Dawn painted the sky in watercolor hues as Stefan stood alone in the boarding house garden.
The world slept, but his mind was restless, filled with possibilities only beginning to unfold.
Before him lay a small puddle, remnants of last night's rain. Stefan extended his hand, palm down, and focused.
The water trembled slightly, responding to a will beyond physical touch. He concentrated harder, imagining the liquid rising, defying gravity.
Slowly, impossibly, a sphere of water lifted from the puddle.
Veins darkened beneath Stefan's eyes, not from hunger but from strain. A trickle of blood escaped his nostril as he maintained it. The sphere wobbled in the air, suspended by nothing but his will.
Then he sensed an approach. The water collapsed instantly.
"Rather early for gardening, isn't it?"
Stefan wiped the blood from his nose with a swift, casual gesture before turning to face Rebekah- having made sure she didn't see anything. She stood in the doorway, arms crossed, watching him with curious suspicion.
"Just clearing my head," he replied, voice steady despite his racing thoughts. "Old habit."
"At dawn?" Rebekah approached, her silk robe catching the morning light. "You used to sleep until noon in Chicago."
"Things change."
She studied him, head tilted. "You seem different this morning. Distracted."
Stefan maintained his composure, offering nothing. After a moment, Rebekah sighed.
"Fine, keep your secrets." She turned toward the house. "I'm making breakfast. I assume Elena will want some when she drags herself out of your bed."
The barb was delivered with practiced casualness, but Stefan caught the edge beneath. He followed her inside, silently relieved at the narrow escape.
These abilities were his alone for now - his advantage in a world of monsters.
He wanted to keep it that way for as long as possible- till he reached the power level of Klaus.
His greatest advantage is, that thanks to his psychic abilities, he can now like Silas non-verbally use compulsion- like he did just now.
Making it so he - if the situation necessitates their usage - can keep secret that it is through compulsion, rather than some unknown power he has somehow gotten.
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Elena joined them as Stefan prepared coffee, the familiar domestic routine strained by Rebekah's presence.
The Original sat at the kitchen island, watching as Stefan handed Elena her mug - prepared exactly as she preferred, like always.
"One sugar, splash of cream," he said softly.
"Thanks," Elena said with a warm smile, one she received in return from Stefan, when suddenly his phone vibrated.
Klaus's name appeared on the screen with a simple message: 'Reminder that your progress report needs to be ready soon old friend. Do tell me, how your meeting with the local wolf cub goes.'
"Klaus?" Elena asked, reading his expression.
Stefan nodded, tucking the phone away. "I need to see Caroline and Tyler today."
"Tyler?" Elena's brow furrowed. "Why?"
"Klaus is interested in expanding his hybrid family." Stefan kept his tone neutral. "Tyler's a candidate."
Rebekah set down her coffee. "Nik's obsession with those wolf-vampire mongrels. As if our family isn't complicated enough."
"I should go," Stefan said, standing. "This can't wait."
Elena caught his hand. "Be careful."
Stefan squeezed her fingers gently, a silent promise.
Rebekah watched this exchange, her expression shifting from irritation to something more complex - a reluctant recognition of what existed between them.
-----------------------
The drive to Caroline's house gave Stefan time to think. Klaus's fixation on creating hybrids went beyond mere power.
The Original craved family - beings who couldn't abandon him, bound by blood and magic and gratitude.
Stefan understood that need better than most.
Hadn't he spent decades trying to repair his relationship with Damon? Hadn't he sacrificed everything to save his brother, only to have Damon pursue Elena when he was gone?
The sire bond, though - that was different. That wasn't true loyalty. It was worthless. In his own eyes- an abomination.
He though- couldn't really blame Klaus either. It isn't like Klaus forces the sirebond- it just happens so many times, out of the sheer gratitude the werewolves experience.
The problem is though, that Klaus never tells them of the possibility of it.
Sometimes, he honestly envies Klaus. Klaus has Elijah, a brother who would do anything for his redemption, who for a thousand years, no matter what crime, what evil he's done, be it against family or others- Elijah never abandoned him.
'Wish we could trade big brothers for a day- let's see how Klaus feels having Damon for a day. Would show him to be grateful for what he has. Poor Elijah's still in the box.' Stefan joked to himself- mostly.
There honestly was some truth to this wish. Wishing Damon was more like Elijah- since despite it all, deep down... Stefan still loves Damon.
As he is his older brother. He just won't choose Damon over his own happiness anymore.
Stefan was came out of his thoughts when Caroline's house came into view, a cheerful two-story with bright shutters- having called her and Tyler, about his visit earlier. Having said that he wanted to talk to them about something important.
Stefan parked and approached slowly, gathering his thoughts. Before he could knock, the door swung open.
"Caroline," Stefan whispered, happy to see her.
After a moment of silence, "I heard your car," she explained, her smile genuine despite the worry in her eyes.
She pulled him into a quick hug. "Come in."
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The living room was neat and bright, like Caroline herself. Tyler stood as Stefan entered, his posture stiff, eyes wary.
The guilt was evident in every line of his body - shoulders hunched, hands restless at his sides.
