No pairing
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Salvatore Boarding House
"Are you okay?" Vicki asked, pulling Annabelle down the long hallway of the boarding house with her.
"No, my butt is on fire and Jeremy is missing or something. He promised he would take my calls. I called the house and no one is picking up," Annabelle explained. Her long black hair was matted around her face, but her eyes were troubled. Vicki had never seen her this worried.
"Yeah, I was worried about Matty, too," Vicki added hastily, hating to add to Annabelle's troubles. But there was no choice. Matt could be in trouble, too. "And then, I noticed this... and now I'm really freaked!"
Vicki pushed Annabelle into Katherine's room. It was a disaster of clothes thrown everywhere with make up and jewelry on all surfaces.
"What? It's always a mess," Annabelle noted.
"Check out the closet," Vicki said in a hush. "Her suitcase is gone and all of her good jewelry."
"Jeez...," Annabelle said, almost stumbling over a discarded hand bag, on her way to the closet. She opened it and it looked like there had been a robbery. Katherine's fine designer luggage was missing.
"She must have been in a hurry. I didn't even know she came back today," Vicki said. Katherine was often in and out of the mansion quietly unless she needed something. Then, that was everyone else's problem.
"She does that. Maybe she took stuff to Mason's place?" Annabelle reasoned.
"Maybe, but I already called Nadia. She was out getting supplies. She said she would pick me up to go look for Matty," Vicki said. "You might as well come..."
"But M-Mother!" Annabelle gasped. "I just got it for..."
"Look, if it's nothing, we can be back before she knows we're gone. If something is wrong, who cares?" Vicki expounded.
"You're right," Annabelle said. "We should go out your window. She can't see that from the greenhouse."
"Good thinking. You know, jumping out of windows is much easier when you're a vampire," Vicki quipped. "But we should hurry."
"Yeah, let me grab my bag and make it look like I'm pouting under the covers. That might buy us some time," Annabelle said. "Just in case."
Mikaelson Mansion
"Bonnie should have been here by now," Lucy fretted.
"We'll call from the road. We need to leave," Kol said, checking his watch. The sooner they left, the sooner they could get his siblings back and kill Tristan. That would be the icing on the cake.
"I'm tired," Julian complained, yawning on the couch.
Kol whispered, "You know, we could probably overpower them at this point."
Lucy nodded and answered quietly, "Ava is still wide awake, though. My gut is telling me that we need her, Kol. I'm sorry, but that is the truth."
"I know," Kol mumbled. "But I'm gonna catch such a thrashing for this. Worse than the time I...Oh, we don't have time for this."
Lucy chuckled.
"What?" Kol demanded.
"Nothing. It's just funny that you are more afraid of your brothers than the Strix," Lucy admitted.
"The Strix never caught me in a bawdy house with me drawers down," Kol recalled.
"What's a b-bawdy house?" Ava piped up.
Lucy almost laughed again to see Kol's face turn red.
"Never you mind. Let's get Damon and go," Lucy deflected. "I think the SUV is packed. I just wanted to wait for Bonnie to get here..."
"Damon! Mate, let's go," Kol called out, picking up a sleeping Indy from the couch. Damon had fed the horse and left food out of the dogs. There was no sign of Hayley anywhere.
Damon came out of the office. "I have the laptop and the maps and..."
"The grimoire," Kol finished. "Aye, now pick up Julian. He is down."
Damon frowned as he picked up the other twin.
"Ava, last chance to change your mind," Damon reminded her.
Ava felt her burn scar and sadly shook her head.
"There's really not a choice," Ava said in a faraway voice. "But can I sit in the front?"
"Not a chance, kid. It's not safe, you're too little. You know that," Damon said with a small smile.
"I know," Ava said, picking up her backpack. Lucy took her hand and they walked to the garage quickly.
"It's never so quiet in this place," Kol grumbled, shifting the child in his arms slightly.
"Yeah, it's creepy," Damon said, gulping. He hated leaving the others exposed and unconscious. The security team had shown up in force and men in armor were patrolling the grounds silently with large weapons.
The only sound in the house was the grandfather clock ticking.
Founder's Hall
Evening
The foyer of the large structure showed signs of a struggle taking place. Sheriff Forbes had let the pair of vampires into Founder's Hall after failing to locate the security guard. She had a key, as did everyone on the Founder's Council. A plaster bust of one of the original founders, a Lockwood perhaps, lay shattered. A nearby display case was cracked. Liz found the security guard knocked unconscious near the stairwell. Liz was about to call it in when she saw the blonde hair of her daughter. Not again!
