Just a warning, this chapter has suggestions of violence (has actual violence) and alludes to psychological torture. If any of those are triggers for you, please be aware.

"Wakey, wakey!"

A booted foot caught him in the ribs and Damon groaned. He didn't remember what it was like to be human, but this might've been what a three day bender felt like; if human benders smelled like rotted meat and old blood. Cracking open his burning eyes, he blinked in an attempt to focus. He was in the boarding house's basement and there were bloodied tennis shoes next to his face. Tilting his head, he forced himself to focus on his attacker.

"You're dead."

Kol Mikaelson laughed and kicked him again. "Technically, we're both dead. I was just less corporal for a bit. What's a few years to immortality?"

"If you die again," Rebekah snapped as she walked in, "next time, you can stay dead."

Kol spread his arms. "Now, now. It's okay to admit you missed me without the threats."

Rebekah glared at him. "You were taken out by the doppelgänger. Not even the smart one, but Elena Gilbert."

"Occasionally, even stupid, desperate people get lucky." Kol shrugged. "Don't fret, little sister. Should Nik ever let us slip our leashes, I'll be happy to bring you to my delayed chat with her."

"As much as I'm enjoying the family reunion - with the usual pointless threats," Damon drawled from the floor. "Why don't you get out of my house and have it somewhere else."

Kol kicked him again. "I didn't say you could talk. And Salvatore, my threats are never pointless. How long will Caroline stand between your precious doppelgänger and my family?"

Rebekah buffed her nails on her shirt. "She already renounced her claim on Lockwood. How long has it been since she cared what any of you have done?"

"No comment?" Kol asked, shoving Damon onto his back. "I give you permission to speak."

Damon rolled onto his side and groaned. "Who's rotting on my floor? And why are you here? I would have thought you'd have left as soon as the ground had settled. Although I suppose it was more like the ashes cooled."

"I thought we could chat." Klaus cut in, stepping into Damon's view. Kol grinned wildly and bowed mockingly.

"Nik! It wakes!" Kol motioned to Damon with one hand. "Are we letting him in on the plan now?"

Damon tried to get a read on the Originals, but their demeanor's were off. Their usual behavioral patterns weren't matching what he was used to dealing with. If they were this angry at him, Stefan should have been pulling pieces of him from the woodwork.

"My family asked to join in on our discussion. We haven't spent as much quality time together as we'd like. You were very accommodating. I'm sure the particulars will surface later."

Kol tugged on Rebekah's hair; laughing as he dodged her punch. "It was fun."

Rebekah smoothed her braid. "Family bonding. We manage to tolerate each other, at least when we're torturing other people."

Damon sat up slowly. "What's this about? Your precious Barbie isn't here. She left three days ago, after putting her mama in the ground. Rather unexpected - but then so was the way she torched the house."

Klaus ignored him, eyes narrowed as he walked over. For the first time since he woke, Damon's insides knotted. An enraged Klaus was predictable with his violence. A cold, rational Klaus was a different animal. A dangerous one.

"What you smell is what's left of the boy who killed Liz Forbes." Klaus said casually. "I imagine it'll take some time to get the bits of him out of your walls. You might need to replace the floors."

Kol tilted his head and squinted further into the room. "You might need to replace more than that."

Rebekah nudged him with her shoulder. "That's because you decided to paint the walls."

Kol shrugged. "It needed more color. Vampires heal fast."

Rebekah rolled her eyes. ""He was quite the screamer."

"Pity he didn't last longer." Kol said thoughtfully. "But you can only expect from so much from a brand new vampires. Transitioning is a tricky business when you wake with your mother between your teeth."

Damon shrugged, trying not to wince. "My brother is the one with the moral compass. Location aside, I'm not crying over here."

Rebekah lifted one brow. "Yet, you hid that information from Caroline."

"Now that was more our favorite witch." Damon corrected. "And what has Bonnie been doing that you're so chummy?"

Kol laughed. "Even if you find out, you'll find yourself unable to do anything about it."

Klaus tilted his head. "Did you know that Caroline called me?"

"What?" Damon asked, suddenly wary. "Is that how you ended up here? Look, Liz was my friend too. No one wanted her death."

