A/N: Hello, hello! And welcome back! I will keep this short today, yeah, I can do that, so as per usual, I want to thank everyone for their comments and likes. I hope you guys will enjoy this chapter!

Let me know what you all think!

And Enjoy!

o.O.o

Chapter Forty-Three, Ace of Spades

Clouds drifted to the edges of the visible sky and the moon was bright. Trees had bled into tall buildings and cobbled streets and a musty wind shifted old leaves up in the air. I was curled up in the passenger seat, arms curled around my knees and watched the surroundings flash by. It was dawn, the sky bruise-colored and everything was illuminated by a shadowy, pale light. My eyes drifted to the clock radio. It was only seven and I let my eyes glide over my flashing surroundings. The city, the road, was strange so early in the morning, quiet and empty. Almost apocalyptic, really.

I still wasn't sure why Klaus took us back to Mystic Falls — perhaps he hadn't gotten the stake? Perhaps he wanted to check on his first hybrid? Perhaps— there were so many options, I had no idea. Tilting until my forehead is pressed against the window, I ground my teeth together.

"Thank you for this," I finally managed.

He shot me a charming, chilling smile, "I couldn't let you very well go alone, could I, Elena?"

I shrugged, not mentioning that I had no idea how I would have managed to escape him in the first place and crossed my arms over my chest. "I suppose."

"Mystic Falls is quite the dangerous little town, isn't it?"

"It has some troublesome individuals living there."

A genuine smile spread across his face, "Little has changed it seems."

"I have no idea who's doing all of this, this time," I murmured.

"This time?"

"There was a serial killer, murdering founding family members years ago," I mumbled evasively.

"Ah," he muttered, tapping his fingers against the wheel. "And your brother?"

"He's a kid. After Grayson died— our father— he lost his way. I don't know. I'm not a therapist."

Klaus pursed his lips, steering the car onto the highway and I drew my hair behind my ears.

"Why did you really agree to come here?" I asked, breaking the silence. "Fine, I'd probably try to get home, but— It doesn't make sense. Is this a new plot? Are you going back because you want to build a house there?"

He turned towards me with a surprised expression. "Sweetheart, how—" before laughing boisterously, "Of course, knowing things you shouldn't know. A little clairvoyant doppelgänger— what a treat."

"So the house?" I asked and he chuckled.

"Mystic Falls was once my home."

"I thought you wouldn't like small towns? There's not much to do."

"It is much easier to watch my wayward doppelgänger than in a large city, hm?"

I looked at the brightening sky and made a noncommittal sound. The car's Air conditioning ruffled the fine hairs behind my ears and I awkwardly intertwined my fingers on my lap, moving my eyes to my knees. An empty soda can rolled around on the passenger side floor and came to a stop against the side of my right sneaker.

There was a yellow hair scrunchie wrapped around the gearshift and I pursed my lips. I wasn't sure where he'd gotten the dark Mercedes, but I was quite sure it hadn't been his before today. Klaus didn't say anything again and we spent a large amount of time in almost companionable silence.

In the gentle morning light, Klaus' looked much more human than he ought to be. Gone was the monster who'd forcefully turned Tyler and his father. It was truly terrifying how well the supernatural blended with unsuspecting people. A true wolf in sheep's clothing.

The sun kept rising and when it was high in the sky, clouds had gathered around the horizon, I'd started to recognize the surroundings. Or, I thought I did. Klaus flicked on his right turn signal and took the exit off the highway, swapping it for a two-lane road. And outside the window, the scenery became wilder and darker.

Farms with cows and large, long barns with peeling paint flashed by. Another turn and we were on the lone, creepy lane surrounded by high trees, leading up to Mystic Falls. Soon we were driving through the town's early morning traffic.

Klaus manoeuvred through Mystic Falls as a man who'd been there countless times before and I was slightly awed by how easily he pulled into the hospital's parking lot without taking a wrong turn at all.

"Are you ready, my Dear?"

"Yeah," I mumbled, turning my phone off and hesitantly got out of the car.

It had been a mild day when we'd left earlier that morning, but now there was a bite in the air. The temperature had dropped at least five degrees since the last day and it smelled like rain was imminent. I stared at the large white hospital and wrapped my arms around my waist. Jeremy was in there— I couldn't remember if Jeremy had ever been hospitalized in the original series. Couldn't remember why someone — Alaric possessed by this tacky ring — would go after a child, founder or not and bit my lip.

Letting my eyes glide over the parking lot, I suddenly noticed John. I recognized him immediately, pacing around the smoking area, fag hanging askew in his mouth. He looked jittery from what I could only guess came from caffeine and sleeplessness and I froze.

"John!" His name left my mouth before I could consciously think about it and his head shot up.

"Elena!" John gasped and he stilled, staring at me wearily.

