ACT TWO; TARGET IN SIGHT
SCENE FOUR; REBEKAH
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"WHAT A CHARMING LITTLE HOMESTEAD."

Salem made a noise of discontent that made Stefan spare her a glance over his shoulder as they walked up the stairs to his old apartment. "What?"

She looked up at him, dragging her fingers along the dusty stair railing. "Nothing, just– it's hilarious to me that you could've compelled yourself anything you wanted and you still chose to live in a place like this. I think martyrdom runs in your blood at this point,"

Stefan rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath. "It was a lot nicer back then,"

She narrows her eyes at him in disbelief, tilting her head. "Was it, though?"

Klaus's smirk dropped when they got to the door, finding the doorknob broken off. The hybrid pushed the creaky door open, jaw clenched angrily as he stared into the supposedly empty apartment.

"Do you feel that?" The man walked in, looking at Stefan and Salem. "Is anybody here?"

Stefan tilted his head, stepping through the doorway. "It's been vacant for decades, people must break in all the time." He looked around at the somewhat familiar interior, dragging his fingers over a dust-coated journal. "Why'd you bring me here?"

"Your friend, Liam Grant, the one who drank his wife's blood," Klaus recalled the memory he'd retold earlier. "I never could figure out why you wanted his name. And then you told me your little secret. It was all part of your special little ritual."

Grim realization dawned on Stefan. "To write it down."

"And relive the kill," Klaus nodded, a smug look on his face. "Over and over again."

He turned, walking over to a pantry shelf built into the wall, and pulled it out, revealing a closet hidden in the wall behind it. "You believe me now?"

Stefan walked past Klaus into the closet, and the Original stepped away, eyes roaming over to where Salem was wandering around the small apartment, eyeing the nearly-untouched furniture. She turns to look at him, feeling his eyes on her, and raises a brow in silent judgment, an action that makes him duck his head down to hide his amused smirk.

"Look what I found,"

They both snap their gazes over towards the closet as Stefan steps back out, holding up a glass bottle. "1918. Single malt."

"My favorite." Klaus hums, looking at the bottle. "Let's go and find someone to pair it with, shall we, Salem?"

The woman hummed, sinking into Klaus's side as he threw his arm around her shoulder and began to walk out of the apartment. "Sounds delightful."

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"Where's Rebekah?"

"She'll be here," Klaus shakes his head at Gloria's insistence as he lifts his beer to his lips. "I can't just conjure her on demand."

Salem leans against the bar, grinning as she spins the umbrella in her drink that tastes like it's more tequila than sunrise. She likes that Gloria seems to have a heavy pour. Her eyes drift over Stefan and his seemingly never-ending contemplative state. "What's wrong with you, I thought Chicago was your Ripper-ground?"

Stefan ignored her, turning to look at Klaus with a frown. "So, this is why you asked me to be your wingman? Because you liked the way I tortured innocent people?"

"Well, that's certainly half of it."

"What's the other half?"

"The other half, Stefan," He pours three shots into the glasses left by Gloria. "Is that you used to want to be my wingman."

Salem leaned forward, grabbing her shot glass up with a smirk. "So, what are we cheering to, boys? The power of love and friendship?"

Klaus mirrored her smirk, giving her a quick glance before he looked back at Stefan. "To friendship."

Salem tapped her glass against Klaus's and threw her shot back, letting the shiver run down her spine as the heat of the whiskey ran through her.

"So, I'm confused," Stefan swings his drink around, looking at Klaus. "If we were such great friends, then why do I only know you as the hybrid dick who sacrificed my girlfriend on an altar of fire, huh?"

Klaus huffs a shallow noise, shaking his head. "All good things must come to an end."

Salem raised a brow as Klaus slid the bottle of whiskey down to her and she poured herself another shot.

"There was a raid at the bar one night, and the police were using wooden bullets– they were there for us. Rebekah and I had to run, and you," He heaves a sigh, reminiscing on the eventful night. "You couldn't come with."

"You compelled me,"

"It was time for Rebekah and I to move on. Better to have a clean slate."

