Kindred

by BurningFeathers3124

Summary:

One abandoned and cast aside by a society that can't understand her. The other a Jaded creature of the night, ostracized and cursed by his own blood.

When Klaus stumbles his way onto a young girl damaged and afraid from her years alone, can he really just turn the other way and pretend she'd never existed, or will he finally have a reason to do a good deed.

Chapter 1: The Stray

Quick panicked breaths echoed in the trash riddled alley. The continous slap of bare feet on concrete bounced off brick walls as a small figure darted between stacks of debris and around stained dumpsters. The voice calling out from behind them was slurred and jeering.

"Come on~ Why are you running away little thing? I just wanted a closer look at your face~" The man was tall with a slightly pouched stomach as he stumbled after her. One could smell the alcohol on his breath from a mile away and his cheeks were a dusted pink.

The small figure shoved themselves between a narrow opening between two dumpsters and pushed themselves as far back as they could. Trying their best to disappear. Small hands clutched tightly at the oversized hood pulled over their head and their legs were pulled in tight to their chest. Small shoulders shook with effort as they tried their best to stifle the small whimpers threatening to break through.

Why couldn't he just leave? What did they do, they were just trying to get some food from the dumpster behind the restaurant.

The man came to a stop outside the figures little hide away. Under the fabric of their Hoodie and the crack between the dumpsters they could see him looking around himself in confusion. He was looking for them, his glazed over eyes unfeeling as his gaze roamed right over their hiding spot.

Cracked nails sunk deeply into the sullied fabric of the Hoodie and they pushed themselves flatter into the wall behind them.

"Where did the little brat go??"

A dirtied and frayed scarf was wrapped tightly around the bottom half of a young face. Hiding the dainty chin and small chapped lips. As the man took an unsteady step towards the dumpsters the figures eyes screwed shut in fear. Men like this were bad, they always smelled funny and they couldn't walk straight. They drank that gross liquid and it made them talk weird.

He was getting closer, they could hear his heavy footsteps. They were going to get found! A brief whimper slipped out drowned out by a second set of footsteps. The small figure flinched. Where did those come from?? It was almost like the new person had come out of thin air. They hadn't heard them enter the alley.

A deep accent danced across the wind filling their ears as they listened to what was going on outside their hiding place.

"Are you lost Good sir?"

The drunk man seemed to back away from the dumpsters in order to speak to this new arrival.

"Wha~ loss..lose..lost?? No I ain't lost!?"

"Is that so?" The hiding figure could practically hear the mischievous and smug aura coming off of the new person. "What brings you into this dark Hidden..alley?"

"Whats it to you!?"

An admonishing tsk, was hissed into the air.

"No need to be rude. How about you show some respect." Small thin shoulders shuttered under the sudden power and influence they felt flow into the air.

What was that!? Curiosity filled their mind as she slowly inched away from the wall, trying their best to peak out into the open. They couldn't see much, the drunk man was blocking most of their view but they could make out the tall slender shoulders of the new person and shadows casting across short curly hair.

Their shock ran deeper when the drunk man's tune suddenly took a complete 180.

"I'm sorry sir. It won't happen again.." His voice seemed to slur in a different way now, it was blank and almost unfeeling as if he was mindlessly repeating a script. Their small hands pressed into the side of the dumpster as they tried to get a better look at their unknowing savior. The only thing they could make out was ominous saphire eyes that seemed to darken with an insatiable hunger.

"That's more like it chap! Now~ it would be incredibly rude of you to allow me to continue going hungry this night." There was no warning and the hider had to bite back their gasp as the new man lunged forward grabbing the drunk man.

The drunkard lost the fight before it even began. Blood splattered out across brick and concrete, and they could hear the crunch of bone and flesh as sharp teeth shredded into the drunks helpless neck. Slitted pupils grew wide in shock as they watched the scene before them. They'd never seen anyone like him, and see him they could.

Short curly dirty blond hair led down into a strong face. His eyes were shut tightly as he gulped down the blood pouring from his victims wounds.  Black veins seemed to creep up his cheeks and they could only watch in silent awe as his eyes cracked open revealing deep bloody red. He was... amazing..

When the man went completely limp in his hold the male creature let him go. The drunks body fell like a limp bag of flour to the blood soaked concrete. His killers head was tipped back, savoring the quench of his thirst as he let out a low groan.

The hidden child silently gulped, would he hurt them if they came out? He'd helped..even if he didn't know it. Did he actually know they were there?

Slowly with very hesitant and shakey movements, small hands crawled forward. They gently eased themselves out of their hideaway until they were crouched next to the rapidly cooling body on the floor.

A pair of deep flaming orange eyes tinged with light green at the edges glared down at the man who'd been chasing them that night. It seemed their savior was still savoring their kill and was to deep in whatever he was thinking to notice the child raising themselves up to stand next to him.

They could see every little detail of the man at this proximity. He had a faint hint of stubble at his jaw and his cheeks were slightly gaunt. A necklace hung low on his chest but they didn't recognize its shape. Blood soaked his shirt and was drying on his chin. Orange eyes blinked up at him, waiting patiently for him to finish...whatever it was that he was doing.

Their head tilted in confusion, the over sized Hoodie and scarf hiding most of their features. A few minutes passed and the man was still standing like a statue and their patience was beginning to wane. It was going to get really late soon and they wanted to get back to their sleeping spot before then. But they also needed to thank this weird man for helping them...

A small hidden pout pulled at their lips and they slowly reached up. Dirt and blood stained fingers wrap around the soft material of his shirt and gently tugged trying to get his attention.

Wow..they'd never felt anything this soft before!?

A large hand snatches their wrist in a nearly crushing grip and guarded eyes snapped open to look down at his aggre...ssor..??

---

Klaus blinked down at the child standing at his side. He couldn't see their face under the giant hood and the brown scarf. The hoodie they were wearing was almost comically large ending at their knees and their feet were completely bare. They were standing in the puddle of blood left by his victim and seemed almost completely unbothered by that fact. When his shirt had been tugged he'd thought for a moment he'd actually made a mistake and his dinner had survived.

He'd not been expecting the small form that barely came up to his waist. What were they..8..9?

His grip was still encasing their small wrist and he could feel the bones beneath their skin. Malnourished...

The lightest voice he'd ever heard was mumbled out into the air. It was slightly muffled by all the fabric covering their face but as they looked up and the hood shifted back slightly, he was met by a pair of the most shocking and unique eyes he'd ever seen. 1000 years and he'd never met a human with slitted pupils and orange eyes.

"Thank you mister..."

His brow furrowed in confusion, why was he being thanked by some child that came out of nowhere? He hadn't even heard their approach.

"It's seems you have me at a loss? What exactly am I being thanked for?"

Those orange eyes blinked up at him expectantly before looking down at the body. They pointed at the corpse before looking back up at him.

"He was going to hurt me."

So that's what the man had been doing here. He hadn't really questioned it, had seen the opportunity for a quick meal and wrote it off as the man being drunk.

"I see...does this not..scare you?"

He wouldn't ever admit it, God's forbid Elijah ever hear of this, but a part of him wasn't exactly comfortable knowing a small child had seen him kill. He'd have to compel this from their memory otherwise he'd never hear the end of it for traumatizing a kid.

"Scare??" He watched the hood tilt in a way that a confused puppy would do. Something inched at the back of his mind, like he was missing an important detail.

"What are you doing out here, your parents must be looking for you."

The small hood shook.

"No?" He glanced down at the dead man with a grimace, "he.. wasn't your father was he?"

The hood shook harder this time, vehemently denying that fact. Klaus relaxed a bit, well at least he didn't have to add killing this kids parent to his list of wrongs. Although if the drunk was going to hurt the kid then maybe this was one for his list of good deads??

He let a heavy sigh out through his nose and then stared down at the kid with heavy eyes. Might as well get the compulsion over with and send this kid home.

He slowly let go of his hold in the child's wrist and settled his hands on their shoulders. He couldn't help but notice how thin they really felt underneath all the fabric. Were his parents not feeding him?? Klaus shook the thought away..it wasn't his problem.

"You were out playing tonight and got lost, a nice man helped you figure out your way home. You won't remember me, or the man who was going to hurt you." His pupils shrunk and expanded as his powers of compulsion filled the air. The kid was staring right into his eyes and he watched a light haze fill the pupils before they blinked and it was gone.

"But..you helped me? I'm not gonna tell anybody you hurt him... why do I have to forget?"

Klaus stared down at the kid completely bewildered. He couldn't smell any vervain on him what so ever. They weren't a vampire, they gave off a feeling of death and turning children was forbidden. He'd kill anyone who'd dare such a thing. Not a werewolf either, the child didn't have the feeling of one. Magic then?

The child seemed completely unaware of his inner dilemma.

"I don't have a home or anyone to tell anyway! Oh!!" The kid started ruffling around in the pockets of their hoodie for something. But kept coming up short. He could see a hint of desperation in their eyes as they kept looking for something.

Finally their hands raised underneath their scarf. They messed with something for a brief moment and when they pulled their hands back out again they had a makeshift leather necklace with a small pearl like ball hanging off of it. The kid looked down at it almost reverently before slowly holding it out to him on his small palms.

It caught the light of the moon showing off its sleek twinkling blue color. Klaus stared down at the trinket, unsure of what they wanted. Meanwhile the kid kept urging it closer to him.

"Here, a thank you! It's all I have, please take it! Don't lose it, it's special!"

Klaus was going to turn it down, make the kid keep the little necklace. But the little brat was already tying it around his wrist. Then stepped back with a triumphant and happy gleam in their eyes.

"Thank you again mister!!" And with that they were scurrying off down the alley leaving a confused and taken off gaurd vampire behind.

He needed to lay off in the drunks.

---

The ragged and torn sheet swayed shut behind them as they crawled into their small hide out. It was merely an abandoned she'd on the edge of the neighborhoods. Mystic falls, while a cozy little town, wasn't without its abandoned and unused homes and buildings. Small hands reached up grasping the edge of their hood before pulling it free.

Ragged shoulder length hair coated in layers of dirt turning it a dark brown hung messilly from a small dainty head. Sharp cat like eyes squinted into the dark making sure everything was still the way they left it. Their nose was button like and lead down to pouty lips pulled into a mischievous natural smile.

The scarf hung loosely on their shoulders as they crawled to their scavenged mirror. It was dirty and had more than a few cracks but it was better than nothing and it was among the nicest things they owned. Well...now it was..the nicest thing the owned. Fingers traced the spot a small pearl used to hang. They felt almost empty without its presence and they'd always felt like they couldn't go anywhere without it.

But it didn't feel right... to not repay the strange man for his favor. And it was all they had. Something told her he wouldn't let it get lost or hurt.

He was so strange..compared to them. They traced there face, along the areas they'd seen the man have veins. Why did his face do that? Do all boys do that?

No.. they hadn't seen anyone else ever do that before. Soon the child was no longer comparing the strange things they saw but the way their faces differed.

They'd never really thought of the difference between boys and girls before. Would they grow up to look like the blonde girl they always saw going into that Grill place? 

She poked at her chest with curiosity, those things didn't look fun. They'd just get in the way..right?

The young girl frowned into the mirror. Who was she kidding.. she would never grow up to be like that. . . She was a freak..

A pair of long black tipped ears twitched at the top of her head. They folded back giving away her deeper feelings as she glared at them through the mirror. Her face was broken up in a few spots due to the cracks but she could still make out the pale white circle on her forehead and the needle like quality of all four of her canines.

She grimaced as a long agile abject unfurled from her waist, Hidden by her hoodie. It twitched into the air behind her revealing a tangled and matted black tipped tail.

She thought back on the man. Was he like her? A monster...?

Chapter 2: Alone

Summary:

Another day of survival, scavenging for food and trinkets. For as long as she could remember it's been this way, alone, hungry, and ignored.

Small feet kicked lazily in the air as she dug through the large dumpster. She'd mostly put the other night behind her and hadn't gone near that alley again. She didn't want to get the strange man who helped her, in trouble. So instead she stayed away and started digging around the other side of town. It was a bit further away from her shed, and she didn't come here often because of all the people. The grill place, if she was reading the sign right, always had left over food in the back so she was currently trying to find some stuff that wasn't gross.

Alot of it was soggy and she learned from experience not to eat those because they would hurt her tummy. She through an empty to go box over her shoulder. Her stomach was starting to cramp from the position she was in, hunched over the edge with her feet off the ground. Like always her hood and scarf were secured in place. The last time someone had seen her without her hood, the girl her age had run off screaming, calling her a monster. It was the last time she'd ever tried to make a friend.

Orange eyes light up in excitement when she pulls out a to go bag that was still tied shut. Pulling it open revealed a box with food that'd barely been touch. She gasped in elation, she hasn't found this much food in forever!

She struggled a bit with sliding herself backwards until she was hanging off the side of the dumpster and her feet were closer to the ground. She let go and landed with a small oomph.

"So much!~" there was a mostly intact burger and a side of fries inside! She couldn't wait to eat! Her stomach rumbled as she silently drooled over the coming meal. Maybe things were finally looking up! She was saved from that drunk man 2 days ago, and now she's got real food!

She closed the box and held it protectively to her chest and scampered her way to the exit of the alley. She could see people walking back and forth in the sidewalk, and she hesitates on stepping out. People didn't like her, especially the ones who sat outside to eat. There was a group of teen girls who always through their empty cups or cans at her when they saw her here.

At one point she'd thought they would be nice. She'd seen them seating at one of the tables, they were talking about a boy or something, she didn't really care. But they were smiling at each other and laughing so she'd thought she could maybe ask them for a fry or two. But when she'd approached them, the blonde girl with the pretty blue eyes poured her drink on her head while the brunette giggled. The third girl at least looked uncomfortable with what happened, but she never tried to stop them. So she started hiding wherever she came out here.

So now she poked her covered head out of the alley, looking out for any of the people who were mean to her. She didn't see any of them so she cautiously took a step out when he gaze settled on a familiar face. She let a low gasp and jarred back into the shadows when Saphire eyes lazily swiped over the spot she'd just been standing.

It was that man! The one who helped her!

He was walking across the street towards the entrance to the grill. She didn't know if she felt relieved or upset that he hadn't seen her, or he was ignoring her. Once she was sure the door closed behind him she snuck around the wall of the place until she was standing in front of the windows. She had to stand up on her tippy toes in order to peer into the restaurant. It was easy to spot him as soon as she was able to see inside.

He was standing behind to men who were sitting at the counter. She watched as he patted the older looking man and the shoulder, while the younger one with dark hair was glaring at her savior. She gulped, and as her eyes trailed the form of the strange man she saw her necklace hanging off his wrist. A small happy smile pulled into place and a tiny purr rumbled her chest.

She was right! He would take care of it! Satisfied with her peaking she gives a small nod and slides back down onto her feet. She was gathering her bag of food off the floor when a canned drink huts the side of her head. Her battered hands flu up to cover her head from any other possible attacks as a shocked whine is choked out. She looked down at the can with watery eyes.

It wasn't even open, someone had thrown a full can at her. Her head throbbed in with a dull pain as she rubbed at her hood. Looking up she didn't see anyone laughing at her making a big show out of. Her sniffle was small and barely noticeable as she fought back the water building in her eyes.

...she just wanted to see inside.. what did she do?

She picked up the can her eyes squinting in effort as she tried to read the label.

"P..e..pep.." was that an S? Pepsi?? What's that..?

She slowly spun it around looking for a tab or someway to open it. She'd never used a can before and the lady who used to scavenge with her didn't teach her how to open one.

Her confusion only grew as she helplessly stood there with a lost expression staring down at the dent can in her hands. The door to the grill opened to her left and she didn't have to time to scramble away before the man she'd been watching stepped out. He may not have seen her but her pitiful squeak was more than loud enough to catch his attention.

She watched his face fall in surprise and recognition as he took in her small form. She hadn't noticed because of her dark it was the other night...but he was tall. Really really tall.

She barely reach is waist and she had to strain her neck in order to look up at his face. She swallowed nervously and shifted on her feet. She didn't want to make him angry, and he didn't seem like the type to enjoy being watched. She couldn't help it. She was just curious. Her eyes slid down to the can in her hands as her shoulders slightly hunched in on herself. She fiddled with it for a few seconds vefore she found the courage to slide her eyes back up to him again.

He was observing her, taking in just how dirty and small she really was in the afternoon sun. Slowly and with a hesitant outstretch of her hands, she held out the can up to him.

"I-I uhm... I don't know how to open it..." her voice came out small and embarrassed, and she seemed to take him off gaurd as he looked down at the drink clutched between her fingers.

---

Klaus really wasn't sure what to think. He hadn't expected to ever see the kid again. Against his better judgment, he'd gone back to alleyway the next night. He wasn't able to shake the feeling of his small bones underneath that hoodie. But the kid was nowhere to be seen. He'd looked up and down the dank place even checked the areas a kid could squeeze into but didn't find any sign of him. He'd had to eat the food he'd brought out there himself, and felt like a complete bloody moron the entire way back to human hunters apartment he'd temporarily taken as his. If it weren't for the small jewel dangling from his wrist he would have thought the kid was never even there.

But here he was, following the steps of his schemes and delivering a little bit of terror, and the kid pops back up like a little shadow stuck to his heel. To his credit, it didn't seem like he'd been stalking him, and from the way he was clutching that drink and the food bag at his feet, he was out for lunch.

"You..don't know how to open it?"

He could feel the embarrassment pouring off of the kid as they continued to hold the drink out to him. He could help but notice it's was dented like it been thrown against something.

"Was it shaken?"

Orange eyes looked up at him from under the shadowed hood. He could see the silent question in his young eyes.

"If it was shaken, it will spray everywhere when it's opened." He gave a small sigh and glance through the window of the grill. The two he'd benefit tormenting were still at the bar and it didn't seem like they could see the child from where they were sat.

"Someone threw it at me...does that mean it will spray?"

His eyes widen a bit, someone threw a metal can at a child's head? Goddammit, he was lucky Elijah was still daggers in the Salvatore basement. His brother would smug as hell if he knew that he was helping some child.

"Alright, come here brat." He waved the kids over and as soon as they stepped closer to him he settled his hand on their shoulder and began leading them away.

He didn't miss the small whine come from the boy.

"W-wait..my food! I found it fair and square!"

Klaus's brow furrowed, found it? Does that mean he'd dug that out trash or picked it off the ground? He grimaced in dusgust. No that won't do.

"I'll get you better food, and a better drink too."

The boys protests went silent as they looked up at him in wonder, "Better??"

"Hmm.. something fresh. There's a diner near here, they make good pancakes and they have chocolate milkshakes too." He really didn't know what he was doing. Why was he leading this child down the street. To a diner of all places.

"What are pancakes??"

"You don't know what pancakes are?"

He watched the oversized hood shake and felt quite bit of pity spark in his chest before he shoved it away. It was just some brat. He was only doing this to satisfy his curiosity. That's it!

They walked in a slightly tense silence for a few more minutes and Klaus could see people giving the two of them certain looks. Some of them were quiet judgemental and he didn't know if it's because he was alone with a child or if because said child was absolutely filthy.

Seriously, has no one ever given him a bath? Something the kid had said the night they met slipped into his head as he regarded the small being at his side.

'I don't have a home'

Was this kid an orphan...or abandoned?

---

She watched the strange man hold open a door for her. She stares up at him unsure if it was really OK for her to go inside. People never liked it when she went inside places and they always through her out. When he just continued to look down at her with an expectant Rais to his brow she took a hesitant step inside. Shock coursed down her back when cold air rushed into the opening of her hood and her feet touched freezing tile.

She looked down at her toes in astonishment, wow.. she thought it only got cold like this during winter!

Klaus stepped into the establishment behind them, watching with a small amount of amusement as the kid seemed to marvel at everything around them.  His lips twitched downwards when he spotted dark footprints staining the floor wherever they stepped. How much dirt was this kid covered in.

Now that he really looked at them, he couldn't even really tell if the kid was a darker skin tone or if that was just the dirt covering them. With the way the black little prints are left behind, he was considering the latter.

She looked up and around, taking in the new sights. There was an older lady standing behind some kind of counter and she had a welcoming smile on face and was holding weird folded boards. That smile dropped as soon as the womans gaze landed on her.

"HEY! No money no service, get out of here you street urchin!"

She flinched under the womans glare, backpedelling into her back connected with the legs of the man who'd brought her here. She was going to scamper out of the building when a heavy hand settles in the top of her hood.

"The kids with me. So he has Money, so that means he gets service." That strange feeling of power filled the room again making her small shoulders shiver under its weight, "Now get us your best table, and get the child whatever he wants to eat."

...He?...

She stayed silent as she watched the woman going bleary eyed and lead them towards a booth in the back. It was round and next to a bug window with a view of the town square.

Very slowly she hesitantly crawled into the soft seat. In order to reach the table she had settle on her knees and wasn't sure what to do next as he slid into the seat beside her.

"Uhm mister...I've never.."

"It's alright kid" he grabbed the strange boards from the ladies hands and shooed her off leaving them alone at the table. He held out the menu to the kid and watched as they hesitantly took in their hands looking it over with curiosity shining in their eyes.

Even with how close he was to the kid now he could get a good angle of their face behind the large scarf..were they cold?

She looked down at the menu with a lost expression. There were to many letters and she could only recognize a few of them. The older homeless lady who'd been teaching her to read didn't get to teach her very much before she'd up and left, leaving her alone on the streets.

"I..I can't.."

"You don't know how to read then?"

"I can read!! Just...not alot.."

Klaus chuckled, "How about I order for you then."

Slowly she nodded handing the weird hard paper board back to him. She stopped paying attention to Jim and instead found hers3lf staring out the window as the lady came back to their table and exchange words with the man. She looked back over when he let out a small annoyed grunt.

She blinked up at him with such trusting eyes, even then he could see the jaded and guarded shields held up in the kids gaze.

"So..what's you're name kid?"

The kid looked up at him in confusion.

"Whats a name?"

Chapter 3: Power in Names

Summary:

For as long as she could remember she was just a rat, a monster...a forgotten street urchin. And yet..this man has given her a name..her own identity. Without wanting anything in return.

Klaus wasn't able to keep up his nonchalant facade when those words left the boys lips. The kid didn't even know what a name was...

"I-" He cut himself off before he could continue. How do you even explain something like that, it was a common conception that one is raised with. Very slowly considering each word before he says them he tried to explain. "A name, is what you're called, it's a part of who you are and..."

She watched his brows furrows as he seemingly struggled to continue. But she thinks she understood.

"Rat!"

His saphire eyes blink down at her, silently asking her to repeat herself.

"My name! It's rat, it's what everyone calls me, so that's my name. Right?"

She watched his jaw clenched and his blue eyes darkened. Instinct told her she should be afraid of that look, of the dark feeling behind it. But she felt a certain fascination as something deep inside her was telling her that it wasn't directed at her.

"That's not a name, that is an insult."

He watched their orange eyes furrow in thought and he could see a spark of sadness in them.

"A name is usually given to you by a parent..there must be something you must remember being called."

The hood seemed to envelope the kid more if that was even possible. The eyes becoming no longer visible.

"I don't have any... I don't..."

The original felt a spark of panic in his gut when he heard the wavering of their voice. As if they were on the edge of crying. Before they could continue the slightly awkward conversation their waitress was brining over a large tray of food and drinks. His teeth clenched as the atmosphere between him and the kid became a bit tense. He hadn't exactly meant to upset the child. He hasn't had to deal with a very young child since his younger siblings were children.

Forcefully clearing his throat he looked over the plated being set in front of him. Without saying anything he carefully slid the large plate of chocolate chip pancakes in front of the small body next to him. Kids like chocolate right?

She look down at the fluffy food with a curious tilt to her head. Previous sadness and years were forgotten as her attention was snagged by the sweet smell. That curiosity only green when a glass was put in front of as well. It had a thick brown substance inside, she'd never seen anything like it. Carefully she wrapped her fingers around the glass and then swiftly yanked them back with a shocked gasp.

"It's cold!?"

She flinched when an amused boisterous laugh echoed out in the booth next to her. Her head snapped to the side to look up at the man with wide eyes. His face was lifted with a mischievous smile that was all teeth and his shoulder shook with mirth. She watched the way his eyes scrunched up and the blue in them seemed to swim with a lighter emotion.

"It's supposed to be cold. It's a milk shake. Here," Klaus picked up a spoon from the cutlery they'd been given, he slowly swiped up a bit of the milkshake from the top and then held the spoon out towards the kid. He waited patiently for them to try the sample he was presenting.

He watched as they seemed to hesitate, their small hands clutching at the scarf as if terrified to pull it down. Before they thought better of it and turned away.

"Hey. Whats the matter child? I thought you said you were hungry?"

"I-I.." he watched the orange eyes travel across the restraunt. Taking in that they were the only current patrons. She didn't want to make this man upset, and she really was hungry. But everyone who saw her face always called her a freak..or a monster.

She overheard someone whisper out that she just didn't look natural. Her eyes were to slanted and her teeth too long. The memory of the man next to her with his long sharp teeth and blood red eyes kept popping up in her head...maybe..

With a low gulp and shaking hands she slowly reached up to snag the edge of her hood. Carefully she pulled it back, forcing her scarf to unravel and go limp down her sides. Her dirtied locks swish free and tumble down to tickle her cheeks.

Klaus watched the kid with a silent and burning curiosity. The child seemed to religiously hide their face. So watching them pull the hood free was an interesting part to add to his day. His eyes immediately searches out their face and felt his brows rise.

The shape of their eyes were sharp, almost animal like. Like a feline...or a fox. A small button like nose sat above chapped dainty lips. He was actually able to make out the color of their skin now, it was a light creamy color and he slightly grimaced knowing how much dirt it would take to darken that complextion. Some twitched at the top of their head. His gaze snapped up, and his lips parted in a surprised hum.

That...was new.

Two long and slender furred ears sat atop their head. They were twitching and swiveling taking in all the wounds around them and he couldn't help but notice that the longer he didn't say anything the more they pulled back until they were almost flat on the back of the child's head. Like a scared animal...

"Is this why you wear the hood?"

He watched that small chin jerk up and down with a small nod.

"I tried to make a friend and she called me a monster..."

Klaus frowned, he didn't see anything monsterous about the child... though humans have always been known to hate what they don't understand. In fact..the pulled back ears and small pout, made them..almost..cute. The vampire immediately shoved that thought out of his head and cleared his throat.

"Then that girl was an idiot." He was almost surprised by how quickly the ears sprung upwards and the surprised look of awe that he was being sent. As he continued to observe the child's revealed face, he was drawn to the pale circle sitting between blonde brows. His curiosity was peeked now. The child wasn't human, and a part of him could understand why they'd been possibly abandoned now. Especially if the parent or parents hadn't been expecting big fluffy ears.

Cold liquid slid down his arm making him snap his attention back to the melting drink on the spoon he was holding. He bit back a small curse and quickly mixes it back into the glass and scooped out a new spoonful for the kid to try.

"Here..try it now. It'll melt if yoy don't eat it fast enough."

This time the child didn't hesitate, they leaned forward and wrapped their lips around the end of the spoon. Once again he felt amusement grow in him as he watched those ears snap straight up and a tiny purr rumbled from their chest. He'd never seen someone's eyes flutter and fill with excitement so quickly before.

He didn't even have a chance to put the spoon back in the table before the kid was pushing themselves higher on their knees in order to pull the glass closer to them and begin drinking the shake through the straw.

A small thumping noise made his eyes snap down to the booth to watch a small matted tail wagging underneath the hem of their hoodie. Well.. if he can have fluffy ear. Why not a tail too.

He couldn't recall ever hearing anything about any supernatural creatures that presented features like this. Well..any that actually existed. Was the child something new? A spell gone wrong...?

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips, he pulled the plate of their pancakes in front of them and eithout thinking much of it poured syrup over them and cut a piece free. He held the fork up to the kid with and expectant look. Might as well find out what the kid likes and doesn't like. His thoughts were taking on a mind of their own as he looked over their hoodie.

Small would fit them better, some soft pants too, a beanie might be good to cover his ears? Would he like ice cream if he like milk shakes? Where was the closest children's store...?

His fingers tightened on the fork as the kid bit off the presented piece of food. Once again, awe and what he could only describe as an adorable snap of ears overtook the kid. He didn't even have to help them with the silverware, it seemed they at least knew how to use that.

Klaus rested his chin on his hand. Considering his next words. He didn't expect the kid to agree, and he honestly had no idea what he was doing or honestly why. For now he was checking it up to a possibly powerful ally in the future or at least having someone who'd be useful.

"Do you want to come with me?"

He watched their ears swivel in his direction before they looked up at him in confusion. Without the hood hiding their expression, he couldn't help but reevaluate his thoughts from a few nights ago. The kid didn't look like a confused puppy.

He looked more like a small kitten.

"Go with you??"

"Yes, you wouldnt have to live on the streets anymore, and you could have pancakes and milkshakes whenever you want."

Water built up in her eyes as a slightly wary feeling built up in her. Was this man being serious? He wanted...to take her with him..

"W-why.."

"I won't pretend that I'm nice man, but you're obviously not human..like me. And well, these humans around here obviously don't know how to properly treat a young boy."

He watched the kids pout grow.

"I'm not a boy!"

Klaus blinked and quickly looked over the kids features again. He refused to acknowledge the small hint of embarrassment when he began to notice the small things, like his....her..dainty chin and the slight roundness of her cheeks. The slightly gaunt malnourished look hid most of their feminine contours that he hadn't seen until now.

"Ah..apologies.."

She giggled and the sound made his lips twitch.

"...what do I have to do?"

"Hmmm?"

"If I go with you. What do you want me to do??"

He didn't like the way the kid was looking up at him now. As if they were expecting to put to work as some sort of slave.

"You wouldn't have to do anything. I'm offering you a home, somewhere you don't have to hide underneath a filthy hoodie and run away from drunkards."

Nothing..?? But the old lady who'd shared the shed with her when she was younger said people will only give them things If they did work in return. That life was unfair and cruel.

She wasn't sure if she really believed him, but the opportunity was almost too good to pass up. The man wasn't scared of her ears and he looked at her fave like she was completely normal. She wanted that... she didn't want it to go away.

"O-ok..."

He could see the way she slightly hesitant about his sudden offer. Even he was surprised by how out of blue it had been. But the thought had popped into his head and well...he'd always been an impulsive man.

"Now then! If you're going to be staying with me, then you need a name! Something fitting.."

"A...name..." She may have only learned about them today, but a certain excitement she'd never felt before burst forth inside her. She was getting a name!!!

Klaus's fingers drummed against his chin as he searched for a name he thought might fit her, but one she might also like. He doubted a child would like to be called Gertrude. She likes to hide..and she seemed to be a bit mischievous.. if she were a boy he may have given her the name loki...

"What about...Rune? It's meaning is to hold a secret... there's also Kara, it was the name of a fabled Valkyrie.." He honestly wasn't to sure why he wanted to give her a traditional name from his childhood...it just felt...right?

She looked up at him with shining eyes, she didn't know what a valkyrie was, but the way he said it sounded cool.

"There's also Hel.. or maybe..." This was going to be harder than he thought. The kid perked up with each name he rattled off, like she was happy to be given whatever he thought was best.

"Do you like Rune?"

Her ears twitched and she tilted her head, it didn't sound bad, but weren't secrets a bad thing? Well...he knew better than her..

Finally she nodded with a bright smile. She had a name!!

"Rune it is...alright then little Rune, My name is Niklaus." He wasntnsure why he gave her his full name, he hadn't introduced himself in that way for many years...but he felt like it wouldn't hurt. She was a small child after all.

Chapter 4: Gifts and Bonds

Summary:

Klaus wasn't sure where he should from here. He knew the child needed clothing, but beyond that he was unsure what to do next. He hadn't taken care of someone so young in centuries.

Notes:

I apologize if some of the dialogue for Rune feels a bit forced, I've never written a character under the age of 15 so I'm having to recall what I talked like when I was her age. But also add in a certain maturity that comes from being alone and a survivor.

When she'd finished her food Klaus had slid out of the booth and waited next to the table for her to crawl her way out. He'd have to feed her again later, she was way to skinny for it to be healthy. Rune was looking up at him with a barely concealed excitement as she pulled her hood back over her ears. He watched with small traces of amusement as she wrapped the scarf around the bottom half of her face and hood. The fabric was obviously meant for a grown man with the way it nearly trailed to floor behind her.

The more he looked her over though, the more he frowned. It seems they would not be returning to the hunters apartment just yet. The child was covered in filth and who didn't even want to guess how many diseases were crawling around her clothing. The nearest children's clothing store it is!

After second guessing himself more times than he could count her slowly held out hit hand for her to take. Her fingers were tiny compared to his own. He marveled at how easily his hand dwarfed her own as his fingers circled her palm.

"Let's be off then, Little Rune. First stop is clothes."

"Clothes?? For me...?"

"Yes, since you're now officially a companion of mine, I'll not let you go neglected any longer. You need clothes that actually fit and aren't a health hazard." He had no idea how her body worked supernatural wise, so for now he thought it'd be best to be cautious.

Shopping...she was gonna get to go shopping!? She'd been given a dollar once, and tried to get a piece of candy. The owner of the store had thrown her out anyway and took her dollar too.

"Am I getting clothes like yours?"

Klaus looked down at her, he could see the excitement she was trying oh so hard to hide. "Do you want clothes like mine?" He glanced down at his short sleeved Henley and dark jacket. His jeans were some high end brand he couldn't be bothered to remember. Are young girls supposed to like clothes like this?

"Mhhmm! Your shirt was so soft!"

Ah.. she liked them because they felt good compared to what she owned.

"I'm sure we can find you something even softer."

Orange eyes twinkled under neath her giant hood. There were things even softer than his shirt!

Carefully and at a pace he thought she'd be able to keep up with, he began to lead her out of the diner. He completely ignored the woman still compelled and bleary eyed behind the counter. He'd remember to come back later....probably. He shrugged it off, she wasn't exactly worthy of his mercy anyway.

When they stepped out onto the sidewalk he became a bit lost on what to do next. He had no idea where anything was in this blasted town. His gaze swam over the crowd before they landed on a woman across the street, she was pushing a stroller and had a young boy clutching at her sleave as they walked. He tugged on ruined hand leading her in the womans direction, what better way then to find a place for children than a mother.

He let his most charming smile fall into place as he approached the unexpected woman.

"Excuse me, love?"

He but back his chuckled as the ladies head snapped in his direction, startled. She was eyeing him warily, pushing her body unconsciously between him and her children. Ah yes, human instinct. They always seemed to be able to tell that there was something a bit off about him.

"Apologies, I didn't mean to startle you. I noticed you had children and thought you'd be the best person to ask."

"About what?" She was getting a bit more tense as the seconds ticked by.

Rune peaked out behind Klaus's legs to meet the eyes of the boy hiding behind the woman. She gave him a small wave with her free hand and she watched as a small smile tugged at his cheeks and he waved back.

He waved back, and he smiled! That's good right!

"You see my ward And I just moved here, and our luggage seemed to have been missed placed by the movers, and this little tyke decided it be a good idea to go out and roll through the mud in my jacket. Do you know where we can find a clothing stores with children's clothing around here?"

Rune pouted behind her scarf. She did not roll around in mud! She wasn't a baby!

For the first time the woman seemed to finally notice the dirtied form of a small child standing behind the man's legs. Klaus watched as the woman seemed to almost completely deflate and a small encouraging smile lit up her face.

"Oh! Of course, I'm sorry! It's just, you can never be to careful these days, lots of accidents have been happening recently."

The original forced a worried and understanding look on his face, "I see. Always good to be cautious, I apologize again for startling you."

"No No..it's alright. So the nearest store is actually 2 blocks that way. It has all kinds of clothing options, and there's a place in town Square that is perfect for children." If he hadn't needed this information he would have tuned the womans rambling out by now. Children needed special music while growing up?? He'd never heard that one before.