Sheriff Forbes shook Caroline awake, none too gently.
"Oh my god!" someone shouted.
"Go look for the others!" Liz replied. Caroline was okay. She was a vampire now.
"Ahhhhh," Caroline moaned, her already pale face ashen.
"Honey, wake up! It's Mom," Liz said, starting to get frantic.
"Ah, my head!" Caroline moaned, her blue eyes groggy. "Mom, what happened? Why are you here?"
"You guys weren't picking up your phones. Thank goodness I put that tracker on your phone," Liz said, grateful that Caroline was okay.
"Where's Tyler? Bonnie?" Caroline asked, lifting her head to look around. It was slowly coming back to her. "They took Bonnie! Those witches. They did some freaking spell on us. I feel drained..."
Annabelle found the others in the large conference room, along the wall.
Nadia roused Mason, Katherine had been here. She could still smell her expensive perfume.
"Mason, where is she?" Nadia asked in a tight voice.
Tyler growled and crawled to Caroline. He helped her sit up and announced, "Katherine was behind this! She took that Gilbert device and had the witches mess with us. Uncle Mason, you are done with her!" Tyler fumed.
Mason rubbed the back of his head. "This is bullshit."
"Kiddo, I know you're ticked, but rein it in. We'll get to the bottom of this," Mason reassured him. "But you are right about one thing. This is bullshit."
Mason shrugged out of his suit coat.
"I'm done with this job. I only took it so my nephew didn't lose his inheritance," Mason said with emotion. "But I can't keep this town safe. I can't be sure, but there has to be some connection between Kathy and my brother and sister-in-law leaving. Can you find someone to cover for me, Sheriff?"
Liz nodded, "Yeah, sure, Mason. I'll do it myself if I have to. Go find the Lockwoods and bring them home."
Jeremy kicked the box they had found the device in.
"Now Bonnie is missing with my sister! I'm going, too," Jeremy added boldly.
"Then, I'm going," Annabelle nodded.
Nadia snarled, "And I'm going to find Katherine and drag her lying ass back here. I feel like a fool."
"I'm in. I can still smell the stink of those Strix. Wolves hunt in a pack. Right, Uncle Mason?" Tyler boomed.
"Right, Ty," Mason said. Then, he noticed the grief on Nadia's face. Her mother had left her. Again. The vampire might have been hundreds of years old, but at that moment, she looked like a scared, little girl.
Mason put a big hand on her arm.
"You and me both, Nadia," Mason said. "We loved Kathy and she left us again. But we're gonna find her and get to the bottom of this mess."
Nadia's lip quivered, but she put on a brave smile.
Sheriff heard a call on her radio and silenced it, after stepping away to speak to her officers and call an ambulance for the guard.
"Look, no one is going anywhere yet. I need to head over the Mikaelsons' place. A patrol officer said there is big security force there. But first, you need to tell me everything starting with the Gilbert device," Liz said using her best commanding officer voice. Her short blonde hair was sticking to her forehead.
"You know about that, Mom?" Caroline said.
Liz nodded, "There's a lot that the Founder's Council deals with. Now, let's get Ric over here. We have some digging to do. That's not the only artifact we had here, I'm sure."
Caroline watched as Jeremy called home and everyone else started digging those the box for clues.
Caroline took Liz aside, "Mom, you're not just trying to keep everyone here, right? I mean, is there something that could help us get Bonnie and Elena back?"
"Honey, this town has an arsenal of weapons for fighting vamps, wolves, and witches," Liz revealed. "But I'm going to need the blood from all five Founding families to open the vault."
"Forbes, Lockwood, Salvatore, Gilbert, and...?" Caroline rattled off.
"Fell. Meredith is probably at the hospital," Liz said dryly. "But there's something else."
"Seriously? What else? Jeez, Mom," Caroline groaned.
"I need Bennett blood, too," Liz added. "Emily sealed the vault before they burned her, that's what the story said anyway."
"That's horrible. The founders were freaking awful," Caroline hissed.
Caroline frowned and walked carefully to where Bonnie was attacked. Her vampire nose and eyes spotted something. She pointed.
"Bonnie's blood! Is that enough? Oh God, did they hurt Bonnie?" Caroline wailed.
