I don't own anything TVD or TO related.
Thank you to all who read and reviewed (as well as favorite and followed).
Sorry for the wait everyone, not only was I pretty busy but then I was very upset with the way Julie has handled Klaroline, just awful handling of the whole situation which killed my inspiration. Pfft, forget her, I still love Klaroline and I could care less what she thinks about it. And then just as I was coping with that, they killed off Katherine (stupid move) but then on top of that, Claire left TO (even more of a stupid move). Ugh, I don't understand their logic and finally I just stopped trying. So I'm back, ready to get back into how I would have wanted this season to go and ignore what they are doing with my favorite characters.
Happy Reading!
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Chapter 9
Everyone overlooked them, it was easier just to pretend the two hybrids weren't staring each other down from across the room. As much as Klaus was enjoying the discomfort his presence was having on Tyler, he was equally regretting how much strain it was having on Caroline. For the first time in a long time that he can remember, he was putting someone else's well-being ahead of his own. Her happiness was more important than his, her safety came before his own. Klaus wasn't sure how or when it happened, that someone he had know for such a short time could have such an impact on his behavior but he didn't have any regrets. He wanted to shed her from any hurt that could come her way, from his enemies or even her own friends. He knew that wasn't realistic, he would be going back to New Orleans soon and she would continue her life here. Their lives were separated by distance and circumstances now and he had to trust that she would be able to protect herself when he wasn't around. She had done a well enough job of it before he had even met her and just recently with Silas, so he had to have faith that she would continue to do that, though he wished with everything in him that he could be here to take care of her. The old witch's words were coming back to haunt him, he had to abide by his duties, to his child and his city over his own desires.
But for however long he was able to stay in her presence, he was going to do everything he could to make her life better, not worse. Caroline was like a drug that he refused to stop consuming. Everything about her was like a balm to an open wound, he seemed to breathe easier in her company, life was better for him when she was around. With a glance Caroline's way, he was stuck again by her beauty, but that wasn't what was holding his attention. It was her heart that he was captured by. A small growl echoed in the room, Tyler was staking his claim but Klaus looked him dead-on, daring the little puppy to make a move. He wasn't giving Caroline up, her friends, her boyfriend, and whoever else that had a problem with it, be damned.
Stefan cleared his throat to break the tension caused by Tyler and Klaus and to gain everyone's attention. "Silas is fast and lethal but as Jasmine demonstrated, she might be able to hold him down long enough for Bonnie's spell to work." Damon gave a roll of his eyes Jasmine's way, which prompted a jerk of her eyebrows to counter. If the situation wasn't so serious, Caroline might have enjoyed the banter between the two more. Damon wasn't all bad at times but Jasmine didn't like vampires to begin with and then add in the first impression she received and this was the end result. Caroline believed he had learned his lesson, though and wouldn't test Jasmine again and maybe before this was over, he might even respect her for not backing down.
Damon stood up to walk around in thought for a minute. "He's not stupid, he knows we're coming after him and what we plan to do, so we have to outsmart him and hope we can catch him off guard." Klaus gave a small chuckle. "Out-smarting your opponent isn't really what you're known for." Damon gave a snarl in response, which caused Klaus' smile to spread before he continued talking. "Silas likes his mind games and since he really doesn't have anything to lose, he's even more deadly. We need to catch him when he's having his fun, let him think he's pulling one over on us, which means we need to split up." The hisses and head shaking of disagreements rose from mostly everyone in the room as Klaus stood up to take control of the room. "He won't come at us when we're all together, he will wait till he has us alone before he strikes, which is why we need to give him that chance. He waited till Caroline and I split up in the forest before he came at me and did the same when Caroline was by herself. He didn't come at Stefan until he was alone at the river, he chooses his time wisely which is why we'll give it to him."
Stefan waved his hand to include Sophie, Jasmine and Caroline. "He came at us when we were all together last night."
Caroline shook her head. "I think he just wanted to test Sophie and Jasmine's power, he wasn't there to hurt us. Klaus is right, he'll wait till he has us alone before he'll do anything." Tyler gritted his teeth at Caroline's acceptance of Klaus's leadership while Elena and Damon's eyes met and rolled in unison. Caroline ignored their reactions and continued to think of a solid plan.
Klaus, the known strategist, cocked his head to the side. "Which is why we need to split up, let him think we have our guard down."
Jasmine added. "There's one good thing, Silas doesn't know how much power Ebony has, she wasn't with us."
