Chapter 3

Caroline's mum had already left for work making it impossible to inquire into just how Klaus had managed to sweet talk his way into gaining access to the house. She tried not to think about how he could simply walk in at any given moment and time if he so desired and instead focused on a less terrifying thought, like how she was going to deal with seeing Tyler again.

Which she noticed wasn't any less scary then the first thought.

Inevitably she saw Tyler straight away through the crowd of high school students on her way to Mystic Falls High, head bowed and hands in pockets, walking in her direction. She was glad none of her other friends seemed to be in the vicinity yet to see this.

She had expected him to stop, get on his knees and beg for forgiveness for what he'd done –something, anything. So when Tyler walked past, as if he didn't even notice her presence at all, Caroline was a lot more than just pissed off.

She was Caroline Forbes. The confident, unpredictable and strong willed young vampire of Mystic Falls and she'll be damned if she allowed a boy to ignore her. She grabbed the back of his shirt and spun him back around ignoring the startled looks of the other teenagers.

"I will not be ignored by you Tyler. Especially considering what happened last night!" She hissed, still gripping the fabric of his shirt.

Tyler's face would have been commercial had the situation not been so serious and she waited patiently for him to struggle to make up his next words.

"Caroline I – Not here, we-"

"No Tyler, if we don't talk now then we never will." She paused, considering her next words that she knew would cause them both pain. "There is no 'we'. Not anymore."

Tyler's expression turned to ones she had seen many times on his face these past few weeks. Heartache. Regret. Confliction.

Before she had anytime to feel guilt about causing those emotions she quickly moved on, getting louder which each word, "You bit me Tyler. I was as good as dead. How could you, after everything you said? After," she forced the tears back, "you said you loved me."

"Did you hear that?" "He bit her?" "Lucky guy!" She heard voices murmur and saw students crowding around but paid no attention to them and their misunderstandings.

"I'm so sorry Caroline. I was so sure I could put you first, I-I didn't mean to," he broke eye contact and gazed off, as if remembering something painful, "Klaus was right." He softly whispered, making Caroline grateful for her enhanced hearing.

Before she had anytime to ask what Klaus was apparently right about and tell Tyler just what she thought about his master hybrid, he had already fled the scene leaving Caroline confused and angry.

Angry enough to make a decision she would probably look back on and regret.

Caroline Forbes was going to see Klaus and demand some answers.

Klaus was rarely surprised at people's actions these days. He was, after all, older than one thousand years old and all beings, whether human or supernatural, had all become dreadfully predictable.

Which is why when he heard than actually saw Caroline arrive at his doorstep, her high heels loudly snapping on the floor announcing her presence, Klaus was pleasantly surprised. He heard one of his hybrids, David if he recalled correctly, speak to her.

"Who are you?" The hybrid stood in front of the door protectively, narrowing his eyes at the new visitor.

"That doesn't matter." She replied snappily back, she didn't want to bother with Klaus's goonies that were probably so sired and compelled they may as well have been robots. "Where is Klaus?"

"Why do you want to see Klaus?" He asked suspiciously.

"To shout at him."

"And I wouldn't want to miss that, now would I?" A British accent drawled. Klaus was leaning against the door frame, looking like he had been there the whole time. Seeing him like this, with his wolfish grin and radiating confidence, made Caroline question if she had just dreamt their whole encounter up.

She wasn't sure how long they stood there staring at each other, or glaring in her case, before she blurted out, "I have questions."

"Hm. Yes I thought you might, love." He dismissed David with a flick of his hand. "But to come seek me out all alone without your little friends seems rather foolish."

At the mention of her friends Caroline immediately felt guilty. She had left to hunt down Klaus without even telling them. But she knew they wouldn't have approved of her decision and would have stopped her. She vowed that if she lived through this she would tell them everything.

"I'd say brave." Caroline argued back, wishing he would stop looking so amused.

"Sometimes it takes far more courage to run than it does to stay, Caroline." He said softly.

