on their faces? It looked as though they were extras in a zombie apocalypse movie with their eyes, nose and ears bleeding. I didn't get a chance to ask before but I've been really wondering what's up with that?"

I sigh remembering the family trip we took three days ago to try to find Stefan in the Blue Mountains. Instead, we seemed to have been a day late as all we found were dead Werewolves.

I tell them both, "Honestly, I think the blood was a result of a bad transition into a Hybrid. Remember Klaus doesn't have access to 'Lena's blood so they can't successfully transition. If Klaus had fed his blood to Tyler, the same thing would have happened to him. 'Lena's the key I'm sure of it, especially since we managed to successfully turn Tyler."

Just then, my phone rings. I take it out of my pocket and look at the caller ID. It says 'private', so I reluctantly pick up and put it on speaker-phone as I say, "Hello?"

"Damon, imagine my surprise when I saw you hiking in the Blue Mountains the other day, since the last time I saw you, you were dead."

I hold my finger to my lips when Matt and Ty's eyes go wide and they nod as I say, "Katherine, what do you want?"

I can hear the snark a mile away as she says, "Why I simply wanted to tell you how happy, thrilled really, I am that you seemed to have done the impossible and returned from the permanently dead."

I roll my eyes at Matt and Tyler as I tell her, "Yeah I'm just chock full of surprises, what do you really want?" which causes both men to stifle a chuckle under their breaths.

She seems oblivious to the fact that she's on speaker phone and that I'm not the only one in the room as she asks, "Can't I just call to catch up with my old love-er since obviously a lot has been going on what with you now spending time with the Originals. Imagine my surprise when I recognized the brothers and Rebekah with your little band of explorers the other day. Then again, you always were the more charming brother who could talk a saint into partying with Lucifer himself. But I am very curious how you convinced them to turn on their brother or why you believe they won't betray you like Elijah already did once."

I sigh, "I have my reasons Katherine, and since I'm the oldest member of this family, what with you out exploring the world, my opinion is the only one that counts." The peanut gallery stifles another chuckle at that.

She pauses then says, "Hmm, won't be long before the Originals put you in your proper place, to bad I won't be there to see it."

I sigh fed up with her shit already. My nostrils are flared and despite her being god knows where and unable to see it my teeth are bared since she's ruining what was shaping up to be an excellent morning, so I ask, "What is the purpose of your very unexpected and incredibly unwanted call, Katherine?"

I can hear her pouting, it used to be that would work on me but not anymore, "Well if you don't want to know where Klaus and Stefan are right this minute then I can just hang up, nice talking to—"

Shit, my eyes connect with Matt's wide eyes as I rush out, "Wait, where are they?"

I can hear the smirk in her voice as she drawls out, "What's it worth to you?"

Matt and Tyler both roll their eyes as I'm reminded that I hate her bullshit, I really do. I don't know how I missed what a manipulative bitch she is when I first met her, "How 'bout you just tell me what you actually want, and we can skip the whole negotiation process, and I can simply say yes or no."

Now I can hear her frowning, "Hmm, you're no fun, is shacking up with your brother's woman not keeping up your spirits anymore?"

That crosses the line so I say through gritted teeth, "Katherine… what do you want or I'll be the one to hang up since we're all perfectly capable of finding them on our own."

I turn on the laptop and open my email account. Before I can type a message to Hanz and hit send, I see that he already emailed me almost three hours ago. The message simply reads, "Klaus and Stefan landed at O'Hare airport at 4 a.m. via a commercial flight. I will send you the details about where they're staying when I have them."

There's a second email from about an hour and a half later that says, "Ms. Pierce landed by private plane at O'Hare at 5 a.m. Klaus and Stefan are staying at the Ritz-Carlton in the Presidential suite. Ms. Pierce is staying at one of her Bed and Breakfasts, which is owned on paper by a Mrs. Flowers just outside the city limits in Harvey. I have feet on the ground trailing both Klaus and Ms. Pierce. More information to follow as I receive it."

