AN: Thank you all for reading and commenting, favoriting, following. I hope this one is as enjoyable as the others have been. I don't really want to say too much because I think I'll give things away.
A special thanks to livingdeadblondequeen who betas this insanity. Have a great weekend!
"but he who dares not grasp the thorn should never crave the rose."
-Anne Brontë
Caroline crossed her arms, cocking her head as she looked at Klaus, her expression clearly unimpressed with the fact that she was still outside. Obviously he and the witch were getting along just fine so shouldn't she be allowed inside now? What the hell was the hold up? She saw the curiosity in the woman's gaze though as it passed between her and Klaus. She noted the hardness to his eyes even as the rest of his expression remained neutral.
That was definitely not good.
"If you're the one who needs protection then I will need you in here," the witch told her, motioning for her to come in and Caroline entered, trying not to spare a glance at the Hybrid.
She was going to ignore that hardness at the witch's curiosity about her, that tension she could see in his clenched fist even as he leaned casually against the counter, urging the witch to continue what she had been doing. "What precisely is the cult of Silas doing to you?" Magdalene asked, looking Caroline over.
She didn't really like the woman's gaze, the assessment passing through her glance as she was looked over. It wasn't like in high school when the guys checked her out in the hall or on the street when skeevy men decided to look her up and down before realizing who she was and remembering it wasn't a good idea to catcall to the Sheriff's daughter. No, this was like she was being scrutinized under a microscope, every inch of her being looked at to the fullest.
Caroline shifted her stance, locking her gaze with the other woman's and offering up her patented 'don't fuck with me' face. She was on edge enough as it was and didn't want to contemplate whatever the hell the woman was thinking about her. Like she cared what some random bayou witch thought in regards to her. The insecurities that would have dog piled her a year ago had been squashed as soon as the movement was detected. There was only one witch Caroline cared about and she'd like to get this over with so she could figure out a way back to her.
"They're getting into my head while I'm sleeping, trying to take it over and pretty much succeeding. So I'd like that to stop," Caroline finally replied. "They threatened to turn me into a doll-like state." She nearly added the rest, about why they would do that, but Caroline saw Klaus' gaze cut to her in that moment and she stopped talking.
"Why? You're young. Not of any great strength. While usually the younger ones tend to be more volatile the control you exude in your stance already shows that's not how you are. So I don't know why they would be after you," Magdalene mused and Caroline shrugged.
"I guess I won the raffle in 'crazy guy attractor' that day at the carnival. I've been trying to give it back but I seem to attract psychos." Caroline didn't bother to glance over at Klaus. She figured he'd pick on the fact she meant him. And Damon. The wolves that'd kidnapped her to get to Tyler. Even Alaric when he'd lost it. "So if you've got a repellant for that as well I will like buy it in bulk."
"They were able to immobilize her, control her bodily functions so she could open her eyes and see the outside world but made no movement to speak. I'm not entirely certain she was able to hear at that point either," Klaus butted in and Caroline couldn't help but shiver at the reminder of that morning. It had been the most terrifying moment in her life. "They also were able to bar me from entering her dreams."
Magdalene arched a brow at that and Caroline figured the witch's ability to do so must have been a big deal. "The why doesn't factor in at all to what you need to do. You know what they were capable of doing and I need that to not happen again," Klaus continued. "Either you do this in a timely fashion or I enjoy a favorite pastime of mine by leaving you in pieces for your next customer to find."
Klaus had the witch pressed against the wall, holding her up by her throat; feet kicking as she tried to reach the floor, before Caroline could even blink. "Klaus!" she cried out, shaking her head at the display. "How the hell is she supposed to help if you kill her?"
"There are plenty of witches in the world, Caroline. Either dear Maggie here does as I need or I will make good on my promise," Klaus replied, not bothering to look at her. His attention was on the witch who was grasping at his hands, trying to pull them off of her.
"How do I know you won't do that anyway?" Magdalene strained, trying to breathe. She knew he'd snap her neck if she tried the spell that caused pain to erupt in his head. Had a feeling that going after the girl with the same spell would cause the same reaction.
"You don't," Klaus replied, and Caroline picked up one of the books that was on the counter and chucked it at him.
"Stop it!" she screamed, throwing a bottle and candle stick next. "Try freaking asking politely for once. Maybe it'd work better than your constant 'let me prove I'm the alpha male' ways. Which honestly the alpha shouldn't have to prove so damn much if he really was one."
The look Klaus directed at her as he glanced her way had her drop her hand, though she still held onto the next book she had been prepared to throw. "Need I remind you that I am doing this for you?" he started, never letting go of the witch.
"Did I ask you?" Caroline countered, glaring at him. She knew she needed what the witch could offer though. "She can't even help if you kill her. Which blah blah blah, plenty of witches in the world, but we need this done now so like the temper tantrum isn't helping."
The rage that had been in Klaus' gaze seemed to vanish and he dropped the witch, opening his arms as he looked at Caroline, motioning for her to take the lead. "Then by all means, do this your way," he told her, stepping away from Magdalene.
Caroline watched him, noting the slight amusement to his features as he sat down and waved for her to continue. The witch was rubbing her throat, trying to soothe the pain that was still emanating from the area, and Caroline turned her attention back to her. She didn't like doing that. Something about how Klaus had stepped back had her on edge. She didn't like the calmness he was exuding, knowing it was all a lie. He was like a viper waiting for the perfect time to attack and she was on edge because of it.
"I really could use your help," Caroline told the woman. "If I'm locked up like some porcelain doll then I can't really help stop Silas. I just want to get back home, to find my friends and stop the chaos from erupting that will if he's allowed to roam the world or whatever. It can even be something temporary. My friend Bonnie can probably whip something up later if needed."
