Chapter 8
Just please don't say you love me
'Cause I might not say it back
Doesn't mean my heart stops skipping when you look at me like that
- Gabrielle Aplin
PRESENT DAY.
New Orleans.
"There's my girl. I was wondering when you'd show up." Klaus stormed towards her, his hands reaching to her and suddenly tightened it around her throat and she felt herself being lifted off her feet. Her eyes flew up while she tried hard to catch her breath – choking sounds escaped her lips as she strained to loosen his clutch. He was awfully strong for her. Or for any other, she concluded.
"Oh my god, Katherine!" Hayley gasped in utter horror. Elijah glanced at her and then at his brother and shut his eyes close.
"I've wanted to do this since the day you pricked me with a bloody needle," he shook her head hard watching her suffer, a satisfying curve on his lips. "You do remember that day, don't you?"
"Niklaus," Elijah placed his hand slowly on his brother's shoulders and demanded. "Let the girl go."
"Tell her to get me the bloody moonstone!" He screamed. "Then, maybe I'll let her live."
"We can sort this out like civil people," Elijah muttered looking at Katherine still fighting for her breath. She could sense the whole room confining her, as her head rush made her feel like she was about to pass out any second.
"Nik," Rebekah yelled in dismay. "Stop it! You're killing her."
"She's too darling to die, Nik..." Kol spoke swaying towards Klaus, trying hard to persuade Klaus to let her go. Every one of his siblings knew what rage does to him – how it blinded him of what right or wrong is. He could kill the girl right in front of them, without even thinking twice about it – no matter the consequences. "Nik, come on. Leave her…" Kol muttered, a trace of slur in his voice. "You don't wanna kill her."
Henrik stood still unsure of what to do or say. He knew his brothers were hell bent on getting their revenge and for that he agreed, but this was wrong... But he knew Klaus too. He hates being told what to do, it's his way and there is no other option. Even when Henrik knew Klaus would never snap at him, he didn't say anything to stop it because it wouldn't have made a difference. Klaus fought for those who he loved; his family and would abolish any threats to them. His temper was a disease that no one seems to have the cure to. At least not yet.
"Klaus!" Her voice was enough to let him loosen his grip. He didn't want her to see his true self – the self that could beat people up mercilessly, the side with no humanity and the side that could kill for his family if it came to that. Although he's never done it, he knew he would. He had a feeling that Caroline would be afraid of him and look at him differently than she did now. He knew Caroline had grown fond of him and he couldn't let a barrier grow right back up.
"Oh my god!" She ran downstairs as fast as she could, stealing glances over at the struggling lady whose knees were bent as Klaus had his hands gripped hard around her neck.
"Stop it!" He immediately let go of her, only to watch her fall to the floor, panting for air. Her entire face had gotten red and she coughed holding on to her neck as she could still feel his fingers grasping her throat.
Furiously, Caroline pushed Klaus aside before kneeling beside the girl. Caroline brushed her hair out of her face and her eyes widened as she recognized the familiar face. "Elena!?" She was startled at first until a rush of contentment ran through her as she faintly fathomed the purpose behind her friend's presence, and she knew it was her. Her friend had come for her, to help her out of there and Caroline always thought they'd move on and she would be forgotten like tears in the rain. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe she isn't as worthless as she thought she was. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, Care," she said in a brittle voice, still suffering from the aftermath of Klaus' cruel claws that dug into her throat, moments before. "Just running from time until I broke a heel." Caroline helped her up to her feet. Her face flushed in understanding as a wave of realization hit her. They may be identical but that was definitely not Elena. "Katherine...?" Caroline said in a hushed manner. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in Paris?" She shot an angry glare at Klaus. "And what is going on!?"
"I was," She said. And before she could elaborate more she was interrupted by Klaus.
"And then she heard about your abduction and came running in hopes that she could betray us once again," Klaus completed with pride.
"Once again?" Caroline scoffed. "You guys know each other?"
"You could say that, Care…" Katherine replied and then looked back at Klaus. "And no. That's actually not what happened. I couldn't get any direct flights from Paris to Mystic Falls, yesterday so I settled for a one that would take me to Houston city instead. And then, I met her," Katherine pointed at Hayley. "She was kind enough to offer me a lift. And we were on our way when the car broke down and she had alarms of false labour beeping up." In the midst of all chaos, Caroline hadn't noticed her presence but as she glanced at Hayley, it all came haunting back to her and she wanted to just storm out of the room. The betrayal she had suffered from Tyler may not be fresh but it still hurt her a little bit. They shared an awkward look. Katherine turned around, her brown waves flipping over her shoulder. Then she muttered under her breath. "And I didn't know they kidnapped you."
