Immortal

Disclaimer: The characters and other things from The Vampire Diaries don't belong to me. Credit goes to the rightful owners.

Chapter 3: Infinity

The knock echoed through the empty hall. It was a sound the old man's ears thought he would never live to hear like his ancestors before him. But he woke up that morning somehow knowing that day was different, feeling the shift in the magic that bound the castle. His master was near and the sun would not set without his return.

He limped along the stone floor as fast as he could, hoping the stories about this unspeakable evil were exaggerated. He was only a keeper and lived as faithfully as he could to the oath he made when his father died—to never leave castle, to never breathe a word of the existence of the crypt and to never dare ask what was inside.

The old man opened the heavy door and bowed his head, not even trying to steal a look at his master before he was permitted.

"Is it safe?" Klaus barked, growling with irritation with the voice that resounded in the silence.

"Yes, my liege," the old servant said, "It is as you left it. The seal holds."

Klaus moved past the man, his steps impatient but sure as he walked inside, calling back orders as he did so, "I am not to be disturbed. No one, and I mean no one, is to enter. If someone tries to breach the perimeter—kill them on sight."

"Sire!" the man said, shivering in horror, "Surely we won't need to resort to that…"

Before the man could blink he was thrown back and pinned against the wall.

"Do not dare defy me," Klaus said, an eerie calm settling on his voice, even as his eyes blazed with anger, "I have no patience for those who betray my trust."

"Y-y-yes," the man stuttered, "as you wish."

Klaus released him, "Well, what are you waiting for?"

With a nod the man shook, pain shooting up and down his body until he crumpled into a crouch, his whimpers turning into a howl of fury. The beast emerged and no trace of humanity could be seen in his glowing amber eyes, it's fangs sharp as steel and his insides thirsting for a kill.

Tyler's face slid into an easy smile, malicious and charming all at once, looking more like Klaus' true form than the boy from Mystic Falls, "Now that's more like it."

"Raise your hand if you think Bonnie is more unstable than I am," Damon said, his own hand waving wildly in the air.

"Stop it, Damon, you're not helping," Elena said, exasperated.

"Don't look at me," Damon said rolling his eyes, "Tell Bonnie that because she's the one who isn't helping and managed to make things a hundred times worse!"

Bonnie glared at him but did nothing. Instead she turned to Elena, "It was the only way I could save Tyler. Klaus was vulnerable. It was only a matter of time before Alaric got to him and I couldn't risk it. I couldn't lose anyone else in my life, Elena…you know how that feels right?"

Elena nodded slowly, as she sat down on the sofa, wincing at the smallest movement. In a flash, Stefan's hand shot out to help her steady herself, concern etching through every feature on his face as Damon looked away, his jaw set in frustration.

"So he's alive? Right?" Caroline asked in a small voice, "In his own body…just rooming with Klaus for the time being?"

"So eloquently put, Blondie," Damon said, "But the thing you should ask is how to kick out the unwanted roommate without killing all of us in the process because this means the verdict is still out on whether or not he sired out entire bloodline."

"He did," Elena said coughing out the words, her breathing becoming ragged even as she raised her hand up to tell them she was fine, clenching the other one and hiding it from view, "He turned Scary Mary."

"You should wipe the blood off your hand, Elena," said a voice drifting in from behind them, "It's going to stain the cushions and I don't think Jeremy knows the number to the dry cleaners if you die on him."

Damon threw his hands up in the air, settling himself beside Elena, as everyone else shifted into a defensive stance, "With all the crazy people around, I'm starting to feel like I have a shot at being the voice of reason. I take it you're the source of Elena's little golden nugget of information?"

Katherine nodded with a smirk, "Of course, you all would be nowhere without me really—all faulty spells and bad planning, never bothering to find out actual useful information. It's no wonder you're in this predicament. Your witch can't even go bad properly."

"Don't make me to be like you," Bonnie spat out, "I'm only doing what's best for the people I love."

"Are you sure you love them?" Katherine said sweetly, "Because you sure aren't trying hard enough."

"And what do you think I should have done, Katherine," Bonnie challenged, "How should we have saved Tyler? If you're so smart then why haven't you figured out a way to cut off from Klaus' line?"

"Who says I haven't?" Katherine asked raising her eyebrows.

