Chapter 11

Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

Klaus and Henrik stepped out of the car. Klaus moved to open the trunk, and Henrik followed, curious about the source of the noise that had been struggling throughout their trip to the mountains.

"Are you ok, Ray?" Klaus asked, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.

"I already told you where to find the pack. What more do you want from me?" Ray Sutton replied, his voice exhausted and trembling with fear, his anxious eyes locked on Klaus. He writhed against the ropes binding him, desperate to break free.

"Did you not hear a word I said last night, Ray? I have great plans for you," Klaus said, his tone deceptively calm as he cut his wrist and forced Ray to drink his blood.

"You'll thank me for it later, heh," Klaus added with a chuckle before snapping Ray's neck, killing him instantly.

"So, this is the place, huh?" Henrik said, tearing his gaze from Ray's lifeless body to take in the rugged scenery at the foot of the mountains.

"Yes, it is," Klaus confirmed, pulling Ray's body from the trunk. Without hesitation, he slung Ray over Henrik's shoulders, flashing a sly smile. "Be an angel and carry Ray while we climb the mountain. We have a pack to find."

"Dammit," Henrik muttered, rolling his eyes. Still, he adjusted Ray's body over his shoulder for a more secure and comfortable hold.

They started walking along the mountain path in the pleasant afternoon, the sky was clear but the sun gave no respite.

"So, help me understand here, will you?" Klaus said as they walked along the path, his voice casual, though tinged with intrigue. "I like you, kid. As I've already said, you're not as fun as Stefan, but you're certainly not boring enough to get rid of. Still, I'm curious. Why do you claim to be part of my family? What exactly do you know about my family... aside from my real name?"

"Look, I can't tell you how we're related," Henrik replied, glancing sideways at Klaus while adjusting Ray's body on his shoulder to keep it from slipping. "It'd sound crazy... or maybe not. But you need to understand that we are related. The answer will come in time."

"But I can tell you this," Henrik continued, speaking slowly, his gaze flicking over Klaus, watching for his reaction, "I know about all of them: Finn, Elijah, you, Kol, Rebekah, Henrik, Mikael... Esther." He paused for a moment, noting the twitch of Klaus's expression and the subtle shift in his posture, though Klaus didn't make a move. "I know you must have your doubts, but let me clear something up for you—I'm not your brother Henrik."

"Then who the hell are you?" Klaus asked, his voice dark and low, a growl edging into his tone. He paused in his steps and turned sharply toward Henrik, his face shifting into a threatening scowl while showing his true hybrid face. "Why do you know these things?"

Henrik kept his composure, meeting his father's gaze with calm assurance. "Because we're related. That's why I know about your family."

"You keep saying that, but how the hell do I know you're telling the truth?" Klaus snarled, his tone laced with irritation and his eyes narrowing as he studied Henrik.

"I've got no reason to lie," Henrik replied coolly, unbothered. "Why would I lie to someone as dangerous and powerful as you? You think I'd go around trying to piss off someone like you for no reason? I don't make enemies for sport." He stood firm, continuing to lock eyes with Klaus. "As I said, you'll know the truth in time."

Klaus's irritation grew, his frustration clear as he scowled at Henrik. "How long, then? How long am I supposed to wait for these supposed answers?"

"A year? No, less. A few months at most," Henrik said, resuming his walk along the path.

"Too long," Klaus snapped, forcing himself to remain composed, though his voice betrayed his impatience. "Make it sooner."

"I can't," Henrik shrugged, unruffled. "You'll have to wait."

Klaus's anger was palpable, his frustration mounting at the lack of immediate answers. Henrik's knowledge of Klaus's family, and the cryptic way he spoke like the witches, only made things worse.

Henrik, sensing his father's growing frustration, offered a possible solution. "Maybe there's something that can ease your doubts in the meantime, about us being related. The witches have a spell for tracking people. They can use the blood of someone to power the tracking spell, showing the location of their blood relatives."