Stefan nodded slowly, brows furrowed in contemplation still. "But why? You shouldn't have to cover your tracks... unless you're running from someone."

Klaus fixes him with a firm glare. "Story time's over."

Stefan eyes Klaus confusedly before spotting a familiar figure in the corner of his eye, and he looks over his shoulder to see his brother standing across the bar. Damon nods his head in the direction of the exit and Stefan sighs, swirling his whiskey. "I need another drink. A real one."

Stefan disappears from the bar and Salem immediately takes the seat beside Klaus, watching him pour more whiskey into his glass before even finishing what was left in it. "He's acting weird."

Klaus lifts the glass up to his lips, peering at her from the corner of his eyes. He swallows with a sigh, plastering a wry smile on his face. "I think he's just like that, love,"

"I'm inclined to agree, but it's weirder than normal. He seems on edge, and all of the sudden he's pressing you about your past together when he wanted nothing to do with it before. It's weird."

"Well, you'll just have to keep an eye on him then, won't you?"

Salem rolls her eyes, a taunting smile pulling at her lips as she leans in, resting her chin on his bicep. "I'm not a babysitter, Klaus."

"You're a teacher, isn't it basically the same thing?"

She shoots her hand out, jabbing her fingers into his ribs, and he lets out a breathy, surprised chuckle at the action as his free hand shoots down to grab hers. "Don't be mean, it's not a good look on you,"

Klaus looks down at her, meeting her eyes from beneath her lashes as she looks up at him coyly. "I think you like it,"

"Well," She murmurs, leaning up as he cranes his head down towards her. "You might be right."

He lets out another breathless chuckle as he presses his lips to hers and she echoes it quietly. Gloria yells out for last call from behind the bar, disregarding the two hybrids locking lips at the bar.

Klaus pulls away slowly, still looking into her eyes as he speaks. "I see they've opened the doors to the riff raff now."

The familiar voice of Damon Salvatore comes from behind Salem's turned back. "Oh, honey, I've been called worse."

Salem chuckles, pulling away from Klaus to turn on the barstool and look at Damon.

"You don't give up, do you?"

Damon shrugs, sparing Salem a brief once over. "Give me my brother back, you'll never have to see me again."

Klaus shares a short, amused look with Salem as she spins the umbrella in her drink that's long since been watered down and forgotten for the whiskey that the vampires around her tended to drown themselves in.

"Well, I am torn– you see, I promised Stefan I wouldn't let you die, but how many freebies did I sign up for? And clearly you want to die, otherwise you wouldn't be here, so,"

"What can I say?" Damon lays a hand down on the bar. "I'm a thrill seeker."

"You're an idiot." Salem deadpans, earning a huff of agreement from Klaus. She pushes back off her stool and Klaus's arm shoots out as he wraps his hand around Damon's neck, kicking the stool out from underneath him.

He lifts the vampire by his neck, slowly standing as something cracks threateningly beneath his grip. "Oh, dear, what was that?" He grabs the yellow umbrella from Salem's drink, holding the toothpick up near Damon's throat. "I'm a little boozy, so you'll forgive me if I miss your heart the first few tries."

Damon chuckles tightly as Salem watches, leaning back against a column near the bar. The man's chuckle quickly turns into a groan as Klaus stabs the toothpick into his stomach, making a feigned apologetic noise. "No, that's not it."

"Maybe higher," Salem says, a smile on her face as Klaus glances her way.

Damon groans, shooting her a look as he struggles for air. "Bitch,"

"I missed you too, Damon,"

Klaus smirks and stabs the toothpick into his stomach again, this time a little higher at Salem's direction. "Oh, almost, sweetheart,"

"You want a partner in crime?" Damon huffs out. "Forget Stefan, I'm so much more fun."

Klaus seems to contemplate it for a moment before he kisses his tongue to his teeth and throws Damon away, sending him careening into a table. He breaks the leg off of the stool he'd knocked over, walking over to Damon with the makeshift stake. "You won't be any fun after you're dead."

