They'd arrived in Mystic falls late in the afternoon, by the time they did, Klaus had a fairly good idea that what the Salvatore's were hiding was a doppelgänger. Once he'd actually spent more than five minutes in the town he knew it too.

Charlotte felt terrified from the moment they entered the city limits but Klaus liked to play with his food before he ate it and he was still red with Charlotte and Stefan's betrayal. As a result, instead of capturing Elena in the day, he'd devised a plan to follow the students in the evening rather than as soon as they arrived back in town.

Stefan was trapped in the truck with Rebekah snapping his neck every time he woke up and Charlotte was stuck with Klaus. She hadn't spoken to him since they argued and Klaus was feeling less apologetic and more annoyed by her stubbornness.

Despite his frustrations, Klaus figured the easiest place for them to wait was in a hotel room where she could at least rest and shower if she wanted. Charlotte wasn't exactly pleased to spend the day in a hotel room with Klaus alone, remembering how it'd been when they were last together, but she didn't want to talk to him even to complain. Things were so fractured between them that when they'd pulled up to the hotel and he'd held out his hand to her as he opened her door she couldn't even look at him. Later when he'd tugged her softly towards him as they turned from the elevator towards their room she flinched away instinctively.

He told Rebekah he'd needed the hotel to prepare things for the evening but really he'd only gotten the room for Charlotte. He knew she hadn't slept at all while they drove through the night nor the night before and although he didn't want to admit it, he was worried about her. He knew from experience that her body was less resilient then his and without sleep or proper food he worried how she might suffer.

Sometimes the fragility of her frightened him, he'd realised throughout their journey how frail a human life could be, how easy it was for her body to buckle under emotion or lack of food or too much liquor.

Charlotte still felt betrayed by Klaus, his actions hurt her and she wasn't willing to bury the hatchet and forgive him after how easy it had been for him to act violently. In time she might've forgiven Klaus for snapping Stefans neck, knowing it was in an act of blind rage and knowing how poorly he reacted to betrayals and secrets. Charlotte might've been able to forgive him once Stefan had recovered but then Klaus kept pushing her, he kept pushing her and then he fed her his blood.

Charlotte was done.

How could he do the one thing she'd only hours earlier told him she didn't ever want, that she'd rather die than risk. Klaus had fed her his blood for the sole purpose of hurting her, as punishment for keeping Stefans secrets. Charlotte felt so terrified with his blood in her, terrified that something would happen and he'd snap her neck like Stefans and then she'd be forced to transition too. She didn't put it past him to force her to transition too if she did die.

She felt a little uncomfortable when the entered the room and her suspicions that it was only the pair of them was truly confirmed. Remembering how different things were between them the last time they'd shared a room felt like a false memory as she looked at him now.

Not interested in hearing Klaus try and justify his behaviour, the moment they arrived in the hotel room Charlotte went straight to bed, grateful to sleep and escape him and the day.

By the time Klaus shook her awake it was dark outside. She didn't want to go with him knowing that if he hadn't already, that he was going to figure out Elena was alive and hurt her. She knew that he was going to do something horrible to her friends as well. Wishing she could stay in bed and pretend none of it was happening, it was with great reluctance that stood, knowing that she needed to come so she could see Stefan.

She dressed quickly and joined Klaus at the door ready to follow him. He reached for her hand and Charlotte snorted with a cruel amusement and ripped it away, folding her arms across her chest.

"Watch the attitude, love," Klaus growled out annoyed at her childlike behaviour.

Charlotte rolled her eyes, "No," she snapped stubbornly causing Klaus's body to flood with rage again. She knew she was being difficult and that he was coming to the end of his tether as his patience wore thing but each time she looked at him she felt like she could taste his blood as it unwillingly poured down her throat.

"Sweetheart if you and your brother hadn't betrayed me-"

"Betray you? You kidnapped me," Charlotte cut him off angrily, "he's my brother and you kidnapped me. Who's side should I have taken?"

Klaus faltered for a moment, unable to respond as the guilt overpowered him again. Her eyes were steeled against him, no tears fell from them like they had flooded out in the car but he could still see her disappointment with him.

"You shouldn't have lied about Mikael," Klaus argued defensively.

"I'd never even heard of a Mikael until that night," Charlotte felt like tearing her hair out at his refusal to accept that he himself was the one in the wrong.

"And the doppelgänger?"

"You didn't even ask about her," she took a breath here running her hands anxiously though her hair, "Christ, you snapped my brothers neck in front of me and then got angry at me when I didn't answer your stupid little questions. You barely even gave me a chance to process Stefan laying there dead before you started threatening me again. I thought I could trust you and so I told you my greatest fear and instead you used it against me."

Klaus was sobered again. He had just assumed when she refused to answer his questions about Mikael that she'd been plotting against him with her brother. He was so furious that he didn't consider that her refusal to respond was about something other than evading his questions. The moment he'd begun to feed her his blood he'd regretted it and he'd known he'd acted rashly but he only now really realised to what extent.

