Vulnerable

Chapter 23

Chapter 23: My Freedom Awaits

{K. M}

"Can you tell me about them? Your family, I mean."

Klaus remained quiet, and Dakota assumed hat was his way of saying no, until he began talking. "My parents moved here when they lost their first child because of a plague that infested their homeland. My mother heard from her friend Ayana that there was mystical land where everyone was healthy. They became neighbors with people who were blessed with gifts of speed and strength."

"Werewolves?"

"Yes, we lived amongst them in peace for over twenty years, and in that time they made more children, myself and Rebekah included. Once a month, my family retreated underground in caves. Above the wolves would howl at the moon, and when the sun rose we'd return home." Klaus paused for a moment, his grip on the steering wheel tightening significantly. "One full moon, I took my youngest brother Henrik to watch the wolves turn. It was forbidden; but I was stubborn. He wasn't supposed to get hurt. We got a bit too close and before I could do anything they killed him. I carried his bloodied body back to my village screaming for my mother and she ran out to see him in my arms. When I told her that it was the wolves, she looked at me with such disappointment. I apologized so many times, but nothing could change what happened. He was gone."

Dakota put a hand over her mouth in shock at when he said. "That was the last moment my family had as humans. My mother was the original witch, so she turned my family into vampires to prevent anymore deaths."

"Vampirism was meant to be protection?"

"Of course, what did you expect love?"

"A punishment."

Klaus pondered her answer, because in a way, it was. "The reason why my father is so determined to kill me is not only because I was responsible for Henrik's death, but because when I made my first kill, I wasn't just a vampire. I was a vampire and a werewolf. It was that night we found out I wasn't his child."

"How did she turn all of you and still stay alive? That's a lot of magic to use and it isn't exactly lightweight."

"My mother herself did not turn, she did it for her family. She called upon the sun for life and the ancient white oak tree, one of natures eternal objects for immortality. My father played his part by offering us wine laced with blood, and then he drove his blade through all of our hearts."

"He killed his own family?"

"He wasn't delicate about it either." Klaus admits. "We had to drink more blood to complete the ritual and it was euphoric."

Dakota knew what he was talking about, that's why she didn't judge. Her first taste of human blood was so divine that she blacked out, but when she came back to her senses she was sitting in a circle of dead bodies. "The witches, they punished you though, didn't they? They're very strict when it comes to keeping the balance and their punishments are their favorite part of it all."

"For every strength there was an added weakness. The sun became our enemy, it kept us indoors for weeks. My mother found a solution to that though, our jewelry of choice held a gem called lapis lazuli." Klaus's finger subconsciously ran over the ring that Dakota had on her finger, said gem resting peacefully inside. "But the friends that had once opened their homes too us could now keep us out. The flowers that grew beneath the white oak tree could burn us."

"Vervain."

"No compulsion."

"That's not it though, is it?" Dakota pressed further, noticing that Klaus was hiding something from her.

"The tree that gave us life, now could bring us death. So we burned it to the ground. The predatory species was born when the bloodlust kicked in."

Dakota pursed her lips. "After all these years, why is Mikael still hellbent on killing you?"

"He has always struggled with him pride, and vampirism didn't help that."

"Do you think he's going to kill you?"

"Not before I drive a stake through his unbeating heart first."

•

•

•

Dakota and Klaus were walking through the woods in the dark of the night, searching around for a pack that resided in Oregon. "Portland is an amazing place once you get past the whiney music and healthy looking people. It's practically a breeding ground for werewolves." He announced proudly over the phone to Stefan.

"You're father is dead." The youngest Salvatore informs, the words traveled to Dakota's ear and she peered up at the hybrid that was looking at her with the same stupid idea expression.

Klaus had told Dakota before they left Virginia that he had compelled Stefan to keep tabs on everything that was happening in Mystic while they were gone. "What did you say to me?"

"Oh, my mistake. Not your actual father," Stefan sassed. "—Mikael. Daggered. What do you want me to do with the body?"

Klaus had to grip onto Dakota's hand to calm himself down. "I want you to tell me exactly what happened."

"He came to Mystic Falls looking for you, but instead he found Rebekah and tried to dagger her, but Damon and I vervained him and made Elena is the dagger on him." The story was believable, except for the part where Elena daggered him. She couldn't kill a fly.

"I want to see the body for myself."

"Well, it's here."

Klaus' jaw clenched tightly, and he was depending on Dakota's fingers that were rubbing the top of his hand soothingly to keep him anchored to the spot he was standing. "If you're lying to me Stefan, you're compulsion will expose you."

Stefan paused on the other line, and Dakota could picture his brooding face through the cellphone. "It's true, I saw it with my own eyes."

"I want to speak with Rebekah."

"She's right here."

"Hello, Nik." Rebekah greeted, her voice thick.

Maybe Klaus caught the tone in her voice, but he didn't make it known. "Tell me, what is this I hear about Mikael's unfortunate run-in with a dagger."

"It's true," Rebekah speaks. "He's finally out of our lives for good." Klaus put his head down, relishing in the feeling of not having to run away from his father. "I miss you. I'm miserable here."

"I'll be home soon."

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

Klaus hung up the phone, leading Dakota back to the SUV. "I don't have a good feeling about this." She protests.

"Well try. Or I'll compel some up for you."