Chapter 11-Royals

But every songs like gold teeth, Grey goose, dripping in the bathroom.

Blood stains, ball gown, trashing the hotel room.

We don't care, we're driving Cadillac's in our dreams.

And we'll never be royals, it don't run in our blood.

That kind of loves just ain't for us, we crave a different kind of buzz.

Let me be your ruler, you can call me queen bee,

and baby I'll rule. I'll rule. I'll rule. Let me live that fantasy.

(Lorde-Royals)

Let it be known that I recently filled my day with Klaroline videos and fanfic's, so this chapter should be more in character than it has recently been. Thank you for reading! You're wonderful, despite anything anyone says. The only thing that matters is how YOU see you.

Elijah awoke, feeling something unfamiliar in his arms. It was breathing in soft patterns, filling the room with peaceful bliss. It didn't take him long to decipher who the living being was, seeing the curly blond hair and pale skin. She looked so delicate in the light of the sun, it made him remember that just touching her a little too hard could hurt her.

How would she spend the rest of her days? He knew that she did not truly love him. No, that emotion was saved for another. But, who? His first guess would have been Klaus if he did not know better. She wasn't fully in love with him, but that's only because she still loves another. Some mysterious person who has not come out of the shadows yet. But, something in the pit of Elijah's stomach tells him that it will happen soon enough, and when it does... He's not sure he'll be ready.

"Mm." Caroline mumbled, rolling over where her arm was draped along Elijah's torso. Her fingers began to grip around his body, pulling him towards her. He smiled down at her soft features, then reluctantly slid from under the covers. When he left her grasp, her mumbles became more distraught, and her legs began to move beneath the covers. "Help." She croaked.

Elijah watched momentarily as her face turned to one of a scowl. Tears slid down her cheek, and she began screaming, throwing her head back and forth. Her hands reached up to her neck, pulling at something that wasn't there. Elijah rushed towards her, pushing her in an effort to wake her up, but nothing happened.

"Mikael... Get away from me!" She screamed, shoving Elijah away in her sleep. He took a step back, realizing what her nightmare was about. Suddenly his heart felt as if it was breaking for her. His own father was the cause of her mental disturbance, and he knew not of how to fix it.

"Caroline!" He yelled, grabbing her by the shoulders and shaking her. She fought in his arms for a few moments, until her eyes finally opened. At first, she closed them again, shaking in fear when she believed it was the King, but when Elijah cooed to her softly, she opened her eyes once more and began crying, wrapping her arms around his neck. "He's in my dreams." She cried.

"You'll get through this." Elijah told her, then stood back up. "I'm going to get us something to eat, alright?" When she nodded, he smiled and rushed out the door. He forgot his shirt, being as it was early in the a.m. and the only people who were usually up were the servants and Finn.

His feet pattered softly along the tile of the floor, once again admiring the beauty of their home as he did every day. The others, they're all used to the frame work and architecture, but Elijah has learned that the second you stop appreciating things is the second they are taken for granted, and when that happens, they can easily be removed from your grasp. So, every day. Every day, he makes a note to walk around the home and love it, really just fall in awe over how wonderful it is.

He made it to the kitchen, passing a few maids along the way and greeted them with a few hellos. When he got to the pantry, he heard a young girl speak, her voice trembling.

"Do you need any help, m'Lord?" She asked, her voice cracking mid sentence.

Elijah turned, seeing that it was one that he knew by name. The young Irish girl that Kol had brought back with him from one of his escapades. "Elizabeth, what is the matter?" He asked, knowing that if his mother or father were there, they'd be disappointed in his interest, but he did not care much for their rules. On the outside, he seemed like the perfect son. Completely obedient. But, on the inside, he was filled with secrets. Affairs, friendships, many common things that were genre'd with the humans.

She hesitated, but ultimately answered. "Lord Niklaus has been pacing in the sitting room for many hours, m'Lord. Anytime one of us tries to get near 'em to ask a simple question, he lashes out and says he'll have us killed. We've been leaving 'em alone, but we have duties to do." She told him quietly.

Elijah nodded, a smile appearing on his lips. "Take the day off. Tell all of the servants to just make a breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I'll tell the King and Queen." The girls eyes lit up, considering this is the first time they had ever been released from duties if not by death.