Magdalene looked down at Caroline's hand where she wore her ring, grasping it with her own and holding it up into the light. "Bennett magic," she muttered before dropping the hand and moving to collect some materials. "You're friends with a Bennett witch?"
Caroline nodded, not sure why that was relevant. Though it did seem like the Bennett magic line was pretty damn special so it wasn't too surprising that other witches might know about it. "So can you help?"
"I don't know. I've never seen anything quite like what you described before but I can try," Magdalene told her, offering a small smile that Caroline reciprocated. "I don't think an amulet would be good though. Too easily ripped off or forgotten. But a ring. Now that I could manage and since you already have one that you never go without, it shouldn't be too difficult to remember to continuously wear another."
Caroline nodded. "I am all about my accessories," she murmured, mentally preparing herself to wear another probably hideous ring. Hopefully this one wouldn't be forever.
"Give me a few minutes," Magdalene replied and turned to gather some items from the shelves of the shop.
Caroline watched her for a few moments before turning to look at Klaus. "See," she started, trying not to sound too smug. "No threats needed. Just politeness. It's amazing how far that can get you."
Klaus' smile wasn't at all sweet, reminding her of what she'd heard the youth counselors at church telling her the devil looked like when he smiled at someone. She hadn't been to church in ages but for some reason she couldn't seem to get out what she remembered one of them telling her about how the devil didn't look like a monster. After all he had been an angel at one point. His good looks didn't change the fact that he was evil.
Not that she thought Klaus was evil.
She didn't really want to think about what she thought he was right then and there with him staring at her in that way he always did. Caroline hated that look, the one that seemed to pierce into her very soul, like he saw parts of her that she didn't want anyone else to see. The parts that she tried to hide away. Most of all she hated that he liked them.
"You're very short sighted, Caroline," Klaus told her, motioning for her to sit down across from him.
She didn't move for a moment, not wanting to give him the satisfaction to acquiescing but she didn't really see the harm in sitting down. It looked like Magdalene would be a little while. "I'd wager it's because you're so young. You've yet to truly see any real passage of time," Klaus continued and she had a feeling she wasn't going to like where this conversation was going. "One thousand years and humankind hasn't changed a bit. Technology has improved some but the basic human emotions are the same. What drives each of them is the same as it was back when I was born."
He leaned forward and she realized just how close they were sitting and tried to shift so she was angled away from him. "Fear surpasses all language barriers. It's a fantastic motivator. You'll learn that with time."
Caroline crossed her arms, shaking her head at him. "Really? Because like I'm sure I've said before it doesn't seem to have gotten you all that much." She knew she should hold her tongue again, but the words just kept coming. Something about Klaus just riled her up to such a degree that she couldn't hold back. Not even if it was for her own benefit. "So you broke a curse. Congrats. But what else is it that you have? Not friends because you don't know how to like interact with people outside of ordering them around. Which is why you lost your hybrids. If you didn't abuse the sire bond then maybe—"
She didn't get to finish the sentence as Klaus slammed his hands onto the arms of his chair. "Don't." The hardness to his voice, the anger that she could hear there mixed with something else she couldn't quite give name to—was it pain?—had her swallow.
"Truth hurts, doesn't it?" Caroline flinched back at her own voice and wondered if this was her step too far. Was this what would finally push him over the edge and have him kill her?
Klaus didn't move though, simply stared at her, his gaze unreadable and Caroline shut her mouth then, hoping Magdalene would be finished soon. Not that she was looking forward to driving back to New Orleans with an enraged Hybrid. "All done," the witch informed them and Caroline rose, making sure to give Klaus a wide berth as she headed over to the woman.
"I can make no promises," Magdalene told her, slipping the ring onto her hand. "But it should keep out anyone you do not want inside of your head."
"And if I want them there?" Caroline mused, not really sure who that would even be, but who knew if there would come a time when she would. Better to know the answer to that.
"Then they'll be able to get inside."
The woman didn't say another word, wasn't able to as a picture frame came hurtling through the air, effectively slicing the woman's head off. Caroline let out a scream at that, not having expected it, blood spraying her face. She had no idea how long she stood staring down at the body before Klaus grabbed her arm, pulling her out of the shop.
"Why did you do that? She helped. She freaking helped!" Caroline shouted, trying to get out of his grasp.
"I had no intention of letting her live, Caroline," Klaus replied, shoving her into the car. "Not after what she figured out."
Caroline wiped at her face, trying to get the blood off of it as Klaus started the car. She knew there wasn't any point to running. He'd only get her back and probably snap her neck and she really didn't want to deal with that. "What the hell are you talking about?" What had the witch figured out? What was so important that he had to kill her when she had helped?
"Oh I'm aware you have no idea, sweetheart." Caroline looked over at him and he glanced over at her. His gaze locked with hers and she wanted the hardness back. She wanted to fear him because of his rage, of the notion that she had no idea of what he was capable of some days, but that wasn't what he was showing her. It was that look he'd given her when she had walked into the ball, that one when he had followed her out of the grill and nearly been run over. That one that sent butterflies fluttering around her stomach at the pageant when he'd been annoyingly perfect. She couldn't handle that look. He wasn't supposed to look at her like that.
"Or at least that you're refusing to acknowledge it." Klaus looked away and Caroline didn't respond to him. "I'm quite certain that's the bloody problem."
She wished she had run. A broken neck would've been preferable to the fear of what Klaus' looks he only ever directed at her actually meant. She really should have held out for the repellant.
"And I see I'll be getting the silent treatment for the ride. Do not touch the radio this time," Klaus told her and Caroline pressed her forehead against the window, trying to drown him out, to drown out her own thoughts.
