6) Ultimate Torture
Shout out to my lovely friend, Mickey95 and her amazing writing skills. Thank you for updating your story. Here is your reward. ;)
28 hours, 24 minutes and 30 seconds had passed since Elena had started hallucinating her own brother. Her poor, dead brother coming to her and telling her he hated her. Then her parents told her they hated her. It was too much to her. She tried to kill herself but there was simply no way to kill herself while she was there. She was trapped in this endless torture.
By now, all of them were sick and tired of hearing Elena cry and scream every two seconds. Even Bonnie was ready to kill Elena herself to relieve her of the pain. However, Caroline still believed that they could get through this. Somewhere, 20 hours ago, Rebekah had placed Stefan and Caroline in one cell, Bonnie and Matt in the other while Elena alone in the last one. Caroline was so sure it was just a move by the blonde original to get her brother pissed off.
Caroline had held Stefan and comforted him and said, 'It'll be okay' which was had become her encouragement slogan for practically everyone in the room. Even with all of her reassurances, the younger Salvatore was dull and sad. Of course he would be. He had killed his own brother. Then again a part of Caroline wondered if this was Klaus' punishment. Having each person kill their loved ones. It was her fault Tyler died. Stefan killed Damon and now Elena killed Jeremy.
She was brought out of her thoughts when the devil decided to open his big mouth again. Hadn't he done enough already?
"Hello my lovelies" Klaus said as he strode towards the group. His sister seemed less enthusiastic and took a chair at the exit of the cellar, looking at her nails disinterestedly.
Caroline resisted the urge to groan out loud but simply rolled her eyes. She moved her head from Stefan's chest and chose to simply sit beside him, avoiding Klaus' gaze. She didn't need to give him new reasons to punish Stefan.
"Don't you all look sad?" Rebekah commented dryly still not gazing up from her nails.
No one replied her. Not even Caroline because, truth be told, they were all scared of the implications of their actions.
"Well?" Rebekah said expectantly, finally looking up from her nails. "No witty comments today?" she questioned tauntingly. "Not even from you Caroline?" she asked teasing her.
The baby vampire looked up and glared the original with so much hatred. If looks could kill, Rebekah Mikaelson would have been one dead vampire. Sensing the tension between the two, Stefan placed a hand on Caroline's shoulder and shook his head at her.
"Isn't this heart touching" Rebekah commented sarcastically and looked to see her brother clenching his fists in anger.
"Elena. How are you doing? Have the hallucinations started yet?" she asked in a bitter-sweet voice.
Elena was sobbing in a corner, hugging her knees to her chest. She looked like the definition of ultimate torture.
"No answer?" Rebekah asked feigning hurt and placing a hand over her heart dramatically.
She turned to her brother who was busy glaring the younger Salvatore. This was so boring. It was only interesting killing Jeremy and now Elena would die either way. "Everyone is on mute today. What about you witch?" she said turning towards Bonnie and Matt.
Again. No answer. She sighed and rubbed her temples in frustration. "I think I'm going to go get some reinforcements." She said with a menacing smile. With that said she walked out leaving her brother to all the fun. But not before un-compelling Stefan.
"Stefan mate. How would you like a little blood?" Klaus asked suddenly as an idea popped into his mind.
The younger Salvatore's interest peaked at the suggestion. There was a glimpse of the old Stefan again before he went back to the reserved, cold form of himself.
"Stay away from him Klaus. You've done enough" Caroline hissed standing up in front of her friend even though it was very hard to do so. She hadn't had a drop of blood since so long and with Klaus standing so near, she could feel his blood pumping through his veins and the warmth of his body. She just wanted to press herself against him and bite into his neck.
The veins under Caroline's eyes appeared and her fangs shot out. Klaus smirked and in flash he was in front of her. He stared into her eyes. "You will not move from her unless I say so and you will obey my every single command" he ordered softly as the pupils in his eyes dilated along with hers making sure his compulsion was working.
She blankly repeated his words before realization struck her and her eyes watered. Klaus compelled her. He compelled her. She again felt like the time Damon compelled her to do his bidding. Like he compelled her to obey his every sick command.
