act three, chapter eleven: homecoming

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

"Let's just say that Mikael followed Buffy in here. He tried to grab her, so he could use her as bait for Klaus." Stefan spoke as he himself, Elena, Buffy and Damon entered the library of the Salvatore Boarding House.

At first, the plan had been to use Elena as bait, knowing Klaus needed her blood for his hybrids. But in a surprising turn, Rebekah had been the one to suggest that Buffy would be the better choice. If he believed Buffy was in real danger, he'd come running.

Elena's eyebrows knitted together as she processed Stefan's words. "And you what?" Elena asked. "Vervained him?"

Damon scoffed, stepping forward with his signature smirk. "No." Damon shook her head. "We vervained him! This guys is an Original. We have to make it realistic.

"Okay, fine, we vervained him and in the process discovered that he had a dagger." Stefan replied, crossing his arms across his chest as he leaned against the wall.

"Which he planned to use on Rebekah, but instead..." Elena barely got the words out before Stefan cut in.

"We drove it through his heart."

"And what happens when he asks to see Mikael's body?" Elena inquired and Buffy shook her head in agreement. Klaus was most definitely going to request to see his father's dead body for himself.

"Good point! You, my brother, have been compelled to do what Klaus says. So the idea to lure him back here and kill him... the last thing we need is you getting tripped up and tongue-tied." Damon spoke.

"Well, don't look at me. I am just in charge of getting him back here." Stefan replied, his tone still emotionless like it has been for the past few weeks.

"Klaus is smart. If we tell him that Mikael is dead, he'll want proof." Elena folded her arms across her chest, her expression serious.

"Then I shall be dead." A voice spoke up, making the four look over at the man who had just entered the room, carrying something small in his hands. This was the first time Buffy had actually seen the infamous Mikael, and she directly disliked the man. Something about this whole plan didn't sit right with her... it was almost like she could feel that they would fail miserably.

"What if he wants to see you in person?" Elena asked, going a few steps down to stand eye to eye with Mikael, the youngest Salvatore brothers behind her, but Buffy and Damon stood their ground by the door. Buffy didn't want to be anywhere near Mikael.

A part of her heart was screaming at her to walk away, to tell them all that this wasn't going to work. She was still curious if Klaus would true to his words; that he would try to do better for her, but if they went through with this, she might never even find out.

"Well that means our plan is working. Klaus will absolutely want to see my body. You lure him here, and I will kill him." Mikael replied Elena's question, opening the small cloth in his hands and laying it down on the table. A shining dagger and a bottle of white oak appeared in Buffy's eyesight.

"With that? Those daggers won't work on him." Stefan spoke, his tone laced with skepticism as he stepped forward, eyeing the weapon warily.

"Well, I'm in possession of a stake fashioned from the wood of the ancient white oak tree. The one that left these ashes when it burned." Mikael opened the small bottle.

"Where is it?" Damon asked as he watched the oldest Original dip the dagger in the ashes of the white oak tree multiple times.

"Not here. The knowing of its location is my insurance policy." Mikael replied as if it was obvious.

"Against what?" Stefan raised his eyebrow at the man in front of him and Elena.

"You leaving this in my heart. You see, a vampire can't dagger an original without dying, so it falls to you" He looked down on Elena, before looking up at Buffy, who still hasn't moved an inch away from where she stood. "Or to Buffy."

"You want one of us to actually dagger you?" Elena asked, the surprise clear on her face, not believing that Mikael was actually presenting them with this choice.

"Klaus will leave nothing to chance. Especially when it comes to trust." Mikael said and most of them had to admit he was right about that.

Buffy felt a lump form in her throat. She didn't like this plan—not one bit, but she knew if Elena wasn't planning on dipping that dagger into Mikael, rather sooner than later, she for sure was. The sound of Mikael's voice made Buffy's blood boil for some reason. She didn't trust him. Not even a little. And the fact that he was standing there, acting like he knew everything, like he had all the answers, only made it worse.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･

Stefan held the phone to his ear, pacing the room as Klaus spoke on the other end.

"Portland is fantastic." Klaus drawled. "Once you get over all the whiny music and healthy-looking people, it's literally a breeding ground for werewolves."

