A/N: Hello and good evening!

A chapter uploaded on time? It must be a miracle. Well, that and I really wanted to keep my promise. I hope you all will enjoy this chapter. Like always; thank you for your comments and likes. You lot make me so ridiculously happy, I sometimes feel like a little girl getting treats or cookies from the jar:)

Enjoy!

Anna

**Small warning; this chapter contains blood, injury and mentions of torture. I feel like that wouldn't surprise anyone at this point, but just in case, you had your warning. Enjoy the chapter^.^

o.O.o

Chapter Forty-One, Sinners and Saints

I felt the car grind to a stop and took a long deep breath.

It wasn't just bad. That was the first thought that filtered into my mind when Klaus threw the car door open and ushered me out onto the gravel path in front of a large manor.

We were surrounded by a copse of evergreen trees and I swallowed the strangled cry that was building in my throat. Lockwood manor was exactly as I'd remembered, perhaps the gardens were less well-kept — with what, all the stress the investigation in Mayor Lockwood's past was giving him, or Tyler Lockwood's newly unlocked werewolf gene — than usual but the manor was as imposing as always.

The door clunked shut behind me and Rebekah appeared beside me, blue eyes gliding over the tall structure almost shrewdly. I picked at the collar of my pajama shirt, and I shivered as the brisk morning breeze barreled across the grounds.

"Why are we here?" I gasped, the soles of my feet hurting against the gravel ground beneath.

Without speaking to me, Klaus offered me his hand and I licked my lips nervously. My eyes flitted over the manor again. It didn't seem like anyone had been alerted to the car on their driveway.

I steeled myself before bringing my hand forward, hesitating for a moment, before clasping his. Klaus tugged me along, leading me towards the manor and Rebekah paddled after us. There was a serene sort of smile on her face and for a second I wondered if I should have put up more of a fight. In the grander scheme of things, I didn't think it would change anything but— I should have fought harder as he walked me up the steps to the manor and let himself into the house.

The silence inside was chilling and it smelled old and empty. The floors were cold beneath my still feet. Toes curing, having gone numb already, I rubbed my hands over my upper arms. Klaus had walked inside as if he owned the place, which meant either he had killed every member of the home, or he'd been invited in. In the show, getting invited inside of Lockwood manor had been ridiculously easy. They didn't have to be dead— yet.

"What are we doing here?" I asked again. As if I hadn't known already.

"Checking your story, sweetheart," he smirked.

I knew what I would stumble upon, even before Klaus had pushed me into the lavishly decorated living room. Even before I'd smelled the strong, putrid stench of iron. I knew and I truly didn't understand why I hadn't considered this. Or, I had, but I'd been stupid enough — or perhaps it had been arrogance on my part — to think I could have prevented it when meeting Klaus again in Mystic Falls.

Carol Lockwood was missing. I wasn't sure why that struck me as important, but she was not at home, she didn't come forward to greet Klaus the way she had in canon, nor did I hear someone moving in the upper levels of the house.

The living room was a war zone. You'd think by now I'd gotten used to the view of death bodies. I mean, still associate the rural woodlands that surrounded Mystic Falls with the smell of fire and the rotting smell of death vampire flesh. I was still unable to forget the screams from the students during that one comet party first term, nor had I forgotten the clamor of a shocked crowd when Grayson Gilbert's body was wheeled towards an ambulance. You'd think I'd seen enough bloodshed to not be shocked by a dead body anymore.

I was wrong.

Blood. And quite a lot of it too. It had pooled around both the still bodies of Tyler Lockwood and Richard Lockwood's head, spreading out around them like a bizarre halo. Without having to go to them and check their pulse, I could tell they were dead. However, I couldn't help but taking a step forward.

I shouldn't have—

Tyler stared up at the ceiling with unseeing eyes. Panic and bile rose in my throat and I moved backwards, back against the table. I could still see Tyler's lifeless limbs and his accusing stare.

"I—" I started, but the words got caught in my throat.

Mayor Lockwood's eyes were closed. A knife was still buried in his throat and blood had stained his upper lip and most of shirt a deep, dark red. Knowing Klaus, he'd probably played with the Lockwoods first. Horror filled my bones.

"What did you do?"

"You look peaky."

Tyler's arm was broken, his wrist angled unnaturally and streaks of red covered the pristine white wall. I could almost taste the bile trying to make its way to the surface. Clamping a hand over my mouth I stumbled back, my back hitting the doorjamb.

"Bloody hell, Nik," Rebekah drawled, nudging Tyler's leg with the nose of her boot. "Nice work."

