Chapter 49: The Truth And Apologies
It was almost midnight. Klaus was lying unconscious in his strange wolf form. He wasn't entirely a wolf yet but he wasn't in his human form either. It has been hours since Klaus broke the curse but he was still changing in his unconscious state. The clothes were almost gone from the hybrid's body. Only ripped off pieces kept Klaus from being completely nude. But as he still kept changing, the last pieces of remaining clothes on his body were getting destroyed as well.
"Are we going to keep him in the woods until he completely phases back to his human form?" asked Jonas to Elijah particularly. Luka has already taken Greta and Maddox away from this place. Jonas was very happy to get his daughter back. But I wasn't sure if Greta would be happy to see her father and brother again after waking up from her unconscious state. Because the witch was never lost and she never wanted to go back to them. I hope the Martin witches would work things out between them and be a family again. Hopefully Jonas is strong enough to be able to knock some right senses into Greta and bring her back to the light side.
"I am afraid there is no other option but to keep him here" said Elijah with calm tone of voice and Jonas nodded to him in response.
"He wouldn't be able to get out of this circle until I let him" said Jonas. He was avoiding saying Klaus's name. I for some reason noticed it. I guess it wouldn't be necessary for me to stick around Klaus for a while. He isn't going anywhere. Besides, Elijah would look after him.
"I am gonna take a walk." I announced to no one in particular. I just wanted to be alone for a while. I needed a break from everything for a moment. I needed to breathe out the tension from my body that I have been feeling forever. The whole ritual made me exhausted both physically and mentally. I started to walk away from the main ground but Katherine followed me.
"I want to be alone right now Katherine." I said softly. I was so tired that I couldn't even talk properly, not to mention my throat hurt each time I spoke up. Klaus had gripped hard on my vocal cord and I am really surprised that it's not permanently damaged. However Katherine didn't leave me alone like I asked her to. Instead she kept walking with me.
"Elijah told me everything about what you really planned to do Jacq." Katherine said with an accusing tone of voice. I glanced at her confusingly.
"Planned what?" I asked seriously not understanding what was Katherine talking about.
"You are planning to kill yourself, aren't you? You are going to make Bonnie stop your heart" said Katherine loud and clear. I can't believe Elijah told her this. I should be mad at him but I didn't care anymore. I wouldn't care if everyone else finds out about it. Because, at that time no one really cared about me anyway. Last time I checked everyone is still hating me more than they hate Klaus. Damon even threatened to kill me at the Grill when I went there with Klaus the previous day evening. Damon was drinking his ass off like a lost lover. So it shouldn't matter to him anymore if I die. Not when Damon wants me to die. And about others, well I think they would be happy to get rid of me at last. The betraying back stabbing bitch Jacqueline. She doesn't matter to anyone anymore and I must tell you, it's a very, very good thing. So, without getting shocked or annoyed or worried that Katherine found out the truth, I just shrugged my shoulders at her nonchalantly.
"Yeah, that's the plan." I told her with a careless tone of voice. Katherine suddenly grabbed my arm and stopped me from walking further then turned me to face her.
"Why? Why do you have to die? When Jeremy or John could easily do it with their resurrecting rings on and then come back to life? Or you could use their rings yourself and come back to life" said Katherine and this time I was really and absolutely surprised. Actually shocked would be a better word to describe my feelings at the moment. I mean Katherine, the Katherine Pierce seems like she is extremely mad at me for thinking about killing myself. I didn't even realize when the once selfish psychotic manipulative bitch turned into someone capable of caring about someone else other than herself. And I am really glad to find this out. I smiled at Katherine and she frowned at me angrily.
"What?" She snapped at me with annoyance and anger. I just shook my head but the small smile still lingering on my lips.
"Nothing." I said softly. I didn't want to tell Katherine that I am happy to see that she cares about me. She might take it as a tease and turn into a bitter person again. Katherine sighed out heavily and crossed her arms over her chest in a scolding manner, then narrowed her eyes at me.
"Well, mind explaining to me why you are being all martyr?" Katherine asked with serious tone of voice. I took in a deep breath. She already found out about the plan. It wouldn't harm much telling Katherine the reason for doing this. I knew once she would find out about the real reasons behind my action, she wouldn't go against my decision anymore. And it is very important for me and my plan that Katherine doesn't go against me.
"When I died, I came back to life for a reason Katherine. To keep everyone alive and safe here. With Klaus gone from your lives, I will complete my purpose of returning back from the dead." I said and Katherine shrugged her shoulders at me, not getting what I was trying to make her understand.
"Elijah already told me that. But why do you think you have to die again?" questioned Katherine. I exhaled a deep breath and rubbed my face with my palms to ease off some tiredness. Katherine was waiting for an answer patiently even though she was inwardly being very impatient to know.
"Because if I stay here longer than my time Katherine, and refuse to die, everyone else living right now will die instead of me. My presence will be fetal to all of your existence." Katherine's eyes widened in shock and she gasped loudly. Even Elijah didn't know this therefore Katherine didn't learn about this.
"What?" Katherine exclaimed with shock and I nodded to her.
"It's true Katherine. Many of you are supposed to be dead right now. They aren't because of me but if I don't leave this world, they will all die again perhaps including you. So whatever you do, don't ruin my plan Katherine. Okay" saying that I started walking again but Katherine stood still on her spot. I thought she wouldn't follow me anymore but after a few moments Katherine stood right in front of me in a blink of an eye and stopped me in my way again.
"If you knew already that getting us out of mess and securing our lives would end your time here, then why did you do it? Why didn't you just let us get into more deeper shit?" asked Katherine and I sighed out heavily and looked into her eyes.
"You remember the first time we met Katherine. I told you that I want something from my death and not from my life. I want to be in peace Katherine. I can't deal with life anymore. I need to take rest from everything. I want my soul to be in peace. Please let me have it, help me have it." I sighed heavily as I requested to Katherine.