"It has to be enough. Bonnie will be okay. She's a fighter," Liz said, wiping the sheen of sweat off her brow.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Elijah blinked as the blindfold was yanked off his face. His mouth was dry and a bottle of room temperature water was held in front of his face but a faceless guard.
Elijah drank and coughed, then surveyed his surroundings. He was in some kind of shipping container.
"Where is my sister and Elena?" Elijah croaked, still feeling weak and stiff from the bonds that held him.
Tristan de Martel sauntered in.
"Your sister? Ha, where is my darling sister? I thought her safe in Tibet, but alas the monks who cared for her are all...gone," Tristan said.
"Tristan, you little rat. You will die for this, you know," Elijah growled.
"Die? No, that's why we are here, Elijah. I don't wish to perish because of the silly follies of your ridiculous family. Do you know how easy it was to infiltrate your life? Child's play. If a lesser group had tried and pierced your heart with the white oak, I, along with my people, would be dead by now. We just can't risk it anymore. I'm sorry, really," Tristan said. He made as to lean against a crate and then noticed how dirty it was and remained standing. It galled Elijah that Tristan wore a beautiful suit, just like his sire. "Filthy place this."
"Yes, it is since you are here. Where are we?" Elijah asked tightly, unsure if the instability he was feeling was due to the drugs or something worse. "We're at sea!"
"Yes, we are, in fact. Oh, by now, we're probably somewhere near the Arctic Circle by now," Tristan prattled. "Did you really think Aya would betray me? I have the charter again. All is well and our plans to keep you safe and sound for the next century are in place. You see, we can't stop this prophecy. My witches tell me that a seer is never wrong. I wished things could have gone differently."
By the way Tristan looked up at the peeling paint in the ceiling, Elijah knew he was lying. He could always tell.
"Then, drop me in the ocean and be done with it," Elijah said easily, relaxing. He knew there were few things Tristan cared about...
"I would, but if I can't get to Niklaus then I will have to have the Sisters get the location of Aurora out of your mind," Tristan lilted. "So you bought yourself some time. I know you won't tell me where she is without motivation. Now, I can't kill Rebekah without killing Aurora, but I can hurt her, Elijah. You know that."
"Hurt her and I'll kill you slowly! Over centuries!" Elijah hissed, his eyes blazing with fury at the thought.
Tristan chuckled and fiddled with the diamond cufflink on his left hand.
"Ah, such passion. I wish you could still come to the Gala tomorrow. Speaking off, my helicopter shall be here shortly. Enjoy the ocean air and if I can't find your demented brother, I'll return sooner rather than later," Tristan remarked.
"Ah, Tristan," Elijah said, before his first progeny left.
"Yes, Elijah?" Tristan replied archly. He was supremely confident in his plans, but Niklaus kidnapping Aurora may have thrown him off. Elijah could possibly use that to his advantage.
"I am giving you one last chance to free me. We can still go to the gala. You can show me off. We'll trade sisters. No harm, no foul," Elijah suggested. "I can hold off Niklaus. You know that only I can do that. He's coming for you."
"Nay, my maker," Tristan snickered. "Not even you, can hold back that beast, not when someone has injured his pride. Plus, I made a deal with Lucien. Help get my sire and I'll help get his. He has a few bones to pick with Niklaus himself."
"So Lucien's goons were behind our kidnappings? I should have guessed," Elijah said bitterly.
"How do you think runs that security company you hired?" Tristan laughed. "Lucien has his fat fingers is many pots these days: real estate, security, and even science. When you wake up from your long nap, I'm sure he'll have taken over the continent, if not the world," Tristan boasted.
Elijah closed his eyes. If this evil plan worked, his children would be long dead by the time he was awoken. For not the first time, Elijah felt a stab of real fear. Then, he remembered who he was. Elijah Mikaelson.
"That sounds lovely, Tristan," Elijah said sarcastically. "But your plan will lead you to perdition. Mark my words."
"I've already been to perdition, the century I was compelled to believe that I was you. No matter what happens, nothing will be as rotten or disgusting as that," Tristan spat. "Good day, Elijah. Enjoy it as it is your last for a long, long time."
And for the first time that day, Elijah could tell that Tristan was speaking from the heart.
Arkansas Safe House
Klaus sucked in his breath. He hadn't been here since 1919 when he and Rebekah fled from New Orleans as it burned. It was still a seven hour drive into the city, but Klaus had to speak to Dorian and Emma. Plus, he had hidden something here that was very important.