"Stefan," he managed, voice tight.
"Tyler." Stefan nodded, keeping his tone neutral.
Caroline moved between them, a protective instinct. "I made coffee."
"Thanks," Stefan said, taking the seat she indicated.
Silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken thoughts. Tyler shifted uncomfortably, then finally spoke.
"Look, about what happened with Damon-"
"It wasn't your fault," Stefan interrupted. "The full moon. You had no control."
"But it led to you going with Klaus. Making that deal."
Stefan shook his head. "Klaus would have found another way. He always does."
"You sound pretty sure about that," Caroline observed.
"I've gotten to know him well these past months." Stefan leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "Which is why I'm here. Klaus sent me to talk to you, Tyler. About becoming a hybrid."
Tyler's eyes widened. "Me? Why?"
"Because you're a triggered werewolf. Because you're from a founding family." Stefan paused. "Take your pick."
"And you're just... what? Recruiting for him now?" Tyler's voice held an edge.
"I'm here because Klaus ordered me to identify potential hybrids," Stefan replied carefully. "He never specified what exactly I should tell you."
Caroline sat beside Tyler, taking his hand. "What does becoming a hybrid even mean? Besides the obvious vampire-werewolf combo."
Stefan studied them both before answering. "It means freedom from the full moon. You'd transform at will, not by force. The change would be nearly instantaneous, painless. No more hours of agony every month."
Tyler's attention sharpened visibly. "No more forced transformations?"
"None. Complete control over your wolf side." Stefan continued, knowing he had Tyler's interest now. "You'd be stronger than ordinary vampires or werewolves. Faster. And immortal."
He glanced at Caroline. "You could be together. Forever, if that's what you both wanted."
Caroline's expression softened at this, her fingers tightening around Tyler's.
"Those are the benefits," Stefan concluded. "They're real, and they're substantial. I won't pretend otherwise."
"But?" Tyler prompted, sensing the shift.
Stefan took a deep breath. "But there's something Klaus doesn't know that I know. Something he honestly wouldn't want me to tell you..."
He fell silent for a long moment, studying them both, as they sharpened their focus on his words.
"It's... Something called a sire bond." Stefan finally said.
The room fell silent again. Caroline leaned forward. "What's a sire bond?"
"It's a rare connection that can form between a vampire and the one who turned them. With hybrids, it's different. More intense. Almost guaranteed." Stefan's voice dropped lower. "The gratitude a hybrid feels toward Klaus for ending their curse creates a... bond. A compulsion to please him, to do whatever he asks."
Tyler frowned. "Like mind control?"
"Not exactly. You'd still feel like you're making your own choices. You'd want to make him happy. Want to obey." Stefan's expression darkened. "It's insidious because it feels voluntary."
Caroline's face paled. "That's horrible."
"It is," Stefan agreed. "And Klaus doesn't know that I know about it. Which means by telling you, I'm taking a risk."
Tyler's eyes narrowed. "What kind of risk?"
"If you become a hybrid and the sire bond forms, you'll feel compelled to tell Klaus everything - including this conversation. He won't be pleased that his knight kept secrets."
"Then why tell us at all?" Caroline asked. "Why risk it?"
Stefan was silent again for a long moment, as he turned and met her gaze directly. "Because of you, Caroline."
"Me?" she asked, surprised and confused.
"I know we haven't exactly known each other for long, but... You've become like the little sister I never had." Stefan's voice softened. "When you first turned and Damon wanted to kill you, I promised I'd help you. I took responsibility for teaching you how to survive. I gave you my word to take care of you."
Caroline's eyes glistened. "Stefan..."
"Everyone else was hesitant around you. But I saw who you really were, beyond being a new vampire." He smiled slightly. "You're family to me now. And family looks out for each other."
Tyler watched this exchange, understanding dawning. "Caroline told me how you protected her when she first turned. When everyone else saw her as a threat."
"I wouldn't have survived those first days without Stefan," Caroline said quietly. "He was the only one who believed I could handle being a vampire without losing my humanity."
Stefan nodded, then turned back to Tyler. "So yes, I'm taking a risk with Klaus. But I want you to have all the information before making a decision that could change everything."
Tyler absorbed this, then asked, "Is there any way to prevent the sire bond?"
"I have a theory," Stefan replied carefully. "The bond forms from gratitude. So perhaps if you focus on the negative - everything Klaus has done to hurt you and those you care about - it might counteract that gratitude."
"Like what?"
"Remember how he kidnapped you for the sacrifice? How he was willing to kill you and Caroline without a second thought? How he's terrorized this town?" Stefan leaned forward. "Focus on that during the transition. Hold onto your anger, your resentment."
Tyler nodded slowly. "And you think that could work?"
"Again," Stefan said. "This method - focusing on Klaus's negative actions to counter the gratitude - is just a theory. I've never seen it tested."
"You mean you don't know if it will work?" Caroline asked, alarm evident in her voice.
"No one's ever tried to consciously prevent a sire bond before. It's incredibly rare- this is a rare case where the chances are so high, to even try and fight the forming of it. We're in uncharted territory."
