Tainted || n.mikaelson

twenty-six

"I think it's about time we had a drink, don't you?" Klaus questioned Damon as he walked into the parlor.

"I'd say we're overdue," Damon said.

"Well, you've been so busy, what with all your plotting and scheming," Klaus responded, walking further into the parlor.

"You know me — never miss a chance to plan an epic failure," Damon said, taking a sip of his drink.

"Don't be so hard on yourself," Klaus told him, walking closer to where the liquor was. "Who could have guessed your own brother would betray you?" Klaus questioned.

"Well, I did have a front-row seat when your sister lied to you," Damon mentioned.

"Yeah, well, she's fickle, that one," Klaus shrugged off. "And you say you have no idea of her whereabouts? Same with Seraphina?" Klaus questioned. He didn't want the disappearance of Seraphina to be like it was two years ago, he knew deep down he couldn't handle another absence.

"That's the thing with younger siblings," Damon sighed. "You just, never know what they're going to do," Damon chuckled, making Klaus do the same. "Drink?"

"Cheers mate."

"Down the hatch," Damon said as he and Klaus took a sip of their drinks.

"You know, we've actually got a lot in common, you and I," Klaus mentioned.

"Really? Heh," Damon muttered. "Well, yeah. Maybe we could bond over Seraphina and over our mutual loathing of my brother," Damon said. "Why are you so mad at him?" He questioned. "He stole something?"

"My family, the originals," Klaus began. "I had them daggered, boxed up, awaiting the day when I saw fit to wake them and he went in and pinch the bloody lot," Klaus explained.

"Of course he did," Damon grumbled after he laughed. "And Seraphina?"

"I'm worried she's dead," Klaus informed. "He and she have a hatred for each other, yes?"

"Yep. They're a lot closer in age, they always fought, but I don't think he killed her," Damon explained. "Ah, such a buzz kill, my baby bro. Well, I'd love to find him, just the trouble is, I sure as hell don't work for you."

"You know, your drink stinks of vervain," Klaus commented. "So I can't compel you. There'd be no point in killing you, because you're actually the one with the most hope of getting me what I need and yet, it would see a demonstration is in order," Klaus spoke. "Perhaps I wasn't clear enough when I told you to find Stefan," Klaus stared. "Oh well, it seems you people respond best to displays or violence," Klaus pointed out. "Why don't you take this as an example of my reach?" Klaus suggested, reaching in his pocket to pull out his phone. "There he is. So, that thing I told you to do, why don't you go ahead and get on with it?"

—

"I trust you have news of Stefan," Klaus said, walking into the boarding house.

"I couldn't find him," Elena responded. "But I have something else," Elena said.

Elena opened the door, revealing a daggered Rebekah, Klaus sighing at the sight of her.

"My poor sister," He sighed. "I can't turn my back on her for a moment," He added.

"You have Rebekah, a deal is a deal," Elena said.

"The life of my sister in exchange for your brother?" He questioned. "Yeah, I'd say that's a bargain. Consider him spared."

"You should know, I was the one that daggered her," Elena admitted. "When she wakes, she'll come after me."

"I can control Rebekah," Klaus reassured. "It's Seraphina I can't control," He added. "Besides, I still need your help finding Stefan," He mentioned as he squatted down.

"I told you, I don't know where he is," Elena spat as Klaus pulled the dagger out of Rebekah's back.

"You're lying," Klaus accused. "Fortunately, you have no shortage of loved ones," Klaus added. "If I don't find my family, the question you should be asking yourself is; Who's going to die next? Bonnie? Caroline? Damon?" Klaus listed, looking up at Elena. Klaus then stood up, his eyes still trained on Elena. "It's only a matter of time before Stefan gives me what I want."

"He doesn't care about me anymore," She told Klaus. "You made sure of that. You turned him into a monster," She spat. "Now he's your problem. And just so you know, I'm not the only one Rebekah wants dead," Elena informed. "She knows what you did to your mother. She knows that you killed her," Elena said before walking out the cellar. "You can let yourself out."

—

"What are you doing here?" Stefan questioned the hybrid, who was comfortably sat in a chair in the Salvatore house.

"Enjoying our stalemate," Klaus replied, looking up at the ceiling.

"What do you want?"

"Question is, what do you want?" Klaus countered. "My hybrids left town as you demanded, so please tell me what I need to do to get my family back."

"Well," Stefan began. "See, Klaus, I'm not negotiating," Stefan informed.

"And you understand that holding them indefinitely is the same thing as dropping them in the ocean?"

"No, no, you leave Mystic Falls and then give me a call in a few years, and..we'll talk," Stefan suggested.

"I'm going to give you another chance, just one more. Let's make a reasonable deal," Klaus countered.

"Or what?" Stefan questioned. "You make one move, and I will -"

"Yes!" Klaus laughed. "That's right! Crazy Stefan," Klaus hummed. "How's that working out for you? Any friends left?"

—

"What took you so long?" Klaus questioned Damon as he walked from out of the darkness in the candlelit room. "Hiding behind your witchy friends and in squalor, no less," Klaus spoke, the witches inside the home grew upset quickly, causing them to retaliate, making Klaus scream in pain.

"Insulting a bunch of dead witches — not smart," Damon pointed out. "I made the same mistake the first time I came in here," Damon added.

"Well, you know, the funny thing about witches is that living or dead, they care about their own."

this didn't need any editing honestly lmao

march 10, 2020