They drove for two full days before they stopped again for anything other than a meal or a bathroom break. Charlotte felt disgusting and her head hurt. They'd take a detour into towns once or twice in a day, for ripper Stefan and his blood.

Charlotte wasn't dumb enough to slip away again, Klaus had let it slide last time, but she didn't think he'd be quite so generous again.

She sat with Klaus in a diner, waiting for her food to arrive. Stefan had slipped away from them as the car was parked and Charlotte watched him leave gloomily. It was like this a lot now.

She understood why Stefan acted this way, it wasn't just the ripper in him causing him to push her away, he was keeping his distance to protect her. Klaus clearly had a master plan that included Stefans demise and if he showed he was too focused on Charlotte neither of them would put it past Klaus to force Stefans hand into some greater punishment.

Charlotte understood, but that didn't necessarily make it easier.

She'd been stuck alone for a century and a half and now she was back it hurt that she was torn from one brother and forced to watch the other pushed into self destruction. Each time Stefan slid away from them to find someone to feed on she could feel Klaus' grin grow. She didn't like the cruelty he seemed to enjoy causing and she felt so lonely without her brothers it sometime was almost worse than the Other Side.

On the other hand, Charlotte at least now had restaurants and diners down pat.

She still didn't always know what everything was, but at least she could order by herself now without melting into panic. It was a little hit and miss, she mostly just guessed what she wanted, but she'd tried some good things and was well acquainted with fried food now.

"So tell me, love," Klaus was watching her as she fiddled with the straw in her drink, "Why exactly are you so opposed to becoming like your brother and I?"

"I don't want to die," she answered easily, keeping her eyes averted as she answered, studying the straw in front of her.

It wasn't the full truth, but it could be.

Klaus narrowed his eyes, "You dont lie particularly well, have you been told that before?"

Charlotte had been told that before, many times in fact. Klaus hadn't even needed to rely on the fact that her eyes skidded from his as she answered nor at the way her fingers froze, instead he heard the skip of her heart.

"Look, Klaus, I'm your hostage," Charlotte replied bluntly frustrated with his prying as though they were friends, "You're the one who took me without letting me say goodbye to my dying brother. You're the one keeping Stefan and I here. Is there an actual reason why you care?"

The food arrived, the waitress awkwardly placing it between the fighting couple and Charlotte tore into it, starved after a day of only gas station snacks. She could feel Klaus' eyes on her as she ate and she ignored him, it wasn't any of his business why she didn't want to be a vampire.

Klaus was annoyed, he'd been more than generous and here she was acting like a brat in return. Often amused by her fire, now he felt irritated, annoyed that she wasn't more grateful at the grace with which he treated her.

"Darling, if you're so disgruntled with the treatment you're receiving in my company we can easily arrange for it to be taken down a notch."

Charlotte didn't reply to that, her eyes did flicker up, resentment deep in them. Klaus felt a flash of regret as she made eye contact with him, but then allowed the annoyance to overflow again. They ate in silence, Charlotte's shoulders clearly tensed, and her face unhappy.

Stefan was waiting outside when they finished, Charlotte reached to squeeze his hand when they reunited and Klaus watched as Stefan's eyes lingered over her with concern. Once he knew she was unharmed he dropped her hand, turning to Klaus to speak.

"Is it time to find our friend?" Stefan asked.

Klaus grinned, excited to have their first lead of the trip, "It is, you remember your parts to play?"

Charlotte hated that they were talking like this, like friends. She didn't trust Klaus, waiting for the moment he was going to snap and rip her heart out. She had heard parts of the plan between Klaus and Stefan and she was worried about it all. They were driving to a school, apparently one of the teachers there held a part in Klaus master plan which she knew now was hunting for werewolves.

The evening was drawing in as they entered the school which was a relief. Charlotte expected things to get less than pleasant and the fewer people who were around to witness the better. She was being tugged along by her upper arm again, clearly her snapping at Klaus in the diner had made him mad and he was reminding her he was in charge. Reminding her to obey and play her part well in the upcoming plan.

