Blood Bond

Chapter 4

Caroline rolled over in her bed and nudged something firm. Reaching out her hand to push it away, she tried to slip back to sleep when she realized that firm thing in her way was a person. She bolted upright and clutched the comforter to her chest despite wearing her most comfortable – and least alluring – pair of flannel pajamas.

"Klaus!" she shrieked, "How the hell are you in my room? Get out!" she shoved his shoulder, but it only made his smile grow wider.

"Well love, I've been invited in; I thought I'd drop by and check on you." He glanced at her grip on the bedding and raised an eyebrow. With a slight shake of his head, he adjusted his position so that he was leaning against the headboard with his hands folded across his stomach.

"I'm fine. And I feel pretty sure that you already knew that since you'd probably feel me freaking out across the bond if I wasn't." Despite her bitchy tone, Caroline moved a pillow to lean back as well. She subtly glanced at the hybrid next to her, but he had his eyes closed and looked oddly relaxed. Trying to mimic him, she let out a breath and thought about what she should work on that day. Call Tyler to check on him, call Elena to see how the hunt for the cure was going, talk to her Mom, pick a song for the new cheer routine, text the prom committee about booking the caterers, finish her calculus homework, ugh. The real problem with being a supernatural in Mystic Falls is how far she was falling behind in her "normal" life.

After three minutes of making mental lists and categories, Caroline was feeling antsy and started drumming her fingers on her leg. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. "Is this what normal mates do? Sit together in awkward silence?"

Klaus opened one eye to look at her. "We can do whatever you'd like, love. Although perhaps this could be our new thing, hm?"

She rolled her eyes at the ceiling to hide her smile at his comment. "Ok, let's play a game then. Truth or dare?" She quickly reconsidered and corrected, "Nope, scratch that, just truth. Why do you think we're mates?"

This time he opened both eyes and seemed to think before answering, "My best guess is that the universe – or the spirits I suppose – think that we will be good for each other. I've never met another quite like you, you know. Strong, intelligent, beautiful, and fearless. Most mated wolves feel the connection upon their first transition with their mate present, which is part of the reason wolves tend to shift in packs. I believe our bond was sealed when we exchanged blood at the Gilbert house and I turned."

Slowly, she shook her head, "I've had your blood before, Klaus. You healed me on my birthday in this room." Did he forget that? It was a secretly treasured memory for Caroline; It was the first time anyone had made her feel like being a vampire wasn't the worst thing that could've happened to her.

Klaus glanced at her face and smirked, "I am aware of that, love. If you recall, it was the young Lockwood that bit you that night – I hadn't had your blood until much more recently."

His explanation made sense, but she still wasn't sure what might be different about their bond since they were both vampires. She could probably ask a witch – Bonnie would be home soon. Whoa, nope. Absolutely not, there was no way she was ready to share something so mortifying with her friends. She could already imagine how it would go, I'm so glad you're back from the island! I also had an eventful weekend and now Klaus is my mate. I guess it's like a soulmate, except he's a murderer and everyone hates him. Yep, perfect. That plan was out.

"I believe it's my turn to ask you a question in this game, correct?" His voice startled her out of her thoughts and she quickly nodded. "Are you upset that you're my mate?"

She flicked her eyes to him but immediately looked elsewhere; she didn't want eye contact for this conversation. "I was, but I'm working on it. It helps that I can feel how difficult this is for you as well but, honestly I think I just need time to adjust." She paused to consider how much she wanted to divulge and thought, What the hell, we're mates. "I won't deny that there is a certain…attraction…between us, but I need you to try Klaus. I can't do this if you go around killing people because it's fun or because you lose your temper."

At that, he sat up to look at her fully. "I won't change who I am Caroline, not even for you, but I will…make an effort."

Honestly, she expected a bit more resistance from him, so she'd count that as a win. "My turn. Why are you afraid of being human?"

She noticed the muscles in his jaw working and settled more comfortable against the headboard to wait. "I haven't been mortal in over a thousand years Caroline, it would be monumentally difficult to be reduced to such a weak state. Beyond not knowing how to be human, I have made countless enemies over my many lifetimes and would prefer to remain a powerful immortal hybrid capable of dealing with them." He tiredly wiped his hand across his eyes, "I think that's enough of our game for one morning, love. Can I offer you breakfast?"

"I should check on Tyler," she winced when she saw his eyes harden.

"Very well, wish the pup luck in hiding" he sneered as he turned to stand.

Caroline grabbed his arm and felt a jolt in her stomach – it was the first time they'd had skin-to-skin contact since sharing blood. "I can't just forget about him, it's been less than 24 hours. Honestly, what did you expect?" Based on his speedy exit, forgetting was exactly what he had expected. Perfect.

Since no one was answering their phones, Caroline drove to the Salvatore boarding house hoping to get some information; obviously something had happened since Klaus was free. She walked through the front door without knocking and called, "Hello? Anyone home?" There wasn't really a need to shout since everyone that might answer was a vampire and could hear her just fine.

There was no response, but she could hear a hushed conversation coming from the living room and made her way through the house. Elena was seated in an armchair, filing her nails, while Stefan and Damon huddled close on a sofa – clearly discussing Elena. A little irritated that no one welcomed her, Caroline used her queen bee cheerleader voice, "Hello, didn't you hear me?"

Elena barely glanced at her, "Obviously, but there's nothing we need you for so why would any of us answer?"

Ok, rude much? Caroline crossed her arms, prepared to ramp up her bitchy attitude, when Stefan interrupted.