As the woman kept going on and on about all the things she did to make sure her children were perfect, Rune and The young boy were playing a silent game of staring. Neither of them had blinked for a few seconds now and Rune knew she was on the verge of her greatest victory yet when her arm was tugged and she was suddenly being led away.

A small indignant whine escaped her, "wha! I was winning!!"

Klaus looked down at her bewildered, while she stared up at him with a large offended pout.

"Winning??"

"Mmhhhm! He was going to blink!"

"...blink.." The vampire was a bit lost as he made his escape with the young girl. If he'd had to listen to another minute of that woman going on about Kids needing special crystals and biodegradable toys he was going to rip his hair out. He'd never been more grateful for compulsion. Were women really that obsessed with things like that now?

If her directions were correct, then the place should be right..here! It was a small shop, and he was thankful to see that it at least had normal clothing displayed in the windows. He'd been a bit iffy about her suggestions, when she'd started talking about whatever the hell that'd been. He's not sure he wanted to know.

Rune seemed, at least somewhat fine, and she's been digging through trash for who knows how long. He didn't think new clothes would be much of an issue compared to that.

---

Rune looked up at the fluffy toys sat on the shelves in front of her. She really wanted to reach out and see if they were as soft as they looked. The one that had her eye the most was a stuffed wolf. It was furry and looked really squishy and huggable. She swallowed and looked down at the floor.

Klaus was talking to one of the store attendees. He was probably doing that weird power thing again. She could feel her back shiver as her hidden ears picked up bits and pieces of their conversation. The sensation was weird, one she'd never felt before meeting him. It was like a thick liquid being poured over her head and would slide right off without making her wet.

She didn't hate it. It was just strange.

She looked up at the toy again with a silent longing. She flinched when an arm stretched out over her head and picked it up off the shelf.

"Add this to the list too."

Rune snapped her eyes up to Klaus who wouldn't meet her gaze as he handed the toy to the compelled teen. He'd seen her staring at it since they came into the place and finally caved when he realized, getting her the thing wouldn't be a bad thing. He glanced down out her through the corner of his eye and caught her looking up at him with an emotion he couldn't put a name to.

He settled a hand on her back and nudged her toward the employee.

"This attendee will help you find whatever clothes you want Rune. Pick whatever you like."

Rune let her gaze roam around the store. How was she supposed to choose?

The teenage employee came up to the child's side with a small smile.

"If you follow me there's a section for children between the ages of 7 an 9 we can look at."

Neither Klaus or the employee were prepared for the burning glare and the stomp of a foot.

"I'm not a baby! I'm 11!!" She held up all 10 of her fingers in the air, waving them insistently at the two older people. "See! Double numbers!"

Klaus cleared his throat as a chuckle gets caught in his chest, "Rune..you're holding up 10."

Her eyes furrow, and she clenched her hands with a large pout.

He did feel a little bit of uncertainty though. If she was really eleven, she was very small for her age. Most children that age, were usually taller...right? It was most likely due to her nutrition, though..her kind could also just grow slower.. or smaller.

With a huff and the snap of her head away from him, the kid stomped off followed by the giggling teenager. The vampire sighed and looked around. He might as well see if the store has anything else the kid could need. Rune needed a bath... and maybe some snacks? Would she even like toys beyond stuffed animals?

He glanced at the shelf again...maybe she wanted more than just the wolf. Spotting another employee behind the counter of the register he approached them. His eyes dilated as he caught the man in his compulsion.

"You! Ring up one of each of those stuffed animals, and tell me were I can find soap and bathing things for children."

"Yes sir! The shelves in the back have shampoo and body wash safe for eyes, ears and mouths. There's also tub toys to choose from as well." The man was already walking towards the front shelving with bags in order to pack up each of the toys the vampire had demanded.

Klaus huffed and stalked his way to the back of the store. On his way he pulled out his phone and dialed the number of a vampire he had compelled to drive him around when he couldn't bother to himself.

---

Rune looked all the different bags sat on the ground around them. She knows she didn't pick this many clothes and Klaus wouldn't let her open them until they were back to his place. Her curiosity was pulling at her to peek but he'd just spent so much money on her and she didn't want to make him upset. Her eyes often wandered to the light blue pearl dangling from his wrist. At first she'd missed having it on her, but now she was happy seeing her new friend wear it.

It was very special. She didn't know why, just that is was. So she's happy that her first friend gets to have it. He's special, so he gets to wear her special necklace. Rune nods to herself, happy with her conclusion.

She wondered what they were waiting on as they stood on the sidewalk. When a huge car pulled in and parked in front of them. Whoa, she'd only ever seen cars from afar. She'd never been this close to one before. The old homeless lady had told her they were dangerous and she could get hurt if she got to close to a moving one.

She watched on with a growing interest as a man got out the driver's seat and simply began picking up the bags and putting them away in the trunk. Looking up at Klaus, she wanted make sure this was OK and that this man wasn't taking her new things. Klaus however led her closer to the car and pulled open the door to the back seat. Before she could try to climb in by herself, the vampire had let go of her hand and she was suddenly rising into the air.

Orange eyes widened almost comically under her hood as Klaus hooked his hands under her arm pits and lifted her up like she weighed nothing and easily set her down on the soft seats of the SUV.

Klaus caught the kid stating up at him bewildered and he briefly asked himself if maybe he'd been to forward and crossed some sort of line with the child.

"Wow!! I was so high up! You're really strong!! Can yoy do that again! That was so much fun! Nobody has ever picked me up like that before!"

Runes comments were shot off in a rapid fire as she wiggled excitedly in place next to him. He slumped in the back of his seat, his lips twitching in a small smile as the kid sat up upon her knees with her hands settled on his shoulder to keep herself steady. She was looking up at him with glittering orange eyes.

It was strange, having someone so young..and weak, look up to him as if he were some gift from God. He was used to it with women, they seemed to tumble after him and his charm like mad dogs, even some men. But children have always shied away from him and his siblings. They were always more susceptible to the dark aura his family seemed to radiate.

This child however seemed to not even notice it, either that or she just didn't care. It was..refreshing in a way.

Chapter 5: Renewal

Summary:

Taking a bath was a new experience that Rune hadn't known how to feel about. Until Klaus poured thus strange liquid in it and it became a fluffy white bubble wonderland.

Notes:

So I have messed around with the timeline just a teeny bit. I know that Klaus is supposed to yank up Elena around the same day he approaches the boys in the bar. But I'm already telling cannon to fuck right off so I thought why not!

So usually I put things like this in the notes but I really wanted to share pictures with you guys. I'm a baking and pastry major in college and for this week we were tasked with making a sculpture out of different doughs. I made mine out of salt dough.

I just wanted to show yall cause I had so much fun making it. That is all, on with the story!!

---

Rune slowly blinked out the window watching everything pass them by at a fast speed. She was fascinated by the blurred homes and stores being left behind as the car drove them further away from the streets she'd come to know. A part of her was going to miss her little shed, it's was dark a dreary inside it, but she'd lived her entire life in its rickety and drafty walls. Her brow furrowed as a small yawn forced its way past her lips. Slipping off of her knees and settling down on her bottom she cast her gaze onto her silent friend.

He was swiping his thumb across a flat device that lit up every now and then. She could see a confused furrow enter his brow whenever he clicked on something. She'd seen people using phones before, but Niklaus looked like he wasn't really sure how to use it completely. She couldn't judge, she'd never even held one before.

Rune nibbled on her bottom lip, her sharp fangs poking and tickling her skin as she hesitantly scooted closer to him.

The vampire was watching the girl out of the corner of his eye. Curious to see what she was up to as she peeked over his lap to watch what he was doing with his device. He shouldn't be surprised honestly, she'd probably never been this close to something like this. A part of him wanted to show it off and see the girls eyes light up like they do when she's excited by something...but.. until a few days ago he'd still had a flip phone. Greta and Maddox had shoved this one into his hands when he'd demanded a new phone after his got damaged by blood.

Humans and their constant need for expansion. He sneered as he clicked through a few things called apps. Why did he need something called Twitter?

"Are you Curious about this?" He waved the device in front of her eyes.

Rune had pulled her hood down sometime during the drive so he watched as her ears snapped down flat on her head and a dark pink dusted her dirty cheeks. She hadn't meant to be so obvious in her peeking.

"I'll have one of my followers get you, your own. It will be helpful, so you can contact me if you need something or have questions."

"Contact??"

He hid the perk of his lips behind his hand. Now this he knew how to use! Poking at his screen, he let her watch as he pulled up his contact list to show off a bunch of names.

"You see, these are names of people that I can call. Calling someone let's you speak to them without being in the same room."

There it was that silent awe as her eyes glittered before she looked up at him in shock.

"You're gonna get me one?!"

"Yes...I have more than enough money for it."

Wow! She didn't care about having a big list of people to 'call'. She'd be able to talk to her friend even if he wasn't around! She'd be sure not to do it to much though, he seemed like a person who liked being alone sometimes.

Another yawn, bigger than the first forced its way out of her. Her eyes scrunched and her jaw popped as her shoulders drooped. Klaus smirked, she must be overwhelmed from all the new things she's experienced today. When he'd stepped out of the humans apartment today, he'd expected to scare the doppelgangers little friends, maybe compel himself a snack. The last thing he'd ever would have expected was, bringing 'home' a little stray.

As if following through with the trend of strange choices and occurrences that uave happened today. Klaus slipped his arm up and settled his hand on the girls shoulder. She easily slumped into his hold as her pulled her closer, her head curled into his side as her eyes slid closed with a small sigh. He kept her still and in place as the car drove over bumps and went through turns.

He could feel her small hands clutching at his shirt and every now and then hers drooped ears would twitch and tickle against his chest. What a strange girl. She'd seen him kill a man, and control the minds of others, and yet she falls asleep around him so easily. Trusting him with her very life In such a vulnerable state. He wanted to be upset, annoyed by this new aspect of his life. But as he watched her nose wiggle and scrunch in her sleep all he could do was manage a meager groan.

He's really done it this time. How was he supposed to take care of a child while planning the breaking of his curse. He let's his mind wander back to the interaction he'd had with the hunter and the salvatore in the bar. The younger vampire had asked if he could push it off another month. In the moment that had caused a great rage to course through him. How dare he be asked to push off the end of his suffering just so one human girl could try and find a way out of his ritual.

But now as he glanced down at the young child, who he'd impulsively taken in as a responsibility, he slightly reconsidered the sarcastic request. Could he afford another month? Or was a week enough time to get the girl settled in a safe place.

This was something he needed to consider and decide on. Soon. The doppelganger was expecting him to collect her at the end of the week. He was also aware it would give them chances to try and thwart his plans... he needed to see hiw the child reacted to certain things before he could make a final decision. If he was lucky... maybe he could just have the kid tag along to the ritual and hide her someplace out of the way.

While he was deep in thought, going over all of his plans and options the car came to a stop outside of a nice slightly aged apartment building. He let the matter go for now when he heard the drivers door open and the compelled vampire moved around to the trunk to begin unloading a few of the bags. Not all of them. He didn't want to have to gather up all of the kids things after a few days.

This next part was tricky. The kid had seemed to enjoyed being picked up, but he wasn't sure if that still applied while they were asleep. She was homeless before today after all, and she could be reactive to be moved to much. But she also just fell asleep and with how ill fed she was she needed the rest. With a click of his teeth he decided he'd just deal with whatever consequences and slowly hooked his free arm underneath the back of her knees. Even with his strength he was a little put off by how light she was. He'd make sure she had full meals while she was in his care.

He'd planned to get her to take a bath once they'd arrived. But he'd let her sleep for now, giving him time to at least get the bathroom ready for the amount of dirt and scrubbing the kid was probably going to have to do. He was already sure he'd have to help her with her hair. He didn't trust Greta or Katerina to be left alone with the kid. He kept his steps silent and fluid as he glided up each floor to the top of the building where Alaric lived. He paused on the third floor, right below the last floor, with a frown on his face. The vampire driver stopped right behind him, arms full of bags with bathing products, bath toys, and a few clothes.

He glared up at where he knew the apartment waited, he could hear the pounding bass of loud music and the rhythmic thumps of dancing. It seems Katerina was enjoying her time away from him. It was time to remind her of her situation then. This time he was as quiet in his steps purposely making them louder as her climber the last flight of steps and came up to the door. He heard the music get shut off almost violently followed by the loud thump of a body slamming down onto a piece of furniture.

His saphire eyes snapped down to the sleeping kid. Making sure the God awful music hadn't woken her up and pulling her hood back into place over her ears. Deeming her to be still fast asleep, he pushed open the door with a flourish. He was mildly surprised to see Greta and Madox perched around the kitchen counter with relaxed expressions. He hadn't expected them to be present with all the loud commotion going on inside. Katerina was sitting on sofa across the room with a forced nonchalant expression.

"Starting the party without me? Greta, how could you??" His words came off as playful, but the warning was clear. She was to be watching over his prisoner, not dancing and having fun with her.

"My apologies Klaus, you were gone for so long today, and we had to entertain ourselves somehow." The witch slightly grimaced when his cold blue dug into her. That hadn't been the right thing to say apparently.

"Hmmm." He tsked letting his cheerful and mischievous facade slip back into place. He turned his head slightly to a dress the vampire behind them. "Take the items to the bathroom and then you may leave. Leave the car." He hadn't bothered to learn the name of the man who carried the bags into the shown room and then quickly disappeared.

The three inhabitants of the room besides himself and the child watched the exchange with interest. Katherine eyes the unknown vampire with a raided brow and then slowly looked over Klaus. Her chocolate eyes narrowed in on a dirty ball of fabric being held close to the originals chest. . . She watched a tiny dirt covered foot twitch.

Did he...kidnap a child?!

"Klaus...is that a kid??" Maddox was eyeing the small being held in his masters arms with a wary expression.

Klaus roamed his eyes over each of them, silently daring them to voice any objections to the child's presence. When none came he smirked and sauntered into the apartment kicking the door closed behind him. He didn't pause, made his way to the bed room and then shut that door behind him as well. Leaving him and the kid alone.

Knowing he could be heard he kept any annoyed sounds that wanted to leave him burried as he settled the girl down on the bed. He didn't need sleep, and Maddox and Greta could go find their own place if they had a problem giving up the bed. Once she was tucked under a pile of covers he made his way to the attaches bathroom and began pulling things out of bags.

He set aside a thing of clothes for her to wear once she was clean and set up the soaps on the edge of the tub. He was hesitant to actually add them but, if she didn't play with them it wasn't much of a loss, so he tossed a few of the toys into the tub as well. The vampire scratched the back of his head, before he pulled out water safe shirt and shorts. If he had to help her with her hair she could wear these. He'd noticed all the tangles and Mats filling her locks, so he'd bought a few brushes as well.

He still not sure what is possessing him to go through with all of this, but so far it hasn't been...an awful experience.

---

She was surrounded by soft and comfy fabric as slowly blinked open tired eyes. Looking around she cautiously moves up into a sitting position. She was on a big bed in a dark room. She could make out the outline of several pieces of furniture and other things pushed up against the wall, and there was a bright light shining through a cracked door.

Her ears twitched atop her head as she took In the sounds of running water. When her curiosity began to outway her feelings of wariness she let her legs slip out from under the soft blankets. She pet her hands across them a few more times, savoring the new feeling before she crawled out of the bed. She had to slowly lower her legs off the side in order to reach the floor safely. But once she was steady on both feet she crept her way over to the open door. Peeking inside she was met by a strong back leant over the edge of the tub.

Klaus was fiddling with the plug in the bottom of the bath when his enhanced hearing picked up the light pitter patter of small feet. He didn't react to the girl as her head poked up beside him to watch what he was doing with a curiosity that he was beginning to get used to.

"Niklaus, why do you have your arms in a bunch of water?"

"The tub keeps draining so I'm Tightening the plug."

"Why don't you want it to drain?"

"The tub need to be full in order for to take a bath."

"A bath?"

"You're covered in dirt, you'll be able to get it off and get clean with a bath."

Her head tilts, ohhh, so it's like when she rubs her face with rain water! Why did she need a tub of water of she could just rub her face with a little bit of it?

Klaus watched her eyes the tub skeptically. She was questioning the use of it, he could see it. Well, if she didn't want to get it to get clean he could try bribing her. She seemed to like new things.

"I got a few toys for you to have while your I'm here."

"Toys??" Her ears perked up a bit and he smirked knowing he'd gotten her attention. He held up a little rubber shark for her to see and the tossed it in the water. It floated at the top, creating little ripples. He finally pulled his other arm out of the water and this time it didn't seem to start draining right away.

He glanced down at his soaked shirt and shrugged it off as he watched the girl become interested in the few toys floating in the tub.

"Rune...close your eyes." He watched her lids snap shut without a second thought and he reached over to flip the switch for the lights. "Alright you can open them now."

Runes hasp was small and excited as her eyes took in the soft glow filling the room, her new shark was glowing a soft blue in the dark room. "Whoa!!! Thank you! It's so cool!!"

Klaus smiled behind his hand and flicked the lights back on much to her disappointment.

"Hold on little rune, don't pout. You still haven't seen the best part of a bath."

"Really..??"

Klaus picked up a small bottle of a thick liquid off of the counter. He unscrewed the tab and poured it under the running faucet filling up the tub. It didn't take long for bubbles to start forming under the spray and a giggle to follow suit.

Rune leaned over the side of the tub, running her fingers into the water to try and pick up the bubbles. Klaus grimaced watched little brown trails follow her fingers as bits of dirt are pulled off by the water.

"Alright then. I'll leave you to get clean and..-"

"What am I supposed to do??"

Ah...right.. The vampire rubbed his head as he tried to figure out how to show the kid what to do. This wouldn't be nearly as...weird if the kid was a boy. The kid could just put on some short and Jump in. Alright...

Klaus looked around the room, before he picked up a small shirt from the bag of clothes and a pair of shorts.

"Ok kid. I'm gonna leave the room. When I'm gone, your gonna take your dirty clothes off and get in the water to clean yourself." He picks up the bottle of kid safe body wash. "Use this and rub it into your skin. Don't get it in your mouth."

Rune was watching everything he picked up and showed her with a serious expression on her face. She listened to him making sure she didn't miss anything.

"Don't worry about your hair. When your done, put these clean clothes on and I'll come help you with that."

He watched the girl nod like he was giving her some sort of serious and important task. His lips twitched again as he set the clothes down were she could reach and then stepped out of the room.

---

Rune watched the dark brown water swirl down the drain with a fascination. Klaus was putting things away behind her and pulling out a new bottle of soap and a bunch of brushes. Wet dirt coated the edge of the tub and in the end, Klaus had to drain it twice before the kid didn't have any more visible dirt on the skin he could see uncovered by clothes. Next came the hard part, getting all the dirt and tangles out of her hair. He was going to fill the bath again and just have her climb in with her clothes on, he'd already grabbed a new dry set for her to wear afterwards.

She'd asked him to put a hole in her shorts for her tail. When tub was empty of water he used the shower head to spray the remaining dirt down the drain and then began the process of filling it up all over again. So far this whole event was taking a long time.

Once she was back in a full tub of water he wasted no time in scrubbing the shampoo into her hair. He used the brush to run through knots and pull out clumps pf loose strands. His nose scrunched as the bubbles from the shampoo turned nearly black from all the grime and oils. He rinsed out the first round of soap and was surprised to find that the hair underneath it all was lighter than he'd thought.

A few of the clean strands peeking through were a platinum blonde, almost white in color. The hints of light gold highlights gave it an almost champaign or rose gold color when the light hit just right, and in low light its was a soft white blond. It reminded him a bit of a foxes winter coat in color. Especially with the twitching ears tipped with a grayish black. Those same colors ran through her tail which was no longer matted flat.

She seemed to winced everytime he brushed out a knot around her ears and tail. He stored away that information for later. They maybe be more sensitive than normal limbs.

When he was done and her hair and tail fur were fluffy and dry he once again stepped out so she could change into dry clothes. As soon as she stepped out of the bathroom, Klaus was guiding her back towards the bed.

"Get some more rest rune, I'm going to get toy something to eat, and I need to grab a bite."

She blinked up at him, "Are you going out to kill someone again?"

He hid his miniscule wince. That question coming from anyone else would have had no effect on him, in fact he may have even rubbed the knowledge in that person's face. But this was a child, supernatural or not.

"Ah...well.."

She nodded and pointed at the pearl hanging from his wrist, "it's ok! I understand! Niklaus is a monster Like Rune!" She smiles brightly up at him, "I hope you find someone tasty!" And with that the newly cleaned girl snuggled down into the blankets with a sleepy grin. He could see her orange eyes peering out from a sliver between the covers as he stepped out of the room.

As the door closed and he turned to leave, he was met by three pairs of wide eyed supernaturals. He blinked at them, challenging them to day anything about what they'd heard or how he'd been acting towards the kid.

"Nit a single one of you is to bother the child. If they come out here and I find out if one of yoy bothered them in any way..." he didn't need to finish that sentence for them to know they wouldn't survive the encounter. And with that he was gone, the front door slamming behind him.

Maddox and Greta shared a bewildered glance. All that for some kid. He hadn't left the room since he arrived, keeping a watch on the sleeping brat for hours and even fixed the drain himself when he'd usually compell someone to do for him. There had to be something special about the kid to have gained so much of his interest.

Chapter 6: Deviation

Summary:

Ever since he met the kid he's been making one impulsive decision after another. This time is no different only it's something he never thought he'd do once upon a time.

The blood drying on his chin was a background annoyance as he stalked down the Gravel road. He could see the moon high in the sky, it's face nearly full...mocking him for what he was about to do. Klaus sneered up at the night sky before a smirk settled on his face. He could see the lights of the salvatores boarding house through the trees as he got closer. Coming to a stop at the tree line he let his eyes roam across the building. Letting out a groan that tapered off into a sigh, Klaus took the first step forward. Once he went through with this there was no going back. He wouldn't be able to change the new plans being set in place.

Shaking off his thoughts, he silently stalked forward. He was about to step up onto the porch when a voice within caught his attention.

"You will go through with the ritual, and I will kill him when he is at his weakest."

A sting of betrayal flared through his chest as his brothers voice filtered through the wood. Damon's voice was the next to come through.

"And you expect us to just let Elena die. NO! NO WAY!"

"I have a plan for that as well..." Damon scoffed and Klaus had heard enough. He let's his face fall into his normal mischievous and flaunting smirk. Taking and burying everything that he was feeling in that moment deep within himself. He could worry about Elijah and his slicing betrayal later. For now he had a plan to follow through with. His smirk deepened knowing he was about to throw an unexpected wrench into their plans.

Raising up an arm he sent his knuckles against the aged wood. It was more polite than they deserved but at the moment he needed to hold an ounce of decorum if this was going to work. He wanted to get this over with and head back into town. He'd been gone for a few hours now and Rune must be getting hungry. He purposely ignored the blood soaking and drying into her shirt and skin.

His lips twitched as he listened to the individuals within slightly panic and begin whispering amongst themselves.

"Who is that?? We're all here right?"

"Caroline is upstairs with Bonnie and Jeremy. Jenna is still ignoring Alaric in the kitchen."

The doppelgangers voice pops in, "Damon you're not helping!"

Stepping sway from the door, out of sight of the peephole he leaned against the wall. The home had a human owner on the deed, he could feel the barrier keeping him out, just buzzing along the frame of the door. How annoying. He stared out into the yard with a bored smile.

The door jerks open and all he got was a horrified gasp from a pale Elena, and then it was slamming shut again.

"KLAUS IS OUTSIDE!"

"WHAT!?"

His teeth sank into his inner cheek and his eyes glowed with amusement as the sound of several pairs of feet came clambering towards the door. He was sure someone was looking out, so he sent a mocking little wave of his fingers. Slowly it cracked open again revealing his little doppelganger, she was putting on a brave face and glaring at him with as much fear and anger that she could muster.

"You said I had a week...that you would come on the night of the full moon.."

He hummed smirking at her as he stepped up towards the barrier of the doorway. He leaned down and if it weren't for the annoying need for an invite, their noses would probably be brushing together. His eyes dug into hers with a fierce intensity, searching her face for something...anything that would tell him her thoughts as he spoke.

"There's been a change of plans little Gilbert~" He watched her throat bob as she swallowed harshly.

"So you've come to get me tonight then." He wouldn't admit it but he was slightly impressed she was able to keep his gaze for as long as she was.

"No, quite the opposite actually. You see, I had a little meet and greet with your little protector friends this morning. At the time, I was in quite the horrendous mood. Luckily for you, might I add, it seems I've now found myself in a better one and have since consider your little vampire toys request."

"..re..quest??" He could see the confusion on her face as she tried her best to piece together whatever he was planning.

"Yes. It's seemed some things of...Import..have come up and I find myself feeling agreeable." He was sure Elijah was eyeing him suspiciously from somewhere within the home. He'd let his big brother continue to think he had the upper hand here.

"Is this some sort of trick, to get me to lower my gaurd so you can-!"

Klaus growled his eyes flashing red and he sneered, "You're pathetic little group of protectors could not keep you safe from me, now be quiet, before I change my mind!"

Elena's jaw shuts tight with an audible click of teeth. Wariness and fear flashing into her gaze.

"1 month. You have until the next full moon to enjoy your puny mortal life. Say your goodbyes and put together whatever measly little things you wish. Then I will come for you, and you WILL be in my ritual." He stepped as close as he could to the barrier, "Know this. If try to run or hide from me I will find you, just ask Katerina how that ended for her." He finally backed away, leaving a group of mistrusting and bewildered people. As he stepped off the porch he paused.

"Oh and...Do take real good care of my brother, yes? I'd hate to have to slaughter everyone you've ever held an inkling of care for if anything drastic were to happen to his daggered form." He was being truthful as well, even if his brother was plotting against him, if anything happened to him he would rain a eternal agony of blood and death on this town. With that he disappeared from their view with a burst of speed.

He'd spent to much time feeding and playing with the doppelganger and her friends. He couldn't afford to waste anymore time. Diners and restaurants will be closing soon and Rune needed food.

---

Furrowed orange eyes stared up at the door knob with questioning eyes. Niklaus had said he'd be back, but it's been forever since he left and she was getting bored. He'd told her to stay in bed and rest, but she was so curious about this place and all she'd seen is this room and the room with the big water tub. Niklaus called it the bathroom..

She pouted at the door slowly slinking up into her tip toes. She could reach the knob just fine but she wanted to see if she could peak through the little hole underneath the handle. Her slitted pupils shrunk as she tried to squint through the tiny little hole. It wasn't big enough to see anything except a soft light shining through it.

She let out a small huff. She'd heard him talking to someone out there as he was leaving, telling whoever it was not to bother her and with a simple twitch and twist of her ears she was able to pick up on the footsteps and chatyer that would sometimes come through the door. She could hear them whispering but it was loud to her sensitive hearing.

"That little brats been in there for hours. How much longer until Klaus returns to take the thing back where it came from?"

Runes ears fold flat on her head, confusion filling her. Take her back?? Did she do something wrong... is that why he wasn't back yet?

"I don't know Greta. You heard him, do not cause any trouble! We'll just have to wait and see what his plan is...maybe the child is another part to the ritual?"

The female voice, greta, scoffed. "I've read that spell page front to back there is absolutely nothing in there about needing a kid."

Spells? Ritual? None of what they were talking about made any sense to her and she was planning to just go back to her bed when another voice cut in. This one sounded annoyed and...somehow familiar.

"Oh please, why else would he kidnap some kid if he didn't have some sort of plan for them. I give the brat 3 days before it does something to piss him off."

Runes shoulders were drooping more and more. He wasn't back yet, so maybe she already did. Her chin wobbled and water built up in her eyes. Her footsteps were silent as she scrambled back to the big bed and her nest of blankets. She burried herself underneath them as the first sniffle was let out. She didn't want to go back to the shed! Niklaus said she could go with him!

But he's gone, so maybe he's out looking for a way to get rid of her. What if he was regretting having her around already like the lady said he would. She didn't want to make her only friend angry.

Small hands scrubbed uselessly at her eyes, trying to wipe away the water that was beginning to run down her cheeks. Her breathes were coming a but quicker as the blanket around her head began to dampen with tears. A small hiccup got caught in her chest and that was all it took for the crumbling walls of mask to shatter.

A loud wail left her and she pulled her legs in tight to her chest. Her sobs and hiccups were loud, echoing in the room. She missed the panicked yelps of the people in the other room, and the bedroom door being opened.

Greta stared at the small pile of blankets on the bed that the crying child was hiding under. On the outside she looked annoyed but on the inside her demeanor was slipping. If Klaus comes back to a sad kid he's going to have one of their heads on a spike. She doesn't know what he wants with the kid but his orders had been clear. The kid was to not be upset or bothered while he was gone.

The witch reached a hand out to the pile of sobbing fabric, when the front door to the apartment slammed open. The door made a shattering contact with the wall across from it.

---

The food was warm in his hands as he took the stairs two at a time. He'd only meant to be gone for an hour at most, but he'd lost track of time while off in his thoughts. He hadn't even realized nearly 4 hours had passed by the time he was leaving the boarding house. He was halfway up the final flight of stairs towards the apartment when the first depressing wail echoed in his ears. It'd sounded like a wounded animal and something stirred deep within him.

His eyes snap up to the apartment door it was coming from. The hunters apartment. Rage grew in him as the wail turned it blubbering cried and hysterical sobs. Do those useless Mongrels not know how to follow a single order!?

Veins cracked into place on his cheeks and before he knew it, his foot was connecting with the wood of the door. It was violently shot of its hinges and sent soaring across the room where it shattered on impact with the wall. His enraged hiss filled the room as he stormed inside. His gaze immediately searched out for the fork of the child.

Their red glowing hues slid over to the bedroom door where he found Greta leant over the dge of the bed reaching for a shaking lump of blankets. He didn't even blink or wait for any sort of explanation. His hand latched onto the back of the watches neck and flung her back out of the room. He did not care as he heard her back connect with a piece of furniture.

"One job! You had one job when it came to Rune! Do not bother her!" He roughly grabbed the bedroom door and slammed it closed, ignoring maddoxes pleas for him to listen.

Katherine watched the entire thing with a pale face and thumping heart. Greta was slumped next to her on the couch...unconscious with blood dripping down her face from her hairline. She hadn't seen him that angry since the night she ran sway. Who was this kid?!

Klaus stalked towards the bed climbing into it. His hand hesitated before he finally reach forward and pulled the blankets free from their spot covering the child. He swallowed, forcing himself to try and calm down. He hasn't comforted a crying girl since Rebekah was Runes age. He wasn't sure if his angrier would only scare or upset her more.

"..rune.." He really took her in now. Gone was her tiny awed and mischievous smile. It was replaced by a pitiful wobbling frown as she sobbed. And the way she was looking up at him, rubbed him the wrong way. She shouldn't have that much anguish in her eyes. What the hell had they done!? "You need to tell me what hap-oof!"

A small body collides with his chest taking him off gaurd and sending them both tumbling onto his back.

"I'm sorry!!! Please don't take me back! I'll be good, I promise!! Rune doesn't want to go back to the shed!"

His eyes continued to widen as she delved deeper and deeper into her tearful sobs.

"Take you back??"

"One of the ladies said you were taking me back!! That- that I would make you angry and you wouldn't want me anymore!! I'm sorry!! I'll be good!!"

Her eyes were shut tight and her fingers were clutched in his shirt as she shook from the force of her cries. Klaus slowly wrapped his arms around her tiny frame, trying to help her call down and catch her breath. Following what instinct and muscle memory were telling him to do he ran his fingers through her fluffy strands. He silently marveled at hour soft her hair was when it was dry, like long locks of fur.

He stayed silent letting her ware herself out, as her sobs turned to sniffles. He could see her ears stay flat to her head and her shoulders still shook from her breakdown.

"I'm not putting you back on the streets rune."

She sniffles, "You're not..?"

"No. Ignore their words. Their thoughts and suggestions are meaningless and hold no weight or truth. I told you, You're one of mine now."

Her sniffles still haven't stopped but her ears were no longer pulled back. They raised on her head as she snuggled into his chest.

"I don't want to leave Niklaus. Niklaus is my friend.."

Chapter 7: Deeper Bonds

Summary:

2 weeks have passed since Klaus made his decision and he's been taking a certain enjoyment from watching the doppelgangers 'friends' scramble and try to stop him. They were lucky he was more preoccupied for the moment.

Klaus smirked down at his phone as he read the text that'd been sent from Maddox. The warlock was keeping an eye on his doppelganger, making sure she didn't try anything stupid like her predecessor had. So far it was a normal update, however he found their desperation amusing. If they were reacting like this, then that meant even his brother was not expecting his change in plans.

The stab of betrayal in his chest burned like a raging inferno in the empty cavity of his heart. His brother...the man who helped raise him and taught him..wanted him dead. His fingers tightened around the phone in his hand as anger and loathing set in. His clenched tightly with effort it took to reign in his mask of indifference. It wasn't working..

Tiny hands clutch at his shirt and a button nose snuggles into his chest. Klaus swallowed his eyes snapping down to take in the child curled up on his chest. She had her hands in front of her face, clutching his shirt as she curled up in a ball with her tail wrapped securely around her. Every now and then her nose would twitch followed by the movement of her ears. Almost all the anger flowed out of him as he took in her relaxed state.

He didn't need to wake her up with his anger. He'd learned very quickly that child seemed almost completely attuned to his emotions. Sticking to his side nearly 24/7 and listening to everything he told her with an intense concentration. At first he'd been worried the child was trying to stay on his good side after what'd happened with his witches. But as a day turned into a week and a week into 2, he realized that the kid trusted him more than he probably trusted himself. . . And he wasn't sure how he should feel about that.

A deep dark part of him was satisfied, having something so small so dependent on him. Taking care of her was scratching away at an itch he hadn't even realized had been there. Each time she smiled up at him and shot off an excited thank you as he presented her with a new toy or food, a certain emotion bubbled forth before dying away again.

The original dropped the phone and let his head flop down on the soft pillow provided by the hotel. He'd rented the room out as soon as he'd calmed the child down that first night. With a month added to his wait, he couldn't bare to spend another minute in safari Sam's hideous apartment. That human had zero taste.

He'd left Katerina there, wallowing in her punishment. He could smell the vervain on her and he'd gotten bored with seeing how far she would go to hide it. He knew she was compelled to stay in the apartment until he let her go however. Which made him wonder om who'd given her the vervain.

A small yawn came from his chest catching his attention. Looking down he watched as sleep filled orange eyes blinked open and small hands rubbed at one of her eyes. Slowly she looked up to meet his gaze.

"G'morning Niklaus~..." She yawned again, her ears laying flat on her head as tiny little fangs get flashed and her jaw pops from the action.

"Good morning Rune. Sleep well?" He smiled as she nodded with a big grin.

"Niklaus is really warm!! And comfy!"

His laugh was low as he sat up, watching amusement as the girl tumbled onto her back with a squeak.

"Is that so?"

"No fair!!" This time his laughter was loud as he watched the child scowl up at him from her tangled mess of limbs. Her tail was twitching and her lips were pulled into a pout.

"Ill be big and strong just like you someday, and then you can't knock me over anymore!!" She was looking up at with with determination shining in her eyes and he couldn't help the small smirk and amusement that covered his face.

"I look forward to it then, little Rune." And he was being honest. He really was curious to see how she would grow over time.

---

Elijah tapped his nails against the wooden box on the table In front of him. He was sat in the reading room of the boarding house as he mentally went over everything he knew about his brother. Trying to piece together what could have possibly been considered more important than breaking his curse as soon as possible.

But he had nothing. Absolutely nothing to go on. A thousand years, and all his brother ever wanted was Freedom from his curse. Now he was acting strange, giving the Gilbert girl a month to prepare her final goodbyes, but also just casually popping up around the town. If his brother hadn't believed him to be daggered he would have already confronted him on his strange behavior.

The hunter, Alaric, even brought back news that his apartment had been abandoned by the hybrid. However a certain Petrova had been left behind. A gleam entered the originals eyes as an idea came to mind. The Petrova was just left for the taking, if shes been his prisoner for a while then she must know at least something about his brother. With a plan in mind he stands from his seat, sparing the box holding a certain elixir a final glance he exits the boarding house.