"That could work as evidence. Proof that we're truly related. And while you wait for the full answer, this should satisfy your doubts." Henrik said as he shot Klaus a small, knowing smile. "So, you won't keep showing your grumpy face and planning whatever is going through your head. After all, it's always and forever, right?"

"Maybe..." Klaus muttered, considering it with a slight shift in his demeanor, his eyebrow twitching at his final word selection. His face softened just a touch, though the wheels were turning in his mind. He said nothing more, but in the back of his mind, he couldn't help but wonder if Henrik's words were true. The boy looked too much like him, and the things he knew couldn't be ignored.

They kept walking for a long while, well into the mountains.

"You okay? Is Ray getting heavy?" Klaus asked with a mischievous smile, slipping back into his usual self after their earlier exchange, as if his previous irritation had never existed.

"I'm fine," Henrik replied, rolling his eyes as he returned to his previous, more cheerful demeanor.

"You sure about that? We've been walking for quite some time now. If you need some water or a little sit-down…" Klaus inquired again, his tone light but tinged with mock concern.

"If anything, it's uncomfortable trying to get a hold of him," Henrik muttered, sighing and wishing it was a woman instead. "Next time, look for a woman, will you? Then I'd be more eager to march through the mountains carrying someone."

"I can't do much about that," Klaus snickered. "Can't be choosy when the wolves are few and far between." He shrugged. "Took some time to find this one and for him to lead me to his pack."

"Alright, fine," Henrik said, knowing that anything further would be pointless.

"Cheer up. You won't have to carry Ray much longer. We've found ourselves a pack. There," Klaus added, pointing ahead.

"Finally," Henrik exclaimed, relieved. He walked into their camp, with everyone watching as he laid Ray's body on the ground.

"Ray! Oh my God!" A woman rushed out from among the pack, moving to Ray's body. A man followed close behind her. "What's going on?" She muttered, examining Ray.

"Who are you?" The woman asked, her gaze shifting cautiously to Henrik.

Klaus walked up beside the woman, a smile on his lips as he glanced at her and then at the man. "The important question is: who am I? Please, forgive the intrusion."

"My name's Klaus," he said, his expression shifting to something more serious.

Henrik shot a sarcastic smile at Klaus. It was clear Klaus was trying to make an impressive entrance with his serious face, but Henrik could tell it was all an act.

The woman stood up slowly, recognition dawning in her eyes as she tensed, her fear evident. "You're the hybrid."

"You've heard of me. Fantastic," Klaus replied, his smile widening.

Klaus then made his way to a large, flat rock in the center of the camp, sitting down with a casual grace. Henrik glanced around, noticing how beautiful the landscape was—full of trees, with flat, clean ground and large rocks scattered about. It was an ideal spot for camping, especially with the full moon overhead.

Henrik moved to sit on the rock, but not too close to Klaus. The pack gathered around, their eyes mostly focused on Klaus.

The woman stood stiffly, her expression tense and worried as she glanced at Klaus, occasionally stealing nervous looks at Ray's body. It seemed she was the leader of the pack, as no one else had stepped forward to address Klaus.

"It's fascinating, actually," Klaus mused aloud, his voice low and contemplative. "A werewolf who isn't beholden to the moon, a vampire who doesn't burn in the sun. A true hybrid." He said it as though pondering it deeply, though anyone could see he was not as intrigued as he let on.

"Hhhh… Hooosh…" Ray suddenly groaned, his body arching as a deep breath rattled his chest.

Ray woke up in the midst of his transition to becoming a hybrid. He needed only a sip of human blood to complete the process and activate his vampiric side.

"Excellent timing, Ray," Klaus grinned, clearly pleased. "Very dramatic."

"What's happening to me?" Ray asked, panic rising in his voice.

Klaus turned to Henrik, his smile still in place. "Henrik?"

