He had that same classical music playing. She wasn't sure who the composer was, though it sounded strikingly familiar. Perhaps it was one of those men she learned about in school. Bach? Mozart or was it Beethoven? Yo Yo Ma?
She smiled at the last name because she was almost sure Klaus had no idea who that was. But it sounded like him, the cello consuming the air as she traced lazy patterns on Klaus' back. His breathing was steady and she thought for a minute that he was actually able to fall asleep. But that's when he spoke.
"Tell me," he whispered, pushing himself up from the bed so he was hovering over her.
"Tell you what?"
"Something about you."
She had no idea why they were whispering. It was just something about the time of night, the darkness of the room and the music. Like they didn't want to miss anything.
"You know everything about me." She smiled.
He simply shook his head and lowered himself slightly to brush her lips. "Not everything," he murmured. "There's something...that I've been wondering though."
Caroline felt her heart rate increase, suddenly worried about what he would ask. He seemed to pick up on it and shook his head, letting his fingers trail against her cheek. The chuckle he let out nearly shook the bed but at the same time resembled something rather soft and light.
"It's a rather simple question, love. Don't fret."
She rolled her eyes but nodded.
"Tell me about your life." He finally said and laid back down on his side. "How it would have been without vampires and werewolves and doppelgangers. What would have happened?"
It was one of the last things she ever expected him to say. But he looked genuinely curious and his eyes had something hidden behind them. She couldn't pick up on what it was though it felt like he didn't really want to hear it. He seemed resigned, not fully looking at her but still he had asked.
"Okay well….you asked for it." She turned towards him, biting her lip slightly.
He smiled softly.
She nodded her head and took a deep breath. "Everything that I'm about to say is completely cliche and absolutely goes against everything I want now. But...it's what I dreamed about." Caroline shifted closer to him and began trailing patterns along his bare chest. "I mean obviously I would have graduated high school still and college was a definite, although I'm not sure what I would have went for. I still don't know. But I don't really associate those things with my human life anymore because they're so much apart of now, you know? The other things though…."
His eyes casted down. "You mean-"
"I always wanted to get married." She breathed. "The big white dress, my mother's ring, three hundred people that I barely know all at one of mansions in town. It would have been under a gazebo with white roses and maybe white tulips if they were in season. I just loved the concept of it, the contrast they would have against the black tuxes and teal colored bridesmaids dresses. And yes, teal, because it's kind of beachy. Don't you think?"
Klaus' voice was rough as he spoke. "I suppose so."
She noticed his mood and swallowed hard, removing her hand from his chest. "Maybe I should stop."
"Don't," he whispered.
"Why do you even want to know this stuff?"
Klaus placed a kiss on her collarbone, rolling over so he was back on top of her. His eyes roamed her face, settled on her flushed cheeks and plump lips. She was beautiful and it amazed him how little she sees it sometimes. Her gold locks were fanned against the pillow and her blue eyes blazed in the dim light, shining up at him in all their beauty. His fingers caressed her cheek and he watched as she closed her eyes at the sensation. Why did he want to know? Why would he want to torture himself with the words of her almost life? A life that wouldn't have included him at all. He wasn't sure but he felt like anything about her he needed to have branded in his bones so he'd never forget.
He never wanted to lose anything of her.
"Just keep going." He urged her instead of answering.
She huffed, rolled her eyes and then adjusted herself a little underneath him. "Where was I?"
"The color teal. I believe you called it 'beachy'."
Caroline nodded and wrapped her arms around his neck and brought her legs to his waist. "Right. I like teal because it's beachy and I always wanted a beach wedding. I probably wouldn't have done it though since it's not really tradition in Mystic Falls."
"I see," he said.
Caroline nodded and played with the fabric of the sheets. "But I wouldn't have minded that much. As long as my mom was there and even my dad...I would have been fine."
He nodded.
"And then logically, after all the mess of the wedding and honeymoon and house hunting…." A faint smile formed on her lips but it was then when she averted eyes with his. She didn't know what his take would be on this and frankly she was more than terrified to confess this little part of her. "I mean everyone said I was always destined to become...well a mother."