Just as he positions the stake above Damon's heart, it bursts into flames, and Salem shoots her gaze over to where Gloria has just walked into the scene.

Klaus grunts in annoyance and throws the stake away, letting out a short sigh. "Really?"

"Not in my bar," Gloria shakes her head. "You take it outside."

Klaus turns back to Damon, pressing him back down as he attempts to get up off the floor. "You don't have to negotiate your brother's freedom. When I'm done with him, he won't want to go back."

He steps away from the vampire, walking through the mess as he comes to a stop beside Salem, who links her hand with his. Together, they walk past Damon as he pushes to his feet again, and Salem lifts her fingers in a fluttering wave as they pass him. "Nice to see you again."

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Salem lingers away from the array of coffins Klaus had, watching Stefan from her place leaning against the wall. "Did you talk to your brother?"

Stefan looks up from the ground at her, eyes wide. "No. Not– I told him to leave."

"And that obviously went so well," She drawls, earning another look of irritation from him that she quickly bats away. "It's like you've both got the same death wish or something."

"Well, not all of us can be as friendly as you are."

Salem lets out a surprised huff of laughter at his snippy tone, though her smile quickly falls. "Funny, considering you were the one sleeping with Klaus's sister."

"I don't–"

"Just because you don't remember it doesn't mean it didn't happen," She quickly cuts him off. "Isn't that right, Ripper?"

He stiffens at the title, but before he can say anything, Klaus's voice rings out.

"You can come out now,"

Salem pushes off the wall as Stefan hesitantly turns, and she stops him just before he starts to walk away, clapping a hand down onto his shoulder, yellow wisps melting into the fabric of his shirt. "Just a reminder, Stefan. Don't start a fight that you can't win."

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Salem sighs as the line rings in her ear and she watches as people pass by the phone booth, nobody sparing a glance her way.

Finally, the line picks up, and Salem straightens up as a small smile grows on her lips.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Ric. You miss me yet?"

There's a moment's pause on the other line and she hears the man let out a curse before he's pushing the phone back to his ear. "Salem? Holy shit. What– what are you doing?"

"Well, I'm currently talking to my best friend who sounds absolutely overjoyed to hear from me,"

He lets out a disbelieving laugh and she grins at the sound. "Smartass."

"You love it."

Alaric sighs, like he can't help but agree. "God, I'm– I'm really glad to hear from you, Salem. I know you said you'd call when you can, but I didn't think that meant I'd go months in between calls."

"I know, I know, I'm sorry. We've been busy, and I've been..." She trails off, biting her bottom lip nervously. She doesn't exactly know how to say 'I've been sleeping with the man who killed your girlfriend, and also killing people for him, too'. "I've just been busy. Not a lot of time for social calls."

"Whatever the reason, I'm glad you're alright."

"I am. I'm alright, Ric, I promise."

He bites out a sigh, forlorn and slightly frustrated. "Are you– are you safe?"

Salem chuckles humorlessly. "Have I ever been safe?"

"Salem,"

"Alaric," She echoes, sighing softly. "I'm fine. I'm unharmed, and I'm pretty content with things right now."

"I'm–" He sighs again, sounding tired. She feels bad for a moment, hating that he's probably run himself ragged worrying over her. "That's good. After running into Stefan in the mountains, I thought maybe we'd see you, too, but he didn't mention anything to even let me know you were alive. I guess I just got worried."

Salem's brows furrow confusedly and she shakes her head, pulling the phone away from her ear briefly to let out a cold laugh that's drowned out by the chaotic noise of Chicago. Sliding another quarter into the payphone and pressing the phone back to her ear, she sighs heavily.

"Yeah, no, I, uh– I totally get it. When he told me he saw you guys, he seemed panicked. Probably didn't want anything to get back to Klaus."

Alaric makes a noise of understanding. "I get it. I've tried to get them to leave it alone, but Damon and Elena– you know how stubborn they are. They're worried about Stefan, and I– I was worried about you, and it was just a whole mess. But they're back home finally, and I don't... I don't know what happened, but I think Elena might be done. She's really tested the limits with Klaus finding out about her."