"You don't need to do that, m'lord." Elizabeth said, trying to be obedient and polite.

Elijah waved her off. "Of course I do. It's well deserved." He said, then took off to where Klaus was supposed to be, but before Elizabeth could get too far, he turned. "Elizabeth, could you bring a full breakfast for two up to the guest bedroom near my own?"

"Yes, m'lord!" She answered joyfully, then rushed off to tell the other servants.

He could feel the tension in the air before he even stepped inside, Klaus was clearly upset about something, and he feared he knew the reason.

When he looked into the room, Klaus stood by a window, his hands on either side of the frame. His profile showed that he had an enraged facial expression, and Elijah decided words weren't going to help the situation. Instead, he let out a simple breath, awaring his brother of his presence. Klaus' jaw twitched in anger, his head not even bothering to turn to assure that it was indeed Elijah.

"Sleep well, brother?" Klaus asked, his fingers gripping ever tighter on the metal of the windowsill.

Elijah's fears were confirmed with those simple words. The walls of this castle were thick, but they were vampires. If any of them were even in the same hall, they would have heard what was happening between Elijah and Caroline, the night before, as clear as day. "Niklaus, I understand that you are upset with me, but that does not mean that you should take it out on the help."

Now Klaus turned, his eyebrows raised as he acknowledged Elijah's missing shirt. "Oh, I'm not upset with you, Elijah. Why would I be? Because you slept with dear Caroline? Feel free." He said, hiding the emotion.

"Don't be this way, Niklaus. Allow me to explain the situation." Elijah tried, but Klaus wasn't having it.

"Why explain? Kill her, impregnate her, sell her off into prostitution for all I care. She was nothing but a game for me anyhow." Lies, all lies. He was yearning to see her face right now, desiring for a reassurance that she truly is alright other than the moans and groans he had heard coming from the bedroom. That's the only reason he is responding so hatefully. If she hated him so much that she could sleep with another, then he needed to hate back harder. It was how he had survived thus far. "I was going to kill her in the end." Klaus continued with a grin. "I never deserved her anyway, right?" Klaus said, hinting at Elijah's words to Caroline from the night before.

"No. You do not. I don't either. We both know that she's beyond both of our leagues, but at least I have the decency to treat her for what she is."

The rage in Klaus began to rise, and he bit his lip. "Decency? Yes, brother. Sleeping with her after she had just been tortured and," a humorless laugh erupted from his throat, "nearly killedby your own father, might I add was so verydecent of you! That surely shows your honorI've heard so much about, but have yet to see."

Elijah sighed, knowing this was going much further than he had intended. He knew his brother felt betrayed from when they were human, and he was right to do so. Elijah had known of Tatia being with Niklaus, but that was something only him and Niklaus were aware of. To the rest of the family, it was just Tatia that had deceived Klaus. "If you are talking of Tatia-"

"Do not speak to me about her." Klaus snapped. He is not one to care, nor have emotions, but it seems that when he does, it's Elijah that ruins it. Caroline has bonded with him, a bond that he and her may never have shared even if he had not gone through with this marriage. Then, he mistakenly spoke out loud the words that were flowing continuously through his mind. "What is it about you?"

Gasping, Elijah's eyes widened in shock. It was a new concept for Klaus to be openly insecure, incredibly so in a topic such as one of a woman's affection. "What?" Was all he could manage.

"What is it about you that draws them in? Is it your humbleness? We are the same creature, you and I. We both kill, and we both enjoy it. How do you get them to forget that you too are a killer?" The questioning had begun broadly, then quickly narrowed down to one female only. Caroline. "Why is it that she appears to only see the evil in me?" If Elijah hadn't known any better, he'd think that Klaus was seeking him out for advice. But, that could not be. It had been years since he had come to him for his opinions.

"The question is not how I get them to forget, it's how do I get them to see passed it." Elijah said. "And I do that by regretting when I murder. Feeling guilt. When they know that this is not truly what I want to be doing, they do not see me as a merciless fiend, as they do you." He felt that his words might be a bit harsh, but truthfully, it was not the worst thing he had told him.

Klaus ignored the last bit and moved off of the killing subject. "You said earlier that you treat her for what she is. What did you mean?"

