Chapter 26: Vampire Soap Opera.

Damon's phone rang. He checked the caller ID, then looked up at Alaric and Elijah. "It's the Sheriff."

"Well, answer it, "Alaric urged.

Damon sighed. "Yes, Liz?"

"Damon, "she sounded on the verge of tears, "Have you seen Caroline? She haven't been home for days."

"No, I'm afraid I have not. When did you last see her?"

"Monday morning." Her voice cracked. "I've called everyone. Elena, Bonnie, Tyler and Matt. None of them have seen her. I've even called her father."

"I'm sure she'll show up sooner or later." Damon found to his annoyance that he was feeling slightly guilty. Hell, it wasn't his fault that the young vampire had gotten herself caught by that crazy hybrid. Besides, he wouldn't hurt her, would he? Damon shuddered, shaking off the sudden memory of Klaus' anger. "You know how dramatic and unpredictable teenagers can be."

"But it's not like Caroline to do something like this, "the Sheriff insisted tearfully, "Could you ask your brother if he has seen or heard from her?"

"Of course, and Liz ... I'm sure everything is fine."

He hung up, looking around at the others in the parlour. Alaric and Elijah were seated across from him, Darwin beside him, cross-legged and barefoot. Finn was reading a book in the opposit side of the room.

"We have to do something about Caroline soon, "he stated. "No progress with Bonnie?"

"I'm afraid not, "Elijah answered, "it would have been a lot easier, if the Martins were still with us. They were much more experienced. But she has their grimoires. I'm sure she'll come across something sooner or later."

"Well, "Finn said calmly, startling the others, "We must assume that he has had her spelled in. Maybe Bonnie could remove the spell and somehow get a message to Caroline, then she could escape on her own when she gets the chance."

They all stared at him in stunned silence, and he sighed in annoyance. "Yes, that's right; I can think."

"That's actually not a bad idea, "Elijah finally said, eyeing his brother thoughtfully, "It puts neither Bonnie nor Caroline in much danger."

"Alright, "Alaric nodded, "I'll run the idea by Bonnie, when she gets off from school."

"Excellent." Elijah suddenly frowned. "Has anyone seen Rebekah today?"

"No, "Damon said without interest.

"I'll look for her, "Darwin offered, standing up, "If she's here I'll feel her presence."

(Break)

At first, Kol wanted to go with Bonnie to her Physics class, but after seeing her panicked expression, Stefan convinced him to come with him to his and Elena's English class instead. First he compelled the teacher to believe that he was a regular part of the class and ten minutes later, he was laying over his table, fast asleep.

Stefan sent him several doubtful looks. He was completely still, neither moving, nor breathing and some of the other students were looking at him and whispering.

"Kol?" The teacher was suddenly standing right by his table with a look of annoyance mixed with concern on his face. "Kol Mikaelson?"

Kol lifted his head and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He looked slightly disoriented, but held the teacher's gaze. "What?"

"Who wrote 'Whuthering Heights'?"

"Abu Hamza, "he answered without blinking.

Now it was the teacher's turn to look disoriented. "Yes ... Yes, that's right. And the plot?"

"It's about an orphaned, talking pig that lives in the Village and think it's a dog. Eventually, it get's a make-over and marries Paul McCartney, who accidently eats it on their honeymoon."

"No, it's a tragic love story ..."

Kol frowned at him. "Well, Paul McCartney is a vegetarian; Does it get any more tragic than that?"

Stefan saw the teacher begin to shake his head and didn't know if he wanted to laugh or cry. Most likely both. The other students were frowning in confusion and some were even looking through their books desperately, probably the ones, who hadn't read it.

Stefan glanced at Elena. She was seated right behind Kol and was glaring daggers at his back.

"Yes, but what ... "the teacher began, but Kol interrupted him.

"The audience is over." Kol lay his head back down on the table, turning his face away from the teacher. "Do remember to sign the guestbook on your way out."

The teacher blinked slowly a couple of times, before heading back up to the blackboard and continuing his lecture as if nothing had happened. For the rest of the lesson, Kol seemed to be invisible to him, for which Stefan was infinitely grateful. He didn't think English literature could handle anymore Kolonization.

