Chapter 5

It had been endless hours of driving. The ride was silent instead of Klaus directing the other vampire and him speaking on the phone to somebody about some packages. Caroline didn't make eye contact with him ever since he threatened them. She was not afraid of him but the consequences of her actions definitely scared the shit out of her. Stefan and she kept passing each other nods, smiles and looks but not a word to Klaus.

Klaus felt like he was almost invisible to the two vampires in the back making 'puppy eyes' at each other. It had not been more than a few days that he had killed the 'love of their life' and the both of them already seemed to have moved on. His anger and rage was rising by the minute. Caroline was deep into slumber in Stefan's arms and he hugged her tighter when she snuggled into his chest. Just a few hours ago, she wouldn't allow him just a kiss and now she was 'canoodling' with the ripper. Stefan was no saint and he was as horrible as Klaus was. Truth be told, the 20s Stefan reinvented the term 'torture'.

A few moments later the car stopped and Klaus' suffocation got the best of him and he jumped out of the vehicle. Stefan slightly shook Caroline but she groaned slightly so he picked her up and got out of the car, careful not to wake her up. After almost killing someone who looked exactly like her, she needed all the rest she could get before once again facing Klaus. Caroline instinctively wrapped her arms around Stefan's neck and rested her head on his shoulder.

The driver drove away leaving them right outside a hotel. Klaus noticed the way she clung onto his shirt. He looked to Stefan and raised his eyebrows, "This is interesting. I never thought the ripper would settle for a baby vampire?" he stated trying to get a rise out of him.

Stefan just rolled his eyes and shrugged as they walked into the lobby and checked into the hotel. Klaus asked for their penthouse and so they made their way to the top. Klaus burst open the doors of the penthouse followed by Stefan with Caroline still in his arms.

Stefan was still looking around when he heard Klaus order, "Put her in that room." He said pointing towards the room at the right, "You and me have somewhere to be"

With that he flashed to the entrance of the penthouse and tapped his foot impatiently. He would deal with Caroline later. For now he had to give the 'ripper' a gift or two.

Seconds later Stefan joined him and gave him a nod before they both headed out. In the back of Stefan's mind he was happy that Klaus left Caroline back at the hotel alone, at least, she'd have a chance to run. And maybe she might even be able to escape him while Stefan kept Klaus occupied.

Finally they entered a bar where Stefan saw an old, dark skinned woman with short hair approach them. Gloria. Stefan could swear he had seen her before but he couldn't exactly remember when or where. "Klaus Mikaelson and Stefan Salvatore! To what do I owe this pleasure?" the woman greeted them.

"Well I need your help with a little something. I broke the hybrid curse but the only point to have broken the curse was to make more hybrids but I can't seem to do that. Care to explain what seems to be causing the problem?" Klaus stated slightly irritated. He had already tried turning some werewolves during their journey but none of them seemed to pull through the transition. Half of the pack he turned went rabid and other half just bled out.

"You killed the vampire? The werewolf? The doppelganger? And did your witch use the moonstone?" the witch asked cautiously while looking through some books that seemed to be grim moirés.

Klaus nodded and then glanced at Stefan who looked like hell. Probably hearing the doppelganger was dead was still too much for him. "Mate why don't you go out and grab lunch for us? We have a long day ahead of us" Klaus added as he motioned Stefan to leave.

Stefan didn't want to leave the conversation in the middle but meddling with Klaus would only seem to infuriate him further so he went out when he glanced around for the perfect meal but instead saw a familiar face. Katherine Pierce

"What the hell are you doing here?" Stefan asked as he walked up to her across the street from the witch bar.

"Don't you two look chummy?" Katherine retorted leaning against the lamp post. "Klaus you're new besty?" she added tauntingly.

"You know, if he finds out you're in Chicago, you're dead" he stated trying to ignore her snarky comments.

"Happy to know you still care! I thought you would've moved on with Caroline." She spoke as she played with the ends of her hair, "So tell me if I'm wrong. Klaus is looking for a necklace. That's the necklace you gave to Elena."

Stefan pursed his lips together forming a thin line. "Goodbye Katherine!" he added and began to move away until she blocked his way saying, "Hey Hey Hey wait! You're up to something tell me?"

"I happen to know where it is but too bad for Klaus. He'll never know. Now goodbye Katherine" he stated and began walking away from her but this time he wasn't stopped. She began walking beside him.

"Tell me that's not your big diabolical plan" spoke as she began pacing behind him, "Anyways I know you'll figure it out. Why is the baby vampire here? Is she Klaus' new play toy?" she asked sarcastically with a hint of jealousy.

