The air in Mystic Falls tonight was thick with the scent of expensive bourbon, booze and local pretension, but to Klaus Mikaelson, it smelled like victory. He felt a buoyancy in his step he hadn't felt in centuries. The shadow that had haunted his every waking moment, the great hunter, Mikael was gone. Dead. At least, that was the word from Rebekah, and she knew better than anyone that their father's silence was the only music Klaus truly enjoyed.
"A celebration is in order, don't you think?" Klaus murmured to himself, smoothing the lapel of his charcoal suit.
Returning to his birthplace was poetic; returning to find a party already in full swing at the Lockwood Mansion? Now that is an ironic twist even he couldn't have scripted. The very halls where the "elite" of Mystic Falls preened were about to be graced by their true king.
He turned to a hulking man standing by the entrance, one of his newest sired. "Tony," Klaus said, his voice a silky purr. "Make the preparations. I want our brothers-in-arms in position. Let's show this town what a real party looks like."
Tony nodded, signaling the other hybrids. Clad in sharp suits that hid their predatory nature, they drifted into the crowd like ink in water, taking up positions at the exits and near the bar.
Klaus stepped further into the party, his eyes scanning the room with a level of mirth. There they were. The "Scooby Gang" in all their teenage angst. He spotted Stefan, looking brooding as ever, and the precious Elena, the doppelgänger who had caused him so much trouble.
Then, his gaze shifted. Now, who is that?
His eyes fell on a girl with dark hair standing next to Jeremy Gilbert. He recognized the look of an ancient vampire trying to play human. As his gaze locked onto hers, Anna visibly flinched, pulling back into the shadows of a pillar.
Klaus nearly let out a dark laugh. The fear was delicious. It was the best welcome-home gift he could have asked for.
He began to weave through the crowd toward the stage where the live band was currently playing a mediocre jazz set. He stepped up, placing a firm, heavy hand on the band leader's shoulder. The man turned, startled, but before he could speak, Klaus's pupils dilated, the compulsion locking in.
"Hello, mate," Klaus whispered, a sharp, dimpled smirk dancing on his face. "I'm going to need a couple of minutes with that mic. You don't mind, do you? Think of it as a contribution to the arts." He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a sarcastic hiss. "Besides, it's rude not to let the guest of honor give a homecoming speech, especially when the locals forgot to leave the porch light on for me."
The band leader stepped aside, dazed. Klaus took the mic, the feedback whining for a second before silence rippled through the room.
"Good evening, everyone!" Klaus's voice boomed, rich and charismatic. "Oh, how much I have missed you, Mystic Falls."
The crowd stared up, confused whispers breaking out. Who is this guy? Is he a Lockwood? A politician?
"I can see the confusion on your lovely faces," Klaus said, easing their minds with a practiced, charming tilt of his head. "Don't worry yourselves. I'm just a long-lost son of this soil, finally returning to the fold. I heard there was a party, and I thought, why not? It's a special occasion, after all. A celebration of new beginnings and the end of old ghosts."
He raised a glass he'd snatched from a passing tray. "I hope you all enjoy this evening. Truly. Because it's been a long, long time coming."
Down in the thick of the crowd, Stefan stood stiffly, his jaw set as he watched Klaus command the room. He leaned toward Elena, his voice a low growl. "Well then. There he is."
Elena sucked in a shaky breath and a slow, dark smile spread across her lips.
"Careful, we need to be careful Elena" Stefan warned, sensing the shift in her energy to one of anxiety and fear.
Elena immediately schooled her expression, smoothing out her features into a mask of innocent curiosity. "Well then, why don't we enjoy our time while the party is still fresh, Stefan?"
Stefan looked at her, a wary but captivated smile tugging at his mouth. "Of course."
Inside the Lockwood Study
Away from the music, the atmosphere was just as tense. Caroline Forbes stood with her arms crossed, staring at Bonnie Bennett in sheer disbelief.
"You're what?" Caroline hissed.
Bonnie nodded firmly. "Yeah. He's with me."
The door swung open, and Damon Salvatore sauntered in, swirling a glass of amber liquid. "Well, that was quite the announcement," he drawled, gesturing toward the sounds of Klaus's speech outside.
Caroline looked from Bonnie to Damon and back again, her eyes widening as the pieces clicked. "Oh my god... he really is your date?"