She looked down at the new ring on her hand that she hadn't even had a moment to really inspect before and wiped at it with her shirt, trying to get the blood off. It wasn't all that horrible, really not her own taste but it would do. At least this band was silver instead of gold and there was a black stone set in the middle. She had no idea what kind of rock it was. Caroline looked back toward the shop that they were driving away from and sent out a silent thank you to the witch who had died because of her.
Glancing over at Klaus, she sighed, wondering exactly how many more would die and realized she really didn't want the answer to that. Because that would mean acknowledging things she wasn't ready to accept yet.
Elena wanted to scream. She wanted to throw things about, to tear at her skin and make herself actually feel something. But her mind was at war, part of it trying to acknowledge all that had happened. The fact that she had lost not only her little brother, the last remaining member of her family, but Matt as well. Both of them dead and she would never be able to get them back. She wanted to sob over it, to push her face into the pillow and let out all of the anguish she was feeling over their loss.
She couldn't though.
Every time she tried, every time the thought of what had happened to them came crashing down on her again, her mind went almost blank. A calmness tried to take over, everything's fine repeating on a loop in her head. She looked in the mirror and saw the smile on her face and wanted to rip it off, nails biting into her cheeks for a moment before gently pushing an errant strand of hair from her face. Every movement that was meant to unleash her anger, her sadness, was overpowered by another more pliable one, twisting her movements.
She had no control over it and she knew somewhere inside that it was the sire bond. That she was acting this way because of Damon but all of the bad thoughts were quickly replaced, reminding herself that he was only trying to protect her.
It was driving her mad, the constant conflict, and she didn't know how to voice what was happening to her. Not when she was supposed to be fine. When nothing was supposed to be wrong. The words just wouldn't come and he'd hold her and brush her hair, whisper that he was taking care of everything, and she just nodded along with it.
She asked about Stefan and he told her not to worry and so she didn't. Thoughts of Stefan pushed back to reside with Jeremy and Matt, never quite able to push their way to the surface but always there in the cracks that were forming.
She was stepping out of the shower when she heard the doorbell. It was Sheriff Forbes and hopefully that wasn't anything too concerning. Damon and the Sheriff were friendly. Maybe she had come by for a chat?
Except hadn't something happened? A reason for her to be around.
No no. Everything was fine. Nothing was missing in her life. Everything was right where it was supposed to be.
Elena wrapped the towel tighter around her body and moved to start brushing the tangles out of her wet hair. It wasn't her fault that she heard the other two's conversation. Vampire hearing just happened to pick up on it.
Jeremy.
Matt.
Dead.
The panic started rushing back to her, wanting to pull her down and crush her beneath its waves, but the quietness pushed through, calming her again.
Stefan.
It repeated. No reason to worry about him. Even if he was with Rebekah. No big deal at all.
But the Sheriff's next words had no failsafe in her head. Damon hadn't countered anything to do with Caroline. But she heard what the Sheriff said, how her friend was in the Originals' hands and that wasn't good. The very idea of it frightened her. Would they kill her like…
And just like that the fog came back, cascading over her but the cracks were splintering. A mind was such a fragile thing and there was only so much it could take. The constant struggle to bury the pain was undoing her, breaking her apart and no amount of sire bond was going to be able to fix that right then.
Elena fell, her eyes glazing over. She heard Damon and the Sheriff enter the room, heard their cries for her, heard Damon trying to get her attention but everything was coming from so very far away. She couldn't quite hold onto it or make sense of what they were saying.
The smile stayed on her face though. That reminder that everything was okay. There was no need to worry. It was all fine.
She didn't understand what was happening next. How she was outside of her body, staring down at it with Damon and Caroline's mom beside her. One frantically shaking her, trying to get her to move, while the other tried to be a calming presence.
"Am I dead?" Her own voice startled her, not having heard it much in the last few days. Not expecting to be able to even speak from where she was. Not that she even had a clue as to where that was exactly.
"You're not dead."
Elena turned at that, convinced her hearing was playing a trick on her but no, there was Alaric. And beside him were Jenna and Jeremy. She didn't even hesitate, not caring for a second if this was some new whacky scheme because they were right there and she missed them. She was across the room, hugging the three of them tightly and the overwhelming sense that everything was supposed to be fine didn't take over.
"Are you sure I'm not dead?" Because that was the only conceivable way she could think she'd be able to see any of them.
"You're currently hovering between life and death," Jeremy told her as he pulled back. "But don't worry; you'll swing back to life in a few minutes. Your mind is just having you take a timeout for a bit."
"We took the opportunity to see you," Jenna finished, brushing hair off Elena's face.
"Not just for a social call though," Alaric reminded and the other two nodded. "When you're back in control of yourself you need to convince Damon to keep looking for the cure."
"We don't have a way to find it anymore." Elena looked over at Jeremy, still unable to see the mark on his arm, but how was she supposed to find it without the map? "And I don't care about it." She never had. That had been everyone else. Elena wished they had never tried to find that damn thing. Then maybe Jeremy would still be alive. "I don't want it."
"Listen, you little…" The voice was coming out of Jenna's mouth but it wasn't Jenna.
Elena stepped back; staring at the three people she considered family. There was something off about them, something that was not them. She really looked at them again, the safety she had felt a moment ago giving way to a coldness that surrounded her. The three of them disappeared, evaporating into smoke around her and Elena frowned, whirling around as she tried to figure out what was happening.
"I tried to do this the nice way," a voice she had never heard before started, dark and gravelly, that seemed to surround her. She whirled around, never seeing anyone aside from her own body to the side, Damon and Liz kneeling beside it. But the coldness surrounded her, overwhelming her. "But it seems you would rather completely lose your mind to give me what I want. No matter to me, little doppelganger. I'll win in the end."
