A/N: Here is another chapter. As usual, I do not own TVD / TO.
A special thank you to those who have continued to support this story and those who have left so many positive comments. I promise to name you all individually in the next chapter, but right now i hope you enjoy this Chapter. I must admit, it was one of the hardest Chapters to write.
Original Sin
Chapter 17
Caroline had immediately flashed to Klaus who had passed out as Esther and her took down Monique. She spared a few seconds to glance at Monique to note that she was down because she had been bitten by a werewolf, frowning as she notice the man looked familiar but could not quite place who he was, she however knew the two other werewolves with him as Jackson and Oliver, she was there after all when Klaus and Elijah had met with them. She would remind herself to thank them later, but now her focus was on her Nik who still have to regain consciousness, the same went for his three other siblings. She heard Esther call out to her to as Esther went to check on her other children.
"Caroline," Esther said, "we need to bring them back to the compound," Caroline easily took Klaus' weight to follow Esther's instructions. She spared a glance at her surroundings and noted that every single vampire was down including Marcel. She noted that only Esther, a couple of other witches, and the three werewolves where still up and uninjured. Jackson had the unconscious Monique in his arms, as Oliver and the werewolf still unknown to her both walked to Esther, easily following her instructions pick-up her children to load them to the cars that were awaiting a few meters back.
Caroline caught Esther attention to inform her that she would take care of bringing her Nik back to the compound ahead of the others earning a nod from Esther. A few seconds after, Caroline was lowering Klaus onto their bed, shaking a little as the tension of what had just happened as the adrenaline finally wore off.. Although she anticipated that what happened was a possibility, the reality of what did happen still wouldn't sink in within her.
****flashback….Caroline****
Caroline had been walking along the streets of the Quarter for the first time in weeks. Her role was simple, or at least the first part of her role was simple, get captured by Mikael's minions. The second part of the task was really more difficult, in fact it was something she had dreaded, still unsure if she indeed could get Mikael to drop his guard enough for her to 'kill' him. She knew she was invincible, given her new status as an Original, but she had always been adverse to killing. But this was her family that needed her, her Nik, Elijah, Kol, Rebekah and yes even Esther. Not to mention the whole vampire race, the bloodlines after all root back to the Originals, talk about epic destiny…
So here she was walking along the street, glancing around occasionally, it had been some time ago that she had been 'allowed' to wander off by herself so it was also a good walk for her. She was all of thirty minutes into her walk that she was cornered by three vampires. She was now an Original so she could very well take them down, but that was beside the point. She should play the part of damsel and distress effectively and be distraught enough because 'her prince' never rescued her.
She allowed herself to be tied-up as the head vampire of the trio was sending out a text undoubtedly to Mikael to inform him of the success of their mission to capture her. She was assuming that the trio had been instructed to wait for further instructions, since it was almost the hour of the battle, she was to stay put and wait to be dragged to the battle site.
It turned out she did not have long to wait as less than thirty minutes later, they head vampire had received a message and he had signaled the other two to get her as they roughly dragged her to the location. Her eyes immediately registered the scene unfolding, the Originals – Kol, Rebekah and Elijah all down for the count, bleeding and immobile. Esther in the middle of a chant, obviously challenging Monique, who was the witch on Mikael's side, the same witch who brought down the Originals. She had been dragged in front of Mikael, it was there that she finally saw her Nik who was doubling down in pain undoubtedly caused by the witch but trying unsuccessfully to rise above the spell he was under. She could hear the words of Mikael above all the noises simultaneously ongoing,her faculties zeroing in on the white oak stake that Mikael had on his hand, she knew he intended to use in on her, to thrust it into her heart in front of Klaus to break him further. All she needed to do was find the opportune moment for her to catch Mikael unaware and use the same weapon he intended to use on her on him, timing was everything. She was only allowed this one-time, she was afforded no other chance.
So when Mikael had put down his guard to challenge Klaus, she saw her opening when Mikael grabbed Caroline roughly by the neck and lifted her so that she was now standing in front of Mikael. She registered Mikael's taunts, "I hope you said your goodbye, son, if not, that's fine. I am sure you will see each other on the Other Side soon," she saw Mikael lift the stake above his head and plunge it into her heart. She registered Mikael's shock as the stake did not penetrate her skin as he once again tried and call out to the witch.
