p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"Ch.7: Game of Chess/p
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p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAurora De Martel had been in town since last night. She'd traveled here from across the world, having found out Klaus and Elijah lived here. And it didn't take long to realize that he'd moved on. And that he had another sister. She'd originally come to get her revenge on Elijah, but now she planned to get the blonde out of the picture. And a vengeful, hurt vampire was a dangerous one. Especially, an insane one./p
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p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanIt was daylight, when the red-haired vampiress entered the courtyard. The first person she saw was the blonde, and pinned her against a wall by the stairs, hand around her throat./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Well, aren't you a thorn in my side. If I were you, I'd get lost and never come back. Nik was mine first."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I don't know who you are, but that was the past. And I'm not going anywhere," Caroline replied to her. Considering her strength though, she wasn't going to fight her. She didn't know how old she was, but she seemed at least half as old as the Originals. If that was the case, she knew she didn't have the ability to win against her./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"It's been a long time, Aurora," Klaus stated, a distance away. "Why don't you let her go and tell me what you're doing here," he then demanded of her as nicely as he could muster./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAurora didn't do as he asked, but did look over at him. The Original she was going to marry centuries ago./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Why should I? It was going to be just you and me. We were going to get married. Remember? Now, you've moved on to some blonde baby vampire? Did you ever think of me after you all fled?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanHe took a few steps towards her, but still a distance away./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Aurora, that was a long time ago. I can assume you're hurt, but don't take it out on Caroline. She's got nothing to do with our past. Yes. I remember we were going to get married, but you told me your love was an act before you turned, apparently. In the beginning, I did think of you, but thinking of you caused me nothing but hurt. I moved on from that. And from you. I found someone better. Someone that doesn't bring out my demons like we always did with each other," he replied, since it was apparent that she needed answers./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Did it ever occur to you that what I said wasn't true?" she inquired of him. "I was upset and I let slip to Elijah your secret that haunted you back then. About what you did to your mother. He had a moment of…well, not being such an honorable brother. I think it was the first time he ever compelled. When he realized what he'd done, he didn't undo it. You may have found someone else, maybe better, but I couldn't stop thinking about you."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Aurora, that was the past. Now, let her go before I force you," he reminded and threatened her./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanWith her hand still around her throat, she faced him, standing behind her, her free hand on her arm./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You want her so badly? Why don't we play your favorite game. You know how this goes. Let's see how long she lasts with me."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanIn a blur, she was gone with her./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanElijah came to stand by him, having been watching from afar. He hadn't wanted to intervene, since he knew even when she was human, how insane she could be. Or was. He hadn't wanted his intervention to get his brother's love hurt or killed./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanKlaus was going to leave to go get her back from Aurora, but Elijah put a hand on his arm./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"We'll get her back, but we can't just track her down. She might have a plan in motion."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"This wouldn't be happening if you hadn't made her do what she did. This is on you. You did this. I'm getting her back one way or another, and I'll deal with Aurora, but you best stay out of my way," Klaus replied, giving him a growl, before vanishing./p
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p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAurora tossed Caroline to the floor of what used to be the vampire fight club./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Get comfortable. You're staying here. I have some unfinished business with Elijah I need to deal with."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You think he's going to go back to you? Even with me out of the picture, he'll never go back to you. I may not be an old vampire, but I think I've learned a few things from the little time I've come to know him. The first rule is to not come after his family or anyone he cares about, or they'll be consequences. Besides, what Elijah did. That was who knows how long ago. Probably centuries ago. Get over the past. Vengeance doesn't help anyone or solve anything," she tried to reason./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanCaroline got to her feet./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Maybe so, but I'll be happier with you gone. Let's see how long you survive being locked here with wolves. It's going to be a full moon tonight. Let the best player win," Aurora replied. Then she left, locking and chaining the door up./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe blonde vampiress looked around the room to see that there were at least 3 wolves there, but they were in human form until the full moon started tonight. She had until then to figure out a plan. Klaus' blood would save her if she got bitten, but she didn't know how long she'd last. She'd been bitten 2 or so times before, after all./p
