The Vessel ~ A Klaroline Fanfic~

Revelation

Klaus strode through the door of his mansion with Rebekah by his side, his mood still high from the recent sacrifices, but something felt off. The air was thick with tension, his remaining six hybrids standing rigid, exchanging nervous glances. One of them, the one who appeared the least terrified, stepped forward to greet him, though his eyes darted to the others for reassurance. He had been chosen as their spokesperson, but even he seemed barely able to contain his fear. Klaus, sensing the unease radiating from his loyal servants, narrowed his eyes. Something had happened.

Before the hybrid could utter more than a few words, Klaus' temper flared. He pushed past the hybrid, barely catching the panicked explanation. "An intruder..." was all Klaus heard before he charged toward his room, the familiar fire of rage building inside him. He knew exactly what was at risk. The jar. His essence. The key to his legacy. His steps quickened, and as he burst into the room, his eyes immediately scanned the shelf. His heart, cold as it was, froze for a moment as he saw the shattered glass and blood-stained floor. The jar was gone. Klaus' mind jumped to one conclusion: the Salvatores. Who else would dare ruin his most precious thing?

For a moment, his body was taut with fury, but he finally turned to face his hybrid, who had followed him in fear. "Speak!" Klaus snarled, his patience hanging by a thread. The hybrid hesitated but spoke quickly, explaining that a blonde woman had infiltrated the mansion. Klaus frowned. A blonde woman? His mind raced—he didn't know any blonde in the Salvatore circle. His enemies were many, but this didn't make sense. He was about to brush it off when Rebekah, standing by the door, spoke up, her voice calm but calculated.

"Nik, think for a moment. Who would benefit most from destroying that jar?" she said, her words dripping with implication. Klaus paused, staring at her, realizing she was right. It was too coincidental, too perfectly timed. The Salvatores. No one else had such vested interest in seeing his plans fail. His expression darkened further. He smirked, his voice low and dangerous. "Well then, seems like they leave me no choice but to pay them a visit," he said, turning to Rebekah before she could follow, "ALONE."

The Salvatore Residence

The group paced anxiously around the Salvatore living room, their faces etched with worry and frustration. Caroline's condition was deteriorating rapidly, and the only hope for her survival lay in acquiring Klaus' blood, the only known cure for a werewolf bite. As the minutes ticked by, their conversation grew more desperate, grappling with the decision of whether to risk their lives by asking Klaus for help. They were acutely aware of the dangers involved, particularly after the tension escalated when Elena became a vampire—a situation that had only deepened their enmity with Klaus.

Stefan's gaze was fixed with determination, his jaw set in a hard line as he argued against the prevailing sense of hopelessness. "We can't just give up on Caroline," he insisted, his voice carrying a note of desperation. "We know how dangerous Klaus is, but we can't let that stop us from trying to save her."

Bonnie and Elena exchanged worried glances, their own fear and exhaustion showing. They understood the risks, but Stefan's resolve was a powerful reminder of what was at stake. "We have to be careful," Bonnie said, her voice trembling slightly. "Even if we try to approach him, we need a solid plan. We can't afford to antagonize him further."

Damon's scowl deepened as he shook his head. "Klaus would never help us," he said, his tone dripping with cynical certainty. "He'd rather see Caroline suffer than lift a finger for us, especially after everything that's happened."

Before anyone else had the chance to speak, the door creaked open, and Klaus strode into the room with a dark, predatory grace. The group fell silent, their eyes widening with a mix of fear and surprise as he entered. Damon's expression quickly shifted from defiant to sardonic, his eyes narrowing at the sight of their unexpected visitor.

"Well, isn't this a delightful surprise," Klaus said with a smirk, surveying the room with a cold gaze. "I didn't realize my name was being spoken with such frequency. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Stefan took a step forward, his voice steady despite the tension. "Klaus, we don't have time for games. Caroline's in trouble—she's been bitten by a werewolf, and we need your blood to save her."

Klaus raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening into a sly grin. "Caroline? Who the hell is Caroline?" he asked, his tone dripping with amused curiosity. Stefan's gaze shifted to Caroline, who lay on the sofa, clearly in pain. Klaus' eyes followed his, and he chuckled darkly. "Ah, the blonde. I see. Tell me, by any chance, is this the same blonde who had the audacity to break into my home earlier?" No one responded. "I see," concluded Klaus. Their silence was definitely an answer. "And why, pray tell, would I help you after everything that's happened?" He asked, his amusement taking a turn for a darker feeling. How dare they ask him to help his intruder?

The tension in the room thickened as the group pleaded desperately for Klaus to help Caroline. Stefan stepped forward once more, his voice urgent and filled with raw desperation. "Please, Klaus, you can't just let her die. We're begging you. This is serious."

Klaus regarded them with a cold, mocking smile. "Oh, I'm quite aware of the gravity of the situation," he said, his eyes flicking over Caroline's battered form. His gaze lingered on the bloody cuts on her arms and the streaks of crimson marring her appearance. "It's almost poetic," he continued, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "You begging me for help, and yet you're too late. It's rather fitting, don't you think?"

Damon, frustration and anger evident in his voice, was losing his patience. "This isn't a game, Klaus. We're talking about a life here. Surely you can't be so heartless."

Klaus' smirk widened into a cruel grin. "Heartless? Well, that's my middle name" He said, clearly amused by all of this. "Consider this my way of repaying the multitude of wrongs you've all inflicted upon me." With a final, disdainful glance, he turned on his heel, leaving them with the harsh reality of his refusal and the grim knowledge that Caroline's fate was sealed.

***

Klaus stormed into his living room, the faint murmur of voices drifting through the air. His irritation flared as he saw Rebekah and the witch, Esme, huddled together in hushed conversation. His frustration was evident as he demanded, "Esme, what are you doing in my house? I'm not in the mood for your schemes."

Esme looked up, her brow furrowing in confusion. "That's strange," she said, her tone almost whimsical. "You should actually be in a good mood. The spell is already in motion." Klaus' confusion was evident as he glanced between Esme and Rebekah. "That's impossible. The blood—" he began, his anger and disbelief mingling.

Esme raised a hand to calm him, her voice soothing yet firm. "I understand your scepticism, but I assure you, the spell is underway. I sensed the shift in the magical currents; The spell's initiation cannot be reversed now."

Klaus' eyes widened in disbelief, his anger momentarily giving way to a flicker of hope. "So, you're telling me, that right now, some woman is pregnant with my child?" Esme nodded. Klaus' face twisted in disbelief. "But that's impossible," he said, shaking his head. "The only woman who could have touched the blood—" His words trailed off as the realization dawned on him. He remembered Caroline, her hands and arms covered in blood, the bloody cuts that had marked her. It hadn't been only her blood after all.

Another, even more terrifying realization dawned on him: the werewolf bite. Before Esme or Rebekah could say another word, Klaus' expression hardened with urgent determination. Without another word, he turned and stormed out, leaving the women behind as he rushed, once again, to the Salvatore residence.