"Somebody has to be in charge." - "Yeah, me."

Caroline shifts uncomfortably in her seat. She's been stuck in the backseat of Rebekah's Porsche Cayenne for the past nine hours. Why they didn't fly to New Orleans is beyond her.

She knows that it's immature, and she knows they still have an hour drive ahead of them, but she can't help it. "Are we there yet?"

Rebekah whips around and almost lunges at her from the passenger seat. "No, but if you ask one more time I will-"

Matt's voice is on the very edge of calm. "Rebekah, it's really hard to concentrate on my driving when you threaten Caroline. And Caroline, you know we're still an hour outside of New Orleans, so stop asking."

He's been the one driving for most of the time. Each time Caroline or Rebekah tried to take the wheel it nearly ended in bloodshed, so poor Matt had to separate them and take over.

Rebekah turns back around and throws herself into her seat, making the back of it bang against Caroline's knees. "She started it."

Matt groans and rubs his eyes. "I don't care who started it. If both of you don't stop it, I'm going to turn this car around and drive right back home."

Suddenly, he jerks and blinks in disbelief. "Wow, did I really just say that?"

Caroline curls back into her seat and pouts quietly, pulling her legs up onto the seat next to her to save them from Rebekah's repeated attempts at dislocating her kneecaps.

Rebekah huffs out an annoyed breath and turns her face away to look out the window, muttering under her breath.

Matt sighs in exasperation and looks longingly at the radio. He had to turn that off as well when the girls couldn't agree on a station. "Just let me know when I need to take the turn off the highway to get to your plantation, alright?"

The plantation is just that: a huge property of highland and swampland with a winding two lane road leading up to the main building, an enormous white two-story mansion surrounded by a luscious cultivated garden. It's even more impressive in front of the backdrop of an early sunrise.

"The last time I was out here, there was nothing but sugar cane fields as far as the eye could see," Rebekah says wistfully.

Caroline stretches slowly and rolls her head to get the kinks out of her neck. "The only thing my eyes want to see is a shower and a comfortable bed. And I'm sure Matt feels the same way." She smiles over at her friend.

Matt looks like he's dead on his feet, swaying lightly with his eyes half closed as he squints at the gigantic house in front of them. "I could really use a nap."

Rebekah sighs and rolls her eyes. "Fine, come on then. Let's give the servants a proper scare."

Caroline wakes up sometime around noon. The lavishly decorated surroundings of the unfamiliar bedroom confuse her for a second before she remembers that they're in Louisiana and that she's on a mission. She's also starving for blood.

She swings her legs out of bed and grabs for her jeans and shirt; except the armchair where she left them is empty. Her suitcase is also nowhere to be found.

Caroline's brows furrow in suspicion as she cocks her head to the side. "Rebekah."

As Caroline whirls around, her eyes roam across the room, giving the girl the benefit of the doubt for one last moment. She checks the only wardrobe and the vanity, but both of them are empty.

"Damn it." She smacks her hands down on the vanity as she plops down on the bench and glares into the mirror.

That is when she notices the bell string on the wall next to her.

Caroline takes a deep breath and looks away, hoping to see a phone or an intercom. There isn't any.

"I can't believe I have to do this," she mutters under her breath as she pulls on the bell string.

Less than two minutes later, there is a knock on her door.

"Come in," she calls out.

A pretty brunette in an old-fashioned service uniform steps into the room and curtseys before she addresses her. "You rang, Miss Caroline."

The formal greeting combined with the deep southern drawl gives Caroline the willies. "Yes, and, please, just call me Caroline."

"Yes, Miss Caroline."

Caroline's fingers twitch on top of the vanity.

She accepted that compulsion was the only option when they entered the house, unless they wanted to draw undue attention. But there is really no good reason to make the poor staff revert to antebellum personalities on top of that.

"Where are my clothes?" Caroline asks as politely as she can.

"Miss Rebekah sent to have them cleaned. If you'd like, I could bring you something to wear in the meantime?"

"Yes, please do."

The maid curtseys and leaves the room, only to come right back inside with a dress folded over one arm while holding a woven summer hat and a pair of strap-sandals in her other hand.

