What not to say

Charlotte awoke with a jolt, she had dreamt of dark golden eyes staring at her, sharp teeth barred with blood dripping from the corners of his mouth. She sat up in her bed and wiped her forehead, she noticed she had been sweating. Her eyes blinked rapidly, as she tried to adjust to the darkness. Glancing out the window she noticed it was nearly a full moon. She laid back down to try and continue with her restless sleep, but sleep would not overcome her, she resigned herself to the fact that she was now one hundred percent awake.

Maybe I should sneak about the house, who knows how long I'm going to be here, I may as well make the most of it. She thought. Everyone must be asleep, and this is perhaps the only chance I'll have to explore before Klaus gets to me and makes me tell him everything I know.

Charlotte rose from her bed and quietly got dressed, she snuck out of her room and descended the stairs, as she walk toward, what she could only assume was the sitting room, she noticed a faint light flickering, as she got closer she could see the dying embers of a fire, situated in an ornate fire place. That's when she froze. Klaus was sitting in a brown leather sofa chair, staring into the last of the fires light.

He turned his head slightly, and spoke softly. "I do believe in the midst of all the chaos you've thrown yourself into, we forgot the formalities" he gestured toward the chair facing him. Charlotte hesitantly sat opposite him and glanced around the room, anywhere but into his eyes. She had seen those beautiful blue eyes a million times, but nothing compared to seeing them in the flesh, seeing them stare straight into her from only mere metres away. He continued "I am Niklaus Mikealson, and you are charlotte?"

"Charlotte Shepherd" she responded quickly.

"Are you a witch?" he asked. The question caught her off guard; she opened her mouth to reply, but closed it quickly. A witch, why on earth would he think I'm a witch, I'm obviously powerless against him. Could he possible see me as a threat? As if he had read her mind he continued, "The way you appeared and disappeared the other night. The way you appeared yesterday morning. How you cannot be compelled" with the last few words he said staring straight at her, while she starred straight back. "I assume it's some sort of witchcraft" he finished as he went back to sipping on his half empty glass of whisky.

"I'm not a witch." Was all she managed to say? It seemed as though Klaus had other things on his mind, he didn't seem too eager in his interrogation of the young intruder.

Wow, he seems to be taking it well that I'm not giving up any of my secrets. Why and what could keep him so pre-occupied. She thought

Again, as if he were reading her mind he answered her internal chatter.

"We are having a ball tomorrow night, you are welcome to join, and I do believe my brother Elijah has yet to acquire a date. Perhaps he will uncover your secrets… so we can be rid of you". He stared into the fire as he said all this, he was saying the words, but it was like he was a million miles away.

OMG! The Mikealson's ball, that's when I am, Elena's not even nearly a vampire, they haven't even started looking for the cure, the others don't even know about the cure. That must be why Klaus is keeping my alive. And that the only way to get information from me is to ask. I cannot be compelled. Luckily for me.

Before she could stop herself she blurted out "you're not even looking for the cure, you do need it yet… why would you, why am I still here. That's all I told you about"

He let out a sigh before stating. "To be honest, the fact that you know about the cure, is intriguing. I feel you are too valuable to let go right not" Klaus sat silent for a moment, then continued with a very warning tone "but I have been known to change my mind very quickly. So tell me charlotte shepherd, why you are here, give me a reason that proves your worthy of being kept alive"

"Always with the death threats Klaus! If you wanted me dead I would be, but I'm not. You don't understand how much I've wished to be here, and you and this" she began to yell as she abruptly stood up and gestured around the room "all of this-" she was immediately cut off, Klaus had stood up and raced toward her standing only inches away from her face.

He is so beautiful, she thought, but at this moment she was extremely afraid, had she just awoken the beast.

"Do not tempt me miss shepherd, answer my question." He spat, venom in his words.

Charlotte sat back down, trying to seem a little more controlled then she felt. "Okay, I'll tell you want you want to know, but please I'm only trying to protect everyone, I want no-one to get hurt, and if I say the wrong thing, everything might change." Charlotte knew she would have to tell Klaus something, but how much could she spill without Klaus trying to kill Elena, or bonnie, or the Salvatore's. She eyed him for a while contemplating what she could say that would save her, and not cause too much damage. She decided to warn him instead of telling him his future. "I don't think you should trust Esther. I think you should be wary as to her intentions"

This statement seemed to stop Klaus in his tracks, days before Esther had said she had forgiven him, but he knew it was too good to be true. "How do you know this?" he quickly asked

"Think about it. She comes back after a thousand years, and says she wants to be a family, when has anyone in your family ever been completely honest, you all have ulterior motives, she spent a thousand years on the other side watching you all cause death and destruction everywhere you went, to suddenly turn up and for it all to be okay." Charlotte tried to lead Klaus to the conclusion that Esther was trying to kill them, but she didn't want to say out-right that she knew Esther was trying to kill them.