"Yeah," Salem's eyes glint angrily and she huffs into the phone, shaking her head again. "Yeah, she really has. But, uh, I wouldn't worry about it. Klaus has no idea she's alive. Not yet, at least."

"Good, that's good. I know she's been worried about Stefan, but this Ripper business is just..."

"It's rough." Salem says, hearing another warning for their time. "Look, I– I should go before anyone starts looking for me, but Ric– I promise that I'm safe and sound, and in one piece still. Stop freaking out, okay?"

He huffs a laugh and she smiles, missing him. "I'll try. You, uh, you gonna make it back home before school starts?"

Salem's eyes drift up to the shop windows and they land on where Klaus is sitting on one of the couches, letting the sales attendant pour him a glass of champagne. Her eyes flicker to Stefan beside him, and she hums lowly. "Yeah. Yeah, that's the plan, Ric. I'll see you soon, then, 'kay?"

"Sounds good. Be safe, Salem."

"Always. Bye, Ric."

She hangs the phone back up on the receiver and pockets her quarters before stepping out of the phone booth and heading for the door to the store. She pulls it open, the bell above her head ringing and alerting them to her presence.

Raising a brow, Salem pushes her hair off her chest, flicking the few straggling braids over her shoulder as she makes her way over to Klaus, standing beside his seat. His hand comes up around her bare thigh, fingers pressing into the skin there, and she looks down at him, smiling slightly.

"How's it going in here?"

Klaus groans softly, rolling his eyes. "Mind-numbingly boring,"

"I heard that, Nik!"

Salem laughs under her breath at the girl's voice from the dressing room.

"There has to be more to this dress,"

"There's not,"

Rebekah pushes the curtain open, stepping out in the short black dress, and Salem gives her a once over, plucking Klaus's champagne out of his hand to take a drink from it. "So, women in the 21st century dress like prostitutes then?" Her blue eyes shift to the girl beside her brother in shorts that show off her legs, and a shirt that's scattered with holes from the wear and tear of it. "No offense, of course."

"None taken," Salem lifts the glass in Rebekah's direction. "Rebekah, right? I'm Salem."

The blonde hums in acknowledgement, sending her a brief smile before shooting her glare back at her brother. "You know, I got dirty looks for wearing trousers."

"You wore trousers so women today could wear nothing," Klaus smirks, fingers skating along the inside of Salem's thigh.

Rebekah's face twists in disgust and she looks up at the ceiling. "And what is this music? It sounds like a cable car accident."

"It's dance music."

"People dance to this?"

Salem sighs. "With a lot of drugs and alcohol, you can dance to anything."

Rebekah seems to consider her words, nodding in agreement as Klaus rolls his eyes impatiently.

"Are we done?"

Rebekah raises a brow, walking over towards her brother. "And why are you so grumpy?"

"I needed one thing from you for my witch to find out why my hybrids are dying– one thing. Your necklace. And you lost it."

"I didn't lose it, it's just been missing for 90 years." She heaves a sigh, turning away from her brother to look at Stefan. "So, what do you think?"

"I like it,"

Rebekah tilts her head at him, giving him a lame glare.

"What? I said I like it."

"I can always tell when you're lying, Stefan."

Stefan looks at Klaus for help, but the Original just heaves a sigh and grabs another glass of champagne for himself, as Salem still had his. "Nice one. Good work."

"You're the one that pulled the dagger out of her,"

"I heard that!"

Salem snorted a laugh and set the glass down, stepping away from Klaus even though he tried to keep her near him by tightening his grip. "Look, I can't do anything about the music, but I can help with the clothes."

She walks over to one of the racks and pulls a few shirts out before blindly grabbing some jeans off the shelf, eyeballing the size. "You two can stay here and be absolutely useless, but I am going to help her."

Rebekah sticks her head out of the curtain, glaring at her brother. "I like this one, Nik. Don't screw it up."

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author's note; bekahhhhhh

edited and published; 3.23.23.

- liz