Charlotte knocked on the door, "Hey, uh Mr Preston?" she asked, as she peaked inside the English classroom.

"Yes?" the man looked up, his face furrowing in confusion when he couldn't recognise her, "I'm sorry, I'm terrible with faces, are you a new student?"

Charlotte pushed the door open wider, now they knew their target was correct she'd done her part and Stefan passed by her to approach the man. She didn't particularly get why she needed to be the one to ask rather than Klaus or Stefan, really if the man had said no they would've just apologised and moved onto the next room. Charlotte supposed that perhaps Klaus just liked the idea of her getting involved knowing she'd hate it and be miserable.

He was shorter than she'd expected, she figured he'd be tall for some reason with floppy hair and white teeth, but he seemed small and his hair was thinning. He didn't look like someone who would put up much of a fight and Charlotte felt guilt engulf her with what was surely coming.

"Mr Preston?" Stefan spoke loudly commanding attention, "Frank Preston."

Klaus followed the Salvatores into the room, gently pushing Charlotte to imply she should sit at one of the desks nearby while he leaned against the wall. He expected she'd struggle with what was coming up and he'd rather not have her collapse again quite so soon.

Stefan had a good act of disinterest and obedience going but Klaus was sure that he'd have trouble keeping it up if his human sister passed out a second time.

"I'm sorry," the man was confused and beginning to stand, "Can I help you I'm afraid I'm not sure who you are. Are you related to one of my students–"

The mans eyes were flitting between Charlotte, Klaus and Stefan in confusion. Stefan was by his desk now, and he picked up a book looking it over as he spoke, "Frank Preston, I hear you keep some fairly interesting company."

"Look," Frank cut in, he could tell now that they weren't there for innocent purposes, "I'm not sure what you're here for but I think it's best if you leave."

There was barely a pause between the end of his sentence and the slamming sound of Stefan's fist colliding into the side of Frank's face, "Hey buddy, I'm trying to explain what I'm here for so why don't you sit down, shut up, and we can talk."

Charlottes breath caught in her throat, her heart racing. She knew something was going to happen but the man hadn't even done anything and Stefan had hit him unprovoked. She couldn't even say anything, she didn't think Klaus would be too pleased if she interjected and she didn't want to make things worse for her, Stefan, or this man. Instead she shut her eyes tightly, and crossed her arms across her sides, tapping her fingers anxiously on her stomach she took deep breaths to calm herself.

"Now," Stefan was talking again, "we hear you've got some interesting friends, wolves."

"I- I- I don't know what you're talking about," Frank stammered out weakly, clearly lying.

"I don't think that's true Frankie," Klaus sung from the doorway mockingly.

"So here's the thing Frank," it was Stefan talking again, Charlotte could hear his footsteps, pacing slowly around the room as he talked, "we're just trying to find some werewolves, nothing bad, just want to ask a few questions. We think you might know where we could find someone."

"Dad?" A soft voice called in confusion.

Charlottes eyes snapped open. There was someone new in the room, a small girl who couldn't be more than ten, braids held with pink barrettes and a Harry Potter book open in her hands. She looked between her father and Stefan with confusion, clearly old enough to understand something wasn't right.

Charlotte felt terrified watching the little girl, watching and knowing something bad was coming.

Within an instant, Stefan had sped in front of her, "Hey sweetheart," he cooed, "I'm just having a chat with your dad, you wanna hop on over to that desk up here and read your book until I ask you to stop, okay?"

The girl nodded and walked robotically to the desk at the front of the room and pulled out her book. She'd clearly been compelled and both Frank and Charlotte were gripped with terror at her presence. Klaus was watching Charlotte, her fingers had ceased their tapping and were now digging in sharply to her stomach. He could tell she wanted to pull the child from the room and he was impressed by her restraint as she watched with horror at the scene unfolding.

"Goodness me," Stefan turned to Frank with a smile that didn't meet his eyes, "she is a cute one. Do you think she knows anything about your friends?"