Elena fell to her knees, pain erupting inside of her head, more painful than anything she had ever felt before. She tried to fight against it, could feel her thoughts being ripped from her, memories twisted and altered before being shoved back in again. Her mind was shattering into a million little pieces and there wasn't a damn thing she could do about it.
Her body beside Damon started convulsing and on some level of awareness Elena could hear him calling her name, trying to help her and she tried to hold onto that, to anchor herself to him, but the pain was too much, what was happening inside of her head she couldn't overpower.
Eventually it stopped and Elena opened her eyes, looking up at the two concerned faces staring down at her. She didn't hesitate, reaching up to snap Damon's neck and pushing Liz, sending the woman flying across the room. Elena didn't stick around to see if she was alright, speeding out of the house, out of Mystic Falls, her mind focused solely on the task she had been provided to do.
The rest of the world be damned.
It was remarkable how much could be learned about any one person just by watching them for a small period of time. Usually Kol could care less about the Salvatore brother sitting in the booth across from him. He'd heard tales from Rebekah of how the vampire had been once upon a time, had heard mentioning of it from Klaus as well, but he hadn't ever really cared about what either of them had said. Who cared about what the vampire had done when he'd been stuck in a box unable to have his own kind of fun. The stories of the years he'd been out of commission meant little to him except to bring up a reminder of how he hadn't been able to experience any of it.
Though he enjoyed learning more about the culture of the current period. The video games were a riot; the amount of violence in them tickling his fancy, and the phrases that were thrown out so easily between people was fascinating. He quite liked the century he had woken up to and had every intention of enjoying every last bit of it before the world evolved into the next latest phases.
He was finding Stefan to be all sorts of amusing at the moment though. That brooding stare or glare depending on what he and Rebekah were doing. What most intrigued him was Stefan's response to the girl Kol had compelled to slice her wrist open and let her blood spill out into their drinks. That glazed over expression that begged for a taste. It had been a simple compulsion for the girl to not scream and a quick slice of her wrist later and the Bloody Mary was about to truly live up to its name.
"That'll be all for now," Kol informed the girl, pushing a napkin onto her wrist. "You really should be more careful with the silverware."
He didn't bother to watch her stumble off to clean herself up, pushing the drinks to Rebekah and Stefan instead as he picked up his own. "Not quite as good as directly from the vein but it hits the spot," Kol mused, clinking his glass with Rebekah's.
Stefan's lay untouched before him, the vampire not moving an inch toward it. Though was that a little twitch to his eye? Kol wondered exactly how much human blood did it take to turn him back into his more intriguing form. He'd have to ask Nik about that later. "Do you remember this place, sister?"
He motioned around to the club they were in. The building was the same though it wasn't quite like it had been back in the late 1900s. "As I recall, I wasn't allowed in here then," Rebekah replied, looking over at Stefan. "You're going to need to feed."
"I'm fine." Stefan's tone was cold and he didn't spare her a glance, his attention on the crowded dance floor instead.
Rebekah pouted, clearly put out by the harshness. "She's only looking out for you," Kol reminded, unsure whether to be amused by his sister's reaction or break his glass so he could stab Stefan with it.
Stefan didn't reply and Rebekah continued to pout, making the atmosphere at the table infinitely more dull. They only had themselves to blame for what he did next. Rebekah should have known better than to let him get bored. It never ended well.
Kol caught the arm of the next solo person who was passing by their table. "No screaming, no trying to run. Sit here and be quiet no matter what happens," Kol compelled, tugging the young man into the booth with them.
"Kol," Rebekah chided, glancing toward the crowd. No one seemed to have noticed anything awry. She supposed that if they did it would be easy enough to deal with them. Though she wasn't in the mood for a blood bath. Not with everything else that was happening.
"We're just having a little chat. Aren't we…what's your name?" Kol inquired, resting his arm on the booth behind the young man's head. The man didn't answer. Oh right, compulsion. "You can answer the question."
"Let him go, Kol," Stefan butted in, and Kol looked over at him, grinning at the tension in the other vampire's features. Oh this was fun. No point in stopping now.
The man answered but Kol hardly cared, picking up his arm and bit into it, taking a nice long drink before he looked back up. He knew blood was smeared a little on his face. He'd never been one for neatness, but it was Stefan's gaze locked on the man's still bleeding arm that had Kol most amused. He shifted the boy forward a bit, letting his arm lay on the table. Just that bit closer to Stefan.
Kol watched, almost entranced at the war raging in the vampire's features. That need to drink what was being offered was strong, but the one to control himself was as well. It'd be interesting to see which one won out in the end.
"Oh come on Stefan, have something to eat," Kol prompted, biting into the man's hand again, letting more blood flow. "I hear you're much more fun when you've eaten. Like that commercial I saw about some type of candy."
"Snickers," Rebekah supplied, and he could hear the uncertainty in her tone. Kol knew it wasn't in regards to the candy.
"That one," Kol leaned back against the booth, watching the veins darken on Stefan's face. Just needed some fang action now. "You're not yourself when you haven't fed, mate."
"Stop it, Kol," Rebekah ordered, shoving the man's hand off the table.
"Just trying to have a bit of fun, Bekah." Kol sighed, not really in the mood to antagonize his sister. There would be time for that later. Best to keep his entertainment options open.
"Kol."
He turned his attention to Zelda who was heading toward their table, shaking her head in disgust at what she was seeing. There was a fury in her features as well, one he knew all too well and enjoyed a little too much. No doubt she had heard about Nandi. Surely she hadn't truly expected him to have not killed the witch. Not with how it might have been beneficial.
