Hello, my lovely readers. Without further ado…
Chapter 24: Wake Up!
Sitting beside the body of one of her best friends, Caroline felt like she had been crying for most of her life. She had considered the idea of calling Mike but had decided against it. Looking down at Elena again, digging her fingernails into her hands, she wondered how long this would take. Stefan was gone without a word. Damon was with Mike. She couldn't look at him after what happened between him and Elena. He was no better than Damon Salvatore. Ugh. This is ridiculous.
Standing up, Caroline went to the window and looked outside. If Elena didn't wake soon she would have to call an ambulance. Then there was a groan from the bed. Caroline whirled around, her eyebrows rising high. Rushing over to her friend's side, she grinned. "Elena," she called.
Sitting bolt upright, Elena stared at Caroline, sucking in deep breaths. "Caroline? What happened?"
Caroline bit her lip and then answered. "You drowned in the bathtub."
Elena stared at Caroline and then began to laugh. Caroline began to laugh, too. Then Elena gave voice to her thoughts. "Did you put something in the soup?"
"Yes," Caroline replied, tears streaming down her cheeks. "How I was supposed to know you were going to go to sleep in the tub?"
"Because you don't leave a sick person alone like that," Elena yelled at her.
"What am I, your mother?" Caroline yelled back, placing her hands on her hips. And then they began to laugh again, hysterically.
"Oh, this is so bad, Care. I don't want to be a vampire," Elena choked on her laughter.
"I know. Neither did I. And now I'm a sire. I don't know how to be a sire," Caroline told Elena, shaking her head.
"This is horrible. Why did you put vampire blood in the soup?" Elena moaned.
"Easy fix," Caroline told her, collapsing on the bed. "On the bright side, now we can be friends forever for real."
Elena began to laugh at the inappropriate joke. "I was turned from a bowl of soup of a super long soak in the bath."
"We should get you fed and then go somewhere else. You can't be here when Jenna and Jeremy come home because you might want to eat them, Caroline told Elena and they got up to leave. Elena grabbed some clothes and changed more quickly than she had ever done before. There were things she needed to tell Caroline but she didn't know what to say.
"We could go to Mike's because he's out of town," Caroline told Elena and Elena stiffened remembering her revelation. Now, she just needed proof.
"Yeah, we should do that," Elena replied as they left the house. Being at Klaus' would allow her to be able to look through his things to try to find something that would prove that he was Klaus and maybe stop the sacrifice.
They walked across town toward the "Nikolson" manor. 'Mikaelson,' Elena mentally corrected. Caroline pulled out a key and walked into the house like it was her own. Elena was a little surprised. She wondered if Klaus was crazy for giving Caroline a key or just arrogant.
"I'm going to find a blood bag," Caroline told Elena, who nodded and wondered if she could find Klaus' bedroom. Or possibly his study. That's where he would keep something that would be dangerous to him, right?
"Got it," Caroline called happily as she appeared with the blood bag and handed it to Elena, who looked at it uncertainly.
"Lena, you have to drink," Caroline told her gently.
Staring at the blood bag unhappily, Elena forced herself to take a sip and then sighed before taking a long sip. "Let's check this place out," she told Caroline in between sips.
"We should," Caroline said excitedly. "Mike never gave me a proper tour." They walked upstairs and then through most of the house finding nothing that Elena could use. She tried to not shout in frustration before asking for another blood bag.
When Caroline came back with the bag, Elena suggested they check out the basement. There was a heavy lock on the door and Caroline frowned at it. Then she had an idea. "So, I was watching this program on lock picking and I think I can figure this out." Elena's eyebrows rose and Caroline rolled her eyes. "There was nothing else on TV."
"Uh huh," Elena teased as Caroline picked the lock and then squealed in triumph.
They opened the heavy door and walked down the stairs. "Okay, I am telling Mike when he comes home that this place has to be cleaned up," Caroline announced, wrinkling her nose at the dust.
"You're going to tell your boyfriend that he needs to clean up the basement that you broke into?" Elena inquired with a grin.
"Yeah. Point taken," Caroline smiled and then looked around. "What are those?" She was staring at five coffins that were in the room. Walking over to one, she looked down at the white coffin and placed a hand on top of it. "This is a little creepy. Why would Mike have coffins down here?"
"Maybe he likes to sleep in one," Elena told her with a smirk.
"Whatever," Caroline replied with her lips tipping upward as she opened the casket and gasped when she saw the face of an ashen young woman. She was wearing a flapper dress and had a dagger in her chest. "Elena…" Caroline said. "Why would Mike have a woman's body in a coffin in his basement?" Feeling a pang of jealousy, Caroline wanted to close the lid and burn it.
