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When The Armor Breaks

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ATHENA SHRUGGED ON HER jacket and walked to the back door. Klaus was giving directions to one of the compelled humans when she reached the door. She looked over at him and pursed her lip.

Last night was rough for the both of them. Athena had cried herself to sleep and Klaus had held her the entire time, shedding tears of his own. They hardly got any sleep. They both knew she was right when she said that they would never stop fighting people who hated their family.

"Nik, I'm going for a run."

Klaus looked over at her and nodded. "Be careful. Call me if anything happens."

"I will."

Athena walked through the open door (since there wasn't an actual door yet) and walked to the woods behind the house.

The area in which the house was located was convenient. There were plenty of woods for her to explore and there weren't tons of houses around them. So Athena didn't have to worry about a human walking by and seeing a wolf in the front yard.

Once she got far enough, she put her spare clothes on a tree branch and then shifted into her wolf form. And without her knowledge, the same black wolf chased after her even though she couldn't see him.

---

After her run, Athena went back to the tree and dressed in the spare clothes. She was in the process of walking back when she caught a conversation going on between Stefan and Klaus.

"Do whatever you want, I don't really care. Or you know what? Maybe I do. Maybe I care so much, that I'll drop Elijah in the Arctic," Stefan taunted.

"Well, maybe I'll be willing to lose one brother if it meant killing yours," Klaus replied.

"Try me, let's find out."

Athena flashed back into the house and entered the room just as one of the hybrids, Mindy, did.

"I don't have to kill you do I?" Athena questioned.

The two looked at her and Mindy stood behind Athena.

"Is everything okay?" she asked.

"Everything is fine, Athena, Mindy. Stefan was just leaving after failing to make his point," Klaus explained.

Athena saw the way that Stefan flinched at the mention of her name and she could see he was a wreck. Not on the outside, but the inside. He wasn't the same. Not because he lost Elena or Damon, but because he wasn't a part of her pack anymore. And it left an unbearable hole in his chest. Like a part of him had been ripped away and could not be replaced.

Stefan looked to the side and grabbed a hand saw from a work table. He rushed over to Mindy and cut her head clean off with it. Blood went everywhere and Athena gasped, flashing next to Klaus and away from him.

The Ripper turned to them and smirked. "Well, one down. You may want to, ah, send the rest of them away before it gets messy, again."

Athena gaped in shock while Klaus glared. They watched as Stefan threw the hand saw back on the table and left.

"Unbelievable," Athena finally said. "He's out of his mind."

"He wants my hybrids gone. It seems as though he's willing to do whatever it takes." Another hybrid walks in and Klaus looked at him. "Daniel, take Mindy's body and get rid of it. Burn it. I honestly don't care."

The hybrid nodded and did as told, taking Mindy's body out of the room.

Athena shook her head. "He's getting desperate. We need to do something."

"Like what?" He looked at her with a concerned look "Athena, he wants my hybrids gone. If he really is willing to do anything, he could hurt you."

His sister nodded. "Yeah, he could. But that doesn't mean we give him what he wants. I heard they are bringing back the old Wickery Bridge. And, it is being held at the Lockwood Mansion. Carol Lockwood is going to be there and she is a part of the Council. She is determined to protect this town." Klaus started to smirk when he got her idea. "What do you think she'll say when she finds out that Stefan is threatening that?"

---

Carol stood in shock as she processed the information. "I can't believe it. Stefan really did that."

The two siblings nodded.

"He is a threat to the town Carol," Athena spoke softly. "And Nik is worried I might be the next target.

"Well if Stefan does something like that again, let me know. The Council will intervene."

Klaus smiled. "Thank you, Carol. You know, when I think of a mayor I think of an old fuddy-duddy, but you really have changed my perception!"

Carol smiled back. "Oh, thank you!"

Athena nodded in agreement, smiling as well. "My brother's right. You're very kind as well."

"Thank you, Athena. I have to say you're one well-behaved teenager I mean, they most are pretty crazy."

Klaus laughed. "She has her moments."

Athena jabbed him with her elbow with a grin. A familiar vampire walked over and the three looked at him.

