In my clumsy attempts to edit this story I accidentally deleted a chapter and then things went from bad to worse. All chapters are now present in the correct order even though it appears Chapter 8 is missing. My apologies to those who were kind enough to review – if I deleted your review it was totally unintentional! Believe me – I've learned from this disaster.

~ X ~

Disclaimer: The Vampire Diaries is the property of the CW. No copyright infringement is intended.

~ X ~

Klaus did not accept rejection – not from his stepfather; not from his mother; not from his brothers; not from his sister; and most definitely not from a newborn vampire that he had honored beyond all others with his love. No one rejected him and because Caroline Forbes had the audacity to do just that, she had to die.

Her frightened blue eyes caught and held Tyler's as shock and unbearable agony flashed across her face. He watched in disbelief, as the light in her eyes slowly died and her skin turned grey veined. His eyes saw Klaus hold her heart in his hand, blood dripping down to the floor.

Tyler's mind couldn't register the fact that she was really dead. When the numbness finally cleared and the reality of her death penetrated through to his consciousness he launched himself at Klaus, eyes yellow, fangs protruding. Klaus used the arm holding Caroline's heart to swat him down like he was a fly. Tyler was sickened by the knowledge that Caroline's blood splattered his face.

Klaus's wrath fell next on him. He screamed like a crazy man. "You don't deserve to be a hybrid. I gave you this as a gift and you betrayed me. Every one betrays me." His spit sprayed Tyler's face, mingling with the blood flecks from Caroline's heart.

Klaus threw the heart to smash against the wall and grabbed Tyler by the neck, hauling him to his feet.

"Find Stefan and bite him. I forbid you to stake him. I want him to die in agony and I hope his brother rips your heart out. Now go! Get out of my sight!"

The Original threw Tyler against the wall and then walked slowly over to the marbleized body of the woman-girl he had wanted. He knelt by her body, screaming his rage and frustration. "Why? Why did you make me do this? Why?"

Tyler staggered out, coming face to face with Esther at the bottom of the grand staircase. She took one look at his bloody face and hurried past him without a word.

Tyler slunk out of the mansion past the rest of the hybrid pack, huddling uncertainly in the foyer. They snarled their displeasure at this traitor in their midst, but allowed him to pass unmolested. It was the master's decision to let him meet his fate.

Tyler's keen hearing allowed him to hear Klaus's rant turn to sobs of agonizing regret. "I didn't want this to happen. I just wanted to love you. Why wouldn't you let me love you?"