Damon took a mock-offended step back, doing his trademark "eye-thing" a wide-eyed, blue-on-blue stare followed by a smirk. "Hey, what's that supposed to mean? I'll have you know I'm quite the catch. The witch is lucky to have me. I'm charming, I'm well-dressed, and I'm excellent at parties."
Bonnie rolled her eyes so hard it looked painful. "Grow up, Damon."
Damon took a sip of his drink, his smirk widening. "No."
Caroline looked like she was about to have a metaphorical short circuit. "Okay, that is beyond disturbing. Bonnie, what are you even—"
Bonnie immediately pressed a finger to her lips, her eyes wide with a warning. "Keep it down," she hissed.
Damon leaned against the mahogany desk, swirling his drink with practiced nonchalance. "Listen to the witch, Blondie. We've probably got hybrids crawling through the floorboards and the insulation. Let's not broadcast the plan to the neighbors."
The door swung open, and Tyler stepped in, his expression hardening the moment he saw the trio huddled together. "Okay, what the hell is this?"
Damon didn't even look up. "Ah, the local lapdog. Careful, Tyler, you might trip over your own collar if you run into the room that fast."
"Hey!" Caroline snapped, stepping toward Damon. "Stop being a dick."
Damon finally looked at Tyler, his eyes cold. "Where exactly is your master at this time? I'd hate for him to miss the festivities."
Tyler frowned, stepping further into the room. "What?"
Damon rolled his eyes toward the ceiling as if asking for strength. "Michael, you idiot. Is he here?"
"First of all, Michael isn't my master, he's my boss," Tyler countered, his voice rising in defensive irritation. "And secondly, what makes you think I'd tell you even if he was here?"
Caroline looked at Tyler, hurt flickering in her eyes. "Wait... you wouldn't tell us?"
"Why should I?" Tyler looked at Caroline, then back to Damon. "With the way Damon is pushing, who knows what he'd do? I'm doing him a favor, really. If he screws with Michael, he's just digging himself an early grave. I'm keeping him from being greeted by a tombstone."
Damon let out a sharp, sarcastic bark of a laugh. "The wolf has a heart. How touching." He set his glass down with a heavy clink. "Well, if the Old Man is here, tell him not to interfere at the last moment. Some of us have a rhythm."
Without another word, Damon swept out of the room to find Stefan. Caroline watched him go, huffing in frustration. "God, he is such an ass." She turned to Bonnie, gesturing to the door. "Really, Bonnie? Damon?"
"Last minute choice," Bonnie said with a weary sigh, her mind clearly elsewhere as she followed Damon out.
The room fell quiet, leaving Tyler and Caroline alone. Tyler's posture softened. "Well then. I was initially looking for my date."
Caroline's frustration melted into a small, playful smile. She moved into his space, tilting her head up to kiss him deeply. "Well, you found her."
"Mmm, yes I did," Tyler murmured against her lips, shifting his focus to the curve of her neck.
Outside, the air was electric. Klaus moved through the crowd with the grace of a shark in a koi pond, a bottle of beer held loosely in one hand. He spotted them near the edge of the dance floor, the golden boy and his prize.
"Well, hello there," Klaus drawled, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "If it isn't my favorite couple."
Stefan's body went rigid. "Klaus."
"Hello, Stefan," Klaus replied, his smile widening. He turned his gaze to Elena, who looked remarkably composed. "Calm down, love. I'm not going to touch you. I still have more than enough blood in the cellar for my hybrids; I'm not here for a snack."
He took a slow sip of his beer, his eyes scanning the perimeter without his head moving an inch. "Tell me something... where exactly is the homecoming queen? I'd have expected Rebekah to be in the spotlight, drinking it all in. We all know how much of an attention seeker my sister is."
He paused, looking at Stefan with a feigned look of realization. "Mmm, well, maybe you don't remember that, Stefan. You still can't quite recall the glory days, can you? But the point stands. Where is she?"
"She's with Michael," Elena said, her voice steady. Klaus's smile didn't falter, but his eyes darkened. "Now that's odd. Because you see, the last time we spoke, she told me she wasn't speaking to him. So how...?"
"Well, he has her, Klaus," Elena interrupted, her tone sharp. "Now, is there something else we can help you with?"
Klaus laughed, a rich, melodic sound that didn't reach his eyes. "Oh, the confidence! It's almost attractive. As a matter of fact, yes, Elena—"
He took a predatory step closer, his presence looming over her, but he was cut off by a familiar, drawling voice from the side.
"Well, look at what the wolf dragged in."