Using his speed to enter the more populated areas of the town, it didn't take him long to reach the humans apartment. And it took even less time for him to compell an invite from the landlord.

As he took the stairs up he could hear several voices coming from its floor. Reaching the final landing he couldn't help the questioning raise of his brow as he took in an open doorway. Without a door. The hinges were ripped free from the frame and the opposing wall was covered in dents and cracks.

Something must have really angered his brother if he'd lost this much of his control. What little there was of it at least. He wouldn't put it behind him, that it may have been the petrovas doing. He stepped right over the entry way, glad that the invite had worked. Those were always a bit touchy.

He took in the sight before him. Katherine was slouched across a hideous sofa as the eldest salvatore and the human Alaric questioned her on everything she knew.

"Look. I already told you, I'm not saying anything that could end up with my head on a spike. I'm not stupid!"

"Oh please, you've already got yourself into this mess kit Kat, and You owe me one for the vervain. So it's time you paid up!"

"I pity the fool who has actually ever fallen for your pitiful attempts at questioning a prisoner." Damon's head snapped around to take in the tall original now standing at his side, while Katherine's face paled to a certain degree.

"Elijah, to what do I owe the pleasure epf your visit. Please make your self at home...it's not like I'm going anywhere anytime soon." The female vampire motioned around herself, her voice dripping with sarcasm. But he could hear the hint of fear hidden beneath. He could also smell the verbain still present in her system.

He sighed, it seemed he wouldn't be getting the answers he desired the easy way.

"Katerina, it has come to my attention that something has caught my brothers attention. Enough so, for him to push off the date of the ritual. What. Do. You. Know."

And for one the three men watches in surprise as her false confidence wavered behind a flash of fear. Her head began to shake back and forth. She won't speak of it... Greta made the kid cry without even meaning to and she ended up with new scars marking her skin. Katherine did not want to find out or know what would happen to the person who put the kid in the sights of his families schemes. She doubted there'd be anything left of her to find.

"You refuse to speak. That's alright. I have other ways of getting what I want." She gulped as the original began to take of his outer jacket and then began rolling up his sleeves with a determined glare. His face was hard as stone as he stared the trembling female down.

"Elijah, please! He won't kill me if I tell you! I will never know what its like to be without pain ever again if he found out I said anything!!" Elijah was going to retort and Damon snorted to his left. But the hysterical tone and the horrified beating of her undead heart brought him to pause.

"What is he hiding Katerina."

"Please... I can't... I'll tell you whatever else you want to know... but I can't tell you that!"

His teeth clenched but his face remained passive as he calmly walked over to the kitchen and pulled a knife from its block.

"I guess we'll see if that fear can hold out before I'm done with you?"

---

Klaus hesitantly and with a bit of reluctance lifted the girl up from the floor. She'd been staring up at him expectantly and with so much hope burning in her eyes, that he couldn't find himself saying No. Very slowly he lifted her until she was a over his head and she could situate her legs on either side of his head. He could feel her small hands tangle into his hair and he firmly planted his hands on her ankles in order to keep her steady as he made their way out of the hotel room. He had to duck down in order to keep her head from hitting the frame.

As they walked down the hall he could see in a few mirrors that they passed that her hood was swinging to an from taking in her view at the new height. The new jacket she wore was an emerald green with navy blue lining the hems. It was meant for someone bigger than her, but he realized that the size was honestly perfect for hiding not only her ears but her tail too without it being uncomfortable for her.

She had soft black pants on and a new smaller blue scarf. It didn't take long for him to make his way outside, and he knew he didn't have to worry about his brother or the doppel gang seeing him with the child. Damon Salvatore was a man of no limits. He did not trust that he wouldn't put a kid in harms way in order to get to him, and he knew all to well how deep Stefan can fall off of a wagon.

He was confident in his ability to protect the girl. He'd kill anyone who harmed her. He didn't even stop to consider how quickly he'd began to bond with a child of all things. Even now the little pearl she gifted him hung safely from his neck, replacing the necklace that had once sat there.

"Where are we going??"

"There's a diner nearby we haven't tried yet. And Maddox said they had losts of breakfast options you might like."

Apparently he wasn't the only one who's become fond of the child. Maddox seemed to warm up to the kid almost immediately after properly meeting her, and that interest only grew after seeing her ears. The warlock had never heard of anyone ever having the appendages before. Greta however, shunned the mere existence of the kid, she wasn't even aware of the child's non human status.

He felt Rune bounce in excitement on his shoulders as she babbled about anything and everything. He could hear a few women he passed giggle and coo about the handsome father and the adorable child, wondering if he was a single parent and if they had a chance.

Saphire eyes blinked in shock...did he.. look like a father like this? He wasn't sure how to handle that thought. His own father was an abusive monster, a nightmare that haunted him, and the closest he'd ever come to experiencing something like that had been a young boy who was already in his teen years with a more mature personality. A part of him wasn't exactly opposed to the comparison the women had made. But he doubted he'd ever make a good father, especially one that would be good enough for Rune.

No...he would just keep doing what he was already doing. He didn't need to Ruin the girls future.

He wasn't aware of the hidden ears picking up on the whispered conversation with a curiosity. Father..??

Orange eyes stared down at the back of Niklaus's head as she went silent. Is this what father's did?? If it was...

She liked it..

Chapter 8: Curses and Moons

Summary:

A month together, has drawn two lonely souls closer than each of them had ever believed. On the verge of breaking his curse Klaus must deal with his brothers betrayal first hand, and Rune is unable to stay in the shadows like she'd been told to.

Fluffy ears swished and spun taking in every nee sound. Even with all her years on the streets of mystic falls, Rune had never explored the sea of trees surrounding the town. She could hear the snap of twigs in the distance and the scurrying of animals. Turning her head to peer up at the face of the man holding her, Rune examined the nervous and excited energy that seemed to be pouring off of her companion.

Klaus had a broad grin on his lips and his eyes glinted in the light of the rising moon. Behind them above the canopy of leaves the sunset dimmed as it crawled lower on the horizon. Rune was held protectively in his arms as he walked them through the woods towards the chosen area of the ritual. He'd had Maddox set up a small area off of the clearings edge for him to hide away the child. At first he'd planned to leave the girl in the hotel and come back for her once his shift was over. But Maddox brought him Information showing that they had begun to pin down the area he was staying and wasn't willing to leave her alone in a public building that any vampire could just waltz in to.

What safer place for her than within reaching distance of himself. The hybrid lightly brushed his nose through her soft locks. Giving her silent attention as the light of flickering flames began to grow in visibility between thick tree trunks. His eyes roamed around them searching for the small hideaway that the warlock had put together. Special charms would keep it hidden from everyone but Klaus.

Sliding down onto his knees next to little den he lowered the girl down into in and pulled the branches and leaves in place over her. She was looking up at him with complete trust, but it was tinged with a silent question.

"Stay here little Rune. I need to handle the ritual, and it has been a long time coming in deed." He gestured towards one side of the hideaway. "Maddox said he made sure you would have full view of me the entire time, once we are done here there will not be anyone who will be capable of going against me...us."

His hand ruffled her locks giving her a comforting grin as he began to stand up. He'd given the child a basic run down of what would be happening tonight. He and Maddox had been teaching her the basics of the supernatural world, and helping her realize that she was apart of it. He'd held off on telling her until a few nights ago, not sure if the child was mentally capable of understanding the importance of tonight.

With Rune so close, he'd have to be careful with not being to aggressive with his kills. The child may have seen him kill before, but a part of him did not want her completely used to those sights yet. Did not want to smother what childish imagination she had left. Stepping through the tree line he came across Greta putting together the final components of the night, and Elena who was already trapped within a burning ring of fire.

Two other rings of fire were in place as well, one held the unconscious form of newly turned vampire and the other the twitching body of a werewolf. His sensitive hearing could pick up the cracking of bones already beginning to take place in the womans limp body. He settled his eyes on the vampire, when Elena had tried to go against his plans by trying to run before night hit, he'd briefly considered turning someone she loved and using them for the ritual.

However Rune had distracted him with one of her games and before he knew it, Maddox had sent him a message saying he'd gathered a vampire and werewolf and Greta had cut off the doppelgangers escape. Klaus truly was curious how his brother had Rea Ted to the girls attempt at running. His brother needed the Gilbert to die in order to kill him after all.

He approached the witch, fully aware of the small eyes burning into his back and watching every movement he made.

Rune was still trying to piece together everything that'd been explained to her before they left the hotel. Niklaus was freeing himself from a very bad curse, but he had to hurt people in order to do it. At first she was a bit curious and wary about going with him while he did it. But as she watched him hand over a pretty stone to the mean witch a certain fascination took hold.

Her orange eyes took in every person in the field until they landed on Elena. There he gaze paused... and then narrowed. Rune knew that girl, remembered every scathing remark and cruel giggle as things were thrown at or poured over her head. Niklaus was sacrificing the girl who treated her like trash. A month ago, she'd actually believed that she deserved the things said and done to her. But each day with Niklaus had completely turned everything she'd ever believed on its head. He took care of her, and played with her. He never called her a freak, and when he looked at her he didn't cringe away or act like there was something wrong with her.

A voice in the back of her head was always telling her she didn't deserve all the nice things he was doing. That the mountain of stuffed animals piled up on the hotel bed shouldn't belong to her. But Niklaus would pick her up and take her to a new place or take her out to try something new while sporting an expectant smirk, and all her dark thoughts would trail away.

She was so deep in her thoughts, that the loud scream and squelch of flesh made her flinch back to reality. She swallowed as she watched Niklaus hold up a thumping red mass dripping with blood over his head. He had his head tilted back as he let the red essence dripp into open mouth. He swallowed his gulp down and made his way towards Greta and the bright bonfire, where he tossed the heart into the inferno.

His eyes glanced in the direction of Rune. He was unsure if this was to much for the kid. Maybe he should have had Maddox make the hideaway further away.

Rune however was staring ahead with her mouth agape and glittering orange eyes. Her voice was a whisper on the wind but Klaus was able to pick up its silent awe.

"That was so cool..~!"

Saphire eyes blinked and a large smile full of pride took up his Visage. The second sacrifice went easy, the newborn vampire nothing in comparison to his 1000 years worth of strength. Elena was pale faced, and shaking as large tears stained her cheeks. She did not want to die, what did she do to deserve this!?

Klaus was stepping up behind her, hus hands settling in her shoulders. He held in her place as he waited for Gretas signal to start the final sacrifice. The witch nodded and he leaned down to sink his teeth into the teens shoulder when a voice he was familiar with echoes in the clearing.

"Wait!! Please...! Don't.!"

Stefan was standing at the edge of the clearing, his face held anguish as he watched the hybrid slowly look up at him from behind his love.

"Salvatore! Lovely of you to join us, here to enjoy the festivities?"

"Please don't kill her, there has to be another way!"

Klaus snarled, "A gave you an extra month little vampire. Do not push your luck. I only have so much patience."

Stefan took a step towards the ring of fire, but was stopped by the unbearable pain spreading through his back. The salvatore fell to the floor with a large stake sticking from his spine. Maddox stood off to the side, slightly behind the downed vampire with an indifferent stare and a small nod towards the hybrid. The warlock would keep anyone from continuing to interfere.

---

"No! You were dead!! I killed you!"

Elijah watched his younger brother writhe on the ground in pain. Self loathing suffocated him as he approached his struggling sibling. He knew finishing this here and now would leave him alone in the end, but his brother had crossed an unforgivable line. Their siblings weren't perfect but they had not deserved being tossed into the sea.

"Elijah!? Why...brother!! Help me!" Klaus was looking up at his older brother getting closer to him. Knowing that Elijah was plotting against him was one thing, but watching his brothers fave go cold and unfeeling as he got closer to him made the reality of the situation finally settle in his core.

His own flesh and blood...was going to kill him. Or at least try to. A violent yell of pain was ripped from his throat as the Bennet witch sent another wave of magic through his body. Greta was slumped in the earth, void of life, Maddox was stuck between trying to fight off the bennets attack while also keeping himself between the enemy and the hideaway of the young girl watching on in silence.

Klaus shook with pain, his forehead pushed into the dirt and he looked off in the direction he knew, small orange eyes were watching. He clenched his jaw, he refused to die here. He promised that girl, that after tonight no one would be able to go against him. That he wouldn't let anything happen to her or allow her to end back up on the streets.

He turned his head up to glare at his brother with a burning determination.

Elijah's brows rose, it was just like Klaus to not give up even when he was a step behind. His brothers laugh was mocking.

"I'd held out hope that my brother was not actually planning to kill me. That this was one of his stupid little plots that he always pulled." Klaus's eyes turned dark with a burning gold pupil.

Elijah grimaced, so Klaus had known about his involvement. He let out an admonishing sigh, it was no matter now. He would still win this night. Bonnie sent Klaus flying across the clearing and into a thick tree. His body landed a few feet away from Runes hiding spot.

Rune flinched in her hideaway. She trusted Niklaus's strength, but he was calling that tall man brother. Did that mean he was super strong too? Her sharp teeth dug into her bottom lip as she bit back her whimpers with every groan of pain that came from the man. Maddox was on his knees panting under the strain of magic he was using.

She watched as the tall man in the suit lunged at Niklaus, sending his hand straight into the hybrids chest with a loud crack of bone and splitting of flesh. Horror filled her as she listened to him scream out. No..nonononono.. he shouldn't be making those noises. He...he promised..

Tears dripped down her cheeks and she watched as the unknown man prepared to rip his arm back for a final attack. Orange eyes flashed blue, and small limbs were moving on their own before she could stop herself. Branches and leaves were ripped out of the way as she burst into the clearing. Her ears pressed flat against her head, nearly invisible amongst her mop of hair.

"STOP IT! STOP HURTING MY DADDY!!" Her scream echoed in the clearing and it was followed by a loud grating hiss, it didn't sound very threatening coming from something so small, but Elijah's head snapped up to take in the new presence.

It was a small girl, she was wearing an oversized sweater and she head a tear filled glare settled on him. Sharp canines gleamed in the light of the remaining fires as she snarled. Glowing blue eyes stared right through him. Where had this child come from...a Jacky movement from below him snaps his attention back down to his brother.

"Rune! What are you doing, I told you stay hidden!"

Elijah's eyes widen, snapping between Klaus and the child with tears running down her cheeks. Bonnie was staring at the girl with wide unsure eyes. Elijah clenched his hand tighter around Klaus's chest, he could afford to be distracted by a child. Runes eyes narrowed and an anger she'd never felt before burst forth inside her.

"I SAID...STOP HURTING..MY DADDY!" The blue pearl tied around Klaus's neck flashed a deep blue, before a spark ignited in the air above it. Blue and white flame roared to life traveling up the arm buried in klauses chest. Elijah roared in pain ripping himself free and tearing his suit jacket free from himself. The fire swam through the air and darted towards the injured burnt original.

Rune ran over the the downed hybrid falling into a crouch infront of him while he struggled to push himself up. His chest was taking its sweet time to heal as he watched the back of the young girl he'd taken in. She was perched over him like a protective animal. Her little hisses of warning were almost adorable with their ferocity.

"Brother!! Do not think some child will keep me from avenging our siblings!"

Klaus's brows furrowed, avenging their siblings. Was this about the daggers!?

"30 years I've planned for this, yoy will pay for tossing our family away into the sea!"

Flickering gold eyes widened as he wrapped an arm around Runes middle. Bonnie's attack on his body had subsided in her shock at the appearance of a girl...a girl who was currently crouched in the way of her magic. Elijah was stalking towards them again, ignoring the blue flames eating away at his skin. He lunged forward and Klaus yelled out, Rune was in the way, she couldn't get hurt over this.

"I DIDNT THROW THEM IN THE SEA. I LIED!"

He slightly grimaced as his brothers hand came to a stop inches from his face. He could feel his shift beginning to take over as his bones began to stretch and break beneath his muscle and skin.

"You're lying..."

"They're my siblings too, do yoy really believe me capable of damnung them in such a way?! I will reunite them with you, I swear!"

Bonnie voice came out shrill, "Elijah, don't! You swore!" Her head was shaking as a dark look entered Elijah's eyes. Before he sent an apologetic look at the young witch. Maddox had used the distraction to slip away, while Klaus wad Pulling Rune deeper into his chest in a protective hold. Elijah took in the way Klaus was holding the girl, before he pulled his brother up and disappeared from the clearing eith him and child in tow.

Rune was still glaring up at him, but the fire was no longer eating away at the original. Klaus groaned and he could hear his hybrid brothers spine snap. Rune flinched the blue leaving her eyes, revealing worried Orange.

"...daddy..." her voice was nearly silent filled with unshed tears. She hadn't meant to call him that when she'd run out...but he hasn't said anything against it yet, and now she could bring herself to stop...

"Shhh..I'm fine Little Rune. It's just the shift.."

Chapter 9: Pack

Summary:

Watching the man who'd quickly become the closest thing she'd ever had to a father, shift into a wolf was not a pretty sight. But what came after, she would remember for the rest of her days.

Notes:

I am so sorry for the wait on this chapter! I would have totally had it out sooner, but I got sucked in by college term finals and was struggling with what direction to take when it came to Elijah and Maddox. But I've figured it out now, so on with the story!! New chapters for my other two tvd stories coming out soon.

Tw:blood
Tw:violence
Tw:consumption of humans

Klaus still had a protective hold on the small girl. He could feel his bones shattering apart and forcing themselves back together underneath his skin as he groaned out. Small fingers hesitantly touch his cheeks. He could feel himself swaying in his brothers hold, peeking open clenched eyes he met worried orange. Her chin was wobbling and he could see her sending distrustful glares up at Elijah every few seconds. His lips twitched as she softly petted his cheeks.

"...daddy.. are you ok?? Is it supposed to hurt?" He could hear her voice waver and something that he'd felt rising to the surface, preened under the soft affection. He'd been struck by surprise when the girl had first screamed the new title she'd given him at the top of her lungs. But as he looked down into her eyes filled with an earnest worry and adoration, he couldn't bring himself to correct her.

His spine snapped and a feral growl ripped forth. Elijah was unprepared for the solid connection of a foot in his side. The original was sent crashing into a burly tree with a loud grunt. Quickly recovering from the blow he was back on his feet. A spike of worry hit him as he watched his golden eyed brother disappear with the small child in tow. Klaus seemed to attached to the girl, at least enough to allow her to call him daddy. He knew his brother may regret harming the child while transformed, he needed to catch up to them and quickly.

Klaus held Rune close to his chest as his feet carried him through trees and high grass. Instinct was the only driving force in his mind for the moment, Elijah had tried to kill him. The wolf clawing its way to the surface demanded that rune be taken away from the possible threat. He didn't trust his brothers words, he could try to use Rune against him. No...she was safer with him...nobody else could protect her and care for like he could.

Pain surged throughout his entire body as the moon hit its apex in the sky. The hybrid tumbled, his hold on Rune letting go as he hit the ground at high speed. He slid on his back, his glowing eyes trailed on the moon above as the transition began to take its full affect. His fingers buried in the soft locks of his hair as he trembled under the strain. Trembling small hands settled on the back of his palms and the determined eyes of his ward were filling his vision.

"You're fighting it Daddy....it's ok, you don't have to worry about me. You're gonna be the strongest, right!"

Klaus breathed heavily his eyes shutting tightly as he finally let go, her whispered words echoing in his head. At any other time he would have laughed at himself, being calmed by the words of a child. But as he confused on her fingers running through his hair and the way she pulling his head into her small lap, he finally relaxed into eventuality of the shift. Somehow he just knew that she would be ok, that the child would be safe with him. No matter what.

---

Rune was in silent awe, she flinched every now and then, the sounds of Klaus's breaking bones wasn't pleasant. But watching his face take on an animalistic Visage, strong fungs protruding from his lips as ears climbed across his skull shifting into a pair of fluffy ears and soon it was no longer the head of a grown man laying in her lap but the large maw of a ginormous wolf. Her fingers slowed in her petting as her breath hitched in amazement.

He was so large! The wolfen body easily dwarfed her own, his head was nearly as big as she was, and her legs were hidden beneath a forest of soft fur.

"..." She swallowed, worry beginning to naw at her as he continued to lay still. Her own set of fluffy ears tilted down, desperately searching out for any sign of life. Her lip began to wobble her hands coming to a complete stop on top of his brow. "Daddy..-"

Golden eyes peaked open and an annoyed chuff was grunted into her belly. A wet nose dragged across her arm as a demanding gaze settled in her expectantly. Relief filled her as her shoulders sagged. He was ok..that's good. He'd looked like he was in so much pain earlier, and every groan and snap of bone had sent shocks of agony through her.

Rune looked down at the large wolf as he continued to look up at her. She but back a tiny giggle as his wolfy eyebrows raised, his eyes flicked to her hands then back to her face as if to say, 'I'm waiting, what's taking you so long.'

Slowly she reached up with a silent smile and randomly her hands between his ears. A small squeak left her as she was shoved back with his head settling on her, a small rumbling purr left the wolf's snout and her little nails scratched behind his ears. A loud thump of a wagging tail had her biting back a large grin. So her daddy liked getting his ears scratched too. Her own tail began to wag alongside her growing excitement. It's thumping wasn't nearly as loud as the wolf's but it didn't stop her from enjoying their current similarities. Her small blue pear hung innocently from the wolf's neck, it twinkled in the moonlight, briefly catching her gaze. The memory of blue flames filled her head before they were chased away by a slimy wolf tongue swiping across her face.

Will he still have a tail when he changes back? Or is it only when he's like this.

A snap of a twig had two sets of furry ears swiveling around in sync. Runes eyes snap around to watch the trees and the shadows caused by their high canopy. The warm wolf that had been playfully nudging at her a mere second before was now on all fours standing over her smaller form with vicious snarl. Another twig snapped and Klaus's ears went flat on his head.

A man slowly stepped out into view. He was decked out in a dark camo, making him slightly blend in with the foliage around him. Rune slowly pushed herself into a crouch and she burried her face into Klaus's flank. The hunter had a gun pointed at the large wolf, he'd never seen one so big before. He'd been tracking a herd of deer through here when he caught the sight of a small child pinned under the form of a large animal.

He kept his voice low as he Called out to the child.

"Quick, while it's distracted. Get away from it girl, that's a wolf!" Rune pushed herself closer to Klaus as the sound of hammer being pulled back. Her squeak was loud as klaus lunged and a bang went off.

"Daddy!!" Her hands were held over her lips in worry as the bullet connected with the wolf. But it didn't slow the hybrid down in the least, his large form decending on the human. Rune watched on in silence as he ripped apart flesh and bit through solid bone. Her orange eyes watched the wolf rip off chunks of flesh and snap it up in a hungered frenzy.

Slowly she took small steps towards the feasting hybrid. She wasn't scared of him, she didn't know how but she just knew he wouldnt hurt her. In reality, she was curious. More than curious, about his eating habits. She already knew that he ate people, but she couldnt help but wonder if they even tasted good?

Do they even have a taste? She kept making her way closer until she was right next to the eating wolf, her body was slightly hunched over the cooling corpse, watching teeth tear into it with a morbid fascination not normal for one her age. She poked a bleeding gash and glanced at the wolf. He seemed to be purely focused on his meal so she took the chance to slowly lean down. Small needle like teeth sink into soft flesh.

The metallic taste of blood spread across he tongue making her cringe a bit, it was like old pennies. But as she bit harder and a chunk of the man gave way, a certain tangy and meaty flavor quickly over took the taste of the blood. Blue flashed in her pupils for a brief moment before she was surging back down. The large wolf at her side had stopped its feast to watch her with whay at first had been a horrified gleam in its eyes, but it quickly morphed into a surprised satisfaction as he realized that the girl wasn't disgusted and even seemed to be tearing in even faster than he had. 

The wolf wasn't sure how to feel, he's sure he'd never hear the end of it if any of his siblings were present to see this. After a few seconds the girl pulled away, blood was smudged across her cheeks in a similar way to how she'd get syrup or chocolate smeared when eating breakfast. The back of her hands scrubbed at her face as she slowly stood up with a sleepy yawn. One of her hands tangled into his fur as she leaned into him.

"..'m tir...~" another yawn cur off her words and Klaus slowly lowered himself onto his belly until he was as low to the ground as he could get. He nudged her side with his snout, urging her to climb onto his back. As soon as he felt her small legs settle behind his shoulders and her face was burried in the fur on the back of his head, he took off into the night.

Her tiny hands were clasped into his fur as he ran between the trees. The moonlight shown down on their forms barely revealing his swift form flashing in and out of sight as he snatched up small critters and tackled over deer and other animals. The kills all seemed to blur together after a while, he recalled humane faces stating up at him in fear and animals running away from him in a frenzy.

Before he knew it the small weight on his back was shifting up and the girl was no longer onging sleeping on him but was instead sitting up watching the scenery pass them by in a fast blur. The sun shown down on them from high above as she looked around them with an awed expression.

"Wow! Daddy! You're so fast!!" Her feet tapped his sides as she bounced in place eith excitement, "can you go faster!?"

A surge of self pride filled him and his wolfen chest puffed out as his feet picked up the pace. Her excited squeals swam through his ears putting him in a good mood as he bounced around, changing directions and listening to her happy begs for him to go faster or jump higher.

Rune laughed out as Klaus pranced around in a circle, playfully trying to buck her off with no real intent behind it. Her hands were tight in his fur and her knees locked in place to keep herself still as she enjoyed the ride. She payed no mind to the layers of dried and drying blood sticking to not only his fur but splattered out across her face and once clean clothes. None of that mattered as long as she had her daddy.

---

Elijah grimaced as he threw another group of shredded bodies onto the burning pile of corpses. He'd been at this all night, cleaning up after his brothers trail of animal and human bodies. He'd yet to find a small child among them so he held out hope that his brother had been smart enough to make his way, away from the small girl before his transition had been completed. The memory of a very human Klaus carrying the limp body of a boy into a village clearing, flashed before his mind. He hoped that out of everyone his brother understood how dangerous a transformed werewolf could be.

It's been nearly two days, he was always one step behind his brothers movements. As if he was purposely avoiding the older original. He shook that thought away as dragged the limp form of a camper behind him. He didn't even flinch as he tossed the body onto the quickly growing bonfire. Niklaus owed him one for this.

Finishing up with the last body in this area, he patted down his button up shirt, eying the the ruined fabric his eyes trailed over burned holes and singed threads. That child had set him on fire, had she been an adult he would have ended her right there. He'd liked this suit. With a final sigh he once again made his way through the forest, tracking his brothers trail. He'd long since grabbed a fresh thing of clothes for the hybrid and now it was just a matter of finding him. 2 days, and he still hadn't shifted back.

---

Klaus groaned stretching and popping a few kinks in his back as he relished in the power and freedom surging through his body. A bloodied towel was wrapped securely around his waste as he looked around the destroyed campsite he'd woken up in. He could see the small form of Rune curled up in a blood splattered blanket in front if a dying fire.

The shift had been extraordinary. He could remember everything...a small surge of embarrassment nibbled at him as he recalled his wolf practically begging for head pats from the small child asleep at his feet. When she'd begun falling asleep again he tracked down the camp they were currently using. What remained of a young man was smoking away in the fire pit, and he'd made quick use of whatever he could find in the things left behind. The clothing was to small for him unfortunately. So he'd had to settle for a towel, he had no idea when rune would wake and was not about to deal with any kind of situation like that if he could help it.

He could make out the sound of footsteps getting closer, he was prepared to snatch up the sleeping girl and disappear, when his brother slid out of the treeline with an unimpressed scowl.

"Ah, Elijah! I was wondering when you'd finally catch up. That was amazing! I can remember every kill, every sensation as tore apart my prey and ran under the moonlight. I have never felt anything else like it!"

A pile of clothes hit his chest and Elijah scoffed, "For 2 days I've been following your tracks and cleaning up your messes."

Elijah eyes his brother, he truly did seem more at ease than previous times he'd last seem him. The way he held himself was more relaxed and less enclosed. Carefully he looked around the campsite, expecting to have clean up more bodies when his eyes landed on the huddled form of a girl snoozing away peacefully next to a burning body. His eyes snapped up to Klaus with a judgemental glare.

"Niklaus, you let a child not only witness the burning of a body but had her sleep next to it!!" Elijah had no idea how the child was even still alive. Had Klaus collected her as soon as he shifted back, how else could the girl have survived 2 days with a werewolf.

Klaus gave him and offended and Almont possessive glare. Who was he to tell him how to take care of his own ward. Rune was just fine!

He snarled as he roughly pulled his clothes into place.

"Quiet your traitorous tongue brother! I do not need your words on how to take care of MY Rune. She's perfectly sage and healthy right were she is!"

Elijah sneered before a contemplative looked entered his eyes as he truly looked over his brother a the way the hybrid seemed to be putting himself between the child and his brother. Took in every twitch and the warm glow in saphire eyes as Klaus lifted the girl into his arms and held her close.

Rune snuggled her nose into the warm chest pressed into her cheek before settling back down into a deep sleep. She felt safe in the arms holding her and the voice whispering gently to her.

"Sleep little Rune. We have a long adventure ahead of us~"

Elijah's eyes narrowed further. Niklaus was being soft...too soft.. his gaze switched to the girl. Maybe he had been too quick to give up in his brother. Maybe there was some humanity left in him to be saved after all.

Who was the child who so easily trusted his brother?

Chapter 10: On the Road

Summary:

Rune finds herself the youngest member of a sudden road trip along the east coast.

Klaus held the small body close to his chest as he and his brother made their way through the forest. He could feel Elijah scrutinizing gaze settled on his back, trying to read him, figure him out. He wished his older brother the utmost luck, not even he knew what he was really doing anymore. Taking in a child, shifting with her near and then running with her for two days straight. Memories of the child ripping into his prey with a nearly equal hunger to his own filled his thoughts as he looked down at her serene smile as she snuggled deeper into his arms.

His lips twitched and his gaze softened. She had both of her hands balled up in front of her face and her tail was curled up around her legs. Shifting her weight until her head was a better position and he could keep her ears hidden from any possible onlookers as they get closer to town. He had a few things to finish up, he needed to contact Maddox and have Runes things collected. Then he needed to deal with his brother.

His hearing attuned to his brothers nearly silent footsteps slightly behind him. He'd expected his brother to begin demanding their siblings reunion by now. But the suit clad original hasn't said a word since they left the destroyed camp of the hybrids victims. Klaus's fingers absent-mindedly played with Runes soft locks, gently twirling the fur like waves.

He also needed to figure out what to do with Katerina. Should he just leave her in the hunter apartment, trapped? A vibrating sensation rumbled in his back pocket. Blonde brows furrowed and he shifted Rune onto one arm as he reached back. Surprise coated his features as he slipped a phone from his pocket, the screen was slightly cracked but he could see the name lighting up on the screen.

A text notification was flashing, with the Name Maddox right below it. How did his phone get in his pocket? These weren't the clothes he'd been wearing before the shift.

"It was quite easy finding the clearing that held your destroyed clothing and a shreddded corpse. You phone was amongst the ruined rags."

Klaus shot his brother a look before he finally opened the message from his remaining witch.

-The younger Salvatore is searching for you, I caught sight of him near the hunters apartment-

Klaus tsked, so his old Ripper buddy was looking for him. Revenge for his precious doppelganger? Or something more?

---

Klaus glared up at the building holding the ex doppelganger and Desperate Ripper. Elijah was in step behind him as he approached a large SUV parked out on the buildings curb. Juggling the child in his arms he swiftly yanks the back seat door open and leans in to settled the girl down on the soft seats. He was pulling away when he hesitated and with a second thought, pulled the jacket he was wearing off and wrapped it securely around her sleeping form. He glanced up at the front seat where Maddox was sitting behind the wheel with a serious expression.

"Maddox, she is to remain safe until I return."

Elijah's brows rose, he'd never seen his brother do that before. Sure the occasional offering a woman his jacket in an attempt to charm but never out of actual care like he was doing now. The child was asleep, there was reason for him to have made that decision.  His surprise morphed into suspicion as his brother turned to face him with a hard and determined glare.

"Stay here 'lijah. I'm going to go deal with the salvatore and the little Petrova snake."

"Niklaus, you swore to reunite our family. Where are our siblings."

The hybrid bit back his groan, there it was, the words he'd been expecting the last few hours. "And I gave you my word that I would. They're not here, I have them stored away in a safe place. I swear we will get to the whole thing later, but for now I have business to finish."

Elijah was not pleased, he was going to continue pressing the issue but his words were cut off completely as Klaus turned his back on him, completely disregarding his presence. It wasn't the dismissal that made him fall silent, but the scene of watching his brother almost absent-mindedly leaning down to press a swift kiss on the crown of the child's head before finally shutting the car door. Words escaped the original at every turn, he was nearly frozen in place watching his younger brothers back disappear into the old building.

He eyed the vehicle holding the child with a growing apprehension. What happened to his paranoid and apathetic brother? Was this some sort of trick, a way of getting him to lower his gaurd, or make him believe that Klaus was still capable of being reasoned with. Hazel eyes narrowed into skits as he stalked towards the vehicle and around it side to the opposite side of the sleeping girl. Slipping into the backseat with a grim frown he took in the tiny form clutching at the material of his brothers jacket, as he relaxed into leather seats. Whatever business he needed to handle here better have some sort of importance.

---

Klaus's foot tapped impatiently om the wood floor of the apartment as he watched Stefan devour bag after bag of blood. Stefans little critter diet was of no use to him, and Katerina had since run off with a vial of his blood in tow. He was curious whether the Petrova would actually take it to Damon or not. Either way the show was proving to be entertaining. However, his patience was beginning to wane. Maddox had already gather everything from the hotel, but Rune could wake up any minute, and he wasn't entirely comfortable with his brother being down there with her without him to protect her.

"Come on Rippah, let's gets a move on already. Places to be, things to do, wolves to hunt...all the fun things!"

Stefan was glaring up at him with an expression a mix between self loathing, agony, and pure unadulterated enjoyment as the human blood coated his face and slid down his throat. Klaus returned the pathetic gaze with a smirk full of dark amusement.

Sliding himself out of his seat the hybrid sauntered his way out of the apartment, a victorious grin growing as he listened to the unsteady footsteps of the vampire following after him. This little adventure, was going to be more interesting than hed thought. He hadn't planned to bring Elijah or Syefam along, but..~ the more the merrier. At least this way he could sit back and enjoys Runes presence with others to handle any problems.

With his plans in place Klaus took the stairs two at a times until he could see the car still waiting in the same spot in the parking lot. Stefan was eyeing it distrustfully as klaus popped open the back seat and climbed in. A quick glance told the hybrid that the girl was still sleeping, but at some points she'd somehow gotten his jacket wrapped around nearly every inch of herself. The malicious enjoyment of his grin dimmed, simmering away and leaving behind a fond tilt of his lips as he gazed down at the girl.

As Stefan clambered into the passenger seat in the front, Klaus maneuvered Rune until she was sleeping in his lap. He paid his brothers looks no mind. He didn't have to explain himself or his actions.

"Everything is in order then, It's time to be on our way Maddox."

The warlock gave an understanding nod, and without looking back put the car into drive and began their journey out of town.

Their first stop.. Florida. Stefan was staring out the window with a longing and agonizing glare, while Elijah was trying to piece together the new puzzle that was his Brother and the young inhuman girl.

Klaus just held Rune tighter and watched the scenery of mystic falls pass them by.

Chapter 11: Adventurous Road

Summary:

Rune finds herself enjoying moments with Klaus while under the heavy eye of his suit wearing brother. She wished he would stop staring at her.

She was ripped from a deep dream by a loud bang and a rough shove to her side. A startled squeak was ripped from Runes chest as her body was roughly jostled and she was sent falling to the floor. Her back landed on a bag as loud growling and vicious hissing filled the air above her. Orange eyes snapped open, taking in the scene going on in the backseat of the car. She shoved her small body against the back of the passenger seat as the Suited man lunged for Klaus. The two men had their hands on eachother as they awkwardly fought in the enclosed space of the car.