(Break)

Caroline tried her best to avoid Klaus that afternoon. The unbearable tension was back, but she did not know from where it originated; whether it was from her or Klaus.

Her nerves were in complete ruin. She hadn't felt so lost since she had first woken up as a vampire.

What was she doing? She should be at home, arguing with her mother and planning the Christmas Ball with Bonnie, not walking around a rambling mansion, shaking at the memory of an Original's kiss.

She touched her lips absentmindedly, walking into a room filled with books. The library. He had told her that she could get any book she wanted, but she very much doubted there was anything in here that would spark an interest. Her favourite books were by Dan Brown and Stephenie Meyer, not Shakespeare, Jane Austen or Geoffrey Chaucer.

She walked slowly past a bookcase, reading the titles of the books, but recognizing none. Until ... 'The Complete Poetical Works of John Keats.'

Keats? The name seemed familiar somehow. And then she remembered.

Lamia.

The poem Klaus had quoted the first time they met.

She pulled out the book, and started looking through it. A particular line got stuck in her head, and she recited it out loud: 'She dwells with Beauty—Beauty that must die.'

Warm hands suddenly covered hers, snapping the book shut. She focused on her hands, which were entwined with his around the book, not wanting to look up and see his face. "Why would you read this, love? You don't have to worry; your beauty will never die."

"Coming from you that somehow sounds ominous rather than comforting, "she said.

"Why is that?"

She shrugged. "Staying the same forever, watching your friends and family grow old and die around you."

"Death is like everything else, "he said and she could hear the smile in his voice. "You get used to it."

"Now, don't lie to her, Nik. Some things never change."

Caroline's head snapped up in surprise. A young, blonde woman was standing in the doorway, idly stroking a small rust-coulered kitten. Her eyes shone with barely contained anger. "Your housekeeper let me in."

Klaus sighed. "Caroline, this is my sister, Rebekah."

"Caroline?" Rebekah looked at her with interest. "The one they are all working so hard to rescue? Somehow, it doesn't seem like you need any rescuing. Let me guess; the arrival was rude, but the sex is great?"

Caroline felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. "I don't care what you think of me, Rebekah, "she said through gritted teeth.

It can't possibly as bad as what I think of myself right now.

Caroline quickly freed her hands from Klaus' and put the book back. Klaus was looking at his sister with equal parts annoyance and caution. "What do you want, Rebekah?"

"Well, I evaluated my situation; you on one side, Kol on the other and decided that you were the lesser of two evils."

"Even though I killed you?"

"Even though you killed me, "Rebekah confirmed. "Because believe me; living with Kol is killing me too and that is a slow and painful death."

"So, what are the rest of them plotting?"

Rebekah frowned. "You know Elijah; he never involves us unless it is absolutely necessary. And it never is."

"Rebekah ..."

"I'll go find myself a room." She turned to leave.

"Rebekah, I don't want that cat in my house, "he said firmly.

"Why not?" She held the kitten towards him, teasingly. "Bringing out repressed instincts, huh? Woof woof?"

"You can keep it in the back yard."

"No, in my room."

"No! in the back yard!"

"No! In my room!"

Klaus threw up his hands. "Fine! But if I find it in my bed, it will be spending all its time in the back yard ... cause that's where I'll bury it."

(Break)

Darwin joined the others in the parlour again ten minutes later. He sat down on the floor, shaking his head. "She's gone. I can't feel her anywhere in the house or the garden."

"I knew this would happen sooner or later." Elijah was rubbing his forehead tiredly. "Her initial anger at him had to pass some time."

"Maybe she'll come back?" Alaric asked, but sounding doubtful.

"No, "Darwin answered, "All her things are gone. Including Claws."

"Good riddance, "Finn shrugged, "All she ever did was complain."

Darwin regarded him for a minute. Finn was trying hard to act like he didn't care, but Darwin knew this was killing him. He was aloof and unfeeling towards his brothers, but Rebekah had always seemed to spark some emotion in him, like protectiveness and some kind of affection, however vague it may be. The thought of her choosing Klaus over him had to be hard to handle. Darwin watched the different states of denial passing over his face, finally settling on a somewhat bleak expression.

Elijah turned to him. "Maybe it's your turn to talk now.

"Huh?" Darwin frowned. "About what?"

