Caroline's back hit the wall, hard enough to bruise if she'd still been human. Hissing out a breath, she glared at the hybrid who pressed into her. Klaus rested his forearms on either side of her head and smiled, eyes hard.
"Hello, love."
"Do not manhandle me." Caroline growled between clenched teeth. He laughed, the sound hard and grating. Her mouth ran dry at the expression on his face.
He knew.
"Tell me, Caroline, did you and Tyler really think I'd remain ignorant of your ruse?"
Caroline swallowed painfully. "It's not a ruse."
He lowered one hand to toy with one of her curls, smile biting. "Come now love, the truth. Is Tyler trying to free himself and the others from their sire bond, to proclaim himself some sort of alpha in my stead?"
Caroline's stomach muscles locked up. The knowing smile on his face was so at odds with the iron rage behind his eyes. More importantly, she was standing on her front porch, her mother sleeping upstairs, and Klaus was watching her with a killing rage.
"Yes."
His face closed off, and Caroline braced herself for a tantrum. His hand in her chest. Instead, he leaned close, gaze like ice. "And you're little break up scene?"
Her lower lip trembled before she could catch it between her teeth, but she held back the rest of it. Squaring her shoulders, she held his gaze. "Tyler and I are done."
It hurt, saying it. It cut like a knife through her chest, felt like lead in her mouth. But she wouldn't show Klaus that. Wouldn't give him those cracks in her armor to dig his fingers into and pry her apart.
His body remained a cage, even as the hand not toying with her hair left the wall, curving around the line of her jaw. His thumb ghosted across her bottom lip and she narrowed her eyes in warning.
"Good." Klaus said flatly. Caroline jerked. It'd hurt, to find out that she was being used. Hurt to know that her boyfriend had cheated on her. Mouth opening to snap a response, her voice died as he leaned in close enough that their noses brushed. She went still, wary at his proximity.
"Here is what is going to happen, sweetheart." He tugged lightly on the hair wound around his fingers, the gesture one an affectionate boyfriend might make. "I'm going to kill any of my hybrids that are no longer sired to me. Then I'll drain Tyler dry of vervain - he was smart enough for vervain? - and then I'll simply compel his loyalty instead. And you, sweet Caroline, will do nothing."
"Why not?" She might be hurt, be pissed as hell, but Tyler had been her friend once.
He leaned back a little, expression amused. "Because your mother is upstairs and I can come and go as I please. Because Tyler cheated on you with a soon-to-be dead werewolf. There are consequences to our choices, love, and this is yours."
Spine straightening, Caroline glared at him. "Do not threaten my mother."
His kissed was unexpected, mouth hot and demanding against hers. It tore through her defenses - the scrap of teeth, the scalding lick of his tongue. The hand on her jaw softened, cradling instead of forcing, and her lips parted with a moan. His hand fisted in her hair, the hard line of him pushed her into the wall. Caroline's hands curled desperately into Klaus' shirt as his tongue slid against hers, every part of him demanding.
His fingertips smoothed over her cheekbone as he pulled back, eyes feral and determined. Caroline stared up at him, shaken at her own response.
"In three days' time, I will come for the first donation of blood from the doppelgänger. She'll continue to donate once a month for the rest of her life. In exchange, I'll not kill Tyler and I'll not kill the Salvatore brothers." Klaus stroked her hair away from her face, gaze intent.
"You already said you'd compel Tyler." Caroline retorted, eyes narrowing.
"There's my girl," he murmured. "Yes. Tyler is mine. I gave him a gift. I gave all of them a gift. Now I'll take payment. But here is my gift to you, sweet Caroline."
She watched him, wary.
"Time. Enjoy your mother, your friends. Live your human life with those fleeting, human dreams. But one day, I'll walk back in your life, and we'll finish what we started here." He slid both hands down her cheeks, cradled her jaw so lightly in his hands. The promise in his eyes made her heart pound. "When that day comes, you'll give your loyalty to me."
"Loyalty cannot be demanded."
"Oh love, it can. And I will have it. Be grateful, sweetheart." He smiled at her, a wild, feral thing that spoke of fur and claw, the sharp edge of fangs. "You've time to learn."
Another fast, whisper of a kiss and he was gone. Caroline shivered, arms wrapped tight around her middle for a moment. He'd given her a promise and a threat, and she didn't know how to take it. Blinking hard at the unexpected burn of tears, she went inside.
Please Comment