"Oh really?" Rebekah crossed her arms and cocked her head. "So it all just happened right next to our home? Right around the time Caroline goes missing and right after your tragic failure of the rescue team?" She spoke as she shifted from one foot to the other. "It's kinda hard to believe, don't you think?" Of course. They should have known to delay this whole thing, but they were frantic.
Katherine smiled, sarcastically at the blonde, trying to hide the apprehension building in her. "Yes. And your point?"
Rebekah's eyes bore into Katherine as she remained still, and a faint smile coated on her face. And then without saying anything else she trooped away, walking past Elijah and grabbed the backpacks from the guards. "Then you wouldn't mind this, now would you sweets?"
Katherine tensed her shoulders and balled her fists nervously. Rebekah had literally thrown out all her and Hayley's clothes off to the floor, in just a second and kept digging through her clothes until she found a cell phone in Katherine's backpack. She hummed satisfyingly as she scrolled down, reading her messages. Then she threw it over to her brother and Klaus caught it, effortlessly. Katherine's face clouded in defeat and she glanced at Hayley who shook her head and gave a look that clearly said, 'We're screwed,'
"If what you're saying is true," He lifted his chin. "Then why does your sister want to know whether you're okay and if you've found Caroline?" He questioned her, still going through her phone. "And Damon wants to know whether you and Caroline are safe?" the corners of his mouth turned up, drew nearer to Katherine, staring into nothing. He was undoubtedly hatching a plot in his evil mind and Caroline just knew, because of the satiating look he gave Katherine, what he was thinking was clearly wretched. "Now, you are going to text them back and say, all is well. That everything is going according to the plan and you could not text them sooner because you ran into some real car troubles." Klaus said in a demanding tone and something told Katherine that she had to do as she was told.
"And why would she even consider doing that?" Caroline crossed her arms.
"Because, I said so, sweetheart," Klaus replied and Caroline scoffed, annoyed by his arrogant behavior.
After Katherine was done with it, Klaus grabbed the phone from her and said, "I'll hold on to it, until next time," She let out a crushed sigh.
"Now, darling, let's cut to the chase, shall we?" Kol ran a finger down her curls that made her shiver. She began to fidget, by the cold stare he was frozen in. Caroline gave Klaus a warning look, to which he shrugged making her so annoyed she swore she could slap him across the face. "Where's the bloody moonstone that you stole from us?"
"Kol, get away from her," Caroline gave him a little shove on his shoulder.
"Fine, Care-doll," He pursed his lips in approval and turned his attention back to the brunette. "But I'm gonna need that answer."
"I don't know," Katherine replied, taking a step back. "I was told to steal it."
"By whom? May I ask?" Elijah smirked.
"A woman..." She was hesitant to reveal her name. Klaus did not miss the twitch beneath her eyes as she went on. "I don't know her name – she just –"
"No. You do. Now let's try that again." Klaus threateningly moved forward, with his teeth gritted. "Who asked you to steal it? Don't lie to me."
"I don't –" He grabbed her chin tightly and she was cut off.
"Klaus! Don't touch her!"
"Well, then, Caroline," he let go and looked right at Caroline as he continued. "Make her tell where it is. Because that stone is rather important to us and we need it."
Caroline did not understand what he meant by a 'moonstone' or why it was so important to them. She saw the desperation in his eyes and almost felt it for an instant. Also, she feared that Katherine would get hurt again.
"Where's this stone Kat...?" Caroline asked.
"Caroline, listen to me," Katherine's voice was tremulous as she jumbled out the words and Caroline observed the unease of her friend. "That stone – if he gets his hands on it – we'll all die,"
The siblings all sneered, exchanging glances, as if she had told a punchline of a hysterical joke. She ignored them and continued her side of the story to Caroline, who was absolutely interested in hearing it. "I was told it was a grenade and if he uses it – everyone within a hundred thousand kilometers will turn to ash which is why he shouldn't have it. They need it to wage a war against some innocent people –"
"And who fed you those lies?" Klaus's shoulders slumped.
