June 30th 2015
Mystic Falls
(Damon POV)
"Today all we have to do is relax. Tomorrow Jeremy's coming back, Stefan's coming back, Mother will be getting her own car after taking her driver's license, and everything will be okay for the month and next month we'll be sending anyone who isn't Jeremy or Stefan back to that hybrid freak."
"Damon!"
"Klaus, I meant."
"Julian would be so happy. He'd love you and Stefan you know. He always loved kids." I was silent for a minute. Then I asked the question that was on everyone's mind. Or at least my mind. And what would be on Stefan's mind if he were here.
"Mom, who's Julian?"
"Just the most amazing man I've met."
"Mother, who is Julian?" She didn't answer, just got up and went to go get our morning tea.
(Klaus POV)
Today was their last day in my house. I was running around and packing up their things. I was packing the things Jeremy came with, the things Kai came with and the many things I have bought him since, the things Ty Ty would be needing as he went back to Mystic Falls, I was packing Kol's things as well. Clothes, presents, toiletries, credit cards from my wallet that I had retrieved this week, $1000, snacks, games, and cell phones that I had bought two days ago.
I mean I've done this before, it's not the first time I've packed for trips. We've spent a long time running from Mikael who is now on Dahlia's leash. I could kill him but she would just bring him back and I would get displeasure from my father and mother. Not my siblings mind you, definitely not my siblings. They gave no care in the world how many times I tried to kill him. Except maybe Finn…
When that was done I cooked breakfast and waited for everyone to come downstairs. When the kids had their plates and were sitting at the table, I looked up at them as I smiled. "None of you are allowed far outside today. This is your last day in New Orleans. I have had a wonderful time interacting with the whole lot of you. You are all brilliant, handsome, and well behaved boys. Jeremy, after breakfast I would like to talk to you, alone. Kai, I will be talking to you later, after lunch. Which all of you are required to attend in this house and not in a restaurant of any sort. Do you understand all that?"
"Yes Daddy."
"Yeah Nik."
"Mm hm."
"Yep."
"Good. Eat." I waited until they were all done eating, I waited for Elijah to leave, I waited for Finn to leave, I even waited for Rebekah to leave. I stood and led Jeremy back to my office. I sat down and motioned him to sit down too.
"What's up Klaus?"
"How did you meet Kol Mikaelson? My brother?"
"You know how."
"In Denver, Colorado. Right? In college?"
"No, high school. I hadn't graduated yet."
"Now while I agree it was great that you and Kol started a friendship, I must ask. Was it your choice to go to Denver?" He was suspicious.
"No, it wasn't."
"Damon compelled you to leave against your will. Of course, it wasn't his choice either. Now if I understand this the right way… Elena has had Damon compel you twice against your will. Right? She has lied to you?"
"This coming from the hybrid with no conscience."
"Yeah, I have no conscience. However every one of the so called 'Mystic Falls Gang' considers Elena Petrova to be a female with a conscience and receptive to other people's pain and a, excuse the term, good girl. The basic meaning of everything good and right in the world."
"What are you trying to say Klaus?"
"I'm saying that she and I are alike." I'm going to have to wash my mouth out later. "We sometimes use the ones we love to get what we want. Just ask Elijah about when I successfully defeated Dahlia almost all by myself. The difference is that her Petrova spell keeps the people around her from seeing any wrongs in her actions. I'm sure she's done many more things that you don't remember. She uses Bonnie, she uses Damon and Stefan, she uses Caroline. She uses people just like I do. The difference is she doesn't use them to get things she 'wants' but things that she thinks will be good for everyone else. Like how she made you kill Kol against your will." He was speechless. He was deep in thought. I was good at this type of thing.
"I didn't mean to. I didn't want to."
"I know, I know. She's a vampire and you… you are nothing but one of the Five. You two should be on even terms. You didn't want to hurt either of them and in your hesitation… she took her chance. She grabbed the stake, put it in your hand, and then forced you to stake Kol while she continued to use the vervain laced water facet." He blinked.
"How did you know?"
"I'm smarter than I look. I pay attention. The scent and what I saw added with what I know about you two and your friendship and finally what Kol told me. You would never kill one of your friends. You are an actual good person. Not like Elena Petrova. Though… in a way… her actions are justified. She is related to Katerina Petrova, after all." I smiled at him, hoping to make him feel better.
