A/N: I'm glad that the last chapter was so received so well! I apologize that it has taken so long to get this chapter up, it was one of those that was hard to write, very filler-y in my opinion. Sadly updates may be farther spaced than when I started posting, because life happens, but I have big plans for this story and have no intentions on stopping anytime soon, so no worries there.

Fear and Loathing by Marina and The Diamonds
Shame For You by Lily Allen
Vincent (Starry Starry Night) by Katy Lootens
La valse d'Amelie-Original Version by Yann Tiersen

I own nothing by my OC Clover and any other OC that might pop up along the way.

Enjoy!

When I wake I'm not sure how long I've been out. I'm lying on something that feels soft and luxurious. I lean up to look around, but my vision is fuzzy, I don't know where I am. I stand up, stumbling over my own feet I make my way to what looks like an exit, I reach for the door, twisting the smooth handle, and I'm relieved when I hear it click open. I step out in to a hallway, I look to my left only to see a window at the end of the corridor, obviously that is not a way out, and so I immediately go right. At the end of the hall I enter in to a spacious area that is being lit by sunlight, and I begin to recognize it as the Lockwood estate.

"Hello! Is anyone here!? If so, I could use some help!" I call out. My head suddenly begins swimming again, and I stop, leaning on the rail of the balcony, supporting myself. My vision is growing dark again, so I crouch down, finally ending in a sitting position. "Uhm, I have a very apparent head injury and I fear I might pass out again. So if anyone can hear me…" My body sways with another bout of dizziness. "I'm afraid." I whisper as I feel my conscious state slipping even farther from me.

"Clover, I need you to open your eyes." I hear Elijah's voice and I instantly feel safe. I want to do the exact opposite of what he requests, in exchange for closing my eyes and falling in to his calming presence. He carried me back to what I assumed is the room that I had just escaped from, he sat me comfortably on the bed and then took a seat in the chair next to it. I looked at him, my eyelids fighting the weight they felt.

"I didn't know when I'd be seeing you again." I smiled trying to make some light of the situation.

"I was hoping it would be amongst better circumstances." He leaned forward, gently brushing my bangs out of my face, and looking me in the eyes. "I apologize." He was serious, but then again that seemed to be his thing. "I'm the reason you are injured."

"You, hush! I'm not brain dead, paralyzed, or just regular old dead, I'm sure I can muster up the heart to forgive you." I chuckled. He looked away from me. "Elijah." I leaned forward, resting my hand on his arm in a comforting gesture. "Let's skip the part where you place blame on yourself for an accident that was frankly, in my opinion, serendipitous. Now, if I may ask, could you heal me?" I asked getting to the point. I could just go to the hospital, and let it all heal on its own, but there are a lot of things going on that I want to be around to witness, and I can't do that from a hospital.

"As you wish." He took off his suit jacket, unbuttoned the cuff of his shirt, bringing his wrist up to his mouth.

"Wait! Don't to that, it's such a barbaric way." I said stopping him. I reached down in to my jacket and pulled out my pocket knife, handing it to Elijah. "Just a prick of the finger, just enough to heal me. I find that whole other method a bit of an, over kill" He remained silent and did as I requested, pricking the pad of his thumb with the point of the blade, and presenting it to me. I quickly pressed it to my lips, smearing them with blood before he healed. I licked the blood off of my lips, and a few minutes later, my scalp was no longer bleeding, I could see straight, and all pain had been alleviated. "I'm all better, but this bed is really comfy...kind of making it difficult to want to leave. Thank you, Elijah."

"You're welcome, Clover." He replies. I suddenly feel tired, Elijah's form slips from my vision as I fall in to sleep.

1910

"Clover, I do hope that you are decent, because I'm coming in." His voice is muffled from the other side of the door.