"She is a human, brother. She's not your little toy. You cannot call claims upon her like a child and expect her to forever be yours. That is not the way that love works." Elijah knew that the words that came from his mouth had not been advice that he had taken himself, considering he too had called claims on Caroline at some point, but he also knew that if she decidedly did not choose him, he would not keep pursuing her as Klaus would. "It's not always beautiful, and it's not always requited."

"I know you are not the brightest, Elijah, but how many time must I say it to get it into your head. I do not lo-"

"I believe that the other times that you have told me that, it was true. You did not love her. You were simply wanting her and desiring her. But, Niklaus, are you so much of an ignorant bastard right now that you cannot see that you are in love with the girl? It's clear to everyone else." Elijah sighed. "I believe that the only reason you decided to go through with the marriage is because you realized it. Last night, something in you changed. You cannot deny that."

And, finally... He could not. The feelings he had felt when knowing Caroline was being hurt were unimaginable. He was willing to risk his own life, his own freedom, just for her. That meant something, that had to mean something. Something big. He would have never risked his own life, possibly not even for a family member. Is this woman's hold on him so strong that he's now willing to throw himself within the crossfire? What the hell was she doing to him?

"It's too late."

The words took Elijah aback once more. Too late? "Too late for what?"

"Too late to tell her about these... non-consensual feelings." He said with contempt. "I've been sucked into a god awful bond with a stranger, and Mother or Father will seek revenge upon her if I disgrace this marriage and I cannot let that happen. I cannot let her be hurt." He looked at Elijah, catching his eyes. "Not again."

"She's hurting now, Niklaus." Elijah said, and Klaus's eyes shot open with rage.

"What? If you hurt her-"

"Do not be ridiculous, I would never harm her. Before I tell you, I would like it to be known that I did not take advantage of Caroline last night. I simply gave her assurance of her safety by laying with her. I will not deny that it almost happened, but I believe it came from her feeling a rush of betrayal on your part." Klaus seemed to ponder on this, then spoke.

It came out with a laugh, but Elijah knew it hurt him much more than he led on. "I sacrifice my freedom for her, marry some woman I'd usually just feed from and kill for her, and even show mercy, all for her, yet she feels betrayed." He sighed, then rubbed his face with his hand and looked back at Elijah.

"Yes, well. She had a night terror during the night." When Klaus showed no sign of comprehending what Elijah was about to say, he told him the reasoning behind the dream. "A night terror of Mikael choking her."

Klaus was now raged once again, but at a new source. Never had he been so furious with Mikael, and that says a lot, considering their past. "He will pay for his actions in due time, I just hope that when the time comes, you will not stand against me."

"What are you planning to do, Niklaus? He is older and stronger. He is family." Elijah shook his head. "I didn't know that when we said 'Always and Forever', we only meant for you, Rebekah, and I." He said this on the thought that Klaus cared about all of his family, and not just the blood relatives.

But, Klaus ignored his last statement. "It should go without saying that I expect if I should not be able to protect her, that you will."

"Of course." Elijah said, knowing it was more for himself than Niklaus. "I should be getting back upstairs."

Before he could leave to go have breakfast with Caroline, Klaus caught his shoulder. "Just because I'm out of the running for Caroline's affections as of now, do not lose faith in me brother." He smiled, and Elijah knew that despite recent events, Klaus was still ahead of him in the race. "I'll see you at the finish."

"Yes, well, I intend to have already crossed the finish line when you come." He responded.

Klaus laughed off his brother's optimism, nodding slightly. "Arrogance is not befitting on you, dearest Elijah."

"I suppose that's because you're only used to seeing it in the mirror." Elijah replied, removing his brothers hand. "Good day." He exited the room, calling over his shoulder, "And please leave the help be. They deal with your temper enough as it is." And with that, he headed back up the stairs.

The day of the ball came much sooner than Caroline could have expected. Her and Rebekah spent three weeks in preparation for it, buying drapes and silverware, clothes, party favors, hiring musicians, and much much more, including some disastrous attempts from Elijah to make her proper.

The cold slab of marble beneath their arms held different forks and spoons, each of which with something distinguishably antithetical, including sizes, lengths, and widths.

"Which fork would you use on a salad?" Elijah asked, his chin propped upon his hands as he watch in amusement when Caroline's eyes shot open in distress. She went to reach for the dinner fork, and Elijah let out a small laugh. Caroline dropped the fork unceremoniously on the table, clearly angry at his methods. His methods consisting of humiliating her until she gets it right.

