A/N: It's been ages. I've been working on this awhile. I've rewritten this chapter over and over and over and I'm still not happy with it but then again I am rarely happy with any of my chapters.
The saying 'you are your own worse critic' is very true in my case.
Anyway, I finished this chapter about a month ago and was in the middle of editing when two weeks ago I broke my laptop but I got a new one today and finally finished editing this chapter. I may not like it but I hope you guys do.
Thank you to everyone still reading even though I am the world's slowest fanfic writer.
P.S. Mistakes are all my own.
Rebekah lies on an old mattress in a poor state suffering from the werewolf bites she received previously. There is a dripping sound by her bedside as she is coming into a conscious state. She shot awake, gasping, only to look around and see a very familiar hospital in full swing; the sound of screaming patients in agony and bustling nurses and doctors attending to them; all dying from Spanish Influenza.
She is hallucinating. Somewhere in the deep recesses of her mind, she knows this. She knows she's in an abandoned hospital in New Orleans; antique hospital beds, wheelchairs, and equipment left behind and forgotten.
She breathes heavily and gasps with fear as she looks around, lost in her hallucination.
Blood dripping on the floor; a man drops a bloody rag; another man sits up in bed and coughs out blood. She gasps as two doctors drop another patient onto a cot and wheel him toward the morgue.
She slowly rolls out of the bed, weakened by the werewolf venom in her system.
A woman's laughter is heard echoing through the corridors.
"Who's there?" Rebekah called out, but there was no answer. She struggles to get out of that room as quickly as possible. As she reaches the door, she plunges through it, escaping outside.
"How the hell did I get here?" Rebekah asked herself. None of this made sense. She was at the plantation house.
She stumbles toward the steps but before she can go any further; she is stabbed in the heart with a wooden stake. She gasps and falls to the ground, only to look into the eyes of the familiar face that stabbed her.
"Genevieve!" she exclaimed, alarmed.
Genevieve was dead. She regretfully killed her friend long ago.
"Rebekah, tell me you're not leaving already. I thought we might reminisce." said Genevieve with Malice.
Rebekah falls unconscious. The wolf venom and hallucinations overcoming her once more.
Meanwhile, inside, Celeste looks over the body of Klaus, who is shirtless and lying on a steel bed tied down by restraints. Papa Tunde's blade, which has disappeared inside of him, too weakens him.
He groans and starts to stir.
The witches have gathered together. They were trying to break free and release Monique from the hold the Originals had.
Monique stands in the center of the witches, commanding authority.
Elijah appears and quickly takes out three people at vampire speed. Monique is not phased but others gasp.
"Katherine, my siblings have been taken…where are they?" Elijah demanded.
"You're interrupting witch business.." Monique accused.
"I don't care." Elijah moved to crowd her in an attempt at intimidation.
Monique, however, stood her ground unflinchingly.
"Monique, I recommend you give me what I want unless, of course, you'd like me to level this place and everything in it." Elijah threatened.
"That won't be necessary. I have a message for you from Celeste." She puts her hand out in front of her, performing a spell.
Elijah pulls at the collar of his dress shirt uncomfortable, he rips open the top button of his shirt to see the name 'Theresa' in italics tattooed on his chest.
Monique continues as two more names appear; he rolls up his sleeve to see the familiar name Sabine.
"To find what you're looking for, follow the path she left behind." Monique advised. "Fleur-de-Lis."
Rebekah lay on a hospital bed with the wooden stake still buried in her chest. She was awake, gasping in pain as Genevieve is humming and making an herb potion mixed with her blood.
"What the hell are you doing, you ruthless bitch?" Rebekah gasped.
"Poor Rebekah, you should rest. You're looking a little peaked." Genevieve said with mock sympathy. She pulls the stake out of Rebekah's chest and lets her blood drip into her potion. "Of course, that's to be expected, given the impressive amount of werewolf venom in your system."
"If I weren't so bloody sick, I'd rip your head off!" Rebekah threatened.
"But you are sick and comforting the sick always was a talent of mine. I take care of my friends. We were friends, weren't we?" Genevieve asked. "Of course we were." She applies a cold cloth to Rebekah's forehead.
Rebekah pulled away, not wanting to feel her touch.
New Orleans, 1919
"There, there... " Rebekah soothed a sick man.
The man coughs blood on to her apron.
"Oh... that can't be good. You! Red!" Rebekah called out.
Genevieve, in nursing uniform, turns to face her. Rebekah nods her over.
"Here, try to take a sip of this." Genevieve gives the patient a small glass of herbal remedies. The man drinks it and quiets down.
"Mmm... just like magic." Rebekah touches her so that she realizes what Rebekah was. "But then again, what would you expect from a practicing witch?"
"It's a simple herbal remedy. It won't stop the inevitable, but it should ease his pain and quiet his lungs. For a while, at least," Genevieve told her.
"You are quite good at this Miss... what was your name again?" Rebekah inquired.
"Genevieve." she answered.
"Lovely…" Rebekah complimented. "Perhaps you could give me some pointers."
"Certainly, though it is a bit odd," Genevieve commented. "A vampire serving as a nurse."
"Please, darling, I'm an Original Vampire. If my city is under attack from this nasty influenza, it is my duty to lend a hand. Besides, if this entire lot dies, who'd be left to eat?" Rebekah reasoned.
"You're wicked!" Genevieve grinned. Enjoying Rebekah's candid humor.
"You know, I think you and I are going to be fast friends…" Rebekah replies. "What do you say you join me at this swell little jazz joint I've discovered on Basin Street tonight? We can toast to the health of New Orleans."
Genevieve is about to say something but she catches the eye of a brunette nurse just behind them, attending to a patient. The nurse stares at her with a concerned glance.
"Oh, I don't know," said Genevieve.
Rebekah turns around to face the brunette nurse. "You, you should come, too. After playing angels of mercy all day, I'd say we all deserve some fun."
Rebekah gasps in the hospital bed. She's alone. She rolls over and falls off the bed, landing on her feet; groaning.
Katherine opened her eyes. It was difficult. The magic induced on her made her dying human body feel weak.
She was strapped to a med table. The room was small and dark, and the place had the smell of an empty warehouse.
She tried to listen for sounds, but there were none.
"Great." she muttered. She pulled at her restraints, but they didn't so much as budge.
The last thing she wanted to do was call out to her captors, but if she was going to figure a way out of here, she needed the full scope of the situation.
Who she was dealing with? Why she was taken? What their endgame was?
And ultimately, if they were willing to make a deal.
"Hello?" she called out, rolling her eyes at herself. She sounded just like those stupid girls in the horror fics of today.
The girl calls out for the killer and then gets killed.
She was not looking to speed up her already approaching death, thanks to the vampire cure that wreaked havoc on her body.
When no one came at first, despite her reservations, she called out louder and louder, but no one ever came.
She was either being completely ignored or completely forgotten about.
Neither set well with her. It was a hit to her pride.
She was Katherine Pierce. That used to mean something. But not anymore. Not since becoming human. She detested her situation just that bit more.
If they were going to be so dismissive of her, why bother with taking her?
What was the point?
What was the point of anything anymore?
Elijah walks into the Abattoir quickly as Marcel is sending out more troops to search the city.
"Anything?" Asked Elijah.
"They're putting eyes and ears out everywhere; day walkers are working every contact we've got. Cops, dock workers, guys in the Treme. Word is out anyone trying to earn favor with me gets a lifetime of it if they find them." Marcel answered.
"Good. I need a pen and paper," said Elijah and walks away.
Marcel followed after him. "Hey, am I taking orders from you now, or are we in this together?"