"Can I go?"
"Yeah, you can go." I'd done what I wanted to with Jeremy. Now I needed to talk to Kai. "I'm happy to have talked to you." I stood up and left the room after delivering a quick peck on his cheek. He's a child. I shouldn't hate him for what his sister- whoops I mean cousin did to me. This was almost better than trying to kill her. I would take her cousin away from her. Or at least his trust.
(Kai POV)
I was headed out to set my plan in motion when I saw Klaus headed my way. I smiled at him. He beamed. "Kai, tomorrow you will get a chance to apologise to Bonnie. I was wondering if you might want to talk about it?" I opened my mouth to deny it but then I remembered I've not thought of a good way to get her to like me again yet.
"How do you know how to apologise to Bonnie?"
"I have experience with apologising. I also know her likes and dislikes, having tried to kill her once upon a time." I narrowed my eyes at him.
"You tried to kill her?"
"Yes. I regret it though."
"Fine, I'll talk to you. What do I do if Bonnie doesn't forgive me?" I waited with anticipation. I've never really tried to apologise to anyone. Because I had no use for apologies. Not to any of my siblings or my family. They didn't care about me, all they thought about me was that I was an abomination. Why care?
"If she does not forgive you then you can try again. She is a witch. She has human feelings. You did not do something too bad. Nothing like I have done. She will eventually forgive you. Show persistence and you will prevail." I smiled. That was a good answer. I followed him to his office where I sat down in the usual seat and he sat down too.
"I've been thinking that I might try…"
(Tyler POV)
We'd already started watching television like we always did. Last time on Total Drama Island Duncan and Heather were kicked off and now we only had Owen and Gwen. The first episode we watched was just a recap. The second one, however, has more action.
This was the last episode?! I wanted Duncan to win but of course he'd been kicked out. Now that it's either Gwen or Owen, I don't really care who wins. Though I thought the last episode, or part of the last episode or whatever, was them fighting over a crate of money. Chef's been in prison?! Wow. That is just... amazing.
All Gwen was doing was complaining. Obviously she's boring. But Owen was complimenting everything pretty much. I partly couldn't wait for this episode to be over and I partly wished this would never end. The peanut gallery? My favourite people are on different sides. Does Owen know he's supposed to be running? Heather is helping someone other than herself? DUNCAN! He's here! Owen has no idea what he's doing.
Their all cheating. Ha ha. Duncan's pissed. Go Owen! YES! Owen and Izzy. What a great couple. Gwen and Trent. Duncan and Courtney. Those are all the couples I can think of. They threw Chris in the water? Ooh. GET CHEF! AGH! It's over! Damn it.
Kol turned on another episode, the very last one. Or that's what the thing said. Or are they? What does that mean? They're just hanging. Is Leshawna breaking up with him? Whoa, her friends are weird. Go Lindsy! I forgot about Jeff and Bridgette. A silver suitcase and they took the money from Owen. What I was thinking was this part.
Then again... I think I remember what happens to the money... Canadians. Hey! That theme is playing during the episode! He's using his looks to trick them. Their slapping Heather. Great. You can buy a country?! Go Duncan! No one is stealing the money I stole! Courtney and Duncan are awesome. The beavers are spanking and slapping Heather.
How did Heather get out? Duncan can walk! I knew it! The money got lost! Season 2? Where? Why isn't Courtney coming? Total Drama Action! Season 2! WOW! I hope this show never comes to an end!
(Jeremy POV)
I was still thinking on what I've just been told. I knew it was all true. Except for the part of Elena and Klaus being alike of course. I knew that it was all mostly true but the real question I had to ask myself was… did it change anything?
I would like to say no. But I don't know. She made me kill Kol! He was only trying to say that we didn't really need the cure because Klaus would just turn Elena back into a hybrid blood bag. I know Elena wanted to be human again but I don't know if the prize is worth the price.
If she turned human again then we would have to fight Klaus for Elena's freedom all over again! Why didn't Elena think of that? Damon probably did. He didn't really want Elena to have the cure, even if it was for his own selfish reasons.
(Kol POV)
"Wake up Kol."