I could imagine why. Klaus had pressed insistently against my lower back, to push me forward was my best guess and John's eyes flitted over the hybrid's form with what I would have called a frenzy. Shit!

Self-preservation be damned, I took several quick steps towards him and tried for a small, gentle smile, "Are you okay?"

"I— who is this?"

This a question I expected, but did not know how to answer. My grip on my upper arms tightened and my fingers turned white from the pressure. "This is—"

"Nik," he interrupted me amiably, extending his hand in an almost friendly manner. I worried for a second he would crush John's hand, but my worries seemed to be for nought when the two men shook hands without a problem. "You must be Elena's uncle? She told me much about you."

"Yeah, she didn't tell me anything about you."

"Uh," I tried and rubbed my hands together. This John knew about Klaus, but as far as I knew, he didn't know what he looked like nor that he needed anything from me anymore. So I guessed I had nothing to worry about. Until John said something to piss Klaus off that is— Then he would probably find out what and who Klaus was and I dug my nails into my palms, pushing my hands harshly against my sides. "Yeah, I'm not sure where to start."

"We met a while ago," Klaus drawled, "don't worry uncle John, my intentions are pure."

"Just— he's my friend," I interrupted and waved at the hospital, "I want to see Jeremy now!"

"Visiting time ended ten minutes ago— I'm sorry, Elena. I'd not expected you back for hours—"

"Yeah, I was lucky I guess."

"Perhaps some brunch?" A new voice added and I turned to Jenna. Jenna, who knew little of the supernatural and certainly not enough to recognise Klaus Fucking Mikaelson, smiled at me. She was wearing a dark blue, scoop-necked dress and her sunglasses glinted slightly, perched atop her head. Her strawberry hair was in some sort of messy, bun, several strands falling loose, curling up. I didn't think I'd ever been happier to see her than at that moment.

"Aunt Jenna!" I grinned, giddily swaying on the balls of my feet.

"I think that's a wonderful idea," Klaus replied easily and I would have gladly strangled him.

Jenna, however, didn't seem to notice and nodded dully. "Perhaps I can work up some sandwiches? Then, Elena, you can tell us all about visiting college and meeting your— friend."

"Sounds wonderful," I mumbled and Klaus drew a possessive arm around my shoulders.

"That sounds truly wonderful," he smirked.

I really wanted to murder him—

That feeling didn't dissipate in the slightest when we were seated around the Gilberts' kitchen table. With the nerves, I felt almost dizzy and swayed slightly. The air between John and Klaus was tense, I was seated in between them. I'd hoped I could mediate the situation if it went south. Jenna stood at the counter, busily buttering the bread. Almost every surface of the counter and even the island, surrounded by the smudgy stools, was covered with mixing bowls, measuring cups, all kinds of cutlery and six different kinds of toppings. I had no idea how she'd even managed to make such a mess in under ten minutes.

"—Elena?"

"I, yes! Let me help you, Aunt Jenna." I mumbled awkwardly, having missed most of the conversation and got to my feet, helping Jenna divide the plates and the sandwiches. "Did Liz find anything this time? Do they have more than the last time?"

"Elena, Jeremy was attacked yesterday," John answered.

"So they still have nothing?" I muttered.

Klaus steeped his fingers together, leaning forward and I recognized the slight curiosity in his eyes. "I thought they found DNA?"

"Yeah, and they are matching it with suspects, but apparently that takes— long." He answered drolly.

"Hm," Klaus hummed.

"The police force turns out to be useless." I shook my head, took in a deep breath, and closed my eyes, taking a bite of my cheese sandwich. "Who are the suspects? Anyone, we know?"

"They brought Zack Salvatore in," John admitted and my eyes snapped open.

The next bite turned to a tasteless paste in my mouth and my mouth turned sandpaper dry. "I'm sure he didn't do it." I chewed and swallowed the bite with difficulty. Zach Salvatore didn't have the possessing Gilbert ring. Or at least, assuming that ring had anything to do with all of this, there was no reason why Zach would have been the one going berserk but— then again, so much had already changed. It also didn't make much sense with the perpetrator being Mayor Lockwood's son. Zach was too old to be his son, so—

"—an accessory to the murderer," John said and I tried listening to Elena's father talking through everything I'd missed the last few days. No real suspects who would be going after the Founding families. Apart from the attack on Jeremy and the death of Grayson, Liz Forbes was reopening a previously considered natural death of another founder, who'd died in March and of course, there was the innocent bystander who'd come to Jeremy's aid. He was in the hospital as well, and I met Klaus' intrigued gaze and my eyebrows furrowed. Licking my lips, I turned to Jenna.

"So, where is Alaric now?"

"What do you mean?"

"Erm," I tried to sound subtle, suave. I doubted I was fooling anyone. "Well, you're dating him?"