"Hello, Zelda. I'm sure you remember my sister Rebekah and this is her companion, Stefan Salvatore." Kol introduced before glancing over at the young man. "No idea what this one's name is. But he tastes divine." The glare she directed him had him arching a brow. "Oh fine. Spoil my fun." He looked back at the young man. "Time to leave. Might want to go get those bandaged to stop the bleeding."
He pushed the man out of the booth, not caring that he stumbled off into the crowd. It was just a little blood loss. He should be fine. Kol patted the newly vacant spot beside him. "Might as well make yourself comfortable while you rail against me, Zee," he suggested, picking up his drink again.
"You killed Nandi," Zelda started, and Rebekah sighed, clearly also done with the night.
"I see no reason for us to be here while you chat up your witch," Rebekah interrupted, motioning for Stefan to leave the booth. "Caroline and Nik should be back soon enough and I'd rather be there to give him a piece of my mind." She looked at Stefan and Kol found her heated gaze to be very telling. "No doubt you'll want to fawn over her."
Someone really didn't like the attention that Caroline apparently received from him. That would make the dynamics of their next road trip fun if Stefan stuck around. Kol knew Rebekah would be and there was no possible scenario he could come up with where their brother would allow Caroline to be out of his sight. At least he wouldn't be bored on the ride back to Virginia.
He didn't bother to listen to Stefan and Rebekah's conversation as they left the club, turning his focus back to Zelda. "She said she was connected to her mother. Usually the death of one brings the death to both with that type of spell." Kol shrugged. "Fifty-fifty chance I knocked off an expression wielding witch. Seemed worth it to me."
Zelda shook her head, clearly not pleased and Kol leaned against the table, propping himself up by his elbow as he regarded her. "You know how I feel about witches, Zelda. How I respect what you can do. I had an opportunity and I took it."
Nothing more, nothing less. Though he had enjoyed it as well. No point in denying that.
"Nandi was a good person." Zelda's shoulder slumped, as she rested her hands on the table, staring at the blood drops.
"She was a means to an end," Kol replied, watching the shudder that ran through the witch. Perhaps it was a bit cold, but it was the truth. "You act as though it's startling behavior for me, Zelda. Did you forget all I did before I was daggered? Or were you too fixated on the things you and I used to get up to back then?" He smirked at her, reaching out to touch her hair and laughed when she pulled away. She had been beautiful back then, saucy. He'd enjoyed their time together before he had been daggered but it was obvious circumstances had changed since then.
He knew the spell that kept her around for over one hundred years had to be taking its toll and wondered how long she would keep pushing it. He'd be sure to visit her on her death bed, offer up eternity even when he knew she wouldn't take it, before ending her life in the quickest, and most pain free way he could come up with.
"Why are you still here? Did Klaus bring the girl to find her father's boyfriend?" Zelda inquired, still annoyed but not putting off as much anger as she had been before. Kol felt that was a point in his direction.
"Bit of an issue with someone trying to get into Caroline's dreams. Successfully doing so. Did a bit of a paralysis spell from in there. Has Nik in an uproar." Kol couldn't help but grin at the idea of it all. His brother being in a tizzy because of some girl was already highly unlikely but the fact Klaus hadn't simply killed her upon learning that someone was trying to use her against him made it all even more intriguing.
"No one witch could do that. Not unless they had given themselves over to expression completely," Zelda told him, and Kol looked back at her, waiting for her to continue. "When that happens you'll know because of what will happen to this world when it starts to break apart. You're dealing with a Coven. Why did they go for her?"
"Did I forget to mention how they want us to stop what we're doing or they'll destroy her so completely that she's nothing but a decoration? Also that my brother is very invested in keeping her out of harm's way," Kol shrugged. Oops. Should have put in the detail. "Seems whoever it is has deduced that we're trying to stop Silas' rise. What are the chances they'll be able to get into our heads?"
"You're older so it'll be more difficult but I wouldn't rule anything out," Zelda frowned and picked up the glass to take drink.
"Might not want to do that unless you're a fan of O negative. Though it may be A positive. I mix those two up sometimes." Kol grinned as she placed the glass down and pulled back from it as though she had been burned.
"Stop killing my witches," Zelda told him and started to get out of the booth.
"I think we'll be gone by morning. Shouldn't be able to kill too many more before then," Kol replied, grin becoming cockier. "Unless you'd like to help me occupy my time." The anger she directed at him in her glare was priceless but Kol simply smirked at her, enjoying her wrath. Even the smack of one of the drink trays against his head did little to ruin his amusement.
He laughed as she left, enjoying the frustration that radiated off of her, impressed with his own wit. Reaching over, he finished off the leftover drinks. No point in wasting them.
Magic had been beautiful to her once. It had been making feathers dance around, a new subject to talk about with her grandmother, something that allowed her to see the world with new eyes. It had tied her to nature and she had enjoyed it back then. But that seemed like a life time ago. Even lighting a simple candle didn't have the merriment that it once did.
She watched those around her on the back lawn practicing with their own, shifting objects through the air, lighting and extinguishing candles with smiles on their faces, and Bonnie wished she could go back to those days. Back to when magic wasn't something she desperately needed to have in order to protect those she loved. When it had actually been magical, something to look forward to learning more about. Instead that was replaced with desperation, a need to be able to save what was left of her friends.
There was no fun to it any longer. No laughter that went along with it. It was a force that she was learning to control and wield as she needed. She had gotten a bit of that spark for it back with Shane, the thrill of tapping into it again, but surrounded by these witches she wasn't feeling any of that.
"You're thinking too much," Valerie started, interrupting her thoughts and Bonnie turned toward her voice, watching the woman walk over to her. "Not surprising considering all you have dealt with over the last year or so."
