Chapter 16.

"You look stunning," Kol said as we started to dance, "Breathtaking actually."

I looked up to look into his eyes, which had passion and lust in them.

My eyes flickered to his lips, his perfectly kissable lips, before I looked back down.

"Thank you." I replied simply.

He sighed and we danced in silence for a while.

"I miss you." he said suddenly making my heart beat faster.

God, I wish I believed him.

"You don't miss me, Kol. You don't care about me, remember?" I spat.

"I do care about you, Klara."

I shook my head. "No, you don't. You said it yourself."

"Maybe I was lying," he stated raising his voice a bit, "Ever thought about that?"

I scoffed. "Why would you lie about that?"

"Well, I guess I'm just not used to this."

"Used to what?" I questioned.

"Getting attached to people. Caring about them," he paused, holding me close to him, "I've been alive for more than a thousand years. I never cared about anyone. But then, you came into my life and that changed. I didn't know how to deal with this, but the truth is, I care about you... More than I could ever imagine."

His grasp around my waist tightened as he pulled me even closer to him if possible.

Our lips were practically brushing each other, making it hard for me to process what I just heard.

I shook my head. "I don't believe you."

"Then let me show you."

I really wanted things to go back to the way of when we first met, but I knew that wasn't going to happen, and my heart ached as I said the next words. "I don't trust you anymore, Kol."

Kol stood there with a look of pain in his eyes.

It was like his heart had just been ripped out.

I felt my eyes watering, and I got out of the dancefloor before I started crying, leaving Kol behind me.

Elena and I were in the hallway when Elijah came to us. "I understand my mother requested to see you."

"Uh, yeah," Elena muttered, "Why, is something wrong?"

Elijah nodded. "Well, her ability to forgive my brother after everything he's done to destroy this family strikes me as a little strange to say the least."

"Do you think that it's an act?" I questioned Elijah.

"It has me asking questions I never thought I'd ask. Can I depend on you two to tell me what she says?"

Elena and I nodded. "Of course. We'll find you later, okay?"

Elena and I knocked on the door of Esther's study.

Finn opened the door and we walked inside. "You came alone. Wise choice."

I don't like this guy.

Esther was burning something.

She saw mine and Elena's confused expressions, and grinned. "It's only sage. I've spelled it so we can speak freely without fear of being overheard. That'll be all Finn, thank you.", Finn leaves, "You must have a million questions for me, girls. Please."

We sit on the sofa.

"How are you alive?", Elena questioned, "Are you a ghost? Or..."

"Not exactly," Esther chuckled a little, "When I died the witch Ayana preserved my body with a spell. She was a close friend of mine, an ancestor of your friend Bonnie."

"So that's why only Bonnie and her mother could open up the casket." I noted.

"They complete the Bennett bloodline. I drew power from them and their ancestors who were with me on the other side." Esther confirmed.

Elena nodded. "So you've been on the other side for a thousand years?"

"Nature's way of punishing me for turning my family into vampires," Esther shook her head lightly, "But there is a way for me to undo the evil I created."

I raised an eyebrow at her. "You're gonna help us kill Klaus, aren't you?"

"One thing at a time, Klara. For now, I simply need your help."

"I understand Rebekah shared the story of my family," Esther said as she lit some candles, "How I upset the balance of nature by turning my children into vampires."

Elena nodded. "She said you did it to protect them from the werewolves."

"It's true. But in no time at all, they began to feed on human blood. They ravaged the town with no remorse," Esther remembered, "Eventually, Niklaus turned against me."

"How are you gonna kill him?", I asked, "He's immortal."

"It will take time, magic, and your assistance."

"What do we have to do with it?" Elena questioned.

"My children believe I'm holding this ball to celebrate our reunion. But in truth I've gathered them together to perform a ritual. The first step requires blood from the doppelgänger. Only a drop. Its essence will be in the champagne toast later on this evening," she turned to us again, "Will you do it or shall I?

I have a really bad feeling about this.

"I'm not gonna help you." I hissed as I crossed my arms over my chest.

"That's okay," Esther said, "I knew that you probably wouldn't. After all, you are in love with my son."

I looked at her surprised and Elena just stared at me confused.

"I only need the blood of one of you." Esther added.

Elena removes her glove.

"Elena, you can't help her!" I growled.

She sighed. "I'm sorry, Klara."

Elena gives her finger to Esther and she pricks it.

A drop of Elena's blood drops in a glass.

"Elijah is more suspicious than the others, so he may need more persuasion. But they must all drink at the toast in order to be linked as one." Esther informed.

"What do you mean "linked as one"?" I asked narrowing my eyes at Esther.

"You said yourself Klaus can't be killed. But tonight's spell links all my children together, so that if one goes, they all go."

That means if Klaus dies, they will all die. Elijah, Finn, Rebekah and… Kol.

"What?" I whispered.

"I love my family, girls, but they are an abomination. I betrayed nature when I created them. It's my duty to kill them."

"I am going to kill you!" I growled at my twin.

"Klara, I'm so sorry. I…"

"Save it!" I said before storming out of the room.

I desperately tried to find one of the Mikaelsons to warn them.

"Klara." I heard Elijah's voice from behind me.

I turned to him. "Elijah, thank god!"

"Elena tells me my mother has forgiven Klaus." Elijah raised an eyebrow.

I shook my head. "She's lying. Elijah, listen…"

I was cut off by the sound of crystal ringing.

Esther was on the staircase. "Good evening, ladies and gentleman."

I sighed looking back at Elijah. "Whatever you do, don't drink the champagne."

He looked confused. "What?"

"Just don't drink it, okay?"

He nodded and I left.

I tried to find Kol as Esther gave her speech.

"Cheers." Everyone said and I cursed.

I hope he hasn't drunk the champagne yet.

I finally spotted him and rushed over to his side. "Where's your champagne?"

He looked worried at my tone. "I drank it already. Why?"

"No. Damn it!"

"What's wrong, darling?" he asked concerned.

I was about to tell him what Esther did, but Finn came. "Is everything alright?"

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Everything's fine."

Before they could say anything else, I left.

I saw Elena and Damon talking under the stairs.

He left looking mad and hurt.

Elena saw me. "Klara!"

I rolled my eyes. "I don't wanna hear it."

I tried to pass past her, but she grabbed my wrist. "What did Esther mean when she said that you were in love with her son?"

"She was lying."

Elena scoffed. "No, she wasn't. I saw the look on your face after she said that. I know you, Klara. Who was she talking about?"

"None of your business. Leave me alone." I hissed.

"No, let's talk about th…"

We heard a loud noise coming from outside and ran there with Rebekah, Finn, Klaus and Elijah.

The sight before my eyes shocked me.

Kol was lying on the floor, dead.

Damon was beside him.

He probably snapped his neck.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" I growled at Damon as I ran to Kol.

"Damon, are you crazy?" Stefan questioned as I kneeled down next to Kol's body.

"Maybe a little. Far be it for me to cause a problem." Damon replied while looking at Elena.

"Just leave, you asshole." I spat.

Damon nodded and left.

I felt tears in my eyes as I put Kol's head on my lap.

Seeing Kol again, rejecting him and Damon breaking his neck.

I couldn't take it.

I just broke down crying.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and I looked up to see Elijah. "He's going to be fine, Klara."

"I know. It's just…" I couldn't finish the sentence from crying so hard.

Elijah looked at me sympathetically. "Let me take him inside."

I nodded getting up.

Elijah picked up Kol's body and took him inside.

"Come on," Stefan said as he came to me and put an arm around my shoulder, "I'll take you home."

I sniffled and we left.