"I know you're all okay with death but I'm not and that's the second time you've snapped the neck of one of my brothers. God Ni-" here she cut herself off as though she realised she didn't want to talk to him with familiarities, "Klaus he's my baby brother."

His face furrowed for a moment and he felt the guilt encompass him, "Darling I'm sor-"

Charlotte cut him off, "Stop it," she sighed, "I'm not interested in your apologises I just want to see my brother and to know he's okay," his hand reached out towards her again and she stepped back, "I don't trust you anymore. I don't trust that you won't just get annoyed and snap my neck too when I argue with you."

"I wouldn't do that."

"You said you wouldn't let me go back but you took step one without my permission, what's to stop you taking steps two and three like with Ray and the rest of the wolves. You said I couldn't leave you and that's a sure-fire way to make sure I can't ever go for good."

Klaus' face fell before hardening as he locked his emotions away, "We're going to be late," he told her.

He didn't reach for her again, he couldn't handle the way she flinched away from him instead placing his hand behind her back and guiding them from the room. She didn't argue with that but her face was reproachful as he led them from the hotel.

-

They were at the school now, Klaus had compelled someone and found out it was senior prank night and they'd arrived knowing all the supernatural teenagers they were looking for would likely be there.

Klaus was tugging her along beside him now, his hand gripped her upper arm but he tried his best to keep it loose so he didn't hurt her. They'd been searching through the school for only a few minutes before Elena Gilbert walked through the doors in front of them, Charlottes heart sinking as she did.

Looking down at Charlotte, Klaus was quick to confirm his suspicions that she was aware the doppelgänger lived on before he spoke. She wouldn't allow his redemption and so instead he let the rage at her betrayal flow through him again, the decision to taunt the doppelgänger feeling like an obvious outlet for his fury.

"That's my girl," he called out, surprising Elena and causing her to gasp out in shock.

"Klaus," Elena stuttered out before turning on her heel and running.

He sped in front of her easily, contemplating her for a moment before talking, "You're supposed to be dead. What are we gonna do about that?"

"Klaus don't you dare touch her," Charlotte tried to move between them, standing between Elena and Klaus but he easily gripped her arm again and pulled her to the side. Once she was away he didn't remove his hand instead using his free hand to grab Elena, Charlotte could see his grip on Elena was so tight his knuckles were turning white.

"You've put rather a large kink in my plans sweetheart," Klaus explained furiously as he pulled the two girls down the corridor, "The whole point of breaking the curse and becoming a hybrid was to make more hybrids. I haven't been able to do that. Now I bet it has something to do with the fact that you're still breathing."

"If you're gonna kill me just do it," Elena spat out.

"Not until I know I'm right. But I do have ways of making you suffer."

They'd reached the door to the gym now and Klaus dropped Charlottes arm instead picking Elena up and pushing her into the room before grabbing behind him and tugging Charlotte along too.

"Attention, seniors," Klaus called out in his American accent as they entered. The room was filled with a dozen or so students filling cups up with water along the ground, "You have officially been busted. Prank Night is over. Head on home." The students groaned and slowly began to disperse but two of them caught Klaus' eye, "You two. I remember you," Klaus said pointing to them, a girl and a boy.

"Sorry. Who are you?" the girl asked confused.

"Wasn't in my right head last time we met," Klaus had dropped his fake accent and was talking normally again, "Lift your foot up please, Dana. If she drops her foot, Chad, I want you to beat her to death. Understood?" Klaus compelled them both.

"Don't Klaus," Elena said, her heart racing.

"God, you still don't get that you don't have to hurt anybody," Charlotte added, her eyes reproachful at his behaviour.

She was standing beside Elena now, Klaus having dropped her arm as he approached Chad and Dana, she'd slipped her hand into Elena's comfortingly.

"Come on love," Klaus looked between the two girls with a smirk, "Of course I do."

Charlotte couldn't understand how Klaus could transform so quickly into this devil when he'd spent all this time so sweet with her. Elena was shaking beside her though she tried to hide it, their hands were clutching so tightly to each other Charlotte was a little worried they would go numb.

Dana started to waver, one foot still in the air as compelled and Klaus was smirking, "Keep it up." he called out to her as she whimpered.

"Where is Stefan?" Elena asked, "What'd you do to him?"

"Stefan's on a time out," Klaus replied, crossing his arms over his chest. Suddenly the doors banged open and all three of their heads looked over to see Bonnie Bennet, the witch and Matt Donovan, the human, walking in.

"Bonnie, get out of here," Elena yelled but before Bonnie could make a move Klaus had sped over.

"I was wondering when you'd show up. Now we can get started. Uh, Dana, why don't you relax? You and Chad sit tight," Dana fell to Chad who caught her and both settled to the ground, "I assume you're the reason Elena's still walking around alive."

"That's right," Bonnie agreed staring up at his her face stoic, "If you wanna blame someone, blame me."

"Oh there's no need for blame, love," Klaus stared down at her with an insincere smile, "Just your witchy interference seems to have cause some undesirable side effects. And, since you caused the problem, I'm gonna have you find the fix."