Klaus drove up the drive and then dialed Dorian on his burner phone.
"I'm in the driveway," Klaus said brusquely.
"What?" Dorian asked in surprise. "I thought you were flying."
"I did, but I had then drop me off a little early. I will drive the rest of the way. I borrowed this truck from a friend," Klaus said with a small laugh. He had compelled an old man to give him his truck. Harsh, he knew, but he had bestowed on the man a bag of enough Spanish Doubloon to pay for ten trucks.
"Coming out," Dorian said.
A few moments later, Dorian and Emma came out. Emma looked worried and Dorian had his arm around her.
"Come in," Emma said warmly, putting on a brave face. "We have lunch set out."
"I can't stay. I'm afraid I have to grab something," Klaus said, brushing an imaginary piece of lint off his coat.
"We got into the safe and got the weapons out," Dorian explained. "What do you need?"
"Ah, I'm going to need a few minutes in the cellar. I will have a glass of that fine vintage when I come up. If you'll pardon me, I am sorry to intrude," Klaus said, in his most charming voice.
"Nonsense," Emma said. "We'll grateful for this place. I-I don't think we would have gotten far on our own. And I should probably cloak you."
"Yes, that would be lovely. A lot of my old contacts seem to be deceased and I couldn't see to find a witch willing to work with me, no matter the price," Klaus lamented.
Emma quickly extended the spell she had placed on herself and Dorian to include Klaus. He'd be covered as long as he was on the property, though he seemed itching to leave.
"It was the least we could do," Klaus said smoothly.
"Is there trouble? Something you are not telling us?" Dorian asked with a worried look. His dad always said his face would wrinkle before it's time, but Dorian could tell something wasn't right.
Emma stepped forward and put out her hand. Klaus hesitated and then let her clasp his hand.
"I suppose you have a right to know," Klaus said, looking Dorian in the eye.
Emma shuddered and her eyes rolled back in her head.
"Ah, no! They got them all. All they wanted. Bonnie, Elena, Elijah, Rebekah and you've been betrayed!" Emma gasped, putting her hand away like Klaus had scalded her.
"Yes, it was Aya. She turned," Klaus said sadly.
"No, it wasn't her...," Emma said, before passing out.
Klaus looked helpless for a moment. He needed Emma to contact his family and tell him more. He didn't trust the mobile phones, but Dorian was crouched down and Klaus helped him get Emma to the couch.
"I'll get her some water," Klaus murmured to the stricken looking man. "I'm sure she will be fine in but a moment."
Dorian nodded wordlessly and then pressed his lips to Emma's clammy head.
Undisclosed Location
Elijah's keepers fed him a tiny portion of blood and some kind of sandwich. His keen vampire ears picked up they were at a port and not at sea as Tristan had told him. Elijah's mind fought to stay in the present, but he was drugged and blindfolded again after his lunch. He didn't wake up until night fall. He heard the steps and then a brief scuffle.
"Took you long enough," Elijah muttered under his breath.
"Moi? I wanted for you for 800 years and you never came," Aya Al-Rashid snapped.
"Aya? I thought you turned on me!" Elijah gasped, still unable to see until she snatched the black cloth off over his eyes.
"No, I should have. I double-crossed Tristan," Aya smirked. "And I got the charter back. I gave Tristan a fake."
"It's dark out," Elijah noted, only able to see a thin slice of the night stars from a window. "Is my sister safe? And the girl? Please, tell me they haven't been harmed."
"They are fine. Tristan changed the plan on me, as he is like to do, but my people are with them now," Aya confirmed. "Did you know he really was going to drop Rebekah into the Black Sea?"
"That little monster. Please promise me that I shall have my revenge! No one hurts my family and lives," Elijah vowed.
"Yes, I am aware of your feelings on the matter. Now, we have to get you in a tux after we get those pesky chains off you. And you should probably take the time to bathe. You smell pretty ripe. The party is starting in a few hours and I have a lot to fill you in on," Aya said, breaking his chains with her gloved hands after a hooded figure spoke a spell over them.
Aya thanked the witch and told them to get rid of the bodies of the fallen guards.
"I'm sure you do," Elijah said in relief. "Any word on my brother?"
"Niklaus? He detoured his jet on the way to New Orleans. No more information after that," Aya shared. "He's a big boy. I have a tux for him if he makes it to the shindig tonight."
