Gone.

He's dead.

A large breath left my lungs and another came right back in, almost as if this is the first time I can do so freely without any constrains, like a women in Singapore when she took off her corset back in fifteen hundreds.

I stared down at the flames that engulf Michael's body on Tyler's front porch. I have never felt so… relieved? I couldn't say happy, no, I haven't felt that emotion in over a thousand years. This moment could've been so much better if I wasn't standing here alone, I would never admit how much my siblings mean to me, or how much she means to me… and I hate to admit it to myself how much Michaels words hurt me.

This isn't the place for this; Klaus the hybrid doesn't do emotions, not besides revenge and rage. And now, it's time to deal with the Salvatore brothers, oh the agony.

"He has earned his freedom." I answered to the older brothers' question after wiping those two tear tracks from my cheeks.

Stephan stood up from Damon and stood in front of me, waiting with hope and pain in his eyes. It almost hurt to let him go, he truly was a friend during the 20's but it would seem that it's needed to understand that that person isn't coming back. I've let him free, taking my compulsion back and walk out the door.

This party was crowded enough and I still couldn't shake the feeling of solitude.

I didn't know where I was walking to, at a human pace too, it seemed refreshing to simply walk without any worries. Having no concerns about my immortal life, about my siblings or… or her safety…

I often wonder what she is doing, how she looks now and whether she's wearing that mesmerizing smile on her face. Does she think about me every day like I do about her? She was the only ever woman to capture my merciless heart and change it into something worth saving.

I've always had someone looking out for her, I've tried to get close enough to see her myself but it wasn't always possible. I know she has been spying on Elijah and I during Katarina's time in England and I know of her crazy adventures with Kol, she doesn't know half of what happened between her best friend and I…

"My darling Katerina, did you really think you could escape me? Did I not say I will find you and you will pay for betraying me?" I questioned the brunette doppelganger.

Seeing her face, so similar to Tatias made me sick to my stomach as all the nasty memories came right back. Why, why did mother have to use her? I cannot kill the one bloodline I need to in order to get Ardis to talk to me.

The expression on Katarina's face went from shock to terror in milliseconds as her mind registered her future.

"You… you… but you can't… how…"

"Well at least you have the decency to be scared, you should be." I remark with a smirk, circulating her. "Were you merry the last ten years of running? I can promise you will be writhing for the next twenty until I decide to be merciful and end your suffering with-"

"You can't!"

I let out a malicious laugh, "Pray tell why?"

She straightened her posture and looked me defiantly in the eye. "What would Dis say if she found out her best friend was killed by her ex-husband?"

I stopped still, best friend? There was no way my Ardis would befriend a doppelganger! "I am not an ex-husband." I roared at her, satisfied when she quivered a little bit at the sound.

"Till death do us part, isn't it?" She smirked and started to walk away from the dark alley I found her in, "let me know if you want some information on her, it's the least I could do after you've let me go." She said snidely, "See you never Klaus."

I carry on wondering through the streets of a town that gave me a reason to live and took it away again, wondering if I will ever get the chance to redeem myself and hold her in my arms, if everything will fall into place when I wake the family up tomorrow…

Eventually my wonders took me to the local pub, Mystic Grill. It was what people these days call a hotspot for the locals, it was almost always busy and you could always find someone from "the gang" there. It's kind of ironic, how they think themselves a family, when almost every time one of them betrays this 'family' to get into my good books; some family that is.

A smirk made its way up on my face just thinking about the possibilities of angering anyone from their group of misfits or seeing my future play toy, Caroline. She'll come begging soon enough, thinking that I actually care for her is the biggest mistake anyone could ever make. She is somewhat pretty and amusing, a perfect pet; her figure is nowhere near the perfect hourglass she is, and her hair is the wrong colour, she is just all wrong…

"Salvatore," I call out making my way to the bar when I notice the elder brother trying to chat some girl up. "Hitting on another poor woman, I see?" I asked.

The woman ever so slightly froze for a millisecond before relaxing again; a normal vampire wouldn't even notice the minimal change in her posture and how she seemed to be taking slightly bigger breaths than before.