His whole body stiffened and the small patterns he was drawing on her back came to a screeching halt. He never pictured her like that. She always came off as the thing strong, independent woman and for some reason the idea of a child in her arms didn't fit the criteria he saw her in. But now, looking into her soft blue eyes, it was hard to imagine anything else. It almost seemed natural for her to be standing over a crib, singing softly to a swaddled infant. There was always that nurturing quality about her, the need to take care of everyone else. A true motherly instinct that he never seemed to identify before now.
"Well, love, I have to admit that the thought never crossed my mind before now." She seemed saddened by the revelation and licked her lips slowly. "But," he added quickly, "I do believe they were right in their insinuations. I have no doubt in my mind that you could have been an excellent mother."
She beamed at him, eyes sparkling in the dim light of the room. "Really?" She laughed softly and rolled her eyes. "I guess I never really thought much of it until the choice was taken away. A part of me knew that no matter what I would always want children. But that would have been in my early thirties when I was financially stable and done seeing everything that was out there. I never wanted to think much of it then because I was still young and there was all the time in the world for that, right?" Caroline pressed her lips together and blinked her eyes a few times. "I mean who would have thought I'd be suffocated and turned into a vampire? Certainly not me."
Klaus frowned and tightened his arms around her. "Caroline-"
"I always wanted two boys. All my life I've been surrounded by girls and don't get me wrong, a little girl in a princess costume is my dream but…. There's something about a tiny little boy who barely reaches past your knee, wearing a baseball cap and running around in the back yard. I always imagined me, whoever I would end up with, and my son going to a baseball game. We'd show up on the jumbotron and everyone would marvel at how cute we all looked in matching shirts. I wanted that picture perfect family, something that I never had. I wanted stability and that family feeling within the house. No one would ever have to be alone."
Klaus wiped a few tears that escaped her eyes and leaned down to brush his lips against her cheek. "It sounds lovely, Caroline."
She nodded slowly and bit her lip. "It sounds dumb and far fetched but thank you for humoring me."
"Anything that matters this much to you, that would evoke this much emotion within you, could never be dumb."
Caroline sighed but it was of relief more than anything else. "You're not half bad, you know that?"
He shrugged, smirking softly. "But who, if you don't mind me asking," Klaus cleared his throat, not sure how to ask the next question. "would be the lucky mate in this whole equation?"
She wanted to laugh, shake her head and simply brush it off. But the question made her think. For some reason, through all her years, she only imagined the wedding and the after part. She pictured the flowers and the dress she'd wear. She picked out the color scheme, what her invitations would look like as well as who would receive them. She knew the amount of kids she wanted and what their names would be (Benjamin and Conard). But never had she pictured who would be standing at the altar, with hands folded in front of him and a smile wide on his face. She never pictured who would be holding her hand through labor or who would appear on the jumbotron beside her. It was always a blur, never clear enough to distinguish because there was never anyone she wanted enough.
But she'd play along for tonight.
"Well...he would have been tall because I couldn't be towering over him in my heels."
"Of course," Klaus said chuckling.
"And he'd be strong too so all that handy work around the house would get done. I'm not really good with loose floor boards and electrical switches."
"Is that so?"
She nodded. "I like my men strong," she pushed herself up and rolled them over so she was back on top of him, "And brave," she bent down and brushed her lips against his, "And tall," she trailed her fingers down his cheek.
"So that's all I needed, hmm? Just to possess the qualities of any average male?"
Caroline shook her head then and licked her lips. "No, believe it or not looks aren't everything. They're just a fraction of what really matters."
"I don't think you chose me based on my personality."
"First of all," she said, "I haven't chosen you. Second of all, I don't choose to spend my time with people who aren't remotely decent to me. Even though you may be somewhat good looking," he growled at that, "it wasn't exactly those charms that got me."
His face turned serious for a moment, eyebrows knitting together in confusion as he sat up. His arms wound around her and brought her up with him as if he was preparing for the coming conversation. They never discussed something like this before, never questioned each other's reasonings for doing the things they did. But he was about to receive an insight to the mysterious mind of Caroline Forbes.