"Are they!? Are they lies?" Katherine asked satirically, almost scowling at him. "Judging by what you're already doing – kidnapping my friend – you couldn't possibly want the stone for decorative purposes."
"No, I'd rather have your heart and head for that matter."
"Klaus!" Caroline hissed. She clenched her eyes shut a moment and rubbed her forehead. "Okay, what stone!?"
"You see, that stone is what opens the damned box that contains evidence against all the council members back at your home," Kol explained. "Obviously someone from Mystic Falls must have pushed you towards stealing it from us just so it'd remain a secret."
"Evidence?" Caroline glanced at everyone, who quickly looked away from her gaze, to ignore her question. A lot of questioned swiveled around in her head.
"No... What? No one from Mystic Falls asked me to steal it..." Katherine began thinking. "But she told me –"
"She is a liar," Rebekah interfered. "It's no silly grenade. The casket – that is a grenade. If we try to open it without the moonstone – then it'll turn everything to ash."
It couldn't be, Katherine thought. Rose would never lie to her… There was no reason to. Besides, why else would Rose want her to steal it if it wasn't to save lives? But why had Rose always acted strange when she questioned more about the entire thing? She never revealed further about it… She never even gave the name of the person who wanted the stone. Rose had always shut the conversation by saying it wasn't important. At first, Katherine felt a bit wavered to accept her prize as she knew nothing about this man who offered her enough money and help her settle in Paris.
"What evidence?" Caroline asked again, giving them a confused look.
"Who was this, lady?" Elijah ignored her question, making her scoff in annoyance. She always knew there was something they were all hiding from her – especially Klaus. And he wanted it to be hidden.
Katherine closed her eyes, "She told me a man wanted to hire me to take it from you... I don't know who he is – I swear –"
"Her name," Elijah orotundly demanded. "Unless you want to drag in the rest of the Gilberts and your precious Salvatore into a redundant mayhem."
I was right, she thought. They knew. They knew everything. She had been exposed and their phenomenal plan had been crushed right before her eyes. She blinked with feigned innocence as Elijah's intent gaze drilled right through her. And there was nothing she could do other than surrender.
"Rose-Mary," she clenched her fist and squeezed her eyes shut. "Her name's Rose-Mary."
Chewelah, WA.
"Wow, I could get used to this," Kai scoffed stretching his arms over his head and letting out a loud sigh.
"This is definitely a sight to behold," Jeremy agreed with Kai. From a distance, they could see the lavish green forest fringed by the golden beaches and emerald sea lined by high swaying coconut trees. The peace and silence of the surrounding was only cracked by the chirping of birds and the leaves that rattled for the soft breeze. On the opposite side were houses all arranged in a linear fashion.
"If both of you are done enjoying the view," Tyler's interruption pulled them out of their awe-inspiring relaxation they were reveling in. "I'd like to get on with what we really came here to do…?" He turned around and began walking towards the houses, looking down at the cell phone in his hands. He heard Kai's unhappy low grunt from behind as they started following him.
"If Carollie were here right now," Kai complained as he strolled beside Tyler. "We'll be laughing our asses off and relishing in this all – very glorious moment." He continued. "Hey, maybe we should come back here after all this is over!" his ardent tone reflected the budding optimism in him. He took the cellphone from Tyler and glanced at the picture of the tiny worn out cottage-like house. "We're here…" he mumbled to himself, coming to a halt as he took in the sight of what stood before them – the house that once upon a time used to be the Mikaelsons' home. "Man, if only that were drooping candy." He scoffed.
"When we get her back…" Tyler murmured ignoring Kai, burned by the mention of Caroline's absenteeism, earning a look from both Kai and Jeremy. "Anyway," he raised his eyebrows together, "I am going to the police station, and Jeremy will be at the hospital," he then faced Kai who gave a quick nod understandingly and alleged in an undertone, keeping his gaze firm on the houses. "Interrogating every single damn soul in this neighborhood. It should be….. Fun, right?"
New Orleans
Katherine was being dragged by Caroline into her room, as the backpack in her hand flapped on her leg. Once they were inside she closed the door behind her, turned around and crossed her arms against her chest, dissatisfaction gleaming in her eyes.
"Explain." She said.
"I know you're upset, Caroline –"
"Upset!?" Caroline hissed at Katherine, bending forwards and her arms flying out of its crossed position. "I am angry! Furious! I'm practically sputtering the rage out of my body and you think I'm upset!?"