"Can I count on you?" I asked and Katherine nodded her head after a while. Her eyes cold and emotionless and her face unreadable. As if she has become a stone for that moment. And I was again very happy to see a little sadness in her eyes for me. Katherine spoke up again.
"I don't think your witchy friend Bonnie would ever agree on killing you" said Katherine. I don't know, I could be wrong but Katherine sounded like she wanted this. She wanted Bonnie not to agree with me. I took in a deep breathe again.
"I am sure I can persuade Bonnie. Besides, she wouldn't exactly have a choice Katherine." The way I planned everything, I don't think Bonnie would even know that she killed me permanently until it's too late. I am not really gonna ask her to stop my heart forever. Because I knew that Katherine is right about Bonnie. She would never agree to do that to me. I have to play her. I would hate myself for doing it but it's the only option as of now. Bonnie can hate me for that for the rest of her life. But hatred doesn't really matter to me anymore. As I kept staring into Katherine's eyes, I got a feeling that she knew exactly what I was planning to do with Bonnie. Katherine was looking at me with intensity that moment. I didn't know how long we stayed like that but both of us snapped out of the trance as a voice spoke up not so far away from us. I swear if one of us was a boy, we would have kissed already. Both of us looked at the direction the voice came from and found Mason standing there. He was looking at us with a worried face.
"Mason, what are you doing here?" I asked, confused about why Mason is here. How did he even find us here? And above all why is he looking like as if someone has died?
"It's Stefan." Mason spoke up with a heavy tone of voice. All on a sudden, Katherine snapped out of her stoned state completely and got worried instantly.
"What happened to Stefan?" asked Katherine anxiously. If she had a beating heart, it would have pumped blood twice much faster than normal at the moment.
"Stefan was around Tyler while he was changing and Tyler accidentally bit him. Stefan's left shoulder is turning black now and the poison is spreading fast throughout his body. I don't think he will last more than a day." Mason informed us regretfully. Katherine gasped out loudly. Her eyes got wide and she seemed like she will break down any moment now.
"If you girls want to see him, now would be the best time. Stefan is already very weak and soon he would lose his consciousness" said Mason with sad tone of voice. He looked sorry and sad for Stefan. Mason must have seen him after getting bitten. Everyone must be going through hell right now. I was more worried about Tyler though. I wondered if Damon has already killed him for biting Stefan. As if Mason just read my mind, he answered my unasked question.
"I am taking Tyler out of town right away. Damon is furious. He would kill him the first chance he gets. I just came here to inform you about the situation" said Mason. He was not only worried and tensed up about Tyler but scared for him as well. A vengeful Damon is a very dangerous Damon and Mason knew that better than anyone else.
"Where is Tyler right now?" I asked hoping he is somewhere safe.
"He is still at the old Lockwood cellar. Caroline is taking care of him" informed Mason and I nodded my head, sighing in relief inwardly. Thank god Tyler was still alive and okay. Katherine was ready to run towards the boarding house. She looked pale and looked like she would start sobbing any minute now but didn't do it in front of us and held her tears back. However, I stopped her from leaving.
"Katherine wait." She looked confusedly at me. Katherine was impatient to go to Stefan, I understood that. But she can't go without the cure.
"You shouldn't go to Stefan with empty hands." I told Katherine and both her and Mason got confused.
"What do you want me to take?" Katherine asked curiously and confusedly. Her voice dripped out her desperation. I smiled at Katherine and replied her question with a short answer.
"The cure for the bite." Mason and Katherine looked at each other first then they looked back at me, completely shocked and maybe thinking that I have gone insane somehow.
"There is no cure for a werewolf bite" stated Mason. Like I thought so, they weren't believing what I said. I just turned away from both of them and started walking towards the ritual ground again.
"There is now." I said that more to myself than to them. Both Mason and Katherine followed me back to Klaus again. Elijah was still there, standing beside the fire circle and looking at his brother, lying on the ground completely nude now but in his furry wolf form. Jonas must have gone home to take care of Greta because he was nowhere to be seen. The martin warlocks would send Maddox far away from Mystic Falls as well so that Klaus wouldn't have any witch or warlock to help him cheat us in our deal. Elijah was surprised to see the three of us there again and knew immediately that something was wrong.
"What happened?" He asked worriedly.
"Stefan Salvatore got bitten by a werewolf." Mason informed the original with a robotic tone of voice. Mason may look unfazed by Elijah but I knew that inwardly Mason wanted to stay as far away from the originals as possible. Elijah got tensed up too hearing the news. He knew exactly what would happen if Stefan dies.
"A werewolf bite is incurable" stated Elijah looking at Katherine with what it seemed like pity to me. The way Katherine confesses her love for Stefan so bluntly, it was not a surprise at all that Elijah too knew about her feelings for the younger Salvatore brother and also what she is going through at the moment. But Elijah feeling pity for Katherine, it surprised me a little. I guess they have finally caught up with each other in their time together and made peace. However, I have a more important job to do at the moment other than observe people around me. It seems that only Klaus knew that a hybrid's blood, his blood particularly is the cure for a werewolf bite and I guess he never told Elijah about this because Elijah is as clueless as Mason and Katherine. He didn't know about the blood.
"Jacq thinks there is a cure for it" spoke up Katherine. Her voice full of doubts, no wonder.
"I need a container and something sharp." I said ignoring everyone's disbelieving gazes at me and doubtful gestures. Katherine and Mason looked around and found a small cup near the ritual bowl and a broken steel of something with sharp edge. Mason handed me the cup and the steel. I entered the fire circle, jumping off the fire line and the three of them protested against it at once instantly.
"What are you doing Jacq? You want to get yourself killed." Mason yelled out at me.
"Apparently" said Katherine sarcastically. I ignored both of them and checked Klaus. I got confirmed at first that he was completely unconscious at the moment. Then slowly I held his furry paw. Nothing happened when I touched Klaus. He didn't even move and lay there as if dead. But the hybrid wasn't dead because he was breathing heavily. The others were standing stiff and holding their breaths. Elijah was ready to jump in the circle any moment but if he gets in the circle, he wouldn't be able to get out of it. Because the circle was to contain a vampire inside. That's why Elijah was still standing outside. I put the bowl under the paw and slowly cut the hairy skin with the sharp edge. Klaus rambled loudly in his chest and for a moment I feared that he would jump up on his feet waking up and attack me. I most certainly heard Katherine gasp out loud. But thankfully Klaus lay dead and the bowl started filling up with his blood slowly.