"And why is that?"
She pursed her lips briefly, considering her next words. There wasn't any good way to explain it without making it sound as shallow as it did. But it was the truth and that's all he's ever wanted from her.
"I grew up with Elena Gilbert," Caroline started. "Beautiful, smart, talented, Elena Gilbert. Her parents were happily in love and she had a cute baby brother. She was kind and got good grades and helped everyone that needed anything. She was a walking saint. And then there was me...Caroline Forbes." She sighed, rolled her eyes before continuing. "Let's just say you wouldn't have liked me very much as a human."
He couldn't imagine never not liking her so her words only intrigued him. Klaus would be lying if he said the image of her as a human didn't spike his curiosity. That was a part of her life he never had a chance to be a part of and although he's thankful that she's a vampire now, it wasn't always that way.
"I highly doubt that." He said.
Caroline rolled her eyes. "It's okay, I'm over it. I was a shallow, spoiled brat who got whatever she wanted just so my mother didn't have to deal with me. I was Daddy's little girl even though Daddy was gay and left me. I was mean and heartless and drowned my sorrows in dances and cheerleading." She frowned and pressed her lips together softly. "But I tried hard, you know? I wanted people to like me and even though I was a little neurotic and a bit of a control freak..." Klaus raised his eyebrow at the word 'was', "I was nice. I mean with Matt I tried so hard for him to like me, to love me even. But I was never good enough. It was always her."
Klaus' arms tightened around her. He couldn't think of a life like that for Caroline. He had images of men falling at her feet, girls wanting to be her as she walked with such a confidence he had never known. If someone else were to have told him this he would have scoffed, not believing a word they said.
"I even liked Stefan in the beginning," she laughed at it because now it just seemed like the most ridiculous notion. "But even he couldn't be broken from her charms. She got everyone she wanted. And I know her parents died and her aunt and brother died and it's horrible and no one deserves that but...other people deserves things too."
"You deserve it all, Caroline." He whispered into her hair, pulling her closer to him.
She smiled softly. "Well here's the point where I finally get to you."
"Pins and needles here." Klaus smirked.
"So I'm a vampire now and I finally managed to find someone. I don't think I have to say his name." She wanted to leave it at that because even the subtle mention of Tyler had Klaus' eyes blackening. "Anyway," she continued, "it was my birthday and I was turning eighteen. I was upset because technically I would age but this is who I was going to be for the rest of eternity. And that was something hard to wrap my mind around. Also, it was bad enough that Tyler and I were already in a fight but to top it all off I was bitten...by him."
Klaus smiled devilishly.
Caroline rolled her eyes. "So I'm laying on my bed, dying may I add, and the big bad Original Hybrid comes waltzing in my room. I still don't understand why he did what he did, perhaps I was just some collateral damage like always. Never meaning to be in the crossfire yet somehow always finding myself with a wound in the heart." She sighed and splayed her fingers across his chest, resting over his heart. "But he came in my room and sat on the edge of my bed as if we've known each other for years. I was so confused and angry, not understanding what you were or why you hurt me. And then you were going on about traveling and the world, how there was so much for me to see. You knew I was struggling with this whole concept of eternity, of never aging and remaining who I was for the rest of forever.
"Then you asked if I wanted to live and for a second I reconsidered it. I never told anyone that because I wasn't suicidal, I was just confused. I didn't understand any of this yet. And then I have this thousand year old man telling me that it's worth it, that there's still so much that I haven't seen. No one's taken the time to have that talk with me. It was still all about Elena since you were after her and her safety is the number one priority. It didn't matter so much that I was struggling. And I probably didn't mean that much to you at the time and I may be over-thinking this but you caught my attention then...from the very beginning. And even though I denied it for so long...it was always there. It'll always be there."
"You'll always be worth it, Caroline, no matter what." He kissed her because he had no other words. Not all of his questions were answered but it was enough for now because she just confessed to him all the things she could never say. This was only for a weekend, they only had hours left of each other and he would make every second count. But this only opened his eyes to the fact that he didn't just want her for a weekend.
