(act two, chapter nineteen: Klaus)

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Like a shotgun needs an outcome

The room was alive with music, the heavy bass reverberating through the walls, vibrating the floor beneath their feet.

You gon' get some

At least that's how it felt like when they listened to the beats of the songs that came through the speakers that Buffy had discovered after she had been drinking from the bourbon bottle, feeling the warmth spread through her as the alcohol hit her system.

Go ahead, go way low, where I can do no harm

She was still drinking from it when she took another swig from the bottle, the burn of the alcohol sliding down her throat, and let the music take over as she handed the bottle back to Katherine, who gladly accepted the free alcohol.

Go ahead, go way low in my honey lovin' arms

Her body moved to the rhythm, her limbs loose and uncontrolled as the two danced around Alaric's living room.

Go ahead, go way low, where I can do no wrong

The beat dropped again, and without warning, Katherine grabbed Buffy's hand, pulling her into a fast spin. Buffy's laughter filled the air, carefree and light, as she spun with the momentum, her blonde, curly hair swirling around her.

Got you around my finger like a lonely lover's charm

The two were perfectly in sync, their movements smooth and fluid, as if the music was guiding them, pulling them into a dance of their own making.

Like a lonely lover's charm

And Buffy had to admit, ever since finding out about vampires being real, she hadn't felt as free as she was feeling now. Despite it being Katherine who she was dancing with, the girl felt like letting free, even though she knew this was probably the worst time to let go off everything.

Just as she started to lose herself even more in the music, Katherine suddenly stopped, her smile fading as her senses sharpened. Before Buffy could even question it, Katherine had vamped them both over to the couch in the blink of an eye, the music dialed down to a lower hum.

The room was still buzzing with the bass when the door opened, and Klaus stepped in. He took one look around and scowled, spotting Buffy with a bottle in her hand and Katherine by her side.

"You mind turning that down?" He snapped at Katherine.Katherine grabbed the remote, turning down the music with a roll of her eyes.

"Why so grumpy?" She smirked, leaning back on the couch. Klaus/Alaric looked unimpressed at her.

"This body has outlived its usefulness." He said with clear annoyance.

Katherine took the bottle out of Buffy's hand, who was mid-swig, looking slightly annoyed that her drink had been stolen. Katherine offered it to Klaus, raising an eyebrow. "Want a drink?" She asked.

Klaus, still in Alaric's body, barely glanced at the bottle. "No, Katerina. I don't want a drink." He replied sharply, glancing worriedly over at the drunk Buffy, who was swaying unsteadily with a dazed grin, clearly lost in her own world. Her eyes were unfocused, and she was mumbling song lyrics under her breath, completely oblivious to the tension filling the room.

Katherine persisted, a playful grin on her face. "Come on. It might loosen you up."

Before she could take another step, Klaus grabbed the bottle and hurled it against the wall, smashing it into pieces. Shards scattered across the floor as he used his compulsion on Katherine. "What I want is for you to sit down and shut up," he commanded.

Katherine's smirk disappeared instantly as she sank onto the couch, her movements stiff and controlled. Just then, Maddox walked into the room, looking tired but determined.

"Maddox, what took you so long?" Klaus demanded.

"You've got a lot of luggage." Maddox replied coolly, gesturing toward the door.

Two men entered carrying heavy bags, followed by a woman with a confident stride. Klaus's expression softened slightly as he greeted her. "Greta. Finally."

Greta gave him a sly smile, her eyes flickering over his borrowed body. "Hello, love. Nice body. You ready to get out of it?"

As she spoke, two more men arrived, struggling to carry a giant wooden crate into the room. Katherine glanced at them nervously, knowing something big was about to happen.

Buffy, still swaying slightly on the couch, didn't seem to register the sudden tension in the room. Her eyes flitted lazily around, landing on Klaus, then on the unfamiliar faces entering with the luggage. She squinted, her lips curving up in a lopsided grin as she pointed at Greta.