"You're lying to me Niklaus!! When will you reunite me with our siblings!"

"Get your hands off of me Elijah! I swore I would!"

Klaus glanced down at the young girl who was curled up at his feet, looking up at them with startled and sleep filled eyes. He hadn't meant to be so rough with her, pushing her to the floor. But he he'd caught sight of Elijah preparing to attack him and he needed to get her out of harms way.

A crack echoed as the hybrid tightened his hold on his brothers arm. Elijah had Klaus pinned against the car door with a large frown and glacial glare. Klaus met his gaze with a glare of his own until the man finally shoved himself away. Elijah tugged on the end of his sleeves straightening out his suit as he glared at the back of the driver's seat. Maddox was staring into the rear view mirror, prepared to defend the small child he knew was in the backseat. Stefan was a tensed mess next to him, refusing tonlook back at the two dangerous men in the backseat.

Rune didn't seem to care about Klaus's golden gaze and rippling veins. As soon as Elijah had settled back onto his side of the car, the girl had scrambled up into the hybrids lap with worried eyes. Her gaze trailed over every inch of her father figure. Looking for any possible injuries that the mean brute could have left. She shot a frigid glowing blue glare at the man in the suit and the pearly hanging from Klaus's neck flickered with a dim light.

Small hands clenched down on the soft material of the man shirt. Meanwhile Klaus met her worried gaze with a searching gaze of his own. He was checking her over for any minor injuries from shoving her onto the floor. But he could see any noticeable ones as her ears pulled back flat on the top of her head. He could see her tail twitching in an agitated manner behind her.

"Are you ok, daddy? He's a big stupid brute." Klaus's lips twitched and he could barely hold back a chuckle as he watched the girl send his brother a pouting glare out the corner of her eye. His chuckle evolved into a shaking laugh as he watched his brothers face pull into an offended surprise. It wasn't often someone thought his 'noble' brother was a brute.

The hybrid covered the bottom half of his face with his hand as he turned to look out the window. Amusement glowed in his eyes and Rune felt satisfied knowing she'd cheered him up.

The young girl blinked as she looked around with curiosity. The last thing she remembered was falling asleep while Klaus ripped into a camp as a wolf. Near she was in a car, with a bunch of other people. Klaus watched the girls confusion grow as her head tilted with one of her ears tilting down. She crawled over his lap to peek out the window with wide eyes. Her lips parted and the awed sparkle entered her eyes as she took in all the trees and nature passing them by at a fast pace.

She looked up at Klaus with s tiny trusting smile. "Where are we going?"

Klaus settled a hand on her back urging her to settled down and lean into his chest as he bounced one of his legs. She easily rocked with the movement relaxing into his hold.

"We're going on an Adventure little Rune."

Her ears flapped with interest, "Adventure??"

He hummed, "We're going on a hunt for werewolves. We'll be visiting lots of new places."

"I've never left Mystic Falls. What's it like?"

"There are big cities with millions of people, lots of forests, towns...lakes and the ocean."

Rune had heard about the ocean before. Mystic falls was near the coast, but it was too far of a walk for her to ever see it, just going to the grill dumpsters was a long walk.

"Whats the ocean like?"

"I'll show you in person someday, we'll visit places all over the world if you like."

Her smile grew bright and wide, her little fangs poked out past her lips as she excitedly bounced in place.

"Really!?"

---

Orange eyes glared into the back of the vampires head. Stefan could feel her gaze drilling into him from behind and he twitched as she continued to not say anything. If the kid wasn't currently cozied up in the hybrids lap he would have snapped under her look by now.

Rune recognized him from the ritual, he was the one Maddox stabbed in the back with wood. He was trying to save the mean girl from the sacrifice. She tilted her head and her eyes narrowed more. That means he was a big mean guy too, right?

"Daddy, why are there so many mean dumbys with us?"

Maddox gave a playfully offended huff. Rune looked at the warlock with wide eyes, "Not you! Your the best! Well, not as great as daddy, though!" Klaus chuckled and Maddox smirked.

Stefan was bewildered, what'd he do to the kid?

"You don't like my brother Elijah and Stefan the rippah little rune?"

The girls huffed, "Your brother is a jerk, and Stefan wanted to protect that mean girl."

"?? Mean girl? What mean girl, Rune?"

Orange eyes met blue, "That girl from the rit..ritu.."

"Ritual."

"Yeah! The one you had to drink! I knew her..she's mean."

Stefans head snapped around to glare at the girl in Klaus's lap. The girl met his glare with one of her own.

Klaus straightened up a bit in his seat, an uneasy feeling settling in him. "How was she meant Rune." He had a possible idea on what she meant.

"She threw her food at me and her friend poured stuff over my head. They laughed, she's the one who used to call me rat."

Rune was playing with a stuffed toy in her lap as she stated it like it was something normal. As if it was a usual occurrence. Klaus's brow furrowed and his eyes slid up to meet Stefan with a dark glare. Elena was lucky she perished in his ritual, other wise she'd have to answer to him for her mistreatment of his ward.

Stefan glared, "You're lying! Elena was a kind and caring girl, she didn't deserve..." he trailed off as he looked away from klaus to state out the windshield. Maddox sneered at the ripper sitting next to him.

"Watch your tone when talking to miss Rune."

The girl smiled at the warlock. Elijah was quiet throughout the entire exchange, his gaze snapping between his brother and the child. Unfortunately, he could believe the girls words. Elena Gilbert was an untrustworthy sort who couldn't keep her word even when her life depended on it. She'd stabbed him, and broke their deal multiple times, she'd even tried running the day of the ritual. He wouldn't put it past her to mistreat those outside of her circle.

His voice was smooth as it cut through the air. "I'm not entirely surprised that Miss Gilbert would entertain such actions."

Rune glanced at him in surprise before it fell back into her distrustful glare. He didn't blame the child. He hasn't exactly been on his best behavior while around her. But to be considered a brute while being compared to his paranoid and violent brother had been a wound to the ego.

---

Rune swung her feet as she looked around them with an excited glee. They were currently parked at a gas station while the warlock filled the cars tank. Klaus had her up on his shoulders as he looked through the convenience stores selection of goods. One of his hands was holding her ankle to keep her place while the other picked things up for her to see every now and then.

Her selection so far consisted of mostly chocolate items, while Elijah watched them as if he'd grown another head. The original had not been prepared for his brother to lift the girl up and take her into the store without an ounce of hesitation. It was almost, strange, even with the hood of her hoodie covering her ears, he could see her hair poking out. If he didn't know better, he could have easily mistaken her for his brothers child.

They shared several similarities, minus the child's strange eyes and inhuman features. Slitted pupils and furry ears was a first for him. But the girls feminine and dainty chin, and button nose held a similar shape to his brothers own features. He could even see the beginnings of his brothers expressions showing up on the girls fave from time to time.

The glare she'd leveling him nearly the entire trip so far was so eerily reminiscent to Klaus's, he'd been reminded of the days when his brother was that age. Pouting and shooting off hateful and hurt glares at their fathers back whenever the man wasn't looking.

"Do you want some chocolate milk Rune?"

Elijah couldn't help the fond tug at the corner of his lips as he watches his brother take care of the child. Seeing the look in the hybrids eyes was something he hadn't seen in his brother for centuries. He hadn't even looked at marcellus so softly and the boy had been like a son to Klaus. If this child was his brothers salvation...a chance at not only calming his brother, but bringing out whatever humanity remained...he'd have to protect the girl. Now it was just a matter of getting her to like him...

How was he supposed to do that. What do children even like in this era?

Chapter 12: Playful bonding

Summary:

Elijah was almost tempted to ask for a daggering at the rate things were going. He was convinced something has happened to his brothers mind. He'd never entertained such childish games before.

Fluffy ears flapped happily as Rune smiled up at the hybrid. Her teeth were bared in an excited smile as she watched veins crawl up and down Klaus's cheeks. He was having his fangs grow and shrink with a teasing smirk. The child had a fascination with his vampiric and wolfen nature, giggling whenever his eyes flashed gold or he let out a playful hiss. The hybrid reached up to gently rub at one of her ears earning a happy purr and the rhythmic thumps of a wagging tail.

Elijah watched the entire interaction with a silent awe. His brother was being so..so gentle. Pulling faces whenever he thought the other occupants in the car weren't paying attention. Meanwhile, Rune was basking in the constant attention. While they were in mystic falls Klaus spent most of his time with her, but alot of the time he'd had to pay attention to his plans and updates on the doppelganger. But here on the road, nearly every second was spent entertaining each other and playing silent games.

Rune lifted a broken off piece of chocolate to her lips. As she nibbled on her sweet snack, she snapped another piece off of her bar and then held it up to the hybrid. Klaus gracefully accepted the offered piece and popped it into his mouth.

"Thank you Rune."

Her smile was blinding as she spun in his lap and leaned her body through the gap to the front seats. She was holding another piece out to Maddox who swiftly leaned over to bite into it. He gave her brief smilenof thanks before returning his gaze to the road.

Klaus smirked, "None for Elijah or Stefan??"

Stefan glanced down out the girl leaning into the front seat and slightly grimaced at the unimpressed glare that she shot his way. Rune slumped back into the backseat, situating herself back into her spot in the hybrids lap.

"No! Mean people don't get presents!"

Stefan stifled a sigh. Where the hell had this kid even come from, he glanced at the girls ears through the mirror. What even was she?

Elijah felt the corner of his lips tug downwards. To think there'd come a day when someone believed him to be worse than his brother. A child no less.

Rune takes another bite out of her chocolate bar. Klaus had a mischievous grin on his face as he sent his brother a victorious look. He'd seen the judgemental looks his brother had been sending him every now and then. Rune was perfectly fine under his watch.

---

Elijah sighed. He should have been reunited with the rest of his siblings by now but once again Niklaus finds some way out of doing things immediately. His younger brothers attention span seems to have dwindled and he can't help but wonder if it was the fault of a certain child. Klaus would speak to him for a few minutes before his gaze would find the girls and he'd trail off, getting sucked into whatever game or question she proposed.

After nearly two hours of listening to his brother play 'I spy' with a child while driving down a road surrounded by nothing but trees, Elijah had been ready to throw himself out the side door. For once he found himself silently agreeing with the salvatore, as stefan had looked ready to stake himself. A hopeful light at the end of the tunnel came in the form of an Inn with an open vacancy sign.

The warlock Maddox had pulled into the parking lot of the inn without even needing to be asked as a tiny yawn came from the small girl.

Klaus pulled a card from his pocket and tossed it into the front towards Maddox.

"Get us 4 rooms, We'll set out again tomorrow. We should arrive at the location from my contact soon." Maddox gave a solid nod of understanding, before he exited the vehicle. Finding wolves without a full moon was going to prove a bit difficult, but he was sure they'd find some soon.

---

The suit clad original glanced at the watch on his wrist with an annoyed glimmer in his eye. He straightened out the collar of his suit before he stood up from his seat and made his way out of his room. He hadn't slept much, not willing to stay here longer than required, but as the time stretched on and his brother still hadn't urged them to continue on their journey, his patience began to wane. Nearly 10 hours, they'd been here. Why the child couldn't just continue to sleep in the car he was unsure.

The room door shut behind him with a loud thunk and he stalked his way down to his brothers room. He didn't knock, his ire breaking down his usual finesse and need for manners. The original paused, not willing to step any further into the room as he took in the scene before him. Klaus and Maddox sat cross legged on the floor of the room and across from the was the small girl.

She had a tea cup in her hands as she somewhat sloppily held in the cup with a beginners etiquette. Klaus had his own tea cup which he held in one hand with a certain charm full grace while Maddox was just holding his own normally. What brought the eldest vampire to a pause was the tiara on the warlocks head and the shit eating grin his brother was sharing with the small child. Maddox met Elijah's eye with a nonchalant grin as he drank from his cup.

Klaus's grin grew, "Can I help you brother?~"

His voice was way to cheery for whatever...thing...he'd just walked in on. Was his brother..playing tea party?

"Niklaus...what?"

"I'd been telling rune about some of our old parties and she said she wanted to experience one. So I'm teaching her how to hold her cups for a future party." The hybrid ruffled his hands through the girls hair as she grinned up at the bewildered original.

Rune felt satisfied seeing the lost expression on the dark haired man's face. It'd taken her forever to convince Maddox to put on the tiara, and Klaus wanted to see how long it would take for his brothers patience to snap. She'd gotten bored waiting and so Klaus offered to teach her something and make it a game. Everytime her tea spilled a little she had to hand over a piece of candy to the hybrid. Soon they'd gotten distracted with their little game and Maddox had gotten dragged into it.

"Must you do that now??"

Klaus scoffed and Runes glare dug into the original.

"Ignore him daddy, big brutes wouldn't be very good at playing anyway." She looked away from the tall vampire with a huff taking a careful sip from her cup. Elijah's eye twitched and before he'd realized what he was doing he was shutting the door behind him and sliding down to sit in the floor between the warlock and hybrid. He raised a challenging brow at the child who just continued to look at him unimpressed.

Elijah picked up one of the tea cups from the few that were in between the group. He held out his cup for it to be filled and missed the way the girl grinned behind her cup. Her daddy had been right. Push the right buttons and the big meanie had folded like a wet shirt. Klaus met the girls eye with an amused gleam in his own. He honestly had expected his brother to storm off, not join them on the floor.

Rune met Elijah's gaze again before she gave her best innocent grin an did her best to properly pour tea into his cup. Her eyes narrowed in concentration and her tongue poked out past her lips as she watched the cup fill up. Once she was done she set down the kettle and picked her own cup back up, holding it out in a slightly inexperienced cheers.

Klaus and Maddox took sips from their cups as they watched Elijah struggle with comprehending what was going on. Rune was just enjoying watching the visible struggle in the older man's eyes as he slowly lifted the tea to his lips in an elegant and practiced move. She huffed.

"Daddy does it better."

She watched a muscle in the vampires face go tense. This was fun...

Chapter 13: Suspicion

Summary:

Everyone was being weird. Klaus was spending time with her like he usually did but it was almost like he was trying to keep her distracted. Her suspicions only raised when she keeps noticing strange things.

Orange eyes narrowed in on the warlocks face. The man was on his phone typing away messages and he glanced out the car window every now and then with a serious expression on his face. Her daddy and the two dumbys had left a while ago. Climbing out of the car and slinking off into the dark forest, she briefly wondered if they were eating. But watching as Maddoxs shoulders stiffen and his eyes narrowed out into the darkness she decided that it was something more serious.

She wasn't stupid. She didn't survive on her own for nearly 6 years without learning to notice certain things. Maddox was nervous but she couldnt figure out why. Is it because Klaus had ordered him to protect her?

Fluffy ears droop down the longer the silence stretched on. Until something cut through it like a piercing arrow. Blonde brows shot up in alarm as a muffled scream echoed from the forest. Her gaze snaps up to the warlock but he seems completely unaware of the females desperate cries. Her ears twitched and swiveled iltowards the window, she strained her already sensitive hearing to its limits trying her best to make out any other sounds.

She wasn't able to get very far in her attempt before the anguished pleading was abruptly cut off. She wasn't worried, Her daddy was the strongest. He promised that no one could ever stand against him again, and the voice had definitely been feminine. Maybe they actually were eating... maybe..

It wasn't long after that she spotted three figures exiting the tree line. She hopped up excitedly in her seat as she pressed her hands and face against the glass of the window. Her nose was slightly smoothed against its cool surface as her tag picked up a fast wag and she danced in place.

"Daddies back!!" Maddox felt himself relax a bit in the driver's seat. His back losing the tension it'd held for the last hour the hybrid had been gone. They'd been traveling around Florida for nearly 2 weeks when they finally caught the trail of the info they'd been given from Klaus's contact. Two women who lived as reclusive hermits in the woods, rarely coming out to the nearest town.

When he'd been ordered to stay with the kid he'd felt a prock of panic in his core. They were dealing with werewolves. It's still time before the next full moon, but if even a hair on the kids head was out of place he knew the hybrid would have his own head. He enjoyed the girls company, she was honestly a breath of fresh air, and Klaus had become considerably more tolerant since her appearance..Unless it involved the child... then his patience seems to have almost completely disappeared.

Tonight however she'd been staring searching daggers into the side of his face after she was ordered to stay in the car by the wolfen vampire. When Klaus had left her Here, he'd etched the girl visibly deflate as she watched him disappear into the tree line. But then she'd gotten a confused suspicious furrow to her brow.

Now that the hybrid was back, it was as if whatever had been bothering her had been thrown completely out the window as the hybrid pulled open the back car door and was met by a tiny bodily missile to the chest.

"You're back!!! I missed you! Were you out eating? I heard a lady scream...did she taste good? Or did you come back because she was yucky."

Stefan grimaced behind Klaus as a small look of revulsion filled his eyes. The small girl had heard him kill and rip apart those women.. his self loathing and disgust with not only himself but Klaus grew as he noticed just how unbothered the small girl had been by it. How casually she brought up people being fed on and drained. As if it was something completely natural. He glanced at Klaus who didn't seem taken aback by her questions, and instead seemed almost..sheepish? No..the hybrid didn't do sheepish..

Klaus was trying to figure out what he should say to the girl. Once again he could feel his brothers disapproving eyes digging into his back, but he ignored him as he looked down at the small child snuggling into his arms. Rune didn't have an ounce of fear or disgust In her gaze as she looked up at him. She didn't look at him like he was a monster. She knew what he was and things he could do, but they didn't stop her from shouting daddy at the top of her lungs and it definitely didn't stop her from holding onto the hands that had taken the lived of hundreds ...no ...thousands of people.

Said hands were currently holding her gently as he settled himself back into the car.

"Stefan seemed to have enjoyed his snack quite well little Rune. So no, I wouldn't say she'd been ill tasting."

Rune sneered, "You didn't get any?"

"No.." he raised a brow down at her, wondering where she was going with this.

The girl sniffed and let a frown split her face, "Rude.. dumby should learn to share."

Rune could hear Stefan slightly choke on air in the front seat, and Klaus caught her lips twitching and a flare of amusement I'm her eyes. His own lips tilted up as he held her closer. What sneaky little thing she was, she picking up on the salvatores soft spots fairly quickly. It was a childish amusement that she indulged now...but he couldn't help but think about how she'd use that skill as an adult. How easily she would be able to pick apart those around her...and he felt a small ember of pride ignite In him.

Klaus ruffled Runes hair and left small scratches behind her ears. Orange eyes drooped and a tiny purr rumbled forth. She really was like a tiny kitten..

---

The information they'd pried from the 2 women had led them to a diner and bar several towns over. The drive had taken a few days, and they'd begun to enter mountain territory as they got closer to their destination. Rune was looking up at the natural skyline of rock with a certain fascination, while Klaus ran a brush through her soft fur like hair. Every now and then he would gently tweak one of her ears and they would flap and smack against her fingers as she let out small giggles.

She no longer sent his suit clad brother glares every other minute and instead had moved on to ignoring the man completely. Even when he tried to get her attention. Klaus had been taking a certain type of enjoyment out of his brother continued misery. Elijah had tried almost everything, from toys, to even playing along with Runes little games in an attempt at endearing himself to the girl. But she'd been treating each attempt as if he'd presented her with a pile of drying mud.

Watching his brothers eye twitch each time he was spurned was the highlight of each day. Elijah had always been the more understanding and elegant of the family. But watching that nobility crack under the pressure presented by a female child was immensely satisfying. He knew his brother well though, Elijah was secretly enjoying the back and forth, most usually gave into the originals charm by now, so having someone treat him like he wasn't a several centuries old vampire was refreshing.

Rune nibbled on the chocolate bare in her hands as she watched a flock of birds fly into the air outside the car. The vehicle was slowing to a stop and she could see a building getting closer from her spot on Klaus's lap. Absent-mindedly she broke off a piece for Klaus who snatched it up with his teeth. However the hybrid and his brother were taken slightly off gaurd when she broke off another piece and held it up to the suit wearing man. She didn't look at him just continued to examine the diner they'd parked at.

Elijah blinked down at the offered chocolate before slowly taking it and popping it into his mouth. Klaus slowly smirked. He could see the reluctance and second guessing going on in Runes eyes from the angle he had of her face. This wasn't a peace offering, it was a silent acknowledgement, that the man had at least tried with her. She still didn't like his brother.

"Thank you Rune."

She huffed and shoved the rest of her candy bar into her mouth. Her cheeks were puffed out as she chewed and dug her glare into the car door. Her view was interrupted when it was suddenly opened and Klaus was climbing out with her in his arms. She could hear the click and slam of the vehicles doors as the others joined them outside.

Klaus shared a look with his brother and Maddox before he glanced down at Rune.

"I'm going to take Rune to a fee shops in the town. Go in and find the wolf...I will be back once things have..Calmed." he sent all three men a meaningful glare as he glanced down at the girl in his arms.

He was telling them to get the information and quickly. That they'd better be done torturing the man Ray or whatever they needed to do, before he got came back with the child. It was once thing to see him kill, he didn't want her witnessing this...

In truth..it wasn't the torture he didn't want her seeing. It was him..doing the torturing. He didn't want her gaze to change from how she looked at him. She relied on him and he..enjoyed the role he's since found himself in. He didn't want that to disappear.

"Where are we going? Are we not going with them?"

"They have something to do little Rune. So you and I will being doing a bit of exploring." Her interest seemed peaked when he mentioned exploring so he was hoping that would be enough to distract her from what was going on with the others. He didn't miss the way she glanced back at the group they'd left behind with a narrowed and curious stare.

This town was small. Mostly homes with a few shops and a gas station. He could see an inn just down the road from the diner and the rest of it was all back roads and woods. He could see the appeal for a pack of wolves. Backwater, and If anyone went missing say, on a full moon, the news would never go further than the towns folk.

He was positive he'd have his first batch of loyal hybrids by the next full moon and he felt a certain bounce enter his step as he began walking around the small shopping area of the town. Rune was taking in everything, like it was something amazing. Things that were so simple and normal to him, were completely new and awe inspiring to her.

She was 11 and she saw the world in a way he wasn't even sure he could comprehend. She was jaded, he could see it in the way she didn't trust his brother or stefan. And how occasionally she would sneer or flinch, but she was also full of so much life. Always excites by everything he showed her or did with her. Their simple game of 'I spy' had made the girls face light up in a way he'd never expected. She'd truly been having fun even though the only things they could see had been trees, the road, and the occasional animal.

"Do you see anything you like Rune?"

The girl looked through a window next to them, looking at the hand Carved wooden pieces sitting in the displays.

"Those are pretty." Klaus glanced at them and but back his scoff. He could do better.

"They're alright. I'm more of a painter myself."

Runes head snaps up to look at him in awe. "You can paint!?"

She was bouncing in place as she smiled up at the hybrid.

"Yes. I'm quite good if I say so myself!" His chest puffed out as his good mood swelled under the girls excited ramblings.

"Can Rune watch!? I used to peak into the window of this place filled with drawings and they were so pretty! I didn't have anything I could use to make any..." her hood hid the way her ears would have drooped at the reminder.

"When we finish our road trip, I can teach you. We have plenty of time for you to learn."

Her grin broadened and her arms and legs encircled his leg as she clung to him with a happy squeal.

"I CANT WAIT! Daddy is so cool!!"

He refused to acknowledge the flushed grin pulling at his lips.

Chapter 14: Destructive

Summary:

They failed... how could they have failed. He did everything that'd been required of him. He completed the ritual and sacrificed so much. So why..WHY!?
Only one thing kept him from tearing through the nearby town until nothing remained.

Notes:

I'm finally finished with my current term and have nearly two weeks of non stop writing free time🥰 I'm so excited!

Tw:violence
Tw:brief child harm
Tw: death

Rune lightly flinched as the glass lantern shattered against the rough bark of a tree. Her head snapped around to eye the blonde male with a weary type of worry. Blue and white fire burned brightly behind her, eating away at unidentifiable flesh and filling the air with the scent of charred meat. A burnt hand twitched at her feet reaching out almost desperately towards the girls small ankle. The loud commotion of her guardian throwing things across the clearing while he snarled with golden eyes was enough of a distraction, so when the wounded hand roughly clutched her small limb in a tight hold she was unprepared for the startled and pained yelp that was wrenched from her lips as she was yanked to the dirt and sharp teeth tore into her thigh.

Runes shoulders hit the ground roughly and her face pulled into a pained grimace as the burning sensation of teeth dug into her muscle and the strange dragging feeling of the injured hybrid fail drinking down gulps of her blood. The hybrid barely got through a second gulp before it was ripped away by a feral eyed Klaus. The originals growl echoed throughout the clearing scaring of rodent and beast alike. Rune curled up on herself with a small whimpers as she clutched the bleeding bite wound. Her ears were pinned flat to her head but she could still hear every solid strike of Klaus's hands on burnt flesh and the unmistakable sound of breaking bones and tearing meat. A blackened hand lands next to her face and she could see through clenched eyes the torn ligaments and shattered bone sticking out of the severed wrist.

Under the pain she felt, she could feel her awe at how strong her daddy had to be in order to rip someone's hand clean off. Behind her she could here the vicious beating come to a stop and the rapid footsteps of the original hybrid approaching her and falling down to his knees at her back.

"Rune!? Where is the bite! I need you to let me see it. Did he hurt you anywhere else!?" Klaus felt his gut churned as she rolled onto her back to look up at him with a pained frown and drooped ears. That feeling only grew worse as the scent of her blood began to cut through the scent of wolves and death. He could see the deep red rivulets pouring past her small fingers as she clutched her leg.

That damned failure! How dare he, already dying and yet it couldn't accept its fate. Klaus carefully pried her small hands from her thigh to get a good look at the bite and couldn't keep himself from slightly flinching. As soon as her grip lessened blood began pooling at a faster rate, coating her thigh in a river of red. Klaus viciously tore into his wrist with his fangs and lifted the girls head up to press his bleeding wound to her lips.

"Rune..my little rune you need to drink. It will make the pain go away. I promise.."

He began to worry as she didn't say anything but relaxed when he felt small lips latching onto his wrist and 8 tiny fangs dig into his skin. She took small drags and with each swallow she relaxed as his blood did what it needed to and began to heal her wound. Small hands tangled in his shirt as he dragged her into his lap and held her close to his chest in a tight and protective hold. She'd gotten hurt, this wasn't supposed to happen!!

A deep seething anger coursed through him. Rune wasn't even supposed to be here! Elijah was supposed to be watching her, but half way through the night his brother had shown up with the girl in tow. Klaus snarled into the empty air, and his brother had been judging him on his care for Rune. Elijah had disappeared as soon as the first failed hybrid had begun to bleed from the eyes, leaving the child behind to witness the group of failed turnings.

He will admit the girl had impressed him, she was fast scurrying out of reach of any attempts at grabbing her. The blue pearl that hung from his neck had responded to her plight as well, growing in brightness before shooting off of its cord in a trail of blue and white flame to attack and devour one of the hybrids getting to close to her. The flame had spread throughout the whole clearing but was now completely absent, the pearl once again dangling innocently from his neck. Leaving behind only the aftermath of its inferno.

Klaus glanced down at the girl who was now slumbering peacefully in his firm hold. Stefan was out chasing Ray, the first to turn and fail, while Maddox was out rounding up the runners. Would she want to leave after this? He'd promised to keep her safe, and she'd gotten hurt. Will she look up at him with betrayle to match this crushing feeling he was experiencing in his chest....was this..

Guilt?

---

When Elijah stepped unto the clearing he came to a swift pause as he eyed everything with a calculating air. His gaze came to a stop on his brother who was looking down at the burnt and bloodstained grass with a fare away look as he clutched a small form to his chest. The original paused, a brief worry striking him until the small patter of a child's heart beat met his ears letting him know the girl was alive. However Klaus didn't even seem to register that he'd returned.

His brother just held the girl closer and seemed to curl around her protectively as a warring expression took over his features. He was divided in his thoughts, unsure, and that made Elijah nervous. It never ended well for any one whenever his brother became conflicted on a matter.

"..Niklaus.." His voice cut through the hybrids inner thoughts with a shrill screech. Gold and Black eyes snapped up to glare right through him. He wasn't even given a chance to respond before the girl had been gently set down and he'd been launch through the trunk of a tree.

"Your fault!! This was your fault!"

Elijah groaned, shoving himself as bits of wood and grass tumbled off of his once prestine suit. "I don't see how your failed attempt at a hybrid army has anything to do with me, brother!"

Klaus launched himself at Elijah eith a predatory growl, "She wasn't supposed to be here!! She was hurt, and it was your fault!" Klaus hauled the elder vampire up by his collar and slammed his forehead into his brothers nose. He took a sick satisfaction in hearing the crunch of bone and cartilage.

Elijah glanced down at the sleeping girl with an unreadable expression. Rune had gotten hurt...

The corners of his lips tug downwards, he hadn't intended for the child to be hurt. Elijah had planned to demand the reunion of his siblings again, had hoped once his brother had gotten his hybrids he'd have calmed some. However, as the werewolf Ray began to leak from his eyes, he'd heard a commotion in the distance. He'd thought possibly it was more wolves but hadn't been prepared for group he'd found. He'd stayed in the shadows as he watched Stefan stumble his way onto the group, taking in the entire interaction between the Ripper and the people who'd come for him.

Elena had survived...is that why Klaus's hybrids didn't work?

He didn't expect for the child to get hurt in the time he'd been gone. So Elijah went lax in his brothers hole, much to the hybrids confusion as his older brother didn't even struggle against the blow connecting with his face. He'd failed in his duty to keep the child safe in his care, he would accept his brothers anger...for now.

---

Stefan and Maddox both sat in a tense silence as the car traveled down the quite forest road. Rune was still unconscious from her ordeal with no sign of waking up anytime soon. And Klaus.

Klaus hadn't said a single word since they left the clearing. Had refused to acknowledge any of them beyond a quick Glace or brief order. His saphire hues were locked om the sleeping girl, keeping a constant eye on her heart beat and breathing. Making sure nothing happens to her, that she won't suddenly have a strange reaction to his blood.

He had no idea what she was. He could have ended up making her worse, maybe she'd never wake up!? He kept those thoughts buried, refusing to panic while surrounded by others. Rune needed him to level headed right now, and it was taking every single strain of control that he had not to destroy everything in sight. She'd already seen him rip apart someone, he didn't want her waking up to anger. She was already probably scared of him after tonight. He didn't want to make it worse.

He's not sure what he would do if she was scared of him. He'd gotten used to her presence, and her adoring gaze.

Chapter 15: A Father's despair

Summary:

Klaus's worry deepens as the girls unconscious state dragged on longer than what he was comfortable with. When those one of kind orange eyes finally open he's taken back by her first reaction.

Notes:

This chapter was supposed to be out earlier but my body is like a broken vase glued together with honey and wet scotch tape, I've been having chest pain that kept me from focusing.

The car had been stuck in a tense silence every since they left the mountains. Klaus's eyes hadn't strayed from the sleeping girl curled up in his lap, silently willing her to awaken. Seconds had becomes minutes and minutes had slowly and achingly slipped into hours. Yet still she did not move. The girls usual ear and nose twitching was nonexistent and her body was limp. If it weren't for the beat of her heart he'd believe her to have passed on by now.

Calloused fingers combed through her soft strands with an almost obsessive care. Every few passes he'd press his fingers into her neck just to double check that her heart still beat. Before he'd feel a stab of embarrassment and go back to brushing her hair. With every passing moment he'd begun to unconsciously begin holding her closer to himself until he had her fave pressed into his chest with one hand supporting the back of her head and the other slipped around her back protectively. His fingers shook a bit as he burried his face in her hair and his eyes stared off into space.

Elijah couldn't bring himself to look in their direction, a deeply burried shame keeping him from invading his brothers building anxiety. With every quick glance he could see the way his younger brother was curling in on himself and the child. Like he was trying to keep thenoutside world wlaway from the both of them. How... how could his brother have become so attached to the girl in such a short amount of time. Deep down he knew the girl had a certain...charm.

A glance at the warlock driving the vehicle revealed a clenched jaw and a white knuckled grip on the steering wheel. The salvatore in the passenger seat was staring out his door window without a care in the world. Paying no mind to the hybrids growing despair.

Elijah sent his brother one last glance, briefly catching a lone wet trail running down the hybrids cheek glint in the afternoon sun. Hazel eyes widened and then Elijah swiftly turned his gaze away, giving nothing away that he'd seen anything. Niklaus was shedding tears...for a child... The shame in him grew stronger with this new development. If Rune didn't wake up, it'd be his fault that his brother lost something he cared for deeply enough to cry..

The originals lips parted before he hesitated, finally he forced himself to speak.. "Niklaus.."

"..be quiet.." Burning black and gold eyes peaked out behind limp furry ears. Klaus's voice was low, hissed out with a deadly promise.

"Brother, if would let me explain.."

"I don't want your excuses. I put trust in you, when I should have put a dagger in that traitorous chest of yours!"

That shut Elijah up, because he was right. Klaus could have daggered him, it wouldn't have been difficult for him either. And yet, he'd dragged him along, trusted him to watch over the child, and he'd let his selfish wants put a young child in danger. He shouldn't have brought her to the clearing.

"You're correct. And I am not asking for your forgiveness." He let his words trail off with that. Letting the car fade back into its silence.

---

A relaxing drag of fingers slowly pulled her from a deep sleep. Her hands and legs felt heavy and she only managed a brief twotch of her fingers as she struggled to peel her eyes open. Soft sheets were gently caressing her bare feet and something heavy and warm was pressed against her and wrapped around her waist.

It took her a few minutes to gain enough strength to slide open one of her eyes. She winced as she was met by the low light of a cracked door, she blinked trying to clear her eyes. Gently she tilted her head up and looked around until her blurred gaze settled on the large form laying down behind her. The fingers in her hair tightened briefly before a pair of saphire eyes snapped open in the dark, meeting her gleaming orange.

The two of them laid there in silence, looking at each other. Klaus was taken aback by the flood of relief filling him while Runes mind was filled with the memory of him ripping into the dying hybrid who'd bitten her. The continued quiet was beginning to scratch at Klaus's patience. Was laying Here with her to keep her safe a bad idea? Was she scared of him...

"Daddy? You... tore that man apart.."

Klaus flinched, so she was sca-

"That was so cool!! Are you going to teach Rune how to do that? You're so strong, and awesome, and cool!!" Small hands tangled into the front of his shirt as she wriggled her self closer until she was snuggled up against his chest.

The hybrid didn't know to respond. He'd not expected this reaction, but a warmth bloomed in his chest anyway. Little Rune always seemed to find a new way to catch him off gaurd.

"I'm pretty sure I'd never hear the end of it from my 'Noble' brother if I taught yoy how to do something like that. Maybe when you're older. And you said cool twice."

"Mhmm! Cause daddy's the best." Her words didn't stop the pout of disappointment from pulling at her lips though. She really wanted learn how to be that strong. Her fluffy ears drooped and Klaus couldn't fight the amused and relieved smile.

Her let out a small sigh before tweaking one of her ears, "We will be heading towards Chicago in the morning. I have a witch there, who might even be able to tell us what kind of supernatural being you are."

Rune took that information in before she brushed it off without a second thought. She didn't really care all that much on what she was. She had her daddy and Maddox, they didn't think she was a monster and that was enough for her.

"Is daddy ok?"

The hybrids brows furrowed in confusion, she'd been the one who'd been injured and she was asking if he was ok?

"...Rune."

"You're hybrids went all weird and you were really excited about turning them..."

There was a twinge in his chest as he thought about the failed hybrids before he realized he hadn't really given them much thought ever since she'd gotten hurt by one of them.

"I will be fine Rune. Your safety was more important."

Her eyes widened and her ears twitched as her cheeks took on a small blush. He said she was important to him.. Her smile was tiny be completely genuine and filled with happiness as she looked up at him. 

