Vulnerable

Chapter 28

Chapter 28: Calling Your Bluff

{D. K}

"You should be gentler with that, I'm sure the family member in that coffin doesn't appreciate you annoying them during their slumber." Dakota said; watching Damon go at the locked coffin with a shovel, but despite his attempts, he didn't even make a scratch in the glossy finish.

"Then maybe I should keep going so they can open up the damn thing themselves."

"If only it were that easy."

Stefan stayed by the wall, eyes locked firmly on Dakota. "You have any idea who could be in those coffins?"

"His family, duh."

Damon rolled his eyes. "Klaus has six siblings. Rebekah's with Klaus. There was one dead kid in the old world, and one dead kid in the new world, which leaves Elijah and two others. There are two sleeping Originals, three counting the one Kota took. Why are there four coffins? Who else is tagging along for the ride?"

After a moment of silence, the Salvatore's both turned to Dakota. "Oh, don't look at me like that. I know just as much as you do."

"Well, what's the point of having Klaus' girlfriend here if she isn't useful enough to tell us who's in the coffin."

"Watch your tongue Stefan, I think you're forgetting who's keeping you alive right now. Had Klaus somehow found out where you were hiding his family, I'm sure you wouldn't be getting off with just a warning."

Stefan raised a challenging brow. "What about you? When he finds out his own girlfriend is betraying him. What's he going to do?"

"Nothing, because you're going to make sure he doesn't find out." The smile on Dakota's face was eerily calm, and even though Stefan was on the brink of having no humanity, it sent a shiver down his spine and goosebumps littered his skin. "So, when's Bonnie opening the coffins?"

"Not sure, she's trying find a spell for it."

"You'd think if hundreds of dead witches can turn these coffins invisible, that they'd be able to open one."

Dakota flinched as said witches began shouting back at Damon through her direct link to them. The connection was much stronger and she was able to make out for than just a few words, but that was only because she was in the house where they resided. "Keep your insults towards the witches on the DL Damon, they're seconds away from de-activating your daylight ring for good."

Upon hearing the threat, Damon quieted down, subconsciously twirling the piece of jewelry between his fingers. "You know, none if this will do us any good if Klaus' hybrid friends find out our hiding spot, right?" Stefan speaks, not bothering to hide the pessimistic tone in his voice.

"They won't."

"And how do you know that?"

She shrugged. "You've got your secrets, I've got mine. I'm just better at hiding mine than you are. Just lay low, and don't draw attention to yourself."

"And why would I do that? I've got Klaus in the palm of my hands. If he does something I don't like, I'll throw his family into the ocean."

Even Damon looked doubtful at Stefan and his flawed plan. "That doesn't sound very smart."

"Look, his family means more to him than anyone else."

"You sure about that?"

Both brothers were thinking it, but Damon was quicker to say it. If all else failed and he didn't actually care if he dropped his family into the ocean, their last resort would have to be Dakota, and that would be a challenge all in itself seeing how she was much older than both of the brothers combined. "I don't know, Damon. Maybe I should make an appearance and find out." Stefan challenged, his cockiness getting the better of him.

Dakota had sat back and listened to the whole conversation, and it was now that she decided to comment. "How do you plan on doing that exactly?"

"I'm going to call his bluff."

"You're willing to loose everything then. Because that's what's going to happen if you do. You're going to loose everything and everyone you love and if you get rid of his family you won't have leverage and he will kill you."

Stefan began walking away. "I'm willing to do just about everything to get back at him."

•

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•

"We need to talk," Dakota dragged Klaus away from Mayor Carol Lockwood, not caring that they were in the middle of a conversation.

"I don't quite like that sentence."

Dakota rolled her eyes, checking around to make sure no one would come in the room before she shut the door, locking it behind her. "I'm not breaking up with you, but what happened today? I heard a hybrid died and I want to know what happened."

"Stefan dropped by the house demanding I get my hybrids out of town. Sorry to say he ruined some of the floorboards so I compelled the carpenter to fix it."

Dakota bypassed the part where the floor was dirtied, with blood no doubt. "Are you going to acknowledge that, because he just took Elena." She spoke, thankful that when he answered he didn't ask how she'd gotten that information.

Klaus shrugged, and Dakota was getting frustrated by how passive he was being. "Don't worry yourself, love. He's just getting desperate."

"Well desperate people do stupid things."

"Like what? Stefan's in love with Elena, he wouldn't dare kill her."

Dakota paused as she stared into his eyes. "If you got really desperate, would you kill me?"

Klaus frowned, shaking his head in denial. "I would never hurt you."

It took Dakota to believe him, and even when she did, a part of her knew that eventually he would, wether he did purposefully or not. "Just promise me, you won't risk too much for these hybrids. After all, they are disposable."

"I promise." Klaus stopped, his brain reminding him that he hadn't seen Dakota all day until his moment. "Wait, where were you today?"

"Out."

"With?" Dakota didn't respond. "Them? You've been with them."

"They have to believe I'm on their side, that's he only way I can get the coffins."

Klaus sighed. "Well, where are they?"

"I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"Because they have witches on their side."

"So do you!"

Dakota groaned, letting her head rest on the wall behind her. "Yes, on my side. But they don't like you. And they won't help me because they know I'm helping you." Klaus' phone rang, and he was planning on letting it ring so he could finish the conversation, but Dakota who was ready to stop it, all but shoved the phone to his ear.

"Stefan, how nice of you to call."

"Tell your hybrids to get out of town."

Klaus walked out of the room and out the back door, Dakota following along behind him. "Give me my coffins, and I'll be glad to do so."

"Ok, well I'm going to drive your blood source off Wickery Bridge."

"I don't believe you Stefan." Oh Stefan's end, Dakota and Klaus could very clearly hear the swerving of a car, and Elena's muffled protests. "What's going on?"

"I just fed her my blood. No more hybrids if she's a vampire."

"You won't do it."

Dakota flicked Klaus, but he ignored her. "You think so? Alright, well after she dies, your coffins are next to go. Say goodbye to your family Klaus."

Klaus stayed quiet, listening to the sound of cars tires screeching and Elena's pleading for Stefan go slow down. "Fine," The Original caved in. "—I'll make them leave. You win. Stop the car Stefan!"

Stefan listened and Klaus angrily ended the call. "No, your right. He was totally bluffing." Dakota sarcastically spoke, giving him a fake smile before walking to her car and leaving him standing there in the middle of the backyard by himself.