Elena came over and stared at the woman. "I have no idea. I wonder why she has a dagger in her heart?"
"I don't know," Caroline said weakly. Looking at the other boxes, she walked over and opened them. The first had no one inside and she wondered who that was for. Her? Maybe. Pulling the next one open they found that there was a young man in a tuxedo inside. The next coffin contained a man in clothes so old Caroline had no idea what century they came from. Trying to pull the last open, Caroline and Elena could not make it budge.
"I'm going to pull the dagger out," Caroline said finally, marching over to the blonde and yanking the dagger out. Elena stood beside her and nothing happened. Sitting down on the floor, they waited.
Nothing happened for a good ten minutes before a hand popped out of the coffin and then the blonde sat up and whipped her head toward them. "Where is Nik?" She demanded hoarsely.
Elena sighed. This was her proof. "You mean Niklaus?"
The blonde glared at her. "Where the hell is my brother?" She demanded, seething. "I'm going to shove this dagger so far up his arse, he's going to wish he never looked at me,"
Caroline looked confused. "Are you talking about Klaus?"
The blonde ignored her. "I need blood. Now!" She jumped out of the coffin.
"I can get you some if you'll tell me more about your brother," Elena told the blonde, who snorted.
"Go to hell," the blonde told Elena, giving her a
shove that sent Elena flying.
Nearly hysterical, Caroline just stared at the blonde vampire. "Klaus is supposed to be dead. And this is supposed to be Mike's house. But why would Mike have Klaus' family? What is going on around here?"
The blonde stared at Caroline. "Get me blood and we'll chat. Get your friend. I don't like her. However, I've been in that blasted coffin for far too long. I need company. Come, girls," she called, waving for them to follow as she sped upstairs. When they were in the Great Room of the manor, Caroline sped into the kitchen and was back in five seconds with several blood bags and a bottle of champagne.
The blonde took the bags raising an eyebrow before she began to greedily drink from one after the other. "Where is Klaus?" She asked again.
Caroline shook her head. "I thought he was dead… Now, I don't know. Why would Mike lie to me?"
The blonde vampire shook her head. "Who the hell is Mike? I don't care. But tell me anyway."
"Mike Nikolson. This is his home." Caroline told her, staring at the unopened champagne bottle.
Throwing her head back, the blonde began to laugh. "Oh, that is rich. Mike Nikolson. Poor stup-id girl. Sodding wanker still has a twisted sense of humor." Shaking her head, the vampire smiled widely. "I am afraid you have been taken for a fool by the one and only Nik or Niklaus or just Klaus Mikaelson, my brother, is going to have his arse kicked thoroughly when I lay hands on him." Rolling her eyes, the vampire shook her head.
"What's your name?" Elena asked.
"Forgive me. Where are my manners? Rebekah Mikaelson. Charmed, I'm sure." Rebekah rolled her eyes and then smirked, looking very much like Klaus.
Caroline was staring at Rebekah. "No! That is not possible. I am not dating the most evil man on the planet. I would know."
Rebekah shook her head. "Are all the women today so stupid?" Not waiting for an answer, Rebekah grabbed the bottle of champagne. "And you dress like harlots, too?" Taking a sip straight from the bottle, she then handed the bottle to Caroline. "You look like you need this. How long have you been with my brother? He usually doesn't take women on for long. And, Katherine, what are you doing here?"
"You think I'm Katherine?" Elena asked, staring at Rebekah.
Rebekah shook her head. "Don't tell me there is another one? Is Nik trying to break the bloody curse again?"
"Yes and yes," Elena told her. "I'm Elena Gilbert."
Sighing heavily, Rebekah leaned back against the couch. "That is rich."
"But he can't complete the sacrifice because you're a vampire now," Caroline murmured and Rebekah's eyes began to sparkle as she laughed.
"This is the best day ever," Rebekah shrieked. "Nik will go insane when he finds out. Oh, I love it."
"You can't tell him," Caroline yelled, looking panicked as she stared at Rebekah. Her eyes were wide with fear.
Scoffing, Rebekah shook her head. "You do not seem to understand how this works. I am an Original vampire. I can do whatever I want, whenever I want."
Elena frowned as she listened to the Original vampire speak with a wide grin filled with contempt. "So, what do you want?"
"Excuse me?" Rebekah asked, raising an eyebrow.