"Because you wouldn't have kept tabs on what's been happening here as well as you have if you didn't have a stake in whether he lived or died," Stefan said flatly, "My guess is you've been lurking around and watching if you needed to intervene. Obviously you knew well enough to let it play out to this because this serves you somehow."

"Be still my heart," Katherine said, her eyes shining with mischief, "After all this time, you still know me so well, Stefan."

"Can you all please just shut up?" Caroline shouted, "All this banter is not getting us from point A to point B, which is saving Tyler! I get it, you're all so witty but words won't exactly make Klaus run for the hills and out of Tyler's body, which FYI is still missing!"

"I have a fairly good idea where he is. If you had just let me finish I would have told you by now," Katherine said impatiently, "Well, at a price of course."

"Name it," Bonnie said.

"My, my, embracing the dark side, now are we?" Damon said. "Making deals with the devil herself, Bonnie. Are you sure?"

"Oh, please Damon, you'll benefit from this too," Katherine said, "In fact, we all want the same thing right now…and that's for Elena to drink some human blood and turn. You don't have to kill anyone…just blood from a bag will do. Just one sip, and you're one step closer to getting back your hybrid. It's on you now, Elena."

"Not until you tell us more, Katherine," Elena said weakly, wiping the thin sheen of sweat on her forehead.

"I don't think you have that kind of time," Katherine pointed out, shaking her head as another fit of violent coughing took hold of Elena, "But as an act of good faith I'll tell you why he's so desperate to surround himself with an army of hybrids."

"He's sick, lonely and desperate for attention with a load of father issues," Caroline interrupted, "It's not exactly a secret he's creating things that he thinks will love him by default."

Katherine narrowed her eyes at Caroline, "Then he should have just compelled an army of vampires seeing as an Original he's quite capable of doing just that. And why continue with the whole hybrid obsession when Michael is already dead, his mother out of commission? Surely, there must be a reason… something else he fears, perhaps?"

"What does…that…have to do…with me?" Elena rasped out as Stefan pulled her in his arms.

"Well, you've always been at the center of whatever mayhem Klaus tries to create so my take is you're the main ingredient," Damon said watching Katherine carefully for confirmation.

"There's more to the story of the doppelganger, isn't there?" Bonnie said slowly, turning towards Katherine, "It doesn't end just because Elena died…it didn't end when you turned. Or is that precisely why you wanted to become a vampire?"

"Now, now, I can't lay all the cards in a neat little row for you without getting anything in return," Katherine said wagging her finger, "I believe you know my terms. Find me when you've decided and well work out a plan. I look forward to it but I won't wait forever."

In a blink, Katherine left in a blur, practically vanishing into thin air. With an effort, Elena extricated herself from Stefan's grasp and stood.

"Caroline," Elena said with a struggle, "I need to talk to you…alone…Not here."

"I'm not sure," Caroline said, looking around, fully aware of the warning Damon had in his eyes, "I think we should stay put."

"NO!" Elena gasped out, "Please."

"Elena…" Stefan pleaded gently, "You're not…you don't…"

"Let her go," Damon said rising to his feet, tossing his car keys to Caroline, "She's dying. Just give her what she wants. Isn't that your motto, Stefan? Let her make her own choices? I think this is one of those moments, brother, or are you starting to regret you ever said that?"

Thank you, Elena mouthed, barely holding back tears.

Damon merely shrugged and walked them out the door, calling out only when they were off the porch.

"Hey Elena?" Damon said, walking towards them with a small but pained smile on his lips, "I know you made your choice and I can't change your mind but if this is all I have left of you…then I'm going to make it count."

Without warning, he pulled her to him, one hand cupping her face as his lips found hers, with a kiss filled with fire and ice, consuming them until only ashes of their pain was left behind.

As abrupt as it began, Damon pulled away, his lips finding hers for a brief second, a last whisper of a kiss to bid her farewell.

"Just so you know," he said, his voice breaking, "I love you, Elena Gilbert. I always will."

"Okay, I know this is like a moment for you but for the record, I just want to point out that this is too morbid, even for you," Caroline said warily looking around at the tombstones surrounding them as she followed Elena's steps, "You're not dead yet and we're not doing a repeat of what Alaric did where you get into a crypt and wait to die. Neither will I bury you alive or something like that."

"Relax, Caroline," Elena said, stopping when she found the spot "I just want to visit my parents and Jenna."

Elena sat on the soft earth, closing her eyes as she breathed in deeply, savoring the feeling of her lungs expanding as she did, letting all the air out slowly.