"Can't we do something else?" She asked, standing from the table. "It feels like I am being watched and constantly judged by you with each mistake." Caroline told him, and he scooted his chair back and stood up.

"Onto posture then?" He asked, walking around to her. Her posture isn't that bad, considering she was in a corset, but she still did not have the stance of royalty. "Hold your chin higher. As if the world is beneath you."

"Is that what you rich tell your children?" Caroline questioned mockingly, causing Elijah to let out a chuckle.

"I wouldn't doubt that some of them do. I was told that." He placed his hand on her lower back to assist her. "Though I never took it seriously." He pressed in swiftly, making her glare at him for not warning her. "My apologies."

She stepped away, trying to walk with her chin held high and not appear stupid. But, alas, she could not. She was used to just being Caroline, and honestly, she didn't see what was so wrong with her just being herself. "I feel like I'm not doing it right at all."

"Just wait until we place the books on your head." He mentioned, and Caroline stopped, spinning around to look at him. "It's customary. It teaches you to walk with smooth elegance. Which," he walked up behind her. "I believe might come in handy."

"I'm just going to be a servant at this party. I don't understand why I should be doing all of this anyway."

Elijah's eyebrows lifted. "Is that what you think?" Caroline nodded. "That's strange, because Rebekah had recently asked me if I knew your shoe size." Elijah laughed when she did not understand. "Rebekah would not give nor buy shoes for just anyone. And especially if she did not want to show you off."

A smile made its way to Caroline's face, and Elijah nudged her arm. "Let's find you some heels and see how you walk in them."

"Are you going to teach me how to walk in them from experience?" She asked, biting her lips to keep from laughing, and Elijah rolled his eyes with a grin.

"I guess you'll find out."

"Well well well, what do we have here." Kol said, strutting into the room. "Caroline, darling, why didn't you come to me for tips on how to be proper? I'veclearly been around enough ladies to know how their bodies work."

Caroline laughed. "I believe you have answered your own question." She responded, laughing entirely too hard when Kol swooped in, grabbing one of her hands and swinging her with his other around her waist, throwing them into a strange sort of dance. "What are you doing?"

He leaned in, looking her dead in the eye. "Wooing you."

Now Elijah was laughing, rolling his eyes at Kol's immaturity. Caroline, on the other hand, was joining in on the fun, going along with his shenanigans and enjoying herself as she did. "Well, you're doing a wonderful job, your Majesty." She replied, giving him a wink.

"This is definitely not helping your posture." Elijah remarked, one eyebrow quirked. "And I'm sure him tossing you around like a doll isn't helping your brain either."

"She's plenty smart, Elijah. She's got 'nough in that head of hers to share." Kol said, feigning ignorance of grammar. Something he knew got on Elijah's nerves like nothing else. Him and Caroline came to a stop in their disastrous dancing. "Now, let us get on with the proper etiquette."

And, somehow in the time she spent with Rebekah, they had become close. Close enough where the princess would ask for her up to three times a day, simply telling her things that had happened since the last time they spoke.

Apparently, Rebekah was currently seeing the guard, Marcel, who to Caroline's surprise, had been raised by Klaus. They were keeping it in the dark because Rebekah said the last time Klaus found Marcel and Rebekah together, he threatened lives. Caroline was fairly certain Rebekah was in love. She spoke of him often when they were alone, and hinted at him when they were not.

Speaking of love, Rebekah had come to begin a bet on which brother Caroline would end up with, even with Klaus engaged.

It usually depended on how which one treated her during the days, and currently, she was voting with Elijah. She had been furious when she found out that Klaus had threatened one of her personal servants, and had held a small grudge ever since.

They had went shopping six times for dresses for the ball, and Caroline never found one that was...Right. Rebekah, on the other hand, got at least two every time they left the castle.

They were currently sitting in Rebekah's room, pondering over the final arrangements for the ball that was tonight. Everything was prepared except the food, which is being fixed as of now. Rebekah has to taste test a few things before they go out, but other than that, they are finally finished.

"I have an idea." Rebekah said, hopping up from her bed. "Come along." She passed Caroline on her way out of the room, and Caroline trailed closely behind. They walked for almost 15 minutes before they got to where Rebekah had intended to go, which was a closed off room on the other side of the castle.