Bonnie nodded, unable to help the suspicion of how the woman knew so much about what her friends and she had endured. If she had sensed it then why the hell hadn't she done anything to help stop it. Obviously she was in the area, not too far away from little Mystic Falls and had a Coven at her disposal. Something Bonnie could have used more than once in the past.
"I think Shane picked the wrong witch for this," Bonnie told her, shrugging slightly as she looked back out at the others. "Why not one of them?" They all seemed to have some degree of power. Why couldn't one of them tap into expression.
"You're a Bennett witch. You already wield a great amount of power." Valerie nodded toward the others. "Some of these are first generation witches. Others go back one or two but no one as long as your line goes. Your body can handle it. None of theirs could."
"What about you?" Bonnie watched the woman, wondering what her reaction would be to that question. Maybe there would be some tells in her body language.
"My line goes back far, but not quite as far as yours," Valerie replied, and held out her hands, palms up. "Why don't we try a spell?"
There wasn't anything to the woman's answer besides a small smile. Nothing off-putting, all Bonnie was getting from her was a calmness, acceptance. So she offered up her hands, slipping them on top of the woman's. She hadn't done a spell with another witch since her mother had been turned and she looked down at Valerie's hands, almost seeing Abby's hands for a moment and then her grandmother's. Bonnie closed her eyes, forcing the imaginings away, before she gripped Valerie's hands tightly and looked back at her.
Their gazes locked and Valerie started chanting a simple spell, one that Bonnie recognized but hadn't done in a while. She started saying it along with her and grinned as the magic began to flow between the two of them and then inside of her and out, surrounding the ground around them. Tiny flowers began to sprout, pushing up through the earth, speeding their life cycle along until they were in full bloom.
She was too focused on the beauty of it, the happiness radiating through her again to notice the tense look on Valerie's face as she looked over Bonnie's shoulder. One of the other witches had collapsed to the ground, dead, and was quickly being taken out of the area before Bonnie would notice.
"There's something we need to do," Valerie told her, pulling Bonnie's attention from the flowers back to her. "There are those who are trying to stop us from raising Silas. We need to find them and give them a taste of what is to come if they continue to do so."
Bonnie froze at that. "You want me to help kill them?" She nearly wrenched her hands back, but Valerie kept her hold on them.
"No. Only a warning." Valerie offered up another gentle smile. "Just something to stop them from making a mistake. They'll destroy the cure. Then where would your friends be?"
A warning couldn't hurt, especially if it wouldn't kill them. "And then we'll work on what we need to do in order to get the cure?" The raising Silas part could come after she fixed her friends. Even if she could almost hear her Grams in the back of her head telling not to buy into any of it. But if it meant actually seeing her grandmother again, it was worth it. At least maybe she could make it so what had happened to her Grams after she had abused her powers the last time could be undone. Expression was supposed to be really powerful magic so shouldn't she be able to fix that too?
"We already are," Valerie promised, placing the book on the space in front of them. "A locater spell to find them and then we'll send our warning."
Bonnie nodded, placing her hands down on the book in front of them. She closed her eyes, already beginning to work the magic, knowing the locater spell by heart. She had done it enough for her friends and while it felt different using expression to complete it, the motions and words were the same. Only where she took the magic from was different.
Valerie placed her hands over top Bonnie's, adding her own power to the spell. Images that Bonnie couldn't quite make out flashed in her head. Something almost familiar but she couldn't hold onto it long enough to make sense of it.
"Now we're going to let them know to stop what they're doing," Valerie told her, and Bonnie felt her body heating up, almost as though she was burning up with a fever.
"That should do it, thank you," Valerie told her, cutting off the spell as she pulled the book away.
The rush Bonnie had been feeling was gone but she nodded, thankful she had been successful once again. There were no hiccups with her powers anymore and she deemed that to be a good thing. She watched Valerie walk back into the house for a moment before turning away, wanting to use the solitude to ground her mind once again.
She frowned as she looked down at the flowers that had been in full bloom. They were all now dead. She focused her energy on them, not letting up until every petal was once again full of life.
All fixed.
Everything was just fine.
She never did see the bodies that were being put into the back of a car to be disposed of, the unknown sacrifices for her spike in power. Out of sight, out of mind seemed to be Valerie's motto, and from the way Bonnie continued to blossom with her powers, it seemed to be one that was working in their favor.
"It's about time that you got here," Rebekah started, and Klaus looked up at the ceiling for a moment, cursing whoever allowed it to be his sister to greet them.
He wasn't in the mood for whatever whining was about to come out of her mouth, and no doubt that would lead to a tantrum that he had no intention of dealing with either. He wanted nothing more than to secure Caroline in the hotel, make certain she wasn't about to run away, and head back out into the city so he could tear open some poor bystanders throat and drink his fill. It had already been a trying day, adding in Rebekah was only asking for heads to roll.
"Yes, well, we don't all feel a need to cater to your schedule, little sister," Klaus bit out, his annoyance tripling as Caroline flashed away from him and right to Stefan, enveloping him in a tight hug.
He narrowed his eyes, watching the two embrace, words of comfort and questions on well-being passing rapidly between the two of them. He despised the ease with which she hugged the other man. Hadn't Stefan done his own share of terrible deeds, killed his own share of people in horrific ways? What was it that allowed him to be embraced that way while he was shunned at every turn?
A look in Rebekah's direction clearly showed that she wasn't a fan of what was happening before them either. "Where's Kol?" Klaus inquired, turning his attention completely to his sister. It wasn't as though the other two could leave the area, no point in torturing himself by watching Caroline take comfort from another.
"Zelda and him are having a little chat," Rebekah informed him, crossing her arms as she looked over at him. "Did you do it?"