"Caroline," Katherine slowly touched her shoulders and tilted her head. "We were curious to get you out of this place and this was the only way to do it." She let out a nervous smile.
"So you show up here with the slut!?" Caroline shrieked. "Katherine – she –"
"That was Elena and Bonnie's idea," Katherine rolled her eyes. "They didn't want me to come here alone and it was only I who haven't lived in Mystic Falls for a long time. So we figured they wouldn't really trace my being here to your kidnapping," she realized the scene from earlier, when Caroline raised her eyebrows at her. "Obviously, I was mistaken..."
"Ugh, Katherine!" Caroline glanced up the ceiling rubbing her temples. "I can't believe you guys actually thought that I'd be okay with her being on my rescue squad," She made a wheezy noise. "I mean, she has Tyler's child growing inside of her! You know Tyler? My boyfriend for nine years – Tyler Lockwood?"
"Yes Care," Katherine said. "I know who Tyler is and I know how hard it must be for you to stand in the same room as her. But – look, I've a plan okay? To get you out of here. Then, you won't have to deal with Hayley. Let's just hope that it works." She inclined her head.
"Wait, what do you mean 'a plan'?"
"Don't worry about it," Katherine beamed. "I'll tell you when it's time. But right now," Katherine playfully chuckled as her smiled sparkled with mischief. She jabbed her hand into the backpack and pulled out a pink shopping bag quickly holding it out for Caroline.
Caroline looked at the bag then at Katherine with a strangled expression.
"It's a dress," Katherine said. "I, uh, bought gifts for everyone when I heard that Lena got engaged… Because I knew I had to – return sometime soon for the wedding because she wouldn't… Have it without me." She forced a smile on her miniature face. "I'm the maid of honour, duh." She scoffed nervously.
Suddenly there was an aura of grey around them. It was a mist that wouldn't rise as it reminded them of the last long years without Katherine. How could she just leave them behind? Her family, her home? Wasn't it enough? Why didn't she want to be in their lives any longer? Caroline did understand the tragedy that struck Katherine – but Elena and Jeremy suffered the same fate too. And she had her family and friends to help her get through it – she had Damon and yet she hadn't even stopped to say goodbye. It was as though she wanted to vanish from their lives and it was painful to think that she didn't need any of them. A faint smile slowly faded on her lips as she looked up at Katherine with gloom.
"Why?" She sighed out loudly. "Why did you just leave like that, Katherine? I mean, whatever you were going through, we would all have been there for you and you knew that. But you just… Left. I thought we were all closer than that. I just… We were all a family – did you not want us?"
Katherine pulled her friend into a hug as her eyes clouded with tears. "No, Care, of course not," She said in breathy voice, as Caroline hugged her back. "I grew up with all of you. You were all my family and I love you – more than anything… It's just…" As Katherine closed her eyes, a teardrop fled, finding an easy trail down her cheek. "It was hard. It still is. I don't know how to explain…" She quickly wiped the tear off and pulled Caroline away with a smile.
"But I know I owe you all one, so, how about we get your ass out of here and I will. When we are all together and safe, like old times?" She tilted her head, forcing a smile to strain and push back her tears. "That sound okay, right?"
"Right," Caroline said under her breath, wiping off the tears from the back of her hand. "Okay."
"Now go try that dress on and see if it fits." She said.
When she came out, she looked magnificent. The hemline of the strapless silver dress reached just above the knee and accentuated her thin waist and hugged her hips and flared a bit.
"Wow," Katherine walked towards her friend, and stood beside her in front of the mirror. "You look amazing as always, Care."
"Oh, my god!" Caroline squeaked, looking at her own reflection, amused by the beautiful dress she wore. "This is so fabulous! I can't believe I'm actually wearing it."
Katherine too joined her screeches and laughter, hugging her friend from a side, complimenting her as they hopped on their toes like three year old. They have surely missed each other's company and they haven't laughed together in years and yet, it wasn't strange. There was no void space.
Katherine's joy was short lived as she was startled when Klaus let himself in to the room without a knock, as usual, wearing his arrogant smile and flashing his dimples that faded as soon as he saw Caroline. His eyes cruised her figure in a sweeping motion until he met her eyes. His stare at her was sharp, as if creased with shards of glass around the edges and Katherine swore she heard a gasp escaping through his lips. The calculating tenderness at the center drew him in and it betrayed no feelings to those that surrounded him. Well, except for Caroline.