Stefan stood up. "Blood for everyone" he negotiated standing up. And in front of Caroline protectively. He was now the only barrier between Caroline and Klaus.
Klaus narrowed his eyes at the vampire and grabbed him by his throat before throwing him into the opposite wall. "Klaus stop!" Caroline pleaded again as more tears slipped her eyes.
"Come here love" Klaus ordered with a flick of his fingers.
Caroline's feet started moving against her accord and she walked over and stood in front of Klaus. He wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs and kissed her cheek softly and much to his dismay, she jerked her head away from his touch.
He turned her and pulled her in so that her back collided with his chest. He placed his hands on her shoulders and moved his lips to her ear. "I told you there would be consequences if you interfered" he whispered low enough for only the two of them to hear. Caroline eyes' widened and she began shaking her head.
"No! Please no!" she mumbled.
"Shh! Shh!" he cooed her massaging her shoulders gently. "Stay here. Not a word" he told her before he grabbed Stefan from his collar and brought him out of the cell into the open space.
"What do you want me to do Klaus?" Stefan asked tiredly. "What is it that I have to do so you'll give us all blood?" he asked now angrily glaring Klaus.
Klaus smirked. He could see a flicker of 'the ripper'. He was sure just a little more pushing and Stefan would go back to his 20s head ripping self. "It's simple really. I need you to let me help you" he said feigning innocence. "I need you to turn it off" he said as if talking about the weather.
Everyone seemed baffled by the suggestion but only Stefan remained stoic. "So what's it going to be?" Klaus asked after a while of silence.
"I'll do it" he said and like that all hope shattered for Caroline. He believed that they would all only be able to escape if Stefan led them. If they all kept a positive attitude. But it was true, she was indeed living in her own fantasy world.
Just like that Stefan closed his eyes and a tear fell down his cheek. "I'm sorry Care" he whispered before he opened his eyes. All warmth left his eyes and a certain dangerous vibe came off of him.
"Welcome back ripper" Klaus greeted with a smirk and went forward to hug Stefan who smirked in a very evil manner that screamed, 'I have turned off my emotions and I don't care about anything'.
To everyone's surprise Stefan hugged him back with a malicious grin. "It's good to be back Nik. But you didn't give me much of a choice. Did you?" he asked sarcastically.
Klaus held up his hands. "Guilty as charged. Now as I promised." He said and went to unlock Matt and Bonnie's cell. "You held up your end of the bargain. I'll hold up mine" he said dragging Matt up to his feet. He threw Matt roughly towards the emotionless vampire and opened his arms wide. "Have at it my friend" he offered.
Then turned to Caroline. "You can speak now love" he wasn't even finished before the pleading began.
"Klaus no! You can't do this! NO!" she shouted at him angrily and emotionally as tears streamed down her, now, pink cheeks.
Klaus held up his hands in mock surrender. "I'm not doing anything love. It's your beloved friend Stefan" he said feigning innocence. "Why don't you stop him?" he asked sarcastically.
Caroline looked at Stefan with pleading eyes. "Stefan don't. This isn't you!" She screamed at him angrily. "You don't kill people. You don't hurt them. This is Matt. You won't hurt him. He's your friend. We're all your friends" she told him hoping she could get through to him.
Stefan looked up at her with a horrified expression and for a moment Caroline thought his emotions were back on but then he started laughing menacingly. "He's food Caroline. Not our friend" he corrected. He turned to Klaus. "And you thought I needed to turn off my emotions" he said sighing before he sank his fangs into Matt's neck.
"Klaus stop him! I'll do anything just stop him!" Caroline screamed at him before she could stop herself.
"Will you feed on your mother?" came Rebekah's response as she came into view dragging behind her Liz Forbes still in her sheriff uniform.
Caroline's eyes widened and her breathing became hard. Suddenly every bit of calmness and hope left her and she was literally ready to go down on her knees and beg them if she had to save her mother's life.
"Mom!" Caroline cried out trying to fight the compulsion placed on her. To move from her place. To go over to Rebekah and snap her neck. To save her mom and to leave Mystic Falls. To do anything than stand there, watch like a puppet.