"Caroline was in Berlin." Klaus put his hands in his pockets, posture casual. "I was in London at the time. Lovely city, even if parts are bit to modern for my tastes. I believe it'll be some time before I return."

Rebecca sighed. "Thankfully, we weren't in Paris or Milan. I'd have been furious about losing the shopping."

"Awe." Kol made a face. "I like the underground. So many people, so many possible horrors."

"As fascinating as this walk through the Original Touring Company is I'll pass." Damon grunted.

"You told a baby vampire with less than two decades of living that the person she loved most was dead." Kol clucked his tongue. "She was alone. We should've walked into a bloodbath. Ripper Caroline. Imagine the carnage - you'd still be dragging yourself about by your intestines."

Damon shifted uncomfortably, trying not to wince at that visual. "When did you become protective of Blondie? Klaus I understand..."

The lack of reaction from Klaus was really starting to worry him. He should have been missing his liver at this point. The hybrid didn't have this kind of control.

"Besides, she's obviously fine."

Rebekah arched both brows. "She burned her house down."

"I'm told it's therapeutic."

Klaus smiled, suddenly. As if he'd told a particularly amusing joke. "So is revenge."

"Is that why you're here?" Damon asked. "To kill me? Because I was the messenger?"

"Oh no, Damon." Klaus murmured. "See, Caroline didn't leave Mystic Falls three days ago. It's been nearly two weeks."

Damon froze.

"The vervain in your system would've worn off days ago - assuming we didn't bleed it out of you." Rebekah drawled, lips curving.

"Can't remember any of it?" Kol asked, his smile widening. "Don't worry. They'll come back. Eventually. I'd be cautious about sleeping."

"What did you do?" Damon forced his voice to stay steady, but the widening smiles in front of him said they saw through his bravado.

"It's more of a question of what we didn't do." Rebekah told him. "You can let us know later what you think. Don't be a disappointment and die on us, Damon."

"He won't be able to suicide." Kol reminded her. "That was our compulsion the first day."

"Ah, there were so many of them." Rebekah said maliciously. "I'm might've lost track."

Klaus crouched down, meeting Damon's defiant gaze head on. "Caroline is presently untraceable. The Bennett Witch made her a little charm, for emergencies. Curious thing, that."

"Blondie probably wanted to hide from you." Damon told him.

Klaus' smile never faltered. "A theory. Perhaps the right one. But witches, even witches who love their vampire friends, do not hand that spell out lightly. Pity Katherine is not here to enlighten you on the years she unsuccessfully tried to find someone who'd make her a charm."

"So Barbie is hiding." Damon said. "Not unusual for her. If you haven't noticed, she's spent the last two decades hiding."

"Damon, let me be clear." Klaus told him, eyes never leaving his face. "There are very few things that I miss. After a thousand years, there is nothing I haven't seen. A baby vampire has a certain set of instincts. Usually, they're very easily manipulated; too many sensations, too much bloodlust and all it takes is a little direction, a single spark. It's how we get our rippers. Not all of them are like Stefan; some simply enjoy the kill. There emotions are never turned off, they do not bury themselves under rules. It's a pity that they burn out so quickly. They're quite fun."

"A ripper is a ripper."

Klaus ignored him. "Now Caroline... Caroline is the exception to many of the rules. It's that stubbornness of hers, her need to be in control. But baby vampires are still so vulnerable. It's a pity your brother got to her first. It's taken years to reverse the worse of the damage."

Damon snorted. "Here I thought you liked that goody two shoes attitude of hers. What was it? Oh yes, she's full of light. Your lines are awful."

Something terrible crawled through Klaus' eyes, but he didn't move. "Children. Always assuming you cannot have darkness and light in the same being. What makes Caroline burn, what makes her shine so brightly is her capacity for caring. Her heart is as stubborn as she is, as loyal. Those things have to be eroded, have to be given away by choice. There are decisions some people are incapable of making."

Rebekah stared at Damon, blue eyes hard. "You and Stefan set her up to fail. Over and over."