In the show, Klaus made his blood so valuable to Stefan. He practically made Stefan his slave, just for a little blood from him. And now, I am taking it from Klaus without him knowing about it. The irony of the situation. But I think Klaus would have given me, his blood himself if he had heard that Stefan got bitten instead of Damon. After all Klaus and Stefan were best buddies once and he would not kill Stefan or let him die so easily. I wondered how come the incident changed though. Why Stefan got bitten this time? Weren't he supposed to spend the whole time with Elena and let Damon screw things up? Well whatever. Once I got enough blood, I slowly put Klaus's paw on the ground. The cut would heal in no time. I got out of the circle easily. As a human the magic wasn't to bind me inside. I handed Katherine the bowl full of blood now.
"Klaus is a hybrid now and his blood is the only cure for a werewolf bite. Stefan has to drink this to get well again." I said and Katherine took the bowl but she still looked doubtful.
"Are you sure it's going to work?" asked Katherine proving to me that she was indeed doubtful of the cure. I nodded to her confidently.
"It will." I said strongly. Katherine sighed out heavily and looked at Mason who nodded back to her. They started to leave but I stopped Katherine again. I unhooked the chain around my neck and gave the locket to Katherine.
"Give this to Damon please. I can't keep it anymore" saying that I walked away from them before they could leave. I needed to get some alone time. For just a moment I didn't want to worry about anything around me, worry about people around me. I wanted to blank my mind just for a while. Because honestly it was threatening my sanity. I hoped and prayed that no more action would take place tonight. Not knowing how impossible that is. And how stupid I am for wishing such a thing.
Third Person's POV
Stefan loudly coughed again and spit out black colored blood on the floor. Elena was sobbing hard as she kept saying soothing words to Stefan. Damon was pacing wildly, impatiently, frustratingly in the same room. He couldn't even look at his brother because it hurt his eyes. Stefan was lying on the bed at first but as the pain increased he got up from there and now he is lying on the floor with his head on Elena's lap. Jenna, Alaric, Jeremy, Anna and Rose everyone was standing around the room looking dead already. Jenna hid her face in Alaric's chest as Stefan let out another painful loud sigh, unable to look at him anymore. Jeremy went to hold onto Elena as his sister was visibly loosing her mind. Damon swore to kill Tyler for this. But that has to wait because he can't leave his brother right now. Mason had come earlier and Damon tried to kill him already but that dog managed to get out luckily. But once he gets hold onto Tyler, Damon would kill both uncle and his nephew. He should have killed Mason and Tyler a long time ago. They wouldn't be seeing this day and this situation if they were dead already. They were alive only because of Jacqueline. And it gave Damon all the more reasons to hate her. Stefan coughed up blood again and his skin was rotting up on his shoulder. It was really a nasty sight. Damon in anger punched in the wall and created a hole through it.
When Damon was sitting in the Grill earlier in the evening yesterday, he was trying to get drunk but Rose came rushing in there and informed Damon about Stefan. All the alcohol Damon had consumed meantime, threatened to rush out of his system at once upon hearing the news. When Damon saw Stefan's poisoned skin, it finally hit his senses that his brother is dying. Damon finally realized what Stefan means to him. Damon understood in that little moment how important his brother is to him. He realized something Damon hadn't realized in one hundred fifty years of his vampire life. And Damon regretted it then, he regretted every fight he had with Stefan, every argument, every hateful glare. He regretted all those times he hurt his brother intentionally. And Damon wanted to take it all back.
Damon wished he had realized this earlier. He now understands why Stefan turned him into a vampire, against his will. Damon knew why already. Stefan had told him why not long ago. Stefan needed his brother with him. He didn't want to be alone. Damon knew this but the difference is, he realized the feeling himself this time. Because now Damon would do anything asked of him if that could save his brother's life. Even dying himself if it spares Stefan's life. But Damon knew that it wouldn't cure Stefan. Sacrificing his life wouldn't save Stefan. There is no fucking cure for a werewolf bite. Damon spanned out of his thoughts as Stefan coughed again and this time more blood came out of his mouth.
"Please just kill me already, I can't take it anymore" groaned out Stefan in pain and Elena held onto him more tightly.
"Don't say this, please don't say this. You can't leave me like this Stefan. You have to fight it. You can do this." Elena kept saying things in his ear but it wasn't working against the pain at the moment. Besides everyone knew there is no hope for him now. Stefan suddenly violently moved away from Elena, making her startled and scared. Damon gripped onto Stefan this time, knowing Elena can no longer handle him.
"Damon please do something." Elena pleaded to him but what can he possibly do? Damon never felt so helpless in his entire life. Jeremy held Elena tightly and let her sob on his shoulder.
"Please make it stop Damon, brother please kill me." Stefan pleaded to Damon as he calmed down a bit.
"Take a stake and drive it through my heart." Stefan whispered out but before Damon could say anything to shut him up, a voice spoke up from the doorway.
"That won't be necessary." Everyone looked up except for Stefan as he was in no state of opening his eyes even. They saw Katherine standing there in the room. Elena glared at her hatefully. And everyone else got worried. Did she come here to take Elena to Klaus? They obviously had no idea that Klaus has already become a hybrid. But they would not let Katherine take Elena away. Not when they are losing Stefan already. Before everyone got all tangled with Stefan's situation, they were all waiting for Klaus to make a move on Elena. And now everyone was thinking that the time has come for Elena to go. Damon growled out as Mason entered the room as well and stood behind Katherine. The nerve of him to come back here again. Damon left Stefan and stood in front of Katherine in a blink of an eye with a dangerous and murderous look on his face.
"What are you doing here Katherine?" Damon hissed at her and glared at Mason. Mason shook inwardly but outside he remained unfazed.
"We came in peace Damon" spoke up Mason with a strong tone of voice even though his inside shook as Damon sneered at him hatefully.
"And we came bearing gifts" said Katherine casually as if she wasn't worried a bit when the truth is she is more scared for Stefan than others. Katherine pushed past Damon and walked over to Stefan gracefully. Elena glared at Damon for letting her walk in like that. Katherine ignored them all and bent down over Stefan. She checked his wounds and flinched inwardly. Katherine was praying in her mind for the cure to work. Stefan tried to get away from her but Katherine didn't let him.
"Relax, I came here with a cure" said Katherine. She got the hybrid blood poured in a small bottle on her way. She held it in front of Stefan's lips.
"Drink this." Stefan thought about it for a moment, then opened up his lips. Katherine poured the blood in his mouth and Stefan gulped it down quickly. The older vampire was holding her breath and so was Mason. After all Tyler's life was depending on it too. Others were just looking clueless and staring at Katherine confusedly. The reaction of the cure was fast and Stefan's wound visibly started to disappear. Katherine couldn't help but sigh in relief and smile happily.
"It's working" announced Katherine.
Mason sighed out in relief as well. Hearing that Damon walked over to Stefan in vampire speed and saw the skin turning normal again. Katherine shook her head to herself and thanked Jacq in her mind from the bottom of her heart. She would have lost Stefan forever if it wasn't for her. Katherine wondered in how many more ways the girl is gonna help them? Then realization hit her like a speeding truck that soon Jacqueline is going to leave them all behind. She is going to die. It made Katherine drop her smile immediately and sigh out sadly. Stefan within moments could stand on his feet and felt perfectly fine. Just a little exhausted. As if he wasn't dying a while ago, as if nothing happened to him in the first place. Stefan actually felt more than fine at the moment though he was a little sweaty. His wounds were completely gone and not a scratch visible on his shoulder anymore. Damon sighed in relief as well and instinctively hugged his brother that Stefan gladly returned. Everyone seemed alive again. Elena ran into Stefan's open arms which made Katherine roll her eyes at them. And she felt a little hurt too. After all she is the one who came with the cure not little miss sunshine Elena Gilbert. Katherine hated herself for turning her emotions on like this. She had her emotions turned off for five hundred years for a reason, a very good reason. But being with Jacq messed up that for her big times.
"I think you are embracing the wrong girl Stefan. It's me who saved your life" spoke up Katherine bitterly making Elena and Stefan break their embrace. Elena didn't hesitate to glare at her but Stefan frowned at Katherine confusingly.
"How did you know about this cure? What is it?" Stefan asked walking closer to Katherine and making her roll her eyes at him.
"Katherine, I think we should go now" spoke up Mason, sensing that the situation is about to get bad again.
"Yes Mason, I just need to do one more thing" said Katherine and she walked away from Stefan shaking her head at him in disappointment. Then Katherine walked up to Damon. She pulled out his mother's locket from her jeans pocket, shocking Damon with that. Katherine thrust it in his hand and said bitterly-
"This is yours I believe. I was asked to return it to you" said Katherine and she looked straight into Damon's confused eyes, coldly then turned away from him as well and started walking towards the door. Mason was already prepared to leave the boarding house and he was almost out of the door. But both Damon and Stefan blocked Katherine's way in a blink of an eye and stood in front of her. It stopped Mason from leaving as well.
"You are not going anywhere until you answer our questions Katherine" said Stefan strongly with crossed arms over his chest. Katherine rolled her eyes at him.
"Seriously, we are gonna do this now?" said Katherine and she looked straight at Stefan and spoke up again-
"Stefan I just saved your life, at least show me some politeness and respect." But Stefan kept looking at Katherine with stern eyes.
"That's the only reason no one is driving a stake through your heart yet Katherine." Stefan said bitterly then grabbed onto her forearms forcefully and threatened to break it. Mason tried to come forward to save her but Katherine gave him a look that pinned him where he was standing. She looked back at Stefan, making up a decision in her mind quickly.
"Fine, what do you want to know Stefan?" Katherine asked with a calm tone of voice but hidden beneath the calmness was boiling anger.
"Where did you get that cure? It was blood, wasn't it? Whose blood was it?" asked Stefan at the same time at once. He was beyond curious about the cure.
"Yes Stefan, it was blood. In fact it was Klaus's blood. A hybrid's blood is the only cure for a werewolf bite. Anything else you wanna know?" Katherine asked coldly after answering the question. She could have walked out and both Stefan and Damon couldn't have stopped her. But Katherine wanted them to know the truth about Jacqueline. She wanted them to regret hating her. She wanted everyone in this room to know how much that girl has done for them and still doing for them. Katherine really wanted that. She wanted them to stop hating Jacq and clear the misunderstandings. That's the least Katherine could do for Jacqueline. Because Katherine had also decided not to tell anyone anything about Jacq's suicide plan because then it would endanger her own life. If anyone found out about Jacqueline's death, they would definitely try to stop her and maybe succeed as well which she can't let happen. That's why Katherine wouldn't mention a thing about desiccating Klaus to the gang. Mason understood partially what Katherine was doing this time and silently agreed with her. But he too didn't know about Jacq's last plan of dying or Mason would have told everyone about it himself or at least tried to stop Jacq. On the other hand Stefan and Damon both were confused at the moment along with others because of the answer Katherine just gave them.
"Why would Klaus send a cure for Stefan?" asked Jeremy more to himself than to others. Katherine didn't need to answer that question because Stefan did.
"Because it wasn't Klaus who sent the cure for me, was it? Who is it then?" asked Stefan and Katherine was really impressed. Stefan is smart, for sure. He could think fast even in the worst kind of situation and figure things out quicker than anyone else. Katherine smiled at him seductively and said-
"I am impressed Stefan. You got brains." She noticed Damon glaring at her for wasting the precious time. "Unlike your brother, who doesn't have any." Katherine actually felt sorry for Jacq that she fell for this dumb ass brother. Damon rolled his eyes at Katherine. She also tactfully avoided answering Stefan's question. Let them figure it out on their own. Thought Katherine.
"Guys, am I the only one who got the idea that Klaus is already a hybrid now?" spoke up Alaric but Damon rejected the idea immediately.
"No Ric, Elena is still alive. Klaus can't be a hybrid yet." Damon narrowed his eyes at Katherine and said-
"You are lying to us." He accused her bluntly. Mason laughed out a little at that nervously and shook his head to himself.
"Actually, she isn't. I have seen him. Klaus is definitely a hybrid now" said Mason shocking everyone in the room.
"But how is that even possible?" asked Elena confused as everyone else. Katherine rolled her eyes at her whiny doppelganger.
"Honestly guys, it's still not getting through your thick skulls that sacrificing little miss sunshine here, was never a part of the ritual" said Katherine with annoyance and everyone looked at everyone after hearing it.
"But that's impossible? Klaus told us himself that I am the key to breaking the curse." Elena said, she still couldn't believe what she was hearing. Is that even possible? Klaus turning into a hybrid without killing her. Katherine shrugged her shoulders dramatically at Elena.
"Maybe because Klaus didn't know it himself until the last moment that killing the Doppelganger wasn't really a part of the sacrifice" said Katherine like a smart ass. Damon glared at her for being a drama queen at the moment.
"Stop being dramatic Katherine, what do you mean Klaus didn't know it. He is freaking thousand year old. How can he not know something like this?" asked Damon out loud with irritation. Katherine nonchalantly shrugged her shoulders at him.
"How would I know that Damon?" said Katherine innocently.
"If Klaus didn't know it then who did?" asked Jeremy suspiciously.
"Jacq did" spoke up Tyler from the entrance of the room. He and Caroline walked right inside with graceful steps. When Tyler got enough strength back to walk and talk, he and Caroline immediately rushed towards the boarding house. Actually they were listening to the things being said for a while from outside. Tyler looked at everyone determinedly.
"Obviously Jacq knew about this." He said again clearly and firmly.
"I told you Stefan, she got other werewolf and vampire for the ritual. Jacq never made a deal with Klaus to hand us over. He was lying about her" spoke up Caroline as well. Katherine clapped her hands loudly hearing that.
"Congratulations Caroline, but still I am giving you six out of ten because you only figured out half of the truth" said Katherine and Caroline frowned at her in confusion.
"Jacq did make a deal with Klaus, only it never involved any of you" spoke up Katherine making everyone look more clueless.
"What's the real deal then?" asked Alaric worriedly, fearing the answer they might get.
"Klaus and Elijah aren't the only two originals. There are more siblings. When Elijah first came here to Mystic Falls, he really wanted to kill Klaus because he thought Klaus has killed his other siblings and scattered their bodies across the sea where no one can find them. But Klaus never really did that. He still has everyone daggered and locked up in coffins. And only Klaus knows where they are right now. So Jacq made a deal with Klaus. In return of helping him become a hybrid, Klaus has to give Elijah his family back" explained Katherine but it caused more confusion than before. Stefan spoke up first.
"But why would Jacq make a deal for Elijah with Klaus?" asked Stefan and this time Mason spoke up instead of Katherine.
"Because Elijah promised Jacq that if he gets his family back, Elijah along with his whole family including Klaus will leave Mystic Falls forever. And none of us will ever be endangered by an original again. Elijah even promised to keep us protected from other dangers as well" explained Mason. Realization started to crawl inside everyone slowly. Katherine wanted to get out of the place. She already told them what they needed to know.
"Look, the curse is already broken and Klaus is a hybrid now. Soon he and Elijah will leave Mystic Falls and everyone will be safe. Moreover, the good news is none of you died. So throw a party, celebrate, have a great time. But I am getting out of here" saying that Katherine tried to get away from Stefan but he stopped her again. Katherine glared at him this time.
"What? I told you everything." Katherine snapped at him but Stefan shook his head at her.
"No, you didn't." He said confidently.
"Why did Jacq make this deal? Is it because we don't really have a weapon to kill an original? Or is it something else?" inquired Stefan and Katherine wasn't impressed this time. Stefan's smartness is getting on her nerves now.
"What is it Katherine?" Stefan asked impatiently. Katherine sighed out heavily and shook her head to herself.
"You know what the best and worst thing about killing an original is? That if an original dies, all the vampires ever created by him directly and indirectly will die along with him. This means if you kill all the originals, the world will be free from other vampires as well in no time. It's called blood line. For example, Caroline is turned by Damon's blood, I sired Damon and you. I was turned by Rose's blood and Rose was sired by Mary, isn't that her name Rose? And Mary was turned by Klaus. So killing Klaus means, inevitable death for all of us. We are all from Klaus's blood line. So killing Klaus was never really an option. The only way to get rid of him is to make him leave town. And that's what Jacq did. She saved us all in her own way." Several gasps escaped as Katherine said that. The seriousness of her voice was proof enough that whatever Katherine was saying were all true. Damon and Stefan stood still, too shocked to do anything or say anything. Elena already broke down on her knees but no one really caught her this time.
"And here we thought Jacq was up to killing us" said Caroline mockingly smiled at herself and others. Tyler shook his head to himself, feeling more guilty than before.
"Oh my god, what have we done?" gasped out Jenna and she looked at Alaric with wide eyes who just sighed out heavily while shaking his head to himself. Alaric knew something was wrong all along. Jeremy was the one who got out of his shocked state before anyone else and acted fast on his feet.
"Where is Jacq? We need to find her out right now. We need to bring her back" said Jeremy impatiently. Anna put a hand on his shoulder to calm him down. But Jeremy was in no mood of calming down. He can't believe, he doubted his baby sister. The one who supported him whenever he needed someone. The sister who listened to his every problem and trouble and helped him solve it. How could he doubt her? How could he suspect Jacq of doing such things? She is his baby sister for god's sake? What the hell happened to his mind? Was he compelled or something? He certainly wished for it but Jeremy knew that he wasn't. He was just being a dick.
"I will come with you man" spoke up Tyler and both of them started walking towards the door. But Mason stood in their way and stopped the youngsters from leaving.
"Tyler, Jeremy I know what you are feeling right now but you really shouldn't go after Jacq. She went through a lot. When I met her earlier, she really wanted a break from everything. Let her be alone for sometime. We can deal with everything later" said Mason. Tyler and Jeremy looked at him as if he was insane.
"You are kidding right?" asked Tyler with humor in his voice. Katherine spoke up to help the situation and Mason. She too didn't want anyone to go after Jacq at the time.
"Actually boys he isn't" said Katherine and she crossed her arms over her chest and looked straight at them.
"Besides what you are gonna say to her? That you guys just lost your freaking minds for a while and actually thought she is up to killing everyone, that she is really going to give you all up to Klaus just to stay alive herself. That she betrayed you and sold out your lives for her own selfish gain." Katherine's stare turned into glare within moments.
"But now that you have learned the truth obviously you are all really feeling very sorry about what happened. Now you are feeling guilty for humiliating her, hating her and throwing her out of your lives as well. So you are gonna apologize to her and then what? Ask Jacq, for a fresh start and ask her to forgive you for everything. I am sure that would go very nicely." Katherine said sarcastically with a roll of her eyes. It successfully worked though and discouraged both Tyler and Jeremy from going out. Now thinking what they did, no one really wanted to face Jacq, not at the moment at least, not ever if possible. It made others feel more guilty as well hearing all those things. Damon was still standing like a wax statue. Not showing any emotion at all. However, Alaric smirked at Katherine to which she frowned in confusion.
"It seems Jacq has rubbed on you perfectly Katherine. You are even talking like her" said Alaric and Katherine shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly at that instead of getting pissed off.
"Then I am sure, I have rubbed my nature on Jacq as well and you guys would do yourself a favor, staying away from her for the time being." Katherine said in a sweet tone of voice, though it was actually a threat and a warning to them not to go after Jacq. Suddenly everyone's attention turned to Elena as she spoke up softly.
"Why didn't she tell us anything?" asked Elena with raspy tone of voice. Caroline was sitting with her, patting her back, trying to calm her down. Elena was feeling extremely guilty. Tears flooded her eyes and she had no idea what to do other than cry. How could she believe Klaus over her own sister? How could she even think that Jacq would do something so cruel to them? But she did believe Klaus. And she did hate Jacq. What was she thinking really? And what she did to Jacq, was making her feel unimaginable mental pain. Stefan quickly got to Elena and took her in his arms. Elena sobbed in his chest and Stefan patted her head to give her some comfort.
"Don't cry Elena, please, it's not your fault. It was Klaus's doing. He did this. He fooled us all. Klaus spread poison among us and turned us against Jacq. You don't have to feel guilty for what happened." Stefan was trying to calm Elena down, however Katherine loudly scoffed at him for saying those sappy things.
"Oh please Stefan! stop this consoling crap. I admit that Klaus tried to fool you guys but the truth is, you believed in him on your own. He didn't compel you or anything. Whatever happened, however the situation is right now, it's definitely her fault and everyone's too. Jacq wanted to tell you guys everything, about the ritual, about the blood line and about her deal with Klaus. But you never let her explain herself and her actions. Elena didn't even give her a chance to speak up" said Katherine and she sighed out heavily feeling rage for some certain reasons that she would never say out loud.
"I know what happened that day, Jacq told me everything. She told me what you guys did after I left. How you acted towards her. What she did to her. Elena should definitely feel more guilty than others. And don't you dare think otherwise. So, please stop this melodrama and stop lying to her and yourself Stefan." For the first time Stefan couldn't glare at Katherine knowing how correct she is. It was their fault after all not Klaus's. They didn't trust Jacq enough. Elena only sobbed harder hearing those things because it made her realize more, what she did and how much damage it caused. Alaric however ignored this teen drama and asked something more serious.
"I just don't get it. How come Jacq knows so many things? Things that even Klaus doesn't know about." Everyone looked at Alaric as he asked this, finally realizing it themselves.
"It has something to do with her coming back from the dead, doesn't it?" Alaric asked this straight to Katherine. He assumed she would already know about this. Others in the room got shocked hearing about this though. Well except for Damon and Rose. They already knew about it. No one else knew about Jacq dying in the first place, let alone coming back to life. Katherine sighed heavily and looked at Alaric with a serious face and nodded.
"Yes obviously Alaric. Jacq possesses knowledge of things that no one else does, not even Klaus" confirmed Katherine. Both Ric and Rose sighed out heavily and shook their heads to themselves.
"What are you guys talking about?" asked Jenna horrified at the moment. Alaric then had to explain things about Jacq's death to everyone but he too didn't know much.
"Why couldn't she just tell us everything?" asked Rose with a bit frustration in her voice. Katherine shrugged her shoulders at that.
"Jacq even keeps secrets from me. She knows things that no one else does. It's her leverage against everyone. But I can trust her with my life. Because her sole purpose of coming back from the dead is to keep everyone here safe. So whatever she is doing, I am going to blindly support her" said Katherine and Alaric sighed out heavily and shook his head hearing that.
"I wish I could know her secrets and figure out what is going through her head." Suddenly a silence fell over everyone as Alaric said that but it didn't last long because Anna's voice broke it. And what she said surprised everyone in the room.
"I think you already do Mr. Saltzman." Everyone looked at Anna confusingly. She walked away from Jeremy and closer to everyone else.
"What do you mean?" asked Alaric clueless as everyone else.
"While Jacq was staying over at your apartment for healing right after Stefan had attacked her, Jacq asked me to compel you to forget something. I asked her about it but she only said to me that it's something that she doesn't want you to remember and that you will regret it your whole life if you don't forget about it" said Anna and everyone else looked between Ric and Anna.
"Of course you were compelled to forget something Ric. We figured that out when we went to see Elizabeth, didn't we? So, Anna is the vampire who compelled you" said Rose with excitement in her voice now. However, Katherine visibly tensed up hearing that. Alaric knew something about Jacq. It could be about her plans.
"Jacq must have said something to Ric, maybe her secrets. That's why she made Anna compel him, because she didn't want him to remember them" said Jenna understanding the situation bit by bit. Jeremy walked up to Anna and looked intensely at her.
"Can you take off your compulsion from Ric and make him remember what Jacq said to him?" asked Jeremy with hopeful voice and Anna nodded to him confidently. A vampire can take off his or her compulsion if they want to. Katherine inwardly flinched hearing that. She didn't want anyone to find out about Jacq's plan, at least not tonight. Sure she cares about Jacq and it's going to hurt her a lot to loose her only friend but Katherine knew what is the right thing to do in situations like this. If Jacq, doesn't die then it would mean they all are going to die. Her life, Stefan's life and everyone else's life as well will be in danger. And like they say it's better one die than many. Katherine considered ripping Anna away from Alaric but she was already looking deep into his eyes. Katherine was too late.
"You will remember everything I compelled you to forget" spoke up Anna in a deep tone of voice and Katherine shut her eyes close. Now they are all gonna find out what Jacq has planned to do and everything is just gonna blow off. Because they will never let Jacq die, no matter what. One part of Katherine was happy about it but another part the five hundred years old selfish part of Katherine wasn't happy about it a bit.
"Nothing happened, I don't remember a thing" said Alaric and Katherine's eyes snapped open hearing that and she looked at the history teacher confusingly. Anna was confused too.
"Are you on vervain?" She inquired and Alaric nodded his head.
"I am sipping vervain since Klaus let me go" replied Alaric. Anna sighed out heavily, not happy at all that she failed in what she wanted to do.
"What?" asked Ric confused. "Does it matter I am on vervain. I mean it's not about compelling me but breaking a previous compulsion. Vervain prevents that too?" Alaric asked dumbly. Rose made a duh sound and shook her head at him. Katherine sighed in relief hearing that, not knowing a pair of piercing blue eyes was observing her every move very closely for a while now. Damon was noticing Katherine's every move, motion, emotion and expression. Because he believed that Katherine was hiding something from them.
"Okay Ric, you are gonna stop taking vervain from right this moment. The amount of vervain you have right now in your body, it will leave your system in three or four days at top" said Stefan like a commander.
"Then Anna can compel you to remember everything. And finally and hopefully we will know some secrets of Jacq."
Katherine sighed in relief again. Jacqueline had told her that it would take Klaus two days at most to wake up and feel normal again. Then Elijah would finally get his family back and Klaus would be desiccated and be out of their lives forever. Jacq will complete her task before three days and by the time they will know about her secrets from Alaric. It will already be too late. Perhaps Katherine could stick around them and delay the wearing off of compulsion somehow. Maybe by getting more vervain in Alaric's body and buy Jacq more time if she needs it just in case.
"I am not waiting for three days. I am going to ask Jacq about her secrets tonight and find out everything." Damon spoke up for the first time since the truth started to unfold in front of them. His voice held determination as Damon tightened his fist around the locket in his hand and let the vervain in it burn his skin. Damon got out of the house in a blink of an eye before anyone got a chance to stop him. Stefan called him back and wanted to stop Damon from going but he couldn't do it. Katherine sighed out heavily and shook her head to herself, knowing that Damon would never get anything out of Jacq and it will be hell of an encounter between the two.
On the other hand, Damon knew that he is the last person Jacq would want to see at the time. But he has to meet her. Everyone was willing to wait for three or four days to find out her truth but judging Katherine's reaction Damon knew there is something going on and he has to know about it sooner rather than later. Jacq must hate him right now. She has every reason to. Damon is hating himself since he learned the truth. He not only blamed Jacq and thought her guilty but also cheated on her and threatened to kill her even. Damon turned his back on her when he should have been by her side. How could he do that was out of Damon's understanding. And he wouldn't complain a bit if Jacq shouts at him, curse at him and asks him to leave her alone or asks him to stay away from her and get out of her life. Damon would have gladly done that. He should after what he did. But the problem is that he can't do that. Damon is incapable of living without her. Even when Damon was hating her, he wanted her with him. That is why it is absolutely essential for Damon to find out what Jacq is up to now and learn her secrets. Because Damon has this feeling that Jacq is doing something more dangerous this time. And if he wouldn't stop her in time, he would lose her forever. And Damon is not dumb enough anymore to ignore his inner feelings about Jacq.
As if every fiber in his body, guided Damon in the way and told him in which direction to go to find Jacqueline. Thanks to that feeling, Damon found her in no time. There she was, his princess, the love of his life, lying unconscious on the ground near the falls. An empty bottle of Bourbon in her hand. Her fingers wrapped around the neck of the bottle in a tight grip. Jacq has passed out drinking but the sight was breathtaking for Damon. The moonlight showering her and she lay there on the ground in an attractive way. Her hair falling over her face a little, teasing her temple. Damon sighed out heavily then lifted her up from the ground and gathered her in his arms. Damon could smell tears on her face. She must be crying before passing out. Damon felt his heart doing a painful twist in his chest thinking about her tears. He carried Jacq back to the car and drove back to the boarding house. Jacq wouldn't be waking up anytime soon. When Damon entered the house with an unconscious Jacq, everyone got worried and tensed up. They were very anxious the entire time.
"She has just passed out. I am taking her up in my room" said Damon to no one particularly and made his way upstairs.
He put Jacq on his bed and pulled the covers on her. Damon noticed that tears were still coming out of her eyes. Jacq was still crying in her sleep. Or maybe she is crying because she is sleeping. Otherwise Jacq never cries when wide wake no matter how much pain she is in. Damon kept realizing more and more exactly how much he and everyone else has hurt her. And he would do anything to make it up to her for his part. Damon promised to do that. He kissed her forehead lightly and lay beside her feeling content. Damon held the locket in front of his face and stared at it. He wants her to wear it again herself and she will. Damon would make sure of that.
Jacqueline's POV
When woke up, I found myself in a familiar room and I was lying on the bed. How did I get in Damon's bedroom? And most importantly why am I here? Clearly someone brought me here because I remember getting drunk and passing out near the falls. Who could have brought me to the boarding house? As I am in Damon's bedroom I guess he did it. Now that's interesting. Something must have happened while I was sleeping. Something definitely changed. Otherwise the last time I met Damon, he was still hating me. After Katherine and Mason left with the cure, I went to the Grill and kind of stole a bottle of Bourbon from Matt. I needed to forget about everything for a while and only alcohol could have helped me out in that matter. Thinking about Katherine and Mason made me realize what must have happened. It took me only a moment to get what changed among everyone and why I was suddenly in Damon's bedroom. Katherine and Mason must have told everyone everything. I sighed out a little and shook my head to myself only to get dizziness from it. The way my head hurt, I am surprised that I am not passing out in my hangover. I should have told Katherine not to tell anyone anything. The last thing I want is an apology drama at the moment. Actually I don't want anyone to feel sorry at all neither I wanted anyone to know the truth about what I did. But I guess the damage is already done.
It would have been so easy to finish my job if everyone kept hating me. Now I have to go through unnecessary troubles. Thanks to Katherine and Mason. But I doubted that Katherine told them anything about desiccating Klaus because she knew what's gonna happen if they stop me from doing what I have to do. After freshening up and changing my clothes, I headed straight to downstairs to get out of the house. Bonnie along with Abby and Jamie must have already come back to Mystic Falls as it appeared to be late in the afternoon. I have to go and see them in person before anyone else learns that they are here in town. I was hoping against hope that I would pass through the door and get out of the boarding house without seeing anyone on my way. But just as I stepped out of the corridor of the stair case I met with everyone's gaze. I stared at everyone for a while then averted my eyes from them and started walking towards the front door avoiding their regretful gazes on me.
"Jacq, please stop." Elena's voice spoke up. I stopped walking but stood still and didn't look back at them. Elena came up in front of me. Her face full of guilt and regression. She inhaled a deep breath before speaking up again.
"Jacq, I know that I don't have any right to ask for your forgiveness. What I did to you was terrible. The things I said to you, I should have never said them. And I am really very sorry for that. I just, I don't know what got into me that I believed Klaus. I must have lost my mind at that time." Elena looked at me with pleading eyes and said-
"If there is anything that I could do to make it up to you. Please just give me one chance."
I wanted to forgive her but if I forgave her or anyone else for what happened and forget about everything, then it would solve all the problems immediately and everyone will be back to 'caring about me' mode. And everyone will be up to protecting me again. I wanted to forgive and forget, really. I mean how long I am gonna stay here, in this world, two or three days at most. I didn't want any bitterness among us and wanted to spend some happy time with everyone. But I knew better than doing that. I can't succeed in my task if they all start sticking around me. Perhaps I am not meant to have a last good time with them. I took in a deep breathe and looked straight at Elena into her eyes.
"There is nothing to forgive Elena. But if you really want to make it up to me for what you did, then please stay away from me, and make sure your friends and family do the same. Whatever happened with me, will never happen again, because I am not letting you in my life anymore. Now please step out of my way. I have somewhere to be." I said that in a cold yet calm tone of voice. Elena stared at me with hurt eyes for sometime but as it didn't melt my heart, she silently nodded her head and stepped out of my way. I stared walking toward the door again. I held the doorknob and pulled the door open but suddenly someone shut it close again using force. I looked at the person and found Damon staring at me with intense eyes that threatened to melt me instantly but I stayed unfazed outside.
"What do you want Damon?" I asked with emotionless tone of voice.
"I want to apologize, Jacq." Damon leaned in closer to me while saying that and invading my personal space in the process.
"I want to apologize to you for not believing in you" said Damon and he took a small deep breathe.
"Please don't leave." He pleaded and I sighed out heavily. Hating that his closeness still affecting me in a way it shouldn't right now. I took a step back from Damon to increase the distance between us.
"You can't stop me from leaving Damon. You lost the right to do it when you turn your back on me." I said with bitter tone of voice. My heart crushed in my chest when a wave of pain washed over his face. Damon looked so hurt that I wanted to drop the cold act right then and there. But I couldn't do it, for greater good. Damon cupped my face with his hands and bored his eyes into mine.
"I can't lose you" said Damon more to himself than to me. I held on his hands and moved it away from my face.
"You already have." I said it as if I really meant it. I know I broke Damon completely by saying that. And trust me I hated myself for doing it. But a broken Damon is better than a dead Damon. And I have to keep him and everyone alive. And for that Damon needed to let me go. I have to make him let me go even if this means that I have hurt him badly. I opened the door and walked out of the house. No one stopped me this time. I went to Bonnie's grandma's house straight from the boarding house. I was right. Bonnie, Abby and Jamie were already there and they were very worried as well. Bonnie engulfed me in a hug when I entered the house.
"Is Klaus wake yet?" asked Bonnie with anxiousness. She already knew what was going on between me and everyone else. But what she didn't know is that I am already clear of all the accusations. And I am gonna keep it that way until the desiccation. Bonnie doesn't need to know that everyone knows the truth now.
"No Bonnie but he will wake up, soon. No one knows that you are back in town, right?" I asked for confirmation. Bonnie shook her head in reply and I sighed out in relief.
"Good, let's keep it that way. Because now not only our enemies but our friends are against us as well." I said and Bonnie nodded her head in understanding.
"So, we just have to wait until Klaus returns Elijah his family back. Then we could put him out of our lives for good" said Bonnie and I nodded sighing out heavily.
"Yes Bonnie, the time to put an end to all these is finally getting closer now." And to put an end to my life in this world as well. I said that in my mind though. It's only a matter of a day or two now.
AN: Reviews guys, It's the second last chapter.