She moved in slow motion, at least that was what it felt like to her, grabbing Mikael's neck and using her new Original strength to grab the white oak stake from Mikael's hand and thrust the stake dead center of into heart.
She was determined to stay by Klaus' side until he awoke, she was still unsure if a spell was needed for him to wake up or all that was needed was a little time. She would not accept that Klaus as well as his siblings had all 'died' in the battle. She had been pacing the floor of their bedroom for some time, how long she did it did not really register with her when finally she heard the doors of the mansion open and heavy footsteps trotted in. She could hear Esther supervising some men, probably instructing them where to bring her children.
She finally heard light footsteps outside her bedroom, knowing this to be Esther's footsteps she immediately flew to the door to open it. "Esther, Nik had not yet awakened. What is happening?"
Esther looked at Caroline solemnly, as if dreading what she was about to tell her, "I'm sorry Caroline, but this was always a possibility. The witches from the other side were desperate to find a way to come back, the magic they used, it was too much, too much for my children. I fear the worst has happened, but I still have to find out what really happened, I need to find a way to contact the Other Side and our allies there."
Caroline had taken a few steps back as Esther was talking, broken and incredulous, "no, no….you said our plan would work! This can't be happening Nik and his siblings, they are not all dead, no refuse to accept that!"
Esther was distraught as well, "I didn't say they were, we have to stay strong. This is the reason I came back, to help my children. I just need to contact the other side and find out what is happening. The witch Monique is down, she no longer holds the powers the witches have transferred to her, not after she was bitten by a werewolf. We have the werewolf clan, Nik's clan guarding the witch." Approaching Caroline and taking her hands, "I promise you Caroline, we will find a way, I won't accept that Mikael has won, even if it was actually the witches who conspired against my children, I will find a way."
While Esther and Caroline were conversing, Klaus, Elijah, Rebekah and Kol where all looking on from the Other Side, what had happened was always possibility what with the witches conspiring against them. His siblings had all crowded around him in silent support, it was Klaus who had after all lost the most, when he had finally found his happiness after a thousand years, it had been taken away from him. It was too painful for him to watch from the Other Side what his Caroline was going through.
His Caroline was broken and beside herself, she only had his mother Esther beside her. All he could do was be by her side even if she could see him, touch him, he hoped she could somehow know that he was beside her and would never leave her.
It was almost too cruel, the way things panned out, his siblings and he were all on the Other Side, soon all vampires would all be on the Other Side, bloodlines and all. He would find a way to go back together with his siblings if it was the last thing he would do. He had the greatest reason to ensure he would not fail, it wasn't his thirst for power or throne, it wasn't his hunger for a curse, it was his undying love for his one and only true mate, Caroline. Damn every witch or any other supernatural who stood in his way.
His siblings contemplated and evaluated their options, they still have witches who were aligned with their Mother working with them so Kol was to be the one who would seek them out since he was the most recent Original who was in touch with them. Elijah and Rebekah would organize all the vampires, very sure they were that every single one who crossed-over was itching to get back as they had abruptly all perished with the cross-over of all Originals, bloodlines after all originated from the Originals. Klaus had a personal task, he was to seek out his werewolf bloodline and find his other siblings, they would help, he was sure of that.
Before the siblings all left for their tasks, they held hands in a show of solidarity, 'Always and Forever, Family above all."
Caroline was finally resting not by choice but because exhaustion had finally caught up with her. Esther had convinced her the day before that the best and safest place for her children to be placed in their individual coffins in the basement of the compound, underneath the Mansion. While she had disagreed almost violently not wanting to part from Klaus' body she had finally relented. It was only because they were Originals that their bodies were still intact. Had they been ordinary vampires, no matter how old, their bodies would have immediately turned to dust. Since the bodies were still whole, Caroline knew there was still a chance to bring back Klaus and his siblings and she would make sure that they would be successful, she did not become an Original only because of her role in Mikael's demise, but because she knew deep down inside this was her path, to be with her Niklaus, beside all the Mikaelsons and be an Original.
Downstairs, Esther and the werewolf leader, alpha amongst alphas Ulric, were having a serious discussion. They both had the same objective, bring back Klaus and his siblings, how? that was still something unknown to them, but it didn't stop them from doing everything within their power to make it happen.