"She flipped her humanity switch, don't take it personal." He looked worried about Elena and kept glancing her way as if she would suddenly dart away.

"Why the hell would she do that? Did she not get the cure?" none of this made sense, Elena was supposed to take the cure and be a happy human again – she clearly wasn't cut out for life as a vampire.

Stefan sighed and ran his hand through his hair in frustration, "No, we didn't get the cure; Katherine was on the island and got there first. She killed Jeremy," he glanced at Elena again, but she showed no reaction to hearing Jeremy's name. "Elena was not…coping well…so Damon used the sire bond to help her."

"By turning her humanity off?! How was that supposed to help anyone, Damon?!" God! Sometimes he could be so stupid! "Well, use the bond again and get her to turn it back on!"

Suddenly Caroline was shoved against the wall with a hand around her throat and a stake poised over her chest – Elena. Her friend narrowed her eyes, "I will not be flipping the switch again, Caroline. Right now, I feel nothing and it's a hell of a lot better than the grief I felt over my dead brother, so I'll be staying this way. If you try to makeme flip it back, I'll kill you." Elena released her and sauntered back to her armchair while Caroline rubbed the sore spot on her throat.

"Stefan, can I talk to you outside?" hopefully she'd be able to talk some sense into him and they could make a plan to get Elena back. She walked out the front door and flashed into the woods with Stefan behind her. "How could you let this happen? It will crush her when she turns it back on and feels everything, what if she can't handle it?"

He kicked a rock across the forest floor and sheepishly looked up, "What was I supposed to do? Snap her neck? She burnt her house down with Jeremy's body in it, Caroline. I think we just need to keep her safe and under control until she's ready to turn it back on."

She paced back and forth with her fingers pressed against her lips, thinking. Elena could be dangerous without her emotions – there was nothing that would hold her back from feeding on humans and killing them. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad though; she might just need a couple days with no emotions and then she'd snap out of it and grieve. Who was she kidding? When Stefan had no humanity, it took ages before he rehabilitated and that was with Lexi's help. If only they could compel her…no. She wouldn't do that to her friend. She knew exactly how it felt to have your free will taken away and there was no way she'd force that on Elena. Even if she was willing, she'd still have to convince Klaus to help her and that probably wouldn't be easy.

"Stefan, you're my best friend; you helped me survive the transition to becoming a vampire and you've always been there for me. I need to talk to somebody, but I need you to promise to keep it a secret and not judge me, OK?" He nodded. She continued pacing while she thought about what she could say to him to make him understand that the bond wasn't something she'd wanted, but she couldn't break it.

"I'mKlaus'mate" she rushed out as quickly as she could.

"Did I hear you correctly? Did you just say that you're Klaus' mate?" he looked confused, and who could blame him?

She nodded, blinking to keep her tears from falling. God, what if he hated her? Stefan stared at the ground, shaking his head slowly before saying, "What does that mean, Caroline? Is this like a sire bond?"

"What, no! No, no, no I'm not sired to Klaus, I'm mated to him." Her explanation didn't seem to clear anything up for him. Fair, even she wasn't exactly sure what it meant to be mates. "Apparently, werewolves have mates and I'm his. I need you to know, I didn't choose this, but I can't break it. I read about it and if I break it, I might never be able to love anyone else and I'd rather have a chance at love with someone like Klaus than no chance at all." Talking this out was actually helpful and she realized what she just said was true.

"So, what does this mean for us Care? Are you suddenly on Team Original Hybrid? I can't let Elena take the cure knowing that she'll go right back to being a walking blood bag." He sounded frustrated and angry.

"What the hell are you saying, Blondie?" Shit. She hadn't heard Damon come into the clearing, but he had clearly heard them. He stalked closer to them and his gaze pierced her. "So now you're siding with Klaus? I don't think so." He flashed forward and slammed her to the ground holding her neck.

Caroline struggled to breath and tried to shove Damon off of her. Stefan pulled at Damon's shoulder, but Damon easily flung him across the clearing. Black spots were dancing in front of her eyes when she felt his weight ripped off and looked up to find Klaus standing over her protectively.

"I wouldn't do that, mate," Klaus snarled. Caroline scrambled to her feet and moved to stand between Klaus and Damon holding up her hands in an attempt to make peace.

"What the hell, Damon? Eavesdropping, really?" She tried to play it off but clearly didn't succeed when Damon snarled at her with his fangs out. She took a small step closer to Klaus and that seemed to push Damon over the edge as he lunged at her.

In a blink Klaus had his hand in Damon's chest, presumably wrapped around his heart poised to pull. "Perhaps I didn't make myself clear earlier – you will not harm Caroline," he growled. Klaus' eyes were yellow and both sets of fangs were showing, terrifying, but also weirdly hot in that moment. He glanced at her and smirked. Damn bond, she thought.

"Klaus let him go! Elena loves him." Well, probably not at that exact moment since she was an emotionless bitch currently, but in general her statement was true. She rested her hand on his shoulder and sent calm feelings across the bond. "I'm fine, not hurt or anything; let's go." If she couldn't get him out of there soon there would be no stopping him from killing Damon. She pulled gently on his shoulder and he ripped his hand out of Damon's chest with a sickening squelch.

Wiping the blood off on Damon's shirt, Klaus gave a slight shove and he stumbled backward. "I will not hesitate a second time," he warned before turning to walk out of the woods.

Caroline glanced at Stefan and mumbled, "I'll call you later," before flashing after Klaus.

A/N: Thanks for reading, reviews are appreciated :)