Stefan didn't reply and kept walking until she grabbed his arm and turned him to look at her directly, "Look Stefan whatever you're planning … you've got to be careful about Klaus' sister. She'll ruin you!" she warned.

"I know that more than anything Katherine. But I'm not going to do something that's going to risk not only my life but also Caroline's. She is my responsibility now" He stated trying to convince himself more than Katherine.

"If Klaus had his eyes set on her, you should forget her and move on! Save yourself. You'll get hurt in between all this" Katherine warned as she looked around for signs of Klaus and his minions.

Stefan forced a smile and moved away from her again towards the bar, crossing the road in between yelling "Happy to know you still care!"

"Where have you been mate?" Klaus asked as Stefan approached him. He was sitting outside the bar.

Stefan chose to ignore his question and answered with another one of his questions, "Did you get kicked out?"

Klaus chuckled slightly and then got up and wrapped his arm around Stefan's neck in a friendly manner as they both started strolling down the street back towards their hotel.

"What do you plan to do with Caroline? I will not let any harm come to her Klaus. I mean it" Stefan questioned and then threatened Klaus as they entered the lobby of the hotel.

Klaus was impressed by his loyalty towards her and her loyalty towards him. This was the kind of loyalty he wanted, he needed and he would have it. "Well Stefan I second you on that. I will not let any harm come to either of you as long as you both behave and come along with me on my terms"

It was clear to Stefan that Klaus wasn't going to let them both back anytime soon. But there was at least a silver lining to these dark clouds. He would not let any harm come to them or at least he wouldn't kill them. At least it was a start for Stefan. Now he had to make sure only to get Caroline out of this mess safely.

Caroline woke up, not long after Klaus and Stefan left. She had slept pretty well and even though she tried to stay in bed, her body was forcing her to get out. She was actually tired of sleeping if that was even possible. At first she was startled by her surroundings then she found a note on her bedside.

Don't worry Caroline. Klaus has taken me somewhere. Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone.
There are some clothes in the bag underneath the bed. I'll be back soon. Hopefully.
- Stefan

Of course it had to be Klaus, she thought to herself. She took a long, soothing shower, washing away all her worries and enjoying the hot bath while it lasted. She then changed into the clothes that were in the bag. She knew these clothes were the grace of Klaus considering the length of the short she wore but right now she didn't have much of a choice. It was either bloodied, ripped, designer clothes from home or new skanky, designer clothes from Klaus. She'd always go for the new ones.

After getting ready an idea popped into Caroline's mind. While Klaus and Stefan were gone, she was alone so she could at least contact back Mystic Falls to tell them to be extra careful and to not look for them and to talk to her mom and to calm her down. She quickly slipped out of the bedroom and wandered around the penthouse looking for a phone. Her cell phone would obviously be in Klaus' back pocket and after searching forever she finally found a landline. But her hopes were once again crushed because the line was dead. She cursed Klaus for being so careful and then decided that she had to contact back home and for that she'd just have to make a move even though in the back of her mind Stefan's words 'Don't do anything stupid' were roaming around but this wasn't stupid technically. She would just be utilizing Klaus' absence.

With that she carefully stepped out the penthouse and looked right left for any sign of Klaus or Stefan. When she saw no one she moved to her right towards the elevator, maybe she could go downstairs and compel the staff to let her use the phone without reporting it to a badass hybrid. As soon as she pressed the elevator button, she heard someone clear their throat behind her. At first she thought it would be Klaus and she was so busted but when she turned around she couldn't control but let out a sigh of relief to see an unfamiliar face.

"Where do you think you're going?" the man asked as he stood behind her with his arms crossed over his chest.

"I don't think I'm answerable to you" Caroline shrugged and pressed the button a couple of times waiting for the lift.

The guy looked at her and replied, "Klaus left me in charge to take care that you don't run away. You need to get back inside or else…"

He wasn't allowed to complete as Caroline curled up her lip and showed him her fangs and the veins became obvious under her eyes as they began to redden. "Or else what?" she hissed.

He lunged forward at her, displaying his own vampire features. He tried to drag her back to the room but she struggled and tackled him to the ground. They kept clawing and tackling each other. Caroline moved her hand forward to punch him but he caught her hand and twisted her arm, breaking her bones. She screamed in pain as he dragged her back into the penthouse and threw her onto the floor in the living room. Caroline landed flat on her stomach but recovered instantly and looked around for a weapon and found a wooden table right next to her.

Without any hesitation, she broke the leg of the table and leapt forward, stabbing the vampire in the stomach. "You bitch" he spat.

It only angered her more and she moved towards the table and broke the other leg and this time she aimed for the heart until she heard a voice at the door of the room.