Ch. 8: A New Threat

William's POV 

        William is chained up, out cold, but when he comes to consciousness and sees himself in chains which burn him, he growls and shows his vampire face. He then sees James looking at him and tries to get to him.

James' POV

        James watches him wake up and smirks, saying, "A newbie vampire that has no master." He walks over and grabs him by the throat and bites him on the neck, since he's something else besides a hybrid. He then smirks and says, "Let's see if Katherine can get to you in time." He then snaps his neck and leaves.

Katherine's POV

        After trying to reach Will, but being unsuccessful at it, I bring in the big guns. My now friend. After all, we know when someone doesn't answer, it's life or death. We also know it means that someone is missing and probably at the hands of an enemy. And tonight seems to be full of surprising enemies. So, when I tell Klaus that he's missing, Klaus decides to help. He may not care about Will's well-being, but he cares about mine. And that's good enough for me.

James' POV 

        James smirks and walks down the sidewalk of the town, seeing all the fresh food he can have, but he walks away and smirks as his killer instincts kick in. He sees a blonde woman whom is a stranger, which he compels to follow him to the alley. He then leads her there where he compels her to stay silent. He then feeds off of her. He then snaps her neck and smirks, as he slashes her body. He licks the knife and says, "Just like old times." He then blurs off. 

William's POV

        William is hallucinating, as he stays chained up and weak from the bite.

*William's House- 3 Days Ago* 

        William is in his room, depressed from his mother's death. He throws things around and punches the walls, making his hands bleed. He gets a text from Katherine, asking what's up, but he doesn't respond to her. He sighs and sits by the wall of the window, banging his head against it slightly. He grips his hair and pulls some out and yells louder.

*Present* 

        William wants to fall to the floor, but can't. He's being held up by the chains. 

        Kat, where are you? he thinks. 

Katherine's POV

        After a while of searching for Will, I finally find him hours later. Before entering though, though I know he's there, I use my senses to guide me as to whether or not there's anything or anyone else around, waiting for me to save him. It wouldn't be a good idea just to go in without knowing if it's a trap or not. When I don't sense anything or anyone else though, I finally enter and soon find him. 

        "Will," I say, and I immediately see the bite on his neck. That's when I realize who it is. I never did find out what kind of creature, other than a vampire or hybrid that James was, but I always knew he had a bite much like Klaus'. I then look back at where Klaus is. "I know who it is, but I don't know the cure, if any, for this bite. Ever hear of James that kinda almost has a bite similar to yours? I think he's turning it into a game of whether I could find Will in enough time or not. I don't know if my place is safe anymore. I'd hate to barge in on you and whatever you have going on at your family home, but if my place isn't safe anymore, then yours would be better."

Klaus' POV

        I sigh, knowing my family home is about to get worst. After all, I know my sister, Rebekah, despises Katerina. I also know that Elijah and Katerina will always care for one another, so I'll have to, from now on, make myself put on my best behavior with them, rather than keeping them apart. Besides, if James is this dangerous or worst, then I'm willing to give up anything to keep Katerina safe. 

        "Fine. Yes. You and your friend can stay at my family home. I'll make sure both of you are protected. Let's get him home. Then we can figure out what the cure is," I tell her. I then approach and help her get him unchained and get him home to my place. 

        Once home, I help her get him to one of our guest bedrooms that no one is using. 

Katherine's POV

        After putting a cool, wet washcloth on Will's forehead to keep him cool, I go to the parlor with Klaus. I then pour myself a shot glass of Bourbon and sit on the red couch. He gets himself the same, but sits in his chair, before asking me, "So, what is it with this James, Katerina? What does he want from you?"

        "He's pretty much a killer. I met him in 1820, which wasn't my finest. I stopped him once, but he's always resurfacing. He's something supernatural, but I couldn't quite figure out what he was. I just know he's into blonde humans and slashing them up after they're already dead. So, since he's into humans and not vampires, Caroline should be safe from him. He's an enemy of mine after I stopped him from harming someone I deemed he shouldn't be harming. She was a teenager, not yet a real adult, and to me, children are something that you should never harm. The question has always been and still is though, is why he always seems to be in the same town as me. And why he now seems to be targeting at least one person I care about," I answer and inform him. 

Klaus' POV

        When Katerina tells me all of this, I know that he's going to be quite difficult to take care of. 

        "Well, first things first, luv. Let's figure out the cure," I tell her. I know for her, the first thing she wants is her friend to live. Then she and I both want him dead and gone.

William's POV 

 *Flashback*

        William sees Katherine at the door of his room after he hasn't answered her phone call. He knows she's worried about everyone she cares for.

        "I'm okay," he says, his hands bloody, as he sit on the floor in front of his bed. He leans against the foot rest of it, before looking at his hands and sighs. There were bald patches on his head. His room is a disaster, as he looks away at the wall.

*End of flashback*

        William's hand turns to stone, as he mumbles in his sleep, sweating badly. He twitches everywhere on his body.

James' POV 

        James sees Klaus and Katherine take William out and smirks.