With the cross-over of the Original vampires, all vampires were completely annihilated from the land of the living. The supernatural world was realigning each kind starting their little wars for supremacy. It was the least of the problems of Esther and Ulric, word had gone out across the supernatural world that the Original Witch and the Werewolf Original Alpha where in the land of the living and those who were smart enough to know, had come forward and seek audiences with them for alliances. The war between the worlds, the witches from the Other Side versus the witches and other supernaturals still in the land of the living was still silently going on.
With Monique stopped by the werewolves from completing her mission for the witches from the Other Side to cross-over to the land of the living, Monique's task has yet to be fulfilled. Being a human-witch, the bite of e werewolf and its venom only weakened Monique temporarily, since the werewolf bite is only fatal to vampires. Esther together with the other witches had used Monique's weakened state to bind her powers, making her magic useless for a period of time. Since Monique was still channeling the magic from the Other Side, it was to the best interest of Esther and her alliances to permanently bring down Monique. However, killing Monique was not yet an option, at least not until the next full moon when Esther could harness her magic fully to finally strip a powerful witch like Monique of her powers permanently. They had two weeks until the next full moon, two weeks where Esther, Ulrich, Caroline and their alliances from this side to ensure Monique would not escape or have access to any of her alliance whether from the land of the living or the Other Side.
Esther and Ulric also had two weeks to bring down the alliance of Monique from the Other Side to be able to bring back her children and restore order to the supernatural world. Tonight, they were to find a way to contact her children from the Other Side. Tonight, they were to come up with a plan to restore the balance of nature.
"What did you do to me!" Monique screamed at Esther.
Esther smiled at Monique, "I had to bind your magic, understand that I could not just let you continue in your path to destroy the balance of nature."
Monique smirked, "I have done what needed to be done for our kind, witches who should be ruling the supernatural world. You should appreciate what is being done here, you are a witch after all, the Original witch. Why would you betray your kind and side with an inferior vampire race."
Esther leveled Monique a gaze, "what you and our fellow witches fail to understand is that it is necessary for all of us to co-exist together, no one race should be superior to the other. That is the balance that needs to be restored, witches, werewolves, vampires and all other beings, we need to co-exist side by side. If we tamper with this, we destroy the balance, we destroy our world. I would never let that happen my dear."
"You are a traitor to your kind, I will get out of these shackles and get my magic back and when I do, I will take you down! You don't deserve the reverence given to you as Original witch, I will be Queen of the magic world!" Monique screamed.
"And that is going to be your downfall. This is not about power and superiority. I have learned that the hard way, if you put your selfish interest above the balance, then you will lose. Mark my words Monique, there is still time for you to help restore the rightful balance, help me, choose wisely, before it is too late." Esther implored Monique.
Monique just scoffed, "never, I will never help you, it will be a matter of time only, my witch alliances will come for me, and you will regret not standing beside our cause."
Esther shook her head, "I hoped our talk would put some sense into you but I see you are so far gone, corrupted with power, you fail to see the bigger picture. Goodbye my dear," looking around the dungeon that has served as Monique's prison, "enjoy your dwelling, you will be here a long time."
Caroline had been in Klaus' study for almost an hour before she heard someone enter and interrupt her solace. Without looking away from the fireplace which she was staring at Caroline spoke, "I was wondering when you would seek me out."
Ulric stepped forward and took the armchair opposite Caroline, "I wanted to give you time to rest before I officially met you, Caroline."
Caroline glanced at Ulric, "I should know you shouldn't I? I mean, you look almost exactly like him given a few years, it pains me just to look at the facial similarities you have with him. I miss him everyday," her voice breaking toward the end.
Klaus had been witnessing the conversation between Caroline and Ulric from the Other Side, he was feeling pretty much the same way as Caroline was. Seeing her so sad and broken was tearing him apart. He wanted nothing more than to be by her side and comfort her, but all he could do was settle for constantly being with her even if she couldn't see him.
Caroline continued, "I could sense him you know, or at least think I could. Like right now, my senses are telling me he is right here with me…" looking around the room.
Ulric also looked around the room, "maybe he is here, I am sure there is no other place he would rather be than with you."
Caroline looked at Ulric searchingly, "did you ever get to talk to him, see him?"
Ulric exhaled, "sadly no. Esther kept that fact from me that I had fathered a son for a long time. It was only when Niklaus had first turned and Mikael had found out and he confronted and eventually killed me that I knew. It was too late then to do anything about it."
Caroline noted the regret in his voice, "you would have been a better father to him."
Ulric stared into the fire, "I would have tried to be better."