"Please, Rebekah, as if you haven't done worse."

"You truly like to play with your food—"

It took every muscle in my body to hold myself upright, feeling the blood drain from my face as the room began to spin.

"I wasn't playing with my food, 'Bekah." Klaus answered drolly. "I just brought to the surface what they wanted. A lot of unresolved feelings between the two of them…"

"What?" Rebekah scoffed, "They did this to each other?"

"Oh they did," Klaus agreed, "again a lot of unresolved feelings."

My stomach heaved and I scrambled out of the living room, throwing up whatever that was left in my stomach. I was rather glad I hadn't tried a bit of Klaus' cooking that morning and leant heavily against the wall. The urge to scream bubbled up in my throat, resonating up until it got stuck in my mouth and twisted in the back of my head. It was hard to ignore, and I pushed my head hard against the wall. Hard enough for the delicate skin to bruise. Hard enough for lights to flare behind my closed eyelids.

I wasn't sure how long I stood there. I had no idea how long it took for a human-turned-vampire to wake up after being killed. I only knew when someone appeared beside me like a premonition.

"Elena, darling, I can't imagine you haven't seen worse. With what? This town's heinous ability to dowse the fire with oil." Rebekah drawled. Her sudden appearance certainly didn't help the nausea threatening to overtake me. She smacked her lips, leaning in until her breath fanned out over my cheek. And then in a surprising act of kindness she sighed. "They will be fine you know?"

"Not fine," I mumbled, although I couldn't hear my voice over the sound of my heartbeat in my ears.

"They will be better. Nik says they will be in charge of their turning."

I snorted. "Right, of course. But Mayor Lockwood never triggered his werewolf gene."

"After this day, I wouldn't be so sure."

My mouth pulled into a grimace and I tried swallowing. I couldn't. My tongue got glued to the roof of my mouth and my stomach twisted. 'Unresolved feelings,' he'd said. Had Klaus somehow manipulated Tyler and Mr. Lockwood to murder each other? It sounded like it and I wrapped my arms tightly around my waist.

"And human life matters little, doesn't it?" I mumbled.

Rebekah scowled darkly, "Humans are fickle, luv."

My stomach lurched again and slowly I pushed back from the wall and peeked into the living room again. Everything about it was wrong. The room was immaculate, beautiful, without even a hair out of place. All perfect, apart from the two bodies in the middle of the room and the blood spatters that covered the couch, the glass coffee table and even one window with its matching pale curtains. It was disgusting, it was well arranged, almost like there was a sense of ceremony. A point to be made.

And then it was shattered when Tyler shot up, gasping for air. His eyes were wild and when he noticed Klaus, who'd taken a seat on the brown leather fauteuil, he crawled back, his back hitting the wall hard enough for even me to hear it.

"You— what's going on?" He gasped and paled. "I—my dad—"

He was like a deer looking in the headlights and when Klaus reared to his full height, he scrambled to his feet. Wide eyes flitting around as Klaus blurred in front of him so fast Tyler barely had time to even blink. He pressed a small flute filled with blood in his hand (when had Klaus found those and moreover, when had he put my blood into it).

"You need to drink this." He glanced at me. "This should do the trick. If not then—"

"Klaus—" I tried, but mayor Lockwood bolted upright and Tyler had taken the glass from Klaus, looking almost memorized by the thick, scarlet liquid. I barely managed not to gasp when he threw it back and gulped it down in one go. My eyes widened as a drop of blood ran down his chin, crimson splattering on his shirt. Klaus had moved on to Mayor Lockwood and Tyler was looking up now, staring straight at me.

"Elena."

"Ty—" I tried, but my voice was scratchy at best and I wasn't sure what I should say anyway.

"I don't understand? Why are you here? Are you a vampire? Did he—"

"No," I mumbled, "no, I'm not. You needed my blood, I—"

"But that was all the two of you will get," Klaus decided menacingly. His tone was deadly. As was his gaze and slowly, he turned to smirk at me. Mayor Lockwood was gagging, small specks of blood dotting his white blouse and I felt my skin prickle with unease. "Elena over there is my favorite Doppelgänger yet."

"I wish I could say you were my favorite vampire…"

"Oh, I'm so wounded, Luv."

"Right—"

"Pack your bag," he ordered, snatching my upper arm in a tight grip and turned to his sister. "Bekah, Luv, I need you to babysit our new friends while I am gone. I have an army to create after all."