Tyler stood, pacing the small living room. "So I could still end up sired to Klaus even if I try your method."
"Yes. It's possible." Stefan watched him move. "I believe it could work, but there are no guarantees."
Caroline joined Tyler, placing a hand on his arm. "Tyler, you don't have to do this."
Tyler covered her hand with his own, their eyes meeting in talking with each other silently. Stefan looked away, giving them privacy.
"The pain of transforming every month," Tyler said finally. "The lack of control. I can't keep living like that. I can't keep living like this Caroline. Constantly fearing that one day- one day the full moon will end and I'll have bitten and killed you. I...." He turned to Stefan. "Even with the risk... I want to do this."
"Tyler, are you really sure?" Caroline's voice wavered.
"I'll fight the sire bond with everything I have. And if it forms anyway, we'll find a way to break it." He squeezed her hand. "I'm sure."
Stefan nodded, respecting the decision.
'I... may be able to break it once my psychic abilities get stronger- but I honestly wish it won't come to that.' Stefan thought to himself.
"We should go to Klaus, then. He's waiting." he told the two.
"I'm coming with you," Caroline said immediately.
"Caroline, it might be safer if you stayed here," Stefan suggested. "Klaus can be unpredictable."
"No way." Her tone brooked no argument. "I'm not letting Tyler go through this alone. We do this together or not at all."
Stefan recognized the determination in her eyes. Finally he sighed, a small smile forming on his lips. "I should know better than to argue with you when you've made up your mind. You can be as stubborn as me, when you put your mind to it."
"You're damn right about that," She said with a grin on her face, hands on her hips.
--------------------------
Klaus's mansion loomed against the afternoon sky, elegant and imposing. Stefan parked at the gate, turning to Tyler.
"Remember what we discussed." he told him- not saying what, since they're most definitely in Klaus's hearing range.
Tyler nodded, jaw set with determination. Caroline held his hand tightly as they approached the entrance.
The door swung open before they reached it. Klaus stood in the doorway, his smile predatory.
"Ah, the werewolf has made his decision. Welcome." His gaze shifted to Caroline. "And you've brought your girlfriend. How touching."
"She insisted on coming," Stefan explained.
Klaus's expression held surprising respect. "Loyalty. A rare quality these days. I can appreciate that." He stepped aside. "Please, enter."
The mansion's interior was opulent - artwork spanning centuries, furniture that belonged in museums. Klaus led them to a spacious room with high ceilings and minimal furnishings.
"What I offer you today is freedom, Tyler Lockwood," Klaus said, his tone almost reverential. "Freedom from the curse that has plagued your family line for generations. Are you ready to become something greater?"
Tyler glanced at Caroline, then back to Klaus. "I'm ready."
Klaus approached, studying Tyler with genuine interest. "Your loyalty to each other is... refreshing. Most couples wouldn't survive one being a vampire and the other a werewolf."
He turned to Caroline. "You should know that what I'm doing isn't just creating a servant. I'm elevating him. Making him like me - stronger, faster, free from the moon's control."
"Just don't expect me to thank you for it," Caroline replied, her voice steady despite her fear.
Klaus smiled slightly. "Spirited. I can see why he values you."
He bit into his own wrist, offering it to Tyler. "Drink, and begin your new life as part of my family."
Tyler hesitated for just a moment, then pressed his lips to the wound. As he drank, his eyes remained fixed on Caroline's. When he'd taken enough, Klaus pulled his arm away.
"Now for the less pleasant part," he said, almost apologetically.
With a swift, practiced motion, Klaus snapped Tyler's neck. The crack echoed in the large room. Caroline gasped, catching Tyler's body as he fell.
"When he wakes, he'll need Elena;s blood to complete the transition," Klaus instructed, wiping his wrist with a handkerchief. "Stefan knows what to do."
He turned to Stefan with approval. "You've done well, old friend. Bringing me another for our family."
With that, Klaus left them alone with Tyler's lifeless form.
Caroline cradled Tyler against her, tears streaming silently down her face. "How long will he be...?"
"Not long," Stefan assured her, keeping watch on the doorway. "The werewolf healing will speed the process."
Minutes stretched like hours. Caroline whispered encouragements to Tyler's unhearing ears. Stefan remained vigilant, dividing his attention between the door and Tyler's still form.
Finally, Tyler gasped, his body arching as life returned. His eyes flew open, wild with confusion.
"What-" he choked out.
"Tyler!" Caroline's face flooded with relief.
Stefan moved quickly, offering a blood bag- one laced with drops of Elena's blood. "You need to drink this to complete the transition."
Tyler took the bag with shaking hands. After a moment's hesitation, he bit into it, drinking deeply.
His eyes transformed - veins appearing beneath them with a golden glow that marked him as different from a regular vampire - growling.
Stefan watched intently, looking for signs of the sire bond. Carefully, he extended his psychic awareness slightly, just enough to sense Tyler's emotional state.
What he felt caused him to let out a breath of relief, he didn't know he had held.
Tyler wasn't sired.
His theory worked.