"Pen and paper, Marcellus. Now!" Elijah snapped as he removed his jacket.
"I want her back just as much as you do, you know... The both of them." Marcel turns to fetch the pen and paper from the desk drawer.
Elijah removes his shirt and calls out. "Caroline!"
"Did you find any–" Caroline trailed off, taking in his appearance – shirtless and covered in tattoos. "–thing? What is happening? What are you doing?" It appalled her that he seemed to think now was a time to take off his clothes.
"I need you to make a list of these names." Elijah told her.
"Sabine? Elijah, what is this?" Caroline questioned. "Isn't that the name of Sophie's friend?"
"I believe they represent the names of the women Celeste inhabited for the past two centuries." Said Elijah.
Marcel rejoins them and hands the paper and pen to Caroline. "It's called a Devinette. It's old school. Kind of a riddle. Witches use them to teach their kids. Solve it and it disappears."
"Why?" asked Caroline. "What's the point?"
"Celeste forced me to make a choice between yourself, Katerina and my siblings, and now she means to mock that choice, taunting me with a childish game. The longer the game, the more they suffer. To find Klaus, Katerina and Rebekah, we need to solve this riddle." Elijah explained. "The solution lies somewhere in these names."
"The name next to Sabine... Annie La Fleur. She's the witch that was shunned from her coven just over a year ago." said Marcel. "Never knew why, but I can find out."
Caroline reluctantly began writing the names down, when she much rather Elijah put his clothes back on.
Klaus still lies on the bed in an abandoned room inside the sanatorium of Fleur-de-lis as Genevieve enters; he appears to be unconscious as she touches his stomach where a nasty scar protrudes from where Papa Tunde's blade disappeared inside of him. He opens his eyes, still in a weak state, sweating with circles under his eyes.
His eyes were filled with hate as he looks at her with contempt.
"You poor thing." She speaks to him gently and goes over to the hospital cart and picks up a scalpel off the tray. His eyes watch her. "Don't worry, I'm here to help."
She speaks as she cuts open his stomach along the line of the red scar. She pushes up her sleeve and digs her hand into his stomach; he screams and thrashes against the restraints as she pulls out Papa Tunde's blade; he growls at her and writhes in pain.
Elijah and Marcel go to the village where Annie lived after she was shunned; Annie La Fleur village. They are able to speak to someone who knew her.
"Annie was a good girl. The witches did her wrong, shunning her like that; claiming she was doing dark magic; there's no way, but they had proof," said the man. "So she just quit and I can't really blame her for that cause once you've been shunned, what's the point in going on, you know?"
Elijah is walking down a busy street in the Quarter on his cell phone with Caroline, explaining what happened to Annie La Fleur.
"She killed herself?" asked Caroline.
"Yes, drowned herself in the Mississippi, to be precise; Celeste was clearly tired of the body and ready to take Sabine's," Elijah answered.
"How do you know that?" Caroline questioned.
"Because she leapt to her death from the very location Celeste and I had our first kiss," said Elijah.
"Poetic, I guess... in a creepy vendetta sort of way," said Caroline.
"All these names, these lives, stolen that Celeste might take her revenge," said Elijah. "I suppose we have no choice but to see where they take us. Caroline, I have to go. I'll call you back when I know more."
"Elijah, wait!" Caroline said. .
"What is it?" asked Elijah.
"Ask Marcel if he knows anything about a name on that list, Brynne Deveraux." Caroline told him. "Sophie said that it was her family's bloodline that put the curse on the crescent wolves, but Celeste said that she was the only one that could break it. If Brynne Deveraux was actually Celeste when she cast the spell, then maybe Celeste can still break it. Or at least we can find a loophole that will allow Davina to break it"
"I'll see what he knows." Elijah told her.
"Elijah, what do you think is happening to him?" Caroline's voice was pained. "You should have chosen him. Not me."
"You were going to die in that fire, Caroline, along with my brother's children. I know we don't always get along, but there was no choice." Elijah hangs up before she can respond.
Of course, Elijah wished he would have chosen Katerina, Rebekah, or Klaus instead of Caroline, but despite that, he knew he had made the right choice. Caroline was his family, too.
He made the right choice. He was sure of it.
Caroline could not sit around and do nothing. Not while Klaus was in the hands of the enemy, not when Rebekah and Katherine were facing the same fate.
Every cell in her body was screaming that she had to get Klaus back. There was no other option.
His life meant more than she knew was possible.
Caroline knew her feelings for Klaus had changed. They were real and deep, but it wasn't until they took him that she realized just how deep they were.
She loved Klaus. She was in love with him.
She would not rest until he knew the depth of her feelings. She wasn't here because of the witches or because of their children. She was still here because of him. He buried himself so deep in her heart, there was no going back. He was it for her. Until the day she died, she would love Niklaus Mikaelson, the most feared, the most destructive, the most misunderstood being that has ever walked this earth.
Caroline, needing to take action, assembled the wolves, the vampires, Davina and Stefan. All came before her. Waiting.
"The enemies have made their move, its time to make ours." Caroline was holding court in the compound, standing in a circle among everyone. "We can't take this lying down. We are not push overs and we will not be victims, casualties in this war the witches are staging. Together we will put an to end to it, take back everything that belongs to us. The witches will be the first example of what happens when you underestimate an enemy with the potential to rise higher than what they believed to be possible."
Everyone stared at Caroline.
Stefan was surprised by how much she reminded him of Klaus at that moment, yet still sound like the girl who had become his best friend.
The vampires and wolves cheered and chanted in agreement, her words of taking the fight to the witches and fighting back ringing true in their hearts.
This was their city and they would defend it from anyone trying to take it from them.
"Davina and I," Caroline held out her hand to the younger girl and Davina took it, coming to stand beside her in the center of the circle. "Have been working together to locate the witches, Klaus, Rebekah and Katherine. We are narrowing it down. We are also working together to end the curse placed upon the Crescent wolves in the bayou."
The vampires broke out in an uproar.
"Enough," Caroline shouted, her voice thunderous. "This is no time for petty squabbles and mistrust. If we show disruption among one another, our enemies will not hesitate to cease upon and use it to their advantage. We mustn't give them the opportunity. Unless you want to be the one to lose the battle?"
The vampires fell silent.
"The wolves in the Bayou are now our allies and we will work with them. You don't have to like it, but you will accept it." Caroline continued. "Now, I need you all to work together. If not for the sake of taking down an enemy, then do it for yourselves."
Zach joined Caroline and Davina and addressed the wolves. "There was a time I hated vampires, didn't trust them until Caroline. I am willing to give other vampires the benefit of the doubt because of her, and you should be willing to do the same. The witches have challenge all of us again and again. They take what doesn't belong to them and challenge anyone who threatens their balance of power and tradition. They want to take this town for themselves and kill every other supernatural being and look at what they are capable of. They have taken two originals. If they can do that to the Mikaelsons, just think what they can do to any one of us. Aligning ourselves is the only way to put an end to their madness and end their threat."
The vampires were reluctant to agree with a wolf, but could see his reasoning.
A vampire stepped forward. "What do you want us to do?"
"I want you to share the Quarter. I want you to bury the stupid feud the wolves and vampires have against each other. I want you to forget about your prejudice and do what's best for your loved ones and for your home. I want you to come together to facedown a common enemy and you might just find we're not that different after all. The wolves are ready to do whatever it takes for each other, and I want you to do the same. Can you do that?" asked Caroline, passionately.
