Midnight Rising

New Orleans

"Welcome to Chicago, Stefan."

The black SUV pulls into a covered loading dock. Dust swirls up around the tires, quickly coating the front window. Klaus waits impatiently as the driver gets out, pulling the back doors open for us. Despite the catastrophic failure of his hybrids yesterday, Klaus appears to be in a decent mood. Chicago has always been his favorite place. These streets hold some of our most fond memories.

Stefan helps me out of the car, glancing around the empty carport. All of his memories from his time as the Ripper of Chicago have been swept clean. Bringing him here to try and get him to flip the switch isn't going to work. "What are we doing here?"

"I know how much you loved it here," Klaus answers with a shrug, beginning to lead us out into the midafternoon sun. "Bringing back memories of the good old ripper days."

Stefan throws an arm over my shoulder, kicking at a rock sitting in his path, "Blocked out most of them."

"I really wish she hadn't taught you that little trick," Klaus gives me a disapproving frown.

The vampire by my side keeps his focus on the pavement, refusing to look up at the buildings or the people passing us in the street. "Lot of blood, lot of partying—" Stefan glances over at me, a lopsided smirk set on his full lips—"a lot of sex. The details are all a blur."

"Well that is a crying shame," Klaus throws his arms up, letting out a breathy chuckle. "The details are what make it a legend. Word was that the ripper of Monterrey got lonely, so he escaped to the city for comfort. It was prohibition. Everything was off-limits then, which made everything so much more fun."

1922

The nights are hazy; the street lights distorted by smoke that constantly clouds the city. Take away one vice and everyone just turns to another. I tap at the end of a golden cigarette holder, lounging against the hood of a white town car. Within, hidden for the view of prying eyes, sit a man and a woman. Her eyes shine bright blue orbs in the dull light. He bends forward, eliciting a giggle. It stops in the women's throat, gurgling as sharp daggers sink into soft flesh. Most nights I can't remember if I brought him here to save him or encourage the beast inside.

The man emerges, using the car window to straighten his suit, fussing with a piece of hair not tied down by gel. He wipes away a spot of blood clinging to the corner of his mouth, the only give away of the god he really is. Deep chocolate eyes breeze over me. Gently, he reaches through the open window, plucking something from the female's temple.

A palm is extended in my direction, a single porcelain rose sitting in the middle. With a shaking hand, he pushes it into my hair, eyes glinting as the corners of his lips tug up into a warm smile. "Got you a present."

"How chivalrous of you," I answer coolly, cocking my head to get a better look at the latest unfortunate soul. She looks like she could be sleeping off a night of too much dancing. Two little puncture wounds and a perfect line of blood running to her collarbone tells a different story.

He links his elbow with mine, spinning us in the direction of a darkened alley, a lone black door looming ahead. "It looks much better on you."

"My, my, Stefan, you are laying it on thick tonight."

The vampire gives me a harsh frown. It looks very out of place against his soft features. He knocks on the door before us, two quick raps, knuckles barely touching the surface. "I just don't want you to feel neglected."

"I hardly feel neglected, Stefan," I give him a grin, allowing him to usher me down a brick hallway towards a heavy velvet curtain. Jazz music bounces off the walls, welcoming us home. "You have girls lining up to be with you, yet here I am on your arm once again."

He raises an eyebrow, giving me a half shrug, "You have proven particularly hard to kill."

"Perhaps if you ripped my head from my neck."

Stefan spins, pinning me up against the wall. His hands slide over my neck, lips trailing over my own, "Such a pretty neck." He presses his lips to mine, nibbling at my bottom lip. "I'd miss the lips and mind attached to it too much."

"Therein lies your predicament," I give him a wink before ducking under his arm, throwing aside the velvet barrier between the speakeasy and us.

Gloria stands under a single spotlight. White beads and feathers stand out against her ebony skin. Behind her sits a full band, shiny brass instruments glinting in the low lighting. Gorgeous women adorned in various colors and smart looking men dressed to the nines sit in booths lining the balcony.

"Guess who my eyes have just spied, ladies?" Gloria grins up to where Stefan and I stand at the head of the stairs. "Looking for a good time, Mr. Salvatore?"

Stefan smiles back, his eyes flitting around the room. He tugs me a little closer to his side, slinging his arm over my shoulder. "Save me a dance, Gloria." He turns his attention back to me, gesturing towards the steps, "Shall we?"

"Don't mind if I do."

"Chicago was magical," Klaus continues on, leading us down the same route we took every night so many years ago.

I vowed never to come back here. Chicago was where I lost both brothers and myself. In some way or another, we all fell under Klaus's spell. He has a way of drawing you in, making you want to do anything to please him. Stefan fell further into darkness. My loyalty to both Damon and Stefan tore me in too many directions. Jealousy and pain controlled my decisions. Chicago is the end of the world.

"Yeah, well, I'll take your word for it. Like I said, I don't remember most of it."

Another harsh frown from Klaus. Maybe if he wanted Stefan to be pleased to be back he should have left the memories regardless of the danger they would cause. "Let's get down to business then."

"Why am I still with you?" Stefan blurts out as we turn down a side street. He's getting frustrated with the indecision of Klaus. Stefan wants to go home, to try and get back to as close to normal as possible. "We had our fun, your hybrids failed. I mean, don't you want to move on?"

The one consistent personality trait Klaus possesses is an inability to let things go. He becomes obsessed, hell-bent on completing whatever project or goal he's set for himself. This time will be no different. He'll drag us all over the world if he has to. "We're going to see my favorite witch. If anyone can help us with our hybrid problem, it's her."

"What about Diana?" Stefan stops walking, wrapping his arm protectively around me as he holds me to his chest.

Klaus spins on his heel, staring through the both of us. He's in his own world right now. We need to tread lightly with the questions. Klaus is likely to snap at any second, "She already told me she doesn't know how to help."

"You believe her?"

A wicked smile spreads over the vampire's face, a dark glint in his usually sparkling eyes, "She's never lied to me before." His face switches, softening as he takes my hands, squeezing them harder than he needs to. "Besides, I didn't bring her along to fix this problem. I brought her with us because I missed her dearly. " Klaus frowns, shaking his head back and forth sadly as he looks to Stefan again. "I wish you could see how incredible she is, Stefan. Now, come along."