I smile and tell Katherine, "You know what I changed my mind I don't need what you know so thanks for calling bye now—"

Her voice is higher pitched than usual and she almost squeaks as she says, "Wait, I really do know where they are."

I smile widely as I slowly tell her, "Hmm, the Ritz-Carlton in Chicago. The Presidential Suite I believe. While you're staying at Mrs. Flower's little B&B just outside the city limits in Harvey, have a good day Katherine. It's been nice talking to you," and I hang up.

My companions laugh and I tell them, "The only bad thing about that whole conversation is that we couldn't see her face when I told her where they are or that I know where she's staying. That would have made my year. The expression on her face probably would have made me forget all the shit she's put me through, well for a little while anyhow."

Matt smiles as he rolls blintzes as Tyler fries up the crepes and then hands them to him. Matt continues to smile as he asks, "So I assume you got an email telling you where they are? Who sent it?"

I smile back and tell them both, "A 1,400-year-old Vampire named Hanz Klein whose specialty is finding people and information others don't want found or known."

He pauses and looks at me with raised eyebrows before he opens his mouth, then closes it and then opens it again asking, "So you've known where Klaus and Stefan are the whole time?"

I shake my head no, as I tell him, "Yes and no. Usually they don't stay longer than a few hours so because my information is usually a few hours old by the time I get it it's mostly useless except for tracking where they've been so we can clean up the mess they leave behind. This time though, they used a commercial flight instead of driving. Honestly, we got lucky."

I pause, Klaus will likely soon discover that his siblings are missing and he's spoiled so I tell them, "I bet they'll be there for a few days too, since we broke out his siblings, and Klaus likes to live it up, and they've essentially been slumming it all summer. At least I hope so since I don't want to risk us flying and giving him a heads up if he's keeping tabs on us like I am on him. He's probably not but I don't want to risk it."

I take a sip of coffee then tell them both, "Hanz has feet on the ground discreetly following them, so we'll know where they are when we get there and if they leave early hopefully we'll still know where they're at. Though honestly I'd be more comfortable approaching them in Chicago than anywhere else at the moment. I know my way around, and I know the places they usually hung out the last time they were there."

Matt nods and asks, "So what's the plan?"

I smile a not nice smile and tell my brothers, "The plan is we drive all the pretty SUV's I just bought up to the Windy City, and we go get my brother back and Goddess willing kill Klaus once and for all."

Balthazaar enters the kitchen as I finish my statement and despite probably overhearing everything that's already been said since before Katherine called he asks, "Do we know where he is now?"

I explain while Matt and Tyler cook and Balthazaar nods then asks, "What are the odds of keeping Katherine safe?"

I shrug, "You know as well as I do that it depends on how brave she's feeling. Not to mention how confident she is that she'll have back up, which is probably why she wanted me to know where they are. How much Klaus knows about her following his every move will be a factor too."

I take another sip then continue my line of thought, "I've known she was following them since Hanz called the first time to tell me about the trail of bodies Stefan was leaving in their wake. Despite my knowledge of Katherine's actions or the fact that Hanz and then the rest of us have been cleaning up their messes from the first pile of bodies I'm fairly confident that Klaus doesn't know my man has been tracking him."

I frown and tell him what he already knows, "However, Katherine is as subtle as a hurricane sometimes. Don't get me wrong she's obviously very good at running and hiding since she's managed to stay out of Klaus' clutches for the last 500 some odd years. However, I think after being so close to being free of him once and for all that she might be a little more reckless than she normally would be."

He nods, "I agree."

Slowly the rest of the family comes into the kitchen and we fill them all in and make plans. Matt and Tyler pull breakfast off perfectly and when their done eating, I clap them both on the back and tell them, "Excellent meal, Brothers. I don't think I could have done a better job."

They smile and move out of the way so the girls can clean up their mess since they cooked.

