Edited by the lovely myladyelise
Re-edited August 2015
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Caroline slammed her calculus textbook shut. No matter how hard she tried she couldn't focus on the equations. It wasn't due to the mediocre rock tribute band currently massacring eighties classics or the raucous laughter of a group of teen girls trying to hook up with a pack of older college guys. It wasn't even her proximity to the siren call of numerous hearts all rhythmically pumping blood. For some reason she was uneasy and the simple things that usually gave her joy now left her feeling empty.
This restlessness resulted in her being extra irritable; she even snapped at Elena today. Heaven knows the girl was suffering enough and the last thing she needed was Caroline's sharp tongue. This evening was supposed to be about time to herself, a chance to catch up on the overwhelming amount of homework she had. She probably should have stayed home, but with her mom working another night shift, the empty silence grated on her nerves.
"Seriously?" she huffed to herself.
Caroline might as well accept she wasn't going to get anything done. Gathering her books and papers into her bag, she stopped to run her hands over her short blue skirt. Throwing her bag over her shoulder, she headed towards the door, her gaze connected briefly with Matt's. She gave him a small nod and he offered a pained smile while he collected dirty dishes from one of the many leather booths. Although things were not nearly as awkward as they used to be between them, she still worried that the slightest misstep on her part would cause him to yank away the tentative friendship they built. She liked to think that it wouldn't bother her and that he would be the one missing out, but she knew differently. Losing him would be like saying goodbye to another piece of her humanity.
Outside she let the cool night air wash over her and attempted to clear her mind. It was useless. Walking towards her car, she smiled at the barely audible moans and fevered breaths of several couples making out in their cars. None of them must be lucky enough to have parents that worked nights. The sounds made her miss Tyler. Before the whole Sire bond thing they were so perfect together, like a fairytale - something from out of one of those lurid, paranormal, romance paperbacks that she frequently saw members of her cheerleading squad reading. When the girls had sighed over the Romeo and Juliet plotlines of mystical creatures falling for humans, she hadn't known whether to laugh or cry. If only they knew the truth, the vampires and werewolves that walked among them.
The lamp from the streetlight above her flickered and she pulled her keys from her bag. Inserting her car key into the lock on her car, she stilled. Someone was behind her. Twirling around, she held her key aloft in one hand like a weapon, poised to attack.
"You do realize you're a vampire," drawled the voice in front of her. "What are you going to do? Key your attacker to death?"
Caroline was momentarily stunned at Klaus's presence. Speechless, her gaze swept over him, taking in his low-slung dark, denim jeans and open necked linen-colored cotton henley. Fixing her eyes on his chiseled face, she tried to read his mood, but it was like trying to read a blank slate. While a smirk played at his lips, his eyes were as dark and unfathomable as the night sky. Was he here to kill her?
Fear pooled low in her belly and she was forced to clench her hands to stop the trembling in her fingers. Forcing a bravado she didn't feel, she spoke up, "Unlike you, I don't like killing. Besides, I don't want to reveal to everyone in the parking lot that…" she paused, lowering her voice, to a murmur, "I'm a vampire."
Klaus's eyes narrowed. "Do you really detest your true nature?"
"What do you want, Klaus?" Caroline asked, warily avoiding the dangerous topic. She wasn't about to risk her life baring her soul on a subject that she had so many mixed feelings about. If she couldn't even talk to Elena and Bonnie about it she certainly wasn't going to discuss it with Klaus.
"Walk with me, love."
He didn't even bother to couch his words as a request. Caroline knew she shouldn't disobey, but she was tired and the last thing she wanted was to be alone with him after her part in Kol's daggering. "If only I could, but I need to get home. My mom is expecting me." To pacify him, she offered what she hoped was an innocent and sweet smile.
"I do believe your mother is quite occupied right now. Sadly, there seems to have been a killing over on Main Street. Such a young and pretty thing she was too. All dressed in one of those cheer costumes Rebekah wears."
Caroline slumped against her car door. She didn't even want to guess which one of her squad had been his treat tonight. "You didn't need to go to such lengths to speak to me."
"But it seems I did, lovely Caroline," he said softly.
Klaus took a step forward, leaning in close to her ear as if to whisper like a lover and she pressed her back tightly against her car. She tried to move as far away from him as she could. Except, she was pinned in and at his mercy. With gentleness, to her surprise he gently tucked her hair behind her ear. His hot breath shimmered over the sensitive skin of her neck and she shivered. From fear or pleasure she didn't know. His fingertips trailed from her ear to skim the curve of her neck and she could hardly move, barely breathe. Swallowing hard, she tried to ignore the luxurious sensations curling up from her toes and sparking like electricity through her body. He was taking advantage of her, using his power over her. That could be the only explanation for her reaction. The neck was one of the more sensitive spots on a vampire and as much as it disgusted her she was not immune to such eroticism.