"Caroline" her mother choked out watching her daughter's pale face. She had spent days looking for Caroline and her friends but there was no sign. She had, at first, assumed they had all gone to try and save the world again but she knew something was wrong when a whole day had passed by and her daughter hadn't called back.
"You brought me another snack?" Stefan asked as he dropped a barely alive Matt to the floor. "How lovely" he complimented and gazing at Rebekah lustfully.
Rebekah looked at him and then at her brother but Klaus was too focused on Caroline to notice anyone else. "You've turned off your emotions" she stated. Not shocked. Of course Nik would want his 20s best friend back.
Stefan shrugged. "I think it was long overdue. Nik just pushed me in the right direction" he said staring at Liz with his vampiric face.
"Stay away from my mother Stefan!" Caroline screamed in protest without ever looking away from her mother.
Klaus watched in wonder as Caroline fought for her mother's life. The spirit in her eyes. The fire in her eyes to save her mother. He wanted the same thing from her. "What are you willing to do for your mother?" Stefan asked tauntingly.
"Are you, perhaps, willing to be Nik's whore for the rest of eternity if he frees your mother?" Rebekah asked deliberately trying to reel the blonde in.
"No Caroline don't you dare answer that" her mother warned shaking her head and trying to free her body of Rebekah's hold.
Caroline could only sob and she looked to Klaus for any support. That he would maybe stop Rebekah from offering such vile solutions but once again all her hope shattered when she saw Klaus' intense look, as if daring her to expose her answer.
"Yes"
Rebekah smiled maliciously and threw Caroline's mother towards her brother. "Make the trade" she whispered in his ear.
Stefan watched as Liz struggled in Klaus' arms and so did Caroline from her spot. But he could hardly focus on anything other than the melodic sound of blood pumping Matt and Liz's veins. He knew going after Liz would cause his death so he walked over to Matt and pulled him up.
"I guess it's goodbye for you Matt" Stefan whispered before biting into his bleeding neck again. He ignored Elena and Bonnie's protests and the gasp that Rebekah left when Matt's heartbeat finally stopped. He dropped the lifeless body onto the floor with a loud thud and inhaled deeply trying to catch his breath.
"Matt" Caroline whispered brokenly as she fell on her knees. A slight disobey from the original compulsion. But it didn't matter. Another one of her friends was dead.
"I'm still hungry" Stefan commented bored and looked to Klaus expectantly. Klaus merely shrugged noticing Stefan and looked over to Rebekah. "Get the ripper a nice little snack" he told her dismissingly.
Rebekah rolled her eyes but flashed out along with Stefan. Klaus looked into Liz' eyes and compelled her to stay at her spot and be quiet before walking to Caroline.
"Do you really think so low of yourself?" he asked surprised that she had said yes to Rebekah's vulgar offer.
Caroline up at him with watery eyes. "If it comes down to my mom's life, I'd do anything for her" she spat at him.
Klaus bent down and kneeled to her level. "I would never use you like that." He told her hurt by her tendency to think that he would make her choose between her mother's life and her dignity. "I want a companion Caroline, not a slave" he hissed at her.
Caroline looked at him confused. "You won't hurt my mom if I don't?" she asked stammering slightly.
"No"
"However, it does not mean that you are completely off the hook sweetheart" he said and just like that evil heartless Klaus was back, instead of the Klaus who drew her pictures and told her reassuring stories of the world's beauty. "You still have to learn your lesson" he told her with a small smirk playing on his face.
The evil glint in his eyes scared Caroline. "I want you to take a bite sweetheart" he said with a dimpled smile pointing towards Liz.
Caroline shook her head. "No. No. Please" she pleaded still shaking.
"Do it"
She shook her head again.
"Do it or I'll compel you to kill her" he informed her emotionlessly.
Sobs shook Caroline body and she cried harder at the prospect of feeding on her own mother. She knew she wouldn't be able to stop.
"Klaus. She didn't know about Kol's death. Let her go" Bonnie spoke up trying to save her friend. They had all ruined the bright, young Caroline Forbes by making her Klaus bait.
"Not a word witch or I'll kill Abby before you can even blink" he warned her grinning satisfied at her wide eyed reaction.