Caroline faltered as she was reminded of that same soft tone he had used on what could have been her deathbed.

"This isn't very polite of me. What kind of gentlemen leaves a pretty lady waiting?" Klaus smiled charmingly and began to walk back inside, "Please, follow me."

Before Caroline could go through the multiple reasons why she should run for it, she followed him wondering if she'd ever see the outside again. She also tried to squash the warm feeling she got from being called a 'pretty lady.'

He led her into what seemed like the main room, her mind racing as she observed every possible escape in case things turned ugly. Klaus watched her from the corner of his eye with a mischievous grin knowing exactly what she was thinking about.

"Be at ease Caroline. No harm will come to you here, I assure you." He told her and was further amused when she held herself taller at his statement, as if offended that she needed such a promise. Sitting himself into the armchair he looked at her expectantly.

"I'd rather stand." She said stiffly, and deciding she had spent enough time in the original's presence already she asked her first question, "What the hell did you do to Tyler?"

"I'd say I gave him a sense of purpose, freed him from that dreadful curse, helped him get rid of those nuisances he called friends," he stopped, taking in her annoyed expression, "You'll have to be more specific if you want the right answers, sweetheart."

Fine, two people can play at this game she thought angrily.

"Why is Tyler doing his best to ignore me, his girlfriend, when he would usually be begging for my forgiveness because of what he has done? Why did he run off before he could explain himself? Why does he seem to believe you, the sole reason for everything bad happening in this town, are 'right'?" In her rant she didn't even realise that she still called herself Tyler's girlfriend. "Is that specific enough for you?"

Having a range of sarcastic comments at the ready Klaus surprised himself when instead he simply stated, "You believe I forced him to act this way."

"There's no other explanation. Tyler would never have bitten me in the first place if it wasn't for you." Caroline spat out the 'you' with as much venom as she could.

"Well then, let me enlighten you." In a flash Klaus was less than a step away, invading her personal space before she had time to even blink, "I did not force Tyler to bite you nor to run and hide from you."

Caroline almost took a step back. Almost. This was only the second time she had been this close to him and Klaus was equally as intimidating as before. Except now she wasn't as weak she reminded herself. With this thought in mind she crossed her arms as if to say, bring it.

"I don't believe you."

"I'd be worried if you did." He replied unfazed, "However it's the truth. I may have….suggested the idea that he should bite you, I admit, but Tyler was annoyingly adamant against it. Obviously," he moved his gaze to where the bite had been, "this sire bond is a lot stronger than his love for you ever was."

She had moved; to do what she didn't know, attempt to rip him in shreds perhaps, before her mind could even warn her against the consequences of trying to take on an Original. Klaus had stopped her movements immediately by gripping her wrists, not enough to cause any bruises but enough to feel the warning of the damage he could cause to her easily.

"I've already assured your safety love, and I'd hate to go back on my word."

Klaus leaned even closer, so close she could see the different shades of colour in his eyes. "Now how about we try this again in a more civilized manner?"

Caroline nodded, not trusting her voice to be strong enough with him so close.

Satisfied with her response, or lack of one, he released his grip on her and stepped back studying her with a thoughtful expression. Seeming to come to a decision he moved back to his chair. "I see you won't believe me if I simply claim to not have done something, rather insulting as I regard honesty to be one of my best traits, but understandable in this case."

Klaus gestured to the empty seat in front of him. "Take a seat love, you'll be here for a while." He said casually as if he hadn't been the least bit threatening moments before.

Caroline didn't really think she had much of a choice in the matter anymore, but she came here for answers and she wasn't going to leave empty handed. Not when Tyler was involved. Determined, she moved over to the seat with as much confidence she could muster with the hybrids eyes following her movement.

"What did you do to Tyler?" She repeated.

"I wouldn't really say it's a matter of what I did, but what I said."

"What did you say then?" Caroline all but snarled, annoyed with his vague answers.

"The truth."