Caroline's eyebrows fly to her hairline as she gives the maid a questioning look.

The maid smiles benignly as she places the clothes on the bed and puts the shoes down on the floor in front of it. "Miss Rebekah took the liberty to pick this out for you in advance."

The maid steps back and folds her hands in front of her. "Will that be all, Miss Caroline?"

Caroline doesn't flinch anymore. She'll sort this out with Rebekah as soon as she's wearing more than her underwear. "Yes, thank you, that will be all."

The maid curtsies again and leaves the room, closing the door quietly behind her.

Caroline groans in frustration and swings herself up from the vanity bench to put on the clothes. She hates to admit it, but the light summer dress and floppy white hat Rebekah picked out for her actually compliment her figure and match her sense of style.

A little while later, Caroline manages to find her way to the formal dining room.

Rebekah folds down the local newspaper in her lap and looks over at Caroline from the head of the monumental table. "I'm glad you finally decided to get up."

Her eyes trail over Caroline's dress and she grins wickedly. "I know it sits a bit tight on you, but you'll have to make do until the servants can get the wrinkles out of the sad specimens that you call clothes."

Caroline forces her murderous expression to turn into a sugary sweet smile. "Actually, it's a bit loose around the waist, but nothing that a safety pin can't fix."

Rebekah's grin freezes but she keeps her calm as she changes the subject. "Matt's still asleep. I think it's best if we leave him be for now."

Caroline raises a brow at Rebekah's uncharacteristic kindness. "For once, I actually agree with you." She sits down at the other end of the table and turns her head to look out of the tall windows at the garden beyond.

Caroline can feel her stomach turn with hunger. "I'm starving."

Rebekah smiles and picks up a small silver bell, ringing it a couple of times.

A handsome footman dressed in a traditional livery enters the room a moment later.

Rebekah ignores him and smiles at Caroline instead. "Help yourself. He won't complain about it."

Caroline grits her teeth, fighting the urge to succumb to her hunger and ready to lay into Rebekah as soon as the guy leaves again.

She sucks in an unnecessary breath before she addresses the servant. "Would you bring me some lemonade, please?"

"Right away, Miss Caroline." The footman bows and leaves the room.

Caroline forces herself to stay in her chair. "You know very well I meant the bagged blood. So where the hell did you put it?"

Rebekah smirks and remains silent for a moment, visibly enjoying the sight of Caroline squirming before she responds. "Wine cellar, in the basement."

Caroline moves in a blur, rushing across the hallway and down into the basement at vampire speed.

When she finds Rebekah again, the other girl has moved on to the large patio at the west side of the mansion, enjoying the afternoon sun on her face.

Caroline can't help but admire the well maintained garden and the beautiful marble fountain in its center. "I'm surprised Klaus didn't take the place when he came here."

"Shows how much you know about him." Rebekah scoffs and shakes her head. "He prefers his studio in the French Quarter when he travels alone. Closer to the multicultural hubbub and whatnot."

Caroline tries to ignore the sting of Rebekah's jab. Maybe she really doesn't know as much about Klaus as she thinks. It's better to change the subject. "And what about Elijah?"

Rebekah shrugs. "Who knows? He probably had some sort of moral compunction against overtaking the place and compelling the staff for his convenience."

Caroline makes a face. "Were any of your brothers ever normal?"

Rebekah flinches and her eyes glaze over for a moment. "One of them was. A long time ago."

The strange comment makes Caroline frown until she remembers what Elena told her about the Mikaelsons family history. Obviously, Rebekah is referring to her youngest sibling Henrik, who died from a werewolf attack and was the primary reason the originals became vampires.

If there is one thing Caroline can empathize with it's the loss of a dear family member. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up old wounds."

Rebekah snaps back to reality and looks up at Caroline with slightly narrowed eyes. "I know you didn't." She smirks and nods to herself before she turns back to look out over the garden. "You can join me if you'd like."

Caroline accepts the offer and they both sit quietly for a long time, watching the sun make its way down until it finally dips below the horizon.

Rebekah is the first one to break the silence as she gets up from her chair. "We should head out, if you want to find Klaus now is the best time to do it."

Caroline gets up as well and follows Rebekah inside. "Should we bring Matt?"