Caroline looked up at him. "Please Klaus. Don't make me do this" she begged him, because she knew her giving in would mean the end for her mother.
"Shh love. It will all be over soon" he whispered as he extended his fangs pierced the skin of Liz' neck, making the blood ooze out. Klaus licked his lips and smiled with all his hybrid features on display. "You really should try her. She tastes delicious" he commented cruelly before ushering Caroline forward.
Caroline broke the compulsion and kneeled in front of her mother. "I'm sorry for dragging you in to this mom. I'm so sorry" she apologized sobbing softly but not moving closer with her being on blood withdrawal and her mother's bleeding neck so close.
Liz nodded understandingly and smiled at her daughter before reaching out and stroking her hair. "It's okay baby. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you" she apologized.
Klaus watched the interaction with fascination. He had never seen true parents' love. His trying to kill him and all. But what he was watching between Caroline and her mother was definitely something else.
Caroline sobbed harder and buried her face in her mother's chest, crying. She didn't want this life. She never wanted this life. A life where she had no control, no choice and no opinion. She had been forced to turn into a vampire by Katherine, then trained by Stefan to eat that dreadful bunny diet and now she was being forced to feed from her mother by Klaus.
Liz Forbes stroked her daughter's hair. "I'm sorry Caroline" she said sincerely. "Always remember that where there is dark, there is always light and there is always a way to fight the darkness" she said sparing a glance to Klaus who looked deep in thought. "You will never turn your back on everything I taught you. Promise?" she asked looking at her daughter with a small smile.
Caroline cried and nodded weakly before latching onto her mother again. Suddenly Liz pushed her way and out of nowhere jammed a pocket knife into her own carotid artery. Caroline looked up to see her mother's blood spilling everywhere. "Mom!" she screamed and tried to head to her mother but Klaus flashed to her and held her back.
"Oh my God!" Bonnie gasped out covering her mouth with her hand.
"No let go of me!" Caroline struggled against Klaus but she was not even a match for his strength. "Mom! No! Mommy!" she cried out as she heard her mother's dimming heartbeat. She could not hear anything other than the pumping of her mother's slow heartbeat.
Klaus held her tightly to prevent her from helping her mother or losing control. He knew that Liz was going to die either way. That was given but if Liz was killed after Caroline fed on her, she would be shattered and would no longer be the usual Caroline. So his grip on her didn't falter until the older woman's heartbeat faded away.
As soon as Klaus let go of her, Caroline raced to her mother. Ignoring the intoxicating scent of the rich scarlet liquid around her, she bit into her own wrist and pressed it against her mother's parted lips. Her mother's body seemed too cold but she ignored the fact and massaged her mother's throat to get some blood down.
She held her mother's body and rocked it against her, murmuring apologies and what not.
After what seemed like centuries, Klaus walked over to her. "She's dead sweetheart" he whispered softly.
Caroline shook her head, unwilling to look at him. "No! She's not. My blood will heal her. It's just taking a little time" she denied brushing her mother's hair softly.
"Look at me love"
Caroline turned her gaze away from her mother to the wall, choosing to ignore him.
It annoyed him to no end that she wasn't looking at him, so he grabbed her chin between his thumb, forefinger and middle finger and forced her to meet his gaze. "She's gone Caroline and there's nothing you can do about it" he told her harshly but something about his gaze told her it was much more than guarantee he was giving her. He was… showing her what it meant for him to lose Kol.
"This is not all about his death, is it?" she asked and somehow she felt stupid for asking it. "This is about control. The control you had over everything that happened until Kol got killed" she said realizing what his stupid game was all about.
"He didn't get killed" Klaus hissed. "He was killed by you lot!" he bit out angrily.
"He was going to kill Jeremy. It was self-defense" she argued. The fire in her eyes shone brightly.
Klaus scoffed. "Consider this revenge" he said answered.
"What about Stefan, Damon, Tyler, Matt, my mom?" She asked, tearing up at the mention of her deceased mother. "What did they do to deserve this? It was only Jeremy and Elena who killed Kol. Why did you punish the rest of us?" she inquired feeling an onslaught of emotions inside of her.