Stefan didn't care. He cut straight to the point. "Your father is dead."

There was a pause. Then Klaus's voice dropped, sharp and dangerous. "What did you just say to me?"

Stefan barely blinked. "Oh, my mistake. Not your actual father and not dead. Mikael. Daggered. What do you want me to do with the body?"

Another silence. Then Klaus let out a slow breath. "First, I want you to explain to me exactly what happened."

"I wanna see him." Klaus finally said once Stefan was done, explaining everything to the Original hybrid. "I want to see his rotting body for myself."

Stefan didn't hesitate as he stood over and walked over to Mikael's body.. "Well, he's here. Come by whenever."

Klaus's tone sharpened. "If you're lying to me, Stefan, your compulsion will expose you. So, answer with your life: Is what you're saying the truth?"

Stefan's fingers tightened around the phone. "It's true. I saw it with my own eyes."

"I wanna talk to Rebekah."

Stefan glanced at the blonde, who stood closely by Buffy's side before handing over the phone. "That's not a problem. She's right here."

Rebekah took the phone, voice softening. "Hello, Nik."

Klaus's voice shifted, almost affectionate. "Rebekah, love. What's this I hear about Mikael's tragic run-in with the dagger?"

Elena nodded at her, telling the Mikaelson girl that she was doing it for the best.

"It's true." She said easily. "He's finally out of our lives for good. I miss you. I'm miserable here." Well, not all was miserable. Spending time with Buffy had been a blast and Rebekah hoped that this wasn't the end of it.

"I'll be home soon." Klaus finally said through the phone.

Rebekah sighed. "Good. I'll see you then, brother."

She hung up and turned to the others. "He bought it. He's coming home." She handed the phone back to Stefan and stepped back again, regaining her spot by her mate.

Damon clapped his hands together. "Now, was that easy or what?"

Elena didn't look amused. "Let's just get this over with." Without another word, she stepped forward and pulled the dagger from Mikael's chest.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･

Elena was staring at her closet, clearly frustrated. "Ugh, I hate everything in here. I have nothing to wear to Homecoming."

Bonnie, sitting on the bed flipping through Alaric's photos of ancient Viking drawings, looked up with a grin. "So, don't go. Let's just stay home, order takeout, and obsess over these old pictures."

Elena shook her head, rolling her eyes. "We have to go. Caroline will totally kill us if we skip it."

Bonnie smirked. "Ha, right. Caroline actually has a date though..."

Elena turned to face Bonnie, voice softening as she sat down on her bed next to Bonnie. "You know you can talk to me about Jeremy, right?"

Bonnie sighed, not looking up from the photos. "I don't need to talk about it. He fell in love with his ghost girlfriend and lied about it. What's done is done."

Elena walked over, her tone serious. "Bonnie, you have to talk about it. He hurt you. I'm mad at him too."

Bonnie gave her a look, almost like she was shutting down. "You're mad at your little brother. You'll yell at him, maybe teach him a life lesson. But you can't really be mad like I'm mad, Elena."

Elena tried again. "Bonnie..."

Bonnie shook her head, her voice quieter now. "And you shouldn't have to be mad, you know? He's your brother. So... no. I can't really talk to you about it."

Elena softly shook her head, letting Bonnie know that she understood.

"Now, where's Buffy?" Bonnie spoke, quickly changing the subject, not wanting to talk about Jeremy and Anna any longer than that.

"I look ridiculous!" A voice came from behind the bathroom, as if the girl felt that they were talking about her.

The sound of Buffy's frustrated voice floated back out. "I'm trying on this dress, but I look like I'm about to audition for a 90s teen drama!"

Bonnie stood up, walking toward the bathroom door with a teasing smile. "Let me guess—you look amazing, and you're just trying to make us feel better by pretending otherwise?"

Buffy's voice came again, a little less annoyed, but still doubtful. "I swear, this is just too much sparkle. I look like a walking disco ball. I should wear the other dress."

Elena pushed off the bed, going over to the bathroom door. "Let us see! You know you can pull off anything."

Buffy hesitated for a moment before finally pulling open the bathroom door, revealing the dress she was referring to. It was shiny, silver, and definitely eye-catching.

