hey everyone I'm back with an update, so sorry for the long wait but real life was totally not helping, here's the next chapter.

Also big thanks to anyone who followed, favorited and reviewed this thing, I was honestly floored at the response this story got and it was really encouraging,

so without further ado,

The bed squeaked as Caroline shifted restlessly on it trying to go to sleep. Her body felt exhausted and sore from the journey she made but she couldn't rest, still. And even though the, mattress was soft for some reason it felt uncomfortable against her skin, preventing her from drifting off.

Giving up, she sat and threw the blankets to the side standing to pull the robe Katerina had lent her and tied it around her body.

She took a gas lamp from the side table and lighted. Opening the door, she stepped outside in the dark empty hallways. The castle void from any noise except for some rattling in what she suspected to be the kitchen.

Quietly, she navigated her way through the manor exploring the various rooms.

Coming upon a big door, her curiosity peaked and although she knew she probably shouldn't, she found herself turning the handle and entering.

Her eyes widened as she saw masses of books, ranging from old to new, staring back at her. Her gaze fidgeted around, astonished at the number of books that were laid in front of her. A smile tugged at her lips and hurriedly she disposed of the lamp on one of the furniture, wanting to take a closer look.

Gingerly, she picked up one of the old looking ones, brushing the cover with her hand delicately. She flipped the first page open, reading the words silently, mouthing them though not voicing any. A look of wonderment crossed over her face as she began to get lost in the pages.

"Do you like books?" a voice curiously asked, breaking her out of her trance. Shocked, she whipped around, hands clutching her heart as she felt it beating erratically, almost bursting out of her chest.

She spotted the man from earlier, Klaus, sitting on one of the plush looking chairs. He looked at her expectantly and she realized he was still waiting for an answer to his question. Kneeling, she picked the book that she dropped in her surprise, placing it in its place.

"Yes" she replied "I do".

He nodded and stood up, facing a near shelf, a thoughtful expression on his face "fascinating aren't they?" he said "all of the knowledge the human mind had created whether it was from a few years ago or a hundred, born from different minds and places, all of it laid in front of you, bound in words, right under your fingertips". His voice took that of an alluring essence as if telling a story and although she tried not to, she found herself mesmerized at the way he was describing a passion of hers.

"What usually strikes your fancy?" he asked.

"I prefer the old myths, the tales of the Greek and Roman gods, how they destroyed the world and then rebuilt it on their whims." she paused "there's something strangely human about it".

Klaus shot her an admiring look at her answer.

"You would like Greece, it's a beautiful country filled with beauty and history" he said, changing the subject "Rome more so".

Caroline opened her mouth, about to say something but closed it like she was hesitating, he looked at her curiously.

"What?"

"Nothing" she replied as she played with the hem of her chemise that was peeking from under the thick robe.

"Oh come on now, love, you can tell me anything" he said cheekily.

She raised her eyebrows "anything?"

"Anything" he repeated. "You'll find that I am open to any criticism"

She blinked at him and crossed her arms in front of her, leaning against the back of one of the chairs.

"It must be nice, mustn't it" she asked, a faraway look in her eyes, but by the tone in her voice he knew she wasn't looking for any sort of answer. "To have all these people who do things for you, take you places" a somber expression settled on his face replacing the light hearted one that was there seconds before.

"Though it does beg the question, how many of these people did you threaten or harm for you to be able to do so".

"You're making assumptions" he gritted out, teeth clenched and eyes hard.

"Am I?" she asked and he did not like the sureness in her voice, like he was somehow laid bare in front of her for her to clip all his secrets.

"I have seen the fear in those men's eyes at the gates earlier" she continued, her gaze defiant, cutting through anything in front of them like sharp blades "and besides we both that anything anyone thinks has some reason behind it".

"So if I were truly making assumptions" 'and I doubt it' she added in her mind "You will have to ask yourself, whatever made me believe so".

She didn't wait for him to say anything walking out of the room and leaving him standing alone with only the filled shelves and the sound of the rain pouring outside as his only companion.

The next morning came sooner than expected. The castle bursting with life as the servants moved around, each one hurrying to complete their daily chores.

Klaus walked down the stairs, not paying any attention to the servants that passed him.

He stepped into the dining room, surprised to find Elijah and the doppelganger settled in front of each other, eating their breakfast while seemingly engrossed in whatever it is they were discussing.

He cleared his throat, the action grabbing the focus of the two in front of him.

"Niklaus".

"Elijah, Katerina" he nodded towards them both as he took a seat, his eyes scanning the room in search for one particular blonde in mind.

"She is upstairs in her room" the doppelganger said answering his unasked question.

He frowned inwardly "and why did she not come down" he asked.

"She said she felt a little tired and would like it if she could rest" the girl replied.

"Oh". He sighed, his thoughts unwillingly shifting to the ferocious blonde upstairs growing annoyed as he recalled their encounter yesterday, how she had left him utterly speechless at her sharp observations, how for the first time he was at loss at how to reply to a mere human.

His plans had not expected such a thing to happen, when he started their conversation he did it with the intention of figuring her out, just so he could see where she will fit in his game of chess.

Sighing, he stood up and turned to the door.

"Where are you going? We are yet to finish"

"I've lost my appetite" Klaus said shortly, heading out of the room.

Caroline huffed as she buried her head deeper in the pillows, trying to command her body to sleep. She had no desire to join the 'hosts' downstairs and come face to face with a particular lord and so had told Katerina she needed to rest.