"I'm really happy that I met you." Her eyes slowly slipped shut as she let herself get dragged back into the call of sleep. A soft press of lips on the crown on her head and his whispered words were the last things she heard.

"Me too, little flame."

Chapter 16: The witch

Summary:

Chicago was so loud compared mystic falls, people were everywhere Making rune slightly uncomfortable with all the sounds and sights. The bar they visited was interesting and the lady even more so.

Runes ears were pressed flat against her skull under the hood of her jacket. Even with the protection of the fabric she could pick up the sounds of cars and people coming from every direction. She didn't know how her daddy wasn't bothered by all the noise. She knew his hearing was better than hers, her gaze settled on his ears with a worried gleam as he carried her through the bustling city. Stephen and Elijah were behind them while Maddox was taking care of some assignments that Klaus had sent him on. Small fangs chewed worriedly on her bottom lip as she hesitantly reach up to brush her fingers along the hybrids ear. Saphire eyes snap to meet her own with a questioning gaze.

"Is something on your mind Rune." He could see the way her brows were furrowed and the tiny frown pulling at her lips.

"Are daddies ears ok?"

He didn't bother to hide the confusion from her question. "My..ears?"

"It's really loud...Runes ears hurt.. and daddy has better hearing than me..."

She watched his features soften by a small amount. "I've had many years to get used to the sounds, is it too much for you?"

Her nod was barely perceptible underneath her big hood but he could see the way she was wincing everytime a big bout of traffic or a large group of people passed them. Very carefully he situated her around until she was hanging off of his front. He pressed his chin into the top of her head and settled his hand against the back of her neck. He was trying to block out some of the noise, and the girl happily to the excuse to snuggle up under his chin and shove her hands into the folds of his jacket. He could hear Stephen snort behind him and grumble out under his breath.

"So much for terrifying hybrid.."

At one point, months ago, Klaus may have dropped the girl, if only to preserve his reputation. But at present, the vampires jabs only served to make the hybrid tighten his arms around the girl and tossed a golden eyed glare over his shoulder. His stare lingered on the salvatore, daring him to say something more, before it switched to his brother. The gleam in his eye faded into an indifference that unsettled the suit clad original.

Klaus had not spoken to Elijah since the attempt his brother had made in the car. He almost lost his Rune. The girl had easily picked up on the tension, and had sided with her father figure without a second thought. She hadn't so much as glanced at the man, siezing her little game at poking fun at the elder vampire. She wasn't entirely positive on the reason they were fighting, but she was sure it had to do with her. Elijah had tried to present her with a small toy, and her Dad had ripped it out of the originals hands and thrown it out the car window before she could even get a real look at it.

She'd looked up at the hybrid with wide eyes and he'd just returned her startled look with a small smirk. As soon as she'd realized it wasn't her that he was angry at, she'd let it slide. Easily picking up her stuffed wolf to play with instead.

But now they were traveling through the city. Heading towards a bar that Klaus hasn't visited in nearly 8 decades.

---

A small hooded head whipped around taking in everything around her with wide eyes. The bar they were standing outside of looked as if it'd been there for years. It was an almost retro styled place that had grabbed Runes attention as soon as they approached. The place felt...weird. Not a bad weird, but like something was pressing down on her as klaus pulled open the door and made his way Inside.

"Daddy what is this place? It feels funny."

Klaus smiled, "This is one of my old haunts! So many interesting memories I'm this place. What you're feeling is the magic of its owner."

"Their magic??"

Before the hybrid could answer his ward a voice echoed out in the empty establishment.

"Now that is a face I haven't seen in what feels like a lifetime! Klaus mikaelson...in my bar..how the times have changed."

"Gloria! How has my favorite witch been faring these past few decades!?" Klaus's face lit up with a charming smirk that had a frown tugging at Runes lips....it was fake. The girl could see the wary untrusting gleam hidden within his playful gaze. Orange eyes were turned on the surprisingly young looking woman behind the bar.

Runes eyes narrowed as she took in every inch of the lady as she set down the glass shed been cleaning and came out from behind the counter. Gloria came close to give the man a brief greeting but paused as she finally noticed the small bundle held protectively in his arms. Her brows rose as she examined the small pale nose peeking out from under the hood.

"You haven't taken up raiding kindergartens, have you klaus?"

The hybrid gave her an offended scoff. "I did not kidnap a child Gloria, believe it or not but I do have some form of moral."

The witch held up her hands to placate the man, her bleach blond hair gleaming under the artificial light of her bar.

"If not that, then who's the brat?"

"Her name is Rune, not Brat, remember that for when you address my daughter, Old Friend." His voice had been playful and his smile charming but the look in his eyes was piercing. A silent warning.

Rune had gone stiff in his arms her lips forming a surprised O as she stared up at him. A warmth burst forward in her chest as she wiggled happily in his hold.

"Does the pretty witch have anything to eat daddy? I'm hungry!"

Gloria's eyes had doubled in size. Daughter!? Daddy? Vampires couldn't procreate. That was a well known fact of nature...so..who was the child really?

"I.. I have some snacks that you might enjoy, this is a bar so the most I can offer is some fries or chips."

Rune tugged on Klaus's jacket as the bell to the front door dinged behind them, "Can Rune have some fries?"

He was settling her up on the top of the bar counter giving Gloria a nod of approval when Stephen's voice echoed out in the establishment.

"I can't believe this place is still here?!" His shock had trailed off as he noticed Gloria making her way into the back kitchen. "Shouldn't you be?"

"Old and grey? I have my ways salvatore, it's good seeing you, you'll have to excuse me. The little Missy wants some fries.." and she was not about to test the patience of Klaus or his supposed daughter.

Her stride had stumbled when Elijah's face had come to settle in beside the salvatore at the bar. In the span of mere moments, her understanding of current events had come to a screeching halt. The original brothers were traveling together again... and Niklaus Mikaelson has a child..somehow.. She needed answers and there was only one way she would get them.

It didn't take her long to get some fries I'm the oven and set up a timer. She was wiping out one of her bowls as she made her way back to the front to begin her nosy nitpicking. Looking up from her task she felt the air get caught in her lungs and her fingers went limp. The ceramic bowl she'd been cleaning shatters against the floor as she stared wide eyed and speechless at the pair of soft fluffy ears twitching atop a small head.

4 pairs of eyes had snapped in her direction and those ears had gone flat as a small hint of fear bubbled to the surface in orange eyes before it was gone.

"NIKLAUS MIKAELSON! YOU SAID YOU DIDNT KIDNAP THE GIRL!"

Nothing but confusion was shared by the group of supernaturals sitting at and on the counter.

"I didn't!"

"Bullshit! Klaus if you've taken that girl from her parents then you best be getting out of my bar. I will not bring the wrath of her kind down on my head."

The hybrid straightened up in his seat, interest over powering his offense.

"You know what she is?"

"Do I know what she is!?" Her tone had taken on a sarcastic quality as she settled an accusing glare on the man. "You cannot just tempt fate with a Kitsune Klaus!"

Rune blinked in shock as she tilted her head, a kitsune??

Her father voiced her thoughts for her, "A kitsune? And why is it does that frighten you so little witch?"

Gloria groaned, a paranoid shiver wracking her spine as she slowly approached them, deciding to clean up her shattered bowl later.

"I've only met 1 kitsune in my long life. She was truly beautiful, she came into the city and left just as quickly as she'd arrived. Her long fiery orange hair was paired by a set of vibrant green eyes. And long flowing tails. Not many ever saw her inhuman nature during her stay, and last I'd heard of her, was over a decade ago, and the huntsmen had caught up to her."

Elijah's brows furrowed, "The huntsmen?"

"The kitsune had said that's what the group of individuals who hunted her kind were called. She never went into further detail, and she was gone the next night. All I know is the kitsune have been believed to be close to extinction. Much less there being a child among the few remainders."

Klaus had taken in a calculating gaze as he looked down at Rune who looked between a mix of confused and indifference. Like a part of her didn't care about what Gloria was saying.

"Daddy didn't take me...Rune was living on the streets and daddy took me in!"

Gloria's brows furrowed before a hint of understanding took over. The only reason a full grown kitsune would have ever abandoned their child is if their lives were at stake. The child parents were probably dead, skinned for their pelts.

Stephen wasn't giving what was being said much thought. He was to preoccupied with the knowledge the Elena had come after him. He needed to make sure Klaus never learned that she was still alive.

Elijah however, was taking in everything. The child would need to be watched then, for her safety. He was sure they'd be able to protect her against a couple of humans.

Klaus however was unsure. That didn't answer much of anything. However it gave him something to work off of. He'd have Maddox look into kitsunes once they were done here. See if he could dig up in useful information.

"But why did yoy have such a violent reaction to the child's nature?"

"Niklaus, what little I know of the kitsunes, was enough for me to know that they were the very epitome of nature's chaotic wiles. Tricksters with a penchant for fire, and they live extremely long lives. It's said that when a kitsune reaches their thousandth year they earn a 9th tail, and that the ninetails were the wisest and most powerful amongst their kind. That's as far as my knowledge goes on the subject, the one that visited my bar only bared 4 tails."

Rune looked back at the single fluffy tail thumping softly against the counter. She was going to grow more?

"Does this Mean I'll get to stay with daddy forever??"

Gloria and Klaus both looked down into the wide eyed look they were being given. Rune was excited at the idea.

Klaus silently mirrored the child's enthusiasm. She'd never out grow him..at least for a very long time. He'd been given quiet a but to think about, and sometime soon Maddox may have even more to share.

Chapter 17: Closet compulsion

Summary:

When Klaus took them to the rippers old apartment, Rune hadn't been prepared for the surprise hidden away in the closet, or Elijah's choices following after.

Klaus eyed the witch wiping down the tables throughout the room. He was taking in every twitch and shuffle. A part of him was aware that the only person he currently trusted in the room was Rune. An 11 year old child, and he wasn't exactly ready to unpack everything that meant. He couldn't even fully trust his own brother. Elijah had not only planned his death, but he'd abandoned Rune and she'd gotten severely injured. He could see behind the cracks in his brothers Noble facade. He wasn't telling him everything. Something had lured his brother away and as long as he refused to elaborate what could have possibly been so important, he would not even consider pardoning the elders mistake.

Rune was happily snacking on the plate of fries set in front of her, one of her hands was held in the hybrids much larger one. Her tail was wrapped loosely around his wrist, and he mentally marveled at how soft her fur was. He turned his gaze down to her and she looked up at him with a happy smile. A bit of her snack was sticking to her cheek as she shoved another salty fry into her mouth. Klaus huffed out a small chuckle, picking up a napkin and wiping her face clean as if it were second nature.

3 pairs of eyes were watching the interaction. Gloria was flabbergasted, in the entire time that she knew the hybrid during his stay in Chicago she'd never seen him handle anything or anyone so gently. Not even his own sister. As she thought of Rebekah a certain gleam flashed in her eyes before it was gone. Klaus had to have come here for a reason, she doubted it was to relive any nostalgic memories. Stefan was still staring down at the framed picture of him and Klaus in a horrified silence.

"So..what brings the original hybrid back to my bar?"

Their gazes locked in a silent challenge before Klaus relented with a quirk of his lips.

"I followed every step required, I did the sacrifices and the ritual. So why is it, that my attempts at turning hybrids are all failing." His eyes burned with a hot anger as he looked at her, but the anger fizzled away as Rune held up a fry to his lips. The hybrids lips twitched up further as he snatched it up and ran his fingers through the child's hair in thanks.

Gloria's brows furrowed, if he followed the ritual perfectly he shouldn't be having a problem. But...this could be the chance she needed. "The only way to learn more about the spell used, is to ask its creator."

Elijah frowned, "You mean the original witch.."

Klaus growled low in his chest, "What is it toy need.."

"Rebekah."

Gold flashed to the surface in saphire eyes, "What does my sister have to with-"

"If want your answers then you need to bring me Rebekah, she has what I need."

Elijah perked up at this revelation while Klaus was taking on dark glower. Before the conversation could be continued he huffed, "I will get you what you need." With that final comment he hauled Rune up into his arms and quite nearly stormed out of the Building. He pulled his phone out of his pocket, sending off a message to Maddox. Elijah was right on his heal followed by a nervous Stefan.

"You're waking her up! Shall we head there now-"

"Silence brother. You will be reunited with our sister, but the preparations need to be put in place and her coffin collected. For now, we will pass the time by visiting some old memories." Klaus shot Stefan a mischievous glance.

---

Her nose scrunched up as she took in the run down hallway. It reminded her of the alleys she used to crawl through to look for food. Stefan used to live here? Even her old shack seemed a bit better than this, and it had a big hole in the roof. Her ears twitched around taking in the occasional sounds of people squatting in the abandoned apartments they were passing by. The faint heart beats were whispers through the aged walls and the had to strain her hearing in order to make them out completely. They were getting closer to a door that was cracked with peeling paint. Glancing over her dad's shoulder revealed a pale Stefan and a disgusted Elijah. The oldest of the group looked like he'd rather stake himself than touch anything around them for longer than required.

Klaus shuffled the girl in his arms to grip the knob for the door. He'd expected to have to bust it open but the knob turned in his hold with a click and the door creaked open. Saphire eyes narrowed, he vision swam across the dust filled room as he took a step inside. Stefan made his way Inside, stepping further into the room with a certain tension in his shoulders. He recognized this place...

Rune wriggled out of Klaus's hold and slid down his side until her feet touched the floor. Her shoes sunk into the aged carpet and her lips pulled up as she watched dust poof up with every step. Her nose was twitching as she fought off a sneeze until it forced its way out in a high pitched squeak. Her head and ears shook as she sneezed a few more times before she was Finally able to rub her nose with a sniffle. Klaus was chuckle as he ran a finger along one of the surfaces. Even he gave a bit of a grimace with how much dust coated his finger.

Rune was poking around in different areas now. Looking at all the old crumbling items that she'd never seen before. She found a strange metal thing in a box, it had a spinny thing on the front with a bunch of numbers and it had a coiled wire connected to a Strang thing with tiny holes. She picked it up slightly surprised at its weight as she held it up.

"Daddy! What's this thing??"

Klaus looked down at the phone she was holding up. The old landline was definitely dated. "Thats a phone little rune."

Rune looked down at it in confusion, "But it looks different than yours.."

"That one is old. The one I use is new."

Her little ears flicked in interest as she set her findings aside and began to look at more things that caught her interest. Eventually she made her way into the bedroom while Klaus was revealing a bunch of pictures to Stefan. There wasn't much that caught her interest I'm here until she made her way to the closet. She stood up on her tippy toes, ignoring the two vampires who were making their way into the room behind her. Elijah was uninterested in the salvatores internal plight, and his hybrid brother was busy poking around the living room. Stefan looked around at the bedroom in disbelief. He didn't think he'd ever be in this place again.

Rune pushed the closet open and came to a pause. Black tipped fox ears snapped flat to the top off her head as she froze on the spot. Chocolate brown eyes stared down at her in a shared surprise and fear. Runes heart rate picked up and her lips opened for a loud yell when two different sized hands snapped over the bottom half of her face. The small girl struggled as she was yanked back into a strong chest, her orange eyes filled with panic as she shoved her elbow into the side of the man holding her. Elijah's grip tightened further as he eyes the doppelganger hiding in the closet with an exasperated glare.

A small whimper was muffled into his palm and the original flinched as he felt a damp tear drip down his fingers. He shut his eyes tightly as her small legs began to kick out. Elijah swallowed when his brothers voice cut in from the living room.

"So how is it being back in your old home Stefan?!" The salvatore seemed to slightly panic as he gestured for Elena to remain quiet as he reached in and grabbed the first thing to catch his attention. A bottle of aged wine. As he forced himself to calm down and walk out of the bedroom he shot Elijah and the struggling child an unsure glance. He wasn't exactly fond of the kid, but he could see the small bout of fear in her eyes as her tiny feet kicked out. Elijah also seemed incredibly unsure with what he was doing, as if this choice was causing him a mental dilemma. That look didn't cross his features for long as he spun the girl around to catch her gaze with his own. Stefan took the hint, he needed to distract the hybrid. Long enough for Elijah to compel Elena from the girls memory.

Runes panic grew as she listened to her gathers voice get further away. The big brutes hands were still clasped over her mouth as he looked down at her with a certain intensity.

"You did not find anything in the closet, you opened it and nothing looked fun. You want to go out with Niklaus, to play because you are bored." That overwhelming slimy feeling of the power of compulsion spilled across her skin. The familiar nudge out her head as the original tried to compel her gave her enough of an idea for her to go limp in his hold. Elijah watched the girls eyes go dull and her ears slightly drooped as she blinked up at him with a slight frown. Slowly he pulled his hands away from the girl and he asked her in a quiet voice. "What are you going to do Rune?"

"I want to go out with Daddy...Rune is bored.." She blinked slowly before she turned and slowly stumbled her way out of the room. The original let out a deep sigh as he glanced away from the girl. A deep unsettling feeling coiled in his gut, he shot a blaming glare at the girl still stood within the closet. He stalked his way over to the small room attachment and the nearly slammed the door, closing her within.

Rune struggled to keep her face blank as she made her way towards the front door. Her ears spun and searched out for the sound of her dad's voice. She recognized the girl in the closet, but she didn't understand, she saw her daddy kill the big mean girl. How was she in the closet?

She poked her head out the front door just in time to hear Elijah's footsteps following behind her, her gaze settled on the form of Stefan making his way back towards the apartment in the hallway and a stab of panic filled her when she didn't see Klaus, until he turned the corner right behind the Salvatore. As she as she saw him she took off, sprinting down the hall towards him. She watched Stefan tense up and black veins crawl into place on his face.

"Daddy, Daddy!! Rune is bored! Can we go outside!" Klaus blinked slowly as the small form of the girl collided with his middle. Bored? She'd seemed to have been having the time of her life just digging through old boxes...what changed?

He glanced at the back of Stefan head, and his eyes narrowed. He could see how stiff shouldered the vampire was as and as his brother stepped out of the apartment, he could see some sort of in turmoil get shoved beneath the surface in his brother.

He looked back down at the girl who was still clining to his middle, but she shot a slightly begging expression up towards him and he crumbled under the glimmering orange eyes.

His hands hooked under the girls arms and he lifted her up. "Save a glass of the vintage for me Salvatore. I'll be returning in a moment, don't do anything foolish." He should Elijah a glare when the man had taken a step forward to follow him, stopping the suit clad man I'm his tracks.

Klaus disappeared with the girl in tow, coming to a stop outside the abandoned complex. "Alright little Rune, what do yoy wanna do or see. There lots of places in Chicago I could take....you.." he trailed off as a tiny sob gets muffled into his neck. "Rune.."

"Y-Your brothers a big giant meanie!!"

Klaus came to a complete stop. Holding the girl closer as her fingers dug into his shoulders and tears were beginning to dampen his shoulder.

"Rune. what did he do?" It was growled out into her hair, and as she looked up her tear filled eyes met glowing gold. She could feel her daddies grip shaking against her as a rumble built up in his chest.

"Rune was just looking around, and and, I opened the closet and that girl was inside!! Before Rune could call you the big meanie grabbed me! He had his hands over my mouth and I couldnt get out... he tried to compel me, so Rune played along! Daddy it was scary..his hands hurt Runes arms.." Klaus was shaking with a barely restrained rage as his head snapped around to gaze intently at the complex they'd left behind. Black veins painted his face and his eyes burned black and gold.

"What girl Rune."

"The one from daddies rit..rit..ual.." her face scrunched up as she tried to say the word, and she watches a deathly calm overtake the hybrids feature as a dark smirk pulled at his lips.

"The one I drank from Rune?"

"Mmhmm! The mean girl! The one who pushed Rune around while I was on the streets."

His first thought was that it was Katerina, however he doubted she'd be dumb enough to come near him. So that only left...a certain little doppelganger who was SUPPOSED to be six feet under. It would explain why Elijah cared enough to turn on him. He held Rune closer as he forced himself to breathe in and out. Every fiber of his being wanted him to go back and rip apart everyone in that apartment. This could be the very reason his hybrids were failing, and it'd been kept from him. No..Rune needed him right now. He could feel her trembling in his hold, she needed to feel protected. He would get his brother for this, he would not forget.

Nobody makes his little girl cry.

Chapter 18: Comfort

Summary:

Klaus had to deal with a scared child while trying to come to a decision concerning his brother. While Stefan was worried for the safety of his love.

Notes:

Hey everyone! As we all know Ao3 had a really bad Ddos attack. Which in turn prevented me from posting knew chapters. This leaves me with a bit of a conundrum because, I had hoped to update each of my stories at least twice this week before Thursday. Speaking of which I have serious news to share with all of you. As of last Friday, I have been made sway that I require surgery for the nerves in my arm. I go in and Thursday and wanted to let all of you know, if my surgery goes well I could be posting again by Saturday, but if it doesn't it could be a few weeks before I post again. This surgery could either help my issue or leave my arm without a sense of touch which would take a while to get used to. I wanted to let all of yoy know, just how much every comment and new reader means to me. How it makes my day waking up to your thoughts and love for my characters. Seeing all of you fall in love with Rune, Raven and Astra has been among the greatest things I've experienced as a writer and I enjoy every second expanding their stories. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!

Klaus could feel the beaming afternoon rays of the sun shining down on him from above. Rune was curled up in his chest soaking up his light touches in her hair as he soothed her. They'd been out of the apartment for a little over an hour now and Rune had begun to calm down as he showed her some of his favorite places in the city. They'd just finished a brief lunch at a nearby diner and he was feeling a bit of excitement on where he wanted to take her next. He'd spotted the place earlier, when They'd first entered the cities borders. A large park, with plenty of places and things for a child to enjoy. It was the middle of the week during the afternoon so he was sure most children were in school around this time. So Rune would be able to play and run around to her hearts content without any issues.

He could hear the noise of the city dampen a bit the closer the get and he was starting to pick up the small pitter patter of animals. With a burst of speed he slides to a stop st the edge of the playground area of the park. He was glad to see his thoughts had been correct. There was a single child running around the area, only the occasional jogger passing by on one of the trails. Rune was peeking her eyes out taking in the new place. She'd been surprised when he'd picked up vampiric speed and wanted to know what'd caught his attention.

Orange eyes widened in surprise as she looked around in interest. She'd seen one of mystic falls parks before, but had never plucked up the courage to actually make her way over and play with the other kids. She turned her questioning gaze to the hybrid holding her and he just settled a small smile on her.

"Come on then little Rune. It seems we've got this place to ourselves, have yoy ever played on a swing before??"

Her small head shook, wonder taking up her features as he gently settled her down onto a slim seat attached to metal chains. He guides her hands to the chains with the brief instruction to hold on before he settled in to stand behind her.

"Are yoy not gonna sit too, daddy?"

"I'm a bit to big for these swings, but I don't mind, now hold on little fox."

Rune tightens her grip just in time to feel his hands give a soft but firm push to her back. She wasn't able to bite back her surprised giggle as the swing surged forward in a high ark then came back down. Just to feel him push her forward again. She couldn't see the soft smile on the hybrids face as her giggles turned into excited laughter.

"Higher!"

Klaus spent the next few hours showing rune how to use certain playground toys, from the swings all the way to the handle bars. He had to hold her waist while she swung from bar to bar her arms just a tad to short to reach properly but she didn't seem to mind as her lips pulled into a Victorious grin when she reached the other side.

"I did it!! Thank you daddy!" Klaus lightly chuckled as he glanced around before climbing onto the play set with her. He had to duck down onto a crawl as they reached the area attached to the slides. It was slightly enclosed with views to the outside, Rune was poking around at the spinning tic tac toe board with a curious frown. "Whats this??"

Klaus squeezes in behind her with a small grunt. "It's a game, here watch." He spun one of them to the X. "Now you a spot for the O. Whoever gets a row of 3 first wins the game." He watched her brows furrow and he tongue poke out as she spun another one. They each took turns until Klaus had 3 X's and Runes pout pulled a chuckle from him. She was settled in his lap, giving him a bit more room for him to fit, but she crawled forward towards the slide opening. Before she could fully leave his lap, Klaus had scooped her up and slide closer to the slide. He had to lay further back so as not to hit his head on the roof of the slide. But it was worth hearing Runes giggles as he slid down the coiled tube and ended up on his back in the mulch.

He smirked as he sat up to shoot her a challenging grin. Rune yelped and scrambled off of his lap with Klaus right behind her as he chased her around the jungle gyms.

"I'm sorry Daddy! Rune wasn't laughing at you.." her giggles get louder as he gave a playful hiss.

"You're still laughing little one!"

"N-no," her giggles cut in louder, "I'm not!"

She climbs the twisting bars with the hybrid right behind her. Before she could even reach the top he snatched her up by the waist. She twisted and turned in his hold, his fingers dug into her waist poking at all her ticklish spot as she squealed with laughter.

"I got you Rune!" Klaus's laughter was deep as he watched her cheeks turn red and her giggles filled the air. He lifted her up until she was high in the air, then he tossed her. When he caught he she was wide eyed with an excited gleam across her face.

"Again! That was so much fun!!"

Klaus swung her up and tossed her, catching her with ease. He was glad to see the fear and anxiety that had taken up her features earlier in the day fade over the last few hours. And seeing her fave beam with excitement made his chest warm. She trusted him to catch her, to play with her, to chase her around, and she smiled the whole way.

---

Stefan chewed his inner cheek as he watched Elena disappear in the distance. If she was here then his brother was nearby, and he couldn't afford Klaus finding out about her. He was lucky the hybrid hasn't returned yet. Elijah's quick thinking to stop the young girl from alerting the hybrid of the doppelgangers presence. Even though a part of him felt...wrong.. having watched the fear spill into orange eyes and her struggle to get away from the original. The guilt only festered further knowing what he'd been prepared to do when he saw the child running down the hall. He doesn't know why Elijah helped Elena, but he wasn't going to question the actions that kept him from adding the blood of a child to his hands.

Elijah had a glass of the vintage wine in his hand, but he'd yet to drink from it. Just stared into the red with a far away gaze. He didn't know what was going through the older vampires head, and he wasn't sure he wanted to know. He could see the darkening of hazel eyes and the slightly conflicted gleam the would fill them every now and then.

The original was angry, filled with self loathing, and loathing for the doppelganger. The girl ruined everything! He'd been doing better, getting closer to making things up for the harm the girl had come under. And now, things will be tense again. The girl may not remember what had occurred, but he was not sure he'd be able to look into her eyes with being reminded of the tears that had been spilling down round cheeks and the fear sparking in her gaze.

She hadn't looked at him with fear at all before then. Had even seemed completely uncaring of his supernatural nature. But as his hands tightened on her he'd felt her bones strain and shed had betrayal and sadness in her eyes.

If thay damned Doppelganger had just stayed away, none of this would have happened. If Klaus learned she was still alive, he'd never wake up their sister. He would drop everything and go after the teenager. He'd worried his compulsion hadn't worked, but as the hours ticked by and Klaus didn't come bursting into the apartment ready to slaughter the doppelganger he could feel himself become more relaxed.

But no matter how many times he told himself it was necessary. He couldn't curb the inkling of what he could guess was guilt eating away at him.

This was better for everyone. He was sure!

So why didn't it feel that way?

Chapter 19: Authors note

Summary:

Hey!

Hey everyone! I just got out of surgery, and I wanted to let all of you know that it went well, I just be able start posting again soon! The issue in my arm has been resolved, and I have a few days of rest ahead of but next chapter will be up this weekend.

Thank you all for the support, it meant the world to me!

Chapter 20: Awaken

Summary:

Rune wasn't sure what she expected of Klaus's sister after everything she'd experienced with Elijah. But she wasn't prepared for the beautiful blonde goddess who immediately softened up to her.

Rune kept her face burried in Klaus's shoulder as he carried her past the two vampires and into the abandoned warehouse. The hybrid didn't spare his brother or the salvatore a single glance as he was met by Maddox near the entrance. The warlock had a large grimace on his face as he spoke quietly with his boss.

"I pulled the dagger like you ordered, but she hasn't awoken yet."

Klaus huffed out a scoff, ignoring the way his older brother perked up behind them.

"She's always playing up the dramatics."

"I left a meal for her within, but I haven't heard anything yet."

Rune peaked out from Klaus's neck. She spun her head around to give the warlock a small smile. He returned the smile with a cheeky grin and a small teasing wave of his fingers. The girl giggled as she stuck out her tongue and Maddox gasped with a playful hurt expression.

Klaus smiled as he rocked his arms, "Do you want Mads to hold you while I deal with my sister, Little Flame?" His voice was soft and comforting, and he was pleasantly surprised when she nodded excitedly and held out her arms towards the warlock.

Maddox slipped his hands under the girls arms and held her carefully against his side. He stayed close to Klaus as he followed the hybrid deeper into the warehouse. Rune poked and tugged at the man's coat as she began to ramble on about her day with her daddy.

"Daddy took Rune to a Biiig park! He pushed Rune on the swings. And I went down the slides! Daddy helped me swing across the monkey bars too!"

"You must have gone really high on the swings with Klaus giving you a push."

Runes ears twitched and flapped with excitement as she stretched out her arms. "Mmhmm! Daddy is so strong and Rune went really high, I could see the whole playground!"

"What else did you do today?"

"Daddy took me to a diner. They had chocolate shakes and I tried pizza! It was so good!!"

"Pizza is delicious." Rune nodded. Both of them were unaware of the large relaxed smile taking up Klaus's features. But Elijah could see the side of his face, could see the happy content glowing in his brothers eyes. Another stab of guilt burrowed it's way into his gut. Watching the girl respond with such a lively smile and happy voice collided violently with the memory of tear filled eyes and terrified whimpers from early that morning.

He knew she didn't remember. His compulsion doing its job, but it didn't change that he remembered, and he couldn't bring himself to put what he did behind the red door in his mind. If Klaus ever found out...

That thought came to halt as his shoes slipped into a thick red puddle. He glanced down, taking in the large growing pool of blood staining his shoes. Klaus seemed completely unbothered by the gore painting his shoes as he stared down into the empty and damaged coffin that once housed their sister. Runes interest was pulled in by the limp form of an unknown girl sprawled at the edge of the blood pool. Her neck was at an awkward angle with deep gouges in the pale flesh.

She couldn't hear anything from the body and her interest waned as she looked around. It was a sight she'd come to get used to, Klaus had taken to just eating with the girl around, and this was nothing compared to what she saw during his full moon transition. Her ears drooped in boredom as she waited. Maddoxs hold tightened on the girl as she flinched when the loud bang echoed In the warehouse.

Orange eyes widened in shock as klaus was sent sailing into the wall behind them. Blue flashed in her sharp eyes, the pearl hanging from Klaus's neck responded in kind creating small sparks. Each spark lit up the features of the person pinning her dad to the wall.

Small lips parted in shock as she finally took I'm the new person. The tall blonde haired woman, was beautiful. Her features were sharp, and contrasted the blue of her eyes. Her dress looked old and was covered in dust but Rune couldn't help but gaze at the woman completely gobsmacked.

Maddox was unprepared for the girl to wriggle free from his hold and slide down until her feet were on the floor.

---

Rebekahs glare dug into her brothers cheeky smirk. "Nik, I should-!"

A small hand tugs on the bottom edge of her skirt. Rebekahs head snaps down to snap at whoever dared touch her, but she's taken off gaurd by the small feminine form looking up at her with a awed expression.

"Are you my daddies sister?? You're so pretty."

The female original blinked, her grip on Klaus's neck loosening as she slowly lowered herself into a crouch in front of the child. The angry glare had been swiftly wiped free from her face and replaced with a comforting and confused smile.

"What are you doing in a place this little one?"

Rune was surprised by the swift change in the womans tone and posture. She turned her eyes up to Klaus, silently asking him if it was OK for her to say anything. The hybrid tugged on his shirt, straightening out the fabric before he settled a soft touch on the child's head.

"Have you calmed yourself dear sister? And to answer your question, this is Rune. My daughter. Do be on your best behavior around her, It seems our esteemed brother has been having trouble doing as such."

Rebekahs blue eyes snapped between the child and her brother with unbelieving glints in them. Her violent, deadly brother...has a child?

Elijah's brows furrowed at his brothers introduction of Rune. He felt the dig from his brother strike deep, Klaus really has no clue how much truth there was in that statement.

Stefan was watching everything in silence. His gaze was settled entirely on the blonde woman. He didn't recognize her, but something stirred in his chest as he took her in.

Rune gently grabbed Rebekahs hands, "Will the pretty lady play with Rune?"

Rebekah was going to say no, tell her brother that a child should not be around, any of this. But as she stared into orange fox like eyes, and watched soft ears twitch and droop she couldn't bring herself to turn the girl down.

Very slowly, the blonde reached up with blood stained hands and gently tweaked one of the ears. Rune giggled.

"That tickles!"

Rebekah groans and she settled a pouting glare towards Klaus, "why have you woken me up. You never do without a reason. And I doubt it was for me to...babysit.."

Klaus's lips pulled into a frown, "it seems a witch of mine needs something of yours. She said you'd know what she needed."

The blond rolled her eyes, "yes, because that's so very informative." The original was unconsciously running her fingers through soft fur like hair. Where did her brother find such an adorable child.

Rune pokes the womans knee catching her attention.

"Will Rune be as pretty as you when I grow up?"

Red bloomed across Rebekahs cheeks, "You're already pretty."

The child's lips pulled into a bashful smile as she slid behind Klaus's legs and hid her face.

Klaus's chuckle was filled with warmth as he watched Runes cheeks turn bright red as she hid behind him. Rebekah watched Klaus pick up the girl and burry his nose into her soft white hair. Rune nuzzled his cheek back.

"Now, do you have any idea what my witch is after Rebekah?"

The blonde huffed, her fingers trailing up to her neck but were met by empty air. The inhabitants of the room watch on in shock as the blonds eyes widened and she appeared next to her coffin only tobegin ripping what was left of it apart.

"Where is it!!?"

"Rebekah...calm yourself!" Elijah held out a hand towards his only living sister. But his hand was smacked away as she tore into the fabric of whatever she could find.

"My necklace!! Nik, what did you do with it!!"

"Rebekah...that better not be what my witch needs.."

Chapter 21: Pile of Lies

Summary:

Klaus knew of the doppelgangers continued existence, however he was curious how long his brother would keep the knowledge from him...or if he would ever come clean. The punishment he had in mind for Stefan only continued to worsen with each new action the salvatore pulled. Rune no longer shook with fear, but he could feel the tension in her body whenever his brother got too close.

Notes:

Hey guys!! I got my cast off today, my surgery wound is healing well! My arm is pretty sensitive and numb in certain areas but my hands are doing great so no more waiting on chapters! I'm finishing up what I've come up with over the last week so be prepared for an influx of chapters over multiple stories!

Taking Rebekah out to buy new clothes...had been....an experience. If he didn't know his sister so well he may have even been surprised by her vicious comments on modern clothing. Stefan was taking having his memories returned to him quite well..at least it seemed that way on the surface. But he could see it now, the way the salvatore tensed up whenever Rebekah got to close or Rune started babbling away in his lap. He was almost tempted to see just how long the little ripper was willing to hold up this farce in an attempt to keep the doppelganger a secret from him.

Klaus had made sure to inform Maedox of the new information while also sending him out again to see if he could dig up anything on Kitsunes. He was sure if he should be upset that the warlock seemed to be growing more attached to his little daughter than himself. The man had perked up and accepted the task with an excited gleam to his features as soon as he'd said it was for Rune. However he took it as a good sign that with his brother making all his stupid choices that he could at least count on the warlock to look after the small fox.

Speaking of the girl, he settled a fond smile on the scene of his sister bouncing the small child on her lap. The female original was perched up on one of the tables of Gloria's bar with the rest of them sat in its seats. She was doing very good at keeping her face blank but the hybrid could see the soft gleam in her eyes and the twitch of her lips whenever Rune let out a particularly sweet giggle. Even his own lips were twitching as he occasionally held out a French fry from his plate for her to grab.