I took a slightly bigger breath myself, this woman was definitely a vampire but probably Salvatore's age and a progeny of my youngest brother; Kol always had an eye for beautiful ones.

This woman was the definition of the said word, her hair cascaded in loose curls down her slender back. The shade of almost black with tiny golden flecks here and there that weren't visible to the human eye; a shade so similar to that of my loves…

I became so lost in those puny flakes and remembrance of my wife I nearly missed Salvatore making a snarky remark about Caroline. It took a little restrain not to laugh at his comment, it made me feel good knowing I had everyone fooled about my feelings and intentions. It seemed to be the joke of this century if anyone thought that Caroline could ever come close to taking a shadow of a permanent place in my heart. She was all wrong besides the snarky remarks and attitude that was a little similar to that of my loves.

I let out a chuckle, "That is none of your concern, mate."

I ordered double bourbon and sat down on the right of the girl, I'm rarely even slightly interested in another woman for other reasons than sex but I have to admit that this woman brought out feelings inside me that I've claimed to have lost.

She bent forward and lowered her head a little, hiding beside the curtain of her hair. The movement sent a breeze in my direction, a scent of lavender mixed with vervain; a calm and deadly combination that makes my dead heart beat a little uneven. This woman had me perplexed. Why would the older Salvatore be trying to seduce this silent beauty? She does not seem like easy 'shag' which is the type of girl he apparently goes for, and why does her scent bother me so much? She smells exactly like her

I can't let myself think of her, she doesn't want me. How could she after still want anything to do with me what I've done? What my family has done to her? She shouldn't even accept my apology and explanation; I wouldn't want myself after all that I've done… I'm unworthy of her in every way…

I was lost in my thoughts when I saw her body turn to the right to face Damon and away from me; I felt a little pang of disappointment which made me frown in confusion.

"Wanna get out of here?"

A melodic sound travelled to my ears, closing off everything besides her, shining a spotlight onto her as if she is the main act during this drama in my own personal theatre.

I felt her move; my body was in tune with hers in the space of a few seconds and the brown liquid filled glass stopped halfway to my mouth in shock. Her body heat moved further and further away from me and I couldn't move, being frozen in my place by all the forgotten emotions swarming inside my chest and mind waiting to burst.

She was here?

My Ardis? My beautiful Ardis…

Somewhere in between all my scrambled thoughts and rediscovered emotions I asked the annoying vampire to stop and wait. I hated myself for sounding so weak… so… emotional… I wanted to act like nothing happened, like she meant nothing to me.

Nothing. What is it else? A madness most discreet…

Could I ever do that? How could I when she was the only reason for me?

"What do you want Klaus? I have things to do." the fool commented, acting impatient as usual, and here I was still sitting in the same frozen moment while my head melted.

I wanted to say so many things. I wanted to rip his arms out for touching my treasure, torture him for years on end just for looking at her when I couldn't. Why he able to be so close to her and I had to be so far away? I let my eyes travel over her figure and stop where her hand held his; I saw her look at the ground, avoiding any eye contact. That cut me deep inside, she was always so open with me and now she won't even look at me.

I am unworthy of her and I shouldn't burden her with my love, yet I cannot help myself to yarn for her. If I could just hold her in my arms and kiss those plum and angelic lips one more time, I would let Michael take me this time.

I would die a happy man.

"Ardis?" Her names left my lips in a faint prayer.

I could imagine another ending to this tragic moment, she would drop Damons hand and look up with her brilliant grin and laugh, her voice would ring like merry bells during Christmas and enlighten the whole room. She would walk towards me and hold my hand… she would forgive me…

The door to Mystic grill opened and closed, washing her scent away and leaving me all by myself in this pub full of humans. The hope of dying a happy man evaporated along with her as she walked out with Damon.

AN: So sorry for the huge wait for this! I've been extremely busy but it's Christmas break now so I will catch up, promise!

So what do you think? Is my Klaus POV okay? Ya'll review/pm and let me know what you guys think yeah?! Please, please, please and I will definitely update the next chapter tomorrow-evening/Monday.

Thank you so much for the reviews you've guys posted! It truly means a lot, especially all of your suggestions and the love you have for my characters!

LOVE E Xoxo