"Heyyy, new friend?" She slurred, her voice filled with a drunken cheer. "Didn't know we were having a party... more the merrier, right?" She tried to stand, only to wobble on her feet, almost tripping over a loose title wood.

Klaus caught her just in time, his grip firm as he steadied her. His eyes softened slightly as he looked down at Buffy, a mixture of frustration and genuine worry flickering across his face. "Easy there, love." He muttered, guiding her back to the couch. "You're in no state to be up and about."

Buffy giggled, completely oblivious to the weight of the situation. She patted Klaus's head, looking up at him with a lazy, dreaming smile. "You're a real prince, you know that?" She mumbled, leaning heavily into him. She looked at Greta and Maddox, swaying slightly, then held up a finger. "You guys gotta meet Klaus! He's kinda grumpy."

Greta raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. Maddox, however, looked unimpressed, glancing at Klaus as if to ask why they were letting a drunken girl disrupt their serious plans. Klaus shot him a warning look that said: Stay out of it.

Buffy's attention shifted again, her gaze fixating on the large wooden crate with wide-eyed curiosity. "Ooh, what's in the box?" She asked, reaching out a hand toward it. "Is it... is it a treasure? No, wait—vampire treasure! Or maybe... a giant chocolate bar?"

Klaus suppressed a groan, carefully pulling her hand back before she could accidentally get herself hurt. "No, love, it's not a vampire treasure," he replied, trying to keep her steady. "But why don't you just sit here, alright? Enjoy the rest of your night."

She nodded with a grin, slumping back onto the couch. "Sure thing, Captain Klaus." She gave him a clumsy salute, then looked back at Katherine, mumbling. "He really needs to lighten up, don't you think? Jeezzz!"

Katherine smirked but kept quiet, a knowing glint in her eye. Klaus, meanwhile, shot another glare at Maddox and Greta, clearly making it known he didn't want Buffy involved in this.

Finally, he straightened, looking back down at Buffy, a hint of relief in his expression now that she seemed to be settled. He brushed his hand over her shoulder before stepping away.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Elena walked into the room, her steps cautious as her eyes landed on Elijah, who was standing near the fireplace. The flames cast a warm glow over his face, and he seemed surprised when he saw her, like he wasn't sure she'd actually keep her word to come back here.

"Welcome back." Elijah said.

Elena wasted no time, cutting straight to the point as she took off her jacket. "Tell me. What is Klaus' curse?"

Elijah gestured toward the couch, silently asking her to sit. She hesitated for a moment but eventually sat down, and Elijah took the seat opposite her.

He started carefully. "My family was quite close, but Klaus and my father did not get on too well. When we became vampires, we discovered the truth. Klaus was not my father's son." He paused, his expression tightening. "My mother had been unfaithful many years before. This was her darkest secret. Klaus is from a different bloodline. Of course, when my father discovered this, he hunted down and he killed my mother's lover and his entire family. Not realizing, of course, that he was igniting a war between species that rages until this day."

Elena frowned, trying to piece it together. "A war between species?"

"The vampires and the werewolves," Elijah confirmed.

"So Klaus' real father was from a werewolf bloodline?" Elena pressed. "What does that make Klaus? A werewolf? Or a vampire?"

"He's both. A hybrid would be deadlier than any werewolf or vampire alone. Nature wouldn't allow such an imbalance of power, so the witches—servants of nature—made sure his werewolf side became dormant."

"That's the curse Klaus wants to break?" Elena asked, the pieces starting to click.

"He wants to trigger the werewolf side of him." Elijah explained. "If allowed, he'll be able to sire his own bloodline. He could build a race of hybrids, threatening not just vampires but everyone."

Elena's brows furrowed as she stared at him. "But you helped him?"

"I helped him because I loved him," Elijah admitted, his voice heavy with regret. "That's changed. Now, he must to die."

Elena nodded, thinking about the dagger. "We have the dagger now. We can stop him."