He wanted her forever.
"...Stefan...?" Caroline whispered, stepping towards him but Klaus yanked her back. He went to step in front of her, shielding her from Stefan's sight. But it only probed laughter from the newly returned ripper.
"You spent a decade crying over this guy and now you're with him again?" Stefan laughed in disbelief, shaking his head as he crossed his arms over his chest. "I could say I'm surprised but that'd be a lie."
She felt Klaus stiffen in front of her and she sighed. This isn't what they needed.
"We're not together," she said softly.
Klaus was barely listening now as his eyes were trained on the dead blondes behind Stefan. He was analyzing his every movement, eyes flickering with every step and twitch that Stefan was making. They shouldn't be here, it was wrong to ever come back. The last thing they needed was an unstable ripper on their trails, breathing down their necks for information that had no right to any ears but their own. He was looking for ways to escape, to snap his neck and make a run for it. They were already overstaying their welcome in the graveyard and he felt himself growing sicker at the sight of Rebekah's tombstone.
For a minute he could have sworn her laughter echoed as the wind blew past them. Everyone but Caroline stilled as she continued to fidget behind him. She didn't get it or at least she didn't hear it. For a moment Klaus' eyes shifted towards Stefan and he knew he heard the same thing. He considered, for only a mere second, letting this all go and simply leave him.
But that was insanity.
It happened so fast that Caroline didn't understand until she was being thrown back against the wall. Klaus was knocked down by the bodies and Stefan stood in front of her, eyes scanning her form as he smiled.
"It's been so long but I see the years have treated you well."
Her eyes flickered behind him to see Klaus pushing himself off the ground. She never had time to respond as Stefan soon fell to her feet. His neck was twisted to the side and as she studied his face more she saw tiny droplets of blood scattered along his cheek.
Even though vampires don't age he looked like a completely different person to her. There was something about his posture, how he held himself in front of her. The clothes were off too, more edgy than she thought he was capable of. But what shocked her most was how he looked at her, like she was a piece of meat, another person to brush out of the way. Not the one who got him through his darkest times, not the one who stuck by his side through all the Elena drama and ripper madness. He completely wrote her off and a part of it hurt more than it did with Klaus. Because at least he's somewhat back, at least he doesn't look at her like she's some stranger. She's someone to him, she always will be.
For a moment she just stared at his body, not knowing what to do. Klaus was preoccupied with the bodies of the women, dragging them into a pile by a clearing in the forest. Within minutes they were ignited, flames rising to the sky as the smell of burning flesh filled the air. It was then when he came over to her, kneeled down to grab Stefan and then walked off with him over his shoulder. When she didn't follow he stopped but never said anything, just waiting until she was ready.
With a final glance around the graveyard, Caroline closed her eyes. She wanted to forget this place, forget what she saw and go back to the airport or even the abandoned mansion that Klaus had called home. Anywhere but here.
She quickly caught up to him, urging him on to the street. A part of her wanted him to say something, words of comfort perhaps even though that was more than far fetched. She almost laughed at the idea of him comforting her now. He seemed so uncomfortable by her saddened face that he keep a great distance between them. It didn't matter that she sniffled or couldn't look him in the eyes once they reached the street of his home. All he was seeming to focus on was Stefan.
"What are you going to do with him?" She finally spoke as they entered the mansion.
Klaus walked down the hallway and into the sitting room. He nearly threw Stefan's body on the sofa and waltzed over to the station holding his liquor. His face seemed relatively placid as he poured the bourbon into his glass and sipped it quietly, never once looking at her.
"It's obvious he isn't here for what we intentionally thought and I can't have him knowing about it, especially in this state. I'll simply compel him to forget he saw us and we'll be on our way."
Caroline shook her head, trying to keep herself together. "We can't just leave him like this."
His eyes flashed eye yellow. "And we can't save every broken soul, Caroline."
She scoffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "I know you're under some curse right now and that it sucks but he's hurting too. A hundred years he's been hurting, Klaus, and-" she turned around, sucking in a slow breath and shrugged. "I never even knew." She whispered the last part, mostly to herself than anyone else. "I guess it's just routine though. Something important should happen and it's protocol to leave me out of it. I mean the bastard knew about you and Rebekah and everything in New Orleans and never even had the decency to tell me. He just left."
Klaus swallowed hard. "That isn't your fault."
"I could have done something. There's always something to do that will make things better. Maybe I could have gotten to you in more time and I would have been able to help Stefan through this. You both wouldn't be where you are now." She ran a hand through her hair and bit her lip, every part of her body beginning to shake. "Who does that? Who leaves and never comes back without a word? Not a phone call or a letter... I'm not worth an email? A text even? I mean I know he was hurting and everything but...I was his best friend or at least I thought I was."
"Caroline-"
She shook her head. "Just...this isn't over. Keep him down for a little longer while I think."
"You have an hour." He said sharply.
Caroline ignored his tone and headed up the stairs, waving him off. "Whatever."
Why did she care so much? Why did she insist on saving every damn person in distress?
It was bad enough he had her trailing behind him but now Stefan too? The man that deserted her for a hundred years without a saying a thing? At least he had the decency to tell her it was over.
Even though it was all a lie.
She was broken because of it, had no one's shoulder to lean on through those years. And now she's conflicted. But he knows what she'll end up doing and he'll be damned if he lets any of it happen.
Klaus was just about to head up the stairs when the springs on the couch squeaked. He whipped around to see Stefan already standing by the door. He was brushing himself off, smiling slightly as his eyes flickered upwards to the ceiling. They both heard Caroline pacing, muttering things to herself as she entered her room. Klaus balled his hands into fists, eyes blazing as he stared at him.
"She's always been like that. Don't know why though." He chuckled darkly. "It's kind of a annoying."
"I think it's best if you leave."
Stefan nodded his head, lips pursed out slightly as he studied Klaus. "I suppose. Although…."
Klaus shook his head. "You can leave now or watch me tear your heart from your chest. The choice is yours."
"Caroline would never forgive you."
"She's pretty upset right now. I'm sure in a few centuries she'd get over it and we both know I have all the time in the world."
Stefan considered this. "I suppose so. But I don't think you want me to leave just yet seeing as I hold very...valuable information."
Klaus remained silent and set his drink down on the table. He listened for Caroline upstairs but found her still, only the sound of her breathing filling his ears.
"I don't believe you." He finally said.
"Shocker there. You don't seem to trust much of anyone. Must be a lonely life."
"I don't need anyone to complete my life. Now I'll give you five seconds to flee my home or I'll throw you out myself."
They both seemed to start counting down.
5
4
3
2
1
"Time's up." Klaus smirked and flashed over to him within seconds, hand breaking through his chest cavity. But Caroline was already running down the stairs during the countdown, had stepped in front of Stefan and was now staring at the hand shoved through her chest.
She gasped. "Klaus-"
He didn't realize until his choked out name reached his ears. She barely remembers his hand being pulled back he did it so fast and when it was out she stumbled, eyes wide from the pain. Stefan was smiling behind them, studying the two with a look on his face like he was remembering something. He shook his head briefly before stepping away and fleeing the house.
Klaus hardly noticed the escape, too occupied on which emotion to let in first. There were only two of them: blinding rage and absolute guilt. She shouldn't have been so careless, trying to save a man who obviously didn't want to be saved. But of course she was listening in the whole time, knew him too well to know he wouldn't just let Stefan go.
Apparently he couldn't be abandoned, no matter what he did or the things he said Stefan would always be Stefan; her best friend, knight in shining armor. A man who, for some reason, always got the redeeming card, was never once questioned if he was worth it or not. It always seemed to be implied that he was because he was a good guy, a great man, never doing any harm. But Klaus could tell by the look on Caroline's face that all those years alone, without him, couldn't be brushed off so easily.