Thinking back to yesterday's exchange, she recalled vividly how she had shocked him with her blunt remarks. In her opinion, he certainly deserved it, he was egotistical, arrogant and she could not ignore that aura of melancholy that surrounded him no matter how much time he tried to hide it under his charming attitude.

Breaking out of her train of thought, she heard a knock on the door. Contemplating whether or not to open it or not. She stood up and turned the handle only to be greeted by none other than Klaus standing there.

"Good morning, love", he said, looking as chirp as ever and she frowned, the anger and fury from yesterday still fresh, moving to shut the door in his face but his hand pushed it preventing it from closing.

"Don't be angry, love" he murmured no doubt sensing her ire, "We had a little spat I'm over it".

With a deceivingly sweet smile she bit out "Ah, well I am not" hoping he'd get the message and leave, when it seemed he had no intention of doing so, she sighed, resisting the urge to roll her eyes.

"What do you want?"

Giving her an innocent look, he answered "I merely came to inquire about your well doing, Katerina did mention you were feeling a bit tired"

"You honestly expect me to believe that you came to check on me out of some goodness in your heart, do you take me for a fool?" she asked incredulously.

"I would never". He said putting his hand on his chest as if she insulted him, and had she been in another mood she would have scoffed at his dramatic act that should have convinced her of his "good" intentions but right now her fingers itched to punch him in the face.

"Well as you can see, I'm well, so you can go now" for the second time she attempted to close the door but still Klaus would not let it. An annoyed look passed her face and she was vaguely aware that it may have resembled snarling.

"And leave one of my guests unserved in her room, absolutely not" he said though she sensed a hint of mocking in his tone like he was playing a game, daring her to step out of it.

She is confused, she can admit that but she won't allow it to show.

"Well I assure you I'll be fine" she quipped.

"Sweetheart-"

"I am not your sweetheart" she muttered her voice hard, finding his terms of endearment rather intimate.

He sighed "well it seemed like we reached a impasse" a mischievous glint in his eyes "I'd rather you join us but you wish not to".

frowning, she said "I don't you understand why you are so insistent that I come down stairs", Voice pitching in puzzlement.

"It's for my own reasons".

"Is that supposed to be reassuring?".

He chuckled "not in the slightest"

Crossing her arms over her chest, she said "fine, do you have a solution for this impasse as you call it"
"Well, there is something in my chambers that I need so while I take it you could get dressed" he paused "if you agree of course" smiling, he attempted to play his unfit role of a gentleman.

She didn't say anything at first assessing him with her steel like eyes, probably weighing her decision 'smart girl he'll give her that' before she muttered out a yes.
"Now if you'll excuse me" she said, slamming the door in his face.

Klaus walked down the hallway, a parchment with some of his instructions that was to be handed to one of his lackeys snugly resting in his palm.

A small quirk of his lips appeared as he approached his desired hallway though it vanished as fast as it came as he heard the lack of human heartbeat.

He hurried to the chamber, almost ripping the door from its hinges, his suspicion confirmed when the empty room greeted him. Feeling the beginning of anger swell inside him, he sped down to the main floor.

He still heard the telltale sign of the doppelganger and Elijah in the sitting room but he decided against asking them about the blonde, after all his brother could probably begin to think that he somehow gave his curse a back thought 'as if' and well he'd rather not have that talk, he thought with an eye roll.

He'd rather set out on locating Caroline.

After all he does not like being fooled, no matter at how little a thing.

Out of all the places he thought he would find her in, this was the last one he expected.

Drenched in water, her cloak absolutely soaked, she was standing in front of one of the horses, stroking its neck and running her fingers through its mane, her face the perfect image of contentment.

He refrained from approaching her, preferring to observe the blonde as she coddled the mare instead. However it seemed she had other plans as her back suddenly tensed and her face head turned to the side shooting him an annoyed look as she spotted his figure.

"Are you serious?" she said exasperatedly "Can you not take a hint?"

"I believe I was promised something". He said, choosing not to answer her.

"Oh, really?" she asked mockingly, hands still petting the horse.

"I thought we had an agreement" He said, moving to stand beside her.

"Well I have no interest in making deals with the devil, no matter how small" replied Caroline "And don't even think of giving me this pained look as if I insulted you, it does not faze me in the slightest nor does it fit you".

He chuckled "I suppose it doesn't".

"I am not a game, you know" she said after a moment of silence and he shot her a curious look at her statement.

"Why would you think I consider you as such?"

"I have seen the way you look at me, like I am some sort of entertainment or a puzzle for you to solve. I am not either of those things" she answered, voice slightly raised toward the end.

He could almost laugh. This was the second time (or was it the third?) that she done this, surprised him yet again with her observations and well he was never the one to disregard such intelligence and Caroline seemed to have plenty.

His musing was cut short as the rattling of thunder and beams of lightning flashed, the pouring intensifying more if it was possible. They both headed inside with Klaus walking a few feet behind her watching her as she wrapped her cloak tighter around her for some warmth.

She had gotten a lot of things correctly but one thing she missed.

She wasn't a puzzle but she was a mystery.

One he'd be delighted to solve.

Hope you had a good time reading this. What do you think of Caroline and Klaus's "relationship"? Am I going too fast? or too slow? Are the characters wildly OOC or moderate enough that you recognize them? Was there a specific interaction you liked? Something you'd like to be explored? Anything else you want to point out.

Don't hesitate to tell me what you think, I love hearing your reviews.

XOXO, Me