"What was it like…when you turned?" Elena asked, hugging her knees to her chest.

It took a few seconds for realization to dawn on Caroline. "Scary. I felt like I was losing my mind," she started as she sat down next to Elena, "I didn't know that I was in transition, what was happening to my body. All I knew was that I wanted blood. Craved it ten times more than I ever wanted a meaty burger after cheerleading practice. It was…bloodlust. It controlled me and I couldn't imagine overcoming that."

Caroline sighed and put an arm around Elena, "I'm not Team Stefan for no good reason, you know? He's good. No matter what Ripper things he did, I'll never forget that he got me through that dark period. He helped me find me again and be around the people I love without thinking their giant juice boxes."

"But I get it," Caroline said, frustration evident in her tone, "Damon is alive…even if he is technically dead. He's unpredictable, exciting and that whole bad boy charm is going for him. And yet somehow, he convinced me that he really does love you, the even after happily ever after kind of love."

"I'm not doing this for either of them, Caroline," Elena said as she pulled out a bag of blood that she hid in the folds of her jacket.

"Then why? Are you really buying into Katherine's lies?" Caroline said incredulously, taking the bag from Elena.

Elena reached out and pried the blood bag out of Caroline's hand, "You're going to make sure it isn't all lies. You're going to get out of town and you're going to find Tyler. You find him, you find Klaus…and whatever else Katherine has been hinting about. I'm sure of it. "

"I don't know where to start, Elena," Caroline said, "Bonnie has been trying to locate them but…it's like he just vanished off the planet."

"Katherine," Elena said, swallowing the lump in her throat, "she knows where. Tell her…tell her I decided to turn and this is my bargain—she helps us save Tyler."

"I don't trust her, Elena," Caroline said shaking her head, "and well…she scares me. She killed me once and I wouldn't put it past her to try again."

"No, she wants something bigger than that," Elena said, "All will be off when she gets what she wants but she's not there yet so she will play nice. I hope."

Caroline nodded, "Okay but I'll stay…at least until after you…you know, drink up."

Elena looked around and saw the fog creeping in, making her shake her head, "No, go now. It's okay…I won't be alone."

Caroline's head snapped up, sensing another presence and snorting when she realized who it was. "So much for the dramatic goodbye. Can't stay away, can you?"

She hugged Elena tight and whispered, "I'll find him. I'll bring him home. Take care of yourself, Elena."

Elena nodded and waited until Caroline left before opening the packet. She breathed in deeply, inhaling the scent of blood, feeding her desire. A low growl escaped her as she ripped into the bag, greedily devouring the contents, her fangs sliding out in response.

She finished but the hunger didn't wane, it rose inside her, demanding to be satisfied, already instinctively seeking out the nearest prey with her heightened senses. But a second of clarity pulled Elena back and she noticed her hands, smeared with blood. With a howl of pain, she fell forward in tears, disgusted with the monster she has become.

Arms encircled her and drew her in, steady even against her resistance and simply holding her when she calmed down. Damon held her in complete silence, mourning with Elena, for the release of mortality that she had now lost forever.

Klaus placed his hands on the marble tomb, leaning on it, wanting to weigh it down further to ensure the seal was never broken. The silence around him was deafening and a cold dread was creeping up on him, taunting him that this was the calm before the inevitable storm.

"NO!" He shouted grabbing the torch from the wall and throwing it clear across the room, "This shall not pass!"

"I am immortal, Niklaus," a disembodied voice hissed through the darkness, "A true immortal not like you and your petty minions. I will rise and rip you to pieces. This prison will be your tomb."

Klaus' head snapped up, "Elena," he whispered, realizing that the doppelganger had made her decision. It was the only explanation. The wards were not meant to let anything through and now…he could more than just hear her…Klaus could feel her.

"Yes," the voice said, getting louder, stronger, "she has turned. It is only a matter of time."

"She is a fool! They are all fools!" Klaus shouted in rage, "I will not allow this!"

The world became silent once more but it did not appease him. The darkness suffocated him, driving him mad.

"I do not fear you," Klaus snarled into the empty space, "Do your worst. I dare you."

He fell to his knees, a lone tear falling from his eyes, "I have no soul. I have no heart. There is nothing left to break, Tatia. You made sure of that a thousand years ago. You brought us here. But I will be the one to end it. Mark my words, Tatia, I will kill you."