"Don't you dare touch her," Frank stuttered out, "I don't know anything about any werewolves. Please–"

Stefan slammed his fist into Franks face for a second time now.

"Maybe I'm not getting through. Look buddy all we want are some of your friends names, maybe a couple of phone numbers, then my friends and I will be on our way."

This time Stefans fist went into the mans stomach and he doubled over in pain. His daughter was still at the desk, reading her book but Charlotte was watching her and could see the way she'd flinch when her father groaned out in pain. The girl was compelled to sit and read but she could hear every punch and every groan of pain that followed. Charlotte couldn't stand it and she started to feel herself engulfed in a helpless panic, her breathing beginning to shallow out, her chest starting to grab at itself in fear.

"Darling," Klaus was pulling Charlotte up by her arm, snapping her out of her terror, "Stefan, we'll meet you outside."

Charlotte couldn't tear her eyes off the little girl, "Klaus," she begged holding still as he tugged, "the little girl–" she broke off unable to put into words what she wanted.

"Compel the girl when you leave," Klaus ordered Stefan after hesitating a moment.

Charlotte felt her body sag in relief, letting Klaus lead her from the room, down the hallway and to the front of the school.

Compel the girl.

Compel the girl means dont kill the girl.

Compel the girl means she won't remember.

Compel the girl means she'll be okay.

Klaus had led them to a brick wall beside a ramp near the entryway. His arm wasn't holding hers anymore and they both sat down easily on the wall in the setting sun. She sat beside him for a moment before sliding off to the ground below them and pulling her legs to her chest. Klaus didn't speak or touch her and Charlotte was grateful for that at least, she needed a moment to calm down.

"Is this what it's going to be forever?" Charlotte asked, breaking the silence, "Klaus this is horrible that poor girl."

"Stefan won't hurt her."

Klaus' assurance did little to settle her heart, she still felt terrified and overwhelmed with guilt. She was doing everything she could to hold it together but the thought of being stuck in this cycle of pain for a decade was haunting her.

"Why haven't you hurt me? When I ran, why didn't you kill me?"

"Did you want me to?"

"I don't understand why I'm here. If I'm just here to make Damon pay, why haven't you killed me yet?"

Klaus didn't understand Charlottes death wish when she'd so recently risen, and Charlotte didn't understand anything about what Klaus wanted with her.

"I don't want to kill you yet."

Charlotte didn't know how to reply, what she should say to that so the pair sat in silence.

They stayed where they were, waiting for Stefan, sitting under the setting sun until Klaus realised Charlotte was shivering. He didn't understand how her body always seemed to be cold, nevertheless he stood and held a hand out to pull her to her feet before leading her to the car.

They didn't talk as they waited either, the car blowing hot air on Charlotte until she stopped shaking. Soon Klaus' phone beeped signifying Stefan was finished. Klaus considered telling Charlotte to wait in the car, he didn't like it when she shivered, but she jumped out quickly when his phone beeped, eager to see her brother.

Stefans eyes flickered over his sister as they reunited, back in front of the school, "Florida," he said.

Charlottes eyes were watching Stefan, looking for her baby brother instead of the man she watched beat someone up. She wanted to ask him if the girl was okay, if the man was alive, but she didn't want to ask in front of Klaus in case he made Stefan turn around and finish the job.

"Florida it is then," Klaus grinned. Charlotte shuffled away from him, any softness that she'd felt was gone as Klaus' mind was back to his plot. His plot that he'd do anything to succeed in no matter who got hurt.

"Please tell me we can at least spend a night in a hotel before we go," Charlotte snapped as Klaus held the passenger door of the car open for her to step into, "If we're going to drive all the way to Florida we need to at least spend a night in a real bed, with a real shower."

Klaus' face screwed up into a snarl and he rolled his eyes, gesturing impatiently for Charlotte to step into the car.

A hotel would be nice, a break before broody Stefan and snappy Charlotte and he were on the road for god knows how many days.