Author's note: Thank you much to everyone who is reading this story for the wonderful response and feedback. It's very much appreciated and I hope this next chapter is enjoyable. x

xxxx

Chapter Three

Speeding north out of the city, Klaus finally allowed his racing mind to slow down.

Ever since he'd come to this damn city, after hearing from his semi-estranged brother about Marcel's betrayal, his thoughts had been an angry whirlwind of revenge.

Marcel had been his protégé for years before they went their separate ways. The younger man's betrayal of siding with Mikael to bring him down had stung worse than it should have because Klaus prided himself on his lack of feelings.

However, he reassured himself that the source of his distress was simply because his pride was wounded, and not because he'd ever cared about the other man.

Anyway, the situation was fixed now.

Marcel was dead and soon he'd be nothing more than a rotting corpse and a forgotten memory. He wouldn't be able to conspire with Klaus' greatest nemesis ever again and Klaus was more than certain that none of Marcel's upstart minions would have the nerve to take on the infamous Niklaus Mikaelson, at least not if they wanted to live to tell the tale.

Now, however, he had another problem to deal with in the form of a stupidly brave and incredibly sassy little blonde.

He wasn't sure that he bought her story that she'd accidentally stumbled on his fight with Marcel. In his opinion it was much more likely that she was working for his father, Mikael.

Although, when he paused to think about the whole ludicrous situation logically, she didn't really seem like the kind of girl who would work for the older man.

While Mikael did have a number of women in his employment, they were generally ruthless and cold, jaded by life with a dead look that clouded their eyes.

Caroline Forbes seemed the opposite.

She seemed beautifully vivacious, even in the face of fear.

That came as a shock to him, being so used to spending time battling against people who'd had the life sucked out of them.

It was actually pretty…refreshing.

Not that he'd ever admit such a thing out loud.

He wasn't really sure why he'd kept her alive instead of just shooting her on the spot. Of course, he told himself that it was because it needed to question her, to ensure that she really wasn't one of Mikael's agents or to get information from her if she proved to be some kind of spy.

But something else niggled at him.

When their eyes had met, he'd felt a spark of emotion that he'd thought was long dead reignite within the pits of his soul. It was disconcerting to say the least and all of his senses had screamed at him to kill her.

But he hadn't.

He just…couldn't.

He might bombard himself with a maelstrom of lies and excuses as to why she was still alive but the raw truth was that he just couldn't justify denying the world such a stunning little creature as Caroline Forbes.

And now he'd gone and picked up this little traveling companion that he had no idea how to deal with.

Well at least she was in the trunk for now, so out of sight, out of mind.

Except, if that was true, why did he keep on thinking about her?

"Bloody fuck!" he roared to himself, repeatedly banging his fist down against the wheel. "What the bloody hell have you gotten yourself into, Mikaelson?"

It had been a long time since he'd had anyone on the road with him. Once upon a time his siblings had stuck by him, promising to support him always and forever, but eventually he drove them away.

No matter how many times they proved their loyalty to him, Klaus was crippled by his paranoia.

His constant accusations and threats against them, especially after a particularly nasty incident with one of his older brother's whores, had eaten away at their relationships until there was nothing left but gristle and bone. Finally they scattered across the globe, unable to contend with the constant recriminations that he threw in their directions.

Only one of his siblings even bothered to keep in loose contact, alerting him to any dangers and to Mikael's whereabouts when he knew them.

But that didn't redeem any of them in Klaus' eyes.

They'd wanted to be free from him and they got their wishes.

Everyone abandoned him in the end.

So, he'd gotten used to being alone.

And that was how it always would be.

After several hours of allowing himself to ruminate in his quagmire of depressing memories as he headed upstate, he finally pulled in to the parking lot of a small motel. It was a seedy looking place just off of the highway, but it would do for a night or two.

He shut off the engine with a sigh and leaned his head against the cool steering wheel for a moment, allowing his thoughts to settle.

He didn't really want to deal with the petite blonde right now but he couldn't leave her locked in the trunk all night. He knew that people had to be fed and watered, and women especially preferred fancy food, although he preferred to live on a meager diet himself.

A sparse diet and few hours of sleep a day kept him alert and on edge, knowing that one slip up could kill him.

Heaving another sigh, and he seemed to be sighing a lot today, he slipped out of the car, slamming the door with a little extra satisfying vigor.

Klaus headed into the small reception area, barely paying attention to the overly friendly middle aged female manager who took flirting to a whole new level of disturbing, flashing him a hint of saggy cleavage and a leering smile. He paid her no attention, much to her chagrin, and it only took a moment to secure the motel room under a false name, all paid in cash of course.