"You and I both know that wouldn't stop you, Sir." I replied to him, laughing. I quickly stood up from my dressing table, and pull on my dressing gown, in order to obtain some modesty. The door clicks open, and he enters, closing it shut behind him. I turn, and he is next to me, I can feel his warm breath tickling the side of my face. "You are really too good at gaining ground on me." I place a hand on his chest, and take a step backward. He is dressed to impress, wearing a dark dress coat, but his hair counteracts his dapper attire, it is tousled, but yet perfectly placed. As I take him in, I realize that he is returning the gesture, heat rushes my fair skin. This man makes me feel like no other has in so long. I go back to sit in front of my mirror, and I begin to pin up my long blonde hair. He approaches me from behind once again, his boots making a dull thud on my rug as he walks.

"You are truly the most ravishing beauty I've ever beheld." His hand places a gentle touch on the bit of my neck that is no longer obscured by my hair. I glance in to the glass in front of me, and our eyes lock, he is now stroking the bits of my still loose hair.

"I'm hardly ready." My reflection reacting in a smile that to any other would read as shy. His own smile broadens into a dangerous grin, his dark eyes sparkle with a mischievous glint. That little spark from within him lights a fire in the deepest, darkest, most terrifying place of my soul, those corners that I've never dared to indulge, until he came in to this life of mine.

"You are too heavily dressed, if you ask me." He says pulling a pin out of my hair, and another, and another, causing my hair to settle down my back again.

"I didn't ask you!" I snapped, while redoing the work he had just undone. "Now, go wait down stairs, before my father decides to check on us. You remember what happened last time."

"Oh, I do, darling. I'll be nice, this time, but only if you are as well." He leaned down kissing the corner of my mouth, and then turning to leave.

When my gentleman had first called upon me, Mother and Father were both ecstatic that I had caught the attention of such a noble lad, and such a short time after my coming out. I had just turned sixteen, with all of the knowledge a proper lady was expected to know, but then I had all of these "pesky interests" as my mother liked to say. Having a daughter with knowledge in science, politics, philosophy, and dark literature left a black spot on my family's otherwise spotless reputation. With my obvious beauty I was very good at being seen, but to my Mother's dismay, with my overwhelming intellect, and inability to filter my thoughts, I was also very good at being heard.

After the first gradation stages of our courting my parents were delighted and impressed with my gentleman, but as our relationship flourished, my parent's opinions became less vibrant by the day. I'm not sure at what point they decided that they did not approve of my suitor, but when they did they let it be known in spades. It might have been his apparent lack of family, his arrogant attitude, or perhaps they discovered something that I had yet to, something more sinister that my digging had yet to reveal, but alas they still attempted to remain civil. That changed the day he made clear just how serious his intentions toward me were.

"I must express the protests of my wife and I!" My father spoke hurriedly. I could not see him from my hiding spot, but I could see his ears reddening in anger the more words spilled from his mouth.

"I beg you to reconsider, Clover." My mother pleaded in a whisper as she came up to me, he face ridden with worry.

"I beg you, Mother. I do not expect you to approve, but I do hope that you understand." My mother and I were both startled when we heard the sound of breaking wood. We ran in to the room to see what had just conspired, to see my father holding the broken remnants of a chair, and my suitor bleeding from the side of his face. I looked to my Mother, but she just stood there, shocked as I was, my father had never been violent in my entire life, seeing this side of him made my blood boil. I rushed to my gentleman's side, and touched his injury, smearing blood from the area where you would expect a wound to be, but there was nothing except perfect, smooth, skin. I gave him a questioning look, then I was suddenly yanked away.

"Stay away from him daughter! He is a monster!" My father wailed, his grip tightening on my wrist, causing me quite a lot of pain, as I struggled even more to free myself from his grip.

"You don't have that kind of control over me, father!" I spat with pure disdain, finally wrenching away from his grip.

"Clover, I am your father, and I command you step away from this creature."

I responded by stepping back to my gentleman. "See, your words, have no hold on me, I am not my sister, I have the fact in mind that I control my destiny." My voice showing no depiction of the rage that was building in my body. Without warning my father strode to me, and then struck me with an open hand, my head snapped to the side.