The doors banged open for a second time, now it was Rebekah clutching Tyler the wolf as she dragged him inside. Stefan wasn't with her and her worry for him distracted her before she realised why Rebekah was tugging Tyler inside.

Charlotte realised Klaus' plan right now and her heart sank.

Klaus, as punishment for their deceit, was going to attempt to turn Tyler into a hybrid. That way, whether Tyler survived or not would be on them, he was going to force their hand to find a solution, force them to choose, Elena or Tyler.

"Ugh, get off of me," Tyler struggled.

Rebekah smiled condescendingly, "Hush now."

"I'd like you all to meet my sister, Rebekah," Klaus called out, holding an arm up to introduce her, "A word of warning, she can be quite mean."

"Don't be an ass," Rebekah replied pushing Tyler towards him.

"Leave him alone," Elena called out, Charlotte tugged her back by her hand a little. She knew what Elena was trying for but she knew Klaus and she knew anything that came from Elena right now would only make things worse. Klaus was just as furious at Elena for being alive as he was at Charlotte and Stefan for hiding it from him and she worried if Elena inserted herself too far that Klaus would give up on this torturous little test and just snap her neck.

"I'm going to make this very simple," Klaus explained loudly as he pulled Tyler to the centre of the room, "Every time I attempt to turn a werewolf into a vampire hybrid, they die during the transition."

"Klaus don't you dare," Charlotte growled out, Klaus' eyes flickered to her for a moment before continuing.

"It's quite horrible, actually. Isn't it Charlie?"

Tyler's face was terrified as Klaus bit into his wrist, forcing it to his throat like he had with Charlotte in Chicago.

"I need you to find a way to save my hybrids, Bonnie. And for Tylers sake," Klaus paused for a moment, partly for dramatic purposes and partly to look at Charlotte who's face was screwed up, her eyes shut tight with what she knew was coming, "you'd better hurry."

Klaus snapped Tyler's neck and let him fall to the floor with a laugh.

Elena was gasping in horror beside her and they could hear the others reacting the same. Klaus' dirty work done, he abandoned Tyler on the floor, moving over to the bleachers to relax whilst he waited for Tyler to wake. He'd grabbed Charlotte who'd reluctantly dropped Elena's hand and let him pull her alongside him but she wouldn't look at him. She felt disgusted by his side however much her body secretly missed it, he was already back to pretending like things were the way they were before again.

"Get your arm off of me, I don't want to be near you," Charlotte spat out as Klaus sat down, pulling her with him and sliding his arm around her waist.

Her hands were prying at his fingers when he called down to Elena and her friends who were crowding around Tyler talking anxiously, "If Bonnie's successful, he'll live through his transition." He released Charlotte's waist at last and jumped back down walking towards them, "Go on," he pointed to Bonnie, "Go fetch your Grimoires and enchantments and what not. I'll hold on to Elena for safekeeping."

Charlotte stood from where she was, "Bonnie," she called out just as she turned to leave, "call Damon. Tell him we're here, Stefan and I," Bonnie nodded, grabbing Matt's hand and running from the room.

Klaus turned on his heel and stalked over to Charlotte furious, "now, now, darling, don't you remember the last time I saw your brother."

"I do," Charlotte countered with more bravery than she truly felt, "I recall the way that night ended, do you?"

Klaus was towering over her and his eyes narrowed as he replied, "Step two gets more and more desirable each word you say my darling."

Charlotte's fight left her in an instant, her eyes flickering from his to his chest as she took a step back in regret. He promised. He promised. She hated that he could fill her with such fear after everything they'd been through together.

Klaus seemed about to continue with his threat, she watched him take another deep breath ready to argue before he sighed and turned to Rebekah who was doing the same thing to Elena, "Enough, Rebekah," he called, clearly listening to their conversation even as he was with Charlotte, "Take the wolf-boy elsewhere, would you?"

Rebekah looked at Klaus, annoyed but she did as she was told, grabbing Tyler's unconscious body by his arm and dragging him from the room. Charlotte felt so relieved to watch her leave, taking Klaus attention on her away too as he turned back to Elena.

"Just ignore her," Klaus whispered in Elena's ear. Unable to get his rage towards Charlotte out without making things even worse than he already had, he was now leaning over Elena's shoulder and taunting her cruelly, "Petty little thing."

It was only Klaus, Elena and Charlotte in the gymnasium now, alongside Chad and Dana crying in the corner. Elena had gone over to Chad and Dana and was comforting them, Dana mostly was struggling to comprehend it all and wouldn't stop whimpering.

Charlotte had returned to the bleachers for a moment but when Klaus had sat beside her she'd stood and walked over to the wall opposite, curling up into a ball and leaning her head back. Klaus laughed maliciously but quite honestly he was a little hurt. He missed Charlotte as his ally, by his side even when she didn't agree with what he was doing.

Not now.

Now she couldn't stand to be by him, his touch made her shudder and she pushed him away every chance she got. Her eyes swam with hatred and disgust. He couldn't stop seeing the betrayal flit through her eyes when he'd pressed his arm to her mouth causing the blood to run down her throat.