"Please don't," she breathed, her eyelids slowly fluttering. "Don't compel me like this."
He pulled away, only to stare deeply into her eyes. Unable to look away, she felt trapped in his gaze. Lost in the amber flecks of his deep blue eyes she glimpsed raw desire and for a slight moment a flicker of what looked like hope.
"There is no compulsion."
Caroline shoved him away, not even fearing that she had laid hands on the hybrid. "Of course you're compelling me. Why else would I feel this way?"
Klaus smiled, his white teeth glinting in the moonlight. "What way?"
"You know," she accused. "All tingly and —," she stopped abruptly, realizing she was about to say horny. He must have used some kind of magic on her. There was no other reason to explain why she had this horrible urge to kiss him, to run her palms over his muscular chest.
He laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners and he looked so little like the big, bad vampire trying to destroy her friends that she almost caught herself smiling back.
"About that walk, love?"
"Do we have to?" Caroline knew she tempted fate by being obstinate, but she had never been the type of girl to give in meekly. Especially, when commanded by a thousand year old murderous vampire. "I'm really not in the mood to play games. So, if you mean to kill me for my part in the whole daggering thing do it now."
"In front of all these innocents you try so hard to protect?" he mocked.
Caroline sheepishly looked around the parking lot, realizing she forgot the very public audience they had. "You know, they don't exist just to be vamp food. No one deserves the fate of serving as an unwilling meal."
At the bitterness in her tone, Klaus grabbed her wrist in a blur of movement. At his tight grip, Caroline could feel bruises already blooming over her delicate skin. She hadn't thought a vampire could move so fast.
"Who has fed on you?" Klaus snarled.
"What are you doing?" Caroline struggled against his hold, but his hand on her was like steel. "Let me go!"
Klaus yanked her towards him and she fell against his chest. "Tell me and I will."
She was so close to him she could smell the cologne he wore, an intoxicating scent of sandalwood that mingled with his natural smell. Her cheek lay against his muscular chest and looking up at him, she realized in shock that his fangs were fully extended. The fierce look on his face, the blazing yellow of his eyes convinced her that she needed to tread carefully. Klaus was not acting rationally. Fear prickled under her skin at what he might do if she told the truth.
"It was no one," she said, her voice shaking. When he said nothing, Caroline knew her answer hadn't even come close to placating him. She shifted in his arms, but his grasp held strong. Finally, she lowered her head letting her hair fall over her face. She didn't want him to guess she told a falsehood by the look in her eyes. "It was… it was a vampire passing through town."
"You lie."
Caroline was silent. Lying never came easy to her.
Klaus tightened his grip on her wrist and she feared the bones might snap. "Tell me or I swear, I will compel you to tell me."
Blood rushed from her head, her vision blackening.. It was her worst fear come to life. She would willingly face her own death rather than suffer compulsion again. "Please, don't do this."
"Just tell me the truth, love, and it will all be over," he crooned.
It was a point of no return for her. She would never allow herself to be compelled again, even if it meant betraying the vampire that somehow wormed his way into Elena's heart.
"Damon…it was Damon."
Klaus growled and the primal, animalistic sound struck fear into her heart.
"I will make him pay for what he has done to you. He won't see another sunrise."
"Don't kill him."
"Why, Caroline? Have you forgiven his treatment of you?"
She hesitated before answering, afraid of the effect her words might have. She wasn't about to lie to him. The situation was dangerous enough without her playing with fire. "Yes and no."
"What does that even mean?" He asked, his confusion returning his eyes to normal.
"Well, while I can't completely forgive him yet for what he put me through, I can accept that he is not exactly the vampire he used to be. He has changed, is changing into someone I can respect. Because of that I can kind of forgive him. Like he has a 60 percent forgiveness score at this point, but if he saves Elena a few more times and learns to play better with others he has the possibility to earn more percentage points. I like to think of him as game in progress."
Cocking his head to one side, Klaus studied her intently, a smile playing at his lips. "That makes no sense."
"Sure it does. Think of it like a football game. See—" Caroline opened her mouth to further explain, but the amusement she saw twinkling in the Klaus's eyes stopped her. "Fine. I give up. It makes no sense."
"To the contrary. It makes perfect, adorable Caroline sense. My favorite kind."
Caroline felt a funny, swelling sensation in her chest at his teasing and affectionate words. She was used to people making fun off and looking down at her silliness, not making her feel special because of it. Even as sweet as Klaus's comment was, she couldn't forget his earlier threat and she wouldn't drop the subject of Damon until she had her way. "Please, leave Damon alone."