"Can you look at the wolves and welcome them? Can you put the wellbeing of others before yourself?" Caroline stepped forward, challenging. "The witches have been playing chess. It's time we up our game and show them they won't be taking over the Quarter if anything, they're going to leave and the first step to achieving that is getting Klaus back and weakening them. Are you willing to put aside your differences? Will you extend your hands, call a truce, and join in a common cause?"
Stefan watched on bated breath as the vampires stared down the wolves until slowly, each vampire took a step forward extending their hands to the wolves in the room.
Caroline shared a smile with Davina. It might not seem like much, but this was a start. A start to a new beginning. For the wolves and the vampires and hopefully New Orleans as a whole.
Klaus is now in a sitting position as Genevieve has put his black long sleeve shirt back on him; he is still weakened, sweating and in a poor state. He glares at her. "My wound isn't healing."
"The amount of dark magic contained in that blade? It's gonna take a little while," Genevieve told him.
"You're one of them, aren't you?" Klaus asked. "The witches back from the dead; seeking vengeance. Why show me kindness?"
She strokes his face. "You never did anything to me. And the truth is, seeing you like this, I can't help but pity you."
"Then betray the others and stand with me. I will reward you in ways you cannot possibly fathom." Klaus told her, resisting the urge to pull back from her touch.
"Klaus Mikaelson, offering a deal to little ol' me? I should be flattered," said Genevieve. "But first we need to have a talk about your sister."
His facial expression changes as she walks away from him. "Rebekah is of no concern to you," he growls out, his voice rising. "If you mean to harm her—"
"Ah, the protective brother." Genevieve interrupts. "A shame that loyalty isn't reciprocated. But then, I'm no stranger to Rebekah's treachery. Something you and I have in common. Here." She holds out the bowl that she made earlier in the company of Rebekah. "Drink. I'm just trying to help you. Heal you. Get you to see the truth that's been right in front of you for almost a century."
Klaus drinks with every intention of spitting it back in her face, but Genevieve puts her hand over his mouth, tipping his head back and forcing him to swallow it; he chokes it down.
"Your sister had an unfortunate run-in with some wolves last night. I imagine you're tasting the venom in her blood. It's the only way I can show you what you need to see. In her weakened state, I'll be able to guide her down memory lane. That's how I'm going to have my revenge. By showing you her betrayal." Genevieve put her hand on his forehead, linking their minds.
Rebekah, in her hallucinatory state, stops in the corridor as she looks up to see Klaus standing at the other end staring at her. "Niklaus!"
She runs toward him, passing rooms on the way; in the first room there is a young boy sitting on a table; his eyes darkened with purplish bruises holding a cloth to his mouth, coughing up blood. In the next room, a teen girl in a pink nightgown sitting in a bathtub staring at her, blood dripping down her mouth and onto her grown. In the next room, an old man hitting his chest and spurting up blood; she cringes as she passes the sign on the wall that reads 'Crematorium'. She pushes the door open.
1919
Rebekah walks into the Crematorium with a smile on her face to greet Marcel; the two embrace and begin to make out. He pushed her up against the wall and put his hand on her leg. She laughs and pulls away. "Marcel have some respect."
"Yeah, I don't think they mind." He looks around briefly, indicating the bodies in the morgue they're in, all lost to Influenza. "Did you ask Genevieve about doing the spell?"
"I will when the time is right." answered Rebekah.
"Rebekah, you've been hanging around that witch for weeks, waiting for the time to be right. She wasn't supposed to become your sidekick," said Marcel. "One little spell and we can finally be together for real. What are you waiting for?"
"She's a sweet girl, is all. If you must know, I feel badly for using her." Rebekah admitted. The truth was she was fond of Genevieve.
"Then we'll find another witch; one you don't have to fake a friendship with. Unless you've changed your mind?" Said Marcel.
"I want to wake up with you in our home, in the bed that we share." Rebekah said, not wanting him to have any doubts about her feelings. "I want to walk down the street with you by my side so everyone knows that you are mine and I am yours. I don't want to be afraid of what my brother will do to me for loving you. If this is the only way to get it, then no, my mind hasn't changed."
They kiss again as Genevieve walks into the room.
"O-oh!" Genevieve made a sound of surprise.
They break apart to look at her as she stands there holding bloody sheets.
"I didn't know anyone was in here. I'm so sorry." Genevieve hurries out.
Rebekah follows after her. "Genevieve!"
Rebekah opened the door leading back into the corridor to follow Genevieve. "Genevieve, wait!"
Genevieve disappears and Rebekah is left alone in the abandoned hall.
"I'm sorry." Rebekah apologized.
Klaus is pulled out of Rebekah's mind to face Genevieve. He seems amused and bored. "So this is your great betrayal? Rebekah and Marcel have been sneaking around behind my back for the better half of two centuries."
"Yes, against all your warnings, you've disciplined them for it before, had you now? Harshly from what I understand," said Genevieve.
"Well, I had my reasons," said Klaus.
"Oh, you don't have to convince me as far as I'm concerned, you only needed one. That it suited you. Have you ever read the Old Testament, Nik?" asked Genevieve. "You see, God wasn't powerful because he was right, he was right because he was powerful."
"I don't know what you're playing at, but if the sum total of your plan was to turn me against my sister with this revelation, this will have been a wholly ineffective endeavor." Klaus informed her.
"You poor thing," said Genevieve. "After a thousand years, dishonesty from your family has come to be expected. I wish that was the sum total of their treachery. Unfortunately, it's not."
Marcel's vampires are casually relaxing at the bar called the pit when suddenly the doors fly open and a man is thrown onto the floor. Elijah and Marcel follow in behind him.
"Wh-what do you want from me?" the man asked.
Marcel throws him into a chair.
"Well, I assume you're familiar with this pigsty, quite appropriately known as the Pit. See, awkwardly enough, only weeks ago a group of human beings just like yourself slaughtered many of the companions of the vampires that you see assembled before you here," Elijah explained in answer.
"You run the records room at city hall," said Marcel. "We're told the former Mayor kept a detailed record of the supernatural community. A ledger of names of witches, werewolves and vampires, specifically their death records. We need it."
"I-I don't know where it is," the man said.
"I think we both know that's a fib. Anyone feeling hungry?" Elijah closes the door a little so that the sunlight is not there and the vampires can come forward.
"Oh! Ok w-wait, they moved the records after the Mayor died. They're at the sacristy of St. Anne's Church." the man blurted, fear coursing through his veins.
"See? There, wasn't so difficult, now, was it?" asked Elijah.
Rebekah is running through the abandoned corridors when she comes around the corner to face two small children. They stand before her quietly, then suddenly they let out a piercing, deafening scream.
"Ah!" Rebekah stumbles backward.
"Rough day?" asked Genevieve. "Oh, Becks! Those bites are looking nasty."
"Why make me relive the past?" asked Rebekah. "We both know how it ends."
"You and I both know, but I thought your brother might like to hear our story, so I linked your mind to his," Genevieve replies. "You're gonna show him everything."
"NO! NO! Please don't do that to me. I'll do anything." Rebekah begged in fear.
"It's too late, friend," Genevieve told her.
Rebekah tries to attack her, but Genevieve is too strong; Rebekah grabs her head and screams in pain until she falls unconscious; Genevieve walks away, leaving Rebekah alone in the hall.
"Marcel, here's another name from our list: Brynne Deveraux. Says here she drowned herself some twenty years ago." Elijah read off. He and Marcel were back at the Abattoir. "Do you recognize the name?"
"Brynne?" Marcel repeated with recognition. "Yeah, yeah, we used to hang out, knock around a bit."
"You can spare me the details, please," said Elijah, not wanting the hear the intimate details of Marcel's past.
