The Wolf - Klaroline

15. Farewell to Storyville

Season 1 Episode 15

Notes:

[ANGST WARNING] Remember how I warned you guys that angst was coming? It's here. Since I know some of you have a harder time reading stuff that is more on the angsty side, please proceed with caution! This isn't like the saddest thing ever, but just so you know. In my defense, this is a very angsty episode in canon, so not everything here is my fault. *coughs*

As always, big shout out to the amazing coveredinthecolors for her awesome beta services and for being so very patient. She really helps make this a much better story! Also, THANK YOU to everyone who has been reading this story and interacting with me, either on AO3 or FF.net or on tumblr. You guys are awesome and your support truly, truly makes my day!

So, if you do enjoy this story and you'd like me to keep going after what you read here, let me know! I'm very excited but also very nervous about this chapter because it is my favorite. I put everything I had here, so I really hope you guys enjoy it. :)

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

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Once upon a time, a man who was cursed to roam the earth for all eternity was allowed to dream some dreams of a happy life.

He had a family he loved. Trusted friends he cherished. He built a city all to himself, and then he became king. Everything was as it had never been before. For the first time in a thousand years, misery and pain were but a distant memory. The constant riot in his mind quieted down; the dark clouds, always looming not far above, following his every step, dissipated. The monster roaring inside of him, trying to claw its way out, fell asleep. And when he looked at his life, and all that he'd achieved, he thought he finally had it all: everything he ever wanted and more. It felt like happiness.

And then, in the blink of an eye, it was all gone in a mist of ash and blood.

He saw as his friends were murdered right before his eyes. He was forced to flee the city he built as it was burned to the ground. He abandoned his home, his possessions, every dream he'd ever had. He even lost his family, and never really got them back. Not as it was before.

The beast roared back to life, angrier and unrulier than ever, tearing him apart from the inside out. The immortal man's heart shrunk into a cold rock. Nothing mattered anymore — except revenge. Where happiness had existed, now there was only hatred. Anguish. Sorrow. Shame.

He blamed himself and his arrogance, his foolishness. It wasn't just his life that was ruined. It was his family's too. And he carried that weight deep in his chest for decades. It gnawed at him, a constant reminder of the dangers of giving in to intangible nonsense such as love and happiness. It made the immortal man too comfortable, too trusting. He grew soft and weak. And it cost him everything.

Now, after a hundred years carrying all that, he learns that it wasn't his fault, after all.

The one he loves above everyone else, his favorite sibling, whom he had sworn to protect until his last breath, invited his worst nightmare into their city to end him forever.

Klaus has been betrayed far too many times by people he cares about, people he trusts. His siblings. His parents. His lovers and friends. Even the mother of his child. But no one has ever hurt him as deeply and cruelly as Rebekah.

"Walk away, Rebekah," Elijah says, stepping in front of her.

"Don't move!" he snarls.

"Leave us now," Elijah insists.