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p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanIt was mid-afternoon when Aurora came back to the abandoned fight club. This time, with someone that the blonde vampiress knew all too well. Katherine. However, she was human. Because she hadn't been in Mystic Falls for the past few years, she didn't know how the famous Katherine was human. The only thing she could come up with was maybe someone shoving it down her throat. After all, she knew she tended to end up screwing people over. But not everyone. Despite how she'd been as a vampire though, and what she'd done that Caroline didn't like, she could never fully hate her. As far as she'd learned in her short time of being a vampire, she'd just been dealt with a bad stick in life. And with that bad stick, she'd used it to whatever advantage she could./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAurora through the human to the cement floor of the former fight club./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Get comfy. You're staying a while. I have some business with your favorite Original. Don't try escaping. The game has already begun."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe older vampiress left again, again locking and chaining up the door, before heading for the compound. She needed the only weapon able to kill an Original, and since Klaus had shared everything with her back then, she knew about his crafting in the New World for his younger sister./p
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p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanKat got to her feet and looked at the vampiress she'd come to know so well./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"What the hell's going on?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Klaus called her Aurora. She has some kind of vengeance going on. She wants Klaus back, but it seems she's still vengeful against Elijah. I guess he compelled her to tell Klaus her feelings weren't real. Then they all left to avoid their father. I guess she sees it as Elijah ruining their happiness. I guess they were supposed to get married eons ago," she informed her./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"We have to find a way out then. She could kill him if she's that vengeful, and if she knows what can kill an Original. He may have left, but I've always been loyal to Elijah. He needs to at least be warned about her plan. I imagine she has a big plan in store for them. I mean, she took the time to snatch me just to use me for whatever plan she has. I was nowhere near this city."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I know you want to save Elijah, but I think we should sit this one out. You could probably find a way out, but before we know it, it's going to be nightfall. Full moon. If they don't find us before then, I'm not sure if I can fight off 3 werewolves without getting bitten," she explained./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Fine. I'll sit this out with you," Kat agreed. Having halfway been responsible for making her a vampire, Kat didn't want her getting killed. She couldn't guarantee that she'd be any good with a fight against any wolves, though. But being human now, she wasn't going to try and kill or even want to kill any wolves still in human form. They hadn't hurt either of them yet. And wolves had always been friends to her in the past. She was sure the Crescents were still around and probably still saw her as a friend, even. More specifically, she'd been friends with Jackson for a long time./p
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p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAurora successfully was able to find the trinket and make it into some bullets with some help from a compelled human. She'd sent said human on his way afterward after making him forget. Now, she walked into the courtyard./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Whatever feud you have with me from the past, this is between you and me. Might I suggest you leave Niklaus and his newfound love be? Allow her to go. I know why you're angry, but there's no need for this. I apologize for the past for what I compelled you to do, but that was centuries ago. I ask that you let bygones be bygones."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanHe stood behind her a distance./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanWhen he began to speak, she turned to face him./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Thanks for the apology, but it's too late," she told him, once he was done talking. "I have your girlfriend or whatever she is to you. You took our happiness. Now, let's see how long yours will last. The blonde will probably survive 3 phased wolves tonight, but what about Katherine, human from a cure?" she added, hinting at what her plan for them was./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"What do you want, Aurora? You should know we don't take threats lightly," he replied, forcing himself to act calm. Inwardly, he wanted this conversation over so he could find and rescue Katerina. If she was human again, she couldn't protect herself./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I want nothing more than you to suffer," she replied. Then she pulled out the gun with white oak bullets and shot him, before leaving. She knew she only needed one bullet. The bullet would eventually move around until it killed him. She'd learned a lot about them back when, including how to kill them./p
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p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanKlaus eventually found her before dark, pinning her to a wall of an alley./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You're hard to track down," he told her. "Where's Caroline?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'd say you should be more concerned with closer to home, but if you love her more than your annoyingly loyal brother…that shows where your loyalties are," she told him with a smile./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"What did you do?" he growled at his ex in anger. He'd thought her plan would've specifically been targeting himself and Caroline. Not endangering Elijah for past wrongs he'd done in a moment of anger. He'd wanted Elijah out of the way. Not in danger. If anything happened to Elijah because of Aurora's distraction…/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Let's just say you should've been careful who you told your secrets to back then," she simply replied./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I've had enough of your games," he growled at her. Then he quickly ripped out her heart, not taking chances, and blurred to the compound to save Elijah. He could only assume what she'd been talking about. There was only one very dangerous secret he'd foolishly told her centuries ago. How to kill an Original. He'd discussed Mikael to her, which had brought about that reveal. He just hoped he wasn't too late./p
