The heat would've had her drenched in seconds if she wasn't what she was. Still, the air felt heavy and she could taste the humidity on her tongue. She locked her car and took in her surroundings, noting the sounds and smells of the street that was already busting at midday. Would he still be here? The last she heard he was, but he was Klaus and what did she really know about him after all? She shivered then, knowing full well that she could be alone in this city when all she wanted was his hands on her again. And so she began her search. Bonnie had given her one last favour, a locator spell. She knew he more than likely wouldn't be in the same bar they'd tracked him to months ago but it was a starting point.
Balling her fists together, she made her way across the street. She checked herself mentally, steeling her shoulders and walking with purpose. She wanted him to see her for who she was now: someone changed by him, someone wanting *him*. The smooth sounds of modern jazz fell over her like a blanket as she approached the double doors and she grinned. It was now or never.
She fluffed her hair and pushed the doors open slowly. The bar was full already, the air hazy but dark. She'd done her research and knew how many of her kind were already in this city, so she sent another prayer of thanks to Bonnie for giving her the chance to move undetected in the sun. She didn't have to out herself to the rest of them just yet, not unless she needed to. She took in the scene before her… not seeing him. Still, she had prepared herself for this and she made her way to be bar. Easing out a stool, she sat and crossed her legs, leaning towards the bartender. If her travels had taught her anything it was that she was comfortable in her own skin now, she felt no shame and could settle herself easily into waiting for him rather than despairing.
"You're new." The statement settled into the air between them and she smiled, turning to her right.
"Yes." She wasn't giving anything away, yet. Not while she was in unfamiliar territory and unsure where she stood.
He smiled and cocked his head. "Drink?" She nodded. He wasn't who she wanted, but he'd do for now. His smooth, caramel skin shone in the haze. He reached behind the bar, secured a bottle and slid it over to her. The confidence was familiar and she raised her eyebrows. "And who are you?"
"Marcel." he almost crooned, like it should mean something to her. It didn't. "You're new." he repeated. She nodded and took a drink from the bottle. "Are you here with someone?" He was fishing and she knew it. "I hope so." At least she was honest. She excused herself and went to check her appearance in the bathroom. Her hair was fine, her blouse a little creased but it hugged her curves so she knew Nik would appreciate it, if she ever found him. Her jeans were the same ones that he knew too intimately. Her boots… well, no one could ever say she had dull shoes. She heard the front doors open, sensed the crowd of tourists streaming in for the lunch time rush. Their pulsing bodies had her distracted for a moment and she didn't sense the lone figure walking in behind them. Gathering her things, she left the bathroom and stood in the shadows for a moment to take in what she'd missed. The tourists were all seated, her new friend was still at the bar. She tensed suddenly, though, at the sight of a blonde figure sitting in her seat. She swallowed and shrank into the shadows to watch, as he spoke softly with Marcel, while his finger circled the lid of his glass. She held back a sigh as she heard his low, throaty laugh and let her mind wander to when he had scratched his stubble against her thighs, kissing her hip bone before claiming her mouth.
She opened her eyes and sure enough he was still there. Not an illusion, then. She squared her shoulders for the second time and slowly marched to the free seat next to him, sinking into it.
"I don't think you've met my new friend," Marcel nudged him, gesturing for him to turn around. He froze. His eyes widened and his lips parted for a fraction of a second. "No… I haven't had the pleasure." He said softly, nodding at her. She frowned and coughed. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. He was meant to be different, to show her he was different now. She wanted to know that what had happened between them meant something and yet here he was denying her even existence. "Are you sure we haven't met?" She asked bitterly, staring at him while pouring herself a drink. "I would've remembered you, I'm sure." He smirked and turned back to Marcel, quickly taking his attention in mindless conversation.
She was stunned. It was him, it was Klaus… And yet, he had just passed her over in favour of… of what, exactly? She downed her drink quickly and nodded to herself. It hurt, sure. But she had prepared herself for this, it'd been months after all. She wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of seeing how his rejection stung. She stood and gathered her things.