Room key in hand, he walked back to the car as slowly as he could, dreading having to face off with the pretty girl who'd haunted his thoughts for almost the entire journey.

Opening the trunk, Klaus frowned when he saw the small coiled figure inside, her arms wrapped tightly around her own torso in a protective embrace. Something akin to guilt stirred in his belly as he saw Caroline looking so vulnerable. It was a far cry from the strong woman who'd challenged him in the streets of New York, standing up to most of his threats even though she'd known he could easily kill her.

As the dim light of the streetlamps poured in, Caroline squinted, her face hardening when she saw Klaus towering over her.

Lying in the small dark space she'd had several hours to think and had rapidly come to the conclusion that Klaus pretty much equated to the devil and she loathed him.

She'd also resigned herself to death while deeply lamenting the fact she'd never own that precious pair of Louboutins that she'd dearly wanted.

"Come to finish the job?" she asked snidely.

Klaus didn't respond to her, preferring to stare down at the young blonde with eyes of steel, running a hand through his short auburn curls. He truly wasn't sure what he planned to do with her. Usually he stayed several steps ahead of everything, always having a contingency plan but this girl was proving to be a complication he could never have foreseen.

She was a wild card, and that didn't sit well with him.

Whimpering at his refusal to answer and the harsh look in his eyes, Caroline voiced her question again. "Are you going to kill me now?"

He cleared his throat, dragging his thoughts back to the present. "After I brought you all the way here instead of shooting you where you stood on the street? Do you really think that low of me?"

If she hadn't known better, Caroline might have thought his tone was genuinely offended, but she wasn't that dumb.

She didn't pause before spitting out her reply. "Yes."

Her hostility was the only disguise for the terror that was roiling inside. Her gut felt like it was being run through a perpetually churning blender.

Unaware of her inner conflict, Klaus groaned that she didn't have the sense to cower at his feet like most other people did.

Yet perversely, he enjoyed that about her.

"Come on, just get out," he ordered her, showing her another glimpse of the gun that hung from his belt.

Ignoring his proffered hand, she reluctantly complied, wincing in pain as she stretched her stiff muscles and rolled out the ache in her shoulders. As she readjusted to her surroundings, Caroline narrowed her eyes, spinning on Klaus with a huff.

"Where are we, Klaus?"

He startled at the sound of his name rolling from her lips. "You know my name?" he asked suspiciously.

"It's what I heard the guy in the alley call you. You know, before you blew his brains out."

Klaus tensed.

This young woman possessed a sharp tongue that snapped like a whip. "Yes, Marcel got his brains blown out because he stabbed me in the back, figuratively speaking of course. And he did have a penchant for annoying me. He got what he deserved."

"I doubt that he deserved to die," she hissed brashly. "But whatever, I'm not gonna stand here in the dark in some creepy ass parking lot and debate the value of life with a sociopath. Just tell me where we are."

"You don't need to know," he responded simply, remaining externally impassive at her jibes. "All that's important is that I've had enough driving for the night and we're far enough out of the city to be away from…"

"From…?" she prompted when Klaus trailed off.

He waved a dismissive hand. "Nothing," he snapped. "You don't need to know."

Caroline felt like childishly stomping her foot.

She hated being in the dark about anything. She vividly remembered Tyler calling her a "neurotic control freak" one time during a fight and although the comment had enraged her, it wasn't too far from the truth.

Knowing that Klaus held all the power right now was killing her.

"Okay, well how about you spill some things that I do need to know. Like why the hell am I here? Why didn't you just kill me? And, oh yeah, who's this Mikael you kept ranting on about before you so gently stuffed me in the trunk of your car like a piece of unwanted luggage?" she asked curiously.

His eyes frosted over before he spun away from her, roughly grabbing her wrist as he led her toward the motel.

However, she was sure she'd seen a smirk flicker over his lips before he answered.

"You don't need to know."

Caroline hissed but let him lead her through the parking lot, making a silent vow to extract some answers from this man, even if it killed her.

Unfortunately, in these circumstances, it just might do that.

xxxx

As they entered the motel room Caroline wrinkled her nose. The sour, musty smell of the room enveloped her senses and she really didn't want to imagine the kind of people who came to places like this grungy motel.

There wasn't much to see in the cramped room, just the basics of a bed, a large chair that looked like it had seen better days, and a lamp on a chipped wooden table. However, even with its sparse furnishings and pungent odor, the room was still better than the company with which she was being forced to share it.