"She used to do some spells for me now and then. Girl had power, cursed a whole pack of werewolves just because they were pissing me off." Marcel told him. "Speaking of, what do you think Klaus is gonna do when he finds out that you left him to suffer?"
"I think Klaus would be more than understandable, seeing as I chose to save Caroline. Furthermore, let's avoid discussing matters that are not your concern, shall we, Marcellus?" replies Elijah.
"Oh, come on, Elijah. I got guys all over this city. You honestly think that I don't know that Caroline had a wolf gathering with Klaus's pack and the Crescent wolves at the plantation last night?" Marcle questioned. "Thanks for letting the house burn, by the way. Good riddance! But my question is, what does Caroline think she is going to accomplish with the wolves?"
"Marcel, I'm aware of your history with the city's wolves, and I assume you understand that if you lay a finger upon Caroline or any of the wolves under her protection, it will be the last thing you do on this earth." Elijah threatened.
"Caroline's protection?" Marcel repeated.
"Yes, and if you interfere with her, you will be dealt with accordingly." Elijah warned.
"I see I hit a nerve," said Marcel. "And just when we were getting along."
"We were right!" Elijah declared suddenly. "Every name upon my flesh signifies a witch who died by her own hand. All but one. Clara Summerlin."
"Ring any bells?" Marcel asked.
"None." Elijah answered.
"Okay, well, if she didn't off herself, then how did she die?" Marcel questioned.
"Influenza Epidemic of 1919." Elijah answers and his tattoos disappear. "I suppose we have our answer, though I have no idea what it means."
Celeste heeded the warnings of the witches. She moved through the city streets, careful to blend in; she had been watching since taking her hostages, wanting to know how far Caroline, Elijah and Marcel would be willing to go for Klaus, Katherine and Rebekah.
She had her answer. Seeing Caroline successfully leading the Quarter wolves and vampire alike in a move against the witches was eye opening.
The blonde vampire was more of a threat than she gave her credit for.
But more so, what really caught Celeste's attention was Caroline's single-minded determinedness to find Klaus.
Celeste wanted the Mikaelson's to suffer. She wanted to break the unbreakable bond, but more than that, she wanted Klaus to suffer.
And she knew just how to make the man wish for death.
Klaus Mikaelson, after a thousand years, finally cared about someone more than himself. What better revenge than to rip that person from him?
How would he handle knowing it was all his fault, and he was the reason for every ounce of pain he had brought onto his family and himself?
How would he live with himself when his hands were soaked with the blood of the woman who managed to make him feel in a thousand years?
Who was Klaus Mikaelson when Caroline Forbes is killed to punish him?
Genevieve has an old record player sitting in a vintage wheelchair. She plays an old jazz tune. It echoes throughout the hospital corridors; Rebekah wakes to the sound. She remembers a time when it played through the jazz club she frequented in 1919.
"NO! NO! Please!" Rebekah begged.
Klaus hears the music as well; Genevieve enters the room.
"Your sister's tryst with Marcel was only the beginning." Genevieve informed him. "You see, the burden of your condemnation was too great, and as a result, your deepest fear came to pass: that their love for each other would overshadow their love for you and turn it into hate. Nik, they conspired to rid themselves of you for good."
Rebekah runs down the hall until she finds the record player and smashes it against the ground, but the music still plays as she holds her head flashing back to that night in the Jazz club, bringing her memories to life in her mind.
Clara, Rebekah and Genevieve walk through the club.
"Okay, next round's on me," said Clara.
"Clara Summerlin, no!" said Genevieve. "I'll be soused."
"Get it while you can – it's the last real gin in the city!" said Rebekah.
Clara heads to the bar. "Bartender?"
Rebekah and Genevieve sit down at a table.
"You're nothing like I thought you'd be when I first met you." Genevieve told Rebekah. "I was brought up to think your kind were, well…"
"An abomination of nature?" Rebekah finished for her.
"You're anything but!" said Genevieve. "Not just you, your whole family is so... elegant."
Rebekah looked over to where Elijah was.
"Yes, I agree. Elijah is quite peerless." said Rebekah.
"I don't know... I mean, he's nice and all, but if I had to go for one Mikaelson boy…" Genevieve trailed off.
"Klaus?" said Rebekah, her eyes shining with mirth. "Genevieve, who'd have thought a saintly little witch like you would go for the bad boys? I knew we were destined to be friends!"
"More gin, please," said Clara, leaning into the bar.
A man next to her spills his drink on her.
"Oh!" she gasped.
Elijah appears by her side, handing his handkerchief to her. "Please, allow me. Keep it, it's yours." He walks off.
"Well, there's a load of us Mikaelsons. If you like bad boys, you'd love my brother, Kol." Rebekah told Genevieve at their table.
Klaus appears, observing this conversation intently within his mind.
"And where is this mystery brother of yours?" Genevieve inquired.
"It's complicated." Rebekah answered. "Like all siblings, we've had our ups and downs. Family feuds. In fact, I was thinking of reaching out to someone we haven't seen in a very long while. I was hoping that maybe you could help me contact them. But it would have to be a surprise. No one could know."
"Of course. Do you want me to find your brother, Kol?" Genevieve asked.
"Actually, I'd like you to find Mikael... our father." Rebekah told her.
"ENOUGH OF YOUR LIES!" Klaus shouted, refusing to believe what she was showing him.
"Don't dismember the messenger," said Genevieve. "Part of you must have known, suspected at least. Your father came to New Orleans in 1919 to kill you, did he not? And as the city burned, he nearly succeeded."
"My family and I have done some terrible things to each other over the years, but Rebekah would not call my father!" Klaus argued. "No matter how angry she was."
He refused to believe that Rebekah would have ever wanted to hurt him to the point she would summon Mikael, of all people.
"It's sweet of you to believe that, to believe in her, but by the time we're done, you'll know just how wrong you are," said Genevieve grimly, looking at him with a mixture of pity and sympathy.
Caroline is typing on the computer in the Abattoir study as Elijah enters. Zach and Stefan stood behind her, looking over her shoulder. She was trying to narrow down properties owned by the witches and possible locations where the witches could be holding them.
'Hey, look, I found–''
Elijah stops her with a gesture, indicating silence. "You were right about the Deveraux witch."
Before she can say anything, Marcel enters.
"Find anything about Clara, the mystery witch?" Marcel asked.
"Not much." Caroline answered. "She was a nurse at the Fleur De Lis Sanatorium."
Marcel freezes, the name a douse of cold water.
"Recognize her?" Caroline clicks on a picture and points to her. "Top row, second from the right."
"No, I don't. Marcel?" Elijah looks up and recognizes the odd behavior. "Marcel? Do I need to remind you that Niklaus, Rebekah and Katerina are somewhere suffering horribly? If you know something, talk."
"The Sanatorium." said Marcel. "That's where you'll find them."
"Are you sure? How do you know?" Caroline questioned.
"I just know." Marcel answered.
"How do you know?" inquired Elijah.
"If I'm right, you need to know exactly what we're walking into. We did something, Rebekah and I... I think the witches are trying to use it against her. It was, uh... something that you're not gonna like." Marcel warned.
"Caroline," Davina burst into the room before Marcel could say more. "This came for you." She held an envelope in her hand. "It just appeared. Magic."
Caroline rushed forward and tore the letter opened, reading over the contents. She felt like her heart was being pulled from her chest.
Caroline, you have made quite the nuisance of yourself in the Quarter. Your control of the city grows stronger with the more loyal following you gain, but that also makes you much more valuable than I first thought.
I offer you a deal. An exchanged if you will, Klaus's freedom for yours.