I ask Matt, "Do you need to go home before we head out?"

He shakes his head, "No man, I packed a 'go bag' weeks ago and it's up in the room I've been using when I crash here."

I laugh and tell him, "Okay then you and Ty can help Ric collect all the weapons."

Ty nods and follows Matt and Ric out of the room to the basement where we've set up several weapon rooms.

Three hours later we're packed and on the road. We take four of the SUV's I just bought everyone and we take turns driving in three-hour shifts. We push through and make the drive in just over 12 hours. When we arrive in town, we head to my condo since I'd rather try to approach them during the day when Klaus is less likely to have Vampire back up.

I convince everyone to go to sleep and after kissing Briseis for a few long minutes, we follow suit and sleep dreamlessly.

I wake at six and after showering and kissing a still sleeping Briseis, I head out to the kitchen to make breakfast. As everyone comes out of his or her rooms, they all have grave expressions on their faces and when we finish having probably the quietest meal that I've witnessed this family have, I break out my laptop and check in with Hanz.

The first email from him says, "Drago, while you are en route Klaus and Stefan paid a visit to Gloria's Club which is still located in the same building. She informed them that she needs to talk to Ms. Mikaelson to be able to answer Klaus' question about why his siring isn't working.

They left quickly and headed to the address you gave me down in the old warehouse district. I had to clean up four dead bodies after they left the warehouse as Klaus was incredibly angry to discover his family missing and six dead Vampires taking their place inside his shipping crate.

I also overheard Klaus release Stefan from his compulsion so I believe your brother now remembers his time in Chicago with Klaus and Ms. Mikaelson.

I believe they're now heading back to their hotel room so I'll give you more details as they become available. -Hanz"

Two hours later he sent another email which reads, "Drago, Klaus is calling in every favor owed to him and is currently throwing money around trying to discover who might have even known his family was in the shipping crate. I'm currently staying in a room eight floors down from the Presidential Suite and due to being older and from better stock I've been listening to his phone conversations while I'm sure he has no clue who I am never mind that I'm here. That said Klaus has spent the last two hours ranting and raving not to mention threatening all sorts of bodily harm to any and all he calls looking for information.

Somehow, word has gotten out that Klaus has pissed off a family of Vampires even older than his family. They even whispered the word Pervonachalnyui a couple times, which caused Klaus to laugh his ass off and say you're just a myth as he figures he would have met one of you in his long life if you actually existed. He clearly doesn't believe the four different individuals who told him he's as good as dead if he doesn't do what you want."

I frown as I read. I'm not sure how the word got out that we're back since we've been keeping a fairly low profile, but okay...

Hanz's email goes on to say, "Klaus plans to go see Gloria again tomorrow morning to ask if there is a way to find his answer without having access to Ms. Mikaelson. I'll email you again if he says anything that you might need to know during his ranting but your best bet at catching up with him is probably to arrive at Gloria's before she gets there and wait for Klaus and your brother to show up.

Not that I think you need help but if you wish me to join you call me at the usual number and I'll be more than happy to make myself and my men available to you and Asya for whatever you might need from us.

I'll be in touch if his plans seem to change. –Hanz"

Matt has been reading over my shoulder, so he asks, "Why does she need 'Bekah?"

Bonnie answers from her place over my other shoulder, "I think it has to do with the necklace Stefan gave Elena. 'Bekah recognized it when 'Lena came with us when we visited her before we undaggered her."

I nod as does everyone else so Bonnie continues filling Matt in on what he missed the first time we came to Chicago, "Right so 'Bekah correct me if I get any of this wrong, but it's Esther's necklace, and it's a powerful talisman. Her mother told her to never take it off and someday she could use it to speak with her when they were separated. So if Klaus is searching for why his Hybrids aren't working then I'd say most Witches worth their salt would suggest talking to the Original Witch."