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p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe hybrid had eventually arrived at the courtyard to find Elijah on the ground with an unhealed wound from a gunshot. There was still time, but not much. He needed to work quickly to pull the bullet out. Otherwise, he was going to die. And he'd lost enough siblings to last a lifetime and more. He wasn't going to allow anymore of them to die. Especially, his most loyal siblings./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanIn a blur, he was at his side./p
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p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanA short while later, after he'd successfully saved him and Elijah had recovered, Klaus began to leave./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanHe put a hand on his arm./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'm going with you. Aurora told me wherever Caroline is, Katerina is there, too. She's human. She told me they're going to be in danger during the full moon with a few wolves. We both know a human can't protect themselves against a werewolf on a full moon. Even if it is Katerina."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanKlaus sighed./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You almost died. You're not at full strength. Restore your strength. I'll bring her back. Alive. Besides, Caroline's there. I'm sure she'll keep her as safe as she can from those pesky wolves my ex picked out for trying out this vengeance notion."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanElijah put his hand down./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Can you promise me that?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yes. I'll try my best."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanKlaus left to go find and rescue them. He knew their love for each other. He couldn't let Katerina be killed. Caroline had more of a chance. She'd just need him to cure her. Katerina would need Freya or Rebekah, though. Maybe even both./p
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p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanIt had been a full moon for a few hours now. They'd been working together to take on the phased wolves. Care hadn't wanted to do it, but it was kill or be killed, so she'd had no choice. She'd gotten bitten a few time, but she'd been able to eventually kill two of them before the bites really got to her. She was on the ground with the last wolf above her, trying to keep it from biting her. She was weak with blurry vision, though. She could barely keep its teeth away from her skin. She couldn't die. If she could kill this last one, she could try and help Katherine that had gotten attacked a while ago./p
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p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanWhen Klaus smelled wolves and a lot of blood, it didn't take long to undo the chains and break the lock on the front door. And when he entered, blood was everywhere. Katerina was on the ground, obviously injured. Two of the wolves were dead, but the last one was on his love. It looked like she'd been bitten./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanIn a blur, he through it off her and quickly killed it. Then he was instantly at her side./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanHe gently pulled her into his arms, biting his wrist, and put it to her lips./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Drink, luv."/p
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p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanWhen Caroline had been cured of the wolf bites, he helped her up with a hand on her arm./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'll get Katerina. You just get home," he instructed her, knowing what she was probably thinking or about to say. After all, he knew what kind of person she was, and he assumed with her goo heart, she wouldn't want Katherine getting killed any more than Elijah did. "I gave my word to Elijah I'd get her home alive. Please."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanWhen she'd finally decided to trust that he'd do what he said, she headed home. Then he turned to where Katerina was still on the floor, injured from the wolves./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Katerina," he stated, and was instantly at her side. Since she was human from the cure he assumed, he didn't know if she could digest blood, so he decided to take the safe route. Freya. The only person that could actually magically heal. "Katerina, luv, can you hear me?" he called to her, but after not getting an answer, he rested a hand on the side of her face. "If you can hear me, you're going to be okay. I made a promise to Elijah. I'm taking you to Freya. Just stay with me."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanHe gently pulled her into his arms, crook of arm supporting her head, his other arm under her legs. Then he got to his feet and blurred her to the compound to be healed./p
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p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanWhen Kat woke up, she found that she was in Elijah's room, healed. She'd heard Klaus earlier, even though she hadn't been awake due to all her injuries from the wolves, so she assumed Freya had healed her. She saw that Elijah was on her bedside, as she sat up in his bed./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'm glad to see that you're okay. After Aurora's conversation when she kidnapped me, I was afraid she might actually end up killing you. And human or not, I can't live in a world without you."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"She almost did, but Klaus was able to get the bullet out before I was a goner. Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. I'm just glad Freya was here to heal you. I wouldn't be able to live if you died, either. We've always been two halves of a whole," the more honorable Original admitted. Then he added, "I'm sorry for leaving. I was protecting you. I couldn't just leave Niklaus here alone. He could've ripped apart and ruined this entire city in my absence. And I couldn't very well allow you here without knowing what he'd do if you were here with me. It wasn't my intention to abandon you."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Thanks for the honesty, but it sure felt like you abandoned me."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Forgive me, Katerina," he asked./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I will in time, but you know I'm not good at forgiveness. For now, let's just try not to die. Either of us. Is Caroline okay?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Klaus cured her. She'll live."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Good," she replied./p