Katherine scrutinized their gaze with intensity, pin ponging her eyes between Klaus and Caroline for several seconds before Caroline broke it off.
"What?" She snapped, still crossed at him for his behavior towards Katherine.
"I – was, uh, I – came," he stammered. "To say that, dinner is ready."
"Okay," Caroline said, timidly and cleared her throat, observing Klaus. "We'll be down there…"
Mystic Falls, Virginia.
"Heard from Katherine?" Stefan asked walking into the Damon's bedroom. He just got out of the shower and had a towel wrapped around his waist as he walked towards his closet.
"Yup!" He threw his cell phone at Stefan and he caught it. "She's in and everything's going according to the plan."
"Hmm," Stefan murmured checking the messages. Damon wore his shirt and jeans, coming over to Stefan and took his cell phone, with a smirk. "And if she doesn't screw this up, Carebear will be home in no time!"
"And Katherine?" Stefan lowered his chin and gave his older brother the judgy look.
"She'll probably run for the hills or disappear or blow up – kaboom! I don't know and I don't care."
"Will you cut it out?"
"What?"
"We all know it's an act..."
"Act?" Damon frowned. "What are you talking about Stef?"
"Damon," he moved closer to Damon and slapped on his chest with the back of his hand. "You're my brother and no one, besides me knows you better than I do. Holding that status, I'm gonna say that you're doing a terrible job at this. Why don't you talk to her?"
"There's nothing to talk about –"
"You're still in love with her." Stefan calmly said. Damon glanced at Stefan and stayed quiet, not knowing what to say. "There is something to talk about." He smiled patting on Damon's shoulders, before walking out and leaving Damon to think about his statement, in the solitary room. He knew his little brother was right and everything he tried to do to deny it, just keeps blowing up on his face and yet his ego wouldn't allow him to agree to it.
Liz Forbes was lost into a deep thought of none other than her daughter. She hadn't received any calls from the kidnapper and this had her worrying more than ever. She couldn't even send a rescuing teams and the New Orleans Police had disagreed to cooperate any further due to the respect they had for the Mikaelsons and also because of their vain attempt. Now, she couldn't do anything other than wait and it was driving her to the point of insanity.
Is Caroline alive? Was the kidnapper hurting her because of the delayed appearance of Bill Forbes? Where was he anyway? He had promised to be in Mystic Falls by morning but he never showed up. Liz had absolutely no idea how she was going to handle it if Bill wouldn't come. But she knew, if she had to she would trade her life for Caroline's. She would expose the council, including herself if it meant that Caroline would be free of them. She wouldn't let her daughter pay for her sins.
The doorbell rang twice, staggering her from her thoughts.
She opened the door and just stood there for a few seconds, frozen to the spot not knowing how to react. Her hand stopped dead, mouth fell open, and eyes widened as the vivid evocation of the past loaded back into her as she stared at the figure standing on her porch with a vague smile.
"Bill."
New Orleans.
Rich courses of various types of meat, garden vegetables and fruit were served as cutlery clinked to a rhythm of delight.
Elijah and Henrik were seated at the end of the massive table -piled high- for a change. The Mikaelsons were having brief conversations about various subjects whilst Hayley and Katherine, seated across each other were drowning in awkwardness. They pushed their food around their china plates, eyeing each other continuously.
"Why aren't you on the menu?" Kol had asked Katherine, mockingly as she high-heeled into the immense dining room, as ordered, in her cerise low-cut designer top that complimented her model figure and skinny black jeans, leading Hayley in leggings and a grey sweater.
Although he was a nuisance, she had to agree that he was a major ice-breaker at the table and he made both her and Hayley comfortable to an extent they hadn't known that they could reach. Besides, either she had resided in too long in Paris, or Caroline had fitted into the table perfectly. She didn't know them that well, but she could literally feel their solid tie.
"So Nik, are you gonna pass me the gravy or keep rubbing your leg with Care-doll's?" Kol said, with a mischievous grin. Henrik rolled his eyes at his elder brother's behavior. Rebekah kicked Kol under the table with her rhinestone boots as hard as she could. They had been developing something too precious with Caroline and she didn't want to ruin that by scaring her off easily.
Klaus raised his head so he could stare directly at Kol. "Kol, what do I say…." He trailed.