"Niky." I complained. "It's night time. Go away, I'm sleeping."
"Get up and go to the car and you can go back to sleep."
"What time is it?" At his answer I opened my eyes. "What are you doing up?"
"I have to have you in Mystic Falls, or at least in Damon's hands, by the stroke of midnight to keep this deal the way it should be and the way we struck it."
"Are you sorry to see Kai leave?"
"Yes I am. I just hope I taught Kai enough to know how to apologize to Bonnie for what he did. He needed advice and I gave it to him. I cannot be there to make sure he's forgiven and nor does he want me to. I asked him. Some people just do not like help. Now get up and go to the car unless you want me to carry you like I did Tyler." I growled at him and he snarled I jumped out of bed quickly.
I walked down the stairs, yawning. I walked to his car and lazily pulled open the door as my eyes drooped closed again. I got in the back and laid my head down before allowing sleep to roll over me again. I wonder if Damon's even going to be there?
July 1st 2015
I woke up when the car stopped moving and hear Nik's angry voice, even if he was being quiet. "Damon, where the hell are you? I have the kids already in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Like we said we were going to do. Remember?"
"What the hell Klaus? It's midnight. I'm busy… oh, I don't know… sleeping?!"
"You didn't come?" I heard Damon yawn on the other end.
"No. I didn't. Get some sleep psycho hybrid."
"I will give you until noon to be here and if you are not… I am not sure Stefan would like to hear what I will do to you. You ruined the plan Damon. You cannot even keep to a simple plan? You are a bloody vampire! Not a pathetic human." Nik hung up angrily. I yawned again as I fell back to sleep. The last thing I heard was Nik growling. Though the thing is I don't remember Nik being much of a swearer.
"Kol, wake up." Nik whispered. "I got Stefan and I, Tyler and Kai, and Jeremy and you rooms at this hotel. I want you to go to your room. Here's the key to your room. Here's your things. We'll be here for a while." I grabbed the things and Jeremy's shirt before doing what Nik told me, Jeremy was awake but just looking around stupidly, wondering where he should sit down.
When we got to the sixth floor I led us out of the elevator and at our room before using the key. When we entered, Jeremy dropped his things in the bathroom before dropping into one of the beds. I dropped my things on the other side of my bed. I got in and closed my eyes, hoping to be able to still get a good sleep.
(Damon POV)
It was time to leave the house. I had borrowed a van to go get Kol, Stefan, Kai, Jeremy, and Tyler. I was quickly having breakfast. I had already given Elena breakfast. Mother was being curious. I sighed in annoyance.
"No Mom, you can't come. No, Bonnie can't come either. I need all the room in the van I can get. Also, I've already pissed off Klaus. So I have to get to Chattanooga as soon as possible and that takes seven hours at most and I have only until noon to be there. Come on Elena. Let's go."
We walked to the car and said goodbye to Bonnie and Mom. I backed out of the drive way and turned it around to drive to Chattanooga. "Did you have a good breakfast Elena?" I asked as I sped out of the city limits and onward.
(Klaus POV)
I was entertaining the kids when I heard my phone ring. I paused what I was doing, with complaints of course, and picked it up. I told them to behave and to either play something else or wait for me to return I walked out of the room and down the stairs to the first floor.
When I got to the lobby I found the weight room, where no one could hear me, and answered the phone. "Hello this is Klaus Mikaelson speaking, how can I help you?" I asked into the phone, hoping it wasn't Damon complaining.
"Hey Klaus. Guess what?" It was Davina. I smiled. I wouldn't be able to see her today and I had given Kara an excuse to get my job done the proper way, like I was supposed to. Damon did not.
"What is it Davina?"
"Tim was accepted!" She squealed. I smirked.
"See I told you he had talent. What were you worried about? Now what happens?"
"I'm going to tell Marcel about my pregnancy today. Tim will get his first pay check on Friday. He will be able to work from home. Isn't that great Klaus?" I nodded. Then remembered she couldn't see me.
"Yes, all of it is good. Now I don't have to be upset with you." She giggled. She took it as a joke.
"I'm going to call him now." I hung up and headed back to the kids.
(Damon POV)
We were pulling into Chattanooga city now. I pulled out my phone and called Klaus. "We're here. Where are you?"