Klaus shook his head. "You can't assume that. Silas found out about the white oak stake from reading Rebekah's mind." He sat back down and cupped his hands together as he thought. Rebekah glanced over with surprise and alarm at the news. Klaus waved his hand her way. "Don't worry, the white oak is very much protected, Silas can't get to it."
"So, oh powerful one, what's your plan?" Damon asked as he poured himself a drink before moving to stand with Elena. Klaus smirked in amusement at the young vampire, surprised that Damon still didn't know how he worked. "Well, I won't tell anyone the complete plan, my mind is harder for him to read, while yours I imagine would be a walk in the park for him." Damon rolled his eyes at the cockiness of Klaus' tone. "So indulging you wouldn't be in my best interest, now would it? Although he can still plant what he wants in my mind, make me believe things are real when they're not." Caroline and Klaus' eyes met as they both remembered what had broken Silas' control, how she had distracted him from the pain. It was a day that would stay with him for the rest of his existence, not because of Silas' power or Klaus being at the mercy of that power but what had happened between him and Caroline. Their relationship had a turning point that day, they had became true friends. When he had been at his lowest moment, Caroline was the person he had reached out to and she had been there for him. He gave a small smile that Caroline couldn't help but return, it was like a magnet and automatic now, the pull they had towards each other.
Tyler turned his head away as if he had been struck, clenching his jaw at the emotion in the connection that was on display. Caroline flinched as she realized what she was doing, closed her eyes with regret, hating herself because she was continuing to hurt Tyler. While on the other side, the link between her and Klaus was growing stronger and even with months apart, it seemed to be magnifying with each passing day. Sophie, who was sitting beside her, patted Caroline's hand in comfort while Jasmine gave her a rare glance of sympathy as they both witnessed the moment. Caroline, feeling miserable, avoided looking Klaus' way again, although she could sense his searching stare. She couldn't continue doing this, avoiding the obvious that was right in front of her. Tyler had ever reason to hate Klaus, hate the friendship that Caroline and Klaus shared. That was never going to change and Caroline shouldn't expect it to. She had this bad habit of trying to please everyone, not wanting to disappoint the people she cared about but in this situation, she needed to figure out what was best for herself. In this situation, she had to be selfish.
"Like I said, Silas has nothing to lose, he's lost everything. He wants you to know what that feels like and only then will he put you out of your misery, it's what I would do." Klaus reflected, gazing off in space. Katherine swallowed, her only reaction breaking through the calm facade. Tyler glared at Klaus with hatred as Sophie glanced at Jasmine with caution before speaking out. "Well then, he's going to go after what you all care about the most." Stefan and Damon both looked Elena's way as Katherine rolled her eyes with disgust while Tyler and Klaus avoided glancing at the one who captured the heart of both hybrids.
Silence bounced off the walls as everyone thought of who they cared about, the person they couldn't live without. Elena stared at Jeremy before giving in to gazing back and forth between the two brothers that she couldn't help but love equally. Rebekah was biting her lip as she moved closer to Matt, conveying in her action who she cared about. Caroline shifted as a thought came to her. "Can you contact Ebony and check on things with my mom?"
Sophie nodded and left the room to gain some privacy, locking eyes with Klaus on her way out. Klaus leaned his head back and exhaled, wondering if everything was going to fall in place. He looked around the room to Jeremy. "Since I'm not in the mood for my brain to be fired, is your ghost girlfriend here?" Jeremy, suspicious, nodded. Sophie entered with a nervous expression. "I can't get Ebony to answer." Caroline's breath quickened as she rose to her feet on shaking legs. Damon pulled out his phone and after a moment, shook his head. "Liz isn't answering." Klaus got to his feet quickly as Caroline ran to the door, grabbing her arm before she reached the hallway. "You're not going alone." Tyler reached her side as she was about to reply. "I'll go with her, you can stay here." Klaus clenched his jaw but before they could start arguing, Caroline yanked her arm out of Klaus' grasp and took a step back from both of them. "I don't have time for this." Sophie and Jasmine joined the group at the door, still playing their bodyguard role. "We'll go with her, Ebony could be in danger."
Klaus sighed with frustration. "Bonnie, Sophie and Jasmine need to be together at all times. Rippah, you're with me, everybody else stay here." The less people were around, the more of a chance Silas would make a move. Tyler snorted. "I don't take orders from you." The two hybrids glared with disgust at each other. Rebekah rolled her eyes at the male ego on display. "Save the pissing contest for later."
"Wait." Katherine jumped to her feet. "You're leaving me here with them?" She waved a hand towards Damon and Elena, who didn't look too thrilled about it either. Klaus gritted his teeth as the promise that he'd made to Elijah came to mind. He nodded to Stefan. "Stay here with them." Caroline rushed out the door with Tyler, Klaus, Sophie and Jasmine following.