She was still clutching her chest, standing a few feet away from him. Her breathing was ragged and slow and he saw blood still trickling down her shirt. He let the horror sink in for only a brief moment. If he hadn't noticed in time, if he didn't take that extra second to think, she could be dead at his feet. He could be holding her still heart in his hands because he was too blinded by rage.
"Caroline-" Her name was all he could say, the three syllables rolling off his lips as he looked at her with stone cold features. He couldn't relay anymore emotion than that and even took a step back, thinking she wouldn't want him anywhere near her.
She only looked at him, eyes wide but not with fear. He couldn't distinguish what was flashing through her mind and before he had time to say anything else she was gone, running through the front door and completely out of his sight.
In times like these, when she couldn't see straight and felt like her heart was going to explode from her chest, she would call him.
Stefan was always her first person, the one she'd call when things seemed to be falling apart. He could always bring her back, make her see the bigger picture. Sometimes it wasn't the end of the world, it just appeared to be. And when she could finally breathe again she would thank him, whisper a goodbye and hang up. The world would be on the edge of making sense again and she'd smile against the tears.
But now she was running through a deserted city, clutching her blood soaked chest, on shaky legs that couldn't seem to move fast enough. She had nowhere to go and no one to turn to.
She wondered if Klaus would come after her soon and not because he was worried but because of this damned city. As she walked through the streets she got an eerie feeling, as if someone was watching her from the shadows. It made the hairs on her arm stand up and for a moment she wished she hadn't left. It would have been easier if she ran back upstairs, slammed the door and refused to come out. But it was something about being in the same house as him, hearing his breathing and see those emotionless features stare back at her, as if all of it meant nothing.
Honestly, when she ran in front of Stefan, she had no idea what Klaus' intentions were. She thought the worst that would happen was she'd be thrown back against a wall, have him hold her up by her throat or slam her against something. And then he'd realize it was her and everything would be over. Stefan would be fine and sure she would have suffered but only briefly.
But when she felt his hand break through her chest cavity, when she saw the blood pour out onto her clothes, shock ran through her. He didn't register in time, too blinded by the rage to notice her swoop in to save the day. And she expected it, she knew he wasn't going to notice but to react so quickly...to not realize until her struggling breath reached his ears.
He didn't mean it, his anger wasn't directed towards her and she knows it was wrong to get in the way like that. With every ounce of her she tried to brush it off, tried not to let it affect her as he stared at her with this look of horror on his face. She barely heard Stefan make his escape, all she could do was stare blankly. And just when she was ready to say something, just when she was thinking of reassuring him that look appeared on his face. This emotionless, cold look that chilled every bone in her body. She went rigid and for a minute she thought he had flipped it again, perhaps not voluntary, but something had happened and he wasn't himself again. That was something she couldn't deal with.
When she heard her name come from the stranger in front of her she bolted, not being able to stand one more minute in front of him.
Maybe this all really was a bad idea. She should have had Kol go with him, figured out Stefan for themselves while she went after Elena in London. It was too soon to get involved with him, he wasn't himself and he's not ready for any of this yet. She made a mistake. It was all one big-
Her phone began ringing and she jumped, forgetting she even had the thing in her pocket. She contemplated not looking at it at all and when it stopped, she sighed. But then it began again and she rolled her eyes, taking it out of her pocket to see Kol's name flashing on the screen. Caroline hesitated briefly before sliding the unlock button.
She took one breath.
"Busy are we, darling?"
It wasn't who she was expecting but for some reason relief flooded through her. She didn't want to deal with Kol because she knew if his voice came up on the other end she'd spill. He didn't need to know about Klaus because she knew his mind would jump to every bad conclusion out there. Even though it wasn't Klaus' intention she knew Kol would never see it that way.
"Not really," she breathed out, licking her lips slowly as she took a seat on the curb. The street around her was empty and the wind blew bits of debris past her. She kept her ears open though because even if the place seemed lifeless, it was still New Orleans. Nothing she ever heard about it was good.
"Kol's busy with some business with the witches and told me to check in. We haven't heard from you two in a while."
