Chapter 72: Katherine's Revenge - Part 2
POV: Sam Barton
The vampire army hits the Salvatore Boarding House at nightfall two days later, and my Sensory clone's detection comes with the kind of dread that means Katherine's escalating beyond psychological warfare into actual attempted massacre.
"Twenty vampires surrounding the boarding house," my clone reports, his awareness tracking supernatural signatures converging from all directions. "All compelled. They're not here to negotiate."
Klaus is at the boarding house as temporary guest—he's been coordinating with Elijah about waking Kol and Finn, using the location as neutral ground. His presence turns out to be strategically fortunate.
"Katherine Pierce," Klaus growls, moving to the window where he can see vampires positioning in the darkness. "Still predictable after five centuries. She's attacking here because she knows I'm present—hoping I'll slaughter everyone in the crossfire."
"Will you?" Damon asks, already loading wooden bullets into a shotgun.
"No," Klaus replies, and his smile is predatory. "I'm going to help Sam demonstrate what coordinated defense looks like. Consider it investment in alliance stability."
Tyler and his three hybrid packmates—Hayley and the two male hybrids from Jules's pack—position themselves defensively. Four hybrids plus Klaus makes this significantly less one-sided than Katherine probably anticipated.
My six clones manifest fully, each taking assigned defensive positions: Mind Shield preventing compulsion of our defenders, Defensive Shield protecting human allies, Magic Absorption ready to drain enemy compulsion spells, Sensory providing battlefield awareness, Strength engaging directly, Phasing prepared for rapid extraction if things go catastrophically wrong.
The attack erupts with coordinated precision—twenty compelled vampires hitting the boarding house from six directions simultaneously.
But we're ready.
My Phasing clone infiltrates enemy lines by walking through walls, appearing behind compelled vampires and disrupting their formation. Mind Shield projects anti-compulsion field that frees three attackers immediately—they stumble, confused about why they're assaulting a fortified position.
Defensive Shield creates barriers that funnel attackers into kill zones where Klaus and the hybrids wait with centuries of combat experience and supernatural strength.
Magic Absorption drains compulsion magic from the attacking vampires, his purple-black energy visibly pulling Katherine's mental commands out of their minds. More attackers break free, some fleeing immediately once they realize they've been manipulated.
Klaus fights alongside my Strength clone with wild laughter that suggests he's enjoying this far too much. "I'm beginning to see why Elijah likes you, Sam Barton! This is magnificent coordination!"
The battle lasts seventeen minutes—a blur of vampire speed, hybrid strength, and my clones' supernatural coordination. Bodies stack up as attackers either break free from compulsion and flee or get staked by our defenders.
Then Katherine tries to escape.
My Sensory clone detects her signature pulling back from observation position three blocks away. She's been watching the whole battle, waiting to see if her plan succeeded.
"Phasing, cut off her retreat," I command.
My clone blurs through matter, materializing directly in Katherine's escape path. She crashes into him, rebounds, then finds herself trapped as Defensive Shield projects barriers on all sides.
Klaus approaches with predatory grace, his hybrid nature making him exponentially more terrifying than regular Original vampires.
"Katherine," he says pleasantly. "After five hundred years of running, I finally corner you. How delightful."
"Klaus," Katherine replies, trying for bravado but her voice cracks slightly. "Still holding grudges after centuries. How very small of you."
I intervene before Klaus can execute her, because dead Katherine is useless while alive Katherine potentially provides intelligence we desperately need.
"Let me handle her," I tell Klaus. "She's more valuable alive than dead."
Klaus looks genuinely surprised. "You want to spare the woman who just tried killing everyone you care about?"
"I want to interrogate her," I correct. "Then we'll discuss execution."
Klaus, surprisingly, defers to my judgment—apparently our coordination during the battle earned enough respect that he'll follow my tactical assessment.
Katherine, trapped in golden barriers and surrounded by enemies, spits defiance. "What do you want?"
"Everything you know," I reply. "And in exchange, you get to live."
[MAJOR BATTLE VICTORY]
[VAMPIRE ARMY DEFEATED]
[KATHERINE PIERCE CAPTURED]
[EXPERIENCE GAINED: +1,200 (BATTLE) +600 (KLAUS COOPERATION) +1,200 (KATHERINE CAPTURE)]
[LEVEL 32 → 33 ACHIEVED!]
[+5 STAT POINTS AVAILABLE]
[DEFENSIVE SHIELD MASTERY: 100% - PERMANENT STATUS ACHIEVED!]
I allocate the stats while Katherine's being secured: two Vitality for durability, two Agility for combat speed, one Intelligence for MP capacity.
[CURRENT STATS: STR 10, AGI 32, VIT 47, INT 46, WIS 50, PER 26, CHA 26]
[HP: 1,140/1,140, MP: 840/840, MP REGEN: 50/MIN]
[DEFENSIVE SHIELD: PERMANENTLY SAVED - FOURTH SAVED SLOT FREED]
The permanent mastery of Defensive Shield means I'll never lose that affinity even if the clone dies. It's permanently integrated into my System capabilities—a major milestone that frees up one of my saved affinity slots for future use.
Katherine sits in the Salvatore basement an hour later, chains soaked in vervain keeping her weak and contained.
I approach alone, my Mind Shield clone standing nearby to prevent any last-minute compulsion attempts.
"You failed because you fight alone," I tell her. "I win because I build alliances. Everyone you tried to isolate? They coordinated, adapted, protected each other. Your psychological warfare didn't account for distributed defense."
Katherine laughs bitterly. "Pretty speech. Very inspiring. What now—torture? Death? Some elaborate revenge that proves you're no better than the monsters you fight?"
"Information," I reply simply. "You tell us everything you know about Klaus's enemies, Original family secrets, supernatural threats we haven't identified. In exchange, you get safe passage out of Virginia. Permanently."
Katherine's expression shifts from defiant to calculating. "You'd let me go? After everything?"
"I'd trade your exile for intelligence that keeps my friends alive," I correct. "You're a survivor, Katherine. You've spent five hundred years gathering information to stay ahead of people like Klaus. That knowledge is worth more than your corpse."
She's quiet for a long moment, clearly evaluating whether I'm serious or setting elaborate trap.
"You're more ruthless than you look, Sam Barton," Katherine says finally. "Deal. I'll tell you everything. But I want written agreement, witness testimony, and guaranteed safe passage before I start talking."
"Done," I agree.
[KATHERINE RELATIONSHIP: CAPTURED ASSET]
[KLAUS RELATIONSHIP: GENUINE RESPECT]
Klaus finds me on the boarding house balcony after the negotiations conclude.
"You impressed me today," he admits, which from Klaus Mikaelson is practically a declaration of friendship. "The tactical coordination, the strategic restraint, the ability to see value where I'd only see vengeance. You're not just playing at supernatural politics—you actually understand them."
"I'm learning," I deflect.
"From who?" Klaus asks curiously. "Your parents were supernatural scholars, but this level of tactical awareness suggests active combat experience. You're seventeen. Where did you learn to coordinate defense like veteran general?"
The question hits too close to truths I can't reveal—transmigration, show knowledge, System interface that grants supernatural abilities.
"Experience," I reply vaguely. "Necessity breeds competence."
Klaus doesn't believe me, but he lets it pass. "Keep your secrets, Sam Barton. I respect operational security. Just know that I'm watching, and I'm learning what makes you tick."
It's both compliment and threat, which seems appropriate for Klaus Mikaelson.
To supporting Me in Pateron .
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