I gasped, "What? No, we had a deal! You agreed— You—"

"Oh, certainly," he drawled. "Once I get rid of Mikeal, you can have your deal."

"No!" I snapped, tugging at my arm to get free.

"Nik, what are you on about?" Rebekah asked, kicking mayor Lockwood back to the floor when he tried to reach for the knife she'd so helpfully removed from his neck not long before. "I thought we were here to stay?"

"Certainly," he agreed and I clawed at his hand. The lights in his eyes danced when he turned his face to me, and the curve of his mouth curled up, somehow conspiratorial. "You can fight me on this, but you won't win, Little Girl. Now, is there something you'd want to take with you?"

"No." I growled and watched Tyler take a hesitant step towards me, but one look from Klaus and he stilled. The Sire bond already kicking into effect. "NO!"

"You don't truly believe I'll let your reside here, all on your own devices, right?"

"Haven't you done that the past few— How long have you been here spying on me anyway?" I gasped. "Besides Mikael has been out for months. He didn't come after me."

"He didn't come after you yet, darling." He remarked. "That doesn't mean he won't when he'll figure out what role you'll have to play if I want to create my army."

"So you're going to drag me along the country, prod werewolf colonies and only let me live my life if you were so inclined to go and fight your father?"

"Hm, by all means, a fair summary," he agreed giving me a light push, but I still stumbled.

"You never even—" I tried, pushing my heels against the ground. "You never went against him."

"Are you saying I can't?"

I shivered at his testy tone and my breath caught inside my throat. Outside, everything was washed with a cold blue light. The sun had faded behind the rooftop, and a thicket of overgrown bushes and brambles fluttered in the brisk breeze that barreled across the grounds. I watched the front door come closer and closer and my feet slapped loudly against the floors, echoing off against the stone walls.

"Please! This is madness," I gasped and tears blurred my vision.

"You will be fine, sweetheart," he muttered and then my surroundings blurred around me and my back hit the bonnet of the car. Hot tears ran down my cheeks and dripped down my chin. I turned my head, to look away, but he grabbed my jaw and forced my face back to his. "Listen, I'm fully aware you're on Vervain, in only several hours it will be out of your system—"

"So you'll compel me?" I gasped and tried twisting away but he hauled me back.

"If I have to."

"You were never planning on honoring that deal, were you?"

He leaned forward, the tears in my eyes had distorted his face and he brushed them away. Cruel. Mocking. Pretending. "As unpopular as the belief might be, I do keep my promises. Now, get into the car. After all, you have to betray me yet. Don't start now."

"Haven't I done enough?" I hissed and wiped my sleeve harshly over my face, mopping up the tears less than graceful and sucked the spring air into my lungs.

Klaus turned to me with a stiff, serious sort of expression. His eyes flitted over me, remaining on my face for several seconds before he leant past me. He strapped me into the front seat and moved to the driver's seat. He was already settled behind the wheel before I'd even managed to unbuckle my seatbelt and started the car before my heart had skipped a beat. "No good deed goes unpunished, Sweetheart."

My mouth drew back in a thin line and I didn't say another word, huddled against the passenger door. I averted my eyes, staring outside, at the dark trees rushing passed by. How well I'd maneuvered this— How well I had managed to deal with Klaus thus far. As I swallowed, the car sped up, leaving Mystic Falls into the rearview mirror.

At some point during the ride, Klaus had rushed me into a hospital, compelled several nurses and a few doctors and had them take my blood. Quite a bit of it, too, as I spent the rest of the ride (how long that had taken, I did not know) into an exhausted slumber.

When I awoke, Klaus had switched roads. Darkness had seeped into the sky and I had no idea how much time had passed since the last time I'd been awake. We'd swapped the highway for a wide, pleasant street with a mixture of shops and houses surrounding us.

Pedestrians were moving up and down the streets and I felt my insides ache. How much I wouldn't give to be one of them again. If I had been me, walking among them, nothing would have made you look twice at me. If you passed me in the street, bumped into me in an aisle on my way to a college class or into the library, or even stood behind me in a queue, you wouldn't bother with me. And I had been fine with it.

"I know you're awake," Klaus drawled at me from the side.

"I wasn't pretending to sleep."

"You look peaky."

"You took a lot of my blood, how am I supposed to feel?" I mumbled back and reached out to roll down the window. From my peripheral vision I noticed his eyes follow the movement but when he didn't stop me, the window whizzed down and I breathed in deeply. The air was moist, somewhat humid, the weather around this part — wherever it was where we were — warmer.