Elijah had his phone out, distracting himself from the child's presence. While Stefan was trying to play up his role of reunited lovers. It wasn't working out very well for him. Klaus bit back a smirk as Stefan held out a drink to the elder female, but she completely disregarded him, too caught up in the excited story telling from the child in her lap.

"The big drunk meanie was chasing rune! Rune was used to it, they always wanted to see my face or follow them, but I always ran away. I was hiding and that's when daddy showed up!!"

Klaus perked up a bit, tuning in to what she was saying while also effectively catching the noble brothers attention.

"Really? And what did my big brother do when he showed up?" Rebekahs tone was encouraging, dipped low like she was being told a secret between the two of them.

"He was so cool! His eyes went all red, and his teeth ripped into the meanie like it was nothing! Rune didn't want to get him in trouble so I stayed away from the alley after..."

"So this is how you met my brother?? Why did you want to follow him?"

Runes head tilted with furrowed brows. "Daddy gave Rune a name...and asked her to go with him. Rune will follow him forever!" Her smile was big and full of sparkling teeth while Klaus cleared his throat. Rebekah watched her hybrid brothers shift his gaze down to the table, but her blonde brows shot up as she watched the tips of his ears turn a light pink...was he flustered?!

Damn it! He wished the girl wouldn't say such things with so much conviction. If he wasn't careful he'd begin to believe her at this rate...the corner of his lips twitched down. Everyone always left him eventually, even his own siblings.

He shook off his depressing thoughts, and finally flashed Rune a mischievous smile. He held out another fry for her to grab and before she could latch on he tugged it out of her reach.

Rune blinked and when Rebekah expected her to cry or whine she giggled and crawled out of the womans lap. Chasing the fry as Klaus kept it away from her. Finally he held it up over and behind his head.

Rune was laughing now as she began to crawl onto his shoulders without an ounce of fear towards the man. The only female original watched the entire interaction in silence. But there was a warmth burning in her chest as Klaus let out small chuckles. They weren't one of his playful or forced ones either. She hasn't heard her brother laugh so freely in centuries.

---

Waiting on Gloria to put together whatever It was that she needed to took well into the night, and by the time she was getting close to being done, she had customers coming in through the doors. Between setting up her room of magic and serving guests she kept a close eye on the hybrid sitting at her bar. Rebekah and Elijah were sat in a gar off table in the back, and Stefan was nowhere to be seen. The child...Rune... she was sat at the bar on the counter in front of the hybrid. Her eyes narrowed as she watched the young girl so easily smack the powerful man's hands away from her food without any consequence. Klaus just laughed it off and continued trying to sneak a few bites for himself. She would have thought him being a nuisance if it weren't for the pure joy radiating from the young kitsune.

It almost...made an inkling of guilt burrow into her for what she was planning to do. She knew why his hybrids weren't working...but if he'd truly broken his curse then the ability to do so was lost from him. He needed the blood of the doppelganger after all. No, what she really wanted was the location of the original witches resting place... and she'd do whatever she could to find it.

She was organizing the table for her ritual when a loud commotion came from the front of her bar. There was a small yelp from a young girl followed by an explosive outburst from a voice she knew all too well. It seems the hybrid was incapable of not breaking things.

---

Rune lightly smacked the back of her father's hand for what felt like the 100th time that night. She held a fork between her teeth as she sent him a playful pout. Klaus smiled victoriously as he bit into the piece of chicken finger he'd snagged.

"That's no fair~" her voice was muffled around the utensil.

Klaus chuckled. However his amusement faded as a man slid into the seat next to him. A swift glance was all it took for him to recognize the vampire with enough balls to bother him.

Damon salvatore was giving him a confident smirk, briefly glancing toward the young child with interest.

"Interesting finding you here?"

Klaus scoffed. He couldn't help but wonder how far off the little doppelganger was if the second salvatore was here. A swift glance around the establishment as he slowly spun on his seat to regard the man, revealed the ripper to be missing. He slowly ran his tongue across his bottom lip as he met his brothers eyes across the bar. He held a challenge in his gaze, raising his brow as he let a knowing smirk glide into place.

"If we're going to pretend that you haven't been tailing us since the forest in the mountains thats fine by me, but don't stick your nose were it isn't wanted, lest you lose it chap."

Damon flinched, he knew?? How... did Stefan tell him? Klaus however kept his gaze locked with Elijah's took in the widening of his eyes and the nervous tick he'd often get, His elder brother was fidgeting with his tie, Tightening it as he broke their staring match. Good, his brother should be uncertain. He still hadn't come up with his punishment for Terrifying his daughter after all.

The elder salvatore looked sway before his gaze settled on the kid.

"Whats with the brat? My brother not boring enough for you?"

Rune shot the new man a pointed glare and stuck her tongue out at him. She currently had her hood in place, hiding the way her ears were pulled back flat atop her head in annoyance. She didn't like him, he smelled weird.

"Daddy..." Klaus shot her a questioning look. "He smells bad..."

Damon's jaw clenched and his brow twitched as the hybrid snickered.

"Something we agree on my little fox."

The dark haired man scoffed, and snagged the girls sleeve. "I'm alot more fun than my brother, and last time I checked it was taboo for vampires to turn kids.." he had a slightly mocking tone to his voice as he jerked her sleeve pulling a small yelp from her lips.

He was unprepared for the hand that snapped out to crush his throat and before he knew it he was flying across the bar and landing through one of the tables sending shards of wood into the air. The hybrid didn't give him a chance to regain himself as he hunched over the downed vampire and ripped a makeshift stake from one of the chair legs nearby. He held it in the air prepared to bury deep into the fools chest when it burst into flames in his grip.

Klaus snarled flinging the burning object away as he snapped glowing eyes towards the witch his was watching him with hands on her hips and an annoyed frown.

"No killing in my bar mikaelson!"

Klaus huffed, "He touched my daughter witch!'

Gloria flinched under the intensity of the hybrids glare but held her ground. Sending the injured vampire on the floor a warning look.

"That doesn't change the fact I can't have you scaring off my patrons!"

The hybrid sneered before finally letting the salvatore go and pushing himself back to his feet.

"This is your only chance salvatore, I don't take the scaring of my ward lightly."  He'd put emphasis on his words not even looking in his brothers direction. The vampire however let out a snort as he pulled himself free from the debris of the table.

"Please...as if you didn't compell the little brat."

It was Gloria's turn to scoff, "Id usually be the first to make that assumption, but it's not even a consideration at this rate..

Damon rolled his eyes, "and why's that, because he's got a heart of gold?"

"Kitsunes can't be compelled." Klaus eyed his brother out the corner of his eye as he turned to level him with a small smirk. That smirk dropped as he finally let the severity of his anger shine through his features.

Elijah's knucks were white on the glass 8n his hands, small cracks where forming before it shattered in his grip entirely. The originals eyes snapped over to the young girl, but she immediately dodged his gaze his fave going a bit pale. His gut churned as that familiar fear bubbled in her eyes before it drained away as she was lifted up by the hybrid.

Klaus's gaze pierced into him, and now it made sense. All of his challenging looks and mocking words.

...he knew..

Chapter 22: Returning to Mystic Falls

Summary:

Rune had not been expecting the death of Gloria. Watching Stefan rip the witches heart out had been interesting at first but ultimately boring. Watching her father punish Elijah however...had been worth the several hours of travel they'd undergone. She just wished they weren't done seeing new places just yet.

The magic in the air made her very skin crawl as she watched Gloria clasp hands with Rebekah. She was being held up by Klaus, his arms were wrapped around her back and bottom keeping her secure and safe in his arms. She..didn't like the feeling of Gloria's magic. Feeling it slightly in the air was very different than this thick sludge that was squeezing down around her. It felt wrong. She didn't know if she should say anything...maybe magic was supposed to feel this way... but Maddox's never felt like this. Runes orange eyes narrowed in on the slight wispy trails she could see circling the two women's hands.

Glancing up at her father's face didn't reveal to her if he could see it too. Her teeth dug softly into her bottom lip as she gently poked his cheek to catch his attention.

"Daddy.." her voice was a soft whisper.

He glanced down to meet her gaze. "Yes?"

"Can you see the weird whispy things around miss Gloria's hands??"

Blond brows arch up in surprise as klaus looked back towards the witch. But no matter how hard her looked he couldn't see anything out of the ordinary beyond the slight feeling of magic in the air.

"What wisps rune?"

He could see her face fall into a pout, "so you can't see it..."

Runes ears twitch and droop in embarrassment when Gloria let out a few chuckles, "You're going to be a strong one.."

The small kitsune didn't know what to say to that, but she didn't need to as klaus cut in for her.

"And that means??"

"She's 11 right? For most creatures capable of magic, seeing its physical form is something that often takes decades and for some nearly a century to master." The womans eyes slid open as she turn her gaze on the girl. "While I admit my knowledge on kitsune is lacking. The fact you can already begin to see the magic around you is a feat you should be proud of. I dont even believe the original witch was capable of it herself."

Klaus's hands tightened on Rune. His lips twitched before pulling into a contemplating frown. He'd need to keep that in mind...Maddox should be able to at least help her with controlling what magic she had. His gaze slid over to his brother, he knew Elijah understood that he was aware of his actions, he knew what he was going to do...but now was not the time.

Elijah was stood in the corner, there were stress lines creasing his brow and Stefan was stood off to the side. Eyeing everything and everyone with a jumpy expression. 

His gaze was drawn back to the witch in the room when she let out a small groan. "I'm having difficulty tracking down the object I need. The only thing I've been able to see so far is a group of three girls. One of them has the necklace around her neck...."

Klaus rolled his eyes, "is that all you have after nearly an hour?"

Gloria's shot him an annoyed glance, "if you think you can do better than you can be my guest and try."

The hybrid gave a low snarl.

"Either way, one of the girls is a witch, and another blonde...the one wearing the necklace i- urgk!!" A loud squelch filled the room and Runes eyes widened a fraction in surprise as she watched blood drip past the witches lips as she slumped forward with blank eyes.

Stefan stood behind her with a blood stained hand and a slowly beating heart in his hand. Rune watched the heart pulse before it slowly stopped pumping blood to a non existent body and went limp in his grip.

Klaus's growl echoed loudly in the room as he swiftly handed rune off to his sister before slamming the Salvatore against the nearest wall. "You are truly starting to get on my nerves Salvatore. There's only so much our old friendship can cover." The hybrid leaned forward until his lips were brushing against the younger man's ear as he growled out his next words. "You just killed the only thing that was keeping your precious doppelganger alive. But now...now I'm going to hunt the little roach down and drain every last drop of blood from her before shredding the flesh from her bones and feasting upon her vial organs. I'm going to make her suffer as you can do nothing but watch." With that final word he snapped the vampires neck with a swift jerk. He took pleasure in watching horror flash in his eyes before he slumped into the floor.

Rune had heard every last word. Had seen the way Stefan had visibly recoiled and trembled within her father's hold. Her eyes were blown wide and her slit pupils shrunk down as her heart beat at a fast pace. Her limbs shook in Rebekahs hold...the older blond mistook it for fear...but Rune..Rune had never felt more excited. He was so strong. He barely did anything and the younger vampire had wilted in on himself.

Rebekah was going to scold Klaus, she could see Runes eyes shaking and could feel the tremble in the tiny fingers clutching her shoulders. But before she could get a word out the girls soft voice filled the room with an awed whine.

"That..WAS SO COOL! Daddy nearly made him pee his pants!! Auntie?! Can you do that??? Rune wants to learn how to do that!"

Pink dusted Klaus's cheeks as he watched the girl, secretly he based in the girls praise. Could feel his ego swell with each tiny gasp and wide eyed look she'd send his way whenever he did something new in front of her. But a small deeper part of himself, felt...wrong...He wanted her to stay small and sweet. He didn't want to ruin her childhood imagination...but she liked it... it was a continous circle of wanting to impress her while also trying to keep her innocent. He let out a tiny sigh before he ruffled his hand into her locks, he gave one of her ears a tweak before finally spinning on his heal to face his brother.

His features had fallen into a neutral look with a serious frown. "Now...what to do with you."

Rebekah glared into her brothers back, "Nik...dont.."

Klaus snapped his head back to look at his sister with an angry sneer, "why shouldn't i!? This traitorous brother of ours, tried to keep the knowledge of the doppelganger being alive from me! He injured and terrified my daughter before trying to compell her! Do tell me Re-be-kah... why shouldn't I put a dagger in his bastard chest!"

Rebekahs eyes widened, she'd seen Niklaus dagger their siblings before, had even helped on occasion. But she'd never seen him so angry while considering it before. Her brother had a temper, it was often childish or impulsive...but this rage he had now..was burning....and she couldn't find any fault in it.

Her blue eyes slid down to look at the girl in her lap, who couldn't even meet her eyes anymore. The child's fox like ears were pulled back flat against her skull and she could see the hunt of a tremble to her lips. Rune looked like she was holding back tears and Rebekah soon felt her eyes narrowing in on her Eldest brother in the room.

"Elijah...is he telling the truth? Did you..."

"I did not attack her...I feared if Klaus knew that the doppelganger was still alive then he would not awaken you..."

"But that doesn't explain why you had to scare or hurt Rune."

Elijah's gaze slid down to the teary eyed child. He hadn't meant to hurt her, just compell her. He should have known his grip was too tight, but there was nothing he could do once the decision had been set in motion.

"I only meant to compel her...she's..stronger than she looks. I didn't realize my grip..was.." Rebekah couldn't see shame and regret in his eyes. Klaus could see it too, but call him biased it didn't make him any less angry.

Rune glanced up at the eldest man, took in the crease of his brow and the apologetic frown on his face. She bit back her small groan as she slid her gaze to her daddy, "don't stab him daddy..."

All three originals snapped their eyes down to the child. "Rune..."

"That's too nice... how is he supposed to say sorry if he's asleep??" Her pout was innocent and her brows arched up...but Klaus could see the mischievous gleam in her eyes. Elijah however felt his shame grow alongside a smidgen of hope. This could be his chance to make it up to the girl!

Klaus kept his gaze locked with Runes for a second more before he finally gave in. "I won't dagger him...for you, Rune." The silence stretched for a moment.., "but that doesn't mean I've forgiven it." And before Elijah could react Klaus had grabbed his head and with a swift jerk, snapped the older vampires neck. Rebekah flinched..but she was glad it didn't end up becoming a bigger issue. Klaus could have easily ignored the girls request.

---

A loud crack filled the back of the truck as she watched Rebekah violenty jerk Stefans neck. Rune had watched Klaus and her auntie take turns over the last few hours snapping the salvatores neck to keep him unconscious. Elijah... his neck had been broken even more than Stefans. Klaus had shoved his brother into a seat next to rune and had given the girl a handful of permanent markers. Currently he was using his brothers forehead to teach Rune how to draw a simple cat. His cheeks were already full of his and the girls doodles, and rune was currently drawing little wiggling unicorns on one of his arms.

Klaus could hear his sisters snickers everytime she glanced at their brother, and the multitude of drawings beginning to cover his skin.

Rebekah had been shocked when Klaus had suggested the idea to rune. It was easily the least violent punishment he's ever given, and a part of her felt like this was some sort of hallucinatory dream and she was still daggered in her coffin. Every nows and then she would dig her nails into her skin but everything felt real, normal. So...how was it possible that a mere young girl has changed her brother... at least...even a small bit.

Rune was using the doodles in a way to distract herself. Maddox didn't leave with them, her daddy said the warlock was doing a job, gathering research for stuff and he would meet them later. But she missed him.. he played tea party with her, and let her put tiaras on him. She heard her daddy say they were going back to mystic falls...but she didn't want to go...she wanted to keep seeing new places with Niklaus. She didn't want to go back to the place that treated her like a freak....

But her daddy needed the mean girl, and she wanted to follow him forever. So she would suck it up, as long as he was happy she could deal with a bunch of stupid dumb brutes.

Klaus chewed his bottom lip as he put the last few details on the cat. He hasn't done something like this since his family was human...he'd forgotten how fun it was to play such a simple trick on his brothers. He used to use charcoal and his paints and but markers make this so much quicker. Rune was drawing a bunch of girly little animals and doodles. The big bad original...covered in sparkly eyed unicorns and kittens...

Klaus chuckled. Hus brothers face was going to be priceless...he should get a photo for rune to keep. 

Chapter 23: Fright night

Summary:

The mystic falls hughschool was dark and ominous. It made the screams and begging echoing through its halls so much more entertaining to Rune. Maybe she should ask he daddy if that was normal?

Notes:

I apologize for the wait on the chapters for all of my ongoing stories. I had an issue come up with my post op healing. Some asshole decided he wanted cause problems, and slammed open a door into my healing arm. A see through door by the way so the guy knew I was about to open it myself. My whole arm went numb and I thought my surgery was completely ruined. I'm doing much better now though! I promise and my arms back to healing.

Do you know that feeling you get, when it seems like things are finally looking up. Klaus didn't and it was making the rage coursing through his gut sing with a righteous fury. Stalking through the halls of the high-school had him boiling with annoyance tinged with a dark satisfaction as he listened to Elena's screams echo in the halls. All this waiting was wearing down on him. Testing his patience as the clock ticked down on how long their little witchy friend had until he ripped the doppelgangers heart from her chest.

Rebekah was watching his would be hybrid and his little girlfriend, while Elijah was looking over the group attempting to make contact with the original witch. The hybrids lips twitch, he could practically taste his brothers unbridled furry burning beneath his undead flesh. He'd seen the way the little teenagers had had to bite back their snorts of amusement when the suite clad original had stalked into the gymnasium behind him. Elijah would not be getting those doodles off anytime soon. He quite proud of his work to be honest, and little Runes artistic skills were perfect for her little mutant unicorn...things.

The hybrid was currently making his way toward one if the classrooms further away from the commotion. He hadn't initially liked the idea of leaving his daughter alone. But he didn't trust Elijah to watch her and Rebekah was determined to rip her necklace from the neck of whoever dared to wear it. So he had away the little fox eith some of her stuffed animals and markers.

Klaus glanced around the hallway checking for any onlookers as he came to a stop outside one of the doors. Seeing none of the doppelgangers little friends and clearly hearing said girl running for her life from her precious Stefan let him know he was alone as he swiftly slipped inside. His hands gently let go of the knob as he spun in hus heal to take in Rune and her current activities. The edge of his lips twitched as he picked up the tiny hum of her voice as she drew in one of her little drawing books. She'd silently asked if she could get one by pointing at it with wide watery eyes and he found himself crumbling under the look when she merely said that she 'wanted to get good at drawing like her daddy'.

A set of large fluffy ears perked up and swiveled in his direction as he made his way over to where she was curled up on the floor. Her little feet were kicking in the air and her chin was leant against her palm as she scribbled away. Several of her stuffed animals including her favorite the wolf were piled around her.

"What are you drawing little Fox?" Klaus picked up the wolf earning him a swift orange glance, however she turned her gaze back to her drawing when he lowered himself down onto the floor next to her. If someone had told him a year ago that he'd be laying on his side on the floor with a child so he could watch over her while she drew, he'd have ripped their hearts from their chest for such an unfamny attempt at a joke. But here he was, his head propped up on his elbow with his head I'm his palm as he peaked down at her page. Blonde brows rose is surprised. She was using markers to draw so it was a bit...glaring on the color and her lines were thick. But he could clearly make out the attempted outline of a dog..or wolf with a small girl on its back.

Rune had the tip of her tongue poking out as she drew an arrow to the wolf before writing in big letters, -DADDY, she drew another arrow to the girl and wrote her own name next. Deciding she was done, her grin spreading out, she dropped her marker and picked up the paper.

"I'm done!! Daddy look, it's me and you!! Rune had so much fun riding on daddy's back, can we do it again??"

Klaus gently plucked the page from her hands with a small smile. The drawing was crude, but honestly better than alot of children's drawing he's sometimes seen in the past. He could at least make out what it was. It'd probably look better if he'd given her a pencil to use instead of markers. That however didn't stop the small warmth in his chest as he settled a mischievous smirk on the girl looking up at him expectantly.

"My little fox is quite the artist already, hm? Can I keep this Rune? Or do yo-" the girl was already nodding excitedly as she pushed herself up onto her knees. She clumsily scoot her way forward until she was snuggling her face into his chest. Before she playfully nipped her teeth into his chest. Her tail was twitching and wagging as she giggled.

The exaggerated groan of pain left his lips before he could stop it. He rolled onto his back hooking his arm around her to drag her with as he playfully growled out a defeated wail.

"Urgk! Oh the pain! No more little fox!"

Her laughter grew as she perched on his chest with a bight grin full of teeth baring her little fangs. She watched the hybrid drape hi free hand over his face with a smirking pout.

"Daddy I barely did anything!" Her words didn't stop her from giggling more as he let out another playful whine.

"The tiny teeth of doom, how horrible on this day." Her small hands smacked his chest making him let out a small breath of air. He chuckled finally letting his hand fall from his face as he surged up making the gril slide down olinto his lap. "Alright alright...I'll stop Little Rune."

He'd pout was absolutely adorable as he ran his hands through her hair, scratching behind her ears as he went. Her tiny purr didn't go unnoticed as he gently handled her.

"Daddy? Are going to kill the mean girl again? Her screaming is loud.."!

Klaus blinked down at her, she could hear that? He knew her hearing was a bit sensitive but he wasn't aware it was closer to his own than he thought.

"I am...unsure.. if I will be killing her yet." He watched tiniest pout pull at her lips.

"Her screams were funny at first..but her voice is really dumb.."

The hybrid couldn't hold back his snort, however he was unable to continue their interaction when he heard the buzzing alarm of the countdown go off. Klaus let out a small groan.

"I need to go deal with the little knats, I'll return soon Rune. Rebekah will be coming to play eith you soon."

He watched those fluffy ears go flat on her head as she leveled him with a pout, "can't I come with daddy??"

"Another time." He slowly lowered her to the floor and pushed himself up to his feet. He could feel her disappointed gaze digging into his back as he slipped out of the room and closed the door behind him....he didn't want her near another potential hybrid failure. Not after last time.

His cheat pulsed and his brows furrowed as the memory of her still pale face splattered with blood played like a loop in his head. It overlapped with an even further memory of a young boy...

Never again.

Notes:

I know it's a short chapter, I'm trying to get to the more entertaining stuff! Like Mikael and the return of the other siblings.

Chapter 24: Fear

Summary:

She hasn't seen him react this way before, something has shaken Niklaus to his core, and she couldn't help but feel soul shaking Fear for the first time in months. Why were they already leaving Mystic falls? What happened...

Runes ears laid flat atop her head, her orange eyes were flicking back and forth at a rapid rate as she peered over Klaus's shoulder. The hybrid was balancing a cooler in one of his hands while the other was holding Rune close to himself. Everything had been going well in Runes opinion, she'd been sitting in the waiting room of the hospital for her daddy to finish gathering the mean girls blood. He'd stepped out for a brief moment, once he'd gotten what he wanted, to speak to his siblings, but he hadn't been outside for than a few minutes before he'd come rushing back in. She'd felt her heart skip a beat when took in the features of his face. His skin was pale and his eyes blown wide with a barely concealed panic.

Before she could even ask what was wrong, his hands had snatched her up into a firm nearly crushing grip. Being pressed up this close to his body, as he stalked his way through the parking lot, let her hear just how quickly his heart was beating within his chest. The small tremble in his fingers and the small panicked breathes he was letting out brought a light mist to her eyes.

She didn't like it. She didn't like whatever was scaring her daddy. She knew he was scared, he was reacting the same way she used to whenever the drunks and creeps used to chase her or try get her alone. Could see his pupils blown wide amidst their golden glow.

"Daddy? What's wrong.."

She felt him flinch against her at her voice, his gaze snapping down to her with a twisted up and conflicted expression.

"It's nothing Rune, it's just time for us to go..." She could see him cast a swift searching glance around himself as he reached the car. He popped open the passenger seat and slipped her inside before placing the blood cooler on the floor. She kept her digging gaze on him as he leaned over her, bulking her into the seat. His hands tugged at the belt making sure she was safely inside and then he was shutting the door and using his speed to climb into the driver's seat.

"...what about auntie Bekah? And dumb brute?"

Klaus's hands tightened around the steering wheel, sending wary glances out the windows, looking in the mirrors as if waiting for something to happen.

"They are staying in town for now Rune. It won't be for long, you and I are going on a trip. Just us, to find more wolves."

The young kitsune blinked up at him with an unconvinced frown. A part of her was happy that she was getting her daddy to herself again, but the other part didn't believe him. It was obvious he was running from something.

"Daddy why are you scared..did someone do something bad to you?" Her voice had been low, a small whisper but the hybrid had heard it, his head snapping in her direction with a slightly slack and open expression.

It wasn't often someone outside of his siblings could see what he was really feeling. Knowing that the young girl beside him could read him and understand so quickly was a bit jarring. Klaus quickly shook off the confusing jumble of emotions and thoughts, before he let out a small sigh.

"Old memories coming back to haunt me, everything will be fine. Once I make my hybrid army, no one will ever be able to stand against us ever again princess. Those memories will be nothing soon enough."

She could hear it in his voice, he was trying to reassure himself alongside her. Her teeth chewed into her bottom lip as she decided what to do next. She could ask him again, or just drop it and wait. She took one last look at his face, could see his strained expression the forced smirk on his lips and the haunted fear in his eyes.

She kept her mouth shut and let a small smile slip into place. When he turned his gaze back to the road, her small smile hardened with determination, he's done so much for her, now it was her turn to make him feel better!

Her little head jerked with a settled and determined nod. Maybe she could start by drawing him more pictures, or maybe playing a game? When they stop to sleep next she'll rub his hair and back like daddy did for her when she was scared~!

The next hour was spent in silence. Klaus was keeping an eye out for any and all danger, while Rune was making a list in her head of all the things she was going to do for her daddy. Would he be happy if she brought him a snack?? Or would he be upset...? She's met enough new people now to know some people found her cute...maybe she could use that to bring someone to her daddy for dinner? A frown of concentration pulled at her lips, how would she even do that as a surprise...he daddy follows her everywhere..

She glanced up at him with a small pout. That one wouldn't work...maybe when's she's older..

She perked up when an idea hits her, it's perfect!!

---

Klaus peered through the blinds of the motel with narrowed eyes. He could hear Rune messing around with pillows and blankets behind him, his curiosity was peaked but he couldn't afford to drop his gaurd.

...Mikael could appear at any moment..

He felt a small twinge of guilt for making Rune uneasy. He knew his actions had been out of nowhere, but he'd gone into to flight mode as soon as that damned Salvatore had admitted to awakening his father. He won't allow Rune to be anywhere near that man, Mikael would use her against him within a heartbeat... and he's not sure he'd be able to fight back if his Rune was pulled into the middle of this feud.

He could hear her rummaging come to an end behind him, then his hairs stood on end. Her eyes were burning holes into his back but he still refused to pull his gaze away from the window. He could hear her small huff and then her little feet were stompingnup to his side. Her small hands latched onto his wrist with a gentle yet determined tugging.

"Daddy come on...Rune is sleepy."

The hybrid swallowed changing a glance down at the girl. She was looking up at him with watery eyes, wide and begging, his shoulders slumped in defeat. He should have kept his eyes out the window...

Leaning down he slipped his hands under her arms in order to lift her up. Yet when he spun on heel he was not expecting the large blanket and pillow fort somewhat sloppily built in the middle of the room. Rune had tugged the blanket down the bed, the bottom was still tucked under the mattress but the top of the blanket was hooked over the back of the couch creating a tent somewhat big enough for him to fit under. She'd shoved all of the blankets, sheets and pillows she could find underneath the fabric roof and her favorite plushies were cradled underneath as well.

Klaus met the girls proud and grinning face.

"Do you like it daddy?? Rune made it for you!"

The hybrids lips twitched with amusement as he slowly lowered himself down, scooting the two of them into the slightly cramped fort.

"It's..cozy." His couldn't bite back his small chuckle. He had to shift around a bit in order to get the both of them comfortable under neath one of the blankets with all of the pillows and stuffed animals around them.

Runes head was tucked under his chin as he held her close. His thoughts were running a mile a minute, plans and ideas coming and going as he tried his best to think of how he was going to handle his father. Mikael was a threat, one that could no longer be run from...he couldn't dagger Rune in order to keep her safe like he can with his siblings. She was so young, and he refused to abandon her...

His arms tightened protectively around the girl, as his thoughts grew louder. The soft touch of small fingers combing gently through his hair and another rubbing his back bade him tense up. His saphire hues snapped down tonlook at Rune, she had her arms wrapped around him as much as she could, snuggling her face into his as she gently pet at his hair and back.

She was letting our a small humming tune that he easily recognized. It was something he used to hum to Rebekah during thunderstorms when they were children, and he'd hummed it recently in order to calm down the girl in his arms after Elijah had made his blunder.

Water misted his eyes as he dug his nose into Runes soft fur like hair. Slowly his muscles relaxed, as the two of them laid their in their protective cocoon of pillows. He could feel his throat close up under the swell of emotions and in the soothing presence of his daughter, the first tear slipped free.

Rune dutifully ignored the wet drop that landed on her face. Not bringing her daddies brief moment of weakness to light, as he clutched her to his chest. She continued to pretend as more and more water dripped onto her face and damped her hair. A part of Rune was angry, filled with hatred for whatever made her daddy so upset, the other part was burning her own tears deep down under pure determination. It's was her turn to take care of her daddy, she can't do that if she's crying.

Klaus's shoulders trembled under gentle hold, and a small sniffle echoed in the shell of her fluffy ears. She dug her nose into the under side of jaw. Trying her best to give as much comfort as she could. She hoped she was doing this right.

Her voice was muffled into his shoulder, "I love you Daddy. Rune will always follow you." Strong fingers tangled in her hair and pulled her closer.

Klaus squeezed his eyes shut tightly, taking in Runes scent of firewood and forests. He doesn't recall when he slipped into a warm embracing sleep.

Notes:

I haven't caught up with these episodes in the show, so I don't particularly remember when Mikael was woken up, just that he was around this time at some point. I've been reading so much Klaus fanfiction lately I've slowed down on my rewatch..😭

Chapter 25: Home coming

Summary:

The 2 months away from mystic falls gathering hybrid followers brought two lost souls even closer together than before. When certain news is relayed to the original hybrid and they make their way back home, Rune is unprepared for altercation that follows and the choice she comes to make.

Notes:

Bit of a time skip here, there wasn't much of a difference in the way Klaus gathers his hybrid army, so I didn't wanna bore you guys with chapters that don't really involve rune that much.

Portland was an interesting place. When Klaus had first brought them into the city, Rune had been wary of the large amount of people she was seeing at first. It was nearly as interesting as Chicago's streets in her opinion. But the growing amount hybrids staying in their chosen residence made up for it. She could run around In the somewhat large manor without a hoodie to cover her ears and tail, and hybrids barely even bat an eye. Each of them was ordered to keep her safe at all times, they weren't to leave her alone and if she gets hurt in any way it was game over for them.

Rune was honestly indifferent when it came to the hybrids. But she didn't like the way some of them looked at her daddy, it was mostly the ladies. She tried to ignore them, like her daddy did. But sometimes she just wanted them to go away. She missed Maddox.

Each night was spent with the two of them curled up away from everyone and everything. The threat of Mikael forgotten if only for a few hours. When Klaus had finally explained to her why they'd left mystic falls so quickly, she'd never wished she was a grown up more. She hated him, she hated Mikael. Mikael was her daddies tormentor, like the people of mystic falls were to her. She wished she was older so that she could get stronger.

The day was Starting out like any other. Klaus had made her breakfast and then he was getting ready to go out and convince more packs to join his hybrid gathering. Only as he was putting their dishes in the sink to be washed by one of the hybrids, his phone rang. Klaus pulled it free from his pocket looking at the caller ID with a furrowed brow. Rune watched his eyes practically roll with annoyance as he picked up the call.

"Stefan! What a surprise, old friend! What do you wa-"

Rune could hear the younger vampires voice through the speaker, her fluffy ears twisting stop her head to get a better listen.

"Mikael is dead. Daggered."

The young kitsune watched Klaus's face fall and a serious frown crossed his features.

"Excuse me? I don't I heard you right...Salvatore."

"What do you want me to do with the body."

Rune could see the distrust mixed with hope In her father's eyes. Like he wanted nothing more than to believe it but he knew better.

"You have one chance Stefan. Compulsion will expose you if you are being untruthful. So let me ask you...Stefan... Is Mikael dead?"

"I saw it happen myself. You can ask Rebekah."

"Put my sister on the phone salvatore."

The two of them could hear the phone get shuffled around and then Rebekahs voice came through.

"Nik.."

"Is it true? Sister..is..it..true."

It was silent for a brief moment, before she finally answered.

"Yes, it's true."

Klaus hung up the phone, and Rune watched his eyes flick around the kitchen as if lost and he was unsure what to do next.

"...Daddy.."

The hybrids head snapped around to look at the girl who was now standing at his side. She was gently grasping his jeans while looking up at him with wide trusting eyes.

"Are you, ok?"

Klaus swallowed, "go gather your things Rune. We're going back to mystic falls. I need to.."

She didn't need him to finish, when he stumbled over his words she just flashed him a fanged smile and ran out of the room. She didn't want to forget anything.

---

Runes feet playfully kicked the air as she watched the hybrids go back and forth throughout the Lockwood manor. They'd arrived in town earlier that morning and she'd had to just sit back and watch as her dad began making plans and ordering his new puppets around. She was currently watching them set up drinks and food and a stage area. Apparently her daddy was going to use some sort of party called home coming as a scheme against the doppelganger girl and her friends.

Tyler Lockwood was looking down at her with raised brows as he took a sip of his drink. Rune tilted her head up to stare right back with glittering innocent as as she slowly sipped on the straw of apple juice box.

She slowly pulled the straw away and kept his gaze. "Are you one of the Mean girl dopelsluts friends?" Her head tilted and her eyes widened a bit more giving her a truly curious kitten look.

Tyler choked on his bourbon as he inhaled at the wrong time. His hacking as snot and alcohol spray from his nose filled the room, "W-what!? Dop-doppelwhat!?"

Rune blinked, keeping her face blank. "Auntie Beckah says that all girls who share mean girl Elena's face are doppelsluts who can't keep to one man."

Tyler slapped his hand into his chest, roughly pounding as he tried to get the booze out of his lungs. "I-I dont.. don't use that word. Klaus will kill me if he knows..that you.."

Rune let out a small giggle as she swung her feet giddily. She hid her maniacal smile behind her juice box as she watched the teenager frantically look around himself as if waiting for her daddy to appear out of nowhere and Rip his throat out.

"Daddy won't kill you, that's silly."

Tyler shot her a look of disbelief, were they thinking of the same guy?

"That's too merciful, daddy would make sure you suffered for hours before he ever decided to grant something so nice as death. Isn't Runes daddy awesome?!"

Lockwoods face paled and he cleared his throat. Why was that more terrifying coming from such a tiny girl than it ever was.. coming from the original? Her eyes had gleamed so earnestly and innocently when she'd said that.

The longer the teen went not responding to what she said the more her brow furrowed into an annoyed frown. Before she could sink her annoyed remarks into him, Klaus stalked his way into the sitting room. He had a self satisfied smirk 9n his fave as he hoped onto the sofa next to the girl and ran his fingers through her hair and scratches behind one of her ears.

"Rune. I'm going to be putting an end to things once and for all tonight. So I need you to stay inside where it's safe."

The girl was looking up at him with a determined smile and she gave an understanding nod. "I understand daddy, Auntie bekah is going to be here tonight right?"

"That's right, the two of you can spend the night doing...girl..things."

Rune gives out a small giggle as she climbed into the hybrids lap. Tyler watched the exchange with a certain intensity, the girl had zero fear for the original, and had no problems with clambering into his personal space.

---

Rune didn't like the music bumping through the house. She could feel the very vibrations through her feet. She'd long since pulled a blanket around her ears in an attempt to dampen the loud noise. Watching the party from the window had long since lost its appeal and she didn't want to make her daddy upset by going downstairs. She promised to stay safe and out of the way.

