Here it is guys! Read and enjoy!
Caroline groaned, she wondered if she were dreaming. Although the air smelt too real, a combination of burnt rubber and freshly cut grass. The ground beneath her no longer felt like the soft sheets that made up her bed, instead it was wet and sticky. She opened her eyes barely, still hearing the sound of gunshots in the distance, although they seemed to be getting closer. She saw the tops of trees huddled together above her. When she rolled onto her side, still groggy from sleep, she saw that she was in the middle of a dense forest, bushes were snarled together, and she could hear movement of animals and insects all around her. She knew she had gone back, and it had all happened while she was asleep. Awesome.
She heard voices, they were close now and every so often Caroline heard the sound of gunfire, yes, they were very close now. She sat up, looking around her, she couldn't see the end of the forest, all she saw was more shrubbery and thick trees. Suddenly she heard the snapping of a twig behind her, she gasped and whipped around. A six or so foot tall man entered her perimeter, the moment he saw her he seemed confused, curious as to why a young lady was lying around on the forest bed. Then his eyes turned to wonder, and he smiled.
"Well what do we have here?" He asked, he was missing a few teeth, which made Caroline grimace and begin to back away. "Where are you going love?" He asked, his voice was heavy with a British accent. He crept closer to her. She could see the rifle around his chest; he was most likely in a hunting group, which didn't sound too far off.
"Stay away from me," she warned, knowing full well that she could take him.
"What's a pretty girl like you doing out here in the forest?" He said, ignoring her warning, as he stretched a hand out to her.
"Seriously," she said, her voice turning more into a growl. "Leave me alone." She stood up then, and he made a quick movement, jumping forward, grabbing her by the arm and attempted to pull her into him, his hand around her waist.
"No!" Caroline said, pulling away, he just laughed keeping a strong grip on her. She growled, grabbing his wrist and twisting, hard. He let out a yelp, stumbling backwards.
"She broke my bloody wrist!" He roared, as Caroline turned to run. She could hear multiple men behind her, as she ran through the forest, the voices grew louder, as she assumed, they found their hunting friend with the broken wrist.
She was running so fast she could hardly keep up with herself, and as she snuck a peek behind her for the first time since her escape, she ran into something, or rather someone, hard. Stumbling back she felt the man she had hit grab her by the wrist to steady her. She didn't look up at him at first, as she tried to refocus her eyes, and balance herself.
"I assume you're the woman who has harmed my hunting mate?" the familiar voice said, although he seemed to be laughing as if it were a joke. Caroline looked up at Klaus, knowing it was he. Once their eyes met, Caroline saw the smile that had been on Klaus' lips, disappear. Caroline took in this century's look. He had on a black long coat, with a vest underneath, his hair was short and in order. He looked much like he did the last time Caroline had seen him in the 1500's.
"You," he whispered, a finger out, pointing at her. His voice was soft, and his features changed drastically, he suddenly looked very much at peace.
"There she is," she heard a voice boom from behind her. She turned around to see the man she had harmed stumble toward the two of them, holding his wrist protectively against his chest. She could see three more men come in behind him, they took one look at Caroline and laughed.
"This defenseless woman harmed you?" One of them said, still laughing. "You really have lost your touch haven't you old boy?"
The man growled, not once taking his eyes from Caroline. "I'll kill you," he said to her, now trying to make a lunge for her. Suddenly Klaus was in front of her, grasping the man by the throat and throwing him against a tree.
"You will not touch her," Klaus said, looking at the three men, who were no longer laughing, now their faces only revealed confusion and shock.
Klaus turned back to Caroline. Offering her, his hand, and she was eager to accept, she didn't want to spend another moment in this forest, or around these men. For once, she was happy that Klaus fancied her, she was happy that she had someone she could lean on. As she wrapped her hand around his, he leaned down and kissed the top of it, ignoring the uncomfortable men behind him.
"I told you I would wait for you," he said, his voice quiet so only she could hear, and she managed a smile for him.
T-H-E V-A-M-P-I-R-E D-I-A-R-I-E-S
"What happened to Isabella?" Caroline asked, as she walked with Klaus down one of his many hallways. He was in a different house than she remembered, although the same if not more elegant and beautiful. She had found out that she was in 1832, a year that Caroline wasn't familiar with.
Soon she had changed into a soft red-laced gown, no one seemed to question her present time clothing, they must have just assumed it was rags.