"He's fine. He's at the campus, I imagine. We live on the college grounds together— most of the time that is, and he took a part-time teaching job there." Jenna answered and frowned. She didn't say anything after that and her sudden silence felt as if she wanted me to say something.

I made my voice stay low and calm and gentle. "I was just curious, Aunt Jenna, just curious."

"Okay?"

"And Damon and Stefan Salvatore?" I asked, slicing my sandwich in half decisively. I hadn't been the Elena who'd dated Stefan and who'd turned Damon semi-good. They could have compelled some poor soul. "Are they still here?"

Klaus' gaze turned shrewd and John stared at me without saying a word, his eyebrows drawn together. Jenna had tilted her head slightly and narrowed her eyes. I pretended I didn't notice and tore a piece off my sandwich, nibbling on it, again going for suave. "When are visiting hours again?"

"At four," John answered before he turned to Klaus again. His gaze went flat, heavy-lidded. "I take it you're coming too?"

"Uncle John!" I hissed.

"Are you?" He continued and Klaus tapped his fingers against the tabletop. He hadn't eaten much.

"Elena asked me to."

I hadn't. Of course, I hadn't. Why would I ever do something like that? If it were my choice I would have asked Greta. At least with Greta, I didn't have to worry about someone getting killed (or I hoped not). I would feel much more at ease with her, even if she would pretend to be my lover, like Klaus so obviously insinuated. I could feel my face glowing red with heat and I knew everyone was staring at me, waiting for me to say anything.

"Yeah," I replied, swallowing the last of the toast, "I did."

"Just leave it, John, let the girl have her space." Jenna snapped and John's shoulders sagged.

"Fine."

The sky was overcast when our car turned onto the hospital carpark at four o'clock sharp. We'd taken John's car — as if that would somehow help John keep the upper hand — and I nervously stared at the backs of both Klaus' and John's heads, as John turned his car into an empty parking sloth. The sun was hidden behind a thick blanket of clouds and I slowly unbuckled my seatbelt. Klaus was already outside of the car before I'd even had the time to open up my own door and John followed shortly behind him.

The car door clunked open and I too jerked out of the car. We walked without speaking, as we made our way over to the large entrance doors. When inside, John was almost immediately flagged down by a doctor and I sighed in relief when he waved us along — 'He's in room 25B,' — through the winding alleyways.

I took only several seconds before Klaus turned to me. "What do you know, sweetheart? It was rather obvious you knew more about these murders."

"When I saw about the Founder murders, it was done by a man with a supernatural ring," I answered honestly, curling my thumbs through the loops of my denim jeans. "But this time it is probably more random. The police found DNA. Just— nothing makes sense. Perhaps it's not at all as I've seen. I just— I don't get it."

"Do things change from your visions often?"

"More like all the time. Or at least the big things remain the same, but actions or the way I try to avoid them change events. I know I changed things— and perhaps this has nothing to do with the original murders. I know Grayson Gilbert had enemies plenty—" I mumbled and pinched the bridge of my nose. "I don't know. Everything I've seen is fucked up and everything that's happening is just as fucked up, but different."

"So you're not all-knowing."

"I never said I was."

We'd arrived at room 25B and I rubbed my hands together nervously before stepping inside. My heart was thumping hard, beating almost painfully against my sternum and my eyes flew through the darkened hospital room. It was simple, blinds partly closed in front of the one window on the right wall, one narrow hospital bed, and a television hanging from the wall. Several machines bleeped and blinked at regular intervals. Jeremy lay still, skin almost grey and face almost gaunt.

Biting down on my lower lip, I watched the numbers and lines on the ominously beeping heart monitor. I had no real idea what all of it meant, but they seemed constant and steady, so I assumed Jeremy was doing well enough. My eyes flitted from the oxygen mask over Jeremy's face to the saline drip attached to his left hand and I took another step closer, reaching out to touch his cool hand. He looked so fragile, his skin white, almost ashen, but his breathing was even, as was his heart rate. I was sure that had to amount to something, right?

"Fractured arm, three broken ribs several lacerations— Oh, swelling of the brain," Klaus read, I watched him glance over the patient card, "well that's bad."

"Gee thank you for your uplifting information," I mumbled.

"You want me to lie?"

I swallowed and turned towards him. Because, in a way, that was exactly what I wanted. I wanted him to lie to me and tell me that it would be all right. I wanted him to do that— I just— It wouldn't change a thing.

"No."

"Sure about that, sweetheart?"

I turned to fully look at him. His hair was damp, freshly showered, dark-golden blond hair curling against his skull. He was dressed in a grey henley, clinging to his chest and back. He seemed perfectly at ease, his fingers drumming against the patient card. I kept staring at him until he cocked his head to the side.

"There's always an easy fix."