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As the black SUV pulled up to the sheriff's office, Caroline had the door opened before it came to a complete stop. An eerie quiet filled the street as everyone climbed out to follow Caroline who had already flashed into the building. Klaus, being the quickest, stayed at her back to protect her as she yanked open the door to Liz's office. Everyone filled into the small office and bumped into each other as Caroline came to a sudden stop. It was empty. Her shaking breath filled the silence as Klaus grabbed her side as if to hold her onto reality, trying to keep her calm.
"Looking for us?" A voice caused everyone to turn around as two figures stood in the doorway. Tyler had Liz held against his body with his hand wrapped around her throat. Caroline glanced back with alarm as the real Tyler sucked his breath in with shock while his mirror image smirked with glee. A harsh laughed burst out, amused at their reactions. Jasmine raised her arms, ready and waiting to get a shot.
"Tsk, tsk, you don't want to hurt the sheriff now, do you?" Tyler-Silas asked just before his eyes tightened and closed. His skin started to wrinkle and he cried out in pain. Liz gasped and whimpered with her own pain as Tyler-Silas gripped her throat harder. He glared at Sophie. "I suggest you tell that ghost witch to back off before I snap her neck." Caroline exhaled. "Bonnie, don't." Sophie looked around the room as she slowly moved to Jasmine's side. "Don't worry, I only had time to knock your friend out, she's lying down behind the desk." Sophie head whipped around to see Ebony on the floor, hidden. The real Tyler edged closer which caused his mirror image to swing his eyes his way. "Oh, you want to play the hero, hmm? Prove something to your girlfriend. You won't be enough for her, Tyler and that's something you will never be able to change." He smirked as Tyler's eyes tightened at the words that struck to the heart of it. "But since the full moon is tonight, you might have problems of your own to deal with soon." Tyler-Silas looked deep in Tyler's eyes as if he was hypnotizing him. "Wolves and full moons don't mix, do they?"
Klaus pulled Caroline away from Tyler as his hands started to tremble. There wasn't a full moon tonight but Silas's power was too much for the puppy. Klaus could already see it start to effect Tyler, his hands were clenched in a fist now as glisters of sweat appeared on his forehead. Klaus swung his eyes back to Silas, only to find him gazing at him with concentration. Klaus focused, clearing his mind. He stared hard as he relaxed his body. He had learned a thing or two since his last encounter with Silas. He shut his mind down, not thinking of anything. The anger was the trigger last time so he let that course through his mind. Anger at the situation, anger at how Silas had made a fool of him last time. He let that flow through everything and he could tell it was working because Silas' mouth tightened with rage. Caroline tensed, waiting to see what Silas would do next. It was her boyfriend's face and body but looking into his eyes was like looking into a black hole. There was hate and an emptiness that was no reasoning with. It felt like so much time had passed since they stepped in the room but it had only been a few minutes of Liz being held by her throat, her life in Silas' hands.
A moan echoed through the room as Ebony was starting to come to. No one moved, frozen as they waited to see what Silas would do next. The real Tyler released short breaths, trying to gain control over his body. His transformation was starting, his hands clenched in fists were shaking and sweat was now rolling down his face.
Tyler-Silas chuckled, easing the anger that was just there. "Not letting me in this time, you're stronger than anyone I've ever come across, Klaus, a worthy opponent. But I still know your weakness. You already know how this is going to end. You're going to ruin her just like you ruin everything else in your life. Everything you touch, you destroy and Caroline wouldn't be any different. Your own siblings can't even stand to be around you, how long before Caroline walks away from you, hating that she ever let you in her life?"
Klaus kept his eyes leveled, not giving an inch. He had learned a long time ago how to mask his emotions, which he used now as he gave a blank stare in response. Silas was nothing compared to Mikael, the man who knew how to torture him as no one else could. Silas' eyes narrowed again when Klaus obviously didn't give him what he wanted, so he decided to move on to his next target. "Yeah, I know your weakness, just like I know hers." Silas stroked his thumb across Liz's cheek. "What she cares about the most, who she would die for." Caroline took a half step closer, tears in her eyes, her own hands shaking with fear. Tyler-Silas met her eyes and then looked at Tyler. "Klaus took your mother, the only family you had left. It's time you got your revenge." The face of a friend, a love, snapped Liz's neck and let her body fall to the ground.
I know, I hate cliffhangers too but I'll be back soon with the next chapter...