She just hoped Klaus didn't expect her to sleep next to him on the bed.

She firmly told herself that she'd rather die from lack of sleep than rest anywhere near him.

Klaus sauntered into the room as if he was king of the world, tossing a small bag down on the ground on the far side of the bed. Caroline, however, preferred to lean against the closed wooden door, putting as much space between her and Klaus as she could.

The young woman figured he'd probably hurl another torrent of accusations at her now that they were safely ensconced in the privacy of the motel room but she dearly hoped he wouldn't resort to torture. Still, she hoped to delay the inevitable questions for as long as she could.

"Is there a reason why you're loitering in the doorway?" he asked with mild amusement, skulking over to her and pulling her farther inside.

She shook her head, unresisting as he led her over to the sole chair, looming over her like a sinister specter. While she battled her fear she also steadfastly tried to ignore his deep earthy, manly scent that filled her senses, overpowering the room's stagnant smell.

A murderer definitely shouldn't smell that good.

"So," he started conversationally, even though the levity in his voice concealed a harsh undertone. "Tell me the truth about what happened today. I can torture it out of you, but if you're honest with me, then I won't hurt you, for now. And don't forget, I can tell when people lie to me and I don't take kindly to it."

Caroline sighed, leaning forward to rest her elbows on her knees as she sat on the uncomfortable, threadbare armchair. She tilted her head up to meet his probing azure gaze. "I got lost and I heard shouting. I saw you…hurt that guy in the alley and then you saw me and threatened me with fates worse than death. I'm pretty sure you know what happened after that."

"You really got lost?" he asked, slightly less skeptically than before.

"Yes!" she huffed in exasperation.

Klaus pursed his lips and studied her closely. He was being honest when he told her that he could sense people's lies, easily detecting deceit from their body language. Caroline was open though with no hint of deception in her posture.

"And you're not working for my father?"

"God, no!"

"Why should I believe you?" he demanded, starting to pace nervously, his hands clasped behind his back. "It's not like there's not more than one bounty on my pretty head."

"You're clearly not familiar with this little thing called the truth, but I am. And I'm telling you the truth right now. I'm not out to get you, Klaus, so dial back the paranoia."

He scowled at her, not bothering to mention that his paranoia had kept him alive longer than it should have. His steps halted and suddenly he was in front of her again, hands braced on either side of her slim body. Klaus' face was so close that their noses were almost brushing, his peppermint breath caressing her cheeks.

"If you are lying to me, you wouldn't admit it though, would you?"

Caroline's irritation peaked at his words.

"Okay, clearly you have some serious trust issues with your dad and pretty much everyone. But I don't know your father, I don't know that Mikael guy you keep talking about, I didn't know the poor guy who got his head blown off in the alley, and I don't know you. And honestly, I don't want to."

Klaus blinked, putting some distance between them. An unfamiliar pang of hurt gnawed at his heart when he heard her categorical declaration that she didn't want to know him.

Of course she wouldn't want to know him, he reminded himself.

The princess never rode off into the sunset with the villain.

Not that he wanted to ride off anywhere with Caroline.

She was nothing to him, he silently reminded himself.

Pushing away any semblance of emotion, he nodded. If she didn't even know that his father and Mikael were one and the same person then she probably really was just collateral damage, finding herself in the wrong place at the wrong time.

If he'd been capable of sympathy, he might have actually felt it for this young woman.

But still no matter what logic dictated, his ever present paranoia urged him not to trust her implicitly though, reminding him that she could be double bluffing. However, for the moment he could assume she was telling the truth and see how things played out.

After all, she wasn't bad to look at.

Klaus might not have had too much free time to indulge himself with women but he wasn't a monk.

And he definitely wasn't a saint.

"Okay, I'll buy your story for now," he conceded slowly, shocked that he actually found himself wanting to believe her innocence. "But if I find out you're lying…"

He didn't need to finish the threat, assuming her imagination would be a much more powerful tool of fear. She'd already seen some of what he was capable of and she suspected he could do so much worse.

"Fine, whatever!" she said coolly, pretending to be unaffected by the threats he lorded over her. "Can I go now?"

Klaus recoiled in surprise that she thought he'd actually just let her leave, sarcastic laughter bubbling from his lips.

"I don't think so, love," he smirked. "Maybe you're not involved with my dear old dad, but you still witnessed a murder committed by yours truly. You don't seem like the type to keep something like that to yourself. I'll be keeping you with me for the time being."

"What?" she shrieked. "You can't do that! You do know kidnapping is a crime?"

