Author's note: A new Klaroline AU human multi-chap! Caroline is the wildly successful author of an erotica series and now her famous scenes seem to have inspired a disturbing series of ritualistic murders. Enter Klaus, the flirty detective with his own demons lurking below that smirking surface. While on the trail of a serial killer, they'll get wrapped up in the seductive world of BDSM — and each other.

It began with a body. It would end the same way. One of the leather straps from the sex swing had cut into the pale skin of the throat, but very little blood had been spilled. Because he'd been strangled, Caroline realized, swallowing hard as she digested the fact that 'he' was now just a body. The bloated, discolored face stared blankly at her, accusing. Was it her fault? It might as well be. After all, she was the one who —. Stop it, she told herself angrily, she wasn't responsible for others' actions or more accurately, reactions to her books.

The heavy silence at her back reminded her that she wasn't alone in her thoughts. As she looked away from the horrific scene, an accented voice said, "I take it you knew the victim, then, Miss Forbes?"

Detective Mikaelson's tone was laced with suspicion, immediately raising Caroline's ire. Not that her initial impression of him had been especially positive. Despite his chiseled features and dirty blonde curls tousled just so, the brusque, arrogant attitude was a complete turnoff. Especially, since he'd been rudely banging on her door, insisting she accompany him to a crime scene, but stubbornly refusing to relay any details other than to darkly mutter that it "would be of interest to her".

She'd been completely baffled by his statement as well as his clear mistrust of her...until she'd crossed the threshold of the apartment and had seen...everything. She'd come to see nudity as a celebration of freedom and individuality, but what they found in this cramped apartment was depraved and pitiful. The body had been put on display. Purposely positioned. Blinking back tears, she answered, "Yes. His name was Stefan. He was one of the sources I'd interviewed over the years for my books."

Clearing his throat uncomfortably, he replied, "Ah, yes, The Naughty Neurotic series."

"You've read my work," Caroline asked, noting how his cheeks had suddenly turned pink. "You're not my typical demographic."

Detective Mikaelson sighed in irritation as he explained, "Actually, my brother is involved in this world. He's made me acutely aware of his...role in your work."

Trying to focus on anything other than the steady clink-clink of the stainless-steel rings rubbing together under the weight of the body, she played back the detective's words as a thought suddenly struck her. "Wait — Mikaelson? and you have the same accent and the arrogant attitude as...Oh God, you're Kol's uptight older brother, the one he goes out of his way to read my racy scenes to?"

"Especially the ones that feature saucy tidbits he claims to have discussed with you during your meetings," he said, the look of aggravation on his face similar to the one Kol wore whenever she told him that she was at the local dungeon to observe and interview willing sources — not participate.

His gray eyes flicked back over the damaged sex swing, clearly eyeing the familiar coyly winking logo of her successful line of adult toys inspired by her erotica series. "In addition to one of your products being used as the murder weapon, the victim's torso has been painted with the same symbol using the same edible body paint as you depicted in one of your books. Surely you can see how this looks, Miss Forbes?"

Any semblance of humor faded away as Caroline nodded mutely. She took in the jagged spikes of the sides of the crown, drawn across Stefan's bruised chest using what appeared to be dark chocolate body paint. Just like in the opening scene from The Naughty Neurotic: Pageant Queen Confessions. Horrified at the implications, she couldn't help but remind herself that her characters remained very much alive and proceeded to have some wildly acrobatic sexcapades in the sex swing.

No wonder the inconveniently attractive detective was suspicious. "Look — I get why you brought me here, but my books have kind of taken on a life of their own — the passionate fans, the line of sex toys, the movie franchise..." she trailed off as she gestured helplessly at the gruesome scene.

"And your relationship with the victim," Detective Mikaelson asked in a matter-of-fact tone that pissed her off even more than the way he seemed ready to disregard her explanation.

Unable to bring herself to look at Stefan any longer, she pointedly headed back into the hallway, stepping past the fluttering yellow crime scene tape to lean against a wall in the dimly lit corridor. "Purely professional — as are all of my interactions with my sources," she answered sharply. While Stefan had been cordial to her during all of their interactions, it would take an absolute lunatic to infer any sort of chemistry between them.

"You expect me to believe that you frequent an underground sex dungeon and keep things professional," he asked skeptically.

I don't care how sexy those dimples are — what an unbelievable asshat. "Wow, judgy much? From what Kol's told me, you've never even been to a dungeon, so how dare you write off a lifestyle you know nothing about," Caroline scoffed, crossing her arms in front of her. When she'd first decided to write novels set in the world of BDSM, the ignorance and blatant prejudice against people who embraced the lifestyle had been more shocking than any scene she'd witnessed in the dungeon.

While she'd told the arrogant detective she'd kept things professional with her sources, the truth was her best friend was the dungeon mistress and had inspired her to explore this world in her writing. Katherine had introduced her to a surprising variety of people who were members of her dungeon, Tomb, and while not everyone welcomed her presence as an observer, many had eagerly shared their experiences, understanding that her goal was both to entertain and educate with her writing.

Detective Mikaelson seemed surprised by her outburst, and his tone carried a note of respect as he raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Understood. It wasn't my intention to upset you, Miss Forbes. Can you tell me where you were between 11:00 PM and 1:00 AM?"

Realizing she was never going to get out of there if she didn't cooperate, she revealed, "I was at Tomb conducting interviews and observing a few scenes for an upcoming manuscript. I saw Stefan's play partner, but not Stefan. He left around midnight, I think."

"And what is Stefan's boyfriend's name," he asked, watching her closely as though judging each expression individually.

She barely restrained herself from rolling her eyes at the detective's assumptions. "Play partner doesn't always mean a significant other. To my knowledge, Stefan wasn't in a committed relationship. Enzo St. John was his main play partner, someone who engaged in scenes with him, both inside and outside of the dungeon."

He raised an eyebrow, but wisely appeared to keep whatever comment was on the tip of his tongue to himself. "I see. Well, that's all I have for the time being, Miss Forbes. If I have any further questions, I'll be in touch."

Caroline blinked, almost positive she caught him studying her lips intently before he quickly returned to the crime scene. Somewhat dazed by that odd encounter, she wasn't paying attention to where she was going and managed to clip a passerby with her elbow. "Sorry," she exclaimed, looking up to find an attractive woman with piercing green eyes and an air of authority about her.

"It's fine," she said, assessing her briefly as she added, "You're the writer, Caroline Forbes."

There was an awkward pause while Caroline wondered if she was going to add anything to her statement. Based on the gold badge clipped to her belt loop, she assumed the woman intended to ask her the same questions Detective Mikaelson had done. The stranger finally reached out her hand, shaking Caroline's with confidence as she told her, "Captain Bonnie Bennett. Thank you for taking the time to speak with my detective about this case."

"Of course. I doubt I was very much help, though. I wish there was something more I could do," Caroline answered wistfully.

Captain Bennett seemed pleased by her words and lowered her voice slightly as she said, "I understand that you frequent Tomb to conduct interviews and observe their...activities when you're researching a book. It would be helpful to my department if you could pass along any out-of-place behaviors you witness or conversations relevant to the case that you might hear."

Caroline realized she was uncomfortable with what the woman was asking. Tomb and its members had welcomed her into their exciting world and she couldn't betray that trust. She replied firmly, "I can promise you that I will follow my conscience; that's the best I can do, Captain Bennett."

A ghost of a smile graced the lips of the captain as she nodded her acceptance. "That's the best any of us can do, I suppose."