because you're mine, i walk the line

So, he almost gets sacrificed.

And if Christopher Forbes wanted to get technical, almost being sacrificed in order to turn some crazy power hungry bitch into a werewolf-vampire hybrid really wasn't the worst thing that's ever happened to him. The worst had been Katherine Pierce shoving him down onto his hospital bed and suffocating him with a smelly pillow.

The awesome part about almost being sacrificed is the almost. It didn't happen, and though Elijah had betrayed them (big surprise) and had vanished in a whirl of creepy Original-ness with his extra creepy sister, Chris was surprisingly optimistic. Because, hey, he wasn't dead-dead. Just mostly dead. Exactly how he liked it.

"Another." He tells the bartender, motioning to his shot glass. He's poured another shot of tequila, and he turns in his seat, surveying the Grille. Everything is the same as it had always been, only not. Everything had changed in the last year. He downs the shot before he hops down, moving towards the pool tables. He picks up a pool stick, bends down to break the triangle in the middle. He's about to shoot when a voice from behind startles him.

"You look a lot better than the last time I saw you."

Chris whips around, and there she is.

Kaliope Mikaelson smiles at him, teeth sparkling. She looks like she belongs on the cover of a magazine. She is blonde and curvy and everything his dream girl had ever been. Too bad she's batshit freaking crazy.

"Yeah," he stammers, "I'm not, facing an impending doom or anything today." Her head tilts, and he adds, "Yet." Because with Mystic Falls and the hybrid in front of him, you never know.

"Yet." She agrees. "I have a message for your friends, Christopher." And he's a little surprised that she knows his name. "You cannot beat me." She seems almost sympathetic when she says this, lips slightly pouted. "Elena will die. It's really nothing personal. I need my army, and she is the key. Tell them not to try anything. If Elena comes to me willingly, I will let her family and the rest of you live. I will leave this town and its inhabitants alone." She steps towards him, heels clicking on the hardwood floor, and he almost snaps the pool stick in half and stakes her with it (though he knows it won't do any good). She places her hand on his chest, right above his heart, "You're never going to get a better offer from me. I suggest you take it."

Chris licks his lips, staring down at her hand on his chest, "So, you're expecting me to turn over my best friend so you can make a bunch of those creepy hybrids and basically rule the world?"

Kaliope smiles, "That's the gist of it."

"Okay. Then my final answer is," he presses his face close to hers, smiling, "go to hell."

Kaliope tilts her head, an amused smile flickering across her face for a split second before she shoves him backwards, veins around her eyes bulging and pulsating. Chris stumbles, back against the wall. She's even more flawless like this. Totally hot. But totally evil, Chris! He reminds himself. "I can't believe I almost sacrificed you." She says. She glides her tongue over her fangs, studying him. "You're entirely too much fun."

"Thanks." Chris manages, because this is so not what he was expecting.

"But make no mistake," she continues as if he hadn't spoken, "I will not hesitate to rip you limb from limb." Her hand flies up, grasping his throat and slamming him against the wall. He fights her grip, but knows his efforts are futile. She's too strong, too old. "I will dance on your grave, Christopher Forbes." She whispers in his ear, voice soft like silk and sweet like honey. "Do you understand me?"

Chris assumes that this is the part where he nods. So he does.

"Splendid!" Kaliope seems pleased. She removes her hand from his throat, and he rubs at the bruises that are already healing, "Now, run along to your friends. I'm sure they're off somewhere plotting my demise. Those idiots." She gives him an impish grin, like she would love to see them try. "Pass along my message, will you, love? I have hybrids to make and bodies to drain. Your little doppelganger will not escape me again." And then she is gone, the only evidence that she had been there at all is the faint scent of blood and rose perfume.