Klaus listened to the conversation between Caroline and his father. His father, even in his mind, it was difficult for him to look at the man beside his Caroline and accept that this was his father. The father he had never known, who he had never met. Caroline was right to note the regret in his father's voice, he was never one to do what if's, but just this once, he did a what if, what if he had met his real father when he was human, maybe he could have defended him against the beating and mistreatment of Mikael, taken him far away from Mikael. But then again, he wouldn't who he was now.
His father was never there for him, granted Esther had kept that knowledge that he had fathered a child with her from him. But at least he was there for his Caroline now. He hoped it would be enough for now until he found a way to go back.
He knew that his mother and father had plans to bring him and his siblings back. They themselves, Elijah, Kol and Rebekah had been doing what they could from the Other Side. They were all in agreement even if they had not had the opportunity to communicate with one another yet that the next full moon in two weeks was the day for the cross-over. It was the opportune moment, the full moon gave the super naturals the advantage of magic, extra strength and magnified powers.
A simultaneous and timed burst of magic and power exactly at the stroke of the full moon should be enough for the cross-over of the Originals. How many of them, that was still undetermined. They were all still scrambling to find the final ingredient needed, as was cryptically told by the witches to Kol the previous night. The witches had said, they themselves did not know yet, but would know a few days before the full moon, it was too early. Their vision was still shrouded.
All other necessary tools have been gathered by his siblings for the cross-over, necessary sacrifices have been made, alliances have been negotiated. All was needed was the final piece for the cross-over, whatever that turned out to be.
The next week was a frantic week for both Caroline and Klaus' parents. Despite her preference, Caroline had been thrust to the role of pro-tem overseer of the supernatural. She was the only remaining Original, after all. Word had quickly spread around of her existence. And together with witches and other werewolf clans, many have traveled far to measure for themselves this new Original entity who stood proud, flanked by the Original witch Esther on one side and the Father Alpha Ulric on the other. An easy alliance was formed even if it were tentative. Everyone saw her for who she was, the light that was to lead them forward against the war still brewing with the Other Side. There were still some who questioned her existence, confused why she had survived but all other Originals had perished together with their bloodlines or even how an Original previously unknown could exist who did not have a bloodline after her. Esther and Ulric had done their best to help her with her new status as much as they could. They were both proud of her and what she has accomplished in a span of a week.
The witches who still questioned Esther's motives had quickly taken to Caroline, sensing she was one of them, even if it was only a miniscule part of her. Covens who have traveled had help to ensure that Monique's powers remained bond and useless.
It was the werewolf clans who now stood guard within the grounds of the compound, no doubt because they considered Ulric as their ultimate Alpha. During the past week, several werewolf clans how come to seek an audience with Ulric, rumors that he was alive and had cross-over from the Other Side had spread like wildfire, now several camps house werewolf clans, who preferred the grounds than the comfort of the inside of the Mansion. But half of the reason the clans have traveled was also for a glimpse of Caroline, who according to rumor was mate to Niklaus, a hybrid now on the Other Side. Just like everyone else, they were entrance by her, they felt the pull, recognition of her as the Alpha-mate Queen, it was a werewolf thing that no one questioned.
Caroline had been feeling slightly lightheaded for a couple of days, today she felt even worst, feeling queasiness. She was confused at the sensation, she was after all an Original, a witch-vampire-werewolf, she shouldn't feel sick and weak like a human, but the nausea just wouldn't go away. She decided that she would just rest for a bit, she had a couple of hours until the time for contact with the Other Side.
On the Other Side the witches were getting ready, it had been a frenzied week for them. They had been fighting battles with the witches who were alliance with Monique, it was a battle that each side still had to finish, both sides had a lot at stake. The witches with Monique had hoped to use the opportunity to cross-over back to the land of the living, they viewed Monique's failure as a temporary setback. They were counting on still being able to follow-thru with their plans, seeking out the Originals to alliance with them in what they justified to be a win-win for all, the witches and all the Originals crossing-over to the land of the living working together.
But the witches did not count on the relentless refusal of the Originals, first Kol then now Elijah who represented the siblings in saying they only wanted to restore the proper balance, allowing the witches to cross-over would destroy the Other Side and natures balance forever. All they wanted to accomplish was to correct the balance, the balance which Mikael and the witches who worked with Monique destroyed when they worked to kill off the Originals.