Elijah shook his head. "When a werewolf is wounded by silver, they heal. And an Originals can't be killed by anything except white oak ash on a silver dagger. The dagger you have won't work."

Her stomach sank. "What? Are you saying Klaus can't be killed?"

"There's one way to kill any supernatural being." Elijah said carefully. "At the hands of the servants of nature themselves."

"A witch." Elena realized, the pieces falling into place. "A witch. If they can channel that much power. But it would kill them."

"The curse must be broken during the full moon. When Klaus is in transition. That's when he'll be at his most vulnerable. A witch with enough power can kill Klaus."

"What if I told you I know a witch who could channel that much power?" Elena asked him.

Elijah looked at her. "Then I'd tell you there's one more thing you need to know."

"You found a way to save the life of the doppelgänger?" She asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and disbelief after Elijah told her about the cure he had found to save Katherine's life.

Elijah nodded. "Yes, Elena. I did. But, unfortunately, Katerina took matters into her own hands first." He handed her her jacket. "I believe you already know how that played out."

Elena hesitated, watching him closely. "You cared about her, didn't you?" She asked as she took her jacket, still processing his words.

"It's a common mistake, I'm told. And it's one I won't make again." Elijah said, walking over to the front door.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Stefan and Damon froze, their conversation cutting off as they turned to see Elena and Elijah standing together at the entrance of the library.

Damon's eyebrows shot up, his tone sharp. "Now you've invited him in?"

Elena crossed her arms, standing her ground. "Elijah and I have renewed the terms of our deal."

Damon tilted his head, disbelief dripping from his voice. "Really?"

Elijah stepped forward, his posture as composed as ever. "The two of you will come to no harm at my hands." He said evenly. "I only ask for one thing in return."

Damon's eyes narrowed. "What?"

Elijah's gaze didn't waver. "An apology."

"A what?"

Stefan stepped closer. His voice was calm but firm. "I'm sorry for the part that I played in your death." He said, his eyes locked on Elijah. "I was protecting Elena. I will always protect Elena."

Elijah gave a small nod, his expression softening slightly. "I understand." After all that's how he felt about Buffy now. And he couldn't help himself but worry for her now that she was in Klaus' reach.

All eyes turned to Damon, who stood rooted in place, clearly wrestling with himself.

Elena's voice broke the silence, her tone steady. "The sacrifice is going to happen, Damon. Bonnie will be able to kill Klaus without hurting herself, and Elijah knows how to save my life. I told you I'd find another way. And I did."

Damon's eyes flicked to Elijah. "Is that true?"

Elijah nodded once. "It is."

Damon's gaze shifted back to Elena, searching her face. "And you're trusting him?"

"I am." Elena said without hesitation.

Damon's jaw tightened, and he let out a bitter laugh. "You can all go to hell." He snapped before storming off.

Stefan watched him leave, then turned back to Elijah. "He's angry with me right now. But he'll come around.

"Perhaps."

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

An hour after Klaus and the other two had appeared in Alaric's apartment, Buffy had sobered up quite a bit. She saw sober enough to keep her mouth shut and stand steady on her feet. Her head was pounding as she worriedly watched what was happening in front of her.

Maddox and Greta were on their knees, chanting in some creepy ancient language. The room was dim, lit by a circle of candles flickering against the walls. Klaus—or, well, Alaric, since Klaus was still stuck inside his body—stood next to this old box, his head bowed like he was in some weird trance. Katherine, standing on the the side, next to Buffy, kept her eyes locked on them.

The chanting got louder. "Phasmatos Tribum, Nas Ex Veras, Uenes Phasmatos Et Sonos. Ex Tutam Exum Lamia Matus." The words felt heavy in the air, making the room seem even darker, if that was possible.

Suddenly, Alaric's eyes snapped open, and he worriedly whispered, looking at his daughter. "Buffy?" Before his whole body gave out, crumpling to the floor.

Maddox didn't even blink at Alaric's falling body. He stood up, walked to the box, and opened it like this was just another day on the job. And then, there he was—Klaus, in the flesh.

He stepped out of the box, towering over Alaric's collapsed body with this smug look on his face. "Now that's more like it." He said, his lips curling into a smile that sent shivers down Katherine's spine.

"Oh." Buffy muttered out, getting heard by both Kathrine and Klaus. Buffy didn't want to admit it to herself, but he was really hot.

Buffy felt her face heat up the moment Klaus turned his sharp blue eyes toward her, a smirk still playing on his lips. She quickly looked away, hoping no one noticed the slight hitch in her breath. Katherine, however, raised an eyebrow, clearly catching Buffy's reaction.

Buffy mentally screamed at herself, her cheeks flaming. Why are both Originals so hot? It wasn't fair—there had to be some supernatural rule against villains being this attractive. Klaus's smirk only deepened, as if he could hear every single panicked thought running through her head.

"Well, well." Klaus said smoothly, his voice like honey with a sharp edge. "It seems I've made quite the impression already."

"Oh, don't flatter yourself, Klaus." Buffy spoke. "Your ego is showing."

Klaus's eyebrows shot up in surprise, clearly not expecting Buffy to respond so boldly. Katherine shot her a look, half warning and half impressed.

"Oh, I like her already," Klaus said, his smirk widening into a full-blown grin. "A sharp tongue to match that fire in your eyes. You'll be fun, love."

Buffy crossed her arms, trying to look more confident than she felt. Her heart was pounding, and her head still throbbed from earlier, but she wasn't about to let Klaus intimidate her. "Fun isn't exactly the word I'd use for someone who hijacks people's bodies and does creepy rituals with candles and chanting."

"You are going to hold that over my head for a long time, aren't you, love?"

Buffy raised an eyebrow. "Oh, absolutely." She shot back. "I mean, how many people can say they're father has been possessed by a thousand-year-old vampire with a superiority complex? It's not exactly something you forget."

Klaus chuckled. "Careful, darling. I might start to think you enjoy my company."

"Enjoy isn't the word I'd use," Buffy spoke back at him.

Klaus took a step closer to her, his smirk deepening as he loomed over her, making the blonde lift her head, not looking away from him. "You're quick with that tongue of yours." He said, his voice dropping to a silky purr. "I wonder if you're always this fiery or if it's just for me."

"I don't need to be fiery." Buffy retorted, forcing her voice to stay steady. "You're not exactly hard to stand up to, Klaus. Just a lot of empty threats and theatrics."

Katherine grabbed her arm, whispering urgently, "Buffy, for the love of everything, stop talking."

But Klaus only laughed, the sound echoing through the room. "Empty threats, is it?" he mused, his eyes glinting with amusement—and something darker. "You really don't know me, do you, love?"

"Not interested in getting to know you, either." Buffy replied.

Klaus tilted his head, his smirk softening into something more contemplative. "Oh, I think you are. But don't worry—you'll have plenty of time to figure that out."

With that, he turned on his heel, going over to Maddox and Greta.

Katherine let out an exasperated sigh, spinning Buffy around to face her. "What is wrong with you?"

"What?" Buffy said defensively. "It's not like I was wrong and if he wanted to kill me, he would've done it already."

"He likes you, Buffy. And trust me, that's not a good thing." Katherine spoke to her as she also walked away from the Sommers girl, taking a seat on the couch again as Buffy walked over to the kitchen, in search for some chocolate.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE SONG KATHERINE DANCES TO OH MY

Ngl I think this was one of my favourite chapters to write together with chapter 14 (act 2)

But anyways Buffy's comeback took my hours to write whoops!

But I'm thinking off making Buffy and Katherine sort of friends like I mean Katherine cares for her stuff like that but Buffy makes her work for their friendship because after all she did stab her mother and killed her best friend and messed with Elena and the Salvatores?

Words: 2957

Posted: November 17, 2024

Thank you so much for reading again! Be sure to comment. I love reading them and it keeps me motivated! I love you guys!!

Mwah mwah Katherine