Henrik let out a small sigh. "You're really using me like your personal errand boy, aren't you? I'm starting to question if keeping Stefan away from you was the right decision," he muttered, looking briefly at his father before addressing the pack. "Are any of you human? Ray here needs human blood to complete his transition to a vampire. If he doesn't get it, he'll die."

Ray Sutton looked around, disoriented and still trying to process what was happening to him. The other werewolves were timid, glancing nervously at one another. The woman, who appeared to be the leader, seemed particularly distressed.

"It doesn't take much. Just a sample," Klaus added with a smile as he stood up, scanning the group. "Anyone? A boyfriend, a girlfriend… someone along for the ride?"

Klaus's gaze settled on the man standing silently beside the woman. Though he was scared, he remained by her side.

"You." Klaus's voice was sharp as he rushed toward the man, biting into his forearm. He quickly passed the man to Henrik while the woman protested and moved to stop him, but Klaus grabbed her by the throat, strangling her lightly.

"Lie down on the ground and don't move," Henrik commanded, compelling the man with ease. "Don't be afraid. Let Ray feed from you so he can complete his transition."

The man lay down on the ground as if controlled by strings, following Henrik's commands. Ray hesitated for a moment, his eyes flickering between the blood on the man's arm and his own internal struggle.

"If you don't drink it, Ray, you'll die," Henrik said with a grin as he sat back down. "Anyway, your body will make the decision for you once you lose your mind."

Klaus looked at the woman in his grip, her distress growing. "It's the new order, sweetheart. You either join us, or you die."

"I'd rather die than be a vampire," the woman spat with clenched teeth, her voice full of defiance.

"Wrong choice," Klaus snarled, clearly displeased with her defiance. He showed his hybrid face in all its terrifying glory, biting into his wrist and forcefully feeding her his blood.

Ray, no longer able to resist the bloodlust, leaned forward and began drinking.

"She'll thank me for that later. Heh." Klaus said with a sarcastic smile as the woman fainted. He let her go, snapping her neck in a swift motion, killing her.

Klaus stood and looked around the camp, his eyes glowing yellow and his fangs bared. "Ok, who's next?"

No one moved, their fear evident, but their defiance against becoming vampires was equally clear.

"Not a single volunteer?" Klaus said, a dramatic sigh escaping his lips. He was about to step forward and forcefully feed them all his blood, but his gaze shifted to Henrik, who sat indifferent to the chaos. The sight made Klaus pause, a sly smile forming as an idea crossed his mind.

"Henrik, go ahead and make one of them a hybrid," Klaus said, his smile widening, curious to see if Henrik could successfully turn them into a hybrid as he himself was attempting to do.

"Why? Aren't these your potential soldiers?" Henrik asked, raising an eyebrow.

"They are. But I also want to know if you can make a hybrid, and if so, how it compares to mine," Klaus explained, clearly entertained by the idea.

Henrik sighed and stood up. "Fine," he muttered, looking around at the pack.

Klaus nodded, satisfied with his answer, and moved to give the man his blood, compelling him once again. "There. Good as new."

"Now relax, mate. We'll need you when the rest of them wake up," Klaus added, a wicked grin on his face.

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Here it is.

Some of you might not like the interactions and say, "Klaus wouldn't say this or do that." Mate, this is fanfiction, and the characters can go OOC (out of character). I'm not a scriptwriter for the show, nor am I an expert at perfectly capturing the personalities of the characters and implementing them here. I'm just barely creating this fanfiction for fun and with a few of you being very picky about the details you make it difficult to continue not letting me have the freedom to make it as I please, that will only end in the fanfiction being dropped.

I know some of you are waiting for Klaus to attack Henrik like a rabid dog, but give it time. In the next chapter, we'll see something like that, and then things will calm down pretty quickly. So please don't keep pushing for things to happen your way. If that's what you want, write your own fanfiction and make it play out however you like.