"Here are you? The only clue I will give you is to look for the end of a gun barrel and you will be near. Good bye Damon." He hung up. I glared.
"So helpful."
"Sounds like he was threatening you. Damon, what did you say last night?"
"… I told him to piss off." She sighed.
"He already doesn't like us Damon! He could hurt Jeremy! What were you thinking?"
"That I was tired. Where do they sell guns in this city?" She pulled out her own phone.
"There are like twelve places to buy guns. Which one should we check?"
"The closest ones and then move on to all the others."
"We've looked at all of them! Where the hell is he?!"
"Should I call him? Or you called him again?"
"He said that was the only clue. Look at the street names, perhaps he meant a street?" She began looking through them like I asked and I drove on, looking for any sign of Klaus. Car, kid, Klaus, Kol, scent. Anything I might find.
"There's a Gunbarrel Road. Wanna go look over there?"
"Sure." I drove to Gunbarrel Road and started driving up and down the street. "We don't have time for this! I'm calling him back!" I pulled out my phone again and dialled up Klaus again. He answered and I heard the anger in his tone.
"What is it Damon? Can't find us? You're not using that brain of yours. Want another clue?"
"Yeah, otherwise we're going to be here all day." He sighed after a minute.
"Fine. Stupid vampire. Change your lifestyle." He hung up. I drove off the road and went to the next one, Lifestyle Way. I found a hotel. I parked and got out. I dialled him again. "What?"
"I found you. Come out."
"Hmm. That sounds like a demand. Fine. I'm done playing games with you anyway." I heard him hang up and after a few minutes Klaus walked out, alone. "The kids are still in the room. I just wanted to start moving their bags from my car to your car. Also give you Stefan's." He opened his car and began pulling things out. He carried their bags to mine and dropped them at my feet. "I will go get them." He walked into the hotel again. Well… he vamped back inside.
We waited only a few minutes and Klaus had them coming out the door in a minute. Jeremy ran over and Kol pretended to try to catch him. When Jeremy hugged me and then Elena, Kol followed suit. Kai. I walked over to Kai and grabbed his shirt, he looked into my eyes, grinning.
"Just wait until I get you home Kai." Klaus shoved my hands off him.
"Leave. Him. Alone. I have already dealt with the problem. He has apologised for his misdeed. Are we agreed, Damon?" I backed off.
"Yes. We are agreed." I started getting things into the car. When I looked up to let Kai, Tyler, and Kol into the back seat I saw Klaus threatening Elena. I walked over and shoved him away from Elena. "Leave her alone."
"I have already said my piece." He gave a look to her and then backed off, smirking. I didn't like that look he gave her.
"Elena, get in the car. Kol, Tyler, Kai, get in the car." I pulled the seat down and let them in the back. They buckled in, they gave Klaus a hug before getting in, and I put the seat back up. "Stefan, Jeremy, get in the car." They got in and buckled up. Stefan had one last word with Klaus. I closed the door and opened the passenger seat door and I let Elena in the car before closing the door. "Klaus, thanks for watching this last month. I appreciate it. I'm sorry for any trouble they might have caused you."
"It's fine. If you don't leave now you will not make it home before Tyler's bedtime. That is ten o'clock at dark. Here is those packets again. I'm sure you have probably already memorised it. Am I right?" He asked, smirking. I nodded.
"Yeah, I'll keep your kid safe." I got in the car and buckled up.
(Klaus POV)
I watched Damon get in the car and smiled as Tyler, Kol, and Kai looked back at me and waved goodbye. I hate goodbyes. I wanted to take them out of that car but this was the plan, this is what needed to happen. I saw Damon back up out of the parking spot and he began to drive off. I lifted my arm and waved bye to them as they continued to wave. I waved until they got off the road and started down the road far off at the corner. I lowered my arm and sighed. There went the kids. I no longer got to see Tyler and Kol until after this month. Who knew when I was going to see Kai and Jeremy again?
I turned around and headed back to my own car. Stefan. I would miss Stefan but Stefan came and went all the time. I sat down in my seat and buckled in just for the heck of it before backing out. I had already paid and checked out. I drove out of the parking lot and headed back toward New Orleans. Sometimes I feel trapped inside my own kingdom. And yet I, for I am the King. It should not feel that way.