"You'll need to be a little more specific. I've done a number of things." Klaus walked past her toward the refrigerator, frowning when he saw that all of the liquor was gone. Of course. He should have known better than to leave Kol alone with it. "Haven't a clue what has you all riled up."
The sad part was that he really didn't. So he had daggered her but she had practically forced that to happen to her with how she had been behaving. Nothing else that had happened in between that time and her apparent awakening should merit any outburst from Rebekah. At least none that he could think of. Except…the quarterback. Surely his sister hadn't truly been enamored with that human.
Klaus turned back toward her, noting that Caroline and Stefan were sitting on one of the couches, catching up on whatever details Stefan knew. "Matt," Rebekah replied, her voice taking on a high pitched quality to it. "I don't care what you did to the others. But why him? What was the point? He was human. No matter to you."
He'd known it would come out eventually. Had considered telling Caroline right away when he'd reunited with Kol and her, but never quite got around to it. Klaus knew she wouldn't take it well. "I did what had to be done," Klaus stated, purposefully not looking toward the blonde on the couch who seemed to choke as she realized what must have happened.
"You bastard," Caroline shrieked, and no doubt would've been on him, hitting him with her hands except Stefan held her back.
"He killed Finn. His time on this Earth was limited anyway," Klaus replied, looking over at the two of them. "I should have taken care of him months ago."
There was no remorse because he felt none for having given the order for the boy to die. It was a means to an end. At least it had been rather quick. "He died with a friend," Klaus added, as if that meant something and sat down on one of the chairs, looking over at Rebekah. "Don't look so surprised, Rebekah. Didn't you plan on killing him at mother's ball? Nearly did when he and Elena went into the lake?"
"Because I was avenging you," she shrieked, and Klaus shrugged, shaking his head at her theatrics.
"Semantics," Klaus replied, waving her off. He would not look toward Caroline, did not want to see the anger, the sadness he knew would be there. "He was collateral damage." Perhaps that hadn't been the best phrase to use considering his company but it was the truth. "It happens."
"You're heartless," Rebekah muttered, trembling with barely contained fury. She walked out of the room before anyone could respond.
With her gone, Klaus could hear Caroline's small sobs more clearly, Stefan's words that were meant to be comforting, but he wouldn't look toward them. Was he holding her again? Brushing his fingers through her hair, rubbing soothing circles against her back? Things he had wanted to do only hours before when she had woken from her torturous nightmare. He would have been denied, yet Stefan was so easily accepted, wanted.
The ringing of a cell cut through the air, Stefan answering it a second later. "I'll be right over there," the vampire promised, and Klaus glanced over at Caroline when Stefan was across the room, listening to the call.
She was hugging one of the decorative pillows, legs pulled up and trying to control her tears. "Do you honestly think Kol would have been okay with any survivors?" Klaus began, his voice low and Caroline looked over at him, her eyes narrowed.
"Don't you dare say you killed Matt to protect me," she hissed, shaking her head as he cocked his in answer.
"He was a loose end. One I was more than happy to dispose of," Klaus continued, knowing he wasn't helping his situation but he couldn't seem to stop talking. "Just as I did today. Just as I will again and again, sweetheart."
Caroline shook her head, hugging the pillow tighter even as she continued to glare at him. He could almost taste her rage mixed with horror and that was one thing that he enjoyed about her. No matter how terrified she might have been in the moment, she seemed to always try and keep her head held high when facing him.
"The way that you show you care sucks," Caroline muttered, looking away from him, body trembling with emotion. He couldn't quite tell which was winning out in that moment.
"If I remember correctly you're the people person, not me," Klaus reminded, throwing her own words back at her, entirely too amused with himself. She simply scoffed, hugging the pillow tighter and he hated it, wanting her to look at him, for her focus to be on him. He didn't care in that moment if the attention was positive or not. "I am who I am, Caroline."
She didn't answer and he leaned forward, trying to come up with something else to say, another way to goad her into responding. Where was the fight? Where was the constant conversation that seemed to always spill forth from her? He needed to rectify it.
"I have some updates," Stefan said, walking back over to them before Klaus could say another word. From Stefan's tone Klaus could tell they wouldn't be updates that were of any importance to him. He wasn't about to leave the two alone though. "One, Elena apparently snapped Damon's neck…"
"Score one for Elena," murmured Caroline before she looked up at Stefan, shrugging slightly. "Sorry."
Stefan sat down beside her. "Snapped his neck and then left. No one knows where she is and considering her mental state…"
"Gee, I wonder why she's an emotional wreck," Caroline bit out, glaring at Klaus again, and he waved his hand, nonplussed by the display.
"Your mom was there when Elena lost it. Apparently Elena sent her flying across the room," Stefan continued, and Klaus watched as Caroline tensed, fear seeming to engulf her. He watched, fascinated by her reaction.
Once upon a time he had loved his mother. There was a time he believed she may have cared for him as well. But a thousand years and one successful kill on his part, a few attempted killings on her part later, and he had nothing but ill will toward the woman who had given birth to him. He watched Caroline freeze up, the way she seemed to curl inward, waiting for a final blow that she didn't wish to come.
"She's okay," Stefan told her, and just like that Caroline seemed to deflate, grabbing onto Stefan's arms to steady herself. Klaus' eyes narrowed at the contact. "She's just in the hospital for observation because of a concussion but she's okay."
"Lead with that next time." Caroline hit Stefan on the arm, sighing.
"Sorry," he apologized and Klaus leaned back in his chair, watching the two interact with such ease. It was maddening. He would not let it continue.
