Bound By Fate

Chapter Five

We arrive at Gloria’s, sitting at the bar, with Klaus in the middle of me and Stefan. Gloria passes the boys a bottle of beer and hands me a glass of red wine, which I happily accept. I know I need to nurse this glass, though, if I don’t want to repeat what happened at the Southern Comfort bar, except a little worse.

Gloria: “Where’s Rebekah?”

Klaus: “She’ll be here. I can’t just conjure her on demand.”

I roll my eyes and take a sip, while Gloria walks away to help another customer. Stefan looks pretty annoyed with Klaus, too.

Klaus: “What’s with you? I thought Chicago was your playground.”

Stefan: “So this is why you asked me to be your wingman? Because you liked the way that I tortured innocent people?”

Klaus: “Well, that’s certainly half of it.”

Stefan: “What’s the other half?”

Klaus pours three shots of the scotch they found.

Klaus: “The other half, Stefan, is that you used to want to be my wingman.[He passes us our shots and holds his up] To friendship.”

We clink our shot glasses together and drink them.

Allison: “So we know why he is here now, but what about me? Why did you drag me along?”

Klaus: “Personal reasons. You’ll know when I want you to know.”

I groan, knowing that means he doesn’t feel like telling me yet. Klaus pours two double shots, one for Stefan and one for himself. I’m just relieved he didn’t pour one for me. Although I did notice him smirk a little while glancing at me.

Stefan: “So I’m confused. If we were such great friends, why do I only know you as the hybrid d**k who sacrificed my girlfriend on an altar of fire? Huh?”

Klaus: “All good things must come to an end.”

They both finish their shots.

Stefan: “You compelled me to forget.”

Klaus: “It was time for Rebekah and I to move on. Better to have a clean slate.”

Stefan: “But why? You shouldn’t have to cover your tracks… unless you’re running from someone.”

Klaus: “Storytime’s over.”

Stefan: “I need another drink. A real one.”

Klaus lets him leave and pours another shot for himself and me as Stefan leaves.

Allison: “I wouldn’t think you’d be afraid of anyone.”

Klaus: “Everyone has fears. Mine are long gone.”

Allison: “Lucky you.”

Klaus: “To no more fear.”

We clink our glasses, take the shots, before I go to the restroom. When I return, the bar is empty, and I find Klaus holding Damon up by the throat, stabbing him in the stomach with a drink umbrella.

Damon: “You want a partner in crime, forget Stefan and Allison. I’m so much more fun.”

Klaus throws Damon onto a table, making me scream from shock and fear. Klaus breaks off the leg of a chair, walking over to Damon.

Allison: “Klaus, don’t!”

He ignores me.

Klaus: “You won’t be any fun after you’re dead.”

He is about to stab Damon, but Gloria walks out and makes the stake burst into flames, making Klaus throw it to the side.

Klaus: “Really?”

Gloria: “Not in my bar. You take it outside.”

Damon tries to get up, but Klaus pins him back down.

Klaus: “You don’t have to negotiate their freedom. When I’m done with them, they’ll never want to go back.”

He lets Damon leave and walks over to me.

Klaus: “I apologize for scaring you, love. I had to make a point. Hopefully, he will listen this time.”

I glare up at him.

Allison: “You don’t always have to be such a jerk.”

I go back to sitting at the bar with my wine glass.

Klaus: “Allison, stay here while I retrieve my sister. I don’t want her killing you out of petty revenge when we arrive.”

Allison: “[Sarcasm] As you command, oh powerful one.”

Once he leaves, I take my phone out and call my mother. I’ve been doing a once-a-week check-in, so she’ll know I’m alive and as well as one can be on a road trip like this.

E - Allison, how are you doing?

A - I’m alright, Mom. Still hanging in.

E - It’s good to hear from you, sweetheart. At least I can rest now that I know both of you are safe.

A - What do you mean both? What happened to Caroline?

E - Your father found out about your sister being a vampire. Tyler and I just got her home, so she’s safe now, but he had been torturing her all day.

A - Are you serious?! At least you’re adjusting to it. I can’t believe Dad would do that to her.

E - I think if you called her, it might help her calm down.

A - Yeah, of course, I’m gonna call her. Thanks for letting me know, Mom. I wish I could be there to help.

E - I do, too, sweetheart. Did Damon catch up with you?

A - Yes, but he lost a fight with Klaus when he did. Fortunately, a witch intervened, and Klaus let Damon off with a warning.

E - We will find a way to save you; just hang on till then.

A - I will. I love you, Mom.

E - I love you too, sweetheart.

I hang up and call Caroline, who can’t stop crying while telling me what happened, and I want to kill our Dad right now.

A - Care, when I make it home, we will have an entire day for the two of us. Call it a sister bonding day.

C - I look forward to that. Thank you for supporting me even when you are in the worst situation possible right now.

A - That’s what big sisters are for. I love you, Care.

C - I love you too, Ally. Come back soon.

A - I’m trying.

I hang up and chug the rest of my wine, letting a tear fall before Gloria joins me.

Gloria: “You know, you are one tough human. It may not seem like it compared to who you are traveling with, but it takes a lot of courage to not cry left and right with everything you are going through right now.”

Allison: “[Sarcastic chuckle] Well, it’s not like I can run away. I still don’t know why he even wants me here.”

Gloria: “So you haven’t noticed yet.”

Allison: “Noticed what?”

Gloria: “You’ll see.”

She walks away, cleaning up her bar, and I decide to help her since I have nothing better to do.

Stefan picks me up from Gloria’s and takes me to the warehouse, where Klaus and a girl await us.

Klaus: “Ah, there you are. Allison, I’d like you to meet my sister, Rebekah. Rebekah, this is Allison Forbes.”

Rebekah: “So this is the one?”

Klaus: “Yes. Allison, we need to get a whole new wardrobe for Rebekah. As you are a female from this time and more qualified than the rest of us, we figured you’d be perfect for this job.”

Allison: “Sure, I’ll help. Only because retail therapy will help me calm down.”

Rebekah looks me up and down. I'm wearing jean shorts, a black tank top, and black and white loose flannel.

Rebekah: “So women in the 21st century dress like prostitutes then.”

Allison: “Yes and no. Believe me, this outfit is reserved compared to a lot of others. Of course, this century is big on girl power. I think we will have a lot of fun together, Rebekah.”

We start going to different clothing stores and getting to know each other. She reminds me of my younger sister. After talking for a bit, trying to figure out her style wasn’t that hard. Finding an entire wardrobe was a bit of a challenge, but it was a lot of fun. We even went shoe shopping, which was a great distraction while it lasted.

She does not care for Dance music, but I can’t blame her; I don’t care for it much either. It was obvious that the boys did not enjoy being dragged to many clothing stores. However, they put this on themselves, so I don’t feel bad for them. It’s not like we forced them to come with us.

Klaus tried to offer me a glass of champagne while Rebekah was in the changing room at one point, but I gave him my ‘Are you crazy’ look, to which he chuckled and downed it himself.

Klaus: “You really can’t hold your liquor, can you?”

Allison: “You already know the answer, and you haven’t even seen the worst I have ever been while drunk.”

Klaus: “Oh really? Do tell.”

I scoff and roll my eyes.

Allison: “As if I would tell you.”

Klaus: “I’ll tell you why I have been dragging you along if you tell me.”

Allison: “Not gonna happen. It’s too embarrassing.”

Klaus: “Perhaps another time then.”

I lean over him, getting close to his face, inches away from being able to put my lips on his.

Allison: “Not gonna happen.”

I back away and find more clothes for Rebekah to try on.