Auntie bekah was supposed to be here by now and she hasn't even seen any sign of the dumb brute either. Rune let out a bored groan and rolled off of the couch. She crawled to the edge of the room where she began poking through a shelf looking at everything she could reach. Her ears twitched atop her head before twisting towards the window to her left. She could hear a shout coming from outside, nearly drowned out by the music.

Runes head tilted in confusion as she crawled towards the glass and pulled herself up into the Frame to look out at the manors front yard. The scene revealed to her only brought on confusion, there was a Tall man with short blonde hair holding a something sharp against the side of the doppelganger girl. The kitsunes confusion only grew as she watched her daddies hybrids step into place behind the man like they were listening to him. A bad feeling grew in her gut as the man started yelling out at the house.

"You are a coward! Just like you always were Niklaus! Hiding behind your toys and never fighting your own battles! Come out here if you want to keep making your abominations!"

Rune tried to push the window open a bit so she could hear better. But she could easily recognize her dad's voice coming from somewhere below her.

"Do it! Come on father, kill her, she means nothing. KILL HER! DO IT!"

Rune watched the man's face curl up in cruel snarl before he was burying the object in the girls side. Rune wasn't sure what happened next, something exploded and then suddenly her daddy was tackling the man to the ground. This had to be Mikael right??

The kitsune let out a small gasp and her ears went flat atop her head as she watched her father struggle against Mikael. They were throwing each other around, suddenly her daddy was ripped off of Mikael by the two salvatores and she was incapable of holding back her horrified yelp as she watched the man sink that same sharp weapon into her daddies side. Klaus's pained yell echoed in her ears as her hands flew up to cover her mouth and the scream that wanted to come out.

All she could focus on was the squelch of flesh and her gaze narrowed in on the blood soaked weapon as it was ripped free and raised above her dad's chest. The music and clamor of the party faded out as her heart rate picked up and her vision began to fade out. She never noticed the tears pouring down her face, or the spark of white flame flickering to life.

---

Klaus felt everything slow down around him as he watched his father raised the white oak stake above his heart, ready to strike him down. The wound in his side burned like an acid wound. He could see Rebekah and Elijah come to a halt at the edge of the driveway. His brother looked worried and Rebekahs fave was covered in regret. Blood stained the front and back of her dress. He took a long look at his siblings knowing this was probably the last time he'd see them.

Katerina was slumped to the floor behind him and his hybrids were healing from the wolfsbane grenades she'd set off. His hearing briefly caught the sound of shattering glass as the stake pierced his chest, it lightly dug into his flesh nearing his heart. The there was a spark, the blue jewel hanging from his neck flashed brightly with small sparks and then a stream of blue fire devoured the arm holding onto the stake.

Klaus watched as mikaels eyes went wide in surprise and before he could pushing the stake any deeper something was leaping onto the hunters back. His undead heart skipped a beat when his father's pained scream filled the air. The original hybrid could only watch in shock.

A large fox of white and blue flame tore viciously into Mikaels neck. The hunters hand loosened oj the stake as he stumbled back in shock. The fox was letting out feral growls as its teeth ripped into the vampires flesh and its claws shredded into his back.

It's back paws kicked out causing as much damage as it could, burning away the fabric of the man's shirt and slicing claws through muscle and skin. It's head shook violently and Klaus could see smoking cracks spread out across his father's face.

Skin was melting away as fire began to eat its way out of the hunter. His agonized yells got louder as he leaned forward and reach back blinding reaching for the flaming creature that was attacking him. Mikaels fingers clamped down on the burning form latched onto him. He could feel the flesh on his hands charing as he ripped the beast off and threw it away from himself.

It landed with a pained yelp, but it didn't stay down for long flopping over onto its stomach and pushing itself back up onto its feet. Mikael was finally able to get a good look at the animal who'd caused him so much damage. The fox was easily twice the size of a normal one. It's fur couldn't even be called that, if his fingers hadn't curled around solid mass when he'd grabbed it, he'd say it was made purely out of gleaming white fire, the tips of its ears and tails where a deep blue and its slitted pupils were surrounded by glowing saphire. It's muscle was pulled back in a feral snarl, its tail whipping about behind it aggressively.

Klaus ripped his arm free from the distracted salvatores grip and was quick to pull the stake from his chest. He eyed his father with a growing hatred, he'd never seen his father so injured before. He could see the bone of his skull through the charred and open wounds leading down to his neck. The bone of his jaw was barred reveling teeth and tendons alike as the skin slowly struggled to heal. A swift glance at the hunters arm and hands showed blackened skin and a charred skeletal hand held together only by the curse of vampirism.

Mikael let out an annoyed hiss stalking closer to the flaming fox as it paced back and forth. The beast seemed to be glaring at the burned vampire with a raging hatred. As Mikael got closer the fox hunched down rearing up as if ready to launch itself forward. The distraction was all Klaus needed to burst forward and sink the stake in hand deep into his father's back.

The hunter let out a surprised grunt head snapping to the side to eye the younger man over his shoulder with a glare. Neither of the were given much of warning for when the fox launched forward tackling the older original to the floor shoving the stake deeper and right into his heart. The fox let out a victorious yowl as the vampire below it began to burst and crumble away in hazy fire of red.

The clearing went silent, Klaus's hands were shaking as his chest rose and fell with adrenaline. His siblings were slowly edging closer watching their father burn away, freeing them from his torment. A small shuffling and a yip drew their eyes to the fox as it scampered its way to Klaus's side were it promptly sat back onto its butt.

Brows rose as the flame surrounding it surged and then splattered out leaving behind a much smaller fox with normal white fur and black tipped ears. It's was at least a fourth of the size it'd been before, with a big poofy tail and ears that swiveled around in a way that Klaus couldn't help but recognize.

The hybrids eyes widened as he held his injured side. He slowly reached his free hand out as he lowered himself down to his knees.

"R-Rune?"

Chapter 26: Aftermath

Summary:

In the aftermath of the night, Klaus has to come to terms with the fact he'd nearly died.
While Elijah struggles with his morals towards his famjly and the choices one of them had made.

Notes:

I am sorry this chapter took so long, I've been writing for instinct theblast week or so, it's a long chapter that's still jot done yet.

Klaus watched the small fox slowly sniff at his outstretched fingers before pressing its snout into his hand. A strange emotion curled in his chest as Rune began to nip and playfully bat at his hand. She was so small now, compared to the flaming beast that had ripped viciously into his father's form. Burning away fleshing as slicing through muscle as if it was paper.

But now her head was barely the size of his hand and her body was slim with soft fluffed fur. Her poofed tail wagged at an excited pace as she happily wriggled onto her back to keep playing with his fingers. Klaus held back his grimace as he felt the wounds in his chest as side struggle to heal. The white oak weakening him enough to hamper his supernatural healing. The hand he had pressed into his side created a burning sensation wherever he touched the wound, his groan was nearly silent. However it must have caught the little fox's attention because it's ears snapped to attention and it's playful demeanor melted away with a small whimper as it scooted itself closer dragging its belly across the rough surface of the driveway.

Klaus let out a small hiss as Runes nose lightly poked at the edge of his bloodied hand covering his stab wound. He could see the blood pooling across his clothing turning it a deep red and dark brown were bits of it were beginning to dry the fabric into his skin.

"It will heal little fox."

Watching those ears slightly to large for her small head snap back and worry glow in those animalistic orange eyes tugged at him. Slowly he slipped his free hand and the foxes chest, she was lighter than a feather in his hold as he pulled her close to his chest. His lips twitched as her damp nose bumped against his jaw with curious little snuffles.

As he raised back up to his full height he let his eyes roam across those still out on the front lawn. Katerina had fled as soon as Mikael had been beaten, while Stefan and Damon were still where he'd shoved them, watching him with a growing hostility. Finally his gaze landed on his siblings, Rebekah could not meet his gaze while Elijah was making his way closer, his brothers features were strained, worry gleaming in his eyes.

It was a look he hadn't seen on the noble man's face in...decades..

However, as the elder man reached out to settle a hand on him, Klaus flinched away. Taking several steps back and crushing Rune closer to his chest. How dare Elijah! How dare he pretend! He refused to believe his brother was unaware of his father's plan to kill him. A swift glance at Rebekahs guilt ridden face and the way she was twisting her fingers was all he needed to know that she'd been in on it.

His face twisted in a snarl, "Do not touch me!" His voice was rough and filled with a hidden agony that both of his siblings wilted under.

He pressed his hand deeper in the wound on his side and burried his nose into the top of Runes head. The little Fox was gently nosing at the hole in his chest that still had yet to heal over. Spinning on his heel he said nothing to the two originals left behind in a suffocating silence. Klaus kept up his hard exterior as he stalked through the front door of the Lockwood manor. He swiftly took the stairs two at a time.

He said nothing to the hybrids he passed. Lost in his own thoughts. For a second time, hus brother was involved in an attempt on his life, however, he was sure it was Rebekah who was the head of this attempt. Her shamed gaze gave her away.

Shouldering open the door to the master bedroom, he'd claimed from Lockwood woman, left him alone with the shifting fox in his grasp. As soon as he heard the door click closed behind him, his entire demeanor crumbled. Klaus's legs felt like lead as he shuffled further into the room he didn't make it very far, before the feeling dissipated into bone deep numbness.

The hybrids knees buckled, colliding with the soft carpet. The thump of his weight was muffled as he sank down onto his side, curling around the animal in his arms. Chest shook as the events from the night began replaying in his head. The moment his father pushed the oak stake into his chest, it stuck in his brain like a filthy rot clinging to his soul.

He'd nearly died. Died...he was going to die... when that instant where the point of the stake neared his heart and he'd come to the realization that this was it, he'd felt....regret? Rage? Sadness? He's not sure, all of it was so jumbled and everything had slowed down around him. He'd never expected the Storm of blue flame the erupted in an attempt at protecting him, and when Rune had lept onto Mikaels back it was as if time had sped back up until he'd barely even realized when the monster that'd haunted his dreams..was dead..

Blank misty saphire eyes slid down to gaze at the fox surrounded in his arms. Her little snout and large orange eyes peered out at him from the cave of fabric and flesh that was his secure embrace. The gleam in her eyes was familiar while also different. The spark of adoration and worry he'd come to know over the last few months was tinted by a near savage wildness.

He's not even sure if the girl was completely conscious everything going on around her. Was instinct currently driving her?

It hit him in this moment, in the quiet of his own thoughts the company of a small fox. That this child, was the only one he could trust. It was pathetic, he was a thousand years old, decades of adversaries, allies and struggle had left him with nothing but a young girl at his side. His jaw clenched and he pulled Rune further into his embrace. A damp tongue laps up a silent tear, it's rough surface tickled his skin, and he was unable to keep the corner of his mouth from tilting upwards in a weary smirk.

He was barely able to drag himself up into the bed, not bothering to removing his bloodstained clothes or treat the still open wounds. As his eyes slipped closed into unconscious he paid no mind to the small furry body curling up into his chest with a small yawning yip.

---

Elijah watched his brother storm off into the manor. His brothers back was rigged, and he could see the Tightening of his muscles and the clench of his jaw. Niklaus..had never flinched away from his touch before. Not even after he'd attempted to rip his heart out that night. This incident with their father was affecting him deeper than what he was allowing anyone to see and it made his gut twist.

The noble original kept his face neutral as he lowered his hand and bussied his anxious fingers by straightening the cuffs of his sleeves. Slowly his hazel eyes slid down to consider the two salvatores at his feet. His brows furrowed as his gaze dug mercilessly into them.

"My brother is not a forgiving man salvatores, he will not forget this." His gaze slid up to his fidgeting sister, he could see the guilt of what she'd done eating away at her. He should have remained in Mystic Falls. As soon as klaus had left he'd begun trying to track down wherever it is that he'd stashed their other two siblings. His search had come up empty and he was forced to return when his sources informed him of his brothers return to the small town. He'd been suspicious of his plans.

He'd not expected to find his sister daggered in the salvatore basement, and his brother wexonds from death. Shame ate away at him, he'd not been swift enough to help his brother, and instead a small child had come to his aid. He should have left Rebekah to her daggering, a part of him wanted to put the dagger back into her chest where he'd found it. He held himself back from his impulsive thoughts, he would not stoop that low, never again.

His family was broken filled with distrust and underhanded attempts. However, he never would have considered putting his brother at the mercy of Mikael. His disgusted glare dug hateful into his sister as he stalked towards her and roughly gripped her upper arm.

"You, sister, have a lot to answer for. I will not accept baseless excuses for what you have pulled this night."

"E-Elijah..I was angry...he-He killed mother..it's wasn't mik-"

"I know."

A shocked betrayal was directed at him as he dragged Rebekah away from the manor and the party that was still going on unaware of what occurred.

"What do you mean? By YOU know!?"

His sigh was far from quiet, but it was tired and full of emotion, "I've always known that it was Niklaus who'd felled our mother, the disconnect and what she'd done to him was more than enough for me to piece it together."

"He lied to us!!"

"And she cursed us! Cursed Niklaus! Destroyed our family!" He ripped Rebekah forward by her arms roughly pulling her to fave him as he dug his fingers into her shoulder. "She was an unfaithful, lying, Harlo-" His angry words were cut off by a loud smack of Rebekahs palm meeting his cheek.

She was looking up at him with tear filled eyes and a trembling lip.

"Stop...dont..don't talk about her like that.."

She could see Elijah's jaw clench, "You are lucky sister, if I were not me, I would have left that dagger in your chest for the damage you have caused tonight."

"I-I..."

"Are you even aware of what you'd almost done? We would have lost our brother...your actions nearly orphaned a child who has been brought into our family!"

Rebekahs eyes widened as the tears finally began to spill over. She'd been so angry, had lost herself in the moment. She'd just wanted to be free, wanted her brother to leave so she could finally love and make friends. But the Gilbert slid the dagger into her back. She'd never even thought about Rune. Had forgotten about the girl who pulled out the side of her brother she hadn't seen since she was a human child.

"I didn't want him dead..."

Elijah scoffed. His grip loosening in his sister as he turns his back in her, walking away. He could hear her heavy steps follow behind him. The tension was thick in the air. Neither willing to break it again.

He did not even want to look at her right now. A part of him, deep down, was calling him a hypocrit. But that was before... before his hope in his brother had begun to build again.

Chapter 27: Animalistic Instinct

Summary:

Rune was back in her normal humanoid form, but something in her has shifted. Klaus could see her struggling with the new overwhelming influence of her instincts and sharpened senses.
He hoped a run with him under the full moon would help her work some of it out.

Notes:

Sooooo. My college Decided that it was going to permanently close...without telling anyone until last minute. I was 1 semester away from graduation and now I have to find a new college to finish my education.
Good news is, I have lots of free time now and I'm going to use writing to lesson my stress. So expect a pick up in chapters.

Soft gentle fingers carefully carded through his hair. He could feel small sharp tipped nails gently scratching across his scalp with each pass of the tiny hands. Saphire eyes blinked open and locked with scared orange. Rune was perched over him, in what he could barely consider rags. The clothes he'd remembered seeing her in last, were limp on her frame, covered in black scorch marks and slightly gaping tears where it looked as if fire busted out from beneath the material. His nose picked up the smell of charred cotton mixed with runes natural scent.

Her face was scrunched up in barely hidden worry as she continued to pet his hair. Her own hair was a ragged mess of white and champaign colored locks. Her ears were pulled flat to her head and her tail thumped at a low pace.

"Daddy...are you ok? Rune saw that man hurt you.."

Klaus cleared his throat, running one of his hands down his face. He grimaced as old dried blood flaked from the skin of his palm and slightly crumbled against his stubble. Pushing himself up onto one of his elbows he was unable to hide his grimace of pain as it flaired up in his chest and side. His grunt sent Rune into a small bout of whimpers as she began to gently fret her hands around the blood stained hole in his clothes.

"Are you ok!? Does it hurt?? Can Rune do anything?"

Klaus blinked down at her, slightly bewildered as he watched her tug at the hole in his shirt. Her little whimpers hadn't let up, and they finally taper off into a low whine as her eyes land on the still healing wound in his flesh. He watched water build up in orange eyes and had no warning for the tight hug that was barreled into his waist by a wailing child.

"Rune should have been faster! Why isn't daddy healing right!? Rune.. rune can't lose you..."

His brows rose, and he circled his arms around her small frame.

"I'm alright Rune. I will heal."

"You promise?"

Klaus let out a small sighing chuckle, "I promise my brave little fox."

He could feel her fingers tangle into his ruined clothes and her sniffles were loud in his ears. He was careful while resituating her in his arms so that he could slip out of the bed. He held her close, as they exited the room. She needed food. Her first transformation couldn't have been easy on her, especially under the stressful circumstances that it occurred.

His steps were heavy footed as he descended the stairs. His eyes briefly slid over the few hybrids, that had helped his father the night before. He would test them on their loyalty later. But for now, he wasn't going to bother. They were sitting around in the sitting room near the front door and they'd sat up under his scrutiny. However they slumped when he'd completely ignored their presence.

"K-Klaus...is there anything.." The female hybrid that had approached him was cut off by a vicious snarl. And the hand she'd reached out to place on his upper arm was struck by 5 small sharp claws.

The room went silent while the hybrid ripped her bleeding arm away with a startled hiss. The wounds were deep, and her healing wasn't closing the wounds like they were supposed to as a burning sensation began to spread in her veins.

Glowing blue eyes were glaring over the hybrids shoulder. Runes hand was still slightly held out in a threatening manner. Her nails drip with blood as her chest rumbled with a warning.

Don't touch him.

Klaus eyed the girl in shock as she burried her nose into his shoulder. Never taking her eyes off of the hybrid girl she recognized from the incident last night.

She would protect her daddy, she wouldn't let him get hurt like that again.

---

Klaus eyed his daughter warily. Runes reactions to anyone getting to close to him were getting worse. He knew he should probably be worried about that, it wasn't exactly an acceptable behavior. But he couldn't deny the warm glow in his chest each time she'd snarled or snapped out at anyone who touched him without his consent. Though he was going to have to find a way to put a stop to it soon, no matter how much he silently appreciated her loyalty.

She'd nearly taken off one of the smaller male hybrids arms this morning. The first girl she'd attacked nearly a weak ago, the morning after the incident, now had long blackened burn scars running up the skin of her arm. Runes attack had practically turned the hybrids own blood against her, burning and boiling within the womans veins. The wounds had healed over a few days but left the non fading scars behind. They crisscrossed across the flesh following the trail of veins beneath the surface.

None of the hybrids had been willing to get close to the girl since. They watched over her safety, following orders, but they each held a certain tension to their shoulders that would only grow worse whenever Klaus would join them.

Rune herself was struggling. She didn't...want..to hurt them. Not really, but she couldnt help it. Whenever one of them got close it was like she loses control and before she's realized it shes given someone some sort of injury.

She just didn't want anyone hurting her daddy again. Even during her days on the streets she'd never felt as much fear and hatred, like she did the night her dad nearly died. It'd felt like the floor cracked and shattered out from beneath her feet as everything faded away and then the only thing that mattered was making the man who'd dared make Klaus bleed, suffer.

She didn't want to feel like this. When it was just her and her daddy. She felt calm, warm and protected. But as soon as some one else came along that feeling was gone, the hybrids...didn't feel right...

She knew it wasn't because they were hybrids, her daddy felt fine. It's just..they felt wrong..like she couldn't trust them.. she didn't understand why. Her instincts never really led her wrong before, they led her to trusting Klaus, and Maddox. They kept her safe on the streets, and now every part of her being was telling her that these strangers were...wrong..

Klaus sighed, turning his attention to the sketchbook in his lap. He was adding detail to a penciled portrait of Runes fox form. Her tiny little furred version was curled up in a bed of daisies. He was carefully etching in the veins of the flowers and her bristly whiskers. Rune herself was sat next to him, learning how to draw a bird. It was rough, but she'd Definitely improved from her first attempt that was closer to a blob of mud than a bird.

The clang of the front door echoed in the manor and they were both content with ignoring it until a voice they both recognized filled the room.

"Already trying to pass on your habits brother?"

Runes entire form went taught and her ears snapped flat on her head. Klaus's gaze snapped up to settle on his sister, who was standing in the archway to the room like she belonged there. She was holding a wine glass in her hand and she looked back at him with her usual indifference. As if she hadn't tried to have him killed less than a week ago.

"What are you doing here, Rebekah." His features pulled into a relatively dark glower. His sister blinked at him in a silent shock. He'd never looked at her like that before, not even as he put a dagger into her chest.

"I came to check up on my brother...and my favorite little niece." Rebekah shot the small kitsune the smile that had made the girl melt before. But grimaced as a glowing blue glare was shot her way with a silent snarl.

Runes ears were pulled as flat and defensive as they could go as she angled her smaller body slightly into Klaus's lap, an attempt at protecting his chest area.

Rune would never forget Miss Rebekahs lie that nearly got her dad killed.

"Rune doesn't like liars...."

Rebekah flinched under the girls cold shoulder. She hadn't expected them to react this way. Klaus had always brushed her mistakes aside, even when they usually ended up with a dagger in her chest, he never stayed angry at her for this long.

What was she supposed to do?

---

Heavy paws dug gouges in the damp soil with each leaping dash. Black and Gold eyes trailed after the small white form skittering between brush and rock. The small fox lept over branches and twisted itself between roots as it yipped excitedly under the light of the full moon.

Klaus gave off a playful snarl as he kept pace behind the young girl. She was using her new form and size to explore new places and interact with nature in a way she never could before. Both of their pelts were stained with blood, the animals and occasional human they encountered no match against the duo.

Whenever the girl grew tired, he would lower himself to the earth allowing the small fox to clamber up onto the top of his head and curl up for a brief break as he sprints through the trees. Soon she would hop off and take up her hurried explorations once again.

He'd deny it to his dying breath but the girl was absolutely adorable as lept up to pounce on small insects and tried stuffing her head into little animal burrows out of curiosity.

He was hoping this helped wane some of the pent up aggression that'd been building in her. Her instincts were beginning to drive her wild, and he needed to do what he can to help her gain control of these new feelings and bits in her life. Once Maddox returned, he should have some more information that may help her settle into her new skin even more.

For now, he would do what he could and help her cope, with these runs, and finding her hobbies to distract her mind like art and games.

Chapter 28: The Salvatore Mistake

Summary:

Stefan Salvatore was a suicidal fool, in an angry and desperate attempt at controlling the situation he makes a decision that will affect the lives of everyone involved.

Notes:

Tw: Child abuse
Tw: threat of death
Tw: mentions of death and violence

Rune eyed the Hybrids watching over her warily. Her daddy had gone out today, something about checking up on something important. When she'd asked he'd just said it was a surprise with an especially mischievous smirk backed by a hint of excitement. It only made Rune wanna know what had her daddy in a good mood all the more. Especially after he'd been really angry the last few days, she hadnt asked him what was wrong, but shed never seen him so furious. So she didn't push it, he wanted it to be a surprise so she tried her best to be patient.

That didn't mean she enjoyed being watched by the hybrids. She didn't feel particularly safe with them, like she did with her dad. They looked at her like she was a feral beast. It's not her fault that she couldn't trust them, they helped the man who hurt her daddy. He'd tried explaining to her that they'd been compelled, but she didn't buy that excuse. They still got him hurt.

Rune gently placed her sketch book in front of her. Flipping it open to and empty page she began slowly outlining the form of a bird. She'd been sketching and shading different birds for the last few weeks and she could see her attempts getting better with each try. Her feathers looked much better, it was nowhere as good as her daddies but it wasn't bad either. Every few minutes she shot one of the hybrids a glance out of the corner of her eye.

As time dragged on she could see them getting increasingly twitchy and a certain chill was beginning to climb up her spine. The hairs on the back of her neck suddenly shot straight up and her heart skipped a beat, it was all she needed to swiftly shove herself to the side. She could feel the breath of someone's fingertips lightly brush through the strands of her hair. She rolled and shoved herself to her feet with a warning hiss.

Once she was on her feet she came face to face with one of the hybrids. She recognized her from the dark black burnt vein like scars running up one of her arms. The hybrid let out a small curse and settled a small glare on her. Runes entire body tensed up more as the two Hybrids who were supposed to be protecting her moved to cage her in on either side.

"Make this easy on us will ya, brat? This doesn't have to go the hard way. Just...stop.." The male talking to her right lunged for her with his speed and she yelped as she ducked under his legs, "moving!"

Scar girl made a move on her again and Rune rolled and landed on her bottom with a low grunt. She began crawling backwards away from the three hybrids, her orange eyes were snapping back and forth looking for a way out. The one that hadn't tried to move after her yet, parked herself in front of the door. Leaving the onky other possible exit one of the large windows to her right.

Her small and sharp canines dug worriedly into her bottom lip. She'd junked out the window before...she didn't remember doing it but maybe she could do it again. She swallowed roughly and shakily shoved herself to her feet. Her legs felt like jelly and she was already getting tired. Trying to keep up with how fast they were was making her arms and legs burn. Her vision swam as a wave of dizzying warmth rushed through her head.

Rune panted heavily, and her ears folded flat against the top of her head. As soon as she saw one of the lunge for her again she pretended to leap to the left and as soon as the hybrid went to try and catch her she spun on her heal and sprinted to the right.

"Damnit!! Toni stop her!" Scar girls voice yelled out into the room.

Rune clenched her eyes shut tightly and threw herself forward. Her elbows connected with the glass of the window and she felt it give way and shatter out, glass and wind blew through her fluffy strands before gravity took hold and she was falling. She felt her heart seize in her chest at the weightless feeling took hold, and all to soon it came to a stop with a jarring collision. Her feet smacked roughly into the stone driveway and her legs gave out beneath her sending her into a rough roll that knocked the air out of her lungs. Burning pain arched up her legs as she struggled to pull herself up.

Small whimpers rumbled her chest as she steadied herself and pushed herself into a tired sprint towards the trees. If she could get into the dark areas of the woods she could transform and hide herself away in a small area. A feeling of familiarity surged through her as the sound of the lockwoods manors front door slamming open filled the air.

She needed to find her daddy...but..She had no idea where he was. only that he went into town. She was smart enough to know shed never make it that far. Not with the ache growing in her feet, and her body starting to get tired. She wished she knew how to transform into her flaming form, her daddy had tried helping her but she hasn't been able to do it again.

She was breathing hard now as she scrambled over roots, her feet crunched through dead leaves and her toes sunk into damp earth. Every one of her senses was being pushed to her max, her ears were twisting and twitching, listening for any sound of her pursuers, her eyes were sharp flicking to and from as the glowed a bright blue. Her button nose wiggled as she tried her best to catch any scent that could possibly help her.

All she could smell was forest and pine, Animals to weak to be of any help and the scent of last nights brief rain. A loud crack of wood and swift thundering footsteps were the only warning she had before something collided with her small form.

As soon as she felt strong hands latch around her midsection, Rune began to struggle, her fingers tipped with deadly claws swiped out catching whoever grabbed her by the shoulder. The grip on her onky lessened for a second before Tightening even further than before. The air was squeezed from her lungs as she kicked out her legs and snarled, twisting swiping at whatever she could reach.

It was getting harder for her to breath as her chest refused to expand against the tight hold with each attempt at inhaling air.

"Let me go!! Let go!!'

"For fucks sake, stop struggling!" A sharp pain exploded at the base of her neck and then everything went black as her body went slack without her permission.

---

A cold shiver racked her body. Consciousness was slowly returning to her as feeling began to seep back into her bones. A sharp burn around her wrists and feet made her features pull up into a pain furrow as orange eyes slipped open with a small groan. Goosebumps crawled across her flesh as she let out a loud sneeze. Her face was flush to a cold stone floor.

A small rush of fear coiled in her gut as the memories resurfaced. The hybrids attacking her and then her desperate sprint through the woods. Rune shifted and struggled against the dirt and dust covered floor. Her hands and feet would budge, tight bindings keeping them bound. She wriggled until her body was on it back, smashing her arms into ground and then lifting herself into a seated position with a certain difficulty. She grunted and huffed and it wasn't until she was up and steady that she took a look around herself.

A sense of foreboding fell onto her shoulders when a set of familiar coffins loomed around her on three sides. Her eyes were adjusting to the darkness around her, and as she took in the growing detail, she could see crumbling walls and growing mold along the cracks and crevices. She didn't recognize this place at all. Turning her gaze down to her ankles she took in the rope binding them. Her brows rose when she could see it was just normal rope. Fluffy ears flapped as a grin spread in her lips, leaning forward as much as she could she stretched stiff joints in order to reach her sharpbteeth to the weak material. She didn't have the strength to snap it like her daddy, but she could easily chew threw it, after all it's not the first time someone has tied her in rope.

As soon as her teeth sunk into the musky and horrible tasting material, she began to chew and shake her head as violently as possible. It was already beginning to fray against her assault and she could feel thing broken strands getting stuck between her teeth. She had to resist the urge to gag as it filled her mouth and flooded her taste buds.

It only took a few moments before she felt the rope give way and snap under her ministrations. As soon as the burn in her ankles lessened she jerked her legs freeing them from their confinement. With her arms bound it was difficult for her to clamber up to her feet, but she didn't give up, even shoving her side against one of the three coffins to steady herself and slide herself up until she was standing straight up.

As much as her curiosity was brimming to the surface, she knew she needed to find a way out. But as she spun on her heel she only found one way to go, and it was blocked by a large heavy looking door. She shot a glance over her shoulder trying to get a look at the binding on her wrists. But no matter how she twisted or stretched she couldn't see them or move her arms enough to get them into a more comfortable position.

A low groan left her throat, "What do I do? Daddy will look for me...he..will.." She trusted her daddy to find her, but it didn't help the simmering fear of being alone in this dark and creepy place.

Stumbling closer to one of the coffins, she could easily recognize it as one of the ones her Dad pulled around as he traveled.

"Why are these here? Didn't daddy put them in a warehouse?"

Her brows furrowed, this was wrong...

The sound of footsteps stomping down stairs and getting closer filled her ears. Rune jerked to attention and shoved herself behind the coffin she was inspecting. Her cheek pressed roughly into its aged and smooth surface. She peaked over its apex, her orange eyes glowing ominously in the dark of the room.

She watched as the door rattled before it was shoved open, her eyes squinted against the slight onslaught of light. It backed the person stepping into the room, covering them in shadow as they slipped inside and then shut the door behind themselves.

Her body tensed ready for anything. Then her heart stopped and skipped multiple beats before picking up into a fearful thrum.

Stefan Salvatore, was looking right at her with narrowed eyes. The gleam in them was almost soulless as a smirk grew into place on his features.

"Seems you've finally woken up." He clicked his tongue before letting out a small chuckle. "Come here little girl, come out of hiding, I promise I won't hurt you."

Rune scoffed, "yeah right, all of the doppelsluts friends are big lying jerks."

She watched the man's brow twitch and a frown grow on his face. Then he was gone, Rune yelped as a brush of air blew passed her and then the exhale of hot air against the tip of one of her ears sent shivers down her spine.

"I wasn't asking brat." A harsh hand circled the back of her neck and then yanked her up. "Time to go! We're going for a drive."

Her feet hung in the air as she kicked out her legs, hissing and yipping out warning growls.

"Put me down! I'm not a cat!! Let go you jerk!!"

His grip tightened as he hauled her out of the basement cave like room, and up the old aging stairs. She didn't pay much attention to her surroundings, trying her hardest to get out of his hold. She kicked her feet against walls and knocked her small knees against the vampires hip. He let out a small grunt slightly faltering in his step.

Fresh air filled her lungs as she was dragged out into a forested area. She swiveled her head trying to catch sight of anything that could help but the only thing she could see was a large black suv. Stefan stomped his way towards the car and ripped the back door open before harshly throwing her inside.

Before she could try and leap out, he'd grabbed her again and strapped her into the seat and yanked the seat belt before letting go, locking her place. She kicked her foot out catching him in the jaw as he pulled away. Stefan snarled and slammed the door shut. He pulled open the driver door and set himself inside.

The vampire wasted no time in starting the vehicle and pulling out of his spot. It wasn't long before they were on a road, speed picking up with every second.

A low groan caught her attention making her snap her gaze towards the passenger seat I'm the front. Just now noticing the slumped over form of the Mean girl Elena. Elena's eyes were fluttering as she raised her hand to her head and looked around them with a groan.

"Where-.. what's going on?"

Rune growled, "Ask the stupid head!!" She kicked her feat into the back of Stefan seat.

Elena's gaze snapped around to look in the back seat, taking in the form of the ruffled and slightly injured girl. Her eyes trailed the fluffy ears atop her head before slowly turning her gaze to Stefan.

"Stefan? Where are we? What's going on?"

The salvatore completely ignored her questions barely sparing her a glance as he flipped his phone out of his pocket. He silently dialed a number, and then stepped on the gasp. Both girls in the car let out startled yelps at the sudden increase in speed.

"Stefan!! STEFAN!?"

A click from the phone and Rune had never felt more relieved when the sound of her father's voice screamed out over the reciever.

"WHERE IS SHE!? WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER SALVATORE!"

"You're going to order all of your hybrids to leave town, or you're never going to see your coffins or the kid ever again."

Elena and Rune were both staring daggers into the man's head with a growing hostility and horror.

Klaus's voice echoed from the phone, "No, you are going to hand my Rune back over to me before I hunt everyone and everything you care about, and burn it all into nothing!"

"Do you really care about keeping you're hybrids, more than your family? I mean, you have to wonder how got my hands on the little freak in the first place."

Rune surged forward in her seat straining against the locked seat belt, "DADDY! WE'RE IN A CAR, HE JUST DROVE US OUT OF THE WO-URGK!" Stefans palm connected with her cheek with an echoing slap.

"Stay quiet back there!"

"Stefan!! Stop the car! Slow down will you!?" Elena was slowly entering a panicked state as the car just kept speeding up faster.

And enraged snarl came from the phone, before Klaus whispered out with a deadly and ferocious calm. "When I get my hands on yoy I'm going to disembowl the intestines from your body,  before slowly peeling the skin from your flesh with a vervain soaked and rusted spoon! I'm going to make every breath and second of your existence filled with suffering." Rune could hear something wet squelch from over the phone followed by multiple squishy thuds. There was a whimper followed by begging before another squelch and a thud. "My daughter salvatore. There aren't any hybrids left for you to threaten me with."

Stefans face pulled into scowl, "Do you think I'm stupid? You spent months obsessing over your precious hybrids, no, they leave town. Or I drive your doppelganger and the kid over the side of Wickery bridge."

Elena gasped out a begging cry as tears began to pour down her face. The doppelganger was struggling to free herself, trying to gets open the door as she began to began Stefan to stop the car.

"STEFAN, PLEASE!! STOP THE CAR!!"

Rune could see the bridge getting closer and her breathing picked up in pace. Slit pupils shrunk into panicked pinpricks as the hood passed the boundary of the beginning of the bridge. 

"Stefan! STEFAN STOP THE CAR!"

Klaus's voice screamed over the phone, panic clear in his voice "RIPPAH, STOP IT, STOP! You'll get your wish! JUST STOP THE FUCKING CAR. NOT MY DAUGHTER, SHES ONLY 11!"

Air gets caught in Runes chest as the car suddenly decelerates with a loud screech of metal, and her head is slammed back against the seat. Elena let out a terrified scream as the vehicle continued to hurtle closer to the edge of the bridge. Time slowed down as the front wheels shot off the side and then weight and gravity took over tipping the metal beast forward and then they were hurtling towards the cold depths of the river.

Rune couldn't hold back her scream as the car impacted against the rushing water. "Daddy!! The cars in the water!!! I can't get my hands free!!"

"Rune!? RUNE!! IM COMING RUNE!"

She struggles and thrashed against her restraints as water began to fill the car. Her breathing was panicked and she shot her head up in alarm when the sound of tearing metal filled the air, and then water was rushing in faster than ever. The small kitsune watched on horrified as the salvatore took the doppelganger intl his arms and shoved them out into the water without even a backwards glance at her.