        "So good to see you, Katherine. Let the game begin."

        He blurs off and sees another blonde woman and does the exact same thing to her as he did the first one. He then blurs off after leaving the body in the alley.

Katherine's POV

        As I'm talking with Klaus, trying to figure out a cure, we look at each other, both hearing some movement from upstairs. Since his siblings are loud all the time, I know it's not them. It must be Will. Something's happening. 

        I set my empty shot glass down and we both go to where we'd left him, only to find him starting to desiccate. 

        I sit on his bedside, feeling useless, knowing I can't do anything until we find the cure. I then look at Klaus.

        "We have to do something quick," I plead. "What about your blood? It cures werewolf bites. Maybe it'll save him from whatever this is."

Klaus' POV

        I watch the scene, debating, as Katerina asks me to try my blood. I don't think it'll save him, but I know I have to do something for her. Then, after a moment, I approach and bite my wrist. I put it to his lips, making my blood go down his throat, but I see it not working. When I see that, I take my wrist away.

        "Katerina, we have to try something else. I promise you, we'll get a witch to bring him back, but we need to find the cure first," I say, knowing he'll die before we find the cure. 

        I leave the room.

        After a moment, Katerina follows me. 

Katherine's POV

        After his blood doesn't cure him, I follow Klaus out of the room. Then we get to work on figuring out the cure. Klaus is right. Will is too far gone. I have to work on finding a cure. Then we can get a witch to bring him back.

William's POV

        William twitches and feels Klaus' blood go down his throat, but feels it not working. He keeps twitching as he lays there, weak, and starts to desiccate slowly.

James' POV

        James goes to where the Mikaelsons are and beats on the front door. He smirks and waits for anyone to answer, as he stands away from it.

Katherine's POV

        As we're in search of a cure, Klaus and I both hear the front door, as someone knocks furiously on it. Then I get a familiar scent, which let's me know who exactly it is. I'll always remember the scent of James, just as I will always know Klaus' scent. I always have and always will. 

        "Lovely. Must be here to gloat," I comment. 

Klaus' POV

        When I hear the front door, I'm unsure who it is, but when Katerina makes a comment about coming to gloat, I realize that this must be James. I still go over and open the door though, but as a precaution, she stands so that she's at least somewhat behind me. 

        "Well, well. You're quite brave coming and knocking on my door," I comment. "Do tell me. Would you prefer me to torture you or just simply kill you?" I then do what anyone would predict me to do. I pin him against the outside of my house, hand around his throat. "You do know what I do to those that threaten anyone I care about, don't you?" I add, making it apparent of my anger. 

        Katerina stands back a ways and watches, as she tells me, "We should torture him. Find out what he is and what the cure is." 

        I give a smile, liking that idea. 

James' POV 

        James smirks and doesn't fight back.

        "Well, well. Klaus Mikaelson. An original. How honored I am to finally meet you. And if you torture me, it'll be too late for your newly turned vampire," he says to Klaus, before telling Katherine, "Since I'm not just a hybrid like him, his blood can't cure him, but only mine can. I went to the now place they call Mystic Falls and got the things needed to make myself one. But a lot stronger and faster than the great Klaus Mikaelson." He smirks and then is out of his grasp in a flash and behind Katherine with red eyes showing. "If you want me to cure two people, I suggest you play nicely," he tells Klaus, as he looks at him. 

Katherine's POV

        I listen to him, as James speaks to us both. Then, in a blur, before either of us can do anything, he's behind me. I can then feel his hand around my throat. I know at this point that James tricked us by making us have to rescue Will. It was a distraction. I don't fight him though, since he says he's much faster and stronger than Klaus, which means it'll be useless for me to try. I know when he talks about curing two people, he means that he wants to give me a death sentence. 

        "Whatever you want, you can get if you just cure Will. I'm all yours if you save him," I say. I've survived for half as long as the Mikaelsons. If I die, so be it. But none of my friends have to be victims, too. 

Klaus' POV

        As James speaks, a hand around Katerina's throat, eyes red, ready to bite her, I want to do many terrible things to him. I want to save her, but I know that Katerina isn't always one to want to be saved. She'd rather try to keep her friends safe. If possible, that is. I don't want her bitten though, and I'm afraid if I let my rage get the best of me, he'll sentence her to death, so I stay where I am. I want to find a way that I can free her of this enemy. 

        "You should know that I don't do well, being threatened, much less those I care for being threatened," I remind him. "If I were you, I would tread carefully. What do you want me to do?"

        Suddenly, before any of us realize that there's a newcomer, I watch James get his neck snapped from behind. Then there's Elijah. Impeccable timing as always. 

        "Care to tell me what's going on here?" he inquires. 

        "Don't mind that for the moment. Let's get him restrained. We can easily get his blood out of him to save a friend of Katerina's," I say. 

        After he's chained up in the basement with enchanted chains, said to be unbreakable, and after his blood has been taken, Katerina goes upstairs and cures her friend. As she does that, Elijah and I stand a safe distance away from him. We won't let anything happen to Katerina as long as we both shall live.