"Is it really? Yes, you may in fact be correct," he drawled sarcastically. "How terrible! A law abiding citizen such as myself would never consider doing such a horrific thing!"

Caroline huffed. "I have a life out there in the real world. I have hopes and dreams and plans, none of which involve spending the rest of my life chained to you."

"Hey! It's not like I have it so easy, you know!"

She snorted in amusement at the ridiculous assertion. "Oh yeah, it must be so hard being you."

A small pout formed on his lips. "It's not exactly been a picnic."

Tossing him an eye roll, she shook her head. "Right, all that money you spend on laundry detergent to get the blood out of your clothes must be a total bitch."

"I know hardship better than anyone, especially better than a silver spooned princess."

"Is that why you kidnap innocent women? To deal with your hardships?"

"I can't say I make a habit of it, love. But you did get yourself into this hot water, don't forget. If you hadn't been trying out a new career as a Peeping Tom, I wouldn't have had to kidnap you in the first place."

"Oh! So this is my fault?"

"If the pom poms fit..." he smirked.

He couldn't be sure this fiery blonde had been a cheerleader but the indignation on her face at his comment confirmed the suspicion that she had.

And he was definitely not going to picture her in the uniform.

That wouldn't end well for his self control.

Scowling at him she huffed. "I know where I'd like to shove my pom poms," she muttered.

"And I know where I'd like to shove mine," he laughed, enjoying baiting her. "Although pulling out that stick to make a bit of room might take some work first."

Before she could muster a response he was strolling away toward the bathroom, leaving a fuming Caroline in his wake.

"By the way," he tossed over his shoulder before shutting the door. "If you try and make a run for it while I'm in the loo, I'll track you down and make a nice Caroline shaped rug out of you. Okay?"

Caroline winced as the bathroom door slammed behind him, clenching her fists so tightly that her nails drew blood from her soft palms.

She was so over his damn threats.

She had absolutely no idea where in the world they were, although it felt like she'd stumbled into the seventh circle of hell. She didn't doubt it was someplace far away from any kind of transport links that would make an escape easy. But that didn't mean she was just going to idly sit around and wait for fate to whittle out her path.

No, now might be her only chance to get away from him.

Glancing down at her bare feet, she silently cursed her shoes for breaking, not that she'd have been able to run in heels anyway. But barefoot or not she was going to make a break for it.

It really was now or never.

Casting one final look at the closed bathroom door, she ran to the external door and bolted through it, prepared to take her chances with whatever destiny had in store for her.

xxxx

Rinsing his hands, Klaus blinked at his reflection in the dimly lit mirror.

He barely recognized the man who stared back at him.

He could still vaguely remember the boy he'd once been, even if it was a distant memory. He'd been loving, vulnerable, caring. He definitely hadn't been the type of person who would kidnap and threaten a seemingly innocent young woman.

Especially when that woman was so full of light.

It radiated from her, even in the shadow of his own darkness, as he questioned her. Not being a trusting person, almost anyone else would have gotten a bullet to the brain by now, but something about Caroline Forbes stilled his trigger finger.

Usually he hated when anyone tried to stand up to him. He liked to feel powerful, in control, omnipotent even. But Caroline cut through all of that, her sharp words and glares striking right through to the boy he used to be, the boy who'd wanted to be worth something in the eyes of others.

The boy he'd thought was long dead.

She was getting under his skin but he wasn't sure that was a good thing at all. In fact it was probably the worst possible thing for the both of them.

Yet, despite being secure in that knowledge, his mind wouldn't stop drifting back to the softness of her skin, the arch of her neck, the gentle curve of her hips. Blonde hair and blue eyes danced ceaselessly in his mind and he cursed her for coming into his life when he didn't need that kind of distraction.

He didn't need to feel an attraction to someone he could never have.

Gritting his teeth at the turn his thoughts had taken, he roared out his frustration, his fist smashing into the mirror, violently shattering it. Tiny shards of glass rained down into the sink, giving him a frisson of satisfaction.

Even the smear of blood on his fist felt good.

He wasn't sure why destroying things made him feel better, but nonetheless it never failed to have that effect.

Klaus shut off the faucet and leaned his hands against the sides of the skin to compose himself after his outburst of rage. Taking a breath, he exited the bathroom, preparing to engage in another battle of wills with the belligerent Miss Forbes.

However, as he stepped back into the main body of the motel room Klaus' heart thumped harder in his chest when he immediately realized the room was empty.

She was gone, only the sweet scent of her perfume lingering behind.

His eyes shot to the door which was swinging open on its hinges, creaking sharply in the breeze.

She'd escaped.