I'd just like to answer a question that most have asked about this story. They keep saying things like, "What is Katherine's plan?" "Will we find out what her plan is or not?" You will be finding out her master plan, but in due time. Just relax, lovelies. I've got this story plotted and it's just waiting to be written!

Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Diaries.

Chapter Seven

There's not enough rain in Oklahoma,
to wash the sins out of that house.

Klaus was avoiding her. Of that much she was certain, seeing as he would give some half-assed excuse whenever he saw her, moving quickly away before she could ask any questions. It was like he didn't want her around.

So why keep her from Katerina?

She knew that a day and a half of him practically running away from her wasn't much to go by. Sure, it was suspicious, but that didn't mean that he really was avoiding her. Perhaps he really was busy, especially since she'd heard some of his hybrids mumbling about some new, special guards coming in to better prepare the grounds for an attack. None of them were sure who they were readying themselves to face, but their sire—maybe they preferred the term "master"?—was definitely on edge, which put them on edge.

Rebekah had tried to find ways to cheer her up, though she'd disguised it as boredom. Since Klaus had started leaving her alone, Caroline was surprised to find that she actually liked the company of a woman who, on at least two occasions, had lobbied to kill her. Still, the Original was just a girl that had been forced into a lifestyle she wasn't completely ready for at a young age; wasn't that the same as Caroline?

Unfortunately, her fear had mixed with anger and hurt at Klaus's behavior, leaving her to kindly decline many of Rebekah's offers. Instead, she'd worked herself into quite the tizzy over it, reminding herself that it was better to be angry than it was to be hurt.

How could he make a decision like that for her? Shouldn't she be able to at least meet the woman that had given her blood and turned her into a monster? Even if it was just to confront her.

Because she was starting to like this place, just like she might an all-expenses-paid trip to the most luxurious hotel in the world. She loved the fact that everyday she was able to find new things throughout the house; it made her feel human again as she crept around, avoiding detection.

Now, however, as she sat in her room with little more to do than stare at the wall—the Originals were in full swing that day and watching her every move—she wished that she could see a familiar face. Even if it was someone she hadn't liked when she'd been human. Everything was weird and one shred of normalcy would be nice.

"Caroline?" Rebekah called from the other side of her door, knocking lightly. "Are you in there?" Her voice was oddly cool, as if they had gone back to their relationship during their shopping trip. "If you are, come down to the parlor; Elijah and Nik have some news to share with us about some...things."

Standing with a nearly silent sigh, Caroline answered, "Yes, I'm in here. I'll be down in a minute, I promise." What could they possibly want to talk about? It wasn't like they were going to let her be a part of the decision making anyways, right? They would probably just expect her to do whatever the rest of them wanted. Hell, she might be left up to Klaus's fancy, considering his stature among the siblings. Which meant she would get to do little more than sit in her room and wait for something to happen.

God, she hated being the damsel in distress!

She crossed to the door, holding her head high. If they thought they could just take over her life, she would show them how unbearable a situation that could be for them.

Walking with a natural human pace, it took her about five minutes to make it to the parlor. Elijah sat in the armchair, his posture giving him the air of a king among his court. Rebekah was perched on the arm of the chair, eyes filled with something like concern. Finn sat on the cushion of the loveseat that was farthest from his siblings, his wife Sage taking the spot closest to Elijah.

Glancing to the couch, she saw Klaus watching her from his position on one end. His arm stretched across the back, as if inviting her to sit down next to him.

As if she actually would.

With a disdainful sniff, she sat on the other side of the couch, keeping herself pressed against the arm as subtly as possible. She wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of doing as he expected. If he wasn't going to give her the right to choose what she did with her own life, she wasn't going to be some submissive woman. She was going to take him for a ride he would never forget.

Blushing at the unintended innuendo, she turned her attention to the man that had just come into the room.

Kol stood in the doorway, buttoning up his shirt quickly. She had guessed that he might have had a female guest over the night before when he had declined having dinner. He seemed like the type that liked to be surrounded by his family, if only to tease them. "Sorry I'm late," he said with a smirk. "I was a little...well, tied up." Looking at Caroline, he shot her a wink before striding over to her. "We haven't been formerly introduced, have we? I'm Kol, the youngest, most dashing of the Mikaelson brothers." He lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss on the back of it.