Klaus actually pondered about that before turning he looked at her. "I didn't punish you" he pointed out.
Caroline scoffed. "Killing everyone I know is punishment enough" she bit out.
"Elena's alive. Bonnie's alive" he stated amused by her rant. "For now" he added darkly.
"What are you waiting for then?" she asked suddenly feeling like there was nothing worth living for. All her friends were dead or soon-to-be dead, her mom was gone and nothing was ever going to alright ever again. "Kill me" she spat out, knowing it was the closest she'd ever be to her mom, her friends and Tyler.
Klaus looked at her with a soft expression. She looked so young and vulnerable to him with her pink, wet cheeks, blonde locks falling everywhere, her beautiful pale skin and her innocent blue eyes. He stooped low to her level and wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumb very softly and carefully. He tucked the blonde hair behind her ears and waited for her to push him away. But she didn't.
It was then that it dawned on him that she was in a truly exposed state, trying to seek comfort and companionship from wherever she could fine.
"I don't want to kill you Caroline" he said softly. "I don't even want to hurt you" he added, stroking her cheek with his hand. "I'm trying to help you" he uttered and Caroline listened to each word like he was putting a spell on her.
"Then why did you do all this?" she asked. Her voice similar to that of a lost and terrified child.
He shook his head and stroked her hair with one hand while cupping her cheek with the other. "I didn't do this Caroline" he denied tenderly. "It's your friends who did this. Elena and Jeremy killed Kol with the help of Bonnie" he told her as if she didn't know. "They were both resilient enough to protect themselves against the revenge Rebekah would seek for Kol's death. However, you weren't. You are strong but not enough to handle two originals. They put you at danger when they attacked Kol" he told her and Caroline was actually considering his words as if he was putting her under a spell.
Klaus could see Caroline trying to absorb this new information. Of course, it was easier to manipulate her into thinking like he wanted her to. Her mind and body both were exhausted and weak. It was the perfect opportunity to make her understand where she stood in her little gang of misfits.
"No, they're my friends" she argued. But it was like she was trying to convince herself more than anyone else. She turned her head to look at Elena who was sobbing in the corner of her cell and Bonnie who was giving Klaus a horrified look and shaking her head.
"He's lying Care. We love you" the Bennett witch tried to reassure her friend.
Klaus gently cupped her face and brought her vision back to his eyes. "They're lying Caroline. Don't you see?" he asked. "They've always been lying to you. They didn't tell you about Stefan and Damon. They didn't even save you from Damon when he used you" he explained to her. "I only killed Damon to take revenge for what he did to you. Because unlike them I truly do care for you" he expressed and watched Caroline stick to every word he said.
"They… Elena helped me" she told him, confused. Her mind was buzzing. What was happening to her?
"When Elena found you, she told Damon which is why he hurt you in return even when you told Elena to leave the matter alone." He explained. "She got you hurt" he concluded. "Then she asked Damon to give you his blood which turned you into a vampire. You could've been living a carefree, human life oblivious to all this danger if Elena had kept the Salvatores away from you" he enunciated.
"Elena… did this to me?" Caroline asked brokenly looking to the brunette who was crying hysterically, most probably, having another hallucination.
"She did" Klaus confirmed and gently titled her head back. He leaned in closer to her. He watched as her lips parted and she closed her eyes as his breath fanned across her face. He pricked the skin of his thumb with his fang, drawing blood and pressed it against the blonde's supple pink lips. "Have at it sweetheart" he whispered softly as he watched her eyes flutter open briefly.
Caroline hesitated before obeying and drawing his bloodied thumb into her mouth. As soon as his blood hit her tongue, it was like fireworks exploded within her. She sucked like she had been thirsty, stuck in a desert for months and just reached an oasis. She ran her tongue over the small puncture of his skin and lapped up all the blood, sucking it like her life depended on it. She savored the taste of it and swirled her tongue around his wound to gather all the rich elixir.
All too soon, Klaus pulled his thumb out of her mouth and watched her pout momentarily before he gave her a look indicating that the amount she had taken was enough for her.