"Look at what the cat dragged in," Damon teased.

"Good to see you, Damon," Klaus replied. Damon tried to smile but it looked like a wince really. "Carol, my sister, and I were discussing whether you would be the other big benefactor."

"What do you say, Damon?" Carol asked. "Klaus has made a very generous pledge. You know how we're chomping at the bit to begin the renovation."

Damon made a thinking sound. "Carol, don't take this the wrong way, but do you realize that you've been kissing the ass of an immortal hybrid who ruined your son's life and his almost identical sister?"

Athena smiled innocently, though Damon knew it was a smirk hidden behind an angelic smile. "Don't be that way, Damon. Nik saved Tyler from the horrible full moon and bone breaking thing. I had to go through it once and it was awfully painful. Tyler's been through it many more times."

"Klaus is just concerned for his sister and he has promised to protect Tyler, Damon. And our town," Carol explained.

"From who?" Damon asked, growing angry. "His hybrids are the one the town needs protection from."

"Well, I'd have no use for them if your brother would kindly return my family," Klaus defended.

"Not gonna happen."

Athena pretended to become scared. "Please don't get angry Nik. You know it scares me."

Carol looked sympathetic and Klaus went along with his sister's facade.

"I apologize, Ena." He looked back at Damon who looked disgusted. "I've come to an agreement with the Mayor. You and the Council stay out of my hair, I stay out of yours. My sister stays protected and safe along with the town. My hybrids get left alone and everybody will be happy. All you have to do is to get Stefan to stop decapitating my friends."

Klaus smirked and Athena dug her head into his side. He wrapped his one arm around her to "comfort" her as the younger hybrid kept up her act.

Carol saw and then looked at Damon, pleading, "Please Damon, just get your brother under control, or the Council will be forced to take action against him."

"You've gotta be kidding me!" Damon scoffed.

"Oh come on mate. Give peace a chance," Klaus said, smirking happily.

---

Klaus was with Athena, still talking to Carol when Athena spoke up.

"I'm going to go and use the restroom." She looked at Carol shyly. "Umm."

Carol smiled. "It is just down the hall on the left."

"Thank you."

Klaus watched her go and Athena went down the hall. But then she stopped in her tracks when she felt like someone was watching her. However, before she could react, someone came up from behind her and grabbed her, snapping her neck.

---

Athena woke up to the sound of a car driving. She remembered what happened and sprang up. Stefan was driving the car and the hybrid looked around in panic.

"Stefan? What're you doing?"

Stefan's phone rang and he answered it. "Hello Damon, I'm a little busy right now."

"What the hell did you do to Athena? Klaus is getting worried?"

Athena felt her breathing start to increase when Stefan explained himself.

"I'm making my next move. Let me ask you something...What will Klaus do if I dagger his youngest sister a throw her into the ocean?"

The girl screamed and tears instantly made their way down her face. She had to stop the car. She could open the door and jump out, but she'd be injured and Stefan would just grab her before she could get anywhere. She could crash the car, but then she'd probably die and Stefan might live. And that would give him a chance to dagger her and throw her in the ocean. But then the question came to mind, how did he have a dagger?

"No, no, no Stefan!" she yelled. "Damon! Please!"

"Stefan, leave her out of this. Klaus will kill you," Damon replied.

Stefan hung up on him and Athena started to kick and scream, tears soaking her shirt.

"Stefan, please! Please! Stop the car and let me out! Stefan, please! I don't want to be alone. Please!"

But he ignored her as he drove. Although on the inside it was as if he was slowly breaking.

---

Damon looked around for Klaus and found him walking around. The hybrid looked like he was getting angry. And Damon assumed it was because Athena was missing. He approached him and spoke in a lowered voice.

"We need to talk. Now," he said.

Klaus looked at him. "I'm a little busy. My sister seems to have gone missing."

"That's what I need to talk to you about. Stefan has her."

Klaus looked even angrier. "What?"

"He said he is going to dagger her and throw her into the ocean. Which one? He didn't say."

"He's bluffing. He doesn't have a dagger."