'Bekah is nodding as Bonnie continues, "Based on what you guys told me on the drive about Gloria and what Laraina and Carys told us about her I'd say she's smart enough to not only know they need to talk to Esther but also what Rebekah's necklace is and that it's needed to do the necessary spell."

I nod and tell them all, "Okay so my vote is we head to Gloria's and wait for Klaus and Stefan to show up and then go inside. If Gloria hasn't changed much, she won't want any trouble in her club, which means she'll be more likely to try to get us to leave and take it elsewhere."

Everyone's nodding so I continue, "I'm thinking I just head for Klaus once we enter and rip his mother fucking heart out before any of them know what's happening. Any of the Pervonachalnyue can easily take him out so we all head for him. The Witches can keep Gloria from throwing out any spells and Kol, 'Bekah, and Finn, if you want to come with us would you mind subduing Stefan. No pressure to come as we've stated several times we understand he's your brother, so if you prefer to sit this out we'll understand."

All three of them nod as Kol says, "Drago, Brother, you've treated us with far more respect and consideration than Nik ever did, and I won't try to speak for my siblings, but so far as I'm concerned you're more my family at this point than he is. Whatever you need from me I will give in the effort to put a stop to Nik once and for all."

I nod and tell him, "Thank you, Brother, I had hoped you felt that way as I already consider you one of my brothers but it's nice to hear confirmation."

Finn smiles a rare smile and tells me, "I agree with Kol, your family has given me a second chance when I doubt many others would have so whatever you need from me, consider it done."

I turn to 'Bekah who frowns and says, "I love him, even still, but he's my past and all of you are my future. It's not safe for any of us if he continues walking around so as much as I will mourn his passing I agree with my brothers that you are my family now, not Nik."

I smile and nod at all three of them and tell them, "Thank you Brothers and Sister, we appreciate the pain we're sure you will all feel at his death, but I agree he cannot continue to live. I will make it as painless as possible though in consideration for your feelings."

They nod back, so I direct my next words to the room at large, "As much as I hate to do it without his consent we might need to compel Stefan as we have no way of knowing what Klaus has compelled him to do or not do never mind the fact that he's likely got no control right now."

Everyone nods as Bonnie says, "Unfortunately compelling Stefan will probably be a necessary evil and will probably continue to be so until after we get him back to Mystic Falls since he likely has no control over his bloodlust at this point."

I nod at that last part and after everyone agrees with the plan, we go get ready and an hour later, we're sitting outside Gloria's waiting. Half an hour later Gloria shows up and two hours later Klaus and Stefan show up followed closely by Katherine who stays hidden down the street.

I text Reyna, "Can you go keep Katherine out of danger?"

She texts back, "Will do." She gets out of her SUV and Vamp speeds over to Katherine. Katherine's eyes widen when Reyna just 'Magickally' appears in front of her, which causes me to chuckle from my spot down the street. Reyna uses a Witch's version of compulsion and tells her, "You will come with me now."

Katherine nods and follows her into their SUV in a matter of moments. They're far enough away from the building that they know Klaus can't hear them so Reyna tells Katherine, "We have a plan and you getting yourself killed is not part of it."

Katherine just nods and amazingly enough sits quietly as the rest of us get out of our SUV's. I stick my head inside Reyna's SUV and ask her, "Reyna do you mind staying out here with Katherine, the two of you should be more than enough to make sure we don't get interrupted."

I worded my sentence that way on purpose, so Katherine will think she's an active participant but really I just want to keep her out of harm's way. Reyna's eyebrow arches and she smirks obviously understanding my true motive but nods and says, "Sure thing Drago, Ms. Pierce and I should be able to spot anyone who might get in our way while you're dealing with Klaus."

I nod and then the rest of us walk across the street before half of us go around back and the other half go around the front then a minute later we all enter the bar.

I have Klaus by the throat and my hand on his heart before he even realizes they're not alone. I whisper into his ear, "Should have listened when you were told you pissed off a family far older than yours. Say goodbye Klaus."