"How do you feel sweetheart?" he asked running his wet thumb from her lips to her jaw down her throat, leaving her a quivering mess.
Caroline closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. The blood, his presence and his intoxicating smell making her feel dizzy. "More" she rasped out. Her breathing heavy and her chest heaving. "I want more" she said again opening her eyes and staring into his eyes.
Klaus smiled slightly. He could already see the hunger and the lust overtaking sense of all her emotions. Yes, she was now almost ready. He stood up and offered his hand to Caroline. "Come on love" he said wrapping his arms around her waist to pull her up. She clung to him, desperate not to fall. But the action seemed to have opposite effect on him. He pulled her closer and leaned in bringing his mouth at her ear. "Hold onto me sweetheart" he whispered and Caroline barely had time to register before everything around them blurred and he flashed them elsewhere.
She gripped him tightly before everything around them came to a stop. She let go of him and tried to get away from him, only to stumble along her steps. He held up his hands, showing surrender and took a step closer to her. "Easy sweetheart. You're not in the condition yet to run a marathon" he teased lightly.
Caroline pointed her finger at him. "N-no" she stuttered, her eyelids drooping. "Y... you're responsible for all of this"
"I'm not. I'm here to help you" he said coming closer to her.
Caroline backed away from him and her steps kept going backward until her back hit a tree. Klaus walked towards her until she was trapped between his body and the tree. He slowly brought his hand up to her face and brushed the fallen tendrils of blonde from her face. He could already see the starting signs of desiccation in her. A few more hours and she would be completely immobile.
"Calm down sweetheart" he cooed gently. When she finally did, he smiled at her. But it was a smile that sent chills down her spine. "There's a good girl" he commented, his hand buried in her hair.
Caroline looked around. It was definitely night time and they were definitely in the woods. What were they doing in the woods? "Why did you bring me here?" she asked realizing that his intentions maybe weren't as pure as she had thought.
"You said you wanted more" he reasoned with a smirk. He tilted his neck and gestured with his free hand. "Have at it sweetheart" he whispered alluringly.
She looked at him with wide eyes. Was he serious? She looked at him before glancing at his neck. Subconsciously, she licked her lips at the sight of his neck. She could practically hear and see the blood rushing through his carotid artery.
Thump Thump.
Caroline moved her face closer to his neck. Her mind was screaming at her to go back, to run, and to hide but right now she could only hear the thumping of his blood. His warm bodies sending shivers down her backbone. "I c-can't" Caroline protested, her eyes still fixated on the throbbing vein in his neck.
"Yes you can sweetheart. Go on" he encouraged in reply.
Caroline tried to block everything out. Including the sound of his heart pounding against his chest, his blood flowing through his body and his taunting voice.
"You know you want to" he taunted. That was when she lost all control and leaned it impossibly close to his neck. Her eyes fluttered as she inhaled his scent. Everything was wrong but it felt so right. She placed her mouth at his neck, right above his pulse point. She didn't hesitate before she buried her fangs into his neck, cutting through his soft skin.
As soon as the blood hit her tongue, she felt her knees go weak. For once she was glad for the grip Klaus had on her otherwise she would've fallen down. She sucked his blood greedily, knowing that it was actually giving her life. It was like her throat was burning but his blood was extinguishing the fire in its path. The thirst she felt was very similar to when she had been turned and she had taken the blood at the hospital. Only then she felt disgusted, whereas now, she like it was all perfectly alright.
Klaus smiled, relishing the feeling of her fangs buried inside his throat. He buried his nose in her messed, blonde curls, inhaling her sweet scent. His hand stroked her hair while the other lay possessively on her waist, holding her upright against the bark of the tree.
He let her have her fill, until he started feeling dizzy. He knew a few more minutes and she'd completely drain him dry. He could hear her soft moans as she savored the taste of his blood which made his smirk widen. Knowing that she had had enough, Klaus pulled away only to hear her growl. He chuckled lightly keeping her head back. He looked at her intently, watching her bloodshot eyes and her bloodied mouth. In his eyes she had never looked more beautiful.
"Magnificent" he uttered before placing both his hands on her cheeks and snapping her neck.