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p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAurora De Martel had been in town since last night. She'd traveled here from across the world, having found out Klaus and Elijah lived here. And it didn't take long to realize that he'd moved on. And that he had another sister. She'd originally come to get her revenge on Elijah, but now she planned to get the blonde out of the picture. And a vengeful, hurt vampire was a dangerous one. Especially, an insane one./p
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p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanIt was daylight, when the red-haired vampiress entered the courtyard. The first person she saw was the blonde, and pinned her against a wall by the stairs, hand around her throat./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Well, aren't you a thorn in my side. If I were you, I'd get lost and never come back. Nik was mine first."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I don't know who you are, but that was the past. And I'm not going anywhere," Caroline replied to her. Considering her strength though, she wasn't going to fight her. She didn't know how old she was, but she seemed at least half as old as the Originals. If that was the case, she knew she didn't have the ability to win against her./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"It's been a long time, Aurora," Klaus stated, a distance away. "Why don't you let her go and tell me what you're doing here," he then demanded of her as nicely as he could muster./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAurora didn't do as he asked, but did look over at him. The Original she was going to marry centuries ago./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Why should I? It was going to be just you and me. We were going to get married. Remember? Now, you've moved on to some blonde baby vampire? Did you ever think of me after you all fled?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanHe took a few steps towards her, but still a distance away./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Aurora, that was a long time ago. I can assume you're hurt, but don't take it out on Caroline. She's got nothing to do with our past. Yes. I remember we were going to get married, but you told me your love was an act before you turned, apparently. In the beginning, I did think of you, but thinking of you caused me nothing but hurt. I moved on from that. And from you. I found someone better. Someone that doesn't bring out my demons like we always did with each other," he replied, since it was apparent that she needed answers./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Did it ever occur to you that what I said wasn't true?" she inquired of him. "I was upset and I let slip to Elijah your secret that haunted you back then. About what you did to your mother. He had a moment of…well, not being such an honorable brother. I think it was the first time he ever compelled. When he realized what he'd done, he didn't undo it. You may have found someone else, maybe better, but I couldn't stop thinking about you."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Aurora, that was the past. Now, let her go before I force you," he reminded and threatened her./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanWith her hand still around her throat, she faced him, standing behind her, her free hand on her arm./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You want her so badly? Why don't we play your favorite game. You know how this goes. Let's see how long she lasts with me."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanIn a blur, she was gone with her./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanElijah came to stand by him, having been watching from afar. He hadn't wanted to intervene, since he knew even when she was human, how insane she could be. Or was. He hadn't wanted his intervention to get his brother's love hurt or killed./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanKlaus was going to leave to go get her back from Aurora, but Elijah put a hand on his arm./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"We'll get her back, but we can't just track her down. She might have a plan in motion."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"This wouldn't be happening if you hadn't made her do what she did. This is on you. You did this. I'm getting her back one way or another, and I'll deal with Aurora, but you best stay out of my way," Klaus replied, giving him a growl, before vanishing./p
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p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAurora tossed Caroline to the floor of what used to be the vampire fight club./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Get comfortable. You're staying here. I have some unfinished business with Elijah I need to deal with."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You think he's going to go back to you? Even with me out of the picture, he'll never go back to you. I may not be an old vampire, but I think I've learned a few things from the little time I've come to know him. The first rule is to not come after his family or anyone he cares about, or they'll be consequences. Besides, what Elijah did. That was who knows how long ago. Probably centuries ago. Get over the past. Vengeance doesn't help anyone or solve anything," she tried to reason./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanCaroline got to her feet./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Maybe so, but I'll be happier with you gone. Let's see how long you survive being locked here with wolves. It's going to be a full moon tonight. Let the best player win," Aurora replied. Then she left, locking and chaining the door up./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe blonde vampiress looked around the room to see that there were at least 3 wolves there, but they were in human form until the full moon started tonight. She had until then to figure out a plan. Klaus' blood would save her if she got bitten, but she didn't know how long she'd last. She'd been bitten 2 or so times before, after all./p