"Going so soon?" Marcel touched her arm lightly. She did *not* have time for this. "There's nothing to keep me here." She smirked (she'd borrowed that particular habit) and picked up the bottle from before. "But thanks for the drink."
As she left she heard them both laugh. "You lucked out mate!" Klaus said and clapped him on the shoulder. She ground her teeth together and pushed open the doors, not bothering to contain her strength and let them slam against the walls. She hurried across the street and fumbled with her car keys, jumping inside. She sat for a moment and leaned back in her seat. Just like that, it was done. She was done. Ignoring her tears she started the car and drove quickly. It was too late now to keep driving and lose herself on the road again. Instead she walked into the best hotel she could find and compelled herself a suite. Now was not the time to bother with niceties.
He didn't know what had possessed him to leave the house this early for once. All he knew was that he had to get out. Sometimes plotting the takeover of a city was suffocating.
He had caught her scent, then, as he meandered down the main street. He shook his head, stunned - surely she of all people would not be *here*. If she was anywhere, it'd be off living her life the way she'd promised him she would. He turned and stopped as he noticed her car. He stood there for a moment, concentrating and following her. She'd sat in the car for a time, then got out to survey the street… walked across… and into the bar. His bar. Well, Marcel's bar but it would be his bar in time. He stopped outside the doors to let a bunch of tourists walk in first, trying to let their scent clear his head of the jolt of fear he'd felt when he realised she'd walked into a group of people he couldn't trust, alone. He had to find her.
He took a deep breath and walked in, letting her scent guide him like a map. He sat in her now vacant chair and smiled at Marcel, all the while listening for her. She was in the bathroom, then. He listened to her splash water on her face, smirking inwardly as the floor creaked from her changing her weight on her legs as she checked her reflection. But he was terrified - first the child, now the one thing he had tried so hard to keep out of all of this mess… her. Two things that he would give his life protecting and now she'd gone and found him, she was as good as dead if anyone knew her value to him. He straightened his back as she walked out of the bathroom and started a conversation with Marcel. As she stood back and took him in, he moved his finger over his glass as he fought against his basic desire of feeling her soft skin again. He threw in a laugh at an appropriate point, all the while wishing she would just come the hell over so he could see her himself. He turned then to talk some more mindless drivel to his "protege" (that was far too much of a compliment at this point) and gripped the table underneath as she sat down next to him. "I don't think you've met my new friend," Marcel nudged him and gestured towards her. He wanted to rip his arms off.
He sighed inwardly and turned to her. Her face caught him off guard - she was still stunning, still innocent and still so hopeful. His lips parted involuntarily, before he shut himself away from her and denied her existence. He could tell she hurt her as she frowned and stared at him. She was confused. Good. He tensed as she stood, praying she wouldn't choose this moment to be true to her stubborn self but she took the bottle and left. He let anger cloud his vision for a second when Marcel dared to touch her, before he shut her out again and let her storm out of the bar.
"What's with her?" Marcel was ruffled. "No one's turned me down in way too long." He moved to follow her but Klaus put his hand on his shoulder. "Let it go, mate. Last I heard you were busy with Cami anyway." It wasn't true but it was enough to keep the self absorbed idiot in his seat.
He left the bar after a couple of hours, having drunk enough to pass off going home as good excuse. He rounded the corner and waited for a good ten minutes to make sure he wasn't being followed. Then he closed his eyes… She was here. Her scent overwhelmed him, floored him. He had never imagined she would ever want to follow him, to here of all places. He had promised her the world and she had chosen to find him in New Orleans. He walked slowly, savouring the movement of her scent throughout the streets. The sky was darkening now and he was able to stand against the wall for a time, staring up at her hotel in the darkness. He listened carefully, catching her soft sigh as she eased herself into a chair against the window. Unable to contain himself any longer, he flashed into the hotel and ran up the fire stairs. He slowed to a walk as he came to her floor, pausing outside her door to listen again. He could tell she was standing now, sipping a glass of wine, staring at the street below. He forced the door open quietly and shut it behind him as she turned to face him.
"Caroline."