"I thought it was only for those of my bloodline," Elijah clarified.
"Not anymore. It's a new world and a new day, Elijah," Aya said, helping Elijah stand up as the rest of the chains fell to the floor of the ship. She motioned over a human underling for Elijah to fed off of.
"Technically, it is evening, but I see your point," Elijah remarked, stretching and trying to get blood back in his limbs. The
"You will need your strength," Aya determined. "This is far from over."
"Is a plane coming? Where are we anyway?" Elijah said, taking a step to the small, dirty window.
"No plane needed. You have already arrived," Aya said, walking off.
Elijah had to steady himself as he stepped into the night air. It seemed like a lifetime ago, his family had landed on this shore of the French port of New Orleans. Now, he was back and he wasn't leaving until they were safe.
Route to New Orleans
Damon was in hell. They had ditched the SUV before leaving Virginia. Kol had stolen a mini-van from someone's driveway after compelling the owners for the keys. Now, they were in some stinky mini-van, going barely above the speed limit. They had gone through a fast food drive-thru. The food or car sickness had made Julian vomit and Indy dry heave.
Kol and Lucy had gotten the kids cleaned up. Luckily, there were plenty of wet wipes and a make shift garbage bag in the car or Damon wasn't sure he could continue.
"Are we there yet?" Ava asked again from the back.
"Oh, we have like 12 more hours," Damon answered acidly. "About five minutes less than the last time you asked."
"Damon," Lucy chided from the back.
"I'm tired of sitting. Can't we go to another rest stop? I want some candy," Ava tried.
"She's lucky she can sit," Damon muttered in a low voice to Kol.
"Aye, she is Nik's daughter, but what does that say about you?" Kol joked, digging through the glove compartment. He found more wet wipes, straws, napkins, a map to Ohio, and some mints in a tin.
Damon scowled and side-eyed Kol.
"Just promise me if we get busted for this. I get first dibs with my little sis back there," Damon hissed.
"What? Damon, are you being mean? I'm gonna tell!" Ava warned.
Lucy hushed, "That's enough, young lady. He's just in a bad mood. Look, Kol found something for you guys!"
"Ava, here's some mints from the glove compartment. They only look to be older than you, but give some to Indy and Julian," Kol said, turning to hand over the small stash of candies.
"Mint will help settle their tummies," Lucy confirmed.
"Thanks," Ava said, taking the mints. "Look!"
"What?" Damon said, almost swerving.
"It's a bus!" Ava answered.
Damon heaved a sign of relief. He remembered how much Elena always talked about wanting kids. Had she ever been around any? Elena, be okay, Damon thought. Just hang on. We're coming to you.
"Ava, let's play 'I spy' again, but quietly," Lucy offered, yawing. "Damon is trying to drive. Or how about a little nap?"
The children had all slept until they switched vehicles.
"I'm not tired," Ava whined.
"I think you are. How about I sing you a little song? Bonnie liked it when she was little," Lucy said, as she started to sing. Soon, the children were sleeping, as was Kol in the passenger seat.
"Did you use magic on them?" Damon asked, stifling a yawn himself.
"Of a sort, you know, you might try being a little more patient with her. Aya has her reasons for being like this. A lot is at stake," Lucy lectured.
Damon grunted, but didn't reply. Kol had instantly fallen asleep and his snores were loud and annoying. Yes, Damon was in hell.
"How about I'll take over at the next rest stop? You need to sleep, too," Lucy coaxed, yawning herself.
"Can anyone sleep over Kol snoring?" Damon moaned, flinging his arm to stir Kol. "Knock it off, man."
"I am good," Kol groaned, resting his head against the window. He was using a stuffed cat as a pillow.
"They can sleep," Lucy laughed, looking over at the sleeping children.
"I guess this is the point where we could turn around," Damon suggested. "Get them home safely."
"Damon, that's what we are going to be doing. Getting them home, but we just need to save everyone first," Lucy said. "Wake me when you are ready to switch."
"Yeah, you got it," Damon said quietly. He could pull over and call Stefan, if he wasn't still in a magic sleep and have him meet them...but something told Damon to keep driving. With everyone sleeping, he turned the radio on low to blur out Kol's jackhammer-like snore. A children's song started. Damon turned off the radio and stared at the road ahead. It was a long way to New Orleans.