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p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanIt was mid-afternoon when Aurora came back to the abandoned fight club. This time, with someone that the blonde vampiress knew all too well. Katherine. However, she was human. Because she hadn't been in Mystic Falls for the past few years, she didn't know how the famous Katherine was human. The only thing she could come up with was maybe someone shoving it down her throat. After all, she knew she tended to end up screwing people over. But not everyone. Despite how she'd been as a vampire though, and what she'd done that Caroline didn't like, she could never fully hate her. As far as she'd learned in her short time of being a vampire, she'd just been dealt with a bad stick in life. And with that bad stick, she'd used it to whatever advantage she could./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAurora through the human to the cement floor of the former fight club./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Get comfy. You're staying a while. I have some business with your favorite Original. Don't try escaping. The game has already begun."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe older vampiress left again, again locking and chaining up the door, before heading for the compound. She needed the only weapon able to kill an Original, and since Klaus had shared everything with her back then, she knew about his crafting in the New World for his younger sister./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
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p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanKat got to her feet and looked at the vampiress she'd come to know so well./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"What the hell's going on?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Klaus called her Aurora. She has some kind of vengeance going on. She wants Klaus back, but it seems she's still vengeful against Elijah. I guess he compelled her to tell Klaus her feelings weren't real. Then they all left to avoid their father. I guess she sees it as Elijah ruining their happiness. I guess they were supposed to get married eons ago," she informed her./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"We have to find a way out then. She could kill him if she's that vengeful, and if she knows what can kill an Original. He may have left, but I've always been loyal to Elijah. He needs to at least be warned about her plan. I imagine she has a big plan in store for them. I mean, she took the time to snatch me just to use me for whatever plan she has. I was nowhere near this city."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I know you want to save Elijah, but I think we should sit this one out. You could probably find a way out, but before we know it, it's going to be nightfall. Full moon. If they don't find us before then, I'm not sure if I can fight off 3 werewolves without getting bitten," she explained./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Fine. I'll sit this out with you," Kat agreed. Having halfway been responsible for making her a vampire, Kat didn't want her getting killed. She couldn't guarantee that she'd be any good with a fight against any wolves, though. But being human now, she wasn't going to try and kill or even want to kill any wolves still in human form. They hadn't hurt either of them yet. And wolves had always been friends to her in the past. She was sure the Crescents were still around and probably still saw her as a friend, even. More specifically, she'd been friends with Jackson for a long time./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
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p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAurora successfully was able to find the trinket and make it into some bullets with some help from a compelled human. She'd sent said human on his way afterward after making him forget. Now, she walked into the courtyard./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Whatever feud you have with me from the past, this is between you and me. Might I suggest you leave Niklaus and his newfound love be? Allow her to go. I know why you're angry, but there's no need for this. I apologize for the past for what I compelled you to do, but that was centuries ago. I ask that you let bygones be bygones."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanHe stood behind her a distance./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanWhen he began to speak, she turned to face him./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Thanks for the apology, but it's too late," she told him, once he was done talking. "I have your girlfriend or whatever she is to you. You took our happiness. Now, let's see how long yours will last. The blonde will probably survive 3 phased wolves tonight, but what about Katherine, human from a cure?" she added, hinting at what her plan for them was./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"What do you want, Aurora? You should know we don't take threats lightly," he replied, forcing himself to act calm. Inwardly, he wanted this conversation over so he could find and rescue Katerina. If she was human again, she couldn't protect herself./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I want nothing more than you to suffer," she replied. Then she pulled out the gun with white oak bullets and shot him, before leaving. She knew she only needed one bullet. The bullet would eventually move around until it killed him. She'd learned a lot about them back when, including how to kill them./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
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p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanKlaus eventually found her before dark, pinning her to a wall of an alley./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You're hard to track down," he told her. "Where's Caroline?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'd say you should be more concerned with closer to home, but if you love her more than your annoyingly loyal brother…that shows where your loyalties are," she told him with a smile./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"What did you do?" he growled at his ex in anger. He'd thought her plan would've specifically been targeting himself and Caroline. Not endangering Elijah for past wrongs he'd done in a moment of anger. He'd wanted Elijah out of the way. Not in danger. If anything happened to Elijah because of Aurora's distraction…/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Let's just say you should've been careful who you told your secrets to back then," she simply replied./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I've had enough of your games," he growled at her. Then he quickly ripped out her heart, not taking chances, and blurred to the compound to save Elijah. He could only assume what she'd been talking about. There was only one very dangerous secret he'd foolishly told her centuries ago. How to kill an Original. He'd discussed Mikael to her, which had brought about that reveal. He just hoped he wasn't too late./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
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p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe hybrid had eventually arrived at the courtyard to find Elijah on the ground with an unhealed wound from a gunshot. There was still time, but not much. He needed to work quickly to pull the bullet out. Otherwise, he was going to die. And he'd lost enough siblings to last a lifetime and more. He wasn't going to allow anymore of them to die. Especially, his most loyal siblings./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanIn a blur, he was at his side./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanA short while later, after he'd successfully saved him and Elijah had recovered, Klaus began to leave./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanHe put a hand on his arm./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'm going with you. Aurora told me wherever Caroline is, Katerina is there, too. She's human. She told me they're going to be in danger during the full moon with a few wolves. We both know a human can't protect themselves against a werewolf on a full moon. Even if it is Katerina."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanKlaus sighed./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You almost died. You're not at full strength. Restore your strength. I'll bring her back. Alive. Besides, Caroline's there. I'm sure she'll keep her as safe as she can from those pesky wolves my ex picked out for trying out this vengeance notion."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanElijah put his hand down./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Can you promise me that?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yes. I'll try my best."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanKlaus left to go find and rescue them. He knew their love for each other. He couldn't let Katerina be killed. Caroline had more of a chance. She'd just need him to cure her. Katerina would need Freya or Rebekah, though. Maybe even both./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanIt had been a full moon for a few hours now. They'd been working together to take on the phased wolves. Care hadn't wanted to do it, but it was kill or be killed, so she'd had no choice. She'd gotten bitten a few time, but she'd been able to eventually kill two of them before the bites really got to her. She was on the ground with the last wolf above her, trying to keep it from biting her. She was weak with blurry vision, though. She could barely keep its teeth away from her skin. She couldn't die. If she could kill this last one, she could try and help Katherine that had gotten attacked a while ago./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
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p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanWhen Klaus smelled wolves and a lot of blood, it didn't take long to undo the chains and break the lock on the front door. And when he entered, blood was everywhere. Katerina was on the ground, obviously injured. Two of the wolves were dead, but the last one was on his love. It looked like she'd been bitten./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanIn a blur, he through it off her and quickly killed it. Then he was instantly at her side./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanHe gently pulled her into his arms, biting his wrist, and put it to her lips./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Drink, luv."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanWhen Caroline had been cured of the wolf bites, he helped her up with a hand on her arm./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'll get Katerina. You just get home," he instructed her, knowing what she was probably thinking or about to say. After all, he knew what kind of person she was, and he assumed with her goo heart, she wouldn't want Katherine getting killed any more than Elijah did. "I gave my word to Elijah I'd get her home alive. Please."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanWhen she'd finally decided to trust that he'd do what he said, she headed home. Then he turned to where Katerina was still on the floor, injured from the wolves./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Katerina," he stated, and was instantly at her side. Since she was human from the cure he assumed, he didn't know if she could digest blood, so he decided to take the safe route. Freya. The only person that could actually magically heal. "Katerina, luv, can you hear me?" he called to her, but after not getting an answer, he rested a hand on the side of her face. "If you can hear me, you're going to be okay. I made a promise to Elijah. I'm taking you to Freya. Just stay with me."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanHe gently pulled her into his arms, crook of arm supporting her head, his other arm under her legs. Then he got to his feet and blurred her to the compound to be healed./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
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p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanWhen Kat woke up, she found that she was in Elijah's room, healed. She'd heard Klaus earlier, even though she hadn't been awake due to all her injuries from the wolves, so she assumed Freya had healed her. She saw that Elijah was on her bedside, as she sat up in his bed./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'm glad to see that you're okay. After Aurora's conversation when she kidnapped me, I was afraid she might actually end up killing you. And human or not, I can't live in a world without you."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"She almost did, but Klaus was able to get the bullet out before I was a goner. Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. I'm just glad Freya was here to heal you. I wouldn't be able to live if you died, either. We've always been two halves of a whole," the more honorable Original admitted. Then he added, "I'm sorry for leaving. I was protecting you. I couldn't just leave Niklaus here alone. He could've ripped apart and ruined this entire city in my absence. And I couldn't very well allow you here without knowing what he'd do if you were here with me. It wasn't my intention to abandon you."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Thanks for the honesty, but it sure felt like you abandoned me."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Forgive me, Katerina," he asked./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I will in time, but you know I'm not good at forgiveness. For now, let's just try not to die. Either of us. Is Caroline okay?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Klaus cured her. She'll live."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Good," she replied./p