"Rebekah, should I be afraid?" Caroline asked cautiously, looking around.

The blond laughed, "Only if you're scared of spiders. It's been a while since anyone has been in here." She opened the door, and walked inside. A lone window at the back of the room allowed light inside, and Rebekah walked up to a chest.

Caroline looked around, seeing jewelry and paintings. Probably collectibles. She saw a dark red on one of the canvas's. Caroline fought with her inner self and tried not to move the painting, but wonder got the best of her. The girl picked up the art and saw a dreary forest with torn up and battered clothes hanging from the trees looking back at her. "This is... scary. Somehow, beautiful though."

Rebekah glanced up, smiling. "Yes, that's one of my favorites." Caroline looked at the bottom for a name, but saw none. "You won't find a signature. The artist never really intended for that particular piece to be seen, hence why it is in here instead of out there." Rebekah jumped up and down with excitement when she finally got the chest open, beckoning for Caroline to come closer. "I know you've been having trouble finding a dress, so..." She reached in, pulling out a light brown cloth with pearls strung all over it in intricate patterns.

"Rebe-" Her words stopped in her throat when Rebekah opened the fabric, revealing the most beautiful dress. "Oh..." Was all she could manage.

"It should be in your measurements, but we can have it sized just in case." Rebekah said, grabbing a pair of shoes that matched from a shelf in the back of the room.

"I can't wear that." Caroline told her, shaking her head.

"You can, and you will." Caroline tried to protest, but Rebekah stopped her. "You're wearing the dress Caroline." She said, then began walking again. When they got back to the room, Rebekah called in some of the servants who she got to do her and Caroline's make-up. The girls were praising both of the women, giving lavish compliments which Rebekah seemed to thrive in. Caroline, on the other hand, felt uncomfortable. They were just trying to get on Rebekah's good side, and it was working.

When it came time to put on the dress, Caroline's hair had been braided and spun into a beautiful flower on the side of her head. She walked out of the room feeling beautiful for once in her life.

"You look magnificent, Caroline." Rebekah said, walking up in her deep green dress that spread about the floor.

"So, I haven't exactly asked, but what is the occasion behind this ball?" Caroline wondered, her and Rebekah traveling down the stairs. The party should have started a few minutes ago, but Rebekah wanted to make a grand entrance.

"My date of birth." She said. Caroline rushed over, hugging the girl. The embrace made Rebekah stumble, completely taken back by the action. "What was that for?"

"I wish you the best day!" Caroline yelled, now feeling fantastically giddy. She wanted her friend to have the best party of all time. "Things will go your way tonight. I'll make sure of it." Rebekah nodded, seemingly nervous. Then, they walked to the winding staircase that led to where the party was being held and heard the loud noise of glasses touching and people conversing. "Ready?" Caroline asked, and Rebekah nodded once more, walking forward.

Caroline watched as the trumpet sounded, and Rebekah straightened up.

"Presenting Princess Rebekah." A man said, and Rebekah smiled, as she walked down the stairs. Clapping could be heard, and music started. Caroline moved to the stairs and started to step down. The room beneath her had been exceptionally changed from it's usual gorgeous appearance. Now, lanterns hung on all of the walls, a glass piece in front of each lamp, creating beautiful flickering shards of light on the room around them.

From where she stood, she saw Elena talking to someone. It had been a while since they spoke, but Elena was still friendly and understood that she had been busy. She seemed to be laughing, and possibly even coquetting with a man. Caroline's mind began to wander on who this man could be.

Elena stepped out of the way, revealing who the mysterious figure in a black tuxedo was. Damon.

Her ex who she was sure abused her, but couldn't quite remember. She prayed for him not to see her, but of course, he did. He smiled and waved, pulling Elena away somewhere in the distance. She made a mental note to go tell Elena everything. In fact, she would have done it then if it wasn't for the man with the dark blond curls in the crowd. He hadn't noticed her yet, and so she turned her eyes away and continued descending.

Klaus was speaking with the magistrate of the third sector of their kingdom. Something about how they needed to buff up the security to stop these animal attacks that left many humans dead. How ironic that the killer was standing directly in front of him.

Klaus swears that he had been listening, he had. But, there were so many women there that were giving him the look of lust, and he was sure he could manage to find some room in his stomach for more.