"She died," Klaus said, as if it were no big deal. "She lived her life," he continued although he paused to look back at her. "She lived her life to the fullest." He repeated as if to let Caroline know that he didn't kill her; that she had died naturally.
Caroline nodded as they made their way into a bright corridor. They were silent for a moment; Caroline could feel Klaus' eyes on her. She felt like they hadn't left her since he had seen that it was her in the forest. He had remembered, after three centuries, he had waited for her. Caroline couldn't help but smile. She turned to look at him, meeting his gaze, they stopped walking, and he opened his mouth, as if to say something. Before he could though, the quick sound of heels across the marble floor echoing throughout the corridor drew his attention away.
Not that Caroline had expected to see anyone else, because she was soon realizing that Rebekah was everywhere, there was no way of escaping her.
"Nick, what do you think of this dress for the ball?" Rebekah said, walking up behind them, and twirling. She had on a large evening gown, which was a dark red, like blood.
"It's marvelous dear sister, you are going to turn heads." Klaus said, smiling at her. Rebekah seemed pleased by this as she returned the smile. Although one look at Caroline and that was gone.
"Who is this?" She asked, her tone couldn't be anymore bitter. Even before Rebekah knew Caroline, she hated her, and Caroline rolled her eyes at this.
"Caroline, this is my sister Rebekah." Klaus said, smiling. If Rebekah looking displeased before, a new level of hatred appeared on her face, throwing Caroline off guard.
"Charmed, I'm sure." She said with a snarl, and then she stormed off, leaving Caroline baffled.
"You'll have to excuse her," Klaus said, looking after her. "She's a bit of a drama queen." Caroline nodded at this, without saying a word.
As evening settled in, Caroline and Klaus now took up in the dining room, where they were served glasses of blood. After a stressful day Caroline was pleased to be able to relax, although she knew that wouldn't last long because her new goal was to find Rose, although she knew that wasn't going to be easy.
Throughout the night Klaus had tried to carry on a conversation with Caroline, although they kept getting interrupted by maids and butlers. Klaus seemed on his last nerve when a butler came in, not Ray, and told Caroline that her bedchamber was ready. She thanked him, standing up as she prepared to retire to it.
Although as she was about to leave, Klaus caught her hand in his, rubbing his thumb against the back of her hand, Caroline felt her breath catch.
"Please," Klaus said, his tone soft as it usually was with her. "Stay."
She opened her mouth, unsure of what to say, although she could hear Bonnie's words echoing in her head. She had to be careful how long she spent with him, or he could remember her in the present.
"I should be going," Caroline said, forcing a smile.
"Just another moment," Klaus said, without releasing her hand. "no more interruptions, I promise." Caroline had her head turned away from him, but she could hear the pleading in his voice, something she had never witnessed from Klaus. "I've missed you." He added, and Caroline sighed loudly and she turned back around, pulling her hand from his, she sat back down in her chair.
"What do you want to talk about?" She asked, her voice sounded childish to her, and she bit her lip at this.
"What happened to you?" he said suddenly, as if he were waiting for the perfect moment to ask her. "After you left to town, you said you would return and you never did." Klaus looked confused, and Caroline understood, she would be too if a man she liked kept leaving and then popping up again centuries later.
"I-" Caroline said, trying to find the words that would explain her situation, but she couldn't and Klaus could see that.
He looked hurt for a moment, but then he turned away, nodding.
"Perhaps some other time then," he said, pausing for a second, Caroline opened her mouth to speak but he suddenly stood, his eye no longer tender. "Have a nice night." He whispered and then he left in a hurry. Leaving her by herself at the long and lonely diner table.
T-H-E V-A-M-P-I-R-E D-I-A-R-I-E-S
"My lady?" Caroline heard a woman's voice echo.
"Yes?" Caroline called back. A maid entered her bedroom, a large dress in her hands.
"I was wondering if you were going to the ball Miss?" The dark skinned woman asked. Caroline smiled sweetly at her, she was about to say no, but then, the more she thought about it, the more she knew that there as a possibility that Rose could be at the ball. She saw the way the Mikaelson's did balls. Go big or go home. There was definitely a chance that Rose could be there. So Caroline smiled wider and told the maid that yes, she was going.
T-H-E V-A-M-P-I-R-E D-I-A-R-I-E-S
The maid gave her a dress that had been picked out by Klaus himself, and Caroline smiled as she remembered that in present time he had also provided her with a dress. Some things never change.