"Joseph!" My mother shot at this man who dared say he was my father. I felt sir, move at my back, but before he had a chance to react, I pulled back a gloved fist, punching my father square in the nose. His hands immediately flew to his face, I dug the heel of my shoe in to his foot, causing him to lose balance and fall to the floor with a harsh thud. I grabbed the sword from the casing on the mantle, turning to the man on the floor, and holding the point at his throat. He looked at me, terror written across his round features.

"It's about time you learned something about real monsters, father. Try, taking a look in the mirror." I threw the sword on the ground next to my father, and grabbed my gentleman's hand. "Come, let us get you tidied up, I don't want to be late for the ballet." Dragging him off in to the depths of the house. We enter the kitchen to find the staff having their dinner. "Mary, would you please fetch me some hot water, a rag, and a new shirt for him please. The young girl nods, and runs out of the room. "You know you could have told me what you are."

"What sort of fun would that have been? Although I had expected the news to be a bit more shocking for you than it appears to be." He said looking at me with a proud expression. "But I've always noticed that you, my dear, are no ordinary girl, but what makes you so I have yet to pin down."

"We all have our secrets, Kol."

I woke from the sudden short slumber with a jolt, as if I were being ripped back in to reality. I look up to see Elijah, confusion, and questioning writing across his handsome features.

"What sort of dream was that?" He demanded.

Of course, even the herbs that I use daily to keep a mental block on my thoughts could not withstand the sort of exhaustion that even a bit of vampire blood can't diminish. I knew upon him questioning me that he had seen every bit of my flashback in as vivid a show as I had. But as far as I was concerned that moment in my history is just that, a dream.

"It was only a dream, so it hardly-"

"From what I saw it matters a great deal, Clover, I do wish that you reconsider holding more information than you have to." He cuts me off.

"I was just a dream." I insisted, jutting my chin forward in defiance. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to wash this blood out of my hair." I said, turning away, in search of the first bathroom that was equipped with shampoo.

Taking a shower was just an excuse to be alone, to think, to come up with a way to tell Elijah about my secret without actually telling him, and to cry. Those memories hadn't been recalled for over 50 years, why would they pop up now? Those thoughts take me back to a time that proved to be the darkest of all of my lives. I had strong feelings for a vampire, and I got cocky especially after he discovered my secret, I had hopes that he would be the cure for my curse, but I lost him, and then I lost myself, and in turn I fell off of the ledge that I had been teetering on from the moment I had been born in to that life. My mind was not right, it was sick, but I did not know that at the time. And out of all of the secrets I keep that is the one that harbors some of the most unbearable pain. There was a soft wrapping on the door.

"Yes?" I called out, expecting to hear Elijah from the other side.

"Clover, I was just coming to check on you, see if you're okay." I hear Elena reply from the hallway.

"I am fine, thank you, Elena. I'll be done in a moment." I turned off the water, and grabbed a towel from the rack next to the shower. I dried off, got dressed, and with some luck I found a hair dryer, so I took an extra minute to tend to my hair. After taking one final beat I exit, and go to find either Elena or Elijah.

I walk down stairs, and I hear muffled voices, as I draw closer I begin to clearly hear the conversation the Elena and Elijah are having.

"Tell me what is Klaus's curse?" Elena says with her, straight to the point voice.

I reach the bottom of the stair, and stand as still as possible, staying in the shadow, and just listen for a moment.

"My family was quite close, but Klaus and my father did not get on too well. When we became vampires, we discovered the truth. Klaus was not my father's son. My mother had been unfaithful many years before. This was her darkest secret. Klaus is from a different blood line. Of course when my father discovered this, he hunted down and killed my mother's lover, and his entire family. Not realizing, of course, that he was igniting a war between species that rages until this day"

That was my cue, my interest in the information being divulged was now peaked. I've done quite a lot a research on the matter, and it is no secret that vampires and werewolves are and have been at war for as long as both species have been in existence. The one thing, though, that I've never been able to discover is what event that caused this war to begin, what the tipping point was. Now I have my answer, and I crave more, so I make my move to enter the sitting room at last.