Klaus ignored her. Instead he seemed entirely focused on her hand. Raising her wrist to the moonlight he peered at it. "Forgive me, Love. I forget my own strength where you are concerned," he said, his voice gentle. "I didn't mean to hurt you."
Klaus lifted her wrist to mouth and slid his lips over the delicate skin, pressing a reverent kiss to the flesh and she almost gasped. She didn't know how to handle this new Klaus. This hybrid, who could be so tender with her, so sweet, but at the same time capable of such destruction and violence. Could it be an act? A way to worm himself in closer to her group and ferret out their plans? If that was the case, why such an elaborate charade to gain her trust and affection? Why not just torture her and force her to inform on her friends?
Her thoughts were instantly shoved to the background at the touch of his hot mouth on her skin. Tingling again from head to toe, heat flashed in her blood. When his lips lingered over the now non-existent bruises, it took all of her will power to ignore the fire that he so skillfully awakened deep within herself. "I mean it. Don't hurt Damon," she practically whimpered.
Klaus fixed his gaze on her and released her wrist.
Sighing in relief, Caroline moved away from him. Looking at her wrist, she realized the bruises were already gone. A vampire benefit she enjoyed.
"What is it worth to you?"
Caroline frowned. "Don't get any funny ideas. Sex is completely out of the question."
Klaus chuckled, his eyes dancing. "How interesting that you immediately jump to such a salacious thought. What a dirty mind you have."
"I—I do not." Was she blushing? Her face was so hot. Vampires didn't blush, did they? "What is it that you want for your word to leave Damon alone?"
"Hmmm. What is it that I want from you?" Klaus tapped his chin thoughtfully.
"Within reason," She was quick to add.
Holding out his arm, Klaus reached for her red leather bag. "Let's take that walk shall we?"
Caroline grasped her schoolbag, attempting to pull it away. "What are you doing?
"Being the gentleman," Klaus said with aplomb. "Isn't it customary for a young man to carry his paramour's schoolbooks."
"You're going to carry my books?" Caroline's eyes widened with disbelief.
Klaus tugged the bag away from her, easily lifting it over his shoulder. "Of course, since according to my limited knowledge of high school courting practices it appears to be the modern way to woo the girl one fancies. I am nothing if not modern."
Caroline shook her head with silent laughter at the sight of Klaus carrying her schoolbag. She couldn't believe the most evil vampire that ever existed carried her schoolbooks for her. The idea was just so insane she had to fight back the laughter bubbling up inside her.
"Fine, I will walk with you for a bit, but only because we need to come to some agreement about Damon."
Offering Caroline an annoyed smile, Klaus waited for Caroline to choose the path they were to take before speaking up, "If it weren't for the debt you are about to owe me I would gladly kill him so I would never have to hear his name again."
"Well, you are going to hear his name repeatedly until we come to some kind of terms. And just what kind of debt are we talking about," Caroline asked, her voice tight with suspicion. Taking several steps, she headed to the right towards the outskirts of town. Heaven knows she didn't want to run into any of her friends or even any potential snack prospects.
"It is something very simple, really. Something that is already owed me and long overdue."
"And what could that possibly be? I don't recall asking you to heal me from Tyler's bite. Just because you saved my life doesn't mean that I am going to kiss your hand and throw myself at you," Caroline scoffed.
"Obviously," Klaus remarked dryly. "Still you owe me something."
Caroline stopped midstride, opening her mouth to speak. Klaus held up his hand, effectively cutting her off.
"Not for the bite. I hold the blame for that. Your betrayal the other night, that is another matter. I am, however, willing to overlook it this one time. I could hardly have expected different from someone as loyal to her friends as you are."
Pacified, at least for the moment, Caroline continued walking. They were now on the sidewalk of a quiet residential street and she was happy to note that the inhabitants of the neighborhood all seemed tucked up in their beds. "So I am not saying I owe you anything…but if I do, why do I owe you?"
"You owe me for repeatedly denying me. Against every inclination in my being, I have been everything that a gentleman should be towards you and all you do is shut me out. You refuse to even give me a fair chance."
It was the sound of the hurt little boy bleeding through his words that uncomfortably poked at Caroline. How was it he could be such an evil vampire and still human at the same time? Plus, he made her sound perfectly horrible. Which made her feel terrible. What kind of person was she? It was true. He had been kind and sweet with his gift and his wishing to offer her the world and she had shut him out. Truly, if it was anyone other than Klaus doing those things the outcome would have been so very different. No one ever made such romantic gestures towards her.
She hadn't even realized she stopped walking until he was standing right in front of her, his beautiful eyes fixed right on hers.