"Manners broth–" Elijah's words were cut off with Klaus's sudden leap.
The girls watched in absolute horror as Klaus, quicker than a lightning bolt, grabbed an unused butter knife from the table and lashed it across at Kol. Red flushed in their faces and they gaped with wide eyes as the knife plunged into the plush red leather just a few inches above Kol's head. He had not flinched, let alone stirred in his chair.
"Ah!" Hayley was so startled, that she didn't realize she had been squeezing Elijah's hand with all her force.
"Oh, my god! Seriously, Klaus!?" Caroline spoke as shock stroke her, eyeing Klaus furiously. "You – you could have killed him!"
"Don't act surprised, ladies. Nik never misses the bull's eye." Kol said, plainly unbothered. Rebekah and Henrik snickered while Elijah just shook his head, contritely. Klaus grinned conceitedly at Caroline, however as realization commenced him, he knew he shouldn't have done that. He had scared her. Again…
"What…?"Katherine was staggered to see them act so tranquil about what had just happened. They were smiling and snickering as if it were something that happened every day – something usual and that thought caused an unease piercing through her and she felt bilious. Katherine, her face pale with dismay, questioned as if she dreaded the answer. "Who the hell are you people!?"
"We are the Mikaelsons, darling." Kol replied with a triumphant beam.
Caroline was still in shock when Klaus' hand found hers' on her lap and gave it a small squeeze, setting her heartbeat to a faster rhythm. She jolted her hand away and stared down at her plate.
Katherine's glare traveled with unnerving thoroughness to meet with Hayley's across the table, who shared the same look of terror.
What have they gotten themselves into...?
"Hello, love." Klaus said walking into her room after slightly knocking. She was sitting on the side of the huge bed watching some television with glassy eyes. Caroline needed to relax after the stressful Mikaelson dinner; she had to calm herself a little bit, from the knife flinging chaos. She didn't want to think about everyone back at home, especially her mother as it made her sad...
She evidently ignored Klaus who stood beside to her. The television light reflected off her eyes, concluding her lack of concentration.
"I see you're still irate about everything that happened tonight?" He asked innocently, clasping his hands behind him. She scoffed and went back to ignoring him. He kept standing there awkwardly not knowing how to start the conversation. He never tried this hard – or tried at all ever before. But his heart was at unease because Caroline had seen the rage that he didn't know how to control. Before Caroline, he didn't even worry about it and today he felt revolted by it and eager to never let her see it again.
Klaus inhaled, trying to collect the words to spill. "Caroline, I…" He trailed. She could hear the sincerity in his voice and that caused her to revert her attention to Klaus from the T.V.
"I'm sorry you had to see that," He paused, waiting for Caroline to utter at least a word but instead she kept tracking his gaze for a moment, thinking about everything that's been happening. "Caroline –"
"Klaus," she intervened.
He looked at her sincerely and sat next Caroline, not breaking off the eye contact even for a second.
"I haven't seen my Dad since like – the third grade," She quivered. "I don't even remember the last time I saw him. He left us and never called to see how I was doing or to see whether I was alive – he didn't even show up for my graduation… Not that I knew where he lived to send him an invitation." She scoffed, shaking her head and Klaus could feel the sadness around her. She must really miss her Father. "And I get it... More than you think I do – you have grudges against my father and the Council and you want revenge for the sake of your family… " She turned around to face Klaus, and folded her hands in her lap. "I don't know... You may think that I do – but I don't know anything about the council and their secrets and I have no idea where my Dad is."
"Caroline," Klaus held her shoulders, looking into her eyes. "What are you trying to say, Sweetheart?"
She jerked his hands away. "This! You're trying to seduce me by making me think that you actually care about me. But, Klaus...? I'm telling the truth, I don't know anything about them. I really don't. So just – stop, okay? I don't want to be a part of it – I can't be in the middle of whatever your family has against mine – so leave me out of it! I'm done playing the backup all the time."
The words all the time had stuck to him although he ignored it for the time being. Feeling her frustration, Klaus wanted to blurt everything out. Emotions he never knew he had swirled around his head and at that moment he wanted to tell her. He had to fight with all his strength to resist the urge he never knew he had to. He was fighting a battle with his mind, and for a second there he wanted to lose. For her.
"I don't – I'm not trying to get secrets out of you, Caroline." He said. "I could never do that to you… you should know that by now."