"A war between the species?" Elena questions.

"The vampires and the werewolves." I fill in.

"Clover, I'm glad that you've joined us, I'm sure the information you've just gathered has intrigued your intelligent mind." I kind of figured, that he noticed I was lurking before I entered, but being found out is still a bit embarrassing.

"Of course, Elijah." I take a seat on the small vintage couch across from Elena.

"So Klaus' real father was from a werewolf bloodline?" I sat back in silence and allowed Elena to piece together the information at her own pace. "What does that make Klaus? A werewolf or a vampire?"

"He's both." Elijah and I happened to say in unison. Although I had an excited grin of realization on my face, Elijah did not, and Elena just looked shocked.

After that I fell out of the conversation, once talk of killing, and betrayal, and plans began my enthusiasm waned. After the chatter of the conversation died off, I heard someone call my name.

"Clover, are you ready leave." It is Elena. I then realized that I did not have a way to get home, and it is a long walk home from the Lockwood house. I nodded and followed her, joining Elijah outside at the car.

The ride was silent, except for the radio playing soft in the confined space of the car. I felt my phone buzz in the pocket of my jacket, I pulled it out, and it was a message from Klaus, via Ric's phone. The message read "the swap happens soon." Jeez, could he be vaguer? Probably. We arrived at the Boarding House, walking in to see Stefan and Damon, who stop what they're doing when we walk in.

"Now you've invited him in?" Damon starts in.

"Ugh, before you start in, Damon." I held out my hand hoping he would stop his inevitable temper tantrum for just a second. "I'm leaving." I turned to Elijah. "When you have time, you should come and see me, I have something to show you." Now, I'm being the vague one. "I'll be awake for a while, so, just show up." He nods. I turn to leave, but pause, looking at Elena. "Elena, I wanted to say thank you. You know why." I cast a side glance at Elijah who is paying no mind. "I know you didn't do it for me, but I still appreciate it."

She gave me a small smile, and nodded her head. "I'll see you later Clover." I turn and walk out, when I make it outside, I pick up my pace in hopes of making it to the body swap ritual before it ends.

I make it to my house, dashing inside I grab my car keys, I go out and turn the key only to be met with a terrible knocking sound. "Great!" I pound a fist on the steering wheel. Stepping out of the car I grab my bike, and begin down the road once more. I arrive at the apartment building, I run up the stairs, and burst in to Alaric's place, I'm glad the door was unlocked. There is a huge crate of sorts taking up a large chunk of space in the room, Ric is standing next to it, and in front a circle of candles around two witches that are chanting in Latin.

"Look who made it to the party." I heard Katherine scoff. I kept to ignoring her.

It wasn't long before they stopped the spell. Everyone looks at Alaric, he opens his eyes, and looks at Katherine. "Elena." I go to is side, and kneel down, checking his vitals to make sure he is okay, he'll be fine. Then, the crate begins to open, everyone's attention is drawn in that direction.

Klaus steps out of the boxes, once again in his own body "Now, that's more like it." He smiles.

I stand. "Niklaus. German origin, boys name, meaning victorious people. Do you feel victorious yet?" He turns his attention to me finally noticing that I am in the room.

"Ah, Clover, I'm glad you could join us." He said, turning and walking in my direction, ignoring my question.

"Sorry to say it is short lived, I'm leaving now, I've see what I came here for." I turn and go to exit the apartment. Klaus speeds in front of me, blocking my path.

"Come now, the party is just getting started."

"Psh, this is no party, lacking snacks, and oh look, drinks, this might be more of a party than I thought." I rolled my eyes noticing the bottles of booze on the counter. "I hope you plan on replenishing his stock though, after possessing his body and all."