The ball gown he had picked out was absolutely gorgeous; the base color was black although silver flowers danced around the body of the dress making the design stand out. It was large, and the shoulder straps hung low enough to show her shoulders and the top part of her breasts.
"You look beautiful Miss," the maid said, gasping at Caroline's reflection in the mirror.
"Thank you Gloria," Caroline said, smiling at the woman.
"The Lord Niklaus will be very pleased," she said patting Caroline on the shoulder. Caroline smiled at this, looking away.
T-H-E V-A-M-P-I-R-E D-I-A-R-I-E-S
Caroline entered the ballroom, taking in the marble statues that were lined up around the perimeter. Candles were lit everywhere, and they illuminated the beauty of the room. Caroline spotted Klaus after a few moments; he was engaged in a conversation with an older man and a younger looking woman. Caroline smoothed down her dress, suddenly feeling self-conscious. She then laughed at herself, it was Klaus, there was nothing to feel self-conscious about, what did she care what he thought about her?
Caroline took a step forward through the doorway, but her pathway was soon blocked, by no one other than Rebekah. She stopped in front of Caroline, not even bothering to smile. Caroline saw that Rebekah had gone with a more classy and elegant dress that wasn't so flashy, she saw Rebekah smirk as Caroline took in her attire.
"Well well," Rebekah said. "What do we have here? The mystery girl?"
Caroline didn't even bother to hide her displeasure. "What have I ever done to you?" Caroline said, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Nothing to me personally," Rebekah said, stepping closer to Caroline. "It's my brother that you have caused emotional damage to."
Caroline seems baffled by this, her brows furrowed and she couldn't help but ask. "What?"
"Oh please," Rebekah said, her hands on her hips. "Don't pretend like you don't see it." Caroline didn't say anything more, so Rebekah continued. "For the past three centuries all I've head about is you, and I haven't even met you until now. Yet I feel like I know all about you. He doesn't even have to say anything sometimes, it is just this look that he has, and you know he is thinking about you."
"I didn't-" Caroline began to say, closing her eyes.
"Of course you didn't. You disappeared, and I've watched my brother be tortured by your absence ever since. And now here you are again, showing up out of nowhere. Last night I hadn't seen him so happy, not in a long time, and it was because of you." Rebekah said, closing in on Caroline, who firmly held her ground, hanging on every one of Rebekah's words. "Now he is upset for some reason and I can't help but think it has something to do with what you said to him." She paused, letting this sink in, and Caroline was reminded of last night, when he had wanted her to open up to him, but she couldn't.
"Here he has provided you with shelter, and has waited on you," she said, shaking her head. "And you treat him like this." Caroline shook her head.
"Rebekah, listen-" Caroline wanted to say but Rebekah cut in again.
"I'm not done," She said, her voice quick. "If you break my brothers heart again, I'll be sure to rip out yours." And then she was gone, in one blink.
Caroline couldn't help but feel paralyzed. She had known how Klaus felt about her, it wasn't a secret. But now, it was as if a wave had crashed onto her, she felt the sudden impact of it all. He had waited three centuries for her, who does that? And why? She didn't want to believe that she was worth waiting for. But it didn't matter what she thought, Rebekah was right, Caroline owed it to Klaus. He had been nothing but nice to her since she had arrived, and she had treated him like he were a ghost, invisible. He technically isn't bad now, Caroline thought trying to convince herself that it was ok for her to show him sympathy. She was meeting him at least two thousand years in the past, things could have been different…they were different.
So she composed herself, spotting him again in the crowd of people, she marched her way over to him. Once she arrived, placing herself next to Klaus, a group of three men glanced at her curiously, she cleared her throat. Klaus glanced at her, barely even smiling.
"Caroline," he said, nodding at her.
Caroline didn't even hesitate. "I was wondering," Caroline asked, feeling nervous as the three men watched her closely. "If you wanted to dance with me."
She had never asked someone to dance, ever. But with Klaus, she found herself trying new things that she had never even dreamed of before. Klaus looked at her for a moment, as if this shocked him. Caroline could feel herself panicking. This was a bad idea. What if he said no? She would be humiliating herself. Luckily though, Klaus smiled the tiniest bit, turned to his three friends and said 'excuse me' in a low voice. He then offered a hand to Caroline who took it quickly.