"Niklaus."

Klaus and everyone in his group turned, seeing Esther walking towards them. "Mother." He responded.

"She's here." Esther motioned towards the North staircase, and another trumpet sounded.

"Presenting princess Camilla Escariot!"

The woman was beautiful. Her skin radiated wealth and her long blond hair was swaying with each step. If Klaus was a weaker man, he'd beg for her now and marry her where she stood, but alas, he had pride and fortunately was not much affected by her beauty. Nevertheless, he needed to walk up and take her hand.

Strutting from his group with a simple excuse, he took a breath and walked up to the woman who looked as if she was examining every person in the room, or that was until she was only examining Klaus. "Princess Camilla."

"Please, call me Camille." She said in monotone, as if she was already bored of what was occurring around her.

"Camille it is." Klaus said, trying to use his charms subconsciously, but Camille did not respond. "Care to dance?" He asked, and she nodded. They stepped to the dance floor and began a simple waltz.

Camille looked up at him. "I know you do not wish to be here. I don't want to be here either, but I need this marriage as to up my status. I'm sure you can understand that." She told Klaus, and he was caught off guard by her forwardness.

"Why me? Why not Kol or Elijah?" He asked, angered by the fact that she did not even care for him, but he still had to leave Caroline to be with her.

"Well, I have studied you, been told many stories, and you seem to be the most interesting. Not too outgoing, and not too pent up. Also, I hear you are a painter, which I wouldn't mind having a few paintings around my home." She laughed, scooting in closer. "Our home." She corrected. The closing of their distance was making him all the more angry. She was too bold, too open. Nothing like Caroline, who did everything just right. Just the right amount of sass and courage. It was already frustrating him beyond normal circumstances. Where was Caroline? He needed to see her.

The music came to an end, and Klaus stepped back. "Care for a drink?" When she nodded, a rush of relief flooded through him and he quickly walked away, only to be swept up into another discussion of power and politics.

He was surrounded by men who thought they knew everything, and he was about to the point of telling them everything wrong with their views and opinions. That, or ripping their throats out. He hadn't quite decided.

Something caught his eye, though. And so he turned, finding it was none other than the blonde peasant in Princess Landavia's dress. Landavia, the princess who Klaus had an affair with, causing her husband to kill her and himself. Afterward, he and his family took over the kingdom, marking yet another glorious overthrowing of a monarch.

Caroline looked incredible, indescribable, entrancing. The dress looked far more appealing on her than it ever had its original owner. Had he been upset with her before? God, he didn't know why. How could one be upset with something as magnificent as her?

Caroline reached the marble floor, sighing in relief when she did not fall. It took her a few moments to find his gaze in all of the people, but when she did, it was like a house was dropped on her. Whatever oxygen was in the room quickly left, taking all rational thought with it. He was terrifyingly bewitching.

She had stood on the stairs when she saw the princess enter the room, and knew it was his fiancée when Klaus moved towards the woman and asked her to dance. She refused to watch anymore, but still could not leave the staircase. When the music stopped, she decided to continue her journey downwards.

The crowd slowly parted, Klaus' mouth was open slightly as he tried to breathe in. "-like I mentioned at the meaning in Jaclington, we can't just-" Klaus held up his hand, stopping the man mid-sentence.

"You'll have to excuse me." Klaus said. The man started calling his name, trying to get Klaus' attention, but it was too late. He was already lost in the blonde haired beauty. He slowly moved himself away from the area he had been in, originally just trying to get a better look at the girl, but quickly found himself walking directly towards her.

She swallowed, showing no emotion on her face. "Your majesty." She bowed.

Klaus ignored her attempt to annoy him, and held out his hand. "May I have this dance?" Caroline looked around the room, considering, but she had already made up her mind the second she saw him.

"No."

Klaus watched her try to leave, but he followed like a puppy. "Come on love. One dance before I am no longer a free man." He said trying to get a rouse out of her to prove her jealousy, but she shrugged.

"Go make yourself acquainted with your bride, Klaus. Wouldn't want you to marry a stranger." She smiled, then walked up to someone she had been planning to dance with since earlier that day. "May I have this dance?" Caroline asked, and the man turned around.