"I'll think about it." He brushes my idle chit chat aside. "As for snacks I see plenty right here." Our eyes meet, and they are almost as blue as Damon's but they hold a storm, which adds a layer of darkness to them. "You smell quite delectable darling, there's something special in that blood of yours, I wonder-" He begins to walk a circle around me, inspecting, trying to figure it out. "What makes this human so special?"

"I think the saying goes, that's for me to know, and you to find out." This time it is me who moves closer.

"Don't tease me."

I lean in close. "I'm not the sort to tease." I whisper. I take my chance, I flip the trigger on the cuff I have hidden under my jacket sleeve, and without warning I plunge the small stake in to Klaus' side. His face contorts in pain, and he move to strike me, but I just twist the stake in deeper. "Ah, not so fast. I heard about your stunt, threatening Jenna, not a great move on your part." I push the stake in a bit deeper before loosening my grip and stepping back. "I warned you." I crossed my arms over my chest, and watch as he pulls the stake from his side. I expect him to strike, but to my surprise and everyone else that is onlooking at the scene before them, he lets out a dark chuckle.

"You are indeed a woman of your word, Clover. Be glad that I have appreciation for someone with conviction such as yours. Otherwise, you'd be dead." A glint of pure cruelty flashes across his eyes. I can imagine he is thinking the many creative ways he could cause me pain. Good, because I am doing the same.

"Consider me flattered."

"I'm sure." He smirks at me. I turn and exit the apartment. When I get outside, my bike is nowhere to be seen.

"Really?" I sigh and begin the trek home.

I arrive home, unlatching the front gate, I walk up the stone path that leads to the house, and I notice a dark figure looming the on the deck. When I recognize the form of Elijah, I smile. "I'm glad you decided to come."

"Did you just arrive home?" He asked.

"No, I'm just returning from Alaric's, and someone stole my bike, so that left me walking home. How long have you been waiting?" I unlock the door, step inside, and stand aside waiting for him to enter.

"Not long." Right on time Bingley pads his way down stairs. He walks past me with a huff, pauses by Elijah, wags his tail, and then trots outside.

"Geez, he is being such a diva today. On the bright side, he likes you." This earned me a glimpse of an almost smile from the man next to me.

"What is it that you wished to show me? His words are sharp.

"Right to the point. Follow me." We made our way upstairs. "I know the impending events have to have you at the ready, the tension in the air is near suffocating, with so much being on the line, I understand the momentary no games policy, but can you please, for my sake, loosen up the strings a bit. There is not much you can do right now, which as cliché as it is, right now is all we can grasp on to. Every second beyond this one beckons a leap of faith from us all." I open the door to the practice room, flipping on the lights. Elijah steps in to the room, just ahead of me. I walked over to my chest, and pulled the blanket that was resting on top of it off.

"Tell me, how old do you think this chest is? It is in superb condition, but one like it has not been made in a very long time. The contents are especially interesting, I've been through them all multiple times, but, I would like another opinion on it." I lean down and unhooked the latch, opening the lid the hinges creaking slightly. "Why don't you have a look and I'll go make some tea, if you like?"

"That would be wonderful Clover, thank you."

I ran down stairs and put on the kettle. While the water began to boil I went and changed clothes for the evening, I was still wearing the ones from earlier, and they were making me feel a bit stuffy. I tossed on a black cotton dress that I usually end up sleeping in, it is incredibly comfortable and cute at the same time. I went back downstairs when the kettle started to whistle. I pulled down a tray, some cups and saucers, and two diffusers. After dispensing tea in to each diffuser, I turned on the speaker system, which I had hooked up to my IPod dock, so it could play throughout the house if I so wished. I opened my pantry to grab a bite to eat as well, I had a ton of options but the only thing I wanted was a blueberry pop-tart with peanut butter, I hadn't had it in years but was craving it like crazy as of late. While the food was toasting up, Footloose by Kenny Loggins started to play, and one of the major rules in my house had always been, when Footloose comes on you drop everything, turn it up, and dance. While I was dancing about I finished making the food and getting the tea ready, I was so in tune with the music that I had not noticed that Elijah had entered the room, and was trying to get my attention. When I did notice, I could not help but bust out laughing.