As they made their way onto the dance floor, Klaus spun Caroline and pulled her in, holding Caroline's waist ever so gently. She finally felt herself relax. He didn't say anything, as she had expected him to, he was looking all around him, anywhere but at her. She felt herself grow angry, so he was going to make her work for it? Fine.
"I'm sorry," Caroline, said suddenly, Klaus eyes briefly met hers, but then they were wandering again. "About last night."
Klaus remained silent, and Caroline took a huge breath. "I wanted to come back, but I unwillingly had to leave." She said, choosing her words carefully, as to not completely lie. "I hope you know that.." Caroline said, searching for the right words. "I wasn't intentionally…" she started again but the words weren't forming for her, and she felt herself begin to grow frustrated. Klaus, noticing this, began to smile.
"It is a humorous thing watching you squirm." He said, Caroline could feel his hand pressing harder into the small of her back as he drew her closer.
"I'm glad I amuse you," Caroline said without a smile.
Klaus chuckled at this. "You don't need to explain it to me," he said, more serious. "Your business is your own."
But the thing was, Caroline wanted desperately to explain it to him, to make him understand. She didn't know why, but she wanted to ease his curious mind, even if she didn't know why.
"I-" Caroline said, but Klaus shook his head.
"Shhh," He said softly, pulling her closer to him. "Let us just dance." Caroline's chest was now against Klaus' and she knew she had never been this close to him. He was so different, yet so much the same as present day Klaus. He was tender with her, like he was there, but here he seemed more calm and understanding. Caroline leaned her head on his shoulder, wishing that this feeling that she knew was wrong but completely unavoidable would go away. But it didn't, and a part of her was happy that it stayed. Lifting her head as the song ended, she locked eyes with Klaus, they were so close that she could feel his breath on her shoulder. His lips were inches from hers, and she thought for the briefest moment that he was going to kiss her. She surprised herself by not pulling away, she should have, she definitely should have, but something was keeping her there, pressed against him, molded into him.
Then she saw her. Looking over Klaus' shoulder she saw Rose appear through the doorway, looking around the room she smiled and waved at a few people. Sensing the sudden shift in mood Klaus followed Caroline's gaze, glancing at Rose.
"Do you know her?" he asked, turning back to Caroline.
Caroline looked up at him. "Kind of," she said. "Will you excuse me?" She breathed.
He nodded, stepping away from her. Suddenly she felt cold, as if his body had provided her with this heat that she was suddenly craving. She shook her head, trying to get the nonsense out of it. Then she made her way over to Rose.
Rose weaved her way through the crowd of people and out onto the balcony. She was alone out there, and as soon as Caroline stepped out Rose spoke.
"Do you need something?" Rose asked, turning to look at Caroline.
Caroline gasped by this sudden forwardness.
"Umm," she said, swallowing. "Yeah."
"I saw you in there, looking at me, you were with Klaus." Rose said, smiling.
"Are you a friend of his?" She asked, Caroline looked away.
"You could say that," at this Rose laughed.
"What do you need?" Rose asked, cocking her head to the side.
"I was wondering if I could ask you kind of a personal question." Caroline said, twirling her thumbs.
Rose raised an eyebrow. "From a complete stranger?"
"I know it's weird," Caroline whispered. "But I have to know."
Rose seemed confused, shaking her head. "Well then, go on, what is it strange girl?"
"I need to know," Caroline said, licking her lips. "Who changed you?"
Rose smiled at this. "What an odd question to ask."
Caroline looked down at her feet.
"May I ask why you want to know?" Rose asked.
Caroline decided to be honest, she couldn't lie her way through this without some truth.
"I want to know what bloodline you are from." Caroline said, breathing out.
Rose seemed to consider this. "You mean from the Originals?" She asked, and Caroline nodded. "I would tell you, if I knew." She said, not questioning Caroline further.
"Can you at least tell me who changed you?" Caroline said, pleading.
"Ah, us vampires, such curious creatures. " Rose said smiling, and then she said the last person Caroline expected her to say. "Tatia was the name of the woman who turned me."
"What?" Caroline spat, not bother to hide her shock. "But, she's dead."
Rose squinted, shaking her head. "Tatia is very much alive."
Thanks for reading guys! I hope you liked this chapter! More Klaroline goodness to come later. P.S For those of you who are wondering: YES I AM going to write Klaroline in the 20's, that's one of the places I'm taking her. REVIEW PLEASE!