"You have a heartbeat, "Alaric reminded him.

"He has what?!" Damon looked from Darwin to Alaric and back again. "How do you know?"

"Elijah told me this morning."

Damon snorted and crossed his arms over his chest. "Well, aren't you two getting friendly? Smoking pot together in the twilight and sharing secrets at the breakfast table. Is a romance brewing?"

Alaric smiled wryly. "Damon, jealousy doesn't become you."

"Well, you neither. Remember when you thought Elijah was going to steal Jenna from you? You were a basket case on drugs. Literally!"

"Sometimes jealousy just shows you care, "Darwin said, knowing full well that sentence would be like kryptonite to Damon.

"Oh no. Alaric; I hope the four of you will be very happy together, "he said sarcastically. "I mean you, Elijah, Jenna and the baby... Now, Darwin, talk!"

"Well, "Darwin couldn't keep from smiling a little at Damon's obvious frustration. "Like I said earlier, I don't know anything for sure. But do you remember me saying that I come from a werewolf bloodline, but is not carrier of the wolf gene?"

Elijah nodded, the rest of them just stared.

"I was examined by a doctor, who specialized in the supernatural, and he theorized that even though I wasn't a werewolf, something in my blood made me unable to fully transition into a vampire. That I was somehow stuck in between human and vampire."

"So, are you a werewolf, after all? "Alaric asked.

Darwin shook his head. "No, not at all."

"Klaus is the only werewolf to ever turn and only because he was made an Original by strong magic, "Elijah reminded him, "No other werewolf has ever been turned successfully, whether or not they had triggered the curse."

"And what are the effects?" Finn asked, now looking absolutely fascinated.

"Well, "Darwin ran a hand over his head, "I have a taste for human food, but I don't really know, if I can live without it. I haven't tried. And I only drink about two pints of blood a week. I'm always hungry for more, though."

"Yes, "Damon remarked, "But if I had to live on two pints of blood a week, I'd be insane with hunger."

"Probably." Darwin shrugged. "Anyway, I'm quite resiliant, but I sometimes catch human diseases and when I turn on the heartbeat, I need oxygen. I know, because I almost drowned once. "

"I knew something was different about you, "Elijah said slowly, "You being over a thousand and only having killed once. I'm guessing you've kept your human nature. No vampire would ever have to be compelled to be able to kill."

"Do you age, when you turn on the heartbeat? "Finn asked.

Darwin shook his head. "No, but I heal a lot slower and I lose my vampire strength and speed. Which is why I rarely do it."

"So, all in all, there are no advantages to it." Damon concluded.

Finn jumped to his feet.

"No advantages? "he asked incredulously, almost yelling. "To have so much self-control, to live forever and still be so human; to not kill and can you say there is no advantages to that?"

Damon blinked. He had never really thought of being human as something to be desired. He thought of it as a weakness. After he had gotten over his initial shock of becoming a vampire, he had never wanted to be human again.

Never.

Finn scoffed at his lack of reaction and swaggered out of the room.

"What's with him?" Damon asked, frowning.

"Well, "Elijah sighed, "Finn has never come to terms with losing his humanity. And Klaus stole from him the time the rest of us had to heal. And he needed it even more than we did."

Darwin was biting his lower lip thoughtfully. "Maybe he will find the time to finally accept himself now?"

"It's either that or an eternity of self-hatred. To an Original, death is not an option."

(Break)

Caroline was hastily retreating to her room, having had more than enough of Klaus for one day. Not that being in there was any garantee that she would be left alone by him, but at least she could pretend to have some private sphere.

But as she was walking down the second floor hallway, she noticed that the door across from hers was wide open and someone was walking around inside the room. She slowed her pace, moving soundlessly, and stopped to peek inside.

Rebekah was standing by the bed, unpacking a large suitcase, laying neatly folded clothes in sorted piles on the bed.

"I know you are there, "she suddenly said, startling Caroline, "You should really learn to stop your breathing, when you are spying on someone."

"I'm sorry, "Caroline said awkwardly, "I didn't mean to spy. It's just ... I've been alone with Klaus for days, and the servants hardly talk to me, I guess, I'm starved for female company."