"Oh, I am so sorry Elijah, sometimes I get a little too in to it."

"Who would I be to deny you the opportunity to do something that obviously brings joy?" I am grateful for his words of kindness.

"Do you dance Elijah?"

"Right to the point. And, yes I do, but I prefer more traditional dances." He answered, smiling at me.

"Ballroom?" I question further. He nods. Footloose has ended and a very beautiful down tempo song begins to play. "Would you look at that? This is a lovely song!" I spun on my spot, then walk over to Elijah. "Dance with me?" I can tell he is hesitant to answer me.

"I'm not sure this is the-"

"Come one Elijah, let's jump." I grab his left hand with my right, bringing it up in to a very formal stance, and the place the other on his shoulder, rising up slightly on to the balls of my feet. "Together." He nods, and then obliges my request, taking his free hand and placing it on the middle of my back.

It was a simple Waltz we danced, it made all of the awkward stumbling I've endured, at many a Mystic Falls High dance, pale in comparison. He is great at leading, it is very easy to just be swept away, and then it ended, too soon. Right on queue I heard Bingley pawing at the front door to come back in.

"That was a pleasant free fall, thank you. If you want to go back up, I'm going to get Bing settled down, and I'll be up in a sec with the tea." I told him.

Before we parted completely, he squeezed my right hand slightly. "Thank you."

"Anytime." I smiled as he retreated back up the stairs. I opened the front door. "You called King Bing?" He just gave me a doggy glare, and proceeded to his water bowl for a drink. I took the tray with the tea upstairs, placing it on the table Elijah was sitting near. He was thoroughly in to the contents of my trunk, so I took my tea and left him to it. I went to the back side of the room, after opening the large window, I sat up my telescope, it was a good night to study the stars, and my charts. It wasn't long before I had totally fallen I too had fallen in to the task I had started. For a moment I almost forgot that I was sharing this room with another soul, it had been a while since this has happened, I suppose I've grown accustomed to the solitude.

Clover had not noticed among her stargazing that Elijah was observing her. Her strawberry blonde hair was up in a chaotic bun, stray pieces loosening, and eventually falling as she would move. She would peer in to the telescope in front of her, occasionally bringing a slim hand up to make some adjustments to the instrument. She would then turn to the drawing table next to her, and make more marks on her charts, which littered her work area. Elijah could not help but smile at the fact that as she worked she would frequently mumble to herself, in French.

The clock stuck midnight, and I was surprised that Elijah was still here. I put a pause to my work and made my way to him. "What do you make of it?" I asked sitting in the chair next to him.

"I could make a lot of assumptions about the contents of this chest you brought my attention to, but the jury is still debating. Also I am sad to say I must take my leave, it is quite late. Do you mind if I carry a few of these with me?" He said motioning to the small stack of my journals that were sitting on the table.

"Be my guest. I'll escort you to the door." We made our way downstairs. I walked with him out on to the porch.

"Thank you Clover, for sharing this with me." He said, slightly lifting the small stack of items he held. "Might I ask, how did you come across this trunk of yours?"

"My parents bought in a shop when I was five, it came as is, although there was a lock on it that had to be broken to gain access to the contents inside." Which is the most truthful thing I've spouted all evening. I feel a bit bad for lying to Elijah about anything, but this is the only way I can think of to work this one loophole of my curse. I hope he does not think less of me when he figures it out, if he hasn't already.

"I see. Sweet dreams, Clover."

"I'll be seeing you, Elijah. Good night."

Then he was gone. After locking up the house, I went up to my bedroom, flinging myself on to the fluffy blankets, reaching out I grabbed the journal that rest on my side table, and recorded the events of the day before I fell in to a pleasant slumber.