So Elijah and his siblings only worked with Esther's witch alliances that included a familiar face, Ayanna, who they had known since they were all human. They had all agreed that to restore the correct balance, the cross-overs should be limited to those whose time in the land of the living was not yet over, no other cross-over should be made beyond those identified.
Esther's witches had identified specific beings who should be allowed to cross-over and only they will be allowed, any other cross-over would be a violation of the alliance. It was Elijah, Rebekah, Kol and Niklaus and each would select just ten each from their bloodlines who would also be allowed to cross-over.
With the agreed, the last week was busy for each Original as each vampire in their own bloodline seeking an audience with them to state their case as to why it should be them who should be granted a slot for the cross-over. Klaus had already in his mind awarded a slot to Marcel, as his loyal follower, after all they had been through together. Marcel had stayed by his side and that was enough for him. His nine slots however were up for grabs, he liked the little power he had to decide who those lucky nine would be. They would after all be responsible for restarting the vampire race when they crossed-over.
His attention was called by Elijah, who told him they were about the start. So there he stood with his sibling to the side, Ayanna and Esther's other witch alliances starting to chant. It had been going on for a few minutes when Ayanna had gone into trance.
On the other side, Esther had gone on the same trance, with a few witches and Davina also in her circle. Everyone around felt the burst of energy and the electricity of magic as the chant and the trance went on. Although a witch in part, Caroline had been standing on the side lines beside Ulric, both watching the proceedings silently.
After a few more minutes, all the witches who were part of the chant collapsed. Ayanna and Esther did not collapse but felt weak when they finally had gone out of the trance. Esther had immediately seeked out Ulric who had flown to her side to aid her to a nearby seat. Caroline had also rushed to her side to do the same for Esther.
Ayanna was also aided by Elijah and Kol who both helped her stand-up as she took a moment before she signaled for the Originals to all approach her as she was ready to tell them what she had found out.
So it happened that Ayanna and Esther were both discussing what they had discovered and what was to happen during the full moon for the cross-over. The reveal was in the form of a vision for both Ayanna and Esther, the shock of what was part of the revelation still on the minds of both witches.
Esther and Ayanna both started the same way, "the cross-over will happen during the full-moon. A coven of witches shall he circled around a determined sacred area, blood shedding in the form of a drop of blood, form every vampire who would cross-over from the Other Side to the land of the living will be thrown into the fire in the middle of the coven circle. To help them find their way to the land of the living, a counterpart coven of witches in the land of the living will be receiving them. To complete the cross-over, much like a siren calling out to the vampires like a guiding light, drops of blood from the surviving vampire in the land of the living shall be part of the ritual. While she is but one, since she was an Original and with child, her blood was strong enough for the ritual that needed to be done," Esther and Ayanna both finished.
"With child?" the collective question was asked from the Originals from the Other Side and Ulric and Caroline from the land of the living.
Esther looked at Caroline before answering, "yes with child, Caroline you are with child, you and Niklaus conceived." Caroline defensively clutched her tummy. She found the answer to the reason why she was feeling queasy.
Ayanna had answered the same way Esther had answered looking at Klaus, "yes with child, your mate Caroline is with child, you and Caroline have conceived a child."
Finally, a lot of you have been waiting for this, yes we will have a Klaroline baby or babies, haven't decided yet. The next chapter will cover the full-moon cross-over as well as thoughts about the baby on the way.
My apologies to those who feel the last two chapters are rushed, but I just wanted to move forward since much more is about happen.
In case you missed it, I also included a write-up on vampires from the Originals bloodlines also would be crossing-over together with the Originals. I am throwing this thought out there, would any of you welcome one, some, all of the Mystic Gang vampires (Katerina, Stefan, Damon, Elena, Tyler, Lexi, Enzo, did I miss out anyone?) to be part of the vampires Klaus elects as his 'ten'? I need your comments and ideas on this since I am writing this chapter now. My mind is pretty much set on just one, guess which one, but i will would want participation from the followers of this story too.
This story has pretty much grown and evolved from where I started taking off from TVD 5x11, I hope the enormity of my storyline is not lost since its pretty much not light fluffy stuff. I tried to combined elements I saw in both TVD / TO but obviously went several steps further creating something totally different.
In the next few after the cross-over, I looking for an Epic villain, I need suggestions for that too. There hasn't been a decent one for both shows in quite a while.
Reviews please, much appreciated. Remember this is my storyline which may conflict with what you will have in mind, I would appreciate positive comments.