She suddenly remembered that was supposed to call when they landed. "I'm sorry. It completely slipped my mind." Her voice was thick and she tried clearing her throat but it was no use. All she felt was the tightness in her chest, his hand as it slowly curled around her heart. She covered her mouth with her hand and tried breathing, tried focusing on anything else but that.
"Darling?"
She didn't respond, couldn't if she wanted to blow her cover.
"Are you still there? Is everything alright? Don't tell me I've been hung up on."
"No," Caroline choked out. "Sorry there's really bad reception here."
"Are you sure it's just that? Because I can hear you perfectly fine, the crying and all."
She closed her eyes. "Enzo…."
"What did the bloke do now?"
"Nothing, he didn't do anything. It's fine."
"You're not a very good liar."
Caroline sighed. "Everything's under control, okay? We just ran into a little problem."
"And that is…?"
Her eyes glanced from side to side and she listened to her surroundings before answering. "Stefan. We found him at the graveyard where Rebekah's buried. I guess it wasn't only Klaus who decided he didn't need his emotions anymore."
Enzo was quiet for a moment and Caroline took the opportunity to begin walking. She had to head back sooner or later and she figured walking back would clear her head enough.
"And he's creating problems for you two?" He finally said. There was some shuffling in the background and she heard talking, a man and a woman. If she couldn't guess any better she'd say they were arguing.
"He claims he knows something important but he was only pushing Klaus' buttons."
"Kol suggests you leave, move on to Mystic Falls. We'll be leaving for London shortly to gather your friend."
Caroline nodded. "I'll tell Klaus when I get back."
"Why are you out alone?"
"Just...needed some air."
"Well I suggest you get back. We can't have anything happening to that gorgeous head of yours."
Caroline laughed and she found herself smiling as she turned down Klaus' street. "Even though I find you still incredibly annoying, I'll give you props for making me laugh."
"I'll take whatever I can get."
"I'll talk to you later, Enzo."
"Stay safe, gorgeous."
He hung up just as she got to the front steps. Her hand hovered over the doorknob as she debated whether or not to go in. She could take another walk around the block but sooner or later she'd have to end up here. With one more deep breath and a few words of encouragement, Caroline barged in. But instead of finding Klaus standing in the foyer, she found someone else.
Stefan was licking a few drops of blood from his fingers as he looked up to Caroline. His eyes were bright and alive as he walked slowly towards her. The way her body went rigid made the veins under his eyes pop out and he was in front of her within seconds. His hand came to her neck as he squeezed it, laughing while she choked.
"Now," he whispered in her ear, "when you wake up, please tell Klaus I would like a word with him."
She didn't have time to answer before her neck was snapped and she fell to the floor.
As Stefan walked along Bourbon Street, his phone rang. The number on the caller ID made him smile.
"Yes, master?"
"I prefer king, but whatever you like."
"I did it if that's what you're calling about."
There was a dark chuckle on the other end of the line. "Good, that's all I wanted. When will he see you."
"Should be any minute now. I couldn't imagine he went far with her here."
"And you'll lead him to Mystic Falls, give him the information he needs?"
"Bonnie Bennett's name will be written all over the spell by the time we're done speaking."
"Excellent."
Stefan stood straighter, his chin up high. "My business with you is done, I presume. I do have other things to occupy my life with besides your mindless revenge."
"Be on standby for now."
He rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say."
Hey! I know it's been a while but here it is! I'm hoping it makes up for the delay.
I hope you all liked it (especially the beginning because that was my favorite) and obviously the rest. Stefan isn't really making the best of friends but if you read anything of mine before (Chained to Me) you'll know that this is going to remain a secret for a while as well as most of their plans. I'll drop hints but I love surprising people, it makes it all the more fun!
Leave me your thoughts, comments, concerns, whatever they are! I love reading them! (:
For next chapter expect a trip but maybe not exactly to where you're thinking...
Also, a quick note, keep a lookout for my sequel to Chained to Me, "Unchained"! Thank you all for the support with the announcement and I'm excited that you're all so thrilled.
To anyone who celebrates Thanksgiving I hope you had a great one, good luck Black Friday shopping to anyone who dares and have a great weekend (:
