Bound By Fate

Chapter Nineteen

I’m packing my suitcase, getting ready to leave with Klaus, while I’m on the phone with my sister.

Caroline: “Seriously, after the stunt he pulled last night, you’re still leaving with him?”

Allison: “We’ve been over this already, Care. He was being overprotective, because he thought his mom was going to kill me last night. Clearly it didn’t happen, and I’m willing to move past it.”

Caroline: “You know he’s such a control freak, and you’re going to hate putting up with that.”

Allison: “Really, Caroline? You’re calling someone else a control freak. Pot, Kettle, have you met?”

Caroline: “Allison, seriously. I’m just worried about you. You’re my big sister and I don’t want you to make a decision that you might regret. Does Mom know you’re leaving?”

Allison: “I spoke with her when I met her for breakfast. She isn’t a fan of the idea, but she was understanding. That aside, I know if I ever need something, I can always call the two of you.”

Caroline: “You know I can’t argue when you put it like that.”

Allison: “I love you, Care.”

Caroline: “I love you too, Ally.”

I hang up just to turn around, jumping at the sight of Klaus.

Allison: “Oh my god. [I lightly slap his arm.] Don’t do that.”

He chuckles as I move past him, into my closet to grab more clothes.

Klaus: “You know, I could just have my hybrids pack up for you.”

Allison: “No, thanks. If they pack my stuff, I won’t know where anything is, and go crazy trying to find stuff.”

Klaus: “Fair enough. It seems you’re almost done though. Would you mind if I help?”

Allison: “Honestly, the only help I need is figuring out where to move my boxes.”

Klaus: “I’ll have the truck brought over.”

On his way out the door, I hear his phone chime.

Klaus: “Love, I need to take care of something. I’ll see you when I get back.”

He vamp-speeds out of my house. That was honestly perfect timing. I still need to pack my underwear and books and I definitely didn’t want him here for that. Really, I only needed two large suitcases for all of my clothes, along with three dufflebags and a backpack. Everything else can stay where it is, because no matter what Klaus says, I’m not selling my house. Caroline might need it as a place to stay while I’m gone, since it will be safe from any new vampires, seeing as I’m the owner and I won't be around to invite anybody in.

As I finish packing the last of my things, Caroline's ringtone fills the silence. I quickly answer my phone.

Allison: “Hey, Care. What do you want now?”

Alaric: “Is that any way to talk to your sister?”

I almost drop my phone from shock.

Allison: “Alaric, you’re supposed to be dead.”

Alaric: “So I’ve heard.”

There’s muffled screaming in the background, making my heart race.

Allison: “What did you do to Caroline?”

Alaric: “She’s alive, for now. I’m sure she would just love to see her big sister though.”

Caroline cries out in pain. I have a death grip on my phone, trying to control my rage as tears threaten to fall.

Allison: “Stop hurting her. What do you want?”

Alaric: “We are at the high school, in my classroom. I want you to join us. Oh, and don’t tell anyone where you’re going. If you do, I will kill your sister.”

Allison: “I’ll be there soon.”

He hangs up, and I let a few tears fall as I put my hunting gear on. A stake in each boot, a few strapped to my sides, two pistols full of wooden bullets, arm braces with multiple stakes, two vervain grenades, and a crossbow in my hands. I will get my sister back from Alaric. I send Klaus a text saying that I need to take care of something before hurrying to the school.

I make it to the school and decided it’s probably best I leave the crossbow in the car. I will need the element of surprise to get Caroline out of there, and he knows I’m coming. I put a jacket on, hiding all of my weapons. As I walk into the classroom, I find Alaric standing in front of Elena and Caroline. Caroline is in tears, with a cloth gag tied around her head so her cheeks and mouth are burning. It’s probably soaked in vervain. There’s a wooden pencil in each of her hands, keeping her in place on the desk.

Allison: “Alaric, let them go.”

Alaric: “Allison, welcome to my class. Vampire hunting 101.”

Elena: “Allison, run!”

Allison: “No. I’m here for my sister and friend. I won’t run away.”

I hurry over to Caroline, but before I can do anything, Alaric pulls me away from her and forces me to sit at the desk to her left.

Alaric: “You truly are a pathetic vampire hunter, you know. How many vampires have you actually killed since your sister became one? You allowed her to become one of the very monsters you are supposed to kill. Now, you’re even dating the worst one of all.”

I glare at him.

Allison: “I’m a hunter, not some monster. I only kill when I have to.”

Alaric: “Right, you’re a failure as a hunter. You had no idea the vampires were plotting with the witch and doppelganger. Doesn’t matter now. You’re just bait.”

Allison: “What do you mean?”

Alaric: “Well, Klaus will definitely come to save you and the doppelganger. He can’t stand being alone. And now, I hold all the cards.”

Allison: “He’s not the only one. Everyone will come for us.”

Alaric: “I’m counting on it.”

He walks over to Elena.

Elena: “Why are you doing this?”

Alaric: “Because you need me. Because you’re an 18-year-old girl without parents, or guidance, or any sense of right and wrong anymore.”

Elena: “Look at you. [Gestures to Caroline] How is this right?”

Alaric: “She’s a murderer. She told me she killed someone and liked it. Now how is that right? Listen, Elena, your parents led the Council. It was their life’s mission to keep this town safe. They weren’t dead six months before you undid it all.”

Elena: “You don’t know anything about them.”

Alaric: “Why, am I wrong? Do you actually think that they’d be proud of you? If you don’t side with the humans, you’re just as bad as them. Now kill her. [holds out the white oak stake to her] Or I’ll do it for you, and I’ll make it hurt.”

He grabs Elena by the arm, pulling her from the desk, to stand before Caroline. I ready myself, wrapping my fingers around a pistol as he puts the stake in Elena’s hand. She quickly turns, attempting to stab Alaric, but he catches her wrist, halting her assault.

Alaric: “Thought I taught you better than that.”

Elena: “You did.”

I get up, take aim and fire three shots into Alaric’s back, giving Elena time to grab the whiskey glass and smash it in his face. He falls to the ground screaming as we rush to take the pencils out of Caroline’s hands. We help her up and make a run for it. Caroline makes it out, but Alaric cuts Elena and me off. He holds us against the lockers by our necks.

Alaric: “I should kill you both. I should gut you like Brian Walters, Bill Forbes, and all the cowards I plan on ripping apart. The two of you are the worst offenders of them all. You don’t deserve to live.”

His focus shifts to Elena, so I take the opportunity to punch him in the side, making the stakes in my brace shoot into his side. He screams and drops us. Elena is gasping for breath, and I’m trying to steady myself enough to conduct my next attack. Unfortunately, I’m not fast enough. He throws me into the locker and as my back hits the metal, my head is spinning as I cry out in agony. I look up, fumbling for my other pistol as he’s taking angry steps toward Elena. Just as I’m about to fire, Damon and Stefan show up, grabbing Alaric by the arms.

Damon: “Do it now!”

Alaric pushes Damon into the lockers and snaps Stefan’s neck. Damon tries to attack again, but gets his neck snapped. Elena runs over to me, helping me up, and I pass her a vervain grenade. Just as Damon’s body hits the floor, Klaus shows up, shoving his hand into Alaric’s chest. The two of them struggle against one another and just as Alaric rips Klaus’s hand out of his chest, I fire wooden bullets into Alaric’s shoulder, giving Klaus an opportunity to attack again.

Klaus: “Allison, go!”

I nod, taking Elena’s arm, ready to run, but she takes a stake from one of my boots, just as Alaric is about to kill Klaus.

Elena: “Stop! [She’s holding the stake to her neck as Alaric looks over at us.] Let him go, or I’ll kill myself.”

I take aim at Alaric, ready in case Elena’s plan doesn’t work.

Alaric: “Put it down, Elena.”

Klaus makes eye contact with me and I can tell how scared he is right now. I don’t want him to die, but I also need to protect Elena.

Elena: “Why? Because you still need me alive? There’s a reason why Esther used me to make you, isn’t there? She didn’t want you to be immortal, so she tied your life to a human one. Mine. That way, you have only one lifespan to kill all vampires, and then you’ll be gone. [Klaus’s eyes light up with realization.] So when I die, you die too. That’s it. It has to be.”

Alaric: “You’re wrong.”

Allison: “She can’t be. Your hesitation proves it.”

He hesitates a moment more as Elena lifts the stake to strike herself.

Alaric: “Stop! Stop! Stop!”

I shoot him, knocking him off balance, giving Klaus time to throw him into the brick wall, before he vamp-speeds over to the two of us, getting us out of the school.