If you choose not to agree to those terms, I will make sure Katherine suffers in her last moments and that Klaus kills his own sister once he learns her secrets she shares with Marcel.
You have exactly two hours to decide. I will be waiting at the cemetery. Come alone.
Celeste.
Caroline looked up at the others, who watched her expectantly. "Celeste is offering a trade. She'll let Klaus go."
"What about Rebekah and Katerina?" asked Elijah.
Caroline's silence was answer enough.
"In exchange for what?" Ask Marcel. "She's not just going to let Klaus go. She has to want something in return. So what is it?"
"Me." Caroline answered.
There was an immediate protest from Stefan, Zach, and Davina.
Elijah shook his head firmly. "Absolutely not. Niklaus would kill every single one of us. He will see it as sacrificing you. It would be the biggest betrayal in his eyes."
"This can't be about me," Caroline protested. She looked at Marcel. "Because whatever secret you and Rebekah have may very well get her killed by her own brother."
Elijah glared at Marcel before returning his focus back to Caroline.
"And what of the twins?" Elijah demanded. "I want my family back, but not at the cost of other members of my family. There has to be another way."
"I'm sure there is." Caroline agreed. "But we're running out of time and if this is the way we save the people we care about, then it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make."
"What about you?" Zach protested. "We need you Caroline."
Caroline took his hand and squeezed it in her own. "Do you trust me?"
"With my life and with my pack." He answered without hesitation.
"Then trust me now," Caroline said.
Zach nodded slowly.
"Caroline.." Stefan shook his head. "I hope you know what you're doing."
Caroline silently agreed with him. She didn't like any of this, but if it got Klaus back, that was all that mattered.
"Are you sure about this, Caroline?" Davina asked, her own eyes unsure.
"No, she's not." Elijah answered before Caroline could. "She's letting her emotions lead her."
Caroline glared at him. "Do not speak for me. Yes, my emotions factor into this, but I am not stupid. I am not going to walk into this blind."
"That's exactly what you're doing, Caroline." Stefan stressed. "You're handing yourself over to psychotic witches with a grudge who will do anything to get their revenge on the Mikaelson's."
"You think I don't know that?!" Caroline snapped. "Everything that has happened to me the last couple of months is because of them. I know what they are capable of! They stole my children and used them as nothing more than a pawn. To Celeste, we are nothing, just chess pieces on a board. worthless casualties in a war. A war she's been waging against the Mikaelson's for decades. I know what I am getting myself into. However, this isn't just about Klaus, it's about all of us." she looked at Zach. "It's about the wolves." She looked at Marcel. "It's about the vampires." She looked at Davina. "Its about young influential witches." She looked around at them all. "It's about everyone who calls New Orleans home." Her eyes finally landed on Elijah. "It is about the Mikaelson's. Klaus's family, and now my family."
"You're right." Elijah said. "You are family now and I will do anything to protect my family. That includes you."
"Family fight for each other. This family fights for each other and that is what I am going to do." Caroline declared. "I have a plan and you have to trust me. People have a tendency to underestimate me. Don't make that same mistake."
Elijah was quiet for a long time. "Your just as frustrating as my brother. Stubborn but determined."
Caroline's lips ticked up into a faint smile. "Trust me, I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't know what I was doing. I need you to trust me to protect our family and keep my children and myself safe."
"What's your plan?" Zach asked, speaking for the first time.
"You'll know it when the time comes." Caroline promised.
Zach nodded, accepting her answer, but it wasn't enough for everyone else in the room.
Debates and arguments continued until they were going around in circles.
Caroline shared a look with Davina and Zach and after a moment, the latter of the three slipped from the room unnoticed by everyone but Caroline as the bickering continued.
Davina got word to Celeste that they needed to meet. She slipped out of the house with Zach and Josh. Josh kept close by while Zach was further back.
The witches were aware that Klaus had a pack of wolves following him. What they weren't aware of were the wolves' loyalty to Caroline and their attachment to her as one of their own.
If they could keep that from them for longer, they had the potential to use it to their advantage and gained the upper hand on the witches.
"Pretty ballsy of you to come alone." Celeste greeted, sitting next to Davina on a bench in the heart of the French Quarter.
The streets are filled with tourist, musicians, artists, traders selling trinkets.
"But I didn't come alone." She waved her hand at Josh on her other side.
"Hi. I'm Josh." he waved his hand in that awkward way he had, not the least bit intimidating.
"You might as well have." Celeste didn't even bother looking at him. "He's nothing but a newborn baby. Cannon fodder, really."
"I protest against that," said Josh. "I am more than Canon fodder. I have talents and skills."
"Josh." Davina fought a smile and placed her hand on his shoulder, silently advising him to let her do the talking.
Josh fell silent, instead leveling Celeste with his best intimidation look, which only made him look petulant.
"I can handle myself." Davina declared. "I don't need protection anymore."
"Then why are you still with Marcel? Why do you choose vampires over your coven?" Celeste challenged.
"I didn't choose the vampires. I chose myself." Davina defended. "I chose my friends. I chose Caroline."
"Caroline?" Celeste repeated. "What could she have possibly done for you to earn such loyalty?"
Davina smiled. The fact that Celeste had to ask showed, she knew nothing of Caroline, of the person she was, of the loyalty and sense of friendship, family, belonging that Caroline embodied.
"She saw me." Davina answered.
Celeste scoffed. "Everyone sees you."
"No, they see Davina, the Harvest girl. Davina Clarie, the witch. Caroline sees me, Davina, the teenage girl who just wants to be free and live her life without the threat of death looming over her." Davina argued passionately. "She sees me for me and that's enough for her. She had no expectations, nothing more than I am willing to give. She cares because that's who she is. She is the reason why I am here."
"Did she ask you to meet with me? Why didn't she come herself?" Celeste argued. "She's using you. Can't you see that?"
"Caroline doesn't use people. She couldn't get away. I chose to come here on my own and speak for her on her behalf. Now do you want to quit trying to turn me against someone I will never betray, or do you want to hear her response to your letter?" Davina challenged.
Celeste eyed her for a moment before finally speaking. "Very well."
"Caroline will agree to your terms, but she wants something in return."
"She will be getting Klaus back." Celeste glared. "What more could she want?"
"Rebekah and Katherine." Davina answered.
"Absolutely not." Celeste shook her head. "Why would I agree to that?"
"Why would Caroline agree to your terms when she is the one who will be in danger, when she will be putting her life and the lives of her unborn children in your hands?" Davina argued. "The way Caroline sees it, when she hands herself over, you are getting three lives. It is only reasonable for you to hand Rebekah and Katherine over, as well."
Celeste's eyes darkened. "If I say no?"
"Good luck getting to Caroline then to hurt Klaus," Davina responded. "She's being heavily guarded. If you want to hurt Klaus through her, this is your one and only chance."
"Caroline knows she's not going to make it out of this?" Celeste asked. "She's putting the Mikealson's before the wellbeing of her unborn children? Of herself?"
"Do we have a deal or not?" Davina demanded. She hated the idea that Caroline's life will be in Celeste's hands, but she was choosing to trust that Caroline knew what she was doing.
Celeste said nothing, looking out at the busy streets.
Davina stood, prepared to walk away and tell Caroline that the deal didn't work out.
"Tell Caroline she has herself a deal." Celeste said finally.
Davina looked back over her shoulder at her.
"She's to come alone. I want no tricks. Or things will get out of hand very quickly," Celeste warned.
Davina nodded and turned back around, tugging Josh with her, walking away without another word.
"Are you ready to see more proof?" Genevieve asked.
Klaus doesn't say anything, so Genevieve links their minds again.
