Seven: Reunion Blues

Elena watched as Damon left, she almost called for him but then decided that she should let him leave so that he could cool off. When Damon was upset he didn't think. When he didn't think, he ended up killing which wouldn't help anyone at all.

Elena took a deep breath and rubbed her temples. How had the best night of her life had turned so horrid? She desperately needed a drink and at the risk of sounding like a desperate alcoholic she remembered that she saw a bar in front of their small hotel with live music.

She finished off her drink that Damon had purchased her. Elena grimaced. She needed something stronger. Plus onion rings and mozzarella sticks didn't sound at all bad. Elena grabbed her purse and headed to the bar.

She stopped halfway to her destination when saw Katherine scowling in the middle of the courtyard. A cigarette was held between two delicate fingers. It looked weird looking at her carbon copy. Any one else that saw them on the streets would probably say that they looked like twins.

Katherine scowled irritably at Elena. "And what are you staring at?"

"Nothing." Elena said. She was no longer afraid of Katherine. There was no vicious, psychopath now. There was only a cranky, fearful human girl. As ironic as it was, Elena felt pity for her. She couldn't believe that she was feeling pity for the girl that had killed her brother, that had caused her so much pain, but she did.

Elena was used to being human, Katherine was not. Behind her tough demeanor Elena saw someone that was terrified out of her wits. If someone didn't kill her, the waiting and the unknow would.

"I'm going to grab a drink," Elena said slowly pointing to the bar. "Want to join me?"

Katherine looked like she wanted to argue, but what was the supposed to say? Besides it was better than the alternative which was someone to pop out of the woods and eat her. Of course she wasn't about to tell Elena that.

She tightened her leather jacket around her slim body even though it was almost 80 degrees out. "Fine," she scoffed. "But you're paying."

Elena rolled her eyes and she squinted. There was a sharp pain in the middle of her head as if her head was splitting in two. It was excruciating pain and Katherine must have felt it too because they both fell to the ground.

Elena looked around to see if any of the tourist knew what was happening or if any of them could call Damon, but they seemed to be in a trance, not knowing what was happening around them.

Katherine gritted her teeth as she saw an armful of witches approaching them. "Now I remember why I don't like New Orleans. It's full of witches."

The chanting continued until the pain was so bad that Katherine and Elena passed out.

Her blood smelled sweet.

Klaus knew that it would. The woman was practically pure sugar. Yet Klaus knew that she had a bite in her. When Klaus had first heard the news that Caroline, his Caroline had been made into a human he had been shocked, angry, and devastated.

But for a brief moment now, he cherished it. She was human, delicate, and alive. He could hear her heart pulsing in her chest and he could smell her sweet, intoxicating scent. But the romance was erased when he saw her in the garden of the inn.

She was a pair of bones, so delicate and frail. So very human. She could died and Klaus would have no way of getting her back. He was determined not to make that happened. Even though Caroline was no longer a vampire she seemed to sense that Klaus was near.

Her pretty little mouth turned into a small O as she turned to him. "Klaus." Her voice was warm and soft, but Klaus could see that she was trembling slightly in anguish. For once there was no sarcastic comment, no sassiness. Just sadness and disappointment.

It made Klaus's throat hurt. "Hello, Caroline."

Caroline felt like she couldn't breathe. Instead, she just stared at him as if he were some kind of holy ghost. "Klaus."

Klaus knew that it was wrong. He knew that their relationship was complicated. He knew that he would probably end up slapped, but for some reason he had to kiss her. He had to feel his hands through her golden curls and kiss those pillowy soft lips.

Much to his surprise, Caroline kissed him back, almost eagerly as if she too had wanted to kiss Klaus. Once Caroline pulled away, she could feel her cheeks reddened. She cleared her throat. "Well, that was. . .intense."

"I would use that word and many more to describe it." He touched her arm gently. "How are you, love? After everything?" Her bones felt frailer and Klaus feared that she would disappear at any moment.

Caroline gave him a wry smile. "It's just everything it not what I expected. I was a human for 17 years. I thought it would be easier, I guess the perks of being a vampire made me forget how. . .simple humanity is."

Klaus looked at her amused. "You don't like humanity?"

"It's not that I don't like humanity," Caroline said. "It's just it's no longer a part of me. I left that part when Katherine killed me. I hated being human, I was selfish and vain and insecure and I know that I am not perfect now, but-"

"You feel that if you remain as a human you will return to being that person." Klaus interrupted. "I understand, Caroline. Humanity has never really suited you, love. No offense."

Caroline rolled her eyes. "I've forgotten how much of a romantic you were. Please tell me that you have a plan, Klaus."

In truth, Klaus didn't have much of a solid plan, but he didn't want to ruin Caroline's hopes especially when she was looking at him with such wide eyes. "I always have a trick or two up my sleeve. Now let's get Elena and head back to the compound. New Orleans may be a tourist town, but it still has the occasional rat lurking around."

"And Katherine." Caroline chirped in. "We need to get Katherine and Elena, though Katherine is probably drowning in her bathtub right about now."

Klaus stopped short. Katerina? She was human? Damon and Stefan hadn't mentioned a word. Those lying, little-

"Nik," their moment was interrupted by Rebekah's annoying voice. They both turned around and saw the blond walking towards them at a rapid pace followed by the Salvatore brothers who both had worried looks on their faces.

"What do you want, Bekah?" Klaus looked towards the brothers. "Well, it seems that you went after the two idiots who can't keep the cure from falling into the wrong hands. When were you planning to tell me that a cure was running though a third person's veins?"

Rebekah threw Stefan a look that basically said I-Told-You. "Are the Doppelganger bitches with you?"

"I barely got here, Bekah. They are probably at the spa or bar. Humanity has taken a toll on them."

-End of Chapter Seven-

Thank you so much for your patience!