As he watched the sketches burn into ashes in the fireplace, Klaus kicked himself mentally for his apparent weakness tonight. It was enough that he was alone after Rebekah left him to muse the remerging white oak tree. The balance of nature was coming in around him again, he swallowed back a lump in his throat.
He steadied himself against the mantle to keep the world from spinning. If he had thought about it rather than Caroline, the tree would not have surprised him.
"How could you be so stupid, Nik," he said aloud to himself.
"Do you really expect me to answer that?"
The voice started Klaus from his thoughts. He turned to see Caroline looking at him, concern on her face. Not in the mood, he turned back to his original position, facing the fire, "This does not concern you, Caroline. Get out."
Not moving from where she stood, Caroline crossed her arms over body and tapped her foot. Klaus continued to ignore her, sulking. She wasn't making a motion to speak, and he wasn't going to say another word. Mentally daring her to say the next word, he turned his head back to look at her. Caroline had found herself a seat on the couch, arms still crossed.
His smirk grew at her apparent discomfort. This looks like she will break down first, he whet his lips. She fidgeted with her skirt, his smirk widened. Caroline narrowed her eyes at him.
When she could stand the silence no more, she spoke, "If you aren't going to talk to me, I'll talk to you," she waited for a second to gauge his reaction, Klaus gave no inclination to speak, she continued, "I let Damon talk me into separating you from your brother."
His expression told her nothing. There was almost sadness but it was unreadable. She waited for him to speak now.
"Why did you want to hurt me?"
The question—though not unexpected—still surprised her. Caroline did not know how to respond to that accusation except to say, "You've hurt me in the past, Klaus. Isn't it a small price to pay?"
A weak smile fell from his lips, he pursed them in thought, No way could he compete with that. His voice said aloud, "Well, you know what they say about revenge, love, when you start on that road make sure you lay two graves."
The simplicity of the statement coming with his velvety tongue stunned her. If she was a weaker willed woman, she probably would have fallen for it. She couldn't let him win this battle.
Klaus smiled at Caroline's inner struggle. He came closer, leaned ridiculously close to her, breathing in her scent. He whispered into her ear, "You know once you cross that line, you can't go back to being good," he reached out to touch her hand, massaging it in his, "once you seek revenge, it is all relative."
Caroline sighed as she let her head fall down, her chin touched her chest. Why else was she here but to make Klaus absolutely miserable. If that is true what he said, she couldn't possibly show her face again.
"I'm sorry."
Her voice was soft when she spoke. It was barely considered a whisper by any stretch. There was no other way to say it. He was still peering into her soul at her claims.
Not willing to be undone by this turned phrase, Klaus said pleasantly, "Can you say that louder for the class, Caroline? I don't think the choir heard you." Little did Caroline know, Klaus had spotted Rebekah spying on the two of them from the door, he said, "Would you like to come in, Bekah, you could hear this better from inside?"
"My vampire hearing can hear you just fine, Nik. I don't have to come in."
"Then buttout, Rebekah," Klaus' argument was pointed and final. He turned his attention back to Caroline, "As you were saying?"
Without another word, Caroline backed away much to Klaus' surprise. She answered, "I'm sorry. I got to go now."
Before he could reach out to grab her, she was gone again. No, there was no point in going after her. She would come back when she's ready.
They always come back.