"We will remedy that soon." He drolly responded and I nervously drew my thumb across my charm bracelet. It was probably the only thing still protecting me from the mind compulsion I was sure he would unleash at me at some point. After all, he'd done it before.

The car swerved again, and the busy shopping center made way for houses. The further we drove down the street the larger they became, until finally the car slowed down. The houses seemed expensive, high Victorian, light wood with large dressings and heavy pedimented windows on four floors. The lawns were well maintained, large and the car shuddered when it came to a halt in front of one of the large houses. It was further away from the road, surrounded by high trees. My eyes flitted over the glossy front door, the white decorated wrap-around porch and my mind is suddenly paralyzed with apprehension.

"Where are we?"

Klaus turned to me slowly, a careless grin lifting the corners of his mouth, "Tennessee."

"What?"

"Tennessee."

"Why are we here?"

"Laying out a trap, luv." He grinned. "In the form of a party."

"You're throwing a party— to catch someone?" I asked disbelievingly.

"The best way to set up a trap."

"Giving a party and inviting your possible doom? Yeah, that sounds like a wonderful trap." I remarked drolly. Because Klaus definitely seemed like the idiot that would do something like that. Throw a party and actually invite Mikael to get a stake driven through his heart. Then again, it might actually work too. Mikael had no idea about the white oak trees that had grown in Mystic Falls

He snorted, unfolding himself out of the car. "When done on your terms, it is."

An involuntary shiver ran down my spine and I too clambered out of the car. An almost decaying ambience had filled the air and I wrapped my arms tightly around my waist. The dirt on his windscreen shimmered and blurred in the yellowish lantern light and the breeze ruffled my hair.

"Now sweetheart, about that stake…"

"You just drove miles away from it." I remarked glumly and he grinned.

"Oh, yes, it is in Mystic Falls, I'm unsurprised." He decided, waving his hand in the air. "Let's go inside. Oh, don't look at me like that, sweetheart, no one can get inside without proper invitation. Did you truly think I had no save houses?"

"I think you're a lunatic."

"Still upset, I see."

"You don't overthink anything you do." I huffed. He hadn't been wrong. I was upset. Upset enough to overcome my fear of agitating him. "Now we're in— some town or village and—"

"We're in Nashville, Luv."

"Fine, Nashville, wonderful, and— Why are we in Tennessee anyway— What's here that's so trap worthy?" My eyes flitted over the large house again and this time I recognized it. Vaguely, that was, houses in these parts were all very much alike, but what were the odds? This must be the house where Ray the Werewolf would chain himself up during the full moon. "Why are we here? Why did you bring me to this place?"

"All will be revealed, sweetheart."

"Elena!" A new voice cried before I was surrounded by a wealth of curly hair.

"Ah— Greta?"

"It's so good to see you," she retorted, her wayward locks tickling my nose as she laughed against me. It was odd, being hugged like this. Being hugged at all and I awkwardly placed my hands on her waist."Greta, lovely to see you." Klaus decided and she let go of me, wiggling her fingers at him.

"Hello, Luv." She greeted.

"I expect everything is in place?" He demanded, although Greta didn't seem to mind, only waving her hand around carelessly.

"What happened to the owners of this place?"

"They met an unfaithful end." Klaus replied carelessly. "Although, I assume you already guessed?"

I breathed in deeply, disgust churning in my stomach and. "Right."

"Don't worry, Doll face," Greta grinned and yanked my forward, "he compelled the two girls who live here. They're not here though. Left to get several more— guests."

"Read, draw in the werewolves." I muttered.

"How well you know me," Klaus grinned and wrapped an arm around my waist, resting his chin atop of my shoulder, ignoring my personal space. "I do so enjoy that about you."

My eyes flitted between the two and apprehension nestled itself deep into my stomach. I couldn't see this ending well-

To be continued…

A/N: A shorter chapter this time, but, it was one time^^

I'm pretty sure everyone expected a harsh amount of bloodshed. Was it satisfying and theatrically enough for Klaus being Klaus? And Non-Elena's negotiation style needs some work, I'm sure.

Anyway, let me know what you think^^

On another note, a few chapters back I mentioned the possibility of a Stranger Things story and someone mentioned a Steve/Oc story. I must admit, I have no aversion to that (mostly because I really, really don't want Steve and Nancy to get back together; I think they're toxic together as a couple). And I wanted to let you all know I'm drafting out a story. Of course, ideas and comments regarding this are always welcome, but I mostly wanted to let you guys know.

Have a good weekend.

Cheers,

Anna