"Caroline... You look..." Elijah couldn't think of coherent sentences. He was so flustered, he hadn't even noticed Klaus giving him death glares from a few feet away. Caroline tried to think of anything other than Klaus. Anything other than his perfect lips, and cheek bones, and dimples. Anything other than how astounding he looked in that suit. But the more she tried not to, the more he popped up in her head. She could feel her body get hot beneath her dress, and she bit her lip as thoughts began to form in her head.

Before they could finish, a man came up to the group, seeing that Caroline was there. "We do not have a singer for the song. What do we do? Rebekah asked for one of the singer's from the East, but they never showed." The man said, rambling on and on.

"Sounds like a personal pro-" Caroline waved her hands in front of Klaus, who turned to the frazzled Caroline. "What?"

"I swore to your sister that she would have the best birthday party ever! I don't plan on going back on that promise within the first twenty minutes." She sighed, turning to the man who looked scared out of his wits. Maybe he had been on Rebekah's bad side before, but that was unlikely, considering he was still alive. "I'll do it."

The man looked at her as if she was joking. "I don't think-"

"I said I'll do it. Get up there, grab someone who knows the song, and get them to teach me the tune. I can handle the rest." She spun on her heels, taking in both of the men behind her. "Try not to fawn over me." Caroline faked confidence, then walked to the lifted floor where the men had their instruments.

An older man came up to Caroline, a strange brass instrument in his hands. "This thing makes a sound you have never heard before." He smiled.

"It's definitely something I've never seen before." She said, laughing slightly.

"The chorus is a simple beat, and the lyrics are on the stand right there." He said, pointing to a music stand at the front of the stage. "The rest of the song is real easy. You'll catch on." He said, patting her arm. The man joined the rest of the group, and Caroline stood nervously in front of the crowd of people slowly turning in her direction.

Music began to drift from behind her, and that's when her blood began pumping uncontrollably. What was she thinking? Was there honestly no one else who could have done this? She could be so idiotic at times. A man made his way through the crowd, his eyes locked on hers. Caroline watched as Klaus ignored the comments made his way, and stared at her curiously. Her eyes drifted down the to the page before her and realized it was a song she knew, and just like that, words began forming from the tip of her tongue...

'You need not to climb mountain tops. You need not to cross the sea.

You need not to find a cure, for everything that makes you weak.

You need not to reach for the stars, when life becomes so dark.

And when the wind does blow against the grain, you must follow your heart.

You must follow your heart...'

The crowd seemed to quiet down, only a few people whispering here and there, and Caroline implored that Rebekah wouldn't be upset by the change of events. But, her mind was on Klaus who was looking at her like a foreign object. Something he couldn't understand. His tongue darted out to lick his lips, and Caroline felt a tremor of concupiscence slam itself inside of her, refusing to leave. She felt like he was going to come up and just attack her there, and she wasn't sure her will was strong enough to fight him on it.

'When all your friends, have come and gone... And the sun no longer shines.

And the happiness for which you long, is washed away like an ocean's tide.

When all the hard times outweigh the good.

And all your words are misunderstood.

When the day seems lost from the stars, you must follow your heart.

You must follow your heart.'

Who was she singing to? Definitely not Klaus. This was a song of love. Of passion. Of heartbreak and longing. Things she could never share with him, a taken man, a murderer. How many people has he killed? How many has he killed since she knew him? He was a terrible person... But, then again, who else could be musing such songs from her? It appeared to be that the more she tried to convince herself that he was no good for her, the more her brain longed for him. There was no one else in that crowd that she was gazing at.

'If you feel you've payed the price, and your wounds should cease to heal.

And everything you love in life, spins like a winding wheel.

If you should wake to find your abandoned,

and the road you travel leads to a dead end.

When death creeps in to play it's part, you must follow your heart.

You must follow your heart.'

She continued a few more lines, then the band took over, and Caroline exited the stage as gracefully as her fear could manage. She had expected Klaus, but found it was Elijah who grabbed her hand, taking her to the dance floor. He spun her around a couple of times, looking her up and down in appreciation. "I'm glad I saw you tonight." He said, drawing her from her from her momentary thoughts.

"Well, why wouldn't you have?" She teased, lying her head on his shoulder.

"I thought you'd be off, tempting the men of this country." He said, smiling down at her. Her bare shoulders were pushed against his jacket, and he wanted to leave a trail of kisses down them. God, she was quite alluring.