"Caroline Forbes," she answered quietly, gently pulling her hand from his grip. "I just happen to be living in the same house as you." It was clear that her jab hit Klaus right where it was intended to.

"Well, if you ever need something, I'm usually in my room. Once we're done here, I can show you where that is just in case you must find me." His smile had no doubt melted fairer hearts than hers. So boyish and charming; quite the vision of a carefree young man.

"Kol, one more word and I'll rip out your liver," Klaus snarled with a glare sent at his brother. His blue gaze turned to Caroline then as he motioned for her to sit by him. When she didn't immediately do so, he murmured, "Your spot is over here, love." Though his voice was soft—like one might speak to a child—there was a hard undertone of command that he didn't expect to be disregarded. He was used to those around him doing as they were told, used to getting his way.

Giving him a cold smile, Caroline answered, "Oh, I'm just fine over here. But thanks."

She could hear Finn and Sage chuckling to themselves, arms tucked around one another, as Klaus's eyes narrowed on her. Elijah and Rebekah shared a come-now kind of look when the Hybrid opened his mouth. Kol, however, seemed to take his side.

"Actually, he's right," he said playfully. "That's my spot. And I'm quite annoying when it comes to my spot. Think Dr. Sheldon Cooper on this one." Waving his hands in a gesture that obviously meant she was supposed to scoot, he kept that boyish grin on his face. "Go on now; there you go!"

She threw him a dark look before sliding closer to Klaus. But only so that Kol had enough room to sit without rubbing against her.

Klaus had other plans, however, because he wrapped his arm around her waist, dragging her to his side easily. Quelling her as she shoved against him was easy and he turned to his oldest brother. "So, Elijah, are you going to explain the situation or shall I?"

"I will, brother," Elijah answered. He took the chance to look at everyone gathered, breathing deeply before he spoke again. "It seems that Katerina is after something from us. A few of our witches have said that she is using many other witches to protect her from being found, but that she is somewhere near us. She has already tried to make a deal with Niklaus to gain her freedom from us. Personally, I am sick of hunting down the Petrova doppelgangers, especially since we have no real need for it. But, seeing as she isn't targeting us, I don't think it's up to us." He turned a look towards Caroline. "She wants you for something, Miss Forbes, and I believe that you should decide where you would like us to go from here."

Before she could answer—or even think of an answer—Klaus had pulled her tighter into his side, snarling, "What? You would give her this choice though she has no idea what Katerina is capable of?"

"It's her life, Niklaus," Finn said from the loveseat, tugging Sage nearer to him. "She must make the choice; you wouldn't want her to have such an important decision taken away from her as ours was, do you?"

Rebekah stood, moving to the arm of the couch next to Klaus. "I have to go with Nik on this one. She has no idea what kind of person Katerina is. We need to keep the Petrova bitch away from her until we know what her true plans are."

"Ditto," Kol added.

"Does anyone care about what I have to say?" Caroline demanded, standing from her spot on the couch. Putting her hands on her hips, she glared at them all—mostly Klaus. "Did you ever think that this shouldn't be a family decision, that I should be the one that gets to say whether I go to her or not?" Some part of her knew that she was playing with fire; she hardly knew the Originals and yet she was practically shouting at them? But that didn't stop her anger. "She's the one that made me; don't any of you think I should know her?"

Klaus stood, facing off with her as the others also rose from their seats. "You don't know Katerina as we do. You have no idea the kind of woman she is, what she has done. Not just to our family, but also many others."

Glaring up at him, she hissed, "Either way, she made me for a purpose. It's obvious that she didn't just get an itch to make a new vampire out of some kid from Podunk, Virginia and I drew the short straw. She wants to use me for something and I'm going to find out." Turning away, she strode towards the door with furious intent.

He was there, however, cutting her off and blocking her only exit. "No," he said simply. "You won't be finding out what she wants with you. Because I won't let you leave." As they stood in the shadowed part of the room, he snatched her hand, practically ripping her daylight ring off her. Pocketing it before she could say a word, he growled, "I won't keep you prisoner here, but the sun will."

Badass Klaus was needed, I feel like. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!
Also, on my Tumblr (same name) I've been posting some Klaroline stuff. Please read it and tell me what you think!