He never got a chance to say or do anything, the drapes hanging against the window suddenly bursting into flames. The three of them were out of their seats in an instant, Klaus at Caroline's side before the other two could blink. He grabbed hold of her arm, ready to flee from the room when Rebekah opened the door to the balcony, nearly peeking back inside, entirely too close to the flames for his comfort. "Get down to the street," Klaus ordered, pulling Caroline with him as flames appeared on the walls, quickly engulfing them.
This had witchcraft written all over it and he had a feeling that the longer they stood around waiting, the worse it would get. Without another word, Klaus tightened his grip on Caroline and flashed them out of the room and over the hotel wall, landing easily on the street below. He steadied Caroline as she landed beside him, her gaze darting back and forth.
"What about Stefan?"
"I'm sure Ripper was able to get himself out just fine, Caroline," Klaus replied, never letting go of her arm as he led her away from the hotel. Smoke billowed out of the balcony, flames beginning to catch onto other parts of it. No doubt there would be a loss of life but as long as it was none of theirs he hardly cared.
Klaus fished his phone out of his pocket, quickly dialing Kol to let him know not to return to the hotel or get out if he was on his way up. He could see Rebekah heading toward him through the crowd that was gathering to watch the spectacle. "What the hell was that?" she demanded, looking around. "And where is Stefan?"
"Right here," Stefan replied, pushing his way toward the three of them. "It's already in the hallway."
Caroline moved to go to him, but Klaus kept a tight grip on her arm, not letting her move from his side. She glowered at him, trying to yank her arm away but it was useless.
"To answer your question, Rebekah, I believe that's a sign that our stay here has come to an end and it's time to move onto the next task," Klaus informed them, sending off another text to Kol. He put his phone away and looked at Caroline. "Where is your father's ex living?"
She pressed her lips together, glaring at him. "While I'm usually quite a fan of it, now is not the time for your stubbornness, sweetheart," Klaus told her. "If those who tried to burn us alive have an inkling of the knowledge he might possess what do you think they'll do to him?"
"Maybe it'll be better than what you'll do to him," Caroline countered, and Klaus cocked his head to the side, looking down at her.
"I won't harm a hair on him," Klaus replied, and she scoffed at that, clearly not believing it. "What do I need to do for you to believe that?"
"Oh bloody hell, Nik," Rebekah grumbled, pushing at Caroline so that she could clearly see into her eyes. Klaus shoved Rebekah back, pushing Caroline behind him.
"There will be no compelling her." His tone left no room for argument, eyes narrowing dangerously as he watched Rebekah step backward.
"The way you let her speak to you," Rebekah muttered, glancing at Caroline. "I don't see the appeal. Just do what you want with her and be done with it. This little dance you two do has become rather annoying and clouding your judgment. If it was anyone else you would have forced the knowledge out of them without hesitation."
"Rebekah," Stefan murmured, clearly not liking what she was saying or what it might mean for Caroline.
Klaus narrowed his eyes at his sister. He couldn't discount it. If it had been anyone else, he would already have the answer to his question. There would be no bargaining, no trying to assuage her fears. This wouldn't do. He turned toward Caroline who held her head up, though he saw the flicker of fear in her gaze, no doubt thinking he was about to compel her. It was something he swore to himself he wouldn't do to her. That he would always take only what she would give, even if he had to keep pushing for her to give him more.
He had been ready to, but that tiny step back that she took when he turned, the slight tremor in her clenched fists had Klaus changing his move. "Either you tell me what I need to know or I will head back to Virginia and get that information from the only other person I can say for certain would have an idea of where he might be. And considering she's in the hospital already I don't think she'd do all that well with my method of questioning."
Klaus easily caught one fist and then the other, easily trapping her against his chest once again. "You have five seconds to tell me before I make good on my word," he hissed in her ear, refusing to back down on this one.
Stefan was saying his name, Rebekah telling Stefan to shut up, and fire engine sirens rang in the distance. "Arlington," Caroline growled, struggling in his grip. "Arlington, Virginia."
"Now that wasn't too hard," Klaus murmured, resting his chin on top of her head, still holding her tightly against him.
"Did I miss all the fun?" Kol asked, popping up next to Stefan and Rebekah. "Oh, are we enjoying the lover's embrace that's happening now? Even has a bit of candlelight to set the mood." He waved his arm toward the hotel before leaning against Rebekah. "Bit over the top. But our brother was never one to do anything halfway."
Rebekah shoved her elbow into his side and Kol laughed, letting go of her. "I got us a new car. I hear it's called an SUV. Has a TV that flips down. I call controlling that," Kol told them. "Don't really see the point in standing around here any longer."
He turned on his heel, heading off into the crowd and Rebekah shoved Stefan ahead of her to follow after him. Klaus finally released Caroline who pushed him away from her. "If you ever threaten my mother again," she started, her gaze hardening. "I'll stake myself. Then we'll see exactly how you're going to get whatever the hell it is you want from me if I'm nothing but ash."
She turned away, heading off after the others and Klaus was left speechless for a moment, staring at the place she had been a moment ago. He didn't doubt her threat, knew with the certainty that had been in her eyes that she would make good on her word. It rankled him to no end, rage building in him at the very thought of the scenario playing out, at her using her own life against him. That would not do at all.
He stalked off toward where the others were, narrowing his eyes at finding them all already situated in the large vehicle. It seemed he was to be the driver, Kol and Stefan sitting on the seats behind the driver and passenger seat that Rebekah was occupying. Caroline was tucked all the way in the back, her gaze fixed on the window.
Rebekah reached over to touch the radio and Klaus punch his hand into it, destroying the system. "Buckle up," Klaus groused, ignoring his sister's indignant cry and Kol's yammering.
He adjusted the rearview mirror, noting the start of Stefan's brooding before he looked once again at Caroline who continued to stare at the window. It was going to be a long drive.