"Give me that chance, Caroline. A date. Some time alone with you."
Her eyelids drifted shut. She couldn't bear to look at the hope and the eagerness reflected back at her. How could she say yes to him? He was still using her best friend as his blood bag to create an army. She didn't even want to think about the atrocities he still committed without thought or remorse. Then, there were the dark, wild feelings that he aroused in her. Feelings that should forever stay buried. No, she could never grant him that chance.
"I can't."
Klaus growled, wildly running a hand through his hair. "You would offer Damon some ridiculous sixty percent chance forgiveness, but not even bother to spend a single evening in my company. "
"It isn't like that," Caroline cried out in alarm as Klaus grasped her shoulders with cruel fingers, pulling her in close.
He lowered his forehead to hers. "By your choice, Damon will never know a minute of peace for the rest of his god forsaken life. Do you have any idea how much torture it takes to drive a vampire mad? I won't even give him that respite."
The deadly softness of his threat swirling in the air between them made Caroline want to weep in despair. She was about to damn Damon to a life in hell and forever destroy her friendship with Elena all because she was afraid. Without allowing herself time to think about the choice she was about to make, she reached out with a shaky hand to touch his stubbled cheek. At her action, the tension that was so tightly coiled like a spring within Klaus slowly relaxed. He leaned into the caress, a wild beast comforted by a single caring touch.
"Caroline," he murmured.
Tears came to her eyes when realized what she was about to do. Whether due to her desire to save Damon or her own recognition of her darkest wish she didn't know.
"Give me the chance to know you," Caroline begged.
"Three dates, Love. You are mine for three nights."
"One. You said one," Caroline countered, her hand immediately returning to her side. Three dates was enough that anything could happen. Anything.
Klaus pulled away from her with an air of triumph. "That was before you decided to try my patience. Now, I think it only fair you owe me three."
"But—"
"Shall we make that four," Klaus interrupted.
"No," Caroline said crossly. "I will have three dates with you. It return you must promise not to hurt Damon or participate in any plotting those days that would hurt my friends."
"Making demands already of your beau? How very cunning of you."
Caroline wanted to retort that beau was so last century, but the thought of hearing the word boyfriend falling from Klaus's lips was enough to make her shudder. "Well, it is only fair now that I owe you three dates."
Klaus considered the matter and Caroline completely expected him to refuse. He smirked in agreement at the concession. "Shall we kiss on it, then?"
Letting out a long suffering sigh, Caroline instead held out her hand for them to shake on it.
He chuckled and rather than shaking her hand he drew it once again to his lips. This time instead of kissing the back of her hand, he turned it palm up. Then with a veiled look in her direction he leaned in to kiss the tender tissue at the heart of the inside of her hand. She never thought or even considered the palm to be an erogenous zone, but as his hot breath feathered over the taunt skin, she reconsidered. A shudder ran through her at little tongues of fire dancing all over her skin. She waited with breathless anticipation for his lips to at last touch her now-burning flesh. He waited until she was lightheaded and on the verge of swooning before at last pressing his lips to her palm. The sudden relief of this highly wished-for simple touch was almost too much to bear. At the dizzying pleasure of it, she almost threw herself into his arms.
"What is it you do to me?" Caroline whispered as he released her hand.
Klaus merely smiled. Rather than reassure, it frightened her right to her core. Such power could only corrupt her.
"Let me walk back you back to your car."
She awoke from her daze, the world spinning off its axis. Tonight she took a path she never dreamed possible. She could only hope she hadn't forever damned herself with her choice.
They walked back to the car quietly, Caroline very aware of the new swagger in Klaus's walk. He hadn't compelled her for which she was thankful for even as she shot daggers at him for his manipulations. Arriving at her vehicle, she was too tired to even comment about how he held the car door for her as she climbed into her car.
"Tomorrow. 8:00." His voice sound much too happy for an evil vampire.
"8:00," Caroline conceded with a deep sense of foreboding.
"Love?"
"What is it now?" She snapped. She didn't even care that she sounded the absolute shrew. She was beyond exhausted and worried if she spent another minute in Klaus's company she would lose it completely.
"Don't worry. Your cheerleaders are safe from me. I didn't kill anyone this evening." With those shocking last words he carefully shut the car door.
Tears of relief pricked her eyes, relief swelling in her chest. She turned her key to start the engine. There would be no funeral for her attend and no lies to be told to grieving parents. He granted her an unexpected reprieve and she was grateful. Only it wasn't enough to keep her from regretting the bargain she made. When she pulled out of the parking lot she stared in the rear-view mirror at him, until he was a speck in the background. If only she could keep him at this distance forever. Deep in her heart, she knew he would never allow it.