"That would require some form of seduction, which I have no idea how to do." She laughed.

"I'm sure you could manage it." He smiled playfully, twirling her around. Caroline giggled, swinging back in and landing on his chest with a thud. "I see my teachings did not stay with you long."

She looked up, catching his eyes. They looked from her eyes to her lips at a constant speed. "I thought that I should just be myself, even if it is not grand enough for all of your classy lives." A smile appeared on her lips, one that Elijah misinterpreted.

"It's definitely grand enough..." Elijah said, his eyes closing as his lips found her cheek. He wasn't one for open displays of affection, but he could no longer contain it. He would have done it sooner if he had known how good it would feel.

Her chilled skin gained goosebumps as he continued kissing down until he reached her neck, and she shuddered out of confusion. She was in too much shock to even know where to begin. Obviously, this shouldn't be happening. But, why was it happening? Elijah had never been so bold with her. She didn't know how to go about ending it, something she wished would happen.

Then, like a heavenly miracle, a hand tapped his shoulder, and Elijah looked away from the stunned Caroline. Klaus stood a few feet away, his eyes glazed over with something she couldn't describe.

"Mind if I cut in?" He asked, and before Elijah could speak, Caroline looked at him in all her glory.

"Yes, actually." She said, though it was a lie. She was silently begging him to take her away from the awkward situation.

Klaus looked at her for a moment, then looked at Elijah. He was peeved that she wanted to continue whatever it was that Elijah had been doing, but he was known for being a bit selfish, and that was one thing she would never be able to change about him. A sort of unspoken agreement happened, because Elijah looked back at Caroline with a small smile, then simply left. "Why do you always have to prove that you're the alpha male?" She said, clicking her heels on the ground.

"I don't have to prove anything, love, I am the alpha male." Klaus said, swooping in and grabbing her hands. She tried her hardest to not move, she really did. But then he gave her that innocent smile and the dimples came out... She couldn't help it. He wrapped his arms around her waist, spinning her lightly as the song changed. "You look ravishing." Klaus said, an unrestrained growl escaping his throat.

Caroline bit her lip, looking away as he lead her around the dance floor, not realizing that her lip biting was just making him more antsy. She wasn't going to forgive him so easily. "Thank you, your Majesty." She said, knowing that he would still be peeved at the words.

He didn't disappoint. "Don't call me that." He said breathless in her ear, causing her to tighten her grip on his arms and pull herself ever-so closely. Caroline's body felt as if it was on fire, and his fingers were playing with the side of her dress right above her hip. He was playing dirty and he knew it. "Call me Nik." Klaus's lips were now touching her earlobe, and Caroline's face flushed. She let out a sigh of contentment before she realized what had happened.

"Your fiancée." Caroline said without much feeling, reminding him of the woman that was somewhere in this room.

"I don't care." He spoke back, his voice raspy and deep, making Caroline's legs shake.

Klaus's body tensed up beneath hers, his breath growing deeper and more cadaverous as his dance moves continued to subtly pull her body fully against his own, his leg sometimes brushing her thigh. Each time it happened, she had to hold her breath and hope to fight the need for more of his touch.

The music changed once more, and now everyone got into lines, which both Klaus and Caroline reluctantly followed suit. Caroline had seen the dance before at a party hosted by official's in town. Tyler invited her, but they never danced. Tyler had always hated dancing.

Caroline stood on the side where the females were, and Klaus gazed at her from the other end. If she had thought he was gorgeous before, she had been gravely mistaken. He was so much more than that. He was something that couldn't be put into words. He made her feel like... Everything would be alright, even though it surely would not.

The tips of his lips curved up when the music began, everyone moving one step at a time towards their partner. Klaus never took his eyes away from her when they circled, their hands so close but yet so far. If only she could just take his fingers and intertwine them with her own, then maybe she'd feel a bit less pressure on her heart.

The time for the brief moment of switching partners with someone new was coming up, and Caroline mentally debated with herself about whether or not to just go back to Klaus. But, before she could finish her thought, a new hand caught her, spinning her around completely out of place in the dance. She fell into a warm chest, and she lost her head when she saw who it was.

Who could this mysterious person be? Leave a comment in the review and tell me what you think! (: Thanks.