He left her here. The damned bastard!! Shes not entirely sure what that word ment but she'd heard several adults use it when arguing with others. She's positive it's fitting for the jerk.

Her struggling kicked up faster as cold water began to reache her waist. The car was completely submerged and the cold depths were swiftly rising up to her chin. She stretched her head up as high as it could go, but she was so small compared to her seat, and soon she was forced to take a deep breath as the water rushed up past her eyes and then her ears. Pulling and tugging against the seatbelt was significantly harder with the pressure of the water piling down on her and her chest was already beginning to burn with a need for air. Her tail was no use, crushed under her body.

The car rumbled as it's decent came to a stop at the bottom of the river. She could feel the pressure crushing down on her, her ears popped and eyes stung. Soon she couldn't hold it anymore and the precious air trapped on her lungs was forced out in a hail of bubbles her brain tried to inhale in a panicked state sending water into her nose. The only notice she could make was a gurgle. Black crept across her vision and her jerking movements slowed, when the muffled tearing of metal filled her head once more.

Firm hands gripped the belt locking her in place before ripping it free. As soon as she was loose they grabbed her waist, and with a startling speed, she was pulled from the death trap and being hurtled upwards in a caring hold.

She couldn't gain her bearings, even as she felt her body breach the surface and her back get gently set against the ground she couldn't do anything. Her lungs refused to take in any air and everything was going fuzzy, noise was fading out.

Something heavy and strong, pushes down onto her chest with a powerful force. Again and again, until something presses against her mouth and air was forced into her chest. The rhythmic pushing picks up again, until a gurgling spray of water is forced past pale blue lips.

Rune coughed, violently. Her mouth open wide as she struggled to get fresh air into her body. Coughs and sniffles racked her trembling form as shivers surged up her spine.

A large hand rubbed circles into her back then reached down. She could feel the ropes on her wrists snap as she took deep painful breathes. Cracking open weary eyes, Rune slid her haze up to take in her rescuer.

Orange and tired eyes widened in shock. Short black hair was drenched with water and stuck to the man's forehead. Worried hazel eyes gazed down at her with a barely concealed fury and promise. The white button up he was wearing was soaked through with water, bereft of the usual dark coat that concealed it.

Elijah Mikaelson had her held carefully against his chest, in a protective hold. He held her almost hesitantly as if expecting her to lash out at any second.

However she didn't have any energy to even move. All the could do, was let out a small whispered whimper, "...brute?"

"I've got you Rune, Niklaus will be here soon. Shhh, just rest.. I will keep you safe. I swear it."

She wanted to argue, tell him that his swears were stupid, but she couldn't. She just bit back the tears threatening to fall and burried her fave into his shoulder.

"RUNE!"

Her father's voice echoed across the bridge, getting closer. Knowing she would be back in his arms soon, had her eyes slipping closed into an exhausted sleep.

Notes:

😭😭😭

Chapter 29: Encompassing Fury

Summary:

Things were going well after the death of Mikael, while the relationship with his siblings was strained, the feeling of freedom had never been so great. That was until Stefan Salvatore decided he no longer wished to exist.
For once he was grateful for his brothers uncanny ability to show up out of nowhere.

*please read beginning notes for warnings, this chapter is heavy on the violence*

Notes:

You guys, I just realized this is chapter 30😭😭 it was only supposed to be like 8 to 10...and now it's probably going to be around 60 to 70.... this story sunk its claws into me and took off with my brain. You guys went crazy with the comments last chapter and I had such an amazing time reading and responding to each one, you guys are amazing. I'm so sorry I caused such a large bout of heart attacks over the safety of our precious baby Rune.

TW: TORTURE
TW: Violence
Tw: blood and death
Tw: threats
Tw: blood bath
I will be putting a warning break in this chapter to let anyone to squeamish to read descriptive violence to skip over it!!

Several hours before~

Klaus gently ran his fingers through the soft strands of Runes hair. The girl was looking up at him with a pout full of curiosity. He knew that she'd noticed his bad mood for the last few days. Things had been smooth sailing since the death of Mikael, a certain relief and sense of freedom had settled within him. Yet Stefan Salvatore was determined to ruin his good mood. The fool had somehow stolen the coffins containing the rest of his family.

He didn't particularly like keeping his daughter in the dark. But he didn't wish to stress her out any more than she already was. Rune was currently like a threatened feral kitten. Baring it's fangs and claws that everything and everyone that wasn't him. He didn't want to make it worse by telling her something else had happened.

Today he finally decided to go check up on the surprise he'd been putting together. After such a long week, he was almost excited to see the progress made on the manor he'd made plans for. Klaus's eyes slid up to take in the forms of his Hybrids, he was beginning to question their usefulness. They were incapable of hunting down a single vampire, they weren't even good for gathering information.

Why had he ever been so set on creating them if they were of no use? They weren't even useful against Mikael.letring out a low sigh he settled the three of them with a hard stare.

"You three, you're going to watch Rune while I go out to deal with some business."

He gets three nods, but noticed a certain hesitancy there that they were trying to hide. He narrowed his eyes at them, "is that a problem?"

The woman with scars running up her arm, what was her name again?, straightened under his searching glare.

"Of course not, Klaus, we'll take good care of miss Rune."

Klaus scoffed and turned in his heal to look down at the small kitsune. Rune was looking up at him with big watery eyes and a begging wobble to her lip. His hard features softened into a small smile, "Not this time little fox."

He almost caved under her pout when her tail went limp and her ears laid flat. "Where are you going?"

"It's a surprise, young Rune."

He expected her to keep trying to talk her way into going, but she completely pulled away, her ears tweaking with interest as a sparkle settled in her eyes, "A surprise?"

"Mmmhmm, I'll be back soon." He ran his nails along her scalp one last time before stepping away and making his way out of the house. He'd be gone an hour maybe two. Maybe he should take her out for dinner tonight? Or a nightly run?

Ideas and thoughts spun through his mind as he got into his car and began making his way into town. The manor shouldn't take much longer with all the compelled workers he's pulled together. He wondered how Rune will react to her new room..

---

The low sigh that left his through without consent onky managed to bring his mood further down that it was before. The glass of bourbon held loosely in his grip was cool against his forehead as he leaned against the counter of the grills bar. His sleeves were unbuttoned and pulled up high on his arms, while his usual suit jacket was tossed over one of the chairs to his side.

Elijah was 15 glasses in, he was sure if he hadn't compelled the drinks for himself that his tab would have been closer to a thousand at this rate. However he couldn't bring himself to care. Not when Niklaus wouldn't even meet his gaze whenever they were within the same area. Last week, Rebekah had stormed into their current place with misty tears in her eyes, ranting about how Their brother and Rune wouldn't even give her a chance to talk, that the child had completely spurned her.

Klaus wasn't dropping this one, he'd sunk his teeth into this grudge and was holding onto it with everything he had. Even going as far as to pretend he and Rebekah didn't exist. Elijah had not been prepared for how much of an impact his brothers scorn was going to have, the guilt and desperation coiling like deadly vipers in his gut. He tipped back his glass to his lips, draining the entire thing before leaning down to press his forehead against the smooth surface of the bar.

It was times like these he detested his enhanced healing, the inordinant amount of alcohol having no effect as his body burned off its poisonous effects before it could even reach his stomach. He lifted his face prepared to wave the bartender over for another refill, when the front door of the bar opened and several voices spilled into the establishment.

He was prepared to ignore them like all the rest. Their tired and annoyed griping doing nothing to grab his interest.

At least, that was hisnplan until one of them dropped his brothers name. That was all it took for Elijah to slowly lower his hand and tune his hearing toward the group moving to a quieter part of the bar.

"Steffi, should we really be making a stop at the bar? If Klaus finds us here..." The only male in the group was glancing around himself like a skittish rabbit, his hand was gently cradling his shoulder as if wounded. A simple twitch of his nose and inhale was all Elijah needed to confirm the scent of the man's fresh blood, hybrid blood. His interest only peaked further, he wondered if they'd even noticed him at the bar. He doubted it... they probably wouldn't be talking so loudly otherwise.

"Oh stuff it, Toni. After today we won't have to worry about him again. He'll send us away and we can finally be free."

The second unnamed girl gave a hum I'm agreement, "If that salvatore hadn't gotten us that vervain, it would've been much harder for us to have done our part."

Toni let out a small fearful shush, trying to get the to stay quiet. "Be quiet! If he ever found out about what we did, he won't just send us away..Steffi, Elizabeth... he will kill us!"

"It'd be better than being forced to watch after that little freak whenever he's gone. Look at what she did to my arm Toni! Not to mention your shoulder! The blackened scars are already crawling up your neck.."

Elijah's eyes narrowed, sending a brief glance over his shoulder. He could see steffi pulling the man's shirt to the side, revealing small clawed gouges in his skin that were turning black like charred flesh. What in the hells did these hybrids do for The Salvatore?

Elizabeth let out a small hiss as she took in the damage that was only spreading. "What did the Vampire want with the kid anyway?"

Steffi let out an annoyed grunt, "Why should I care? If it got me off babysitter duty then he can do whatever the hell he wants to her. I only heard him mention something about Wikery Bridge...what does it matter?" She turned a glare on the male hybrid, "Things would have gone alot easier if Toni wasn't such a screw up, if you'd done your job, she never would have been able to jump out that window. The brat nearly got away."

Elijah's fingers tightened on his glass. They'd handed Rune over to Stefan Salvatore? The same Salvatore who'd nearly killed the child back in Chicago? Something dark boiled over inside him as he pushed himself away from the bar.

Wickery bridge....he needed to get to wickery bridge. If Klaus lost Rune...he's not even sure the amount of damage and rage this entire town would face.

He shot a brief considering glare at the three hybrids lounging in the back of the grill. Before brushing them off. Klaus will want to rip out their hearts and peel away their skin himself. As soon as the entry door the the bar closed behind him, he took off. It was mid afternoon, he thought about finding his brother before deciding it would take too much time, he had no idea of knowing how long Rune has been in the Salvatores possession.

He remembered the basic layout of the town, from the historical tour miss Sommers took him on several months ago. Wickery bridge, having been one of the first stops. The old thing was damaged, and located near the edge of town, it was near the heavily wooded areas of Mystic falls.

He could only hope he'd make it in time. His speed took him through the trees and underbrush of mystic falls, faster than the eyes could see. Wind and branches smacked into his form as he stormed through everything in his way. His focus was dead set on getting to the bridge, if they weren't there he would search for any possible clues.

He could see the trees breaking apart and lessening in density as he gets closer. As he neared the edge of the forest a loud screech of tires followed by a high pitched shreek of metal filled the air. Elijah's eyes widened as he witnessed the large Suv fly over the edge of the damaged bridge. The metal beast hurtled towards the water. Ad it impacted with the rushed surface, a high pitched young yelp of fear stabbed its way into his ears.

Hus heart dropped to his feet. Was Rune inside there?! His thought was answered before he could even lunge himself over the bridges fencing. Leaning over it to looks at the sinking car, he could see Stefan pull himself out of it with the Doppelganger in his arms, ge waited to see him pull out Rune as well. But the Younger vampire never looked back, just swam off with the screaming and hysterical Elena in his hold.

Rage burned through him. He'd made mistakes, some that were unforgivable, he knew that...but to abandon a child to such a crushing and horrific death sent a spike a hatred for the Salvatore through him.

Elijah threw himself off the bridge,  diving into the water below with a hard determination. The car was already settled at the bottom of the river bed, it will make it easier for him to rip the door off. Swimming down he grabs the Handle and shoved his fingers into whatever crack he could fit them in. With his strength it was almost to easy ripping the door off its hinges and revealing the slightly limp form of Rune within.

The original snarled in the water, shooting forward to rip the seat belt holding her in place and quickly pulling her into his grip. He needed to get her to air, and quickly.

The next few moments were a blur. He didn't really remember bursting through the surface or dragging himself onto the damp muddy bank. His hazel eyes swam over the girl, her lips were turning blue and the beat of her heart was weak. She wasnt breathing!

"Rune..! I've got you Rune...alright.." he pressed his hands into her chest and pumped down roughly. He cringed everytime he felt her ribs strain under his force, but he'd rather her a cracked rib than dead. He could see her eyes flutter under her lids, leaning down pinch her nose and began blowing air into her lungs. He held that for a few than returned to pressing down on her chest.

The relief that filled him when that water sprayed from her lips, and she began coughing and sucking in air, was all encompassing.

Her body shivered from the freezing water, and he tried to run soothing circles into her back. That was when his eyes spotted the rough rope binding her wrist behind her back, his features pulled into a furious snarl, quickly reaching down and freeing her from the restraints.

Small tired orange eyes gazed up at him in shocked wonder, the small quiet whimper and exhaustion in her voice pulled at him, "..brute?"

"I've got you Rune, Niklaus will be here soon. Shhh, just rest.. I will keep you safe. I swear it."

He noticed the hesitation and glint of distrust. But before he could take it back or reassure her, she'd gone limp in his hold, snuggling into his shoulder.

"RUNE!?" Elijah's eyes snapped up to watch the incoming form of his brother. The horrified and guilt ridden panic in Niklaus's eyes, was offset by the sickening amount of red and clumps of flesh dripping from his clothes. The hybrid looked as if he'd just stepped right out of a horror house blood bath. He slid to a stop in front of Elijah, and the older mikaelson could see the way he was analyzing the situation before it fell away completely as his gaze landed on the girl in his arms. "I-is she.."

"She'll be fine little brother..I got here in time.." So many emotions crawled across his brothers face in that moment as he looked down at the girl, Fear, anger, relief, adoration. But when his eyes turned up to him they brimmed with suspicion.

"How did you even know about the Salvatores plans, hmm brother? Another one of your plots to end me that you suddenly came to regret? Or maybe you'd hoped you could use this to get back in my good graces?"

Elijah casted his gaze to the ground, "You have every right not to trust me Niklaus. But I swear to you on my honor and the lives of myself and our family, that I had nothing to do with this."

The scathing chuckle shot his way was dark, "What honor? What honor is there in compelling and harming a child for a girl that did not deserve it. What honor was there in trying to have me killed, twice!?"

"Once!! I hadn't even known about Rebekahs plans until Mikael had already begun his attack! I wasn't even in town! I reacted impulsively with Rune, and I will hold that regret. But I would not sentence the girl to death!" Elijah shot a glance down, making sure their raising voices hadn't bothered her. She was still snuggled into his chest, and breathing ragged, but deep enough to reassure him she wouldn't suddenly stop.

"Then how could you have known!!"

"Three of your hybrids."

Klaus's face twisted up. "WHAT.."

"They came into the grill while I was...getting a drink.. they were talking about Rune and mentioned the bridge and how they'd handed the girl over to the salvatore." He could see His brothers shoulders shake with a certain rage. Klaus stalked closer to his brother and before Elijah could react, the hybrid was pulling the child out of his arms and pulling her tightly into his blood soaked clothes.

"Niklaus...who's blood is that?"

The dark smirk that spread across his brothers face was filled with a satisfied blood lust.

"Salvatore tried to take my daughter from me... unfortunately his brother was safe behind the boarding house doors... and I needed to get my point across somehow."

---

*Trigger warning: Skip to end warning if you have problems with blood, torture and Death*

Flashback~

Klaus twirled his keys in his hand as he sauntered up the driveway towards the Lockwood manor. He could already spot several of his Hybrids milling about near the front of the house. However the closer he got the more tension in the air he could feel. They were all sniffing around, as if searching for something. Voices floated gently along the wind seeping into his ears as he picked up the whispered and panicked conversations.

"The kid jumped out the window over here right? I mean they couldn't have gotten far after such a big fall?"

"If we don't find her before Klaus gets back.."

"You don't think, one of the others took up that Stefan guy on his deal do you?"

Klaus slowed to a stop, his fingers tightened on the keys and he could feel the plastic and metal bending and cracking under the strain of his grip. Rune was missing..?? What happened with the hybrids who were supposed to be watching her? He ordered them too!

He flickered into place behind the last hybrid who'd spoken. A deranged and angry gleam in his eyes.

"I'm sorry. But maybe I didn't hear you right? Rune jumped from a window? And not only that, but you were apparently approached by q certain salvatore and not a single one of toy decided that would be something important to mention!?" His voice rose an octave, cracking as jerked his arm forward. His fingers tore through flesh like wet paper, the hybrids ribs gave way under the force of his blow and his hand roughly latched onto the man's heart.

All of the hybrids went taught around him, and fear permeated the air. The hybrid currently at his mercy was whimpering out pained cries. Klaus squeezed and tugged at the pliant heart playing with it as if he wasn't holding the younger hybrids life in his literal palm. A simple crushing squease and a snap of his hand against his cheek was all it would take to separate head from shoulder and liquefy the trembling man's heart.

His ready to start hissing promises of pain when his phone went off. Stefan Salvatores name flashed across his screen. He swiftly answered the call and didn't give the vampire time to say anything before barking out his demand.

"WHERE IS SHE!? WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER SALVATORE!"

Stefans voice seeped out of the phone devoid of emotion or any care. "You're going to order all of your hybrids to leave town, or you're never going to see your coffins or the kid ever again."

Klaus let out a low growl, and dug a hateful glare into the hybrid speared on his arm. Daring him to make a sound.

Klaus's snarled into the reciever "No, you are going to hand my Rune back over to me before I hunt everyone and everything you care about, and burn it all into nothing!"

"Do you really care about keeping you're hybrids, more than your family? I mean, you have to wonder how got my hands on the little freak in the first place."

Klaus dug an even harsher stare into the hybrid who was beginning to whimper, as tears built up in his eyes. How pathetic, he didn't need useless and broken tools.

When he hear Runes voice scream out from somewhere on the other side of the phone followered by a loud smack and his daughters pained grunt, his hand holding the heart shut with a violent jerking motion. He ripped his arm free, and before the hybrid even fell the the ground he's twisted his fingers into their hair and yanked and twisted as hard as he could. The head came free almost too easily and he through it against the outer wall of the manor. It hit the brick with a splattered impact sending bits of flesh, blood and bone spraying out across the homes exterior.

And enraged snarl came from Klaus as he whispered out with a deadly and ferocious calm. "When I get my hands on you I'm going to disembowl the intestines from your body, before slowly peeling the skin from your flesh with a vervain soaked and rusted spoon! I'm going to make every breath and second of your existence filled with suffering." Klaus slipped into a haze of red, he paid no mid the to begging of his Hybrids as he began to take out everything he was feeling on them. He didn't need them, he slammed one of the girls heads against the brickwork of the Lockwood fountain until nothing but liquified brain matter was left. He broke bones, tore of heads, sank his fangs into whoever and ehatever he cpuld reach. He was holding another ones head under the water of the same fountain as he hissed into the phone. "My daughter salvatore. There aren't any hybrids left for you to threaten me with."

Stefans voice was sarcastic and disinterested snarl as it came through again "Do you think I'm stupid? You spent months obsessing over your precious hybrids, no, they leave town. Or I drive your doppelganger and the kid over the side of Wickery bridge."

Klaus's undead heart skipped a beat, and the head he was holding under the water gave way under his tight grip. He could feel the blood and bone seep between his fingers as a curdling rage filled him. Stefan Salvatore just threatened to kill his daughter. His rage onlt grew as Elenas voice kicked in.

"STEFAN, PLEASE!! STOP THE CAR!!"

"Stefan! STEFAN STOP THE CAR!"

Klaus finally couldnt take it anymore, rage and fear spilled put of him in waves so he screamed over the phone, panic clear in his voice "RIPPAH, STOP IT, STOP! You'll get your wish! JUST STOP THE FUCKING CAR. NOT MY DAUGHTER, SHES ONLY 11!"

He could hear the screech of tires, and then a loud splash. Rune  screaming out about the water onky confirmed his worst fears, the phone nearly slipped from his fingers.

"Rune!? RUNE!! IM COMING RUNE!"

He spun on his heal, completely disregarding the hell he left behind. Blood and torn flesh painted the once pristine garden. Bodies were strewn out across the grass, one had ended up impaled on a sharp pointed post, his eyes missing and tongue ripped free.

The once clear fountain, now ran red with the blood of the hybrids unlucky enough to be chosen as its victims. And the dealer of it all, was running as fast as his legs could take him, whining out the amount of blood dropping from his form. Over a dozen hybrids ends and ripped into nothing within a blink.

And he didn't care. All he could think about was Rune. His Rune was in danger...and it was his fault...

End Flashback~

*End Of The Trigger Warning*

"It was almost to easy, how quickly they broke. They were worthless." Klaus held Runes sleeping form closer to his chest While he recounted what'd happened to his brother. Now that the adrenaline was beginning to wane He could feel that overwhelming Rage beginning to fester once more. He wanted nothing more than to make Stefan Salvatore feel the helpless, pain filled panic, that he'd just endured. He'd spurn the doppelganger if he had to, rip her apart and make the suicidal fuck watch.

Maybe he could convince Elijah to help him corner the bastard. Find the coffins, torture the location out of him if he had too.

"Salvatore has the coffins." Elijah's head snapped in his direction.

"Excuse me?"

"I'm going to get their location out of him one way or another. Are you game, brother?"

The two of them eyed each other with a certain seriousness. A certain understanding that had been lost to them for many years.

"I'm game, Niklaus."

Chapter 30: Aftermath

Summary:

Rune has to deal with the aftermath of her near death experience, while her father and the brute reap the consequences against the Salvatore that dared harm an honorary Mikaelson.

Notes:

I need to say that I'm not really gonna apologize for how long this chapter took to come out. I really needed a break from writing Klaus stories, I was losing inspiration and the last thing I wanted was to put out half assed trash. I do however want thank everyone who has stuck with this story even with the very long lag between this chapter and the last. I can't promise updates will come out quickly from here on out, as I'm currently dealing with severe health issues and being admitted to the ER recently, but I will try to put a chapter out whenever I have the time.

The sheets were soft against her small form as she curled up beneath the heavy and warm duvet. Rune was quiet as she laid there, the events before she lost consciousness repeating in her mind like a broken record. She was currently a melting pot of emotions, unsure what she was supposed to think or feel. Elijah, the bug brute had helped her, saved her... She'd thought he didn't like her, why else would he have scared her like that all those months ago?? Scares her like the people from town. But now she didn't know what to think... if he didn't like her, then why did he pull her out of the car?

She'd woken up alone, in an empty manor. So alone she stayed, hidden within the nest of her and Klaus's room. She was keeping her senses on the alert, waiting patiently for her daddy to return. She knew he would, he had too.

Small teeth chewed into the nail of her thumb and a puffy tail thumped behind her. Her feet were bare, heels dragging against the soft material as she tried her best to stay calm. He won't be gone forever.

She repeated it to herself over and over again, drowning out the memories and fear as the feeling of water choking her lungs resurfaced in the silence of the room. Her hands clamped down over her ears and her tail coiled around her legs hugging herself close.

"You're not there anymore, Big brute saved you..." even telling herself that did nothing to suppress the small whimper in her chest. She wanted Klaus, she wanted her daddy.

---

Saphire and Hazel eyes tracked their target with sharp precision. Stefan Salvatore had gone to ground, disappearing after leaving Rune in that car to a disastrous fate. However he's made one mistake, and they would make sure to use that to their full advantage. Damon Salvatore had a sobbing Elena in his arms as they sat on the girls front porch. The swing swayed gently in the wind as the brunette burried her tear soaked face into the vampires chest. Klaus cared not for the girls loud blubbering, a swift glance at his brother revealed a detached indifference to her agony. The doppelganger left his daughter to rot in that vehicle, and she didn't show an ounce of regret for it.

All of her clues centered around Stefan, and how he could have possible done this to her. How he knew how much trauma that bridge caused her. Yet she spoke nothing of the little girl who'd shared the experience with her. Damon was just taking it all in, nodding his head with a mask of empathy. Klaus knew the man wouldn't say his real thoughts on the matter, but secretly Damon agreed with his brothers choice. Elena hadn't been left In the car to die, so he wasn't quite sure why she was so bent out of shape over this.

But if it got him closer to her then he'd be the shoulder for her to cry on. Klaus scoffed silently as he watched the duo. He wanted to deal with this as quickly as he could and return to his daughters side. Her pale face and drenched form had stirred a dark rage to the surface one he planned to quell with desperate screams and thick heated blood. His gaze tracked every twitch of the crying teenager, waiting for his chance to strike. The second Damon left he was going to grab the girl, the hybrids were defective, unloyal and not worth all the effort he'd put into them.

So what use did he have for a breathing doppelganger? Stefan had hauled her from the sinking death trap, revealing the care for the girl that was burried deep down alongside his humanity. The hybrid couldn't help but question how the man would react to the knowledge that in the end, him pulling Elena from the metal beast would not change the fateful path the ripper had put the girl on.

Elijah wanted to feel bad for the crying girl. She'd been through so much as the current doppelganger. Death and agony following her at every bend and turn. He was unsure what his brother had in store for the girl, and he didn't particularly want to know. But as he watched her sob out her woes, and not onse express regret or concern for the child that'd been left behind. The child he'd had to drag out and breath life back into, any attempts at sympathy burned away until he felt nothing but acceptance for what's to be done. His own target, the man who's held his ure since day one of his arrival in mystic falls, Damon Salvatore.

He and the little vampire were going to become swiftly and deeply aquainted this night. Nothing brought two people together faster than a good old talk over the others open chest cavity. Damon Salvatore would be Baring out his heart to the Suited original by the time the moon was high in the sky this night, both metaphorically and literally, Elijah would make sure of that.

Both brothers shared a glance when Damon led the Doppelganger into her home and then left shortly after. Elijah still had an invite into the girls home, and he'd be using it tonight. The older original rolled up his wrinkled and partially dry sleeves past his elbows and loosened his tie as he stalked across the street and out of the shadows. It was all to easy slipping into the home. The front door left unlocked, he rolled his eyes, how... careless..

His bare feet thumped silently along the wood stairs of the modest home. He'd left them out on the bridge. More worried for the child making it back to the safety of her temporary home than his state of dress. He was sure he looked quite ragged in appearance. He was also sure it had nothing to do with the look of horror gleaming in chocolate brown eyes as they landed on his imposing form as he stood in the door frame leading to the girls room. His head tilted to the side, still damp black tresses tickling his brow as he regarded the teen.

The way she seemingly sunk back into her bed with an unsure and skittish look crossing her features. The original felt a small grin Inching at the corners of her lips.

"Miss Gilbert, you'll have to excuse my current state of dress. It's not exactly befitting of my usual attire.... however, it's seems I'd somehow found myself going for a but of a swim this afternoon... you wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you??" This was it...this was the only chance he was giving her to show some sort of regret or care for the child left behind...

But she didn't do that.. her posture changed under his gaze. Becoming more demure, how had he missed this before... the cold snake like look that would appear in her eyes before it was covered by whatever emotion she was trying to convey. He'd thought her a smart and stressed young girl, burdened by her fate at the hands of his brother, caring of her family and friends. A martyr to keep those she loved safe...

But she was more than that. A siren and leach... like the doppelganger before her... like Tatia and Katherine. Once again he'd allowed the innocence in their shared faves steer him away from the truth. He'd allowed himself to be blinded to her hidden side.

"I dont..." Her gaze slid away from his own unable to hold put against the burning intensity within his hazel depths. She slumped and her eyes widened for a dramatic filling of mist. Elijah clicked his tongue.

"That's a shame.." Alarm built in the girls fave when he disappeared from her sight only to have a heavy palm clasp her mouth shut from behind as she was dragged from the warmth of her bed. Elena's feet kicked out as fear overrode the logic of her mind. Elijah couldn't help but draw a sense of dejavu from the moment. Watching the brunette struggle in his hold as he cut off her air. Until she was falling limp in his arms.

He should have done this months ago... he never should have chosen to help the Girl remain hidden in that closet. All it brought him was problems...

Now, he had a chance to make things right with his brother... and with the small fox eared girl, rune..

He wouldn't let this go to waste.. he needed to get her down to Klaus so that he could go after his own target for the night. Blood will spill on this night... that was certain.

Chapter 31: New Rune picture

Summary:

I know how some people feel about Ai, I just couldnt afford to get anyone to create a realistic version of her. And realism is not my best talent in art.

I had a new image of her in my head forming as I reread that was far more realistic than her previous photo and much closer to what I'd originally imagined.

I even added a physical teenage photo cause I couldn't help myself~

New chapter in the next few days coming~

Child <Physically around 8>

Actually 12

"Teen" <Physically around 17> (the forehead mark is supposed to be a circle)

Actually over a few hundred

Chapter 32: Fateful Division

Summary:

The belief in fate is to believe in the strings of destiny leading each soul along a predetermined path. However what if one was to come and take a pair of scissors to those strings.
What if that wielder was completely unaware the changes they have caused?

Notes:

I'm sorry this took a bit longer than planned, my inspiration was all over the place, and I've been up and down with really bad insomnia. So I'm sorry that this took a few days longer than I said it would🥲

Tw: Violence
Tw: Very slight torture

A loud grown filled the dark space surround the two figures. Hazel eyes were narrowed with distaste and a familiar disconnect. Elijah cared not for the young vampires pain, the vervain in his system would not deture the original, it only made things worse for the elder Salvatore. Damon was strung up by his wrists from the ceiling of the dungeon, blood dripping in slow rivulets. Each slice healed slower than the last, however heal they did. Each time one closed and no longer bled the tainted blood, Elijah's blade would find a new patch of skin. Torture was not his favorite method for information gathering. Katerina's had been necessary despite the lack of answers, and The Salvatore was more than deserved in his eyes.

Damon's worth had been low in the Noble Mikaelsons eyes since their first meeting, it has continued to lower with every second, every interaction with the detestable brat. His ego and uncaring attitude for anything not Elena was an annoyance. Elijah didn't allow his thought to squander over the current doppelganger for long. She wouldn't be hurt to badly this night, at least not yet. That's where Damon came in, if Stefan didn't tell them the location of the coffins in exchange for Damon, then Elijah was to compel the information from the caged vampire. Once they had the info, Elena was to be their insurance to keep any of the doppelganger little friends from interfering as they collected their family.

Klaus was probably having the time of his life taunting the girl and leaving small wounds to leave an impression that would hopefully get the originals point across. You do not take what was his, you don't not harm his own, and he is not to be underestimated. Elijah for once in what felt like centuries was on the same page as his brother, the anger, the disgust towards the ripper, and the worry he'd felt for the young honorary Mikaelson. It all bled together leading him to this current moment, somewhere in the back of his mind old chains loosened from a red door, threatening to release whatever hid within.

Elijah paid the impending feeling no mind as he left another deep slice in the younger vampires lower thigh. He was targeting heavy bleeding areas while also leaving little nicks here and there. Damon had long since devolved into a bundle of pain and groans, unable to shoot back his daring taunts. However the fire hadn't died from those rebellious eyes, Elijah would almost feel impressed if he didn't absolutely despise the creatinous slug hang8ng in front of him.

He wondered briefly what Klaus was up to on his side of things.

---

The crystal glassware tinkled softly in his hand as he swirls the ice and amber liquid within. Klaus was lent back against an aged sofa, the weak swill in his glass barely satisfying him as waited with a patience he didn't feel the youngest Salvatore truly deserved. But wait he did, the boarding house had been easy to enter with a certain girl's invitation, he glanced up to where she currently sat. Her back was ramrod straight, the compulsion settling easily in place with the presence of vervain in her system.

Elena Gilbert, or should he call her Elena Petrova? She reminded him far to much of Katerina and not just their identical faces. He will admit the girl had a fire that the previous doppelganger did not. Katerina was a coward, a survivor, but a coward all the same. Oh he understood what it meant to run from the one orchestrating your death. That However is not what made her a coward. No it was the way she went about it, using his brother, sacrificing her family, attempting to sell out her own descendent for his pardon.

He daggered his family to keep them safe from their hunter. He labeled himself a villain built a reputation, killed and fought to keep his siblings at his side. And for what..!? His fingers tightened and the crystal glass shattered in his grasp, gold burned in black Abyss as anger flooded his features.

Betrayal...

Loathing...

Loss..

Being forced to traverse time all alone, with no one he could truly trust. His thoughts briefly flashed with Mischievous and glimmering orange eyes, pupils slit and filled with mirth. No... he wasn't alone anymore... and yet, he came so close to losing something so... precious.

He glanced up at the girl, her face screamed her inner panic. The growing bruise on her face where Elijah had gripped filled him woth satisfaction. She deserved it and more in his opinion. She'd tormented his daughter for who knows how long, Rune had refused to elaborate further on what she'd experienced on the streets. She'd left his precious fox to drown. Hadn't even shown remorse for the child left behind.

Even now she continued to hold this false sense of martyrdom. Refusing to speak, or even admit to knowing why she was currently in this position. He'd give the girl his admiration for her guts to not only lie to his face but try to hold information from him.

If only it didmt serve to completely piss him off.

"Maybe we should try this one more time love~ You know that I know that you know why you're here. Let's just make this easier on ourselves and come clean, yes~? I'd hate to have to resort to more compulsion... especially when I already know the answer~"

He brushed shards of crystal free from his clothing with a bourbon damp hand. His skin sticky with alcohol and cold from ice. He sighed when the doppelganger only clenched her jaw with teary eyes.

He was reeeeeaaally going to enjoy this. The grin on his face was dark, and feral. Especially as he listened to the approaching footsteps getting closer to the entrance of the boarding house. Oh goody~

It seems Stefan has arrived~

---

Fluffy ears strained listening for any possible evidence of her daddy returning. The large poofy comforter from her and her daddy's shared bed was wrapped tightly around her frame as she stood almost listlessly in the middle of the Lockwoods living room. Rune didn't know what to do with herself, it was so quiet. She could hear or see any of the hybrids and the Carol lady had brought her a drink before leaving for 'work'.

Rune was all alone in the large house so she remained where she stood. Hoping her daddy and the big bru-... The big dummy would come back soon. Every creak in the house was making her twitch, her skin itched with nerves and she felt like crawling into the darkest and smallest crack she could find. Why wasn't her daddy back yet..?

The front door to the manor, jiggled and then creaked and groaned as it cracked open. Rune perked up, Carol wasn't supposed to be back yet, Tyler had left somewhere days ago, so it had to be her daddy!

Rune wiggled in place with excitement her tail wagging enthusiastically beneath the blanket before a feeling of cold dread settled within. What if it was the hybrids coming back from wherever they disappeared too!?

Her tail stopped and her feet rooted themselves in the floor as she began to shake. Furred ears laid flat atop her head and her pupils shrunk with an instinctual fear. What if they were coming to take her back to the scary man with weird hair.. Stefan was bad.

Her legs slightly shook as she eyed the archway leading out of the room. Boots thumped down the haul and she felt only slightly relieved when it only sounded like one person. Her small claws sunk into the material of her blanket as she slowly pulled it tighter around herself. A tall figure strode I to the room, looking around curiously as if searching for someone.

Rune gasped as their eyes landed on her. They held warmth and familiarity and Rune felt her lips wobble as the man's face registered in her stricken mind. The blanket was thrown off of her as she raced forward with outstretched grabby hands.

"MADDOX..MADDI! YOU'RE BAAACK!!"

Her small body collided heavily with the warlocks middle, sending the two of them tumbling to the ground as she clung to his form. The man blinked down at her in surprise before it morphed into a tiny smile tinged with worry. Where was Klaus?

What happened while he was gone for Rune to act this way. She'd looked positively terrified before she'd realized it was him. His hands gently settled against the back of the girls head, gently patting her to give whatever comfort he could as the small girl began to sob into his waist. Her words were nearly unintelligible, but I could pick out few like Missed you, and scary bridges.

He'd have to ask his boss about that second one later. After shared all the info he'd been able to find out about Runes kind. He hoped Klaus was ready for the next few days...

It was alot for him to take in still and he'd had months to piece everything together. He held Rune just a bit tighter. He'd help the child as much as he could, she was a magical being after all. He was sure his explanations would be long and full of questions from Klaus.

The warlock sighed softly. This would be an interesting week to come...