He struggles so I throw him over some tables, and he lands on one breaking it, but I have him by the throat and heart again before he's even realized he's moved. I pick him up and bang him against the wall as he continues to struggle very poorly.

His eyes widen when he realizes I'm stronger and faster than him and he barely gets out a strangled "How are you—" and then the next minute I rip his heart out and turn to see if Stefan and everyone else is okay.

Bonnie has her arm around 'Bekah who is quietly crying as she stands beside Stefan whom Kol had to compel to stand still. Once Klaus is dead Kol nods to me and says, "Let me know when you want me to release him, all of Nik's compulsions should be gone now."

I nod and turn to look at Gloria, who looks to be in her very early 40's not several decades over a century old like I know she is, so I say to Kol, "Hold him just a little longer," then to Gloria I say, "Gloria, long time no see, time has obviously been very good to you. What can you tell me about what Klaus has been up to?"

She smiles and drawls out, "Well I'll be, it's not every day a bunch of Pervonachalnyue show up. I heard you were back to your old selves. The younger Pervonachalnyue have been hearing too and they won't be in the mood to grovel for forgiveness anytime soon. In fact, if I were you I'd watch your backs where they're concerned."

She pauses so I nod since if Klaus was being told we're back then I assume the younger Pervonachalnyue have received the same information. I tell her, "I figured as much."

She nods and a moment later she continues, "As for Klaus, he wanted to know why his Hybrids were dying despite his having done as he was told. I imagine that has something to do with you all. Maybe something you did?"

I smile, I always liked her so I tell her, "He sacrificed the Doppelgänger like he was told to but then we resuscitated her. She died but came back to life and if the spell we read was right, her Human blood was needed to complete the transformations. If he had truly killed her as he intended any and all chance of making Hybrids would have died with her because she's the last of her line."

I don't want anyone else to know that Briseis can make Hybrids so I tell Gloria, "Doesn't matter now since she's a Vampire and her blood is now useless for that purpose. Anyways, now Klaus is dead and she's Briseis once more so everything seems to have worked out. All that's left to do is detox my brother and we'll be on track to fix everything. We're taking Klaus with us so you should be good, no?"

She nods appreciatively, "Yeah, I'm good. I can dispose of him if you want."

I smirk and with an arched brow tell her, "No offense Gloria but I'm not leaving his body or his heart with a Witch as well versed as you. We'll be burning him first chance we get to make sure no one gets any funny ideas."

She frowns, "As if I'd be stupid enough to go up against the wishes of the six original Pervonachalnyue, or the remaining Originals for that matter, but if it makes you feel better I don't mind not having to clean up a dead body."

I smile, hand Klaus' heart to Balthazaar, wipe my hand on my pant leg, take out 14 hundred dollar bills, and lay them on the bar, before I then bend down and pick up Klaus' body. When I turn to leave she asks, "What's the money for?"

I shrug as well as I can with an almost six-foot-tall man hung over my shoulder and tell her, "The ones who came through the back door broke the lock on the door and I broke a table. Our dispute with Klaus didn't concern you and we still fought our battle in your place of business. If you need more I can…"

She smiles and shakes her head no, "That won't be necessary the table will cost less than $200 and the lock shouldn't come to more than $800."

I smile and nod, "Okay then, keep the change and buy yourself something nice then."

She nods and I nod back before leading everyone out the front door and to the SUV's. We don't let Stefan out of Kol's compulsions until we reach the condo. And even then Kol is kind enough to place several on him to protect all of us until we get back to Mystic Falls and can lock him up and detox him.

Surprisingly it doesn't take any compulsion to get Katherine to come with us, as soon as she sees me carrying Klaus' heartless body out of the bar she agrees to do whatever we want her to do. I kind of think she wants to reunite with her family even if she doesn't realize it.

Kol stays down in the garage with the body, Katherine, and Stefan while the rest of us go up and get our things and then within half an hour we're on the road back to Mystic Falls.