The Phoenix

Chapter Sixteen

"Welcome back to Chicago, Stefan." Klaus pulled the car into a garage and the three got out. Finley followed Klaus, he opened the door revealing the city, "What are we doing here?" Stefan questioned while Fin stayed quiet, "I know how much you loved it here. Bringing back memories of the good old ripper days?" "Blacked out for most of them. Lot of blood, lot of partying. The details are all a blur." Fin winced, knowing fully well what she had been doing while Stefan had the time of his life." "Well, that is a crying shame. The details are what makes it a legend."

(Flashback)

"Word was the ripper of Monterey got lonely." An old car pulled up, "So, he escaped to the city for comfort. It was prohibition. Everything was off-limits then, which made everything so much fun." Inside the car lay two people, panting heavily as the men fed off the woman, their sweaty bodies slapping together, and both filled with ecstasy. The woman finally collapsed, dead and the man turned, showing it to be Stefan.

He pushed his hair back, breathing hard and looking back to his work, plucking a rose from the girl's hair and clipping it to his suit jacket. Wiping his mouth of his date and getting out of the car, Stefan walked to the bar and knocked on the door. A small peeping slot was pulled back, enough for whoever was behind to see Stefan's hand signal and let him in. Jazz music filled the air and Stefan pulled back a red curtain, to see inside of the bar he loved so much. Men and women danced, drank, enjoyed the music. A black woman, stood on the stage her voice sang over the jazz beautifully, Stefan leaned over the balcony and Gloria stopped her singing to look at Stefan, "Guess what my eyes have just spied ladies. Looking for a good time, Mr, Salvatore?" She asked knowing the answer already, he smiled and made his way down the stairs, "Save me a dance, Gloria." He cheekily replied, going to grab a glass of champagne before a blond woman took it before he could, "Ooh. Please. Help yourself." She turned, "Oh, I always do." "Hmm." She had a low smirk and walked closer, "Careful, Mr. Salvatore." She licked the tiny fragment left of his date in the corner of his mouth, "You're still wearing your date. She's lovely." She whispered into his ear and turned away, Stefan gently grabbed her arm, stopping her. "No, no, no. Who are you?" He found her mysterious, she simply held a gloved finger to her lips and shushed him, now turning and leaving with Stefan watching curiously, a small smirk over his lips.

(Flashback over.)

Stefan looked over the city, "Chicago was magical." Stefan nodded, "Yeah, well, I'll take your word for it. Like I said, I don't remember most of it." "Down to business, then?" "Why are we still with you? We had our fun, your hybrids failed. I mean, don't you want to move on?" Klaus' jaw clenched, "We're going to see my favourite witch. If anyone who can help us with our hybrid problem, it's her." Klaus turned and got back in the car, Stefan glanced at Fin, receiving a shrug back.

(Flashback)

The woman that interested Stefan danced with her partner until the sounds of men, a group not too far from her laughed and disturbed her peace, she shot a look to Gloria and went over, "Sorry to crash the fun, boys. but some of us actually came here to hear the music, not you." She glared at Stefan, he smirked and leant back, "Ooh. I am so sorry, sweetheart. Are we offending you?" His buddies laughed next to him, she smirked and walked closer, "It'd take a lot more than a baby face like this to offend me." Stroking his cheek mockingly, his acquaintances 'Oohed.' With him and she turned to go back to dancing. "Ahem. Hey." He caught up and turned her around, "Are you ever gonna tell me your name?" "Sure. When you earn it. Now do Gloria a favour and stick a sock in it."

(Flashback over)

The three walked into the old bar, it had once been the roaring part of Chicago and now sat gathering dust. "Looks familiar, doesn't it?" "Can't believe this place is still here." A newer but also familiar voice sounded from across the bar, "You gotta be kidding me." Klaus smirked and walked over, "So, a hybrid walks into a bar, says to the bartender-" "Stop. You may be invincible, but that doesn't make you funny." She sassed and looked at Stefan, "I remember you." "Yeah. You're Gloria." "Hm-mm." Finley tilted her head motioning up and down, "Shouldn't you be, uh-" "Old and dead? Now if I die, who's gonna run this place, huh?" Gloria answered and Fin was just thankful she didn't take offence to Finley's implications, "Gloria's a very powerful witch." Klaus added, "I can slow the aging down some. Herbs and spells. But don't worry, it'll catch up to me one day." Klaus turned to Stefan, "Stefan, why don't you go and fix us up a little something from behind the bar?" Stefan nodded sarcastically, "Yeah, sure thing." Klaus looked at Gloria, "You look ravishing by the way." "Don't." Fin snorted, making Gloria look at Finley, "Never in my lifetime did I think I'd ever see a phoenix in person, how did such a powerful creature end up in the grasp of a mere original?" "Careful." Klaus warned, she looked back at him, "I know why you're here. A hybrid out to make more hybrids? That kind of news travels." She motioned for them to sit, "So, what am I doing wrong? I broke the curse." "Obviously you did something wrong. Look, every spell has a loophole. But a curse that old, we'd have to contact the witch who created it." "Well, that would be the original witch. She's very dead." Finley rolled her eyes, "I know, and for me to contact her, I'll need help." Gloria stated.