Bonnie's eyes widened as she stood up from the bed, clearly impressed. "Buffy, you seriously look amazing. Like, no one else could pull this off."

Buffy rolled her eyes but couldn't help the smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "I don't know... It feels like I'm about to perform a solo in High School Musical or something."

Elena crossed her arms, giving Buffy a playful look. "Well, if you are, we'll be right there in the front row cheering you on."

Bonnie chuckled, coming up to stand next to them. "Seriously though, you should totally wear it."

"Who are you going with anyways?" Elena questioned as she watched her sister take another look at the mirror in her room.

Buffy paused for a moment, still staring at her reflection, as if the question had caught her off guard. She adjusted the straps of the glittering dress, before turning to face Elena and Bonnie. "Rebekah." The girl muttered.

Buffy shrugged as she saw the look her sister and Bonnie were sharing. "I didn't really expect it, but there's something about her. She's different when we're together, and it's just nice, you know?"

Elena's gaze softened. "If you're happy, that's what matters. Just... make sure you're not getting swept up in something you might regret later, okay?"

Buffy nodded, her lips curving into a small, uncertain smile. "I know. I'll be careful. But I'm kind of looking forward to it. It's sort of like my first date with Rebekah, although I'm not sure it is. She never actually called it that, but I hope it is, because that would be great." The girl rambled.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･

Buffy stood in front of her mirror, carefully smoothing down the fabric of her dress. The dress hugged her curves in a way she hadn't expected.

A knock on the door broke her focus, and she turned to see Caroline standing in the doorway, her face lighting up when she spotted Buffy.

"Wow." Caroline breathed, stepping into the room and walking toward her. "You look absolutely stunning, B."

Buffy shifted awkwardly, glancing at herself in the mirror again. "Thanks."

Caroline laughed, twirling in the doorway. She gave Buffy a playful smirk, twirling to show off her dress—a soft, deep yellow colour that clung to her in all the right places.

"You always look amazing, Caroline." Buffy said, still a little unsure of herself.

Caroline grinned and walked up to Buffy, giving her a quick once-over. "Well, I had to make sure I brought my A-game, but tonight's about you, not me. Seriously, you're going to turn heads. Rebekah is going to lose it when she sees you."

Caroline didn't really like Rebekah's presence, like literally anywhere, but she knew that her best friend enjoyed having her around, so for Buffy's sake she just smiled.

Buffy adjusted the straps of her dress again, glancing over at Caroline, not having missed the look that passed on Caroline's face for a few seconds. "I know she can be a lot, but I want to give her a chance. She's been good to me."

Caroline raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "You're way too nice, B. But if she's good to you, then fine. Just don't let her steal your spotlight, okay?"

Buffy nodded. "I won't. Tonight's about having fun, right?"

"Right."

*:･ﾟ✧*:･

The night was starting off as just another disaster. The gym was completely flooded when Caroline and Buffy arrived and the dance had been canceled. To say that Caroline wasn't letting go of it after all the work she put into it, would be an understatement. Buffy had tried to call Rebekah a few times, but she only got the girl's voicemail every time. Worry was building inside Buffy, but she knew this wasn't the time to let it out. The evening had been a bust from the start, and it was starting to feel like nothing was going right.

So they moved the party to the Lockwood mansion; a suggestion that Tyler had made himself. His mother was out of town anyways so he was free to do whatever he wanted with the house anyways.

Caroline, Buffy and Bonnie pushed through the crowded entryway of the house, blinking in disbelief at the scene unfolding before them. The sound of loud guitars and drums echoed from outside, spilling into the house as the band continued to play in the garden. People from the school were laughing and dancing, making it look like a full-on party.

Caroline, eyes wide, couldn't believe what she was seeing. "How did he plan a better party than me so fast? What? Is that a band outside?"

Bonnie, equally confused, scanned the crowd of unfamiliar faces. "Who are all these people?"

Caroline shook her head, a mix of irritation and awe in her voice. "This is weird! Where is Tyler?" She pushed past a group of students and started searching the party for any sign of him.

"I'm gonna get a drink, you want one?" Buffy asked, turning to the Bennett witch.

"No, thank you tho, I'm gonna look for Elena." Bonnie politely declined Buffy's offer.

"Alright, I'll see you later." The blonde walked to the back of the Lockwood mansion, to get to the backyard, her mind was still on Rebekah and where the girl could be?

Buffy moved through the crowded house, her heels clicking on the polished floor as she made her way toward the backyard. The house was filled with chatter, laughter, and the faint hum of the band playing outside. It felt overwhelming, but she was used to it by now—having fun, even in the midst of chaos.

She walked through the open back door, stepping out into the cool night air again. The garden was packed with students dancing and talking, the band rocking out under the glow of the string lights above them. Her eyes immediately scanned the crowd, looking for Rebekah and for something to drink, however when she looked over at the stage, a gasp left her mouth when she saw Klaus staring right back at her, his eyes wandering over her body, carefully taking the girl in as if she were to disappear if he looked away.

Buffy's heart skipped a beat as she locked eyes with Klaus. She hadn't expected to see him here this fast after Stefan's phone call this morning. His gaze fixed on her with an intensity that felt like it was pulling her in. The way his eyes lingered on her made her feel exposed in a way she couldn't quite explain.

She stood frozen for a moment, her mind racing. Why is he looking at me like that? What a weirdo.

It was strange—the way Klaus suddenly had the ability to make her feel like the only person in the room, well, technically the backyard, no matter how many people were around, by just one single look. And right now, with the chaos of the party and the music, his stare felt almost suffocating.

Buffy tried to look away, but something about his presence kept her rooted to the spot. This isn't the time. She reminded herself. I came here to find Rebekah, not to get lost in Klaus's stupid gaze.

The crowd cheered when Klaus walked over to the microphone, yet his gaze still hadn't left Buffy's. "Good evening, everyone! I wanna thank you for being here with me to celebrate! It's been a long time coming!"

Buffy looked in Klaus' eyes once more before unhooking their gazes on each other. This plan really was not going to end well.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･

Buffy had been watching the band for the last few minutes, well aware that someone else was also watching her.

Buffy shifted uncomfortably, trying to focus on the music, but the weight of Klaus's gaze was impossible to ignore. Every few seconds, her eyes would dart back to him. He was leaning casually against a tree, his arms crossed, his gaze never straying from her.

The band's upbeat song barely reached her ears anymore. Her mind was too preoccupied, caught up with the worry of where Rebekah was.

But just as she turned to walk away, a voice broke through her distraction. "Leaving already?"

Buffy froze, then turned slowly to where Klaus stood there, a few steps away. He didn't move closer, but it was clear he wanted to.

"I didn't come to this party to chat with you, Klaus." Buffy said, trying to keep her tone even, but she knew it came off sharper than she intended.

Klaus raised an eyebrow, as if amused. "I'm sure you didn't, but here we are, aren't we?"

Buffy wanted to roll her eyes but held it back. "What do you want, Klaus?"

"Nothing much." He said, taking a slow step forward. "Just a conversation, love. Isn't that what we're all about?"

She crossed her arms defensively. "I don't need a conversation with you."

Klaus tilted his head, studying her for a moment. "Oh, come on, love, you can't avoid me forever."

Buffy clenched her jaw. "Not avoiding you. Just not interested. I thought I made that clear to you before you skipped town." The girl started walking up the stairs and as she had expected, Klaus followed right behind her.

"Love, I do have to say, you look absolutely stunning tonight," Klaus said, his voice smooth.

Buffy rolled her eyes, still walking up the stairs, trying to ignore him. "I'm really not in the mood for your charm, Klaus." Her voice was colder than she meant, but she wasn't in the mood for games.

Klaus stayed at her pace, just close enough that she could feel his presence behind her. "You know, it's always fascinating how you can be so stubborn, love. Most would be flattered."

She reached the top of the stairs, turning to face him finally. "I'm not like most people." She said, giving him a look.

He grinned, clearly entertained by her. "No, you're not. But you are interesting, love. And I have to admit, it's a pleasure watching you try to ignore me."

Buffy folded her arms, giving him a skeptical look. "What do you want from me?"

Klaus took a slow step closer, his expression playful. "What do I want from you?" He tilted his head, as though considering it. "Let's see, your attention, for one. But you're making it rather difficult, love."

Buffy stood her ground, unfazed by his proximity. "You can't just keep showing up and expecting me to give you what you want. It doesn't work like that, Klaus."

"Come with me, love." Klaus offered his hand, but when he saw that Buffy was not going to take it, he spoke again. "Come on, trust me!"

"Well, I don't trust you."

Klaus smirked, clearly bothered by her refusal. He let his hand fall to his side but didn't move away. "Fair enough." He said with a tilt of his head. "Trust is a fragile thing, after all. But that doesn't mean you won't learn to trust me eventually. I did tell you I was going to try, didn't I, love?"

Buffy shot him a glare, crossing her arms even tighter. "I'm not interested in whatever game you're playing, Klaus. I'm here to find Rebekah, not get caught up in whatever... this is." She gestured vaguely between them.

"Ah, my sister. I haven't seen her around." Klaus spoke and by his tone, Buffy knew that he was just as oblivious as to where the blonde was as she. "Is that who you're all dressed up for?" He asked, his eyes wandering once more over the dress she was wearing.

Buffy narrowed her eyes, suddenly feeling defensive. "No, Klaus. I didn't dress up for anyone. But thanks for the compliment, I guess." Her voice was sharp, but her heart skipped a beat, signalling Klaus that she was lying. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go find her."

Buffy made her way back out of the front of the house, trying not to look over her shoulder at Klaus, but she could feel his eyes on her still. As much as she tried to ignore it, his eyes lingered until she was out of sight.

Buffy Sommers-Saltzman quickly realised that had been a mistake. She felt someone grab her from behind, pulling her with them to the side of the house where nobody would be able to see them. Before she could even see who it was, the person had knocked her out, and everything went black as her body went limp.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･

Klaus was playing beer pong on one of the Lockwood's fancy tables, his mind still on the conversation with Buffy, but he was concentrated enough to win the game multiple times. One of his hybrids came up to him after a while.

"You have a visitor." Mindy reported to the Original.

"Well, tell my visitor that I'm on the brink of victory here." Klaus replied, not even looking up at the girl.

"He said his name is Mikael." Mindy added once she realised he wasn't planning on stopping with his game anytime soon and the man outside was already impatient.

Klaus looked up with disappointment on his face, throwing one last ping pong ball into a cup on the opposite side of the table. "Then we mustn't keep him waiting. Move everyone out back, I'm gonna have a little chat with my dad. Tony, you know what to do." Klaus spoke to another hybrid before moving out of the living room and over to the front door, where Mikael was standing on the other side of the doorway.

"Hello, Niklaus."

"Hello, Mikael. Why don't you come in?" He pretended to stand aside to let the man in, but a smirk fell over his face. "Oh, that's right. I forgot you can't."

"Or you can come outside if you want." Mikael suggested, his face cold as always.

Klaus stood tall, his eyes burning with anger as he glared at his father, Mikael, who had a smug grin plastered on his face. The group of hybrids behind Mikael were ready to attack at any moment, waiting for Klaus's signal.

Klaus didn't even flinch. "Or I could watch my hybrids tear you limb from limb." He said, a hint of amusement in his voice as he watched the group of hybrids gather behind Mikael.

Mikael's laugh echoed through the yard. "They can't kill me." He shot back, as though he was daring Klaus to make his move.

Klaus gave a cold smile, his fingers twirling in the air as if he was bored. "True. But it'll make a hell of a party game. All I have to do is rub these two fingers together, and they'll pounce."

Mikael's smile faltered, but he quickly regained his composure. "The big bad wolf. You haven't changed. Still hiding behind your playthings like a coward. You forget, Niklaus, they may be sired by you, but they're still part vampire. And they can be compelled by me."

Klaus's grin faded, but before he could respond, he heard footsteps behind him. Mindy walked up, pushing someone forward. Klaus's heart sank when he realized who it was.

Buffy.

Mikael's voice was low and threatening. "Come out and face me, Niklaus. Or she dies."

Klaus's jaw tightened as Mikael's words echoed in his ears, and his eyes flicked to Buffy. His heart stuttered for a moment, but he quickly masked the vulnerability with a cold sneer. The last thing he wanted was for his father to know how much Buffy meant to him, or how much her life was suddenly tied to his own.

"Come out and face me, Niklaus. Or she dies." Mikael repeated as if Klaus hadn't heard him loud and clear the first time, his tone like ice, digging into Klaus's resolve.

Klaus stood motionless for a beat. He absolutely didn't want Buffy to die. Not because of him. If Mikael saw even a hint of weakness, he would use it, twist it, manipulate it. If he showed how much he cared about the girl in his father's arms, she would be the one thing Mikael could really use against him.

Buffy's eyes met his, and for a split second, Klaus thought he saw the fear in them. But she was strong, always had been for as far he knew. Klaus' stomach twisted and his heart broke when he saw the fear creep in on Buffy's face when the hybrid didn't reply to his father.

The girl kept looking in Klaus' eyes and it was like he was making her a silent promise. No matter what his father would try to do, he would make sure she got out of Mikael's grasp alive and kicking, even if it meant going outside to face his father.

"If she dies, so will any chance of happiness for you, my boy. I know all about who she is and what she means to you." Mikael cut the girl off, tracing a finger over the right side of Buffy's face, who trembled as she felt it. "To what end will this go, Niklaus? So you can live forever, with no one at your side? Nobody cares about you any more, boy! What do you have other than those whose loyalty you forced? No one. Absolutely no one." Mikael let out a cruel laugh that sent shivers down Buffy's spine, and not the good ones.

Klaus' eyes had started to tear up by his father's words.

"Come outside and face me, you little coward. And I won't have to hurt her. But your impulse, it has and will forever be the one thing that keeps you from being truly great." Mikael took a dagger out of his coat and quickly stabbed Buffy with it, right next to her heart, missing by barely an inch, before realising her out of his arms, taking the dagger back out, making Buffy's dress start to stain.

Klaus had let out a gasp, surprised that his father had actually done it. Luckily for Klaus when he stepped over the threshold of the Lockwood mansion to pull the blonde away from his father's reach, Elena dressed up as Katherine appeared behind Mikael, distracting the oldest Original long enough for Klaus to get Buffy to safety.

"I really hate getting fucking stabbed." Buffy spoke, groggily from under her breath as she watched Klaus bit in his wrist, guilt clear as day in his eyes. He had promised to do better and the first night of him being back, she was already hurt.

This time when he offered his blood to her, she didn't decline, figuring that even if she would get to a hospital, it would be too late because by the time they arrived there, she would've already bled to death. At least that's how it felt right now.

A boom was heard from outside and before Klaus could even ask if his mate was okay, Damon rushed up behind Klaus, twisting him around and stabbing the White Oak Tree dagger into his stomach. He raised the White Oak Stake in his hands and right when he was about to stake Klaus, his brother knocked him off of Klaus, holding him down and making the stake roll on the floor, over to Klaus' feet.

"What are you doing?" Damon hissed with anger at his brother as he watched Klaus take the stake from the floor and lounged for his father by the door. He drove it straight to Mikael's heart, making the Original burst into flames before falling to his death. A sight especially Klaus enjoyed.

"What the hell did you do?" Damon screamed at his brother when Stefan finally realised him. Damon noticed Buffy sitting up more straight, her back leaning against the wall as she watched the scene of Mikael and Klaus unfold, a hand held up against her mouth, where bits of Klaus' blood was still visible.

"He earned his freedom." Klaus spoke once he heard Damon's words, turning his back to his father. Stefan walked away even more from his brother and stood in front of the hybrid. "Thank you, my friend. You no longer have to do as I say. You're free." Klaus un-compelled Stefan, and when the youngest looked around, expecting to see his brother, Damon had fled the scene with Buffy.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

Be sure to comment and vote if you want. I love reading them and your support keeps me so motivated!

What do you guys think, is this version of Klaus already behaving better than before he left town or not?

Katherine xoxo

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

WORDS: 5012

POSTED: SUNDAY 23/02/2025

WRITTEN: SATURDAY 22/02/2025

By the way this was the dress I had in mind when writing this scene, but feel free to change it, if you don't like it! I just found that it fitted Buffy's aesthetic (and I personally really love this dress)!!