Chapter IV

Caroline exhaled loudly as she pulls into a hotel right in the centre of the French Quarter. She'd finally made it. She was here. Tossing her keys to the valet, she made her way to reception. She barely noticed the grandeur of the hotel's interior; the exquisite chandelier, the beautiful colour scheme and the cream coloured were only two things on her mind at the moment; where to start looking for Klaus and what she was going to wear when she did.

The prospect of shopping in a new place was incredibly appealing; rushing to her room, she quickly showered and dressed before heading 'd promised herself that she would under no circumstances call Klaus until she'd figured out exactly what she would say. Shopping was a welcome past time while she figured out her speech plus it was completley necessary.

Dismissing the first shop within five minutes, she realised her fussier than normal attitude was a result of her imapatience; her desire to call him.

"Do not call him yet. Have some control, Caroline", internally chastising herself, she flicked through the racks of her third store in ten minutes. Everything was beautiful but nothing was just right. She had to look perfect.

As Caroline perused the racks further, growing increasingly frustrated, a man parked across the street in a car with tinted windows, placed a call;

"She's here".

"Do it. Take her to your apartment. I'll join you shortly".

Marcel smiled triumphantly; he'd never have believed that Klaus would allow himself to have a human weakness such as love for anyone other than his own family. Yet his eyes in Mystic Falls had informed him of Klaus' interest in this particular vampire. The situation couldn't be more ideal;a relatively weak baby vampire whom Klaus holds dear proves much easier to capture and overpower than any of his original siblings.

Marcel had been keeping track of Caroline for weeks now thanks to tracking device his informant had planted in her car's GPS. He was actually surprised at how long it had taken her to get here; maybe she didn't reciprocate Klaus' feelings. No matter, as long as she was important to Klaus then that's all he needed.

Marcel stood from hs chair, pacing the room.

"Thinks he can show up in my town and break my rules? Guess he'll have to learn that lesson the hard way".

Caroline exited the store empty handed feeling beyond annoyed; the dresses were beautiful, stylish and elegant. Yet nothing was right. She couldn't help compare each and every one of them to the dress Klaus had given to her for the Mikaelson ball or for her prom for that matter. She could scarcely believe it but it appeared her already high expectations had been raised higher still.

Caroline's senses detected another vampire close by. She told herself she was being paranoid; she'd heard what it was like here, the place was practically run by vampires. Naturally there would be several nearby. She continued heading toward her car which she'd parked at the back of the building. She'd almost reached it when she realised too late that the presence she detected was much closer than she thought; it was directly behind her. Before she could react, she felt a sharp prick in her shoulder followed immediately by severe pain and an unholy burning sensation. Vervain. She plucked it from her shoulder, too late as it had already entered her system and begun to weaken her. Before her senses were too impaired, she pocketed the dart. Two more darts found their mark in her back. Collapsing to her knee's, she used the last vestiges of her strength trying to identify whoever the shooter was. The man slowly walked into her line of vision moments before she lost consciousness.

"Stronger than she looks. Normally doesn't take three darts" the man muttered, hoisting her over his shoulder, toward his own car.

Klaus was headed towards Caroline's hotel trying his hardest not to use his vampire speed in the busy street. News had reached him that an attractive vampire had arrived from out of town. Naturally he made it his business to be informed on who came in went in regards to vampires. One can never be too careful when they had as many enemies as he did. This particular newcomer happened to be an attractive blonde vampire. He tried not be overly optimistic; perhaps it was Rebekah returning from overseas. Caroline may well still be with that boy Tyler. She had been so pleased with the prospect of his likely return.

Surely Tyler hadn't ruined it already? The boy was a fool; not worthy of Caroline.

Klaus knew better than to hope. Despite this, he found his pace quickening as he caught her scent in the air. He followed it, smiling to himself as he saw that it led to the back of a rather expensive clothing outlet. His smile soon vanished when he discovered the faint traces of a struggle; there were scuff marks from her shoes and the distinctive smell of vervain.

He would kill whoever had dared to harm her. He only prayed they were vampires so he could prolong the torture. It would in no means be quick.

Klaus' hybrid senses detected that of a familiar vampire. One of Marcel's men. If he remembered correctly it was the very same vampire he had bitten. He should have known Marcel was up plotting something when he had forgiven him so quickly. Normally the discovery of betrayal, although not foreign, would cause him to lash out violently. It took him everything he had to restrain himself; this particular parking lot was surrounded by apartment buildings filled with prying eyes. He didn't have time to waste compelling witnesses.

Instead Klaus focused on locating Caroline. The man would not have been foolish enough to take him to his own apartment when Kalus was aware of it's location. Marcel would undoubtedly deny having any part in this so he wouldn't be keeping Caroline there either. He would simply have to find the weakest minion to torture information out of.

Klaus grinned as he left the parking lot; torture was one of his favourite past times.

Caroline awoke, shackled to the wall, cuffs biting into her wrists. She pulled against them, the chains rattling loudly, only to have to muffle a scream when the vervain soaked spikes in the cuffs broke through her skin.

"Great. I'm in a new city for two minutes and I've already been kidnapped" she muttered.

Caroline heard a chuckle from across the room. Glancing up, she spotted a man regarding her curiously. He introduced himself as Marcel.

"You're not the same man from before".

"Check you out. Looks and brains. No wonder you caught Klaus' eye".