"Hardly," Damon started. Klaus reached down and grabbed Damon by the throat, squeezing until he stopped speaking.

"A young vampire like Caroline does not flinch away from compulsion, Damon. Most over use it. Such a gift, to suddenly be handed the world. Even the strongest of wills crack with avarice. Even the most horrified of moralists will slake their bloodlust. But not one blonde, baby vampire."

Damon tried to grunt out a response, and Klaus tightened his grip.

"Magnificent, isn't she? Still, it has taken her far too many years to accept what lives in her skin. I blame this town. But more importantly, I blame you and Stefan. 'Be a good little vampire, Caroline. Then they'll still love you. The only way family will accept you is to hide.' How many years did you reinforce those messages with action with words?"

Damon rolled over, coughing as he was released. "Barbie seems to be adjusting fine."

Klaus put a boot on Damon's thigh and pushed until he heard bone snap. Damon screamed.

"No vampire is born without death. No transition is made without blood. Vampires are the monsters in the dark, the predators that have taken the burden of my family's gift and flourished. Equal opportunity killers, if you will."

"Great." Damon choked. "I'll be sure to tell her that next time I see her."

Klaus grinned, dimples flashing. "Damon. Damon. You're never going to spend time on the same continent with her again."

"How do you plan on accomplishing that?"

Klaus shrugged, casually crushing Damon's other femur. He paused, waiting until his screams turned to moans. "It's already done. Your sins have been judged, your punishment meted out. We're having this conversation because a man should know what he faces in the coming dark. But there is one question that remains unanswered."

"I'm breathless in anticipation." Damon managed.

Klaus leaned close and smiled. "What did you compel from Caroline, Damon?"

"I can't compel a vampire." Damon said carefully.

"Ah. But I'm speaking of human Caroline. More specifically, during the period of time that you dated."

Damon felt his muscles lock up. Klaus' affable expression disappeared under the yellow of the wolf. Damon licked his lips, but Klaus shook his head.

"Oh no, Damon. I don't expect that answer from you." Klaus braced his chin on his hand. "Not now."

"If you're so certain I compelled her, why not compel the truth out of me?" Damon tried.

"Nik likes Caroline to come to him." Kol said with a shrug. "I think he's trying to be romantic."

Rebekah sighed. "No. His previous romantic gesture was killing the Barcelona vampires, remember?"

Kol snapped his fingers. "That's right. Elijah was so offended. Although he supposedly thought the villa was a nice touch."

Klaus stood. "Patience can bring about many rewards. One day, Damon, I'll have my answers. When that happens, we'll revisit this conversation."

Klaus turned on his heel and headed to the door, and paused. Tilting his head, he met Damon's gaze. "I'd be careful what you think and say about Caroline in the future, Damon. Compulsion can be a nasty business and you were a guest in your own home for nearly two weeks."

Rebekah waved and followed her brother as he left. "Have fun. Kol, Elijah wants to do dinner. Change your shoes before you show up. You know how fastidious he is."

Kol saluted.

Damon clenched his hands fighting the terror in his gut; the lingering pain. Mind games. Just a stupid mind game.

Except the Original assholes never bluffed.

Kol reached over and hefted a bat. "Pity our time was so short. Ah well, Rebekah has agreed to let me play with Lockwood. He's made of studier stuff."

"Caroline..."

"Ah ah ah." Kol taunted. "Best be careful with that name. Rebekah is a spiteful bitch when she wants to be. And Nik apparently has these issues with people who make Caroline cry. Me - I could care less. Although it's fun how she's riles Nik up without trying. You can't ignore that kind of entertainment. Tragically, I've been told the doppelgänger is still off limits."

"Stay away from Elena." Damon snarled.

Kol reached down and patted his cheek, laughed when Damon swatted at him. "Oh, for now. But I'll be by in a few months to check on you. Klaus doesn't like his prey to forget they're being hunted."

"Go to hell." Damon bit out.

"Ah. You Salvatore brothers are such fun. Such spirit. Although I liked your brother more as the ripper. Enjoy your new existence, Damon. I can't wait to find out how you'll enjoy some of our suggestions."

Kol brought the bat down on his skull.

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