Damon made a face. "Are you really going to chance that? I know my brother better than anyone, and right now, I don't have a clue how far he is willing to take this. So if he says blink, I suggest you blink."

---

Athena tried to calm herself down by rubbing her hands on her legs. She continued to breathe heavily and looked over at Stefan. The tears proceeded to fall as she shook her head in disbelief.

"So this is your big move huh? You do realize that after you dagger me Klaus will come after you and he won't stop. He will un-dagger Rebekah, find my siblings, un-dagger them, and then they will all come after you. And trust me, you won't last long and neither will anyone else in this town."

"I took you because you're the only walking and breathing thing he cares about. Klaus took everything from me. So I'm going to make him suffer. And I'm not gonna let him make himself a new family."

The girl shook her head again and pulled her knees to her chest. She put her arms around her head and tried to slow her breathing.

"I don't want to be alone. Please, Stefan." He ignored her so she yelled. "Please, Stefan!" The tears started up again. "I don't want to be alone. Please don't make leave me alone!"

Stefan ignored her and called Klaus. The hybrid answered quickly.

"Stefan, return my sister to me."

"Tell your hybrids to get out of town, Klaus."

"Well, that's not gonna happen until I get my coffins back. Now stop the car!" Klaus demanded.

Athena yelled. "Nik! Nik, please!"

"I have a dagger, Klaus. I'm going to use it on her a then I'm going to drop her in the ocean. Good luck in finding which one."

"No! No! No!" Athena sputtered. She knew that Klaus wouldn't get there in time. Her brother didn't know where they were. "Nik!"

"Say goodbye to your sister, Klaus."

"Stefan, stop! Stefan! Stefan, stop! Please!" Athena screamed. The tears were falling rapidly and her breathing was going faster than she'd ever imagined. She would never see her family again. She would never see Rebekah or Elijah. She's never be reunited with Kol or Finn. This was her end. "Stefan!"

"Fine, I'll send them away. You win," Klaus said, feeling the tears leave his eyes as he listened to his sister's screams and pleads.

He couldn't lose her. If she was gone, he knew what his plan was. He'd un-dagger Rebekah, find his siblings, un-dagger them, and he knew no matter how mad his siblings were at him, once they found out what happened to Athena, they would cause chaos. Everyone in Mystic Falls would die at their hands.

"Stefan! Stefan, stop! Please!" Athena yelled, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Stop the car, Stefan!" Klaus yelled.

Stefan slammed on the brakes and the car skidded to a stop.

"Wickery Bridge!" Athena yelled to Klaus.

Klaus quickly hung up, fury filling his entire body. Athena flashed out of the car and Stefan got out.

"Athena," he said.

"If you come any closer, I swear I will kill you!" she yelled, the tears still falling.

Her violet eyes shone and her fangs appeared.

"Athena."

"Get away from me!"

Stefan looked like he was struggling but then he flashed back into his car and sped off. Athena fell to the ground and continued to sob. Klaus arrived just a few seconds later and pulled her close.

"Athena!" The girl wrapped her arms around him like he would disappear in any second. "You're ok. You're ok. I'm so sorry."

Athena clutched to him. "I was so scared, Nik. I've never felt so scared before. I don't want to be alone. Please don't let me be alone."

Klaus picked her up and flashed her back to the Mansion. He sat down on the bed and kept a firm grip on her. Athena was still saying the same thing over and over again.

"Please don't let me be alone."

"You're not alone. I'm here. I'm here, okay? You're safe."

So much for being strong, Athena thought to herself as she sobbed. Pathetic.

"I wanted to be strong for once," she told him. "I wanted to be strong."

Klaus shook his head and kissed her head several times. "You don't have to be strong all of the time, Athena. It's okay."

"No, it's not okay. You can't keep saving me."

"I will always save you even when you don't want to be saved."

And that was the second night that week that Athena cried herself to sleep.

---

I might try to do a triple update... we'll see. But I have school tomorrow so I'll try and update still.

Athena was the one that Stefan threatened, not Elena! Thoughts?

Do you think Athena will ever forgive him now that he did this to her?

The truth about Athena and her thousand year sleep is nearing...

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