"Stop." Celeste walked into the room. "You've had your fun, but it ends now. There's been a change of plans." She smiled at Klaus. "You're going to love this."
Klaus felt apprehensive.
What exactly had this witch acting like she won?
"It is my understanding that you spent 1000 years feeling unloved and wanting to be loved and now that you have it, I'm going to rip it away." Celeste picked Papa Tunde's blade back up. "After a thousand years Klaus Mikaelson finally found someone who loved him enough to give up everything for him. Caroline Forbes really is your greatest weakness."
Klaus' eyes filled with rage, flashing amber. "If you go near her-"
"We are well past your threats." she stabbed Klaus through the chest with the blade. "You will know true pain with her death."
Klaus groaned, consumed by the pain caused by the blade imbedding beneath his skin, coursing its cursed magic through his veins, everything falling away, her words haunting him, striking fear in his heart like nothing has before. Not even the threat of Mikael.
"What more do you want from me? I took Klaus out of the equation." Nadia spat out, her eyes flaring as she stood across from Sophie. "If Klaus gets free, he will kill me. My mother spent her entire vampire life running from him and now I will have to do the same, except I can't do that because my mother is here and I need to make sure she is going to be okay."
Nadia knew she was screwed. She let her emotions, her need, her desperation lead her to make a reckless and rash decision. A choice that will change the course of her life.
She would be lucky if she made it out of New Orleans alive. Nadia was realistic. She knew the likely hood of that was very low.
If Klaus didn't kill her for what she did, his family would, or one of the many wolves that were loyal to him because of Caroline.
"We made a deal. You help me and I'll help you." Sophie told her. "I will make sure Katherine pulls through this-"
"How can you when she's not even here? The witches have her!" Nadia argued.
"Listen to me, Nadia. She is going to be fine. I know how they think, how they work. Katherine is going to be fine. She is just a small piece on a larger board."
Her words were not reassuring, but Nadia steeled herself. She couldn't change what she did. She started down this road and now she had to go down it, regardless of the consequences.
"What do you need me to do?" she asked.
"I need you to free Hayley and kidnapped Davina." Sophie said.
Nadia looked at her, voice quiet, her eyes a storm. She turned to walk away.
"Nadia!" Sophie called after her in alarm.
"Have you lost your damn mind!" Nadia whirled around. "Hayley is under constant guard. Davina is never alone, not to mention she is one of the most powerful witches I have ever come across!"
"I know that. Look, nothing about the path we are on is easy." Sophie argued. "Do you think I wanted to start all of this? That I wanted to wage a war against the Mikaelson's, against Marcel? Of course, I didn't. Contrary to popular belief, I do not have a death wish. I knew that when I took Klaus and Caroline's baby, that when I started a war with the vampires and witches that I was setting things in motion that couldn't be undone. Moves that would more than likely end in my death when all is said in done and you know what, I don't care. If all this means, my niece is alive, that she is breathing and okay. Then it will all be worth it. There is nothing I will not do for my family." Sophie stepped forward, staring into Nadia's eyes challengingly. "Now tell me, Nadia, can you say the same? How badly you want to save your mother?"
Nadia steeled herself. "You better save her."
Caroline walked through the cemetery, her steps certain and true.
She didn't so much as flinch as Celeste stepped out from a mausoleum. "You actually came alone."
"We had a deal. I plan to keep to it. Do you?" Caroline folded her arms across her chest, arching an eyebrow at her challengingly.
Celeste's eyes narrowed. "Are you even aware of what you are doing? The sacrifice you are making."
"When it's to save someone you love, there is no price too high." Caroline said. "A price I am happy to pay for Klaus's freedom."
"Do you really love him?" Celeste's eyes narrowed.
"Would I be here if I didn't?" Caroline replied, the truth in her words shining brightly in her eyes.
"He's a monster." Celeste accused.
"He's your monster. Not mine." Caroline said passionately. "He's the person who made me realize I was worth more than I believed, then other people thought, that I was everything and in return he became that for me."
Celeste smirked. "This will wreck him. Losing you."
"He'll survive." Caroline said with certainty. "He's a survivor."
"Could you, if your roles were reversed?" Celeste challenged, and Caroline scowled darkly.
Celeste brought two fingers to her mouth and whistled.
Rebekah was dragged out between two witches, not conscious, Katherine was carried out unconscious in a male witch's arms, and Klaus' unconscious body was carried out.
"Take them to the Quarter and leave them. I'm sure Elijah will collect his loved ones." Celeste said. She reached for Caroline, jerking her forward by the arm.
Caroline fought the urge to throw her off. She clenched her jaw but allowed Celeste to tug her along.
She threw one last look at Klaus. She wanted to touch him, assure herself he was okay, but she couldn't.
She steps forward with Celeste and further away from Klaus.
Praying silently.
Not for herself, but for him.
Davina moved down the hall. Since the wolves had moved in, they had taken up one half of the abator and she had rarely ventured into their area.
Other than Caroline, the wolves tended to stick to themselves, but she was looking for one wolf in particular.
She turned into a room. It looked like an entertainment den. There was a pool, table, couch, tv, a nook off in the corner with a bookshelf close by.
It was filled with the wolves, all keeping themselves occupied in some way.
However, she didn't see the wolf she was looking for.
"Davina, looking for something?"
Davina turned to a female wolf, her hair was cut in a pixie cut and she was a little on the short side, with a tattoo of vines going down her neck and arm.
Rosaline.
"Someone, actually." Davina answered. "I was looking for Zach."
"He went to the Bayou, he trying to keep an eye on the wolves there. Look out for them." Rosaline answered. "He took a few other wolves with him. We're supposed to switch off in a few hours."
Davina frowned. "Can you call him back here? I need to talk to him. It's important."
"I can take you there," Rosaline said. "C'mon." she moved past Davina, not stopping to see if the younger girl was following.
Davina trudges behind Rosaline with some difficulty. Three more wolves followed behind her.
Nathan, a wolf her age, offered his help when she needed, and she offered him a soft smile.
They came to a small clearing in the bayou, Zach stood there, two more men beside him, and further out she could see the form of wolves, moving through the edges of the trees.
Zach turned, catching their scent in the light breeze blowing in the wind. "Davina," his eyes widened in alarm. "Is Caro-"
"She's fine." Davina assured him, sensing his worry. "But I need to discuss something with you on her behalf."
Zach nodded. "Rosa, could you take over for me?"
Rosaline moved to do as he asked with a single nod of confirmation.
Zach moved through the trees and Davina followed him, noticing the other wolves stayed behind with Rosaline.
Zach stopped at a small cabin and sat down on the porch. Davina joined him.
Zach was quiet as he waited for her to begin.
"Caroline has a plan for when she hands herself over to the witches." Davina began.
"I figured. It's the only reason I'm going along with it." Zach said. "Caroline, she's one of us. We protect our own."
"She's counting on that." Davina said.
Zach looked at her. "What's the plan?"
"We are the plan." Davina told him. "We will be the ones to get Caroline back."
Zach turned toward her. "Why isn't Caroline telling me this?"
"She didn't want anyone talking her out of it. She was worried you would and she can't risk it." Davina paused. "You see Caroline, as a member of your pack. She sees you as her family. A brother. You have the power, the influence to change her mind, and she doesn't want that. This is something she has to do, and she is trusting us to make sure she makes it back alive."
Zach felt the emotion swell in his chest with the confirmation of what he meant to someone he saw as a close member of his pack, his family and, knowing Caroline was depending on him, lit a protective fire inside him.
"Tell me everything."
Rebekah stood with Stefan's arm around her, supporting her as Elijah and Marcel settled Klaus into his bed.