"And I'm supposed to believe that?" Caroline glared at him, getting up from the bed and turning around to face him.
"It's up to you, love. It's not a bluff and I believe you can contemplate that." He said in a relaxed pace, as he slowly swayed on his feet, towards Caroline who kept taking steps back. Her heart was racing beyond her control and she kept moving away until her back hit the wall but that didn't stop Klaus from coming closer and closer. Caroline found herself caged close between his chest and the wall, his palms pressed to the wall on either side of her head and the dangerously small space between them was not the only problem because Klaus' had trapped her gaze with Caroline's and she couldn't break it off this time. She wanted him like he wanted her. His eyes were like blazing blue fire and it was as though the clocks had stopped ticking and the universe had come to a halt. It was like the deep ocean where she could drown for eternity.
He leaned in closer, and planted a kiss just right beneath her lips and that made her tremor slightly. Klaus felt Caroline's hand against his chest and he kissed her once more before letting her drown in again.
"It's real. For me." He blinked several times before their trance was broken off by jovial voices soaring from the door. Caroline quickly pushed Klaus away and he willingly backed off, looking awkwardly at both Kol, Rebekah and Henrik.
"Care-doll! Ohhhkh!" Kol said and his eye went round. "Jeez." His mouth carved up into an impish smile, letting out a scoff, as he loomed in with Rebekah by his side, who squinted her eyes at her brother. "Were you two, perhaps…?"
Her face flushed with bright pink as she snapped back at Kol, "No! No, no... We, uh... No."
Rebekah snickered and Henrik stood by the door, trying not to smile by seeing Klaus' embarrassed face as this was the first time in his life he has witnessed it.
"Oh, come on, Care-doll," He said to her in a mocking tone. "Do you honestly take me for a fool? I mean, Nik…. " He cleared his throat as Klaus' angry gaze sliced him, warning him not to tire Caroline any further.
"Little brother," Klaus said. "What on Earth do you think you're doing here?"
"We didn't come for you Nik," Rebekah interrupted. "It's Caroline that we were looking for." She smiled widely at her and Caroline smiled back, kindly. She walked towards her and took her hand and asked her in an innocent way, making her eyes flicker that no one could have resisted. "We all decided to play a game – truth or dare, I'm sure you're familiar with it. It'd really make us happy if you'd join us. Please?"
"I….uh…." She trailed, trying to find a nice way to agree to her.
"Bekah, you're not children anymore –"
"Hush up, Nik," Kol retorted and then wiggled his eyebrows at him.
"Pleeeeeease?" Rebekah said.
"Okay…" Caroline smiled. "But can my friend Katherine join too?"
Rebekah shared a look with both Klaus and Kol as if asking their permission. Kol only shrugged, flashing his 'who cares' smile.
"If that's what you want…" Klaus replied.
"Okay!" Rebekah squeaked in excitement.
Chewelah, WA.
The people were nice; Kai the "journalist" had to agree to that. The neighbors all seemed to know Mikael and Esther all too well and they described their daughter as a lovely girl who respected her elders and jested around, spreading love and cheerfulness. She would also engage with children of her age. And every one of them enjoyed
her presence while it lasted. They failed to comprehend how a devil like Mikael could be blessed with such a beautiful angelic soul. Kai also found out something else from the people he talked to – something that triggered a mild suspicion. Dahlia had paid them a visit, right around the time Freya had injured her hand whilst playing around with one of the farmers' kids. Also, Dahlia had offered to take care of the little girl until Mikael and Esther settled properly in Atlanta and that was the last they heard of the little girl that brought life to their lifeless forest.
As he returned from the station to meet up with the others, Tyler's mind was completely focused on the new set of unforeseen facts he had just gathered. According to the police department, no one had filed a missing report about the eldest Mikaelson sibling. However, he found out more things about Mikael – he was an ill-tempered man who no one dared to cross but once had gotten into a brutal fight that nearly killed one of the farmers and duly, he was brought into a holding cell. He had beaten the poor man as his son was responsible for Freya's hand injury. Fortunately for him, Esther's sister had bailed him out. It was about a month before they left Chewelah.
Jeremy's search was somewhat futile. There were no attached records of the girl. No birth records, no death records, no medical history – none. Not to mention the fact that nothing lead up to her or at least close enough. It was as if she had vanished into thin air-just like that.
And almost all of their solutions seem to round back to one single person.
Dahlia.