Rebekah turned around and Caroline saw that she was actually smiling slightly. "So am I, I have to admit. You do not know what Hell I've just been living in."

"Well, your brothers and the Salvatores ... I can imagine."

Caroline just noticed the orange kitten as it jumped up on the bed. "Oh, it's so adorable. Can I hold it?"

Rebekah looked at the cat with almost motherly affection. "Sure. Just remember that he's a delicate creature."

Caroline picked him up, holding him up to her face. He was watching her with large, green eyes, purring happily.

"I thought cats didn't like vampires."

"That's a myth, "Rebekah started, bringing piles of clothes to her dresser and putting them away, "it's actually werewolves they don't like."

Caroline bounced him up and down a bit. "What's his name?"

"Claws." Rebekah smiled at Caroline's stunned expression. "C-L-A-W-S."

"Oh, I get it!" Caroline sat down on the bed, placing Claws in her lap.

Rebekah took the last pile of clothes to her dresser.

"All done, "she looked around the room, "And I don't have one single dress."

"Well, were about the same size, right?" Caroline gave her a measuring look. "And I have plenty."

Rebekah smiled slyly at her. "I don't suppose you've brought them here yourself ... So, my brother has bought dresses for you?"

Caroline felt a bit uncomfortable. "He told me that the housekeeper bought them."

Rebekah snorted dissmissively. "That's what he says. But I tell you; whenever he fancies a woman, he loves to dress her up."

"You think he fancies me?" Caroline felt a stab of worry. Or was it excitement?

"Well, of course, and you need to take advantage of that." Rebekah tilted her head to one side, changing the subject. "How about a game of truth or dare?"

"Oh, I don't know ..." Caroline didn't like the glint in Rebekah's eyes. It seemed too devious, somehow, to fit her suggestion of the childish game.

"Come on, "She reached into her almost empty bag, pulling out three bottles, "And to make it interesting..."

She showed them to Caroline, who looked up at her in alarm. "Everclear? Are you insane?!"

She smiled brightly "Yes, and I'm enjoying every second of it."

(Break)

The mood was low in the parlour that evening. Stefan and Kol had returned from school, Stefan refusing to tell anyone what had happened and Kol claiming not to remember anything. Finn had locked himself in his room, sending out waves of dark energy that got on Darwin's nerves, making it almost impossible for him to focus on writing his paper. Damon was watching Andie on the evening news with the sound turned off, and Elijah was apparently reading a book, but hadn't turned a page in more than an hour.

Alaric was drumming his fingers on the coffeetable, his arms and legs twitching every now and then.

Darwin looked up from his computer. "Alaric, could you ..."

"If I'm bothering you then feel free to leave, "he snapped. Then he looked around the room guiltily, realising that everyone was looking up at him now with raised eyebrows.

"Sorry, "he muttered, folding his arms over his chest.

"God, you're crappy, when your sober, "Kol remarked, shaking his head. "Why don't you have a couple of drinks?"

"It will take a lot more than that to lift my spirits, "Alaric mumbled.

"Oh please, less than half a bottle of bourbon and you're singing 'God Save the Queen, "Kol said mockingly.

"Hey, that is not true, "Alaric denied.

Hitting him where it hurts; his alcohol tolerance. He had already taken a blow to that particular spot from Elijah last night.

"It is true, "Darwin watched him with amusement, "I could drink you under the table with my humanity turned on."

Alaric bristled. "Is that a challenge?"

Darwin seemed to consider for a second, before answering. "Yes, I believe it is."

"Alright, "Alaric locked eyes with him, "Choose your weapon."

"Tequila, "Darwin said without blinking. "Time and place?"

"Tomorrow, 8 p.m. The kitchen."

"I'll see you, then." Darwin nodded, then turned his attention back to Daedalus.

Alaric sat stiffly for another two seconds then got up, stomping irrritably out of the room. They heard the front door slamming shut.

Elijah lowered his book. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

Darwin shrugged. "We'll see."

"Fine, "Elijah paused. "Just ... don't kill him."

Kol leaned back and folded his hands behind his head: "Forecast for tomorrow night; alcohol clouds, mental eclipse and rain on your parade."

AN: The quote, Caroline recited, is from the poem 'Ode to Melancholy' by John Keats.