Davina was looking Katherine over, her daughter at her bedside.
Zach was in the doorway, shifting impatiently. "What are we waiting for?"
"How much does he know, Rebekah?" Marcel asked, ignoring Zach.
"Enough." Rebekah answered, still feeling weak as the wolf venom was slowly dissolving in her system. "What are we going to do when he comes to? If he finds out we let Caroline sacrifice herself for him, there's no telling what he will do."
"We go and get her back before it's too late." Zach growled.
"No," Davina stepped into the room. "Caroline had a plan and we have to follow it and trust she knows what she's doing."
"I know but."
"Zach." Davina sent him a look.
Zach fell silent, his jaw clenching. He knew Caroline's plan, but not acting now was killing him.
"Then we wait," said Elijah.
"And then what?" asked Stefan. "Caroline is in over her head. Look what Celeste has done so far. I imagine she will do far worse to Caroline, especially considering she is fully aware of Klaus's obsession with Caroline. And what about the twins? If she really saw them as a threat, she could do something that would stop them from ever being born. If we wait, I see no good outcomes for either Caroline or the twins."
Everyone shared varying looks of concern.
Nothing about this was right, but what choice did they have right now? Their hands were tied.
"What was her plan?" Elijah finally asked, looking straight at Davina.
Davina pursed her lips, expression grim.
Elijah pulled up the sleeves of his shirt after asking everyone to leave the room, preparing to pull Papa Tunde's blade away.
Rebekah, however, refused to, the guilt of her actions and what Caroline had done eating away at her.
She was done running and the first step was facing Klaus head on and owning up to her actions. No matter the consequences. She owed Caroline that much.
Klaus laid in the bed, unmoving, shirtless. It was convenient as Elijah plunged his hand inside his chest cavity where Papa Tunde's blade was buried.
Klaus gasped in pain, his back arching as Elijah gripped the blade and slowly removed it.
It only took moments for the wound in Klaus's chest to heal and his eyes to open.
He looked at Elijah and then Rebekah, and then continued to look around the room, searching for one person. The witch's words echoing in his head about Caroline.
"Where's Caroline?" his voice was raspy as he sat up, swinging his legs around the bed.
"Perhaps you should take it easy, brother." Elijah suggested, taking a step back until he was next to Rebekah.
"Caroline?" Klaus called out, pushing to his feet. His throat burned with hunger, but it was the least of his concerns. "Caroline?"
"Nik," Rebekah took a step forward, but Elijah threw his arm out in front of her, halting any further movement.
Klaus looked between them. "Where is she?"
"Nikla-"
"WHERE IS SHE?!" Klaus shouted, taking a step forward, his body chorusing with anger and unease.
"She gave herself over to the witches in exchange for our freedom," Rebekah answered, dreading his reaction.
"You have better be lying, Rebekah." Klaus's eyes changed to dark amber, black veins rising underneath his skin. "Get me, Caroline."
"Nik," Rebekah shook her head. "I'm sorry."
Klaus' hand shot out, wrapping around her throat. "Don't tell me you are sorry."
Rebekah reached her hand up to pry his hand off, but his grip was stronger and his anger was only fueling his strength further. "Nik-"
"Let her go, Niklaus!" Elijah pulled at Klaus's arm, but Klaus did not budge.
"Stay out of this!" Klaus snapped, his grip tightening.
Rebekah winced, feeling the bones of her neck start to crack. "Nik, please."
"Let her go!"
Stefan and Marcel were there, helping Elijah force him back, breaking his grip on Rebekah.
"Get off me." Klaus shoved them all back.
"Caroline being gone is not Rebekah's fault." Marcel said.
"It's all of yours." Klaus growled out. "How could any of you let this happen?!"
"Caroline did this for you. For our family," Elijah interjected.
"And you should have stopped her!" Klaus thundered.
"And you should know just as well as I do that no one can stop Caroline once she set her mind to something," Stefan told him. "She is a force of nature."
"Then it shouldn't surprise any of you that she had a plan." Zach stood in the doorway with Davina.
Klaus moved past everyone, stopping in front of him. "Tell me everything," he ordered.
"How much did Genevieve tell you?" Marcel asked Klaus cautiously.
Rebekah shifted next to him, watching Klaus, waiting for the explosion, waiting for him to punish her.
Marcel reached for her hand, squeezing it reassuringly.
Whatever happened, they were in this together.
"Enough." Klaus answered, his back to him.
Elijah stood in the door, ready to intervene on Rebekah's behalf. He did not get his sister back just to watch Niklaus punish her further.
Rebekah was already wracked with guilt for Caroline, sacrificing herself for her freedom.
"Nik, I never meant-"
"I don't have time to address your betrayal," Klaus turned around, his eyes a storm of anger. "Or that you wanted me dead."
"I didn't." Rebekah protested. "Nik, I-"
"I've heard enough of your lies." Klaus looked at her with disdain.
Rebekah felt like the bug beneath his shoe with that one look. He had never looked at her like that before. It was heartbreaking.
"None of this even matters until we get Caroline back." Klaus growled.
Zach stepped into the room. "Davina is working on her part. We'll be ready to go when she is."
"You're all willing to put yourself in danger for Caroline?" Klaus asked, his eyes going to the figures standing just behind him.
Zach looked behind him as every member of his pack filed into the room behind him. Over twenty wolves stood in a line, ready and waiting. Zach turned his eyes back to Klaus. "It's Caroline. She has done nothing but help us in any way she could. We would die for her. She is a part of this pack."
Klaus felt a wave of gratitude, but he wouldn't voice it not until Caroline was back where she belonged. With him. "She would never ask that of you," he said instead. "But I will." he looked around the room from Elijah and Rebekah to Marcel and Stefan to Zach and every wolf standing in the room. "No price is too high for Caroline's life and make no mistake, I won't hesitate to do whatever it takes to bring her home."
"You should really hate Klaus for your predicament. You wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him."
Caroline glared from her spot strapped to a table. "I care less about your opinion, Sabine."
"I prefer Celeste, actually." Celeste corrected. "All these names I've had over the years and I still prefer the first. Perhaps it was the way it sounded on Elijah's lips, like a declaration of love. Oh, he was a good liar. They all are. In a lot of ways, were are a lot alike."
"We are nothing alike." Caroline responded passionately.
"Aren't we? You love Klaus so much that you willingly traded your life and the life of your unborn babies. You trust Klaus to choose you over his family. I trusted Elijah to do the same, but he betrayed that trust. Like Elijah, Klaus will always choose his family. The Mikaelson's will always choose their unbreakable vow of Always and Forever."
"You're wrong." Caroline said. "Say what you want about Elijah or Rebekah, but you know nothing about Klaus. He has chosen me again and again and he always will choose me."
"I hope you're right," said Celeste. "I'm counting on Klaus's love for you. It'll be the ruin of you all. Klaus will learn that Rebekah and Marcel tried to kill him and he'll never stop until he's had his revenge. He'll kill Marcel. Do something horrible to Rebekah, and he'll blame Elijah for your death when I deliver you to his doorstep after I've killed you. Elijah will never forgive him for Rebekah, and Klaus will never forgive him for you. Your sacrifice will ultimately pit brother against brother. And the fabled Mikaelson bond will crumble."
Caroline smiled. "You're underestimating them, and more importantly, you are underestimating me."
"I don't think I am," Celeste responded.
Caroline glared at Celeste and the red-haired witch, Genevieve, who joined her.
"What's the plan?" asked Caroline.
"I would love nothing more than to kill you and deliver you to Klaus's door, grey and decayed. Dead." Celeste said.