"Right, but that will cost." I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Indeed it will."

I let out a hollow laugh and pinched the bridge of my nose. The morning light poured in through the open blinds, splaying out over the floor and drawing long shadows over the walls. "How big are his chances? I mean, apparently, you understand that chart."

"Brain injuries are always tricky, sweetheart."

"Do it," I mumbled. Jeremy was only a child— "I mean, please."

"So bossy…"

Klaus' eyes turned amber as he brought one hand to his mouth, biting into his wrist, and the other moved Jeremy's oxygen mask aside. Most of his blood trickled ineffectively from the corners of Jeremy's lips, trailing down his chin and onto his white pillow. I watched the red flare out in almost morbid fascination and my hands became clammy. The tone of his skin changed little if nothing and a dark, nauseous feeling churned into my stomach.

"It can take a while, Luv." He decided and wiped his wrist on the hem of his henley.

"Right," I agreed and yanked a paper towel from its holder on the wall, next to the hand sanitizer. I considered that the hospital staff would be horrified to find blood around their patient's mouth and I wiped it away as well as I could.

"Well, sweetheart, I'll let you have a moment before we're going again."

"What?"

Klaus snorted, "What did you expect? That I would stay here? Your brother will be fine and I've entertained your whims enough for one day." He drawled and moved towards the door. "I'll wait for you in the hallway."

When the door fell shut behind him, I let out a string of curses. I had hoped I could have stayed longer. I'd hoped I would have been able to persuade him to let me stay here. Grumbling I drew a chair next to Jeremy's bed and stared at his face. Nothing much had changed in his expression and I pushed the oxygen mask into its place. The antiseptic smell was strong in the air and the machines remained bleeping and blinking at regular intervals.

My hands moved, almost as if out of their own accord, towards his and I tightened my fingers around the chilly appendage. And then his fingers twitched. For a moment, I thought his eyes would open, and the irises beneath his closed lids moved erratically. For a moment I expected Jeremy's eyes to shoot open and I moved to the edge of my seat, waiting with bated breath.

But then Jeremy arched his back, hacking and fingers curling into tight fists. I froze my face heating up in worry, adrenaline quickening my heart rate.

Jeremy started to convulse, started to tremble. A second later the machines went haywire, beeping and shrieking and I paled. "Oh, God!" The convulsing became worse and Jeremy started to gargle. "Oh my God!"

I turned around swiftly and tore out of the room, skidding over the linoleum floor. The aisle was strangely empty and my eyes flitted around. I quickened my pace — where the fuck had Klaus gone off to — passing many locked doors. The emptiness was slightly unnerving. Rounding the corner I noticed a gaggle of doctors, or nurses, grouped together around something that must have functioned as a reception.

"Hey!" I gasped. "I need help! Please, it's my brother. He's in trouble. Please help!"

"What?" A man asked.

"Room 25B. Please."

His eyes widened. "Come on!"

They ran past me and I watched them go with trembling hands. Breathing hard, I wasn't sure what I should do now. Pressing my hands against my lips, I ground my teeth together, holding back the tears. I didn't understand. Vampire blood should have healed him, not make it worse.

Swallowing, I felt like I had to do something and started my way down the corridors and to Jeremy's room when something caught my attention. My eyes widened and my breath hitched in my throat. There was a girl in one of the rooms to my right, lying face down. Her mass of red, curly hair flailing around her head and her body was unmoving. I hurried inside, hands going to her shoulders, before turning her over. There was unmistakable purple bruising around her neck, the shape of large fingers and my fingers pressed against her pulse point.

She was dead.

Her neck was broken and I— I stared, unsure what I should do or feel. Had Klaus killed her? Why? What could he possibly gain from this? Then again, there were no fang marks, which would be a much likelier way for Klaus to kill a human. Or perhaps I was grasping at straws and—

I wasn't alone anymore. I turned around slowly and whatever blood had been left in my cheeks, was sapped from my face. "Oh my—"

I recognized him instantly. Mikael, Klaus' adoptive father stood rigidly in front of me and my shoulders locked together. He was remarkably tan. Surprisingly even, with the years spent in a crypt, with the years as a vampire. I didn't even know vampires could tan, but Mikael looked like he could. Skin bronze, face chiselled. Middle-aged but handsome. As all vampire diaries characters were.

"Hello, Little Doppelgänger," he greeted slowly.

My blood froze. The vampire who hunts vampires was staring at me with a jaded look.

"Oh my God!"

(To be continued)

A/N: And there you go! Chapter 43! I must admit, I so enjoyed writing about the confrontation with John and doctor Klaus. I can actually see him passing himself off as a doctor, screwing with patients (I don't know why I feel he'd be a bit like House...) and having access to a free blood supply.

I'd love to hear what you all think about this chapter.

Lots of Love,

Anna