Rebekah stops abruptly and bites her lip, a deep frown on her face. "No, I think it's safer if he stays here."

Caroline cocks her head to the side and puts a hand on Rebekah's arm to turn her around. "Why, what's the problem?"

Rebekah meets Caroline's gaze with a shrug. "From what Elijah told me, things are done quite differently in the Big Easy. We won't be able to concentrate on tracking down Klaus if we're too busy protecting Matt all night."

"Oh." Caroline falls back a step and lets go of Rebekah's arm. She sighs in acceptance. "Okay."

"I'll take care of it," Rebekah says confidently and begins to walk away again.

"Are you sure?" Caroline stops her again, catching up to her in a couple of quick steps.

She knows exactly how Rebekah will take care of keeping Matt at the plantation.

"I mean, I could do it," Caroline says with a shrug and a frown.

She doesn't know exactly why she's offering Rebekah to do it for her.

"Don't worry about it." Rebekah waves her off. "Go get changed."

Caroline purses her lips, ready to protest. She thinks better of it and nods instead, turning to head up the stairs towards her room. Her fingers flex around the banister when she hears Rebekah's voice call after her.

"And wear something sexy! This isn't Mystic Falls where you can get away with last year's Target collection!"

Rebekah waits for a moment after Caroline disappears and then climbs a separate set of stairs towards Matt's room.

Matt wakes up when the mattress beside him dips under the weight of another person. He turns around and sits up groggily, rubbing his eyes to clear the sleep out of them.

Rebekah waits patiently, sitting at the side of the bed with a sad smile on her face.

Matt recognizes her but immediately looks away, searching for a clock. "What time is it?" he asks, stifling a yawn behind his hand.

"Just past six in the evening," Rebekah says in a low voice.

He finally looks directly at her, his eyes wide in surprise. "I slept that long?"

She uses the opportunity and pulls him into a compulsion. "Yes, and you will go back to sleep as soon as I leave this room. You will not wake up until tomorrow morning and you won't even think about leaving this house until you see me tomorrow."

A muscle under Matt's right eye twitches but otherwise his face is perfectly blank as he looks back at Rebekah.

"I'm sorry, Matt." Rebekah reaches out a hand and places it gently on his cheek. "It's the only way I can make sure you're safe."

A tear falls down her cheek, but she ignores it in favor of finishing her orders. "You won't remember I said that. You will follow the orders I gave you until I come back. Understood?"

"Yes, Rebekah." Matt's voice is as bland as his facial expression, but the stare in his eyes is as sharp as a knife.

Rebekah nods to herself and takes her hand away from him, pasting a shaky smile on her face. "Now, ask me again what time it is," she says before she gets up from the bed and breaks the compulsion.

Matt shakes his head and rubs his eyes sleepily. "What time is it?"

"It's just past six." This time Rebekah does not clarify the time of day. "Go back to sleep. I'll wake you up when it's time for breakfast."

"Okay," Matt says then looks up in confusion. "Then why'd you wake me up in the first place?"

Rebekah stammers, taken aback for a second before she fishes an excuse from her stuttering brain. "I was just checking in on you."

"Uh huh."

"Go back to sleep." Rebekah says hastily and leaves the room before Matt can ask any more uncomfortable questions.

Caroline and Rebekah meet up in the driveway on the other side of the plantation. The Porsche is already facing in the right direction to head straight out.

"What took you so long?" Caroline braces one hand on her hip, drawing attention to her fitted black camisole and tight red leather pants. Her jaw drops when she looks at Rebekah's outfit. "Tell me you're kidding."

Rebekah growls in annoyance. She pulls on her red camisole and smooths a hand down her black leather pants. "Shut up and toss me the keys."

"Nu-uh, I'm driving." Caroline starts towards the driver's side of the car.

"Really, and how well do you know your way around New Orleans?" Rebekah says bitingly.

Caroline stops dead in her tracks with one hand on the door handle and curses under her breath.

She huffs and turns around. "Fine, you're driving." She chucks the keys at Rebekah as she circles around the front of the car to the passenger side.

"Thought so." Rebekah catches the keys with a victorious grin as she walks up to the driver's side and gets in the car.