"Then why don't you?" Caroline challenged.
"Do you remember when I told you about the fate of the babies when Hayley was carrying them?" asked Celeste.
Caroline's eyes darkened with the reminder of Hayley's treachery. "I remember."
"I wasn't blowing smoke. One of your children will be the hope for the witches, and one will be their downfall. Obviously, we want to root out the danger." Celeste said. "Kill the poisonous weed, but we don't wish to do the same to the hidden flower in the grass."
Caroline hated Celeste's analogy, but she loathe that she was talking about killing one of her children.
"It's a shame then that you'll have to wait and see which one will be your saviour and the other your reaper." Caroline drawled. "I hope by the time you figure it out, you would have failed because you'll be dead."
Celeste chuckled. "Well, we'll have to see about that. Let me introduce you to my friend, Genevieve. With any luck, she can determine which child we need to kill. With magic, we can control which child doesn't make it to term and when you finally give birth, we will take the one that lives and raise it to be the weapon for the witches it was born to be."
"Stay the hell away from my children." Caroline threatened, ice flooding her veins at the thought of anyone hurting her babies or taking them from her.
She would not let that happen again. She would do anything to protect them.
"Or what?" Celeste challenged.
"Or I will rip you apart. I will scatter your pieces in the Quarter. I'll make sure you can never be consecrated and join your beloved ancestors. Or worse. I will turn you into the very thing you hate. A vampire. Torture you repeatedly until you're begging for release, and even then, I won't grant you the reprieve. Your life would be nothing but a series of moments of torture and true agony." Caroline's eyes shifted, her veins protruding with the anger running through her veins.
"Do you know who you sound like?" Celeste asked. "Like Klaus Mikaelson. He has already begun to corrupt you. When I kill you after you give birth, I will be doing you a favor. Saving you from yourself and from Klaus."
"Go to Hell." Caroline spat. "I rather be like Klaus than you."
Celeste nodded and walked away. "See you soon, Caroline."
Genevieve stepped forward. "I have to say I am sorry for the unfortunate part you have to play in all this. I don't wish to harm a baby or you. You have done me no wrong, but we all have our parts to play and this just happens to be yours and mine."
Genevieve wheeled a table over. It has a mixing bowl and a mix of ingredient bags along with a syringe and needle.
"It's such a shame that you are nothing but a pawn. I'm sure it takes someone truly special to earn the affection of the most feared Mikaelson."
Caroline glared at her. "Don't talk like you know him. You don't."
Caroline couldn't care less if the red head witch thought her nothing more than a pawn.
She knew she was not a pawn.
No, she was a Queen and her Knights, Davina, Zach, her King Klaus, would come for her.
It was all a matter of time. She just had to play her part. She had to delay them until Klaus came for her.
She knew with every fiber of her being that he would come for her, she always would, but more than that, she was capable of saving herself. She had a plan, and she was going to see it through.
"Then tell me about him." Genevieve said. "Tell me what makes him worth the sacrifice you made for him."
Caroline's eyes narrowed. The red head seemed genuine, like she really wanted to know.
"He's capable of love, but when he does, it's everything. It's all consuming, it's deep, it's uncontrollable. It's terrifying and overwhelming. It's obsessive. He's protective, he's rash. He's a monster and a villain, but not to me. For me, he's the monster who protected me from other monsters. He's the villain whose loved me unconditionally, without expectations. He's the oil to my fire. He's my other half."
"He makes you complete," said Genevieve. She grabbed the syringe.
"No," Caroline watched her movements closely. "I don't need a man to complete me. He understands me, he gets me, he encourages me to be who I am, and he loves me for exactly that person. He doesn't try to change me. He's my pillar, my person, and I am his."
Genevieve looked at her in a new light. "Would you change him if you could?"
"No," Caroline answered. "He wouldn't be Klaus. He's complicated, complex and difficult and I accept him, faults and all."
Genevieve stepped forward with the syringe. Caroline jerked back against her restraints as the witch lifted her shirt, exposing her stomach, raising the syringe.
"No, don't." the panic was instantaneous, a rush of fear surging through Caroline.
"Hold still or this could be disastrous for all three of you," Genevieve advised, settling her hand on Caroline's slightly rounded abdomen.
"Stop!" Caroline was desperate to stop her.
She felt the needle against her stomach.
"NO!'
A surge of magic collided with Genevieve. Her head and back slammed against the wall.
Caroline stared wide eyed.
"What did you do?" asked Genevieve, pushing back to her feet.
"Nothing." Caroline defended.
"You protected yourself from me with magic? How?!" Genevieve demanded.
"I don't know." Caroline shook her head. "I don't have magic."
"You don't, but your children do. How is it possible that you, a vampire, can use their magic?"
Caroline stared. She didn't use magic. She was certain it wasn't her, but then how?
What the hell just happened?
Elijah, Rebekah, Klaus, Zach, Marcel, Stefan and a couple of the wolves from the pack arrived outside the Sanatorium,
"We should divide the building. I'll start at one end, you at the other." Elijah directed, addressing Klaus.
"No need." Zach said. "The spell Davina did has made me like a Caroline compass. I can feel her."
"Then we'll follow you." Said Rebekah. She looked at Klaus, who was eerily silent. "Nik?"
"I just need to get to her." Klaus said, his eyes a dark amber, a rumble echoing from deep in his chest.
Outside, Celeste walks out the front of the Sanatorium. Davina and Josh were there. Waiting.
Josh tossed her back into the building before she could react, her head slamming against the stone. She crumpled to the ground in a heap, groaning.
Genevieve barely got back to her feet before the Sanatorium began to shake.
Caroline edged the knife from her sleeve down to her wrist and began cutting herself loose. "I hope you didn't have more of your coven with you."
"What's happening?" Genevie asked, alarmed.
"You didn't honestly think I would hand myself over, put my children in jeopardy without a plan, did you?" Caroline asked, freeing herself and jumping down from the table she had been strapped to.
"I don't-" Genevieve shook her head.
"If you live through this, you should tell your coven to stop underestimating me." Caroline said just as the door to the room was thrown open.
Klaus stood there. Blood dripped down from his mouth, blood coated his hands. "Caroline."
Caroline couldn't care that he was covered in blood. In all this, she had been afraid that she would never get the chance to see him again.
She sped over, her body colliding with his.
Klaus gripped her tightly, his bloody hands moving to cup her face as he looked her over. "Are you hurt?"
"No," Caroline shook her head. "I'm fine."
Klaus's hand settled on her stomach, staining her shirt with blood.
"We're all fine." Caroline pulled him back down, her mouth covering his in a heated kiss.
A kiss Klaus gladly returned.
Genevieve made a disgruntled sound a few feet away and Caroline could hear her moving behind her, but she didn't care.
"I love you." She breathed against Klaus's lips, shocking him.
Klaus stilled, pulling back to look into Caroline's eyes certain, he hadn't heard her correctly.
"I love you." Caroline repeated. Needing him to hear her, believe it.
It was stupid, and it was utterly ridiculous, but hearing those words from Caroline, words before Caroline he didn't care about, but now, hearing her say them. Knowing she meant it, it made everything he had experienced in his thousands years worth it.
Because this, Caroline saying she loved him was everything he wanted.
He wanted to be angry with her for trading herself; he wanted to yell and scream. He wanted to rage, but right then he couldn't, not when all he felt was relief to have her standing in front of him.
He pulled Caroline back against his chest, holding onto her tightly, his body curling around hers protectively.
This was all he needed.
Well, and his revenged but that would come in due time. For now, he was content to have Caroline in his arms again.
Nothing had ever felt more right.