"That's enough, I want you to leave" he said. Charlotte knew that was the end of the conversation, she knew she had struck a nerve with him and she didn't want to be here when he decided to take his anger out on some poor human. "I'll leave" she said "but, what I've said, please don't let that make you hurt your mother. Rebekah would never forgive you." And with that charlotte left, she knew she had given Klaus the ammunition to kill his mother again, she knew he was already suspicious, but right now in the story Klaus finally had his family back together, and he wouldn't do anything to jeopardize that.

Charlotte headed back up stair, climbed into bed, and fell fast asleep. The rest of the night was filled with dreams of the ball. When she awoke, she knew she had to stop Esther from binding the originals together. I will stop her from trying to kill them all, I will talk to Elena and tell her what happens when an original dies. But how do I convince her.

The next morning charlotte awoke to the sunshine beaming down on her face, her stomach growled loudly. Omg I am sooo hungry, how long has it been since I've eaten? She thought. She jumped out of bed and walked toward the private bathroom, someone has laid out a fresh pair of clothes, she showered and dressed and headed down toward the kitchen. She hoped that no-one would be there so she could quickly grab a snack and head back to her room without bumping in to any inquisitive originals. No such luck, she stumbled into a full kitchen, Finn and Elijah were deep in conversation in one corner, Kol and Rebekah seemed to be bickering about something and Klaus was sitting at the kitchen bench reading the newspaper.

How odd she thought they seem like a normal family, if I didn't know better I'd think they were. I think I'll try not to disturb the atmosphere too much, fake it till you make it right.

Charlotte put on a deceptively big smile, and entered the kitchen. "Umm is there anything to eat?"

"Why? Are you offering? Kol said, he stepped away from his sister and turned his attention to you, "because I am feeling quiet peckish and would defiantly fancy a bite" he was so smug, he seemed even more smug in person.

"Kol!" Klaus began to say, Charlotte was momentarily grateful for his interjection, until she heard what he said next. "She is not to be eaten in the kitchen, I just had these floor polished and I don't desire them to be stained anytime soon." Charlotte quickly gave Klaus the evil eye, she noticed Klaus doing his signature smirk.

Charlotte grabbed a piece of fruit and quickly retreated back to her room. The rest of her day went on without too much misadventure; she filled her time browsing through the many books that littered the Mikealson mansion. Approaching dusk her solitude was interrupted by a knock on the door. She walked over and looked out into the hall, but there was nobody there, on the floor was a box with a large cream coloured bow, she recognised this scene, Klaus must have gotten her a dress for tonight, like he had gotten Caroline one. Charlotte couldn't help but have a slight pang of jealousy when she knew what Klaus was going to say to Caroline tonight.

Why do I even care, I love Klaus and Caroline together, and Klaus has been nothing but awful to me since I arrived.

She tried to reason with herself but she knew the good in Klaus and she knew he was capable of being saved. But that didn't stop her wishing that she could be the one to bring out his humanity. She opened the box and inside was an absolutely incredible dress. It was long flowing, floor length, dark purple dress with cap sleeves; it had a beautiful bead embroidery V-neck line, and felt like silk.

The dress looked absolutely amazing on Charlotte. The deep purple accentuated her natural olive skin, and brought out the intense green in her eyes. She put her hair up in a loose bun with curls falling to frame her face. Klaus had also included a stunning amethyst and diamond necklace.

Just as she was finishing up getting dressed there was a knock at her door. She opened the door and was quite taken aback. On the other side was a very handsome man. Gosh, he looks good in a tux, she thought.

"Will you do me the honour of accompanying me downstairs" Elijah said, he was looking quiet dashing in his jet black tuxedo "I believe Klaus wanted me to keep an eye on you during the festivities. But if I do say, I think keeping a creature as beautiful as you company will hardly be a chore." He said to Charlotte. She couldn't help but blush a little. He held his arm out "shall we" he said.

Well here goes nothing. Time to meet the rest of the gang.