"What can we do for you so that you won't tell your brother about my transition? So, that we can have a little more time." Elena asked Rebekah, who narrowed her eyes. She was about to reply when there was the sound of the front door opening and closing. Elena began to speed out of the room when Rebekah stopped her by grabbing her and throwing her on the couch.
Klaus walked into the room, followed by Damon. The Original had been laughing until he walked inside the room and saw Elena sitting up on couch, rubbing the back of her head, Caroline stood stiffly, staring at him in fear. His eyes narrowed as he looked at his sister.
Elena looked at Damon and was relieved when he came to sit beside her on the couch to watch the scene unfold. "Rebekah," Klaus said slowly as he came to stand a few feet in front of his sister. "I see someone has undaggered you. Who do I owe the pleasure of our renewed contact to?" He looked from Elena to Caroline.
"I pulled it out myself, Nik," Rebekah told him sarcastically. "And since when do you pretend to be someone else to play with a baby vampire?"
Klaus' expression darkened as he stared at his sister. "That is no concern of yours, Bekah."
"No, but it would be mine," Caroline told him, stepping forward. She walked over to Klaus and slapped him. "You are a liar." Turning on her heel, she walked over to sit with Damon and Elena.
"What is going on?" Damon whispered to Elena and Caroline.
"I am Klaus Mikaelson," Klaus snapped at him. "Well, now that we are done with this little charade then I suppose I can take Elena and perform the ritual tonight." He began to stride toward Elena when Damon stood up and moved in front of her.
"No. You're not going to touch her," Damon told him.
"Damon, stop. It's okay," Elena told him, getting up to place a hand on his shoulder.
Damon turned to stare down at Elena. "No, Lena, you can't let him kill you. This is crazy. We need to talk. I have so much I have to tell you."
Standing on her tip toes, Elena pressed her lips to Damon's. "I love you. Whatever happens, I want you to know that."
Feeling enraged, Damon wrapped his arms around Elena. "You can't do this. I won't let you do this."
"You don't have a choice," Elena told him, feeling tears fill her own eyes. "He will not stop until this ritual is completed. If you get in his way he will kill you."
"She's right," Klaus told Damon, smirking.
"What is wrong with you?" Caroline screamed, tears filling her eyes. "Oh, my God. I can't believe I ever let you touch me." She tried to flee the room but Klaus grabbed her, holding her still.
"Caroline, love, I did not change. I am still the man that you love." Klaus told her.
Laughing, Caroline wiped away her tears. "You are delusional. One minute you're saying that you're going to kill one of my best friends, the next you're telling me you love me. You need therapy." Attempting to free herself, Caroline began to try to tug herself away as Klaus held her tightly.
"What would you have me do, Caroline? Would you have me walk around like this? To be vulnerable to attack. To be weaker. I am doing this for us. So, that I can protect you to the best of my abilities. You have no idea what is out there."
"No, Klaus. You are already weak. You are selfish. You want to kill a teenage girl because you have to break some stupid, ancient curse thingy. Well, I will not stand by and let you." Caroline finally pulled away and then stared up at Klaus. "And it doesn't matter anyway because I turned Elena into a vampire."
For a moment you could hear utter silence before Klaus roared in fury and then grabbed Caroline, his eyes turning black. Elena was sure he would kill Caroline. For her part, Caroline was trying to not show how terrified she was as the vampire held her tight.
"Let her go, Klaus," Damon snapped.
"Why?" Klaus snarled, his rage consuming him as he stared down at Caroline.
"Because there may be another way for you to break the curse," Damon told him slowly.
"Such as?" Klaus asked, relaxing a fraction but still holding on to Caroline.
Damon had to think quickly considering the fact that he was still trying to process the news that Elena was a vampire. This was hard. "We need to find the spell that sent me out of my body and into this world. If we had it, you could travel there and use my blood to complete the sacrifice."
Klaus smiled grimly. "Yes, Damon, that would be a wonderful plan if it were not for one glitch."
"Oh, and what would that be?" Damon asked, dreading the response.
"The fact that then my counterpart would not be able to complete his own sacrifice. You see you have to drain the doppleganger completely. So, now what shall I do with you three? Hmm…" Klaus asked, looking around him.
Before any of them could answer, Damon could only watch in horror as Klaus sped toward the basemen with Caroline. Elena and Damon sped after him. They watched as Klaus picked Caroline up, placed her inside Rebekah's coffin and then locked it. Spinning around, he broke Damon's and then Elena's necks before speeding back upstairs to deal with his sister.
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Love,
LL