Cami

I spent more time with Sean during the next few days. More time than normal, it was nice. We texted, met up for dinner, and overall made a greater effort to be there for each other. Kieran was eager to hop on the love train, Sean told him we were going out for dinner after my evening class Wednesday and my uncle invited himself along. I couldn't wait to tell them about the frat boy that came to class after having one shot too many. His worst offense was yanking my hair as he stormed out of the classroom. My head was pulled back with such force my neck was still aching. I kept placing my hand over it to soothe the pain. My last class finished early, so instead of meeting them at the restaurant I walked over to St. Annes and was greeted by a huge crowd outside.

"Whoa is it revival?" I joked to another woman walking towards the church. I noticed the police cars lights and saw the ambulance outside. The mood in the air was frantic. A chill came over my body as I anxiously rubbed my neck. I pushed my way to the front of the crowd, scanning for Kieran. I tried to get the attention of a police officer out front. "Excuse me, can you tell me what's going on?"

He ignored me, focused on keeping the reporters at bay. What was happening? Where were Sean and Kieran? I stood on my tip toes, searching for clues when suddenly everything changed. I was bathed in multi color vision again. But that meant-

"Camille."

I looked up into the face of Klaus Mikaelson. He hadn't been at my side a second ago. "What are you doing here?" I said lowly. "Scratch that, I don't want to know."

I thought he'd left New Orleans. Klaus looked tired, and he was sporting ungroomed facial hair, of course he didn't look any less handsome. He was close enough for me to smell his aftershave. I turned my back to him to reduce the effect his nearness was having on me. "Go away Klaus. I thought I told you to leave me alone."

"I wanted to be here for you."

My head whipped around, my eyes scrutinizing him. "For what?" Klaus opened his mouth but I raised my hand, cutting him off. "Never mind," I turned back around, "I don't have time for this, I need to find Kieran and Sean to find out what the hell's going on." Leaving the crowd and Klaus behind, I tried sneaking around the back, only to be caught by policemen.

"We told you reporters to back off, we don't have any new information."

I maneuvered myself out of his grasp, a move I knew I owed to Klaus. "I'm not a reporter. Kieran O'Connell, the priest, is my uncle and my brother Sean is a seminary student-" I saw Kieran walk out of the church.

"Cami?"

"Uncle Kieran!"

He nodded to the police, who let me pass. Kieran's face looked worn, like he aged ten years since I last saw him. "How did you find out?"

"Find out what?" My heart was suddenly heavy. I gently massaged my neck nervously. Suddenly it hurt more. The action caused Kieran to wince. I noticed his bloodshot eyes and felt my own fill with water. "Where's Sean?" I asked hoarsely.

Kieran shut his eyes. "Camille."

"No...no, where is Sean?" My voice began to rise. I ignored the people who began to stare. "Where is my brother?" Kieran pulled me into a hug but I pushed away, screaming. "Where the fuck is he?" I wiped my tears. "It's fine, it'll be fine." I walked towards the back door. "I'll just go in and see him."

Kieran was on my heels. "You can't, it's a crime scene."

I whirled around, "WHERE IS SEAN?"

The stretcher caught my eye. A body was covered in a white sheet, the arm fell from under the sheet, giving me a glance at the hand I immediately recognized. That hand showed me how to ball my fists to punch someone, how to throw a football, it held mine whenever I was afraid. Now it lay lifeless, pale, and was covered in blood. Everything slowed down.

Someone close to me screamed. No, that was me. I couldn't recognize my own voice. "Sean!" I felt myself collapsing. Someone caught me. It wasn't Kieran. He was in front of me, giving instructions to the man who held me.

"Get her out of here. I'll come by her apartment later."

I turned my head into the man's chest and began wailing. It was the last thing I remembered before succumbing to the darkness.

When I woke up, my neck was still sore. I touched my eyes, they were swollen from crying. I remembered what happened earlier. Was it a nightmare? I jumped out of bed and ran into my living room. The news was on, talking about the massacre at St. Agnes.

My hand covered my mouth as I saw Sean's face flash across the screen as the murderer. I grabbed the remote and flung it at the tv, causing the screen to crack, unfortunately that's all the damage it caused.

"Fuck." Trish came running over to me. "I step out for one second..." She looked at me. "Cami, I'm so so sorry." She enveloped me in a hug. I was too numb to respond.

"He didn't do it. Sean-he would never do something like this!"

"I know." She used her thumbs to wipe my tears away. "I know. Sean was a saint."

Was.

I don't know how long I cried as Trish held me. Kieran came later, and Trish left, giving us our privacy.

"What happened?" My voice was hoarse and tired.

Kieran rubbed his red eyes, sitting in a chair across from me, like Sean had days before. "Camille, I don't know if now's the time for this."

"My brother is being called a mass murdering psychopath on city news, it's the perfect time!" I yelled.

Kieran regarded me, probably thinking I was unhinged. I was tired of secrets. I wouldn't be coddled like a child.

"They're saying he went crazy." I scoffed but he continued, "Sean killed six other students before killing himself."

"No. It wasn't him. A vampire could have compelled him, maybe it was a spell..."

"Don't!" The force in Kieran's voice made me jump. "Don't try to figure this out Cami, don't...can we just breathe? I have enough things to worry about right now I don't need you to be among them."

"Do my parent's know?"

"I called them at the police station." Kieran sounded defeated. "They won't come to the funeral Saturday."

"What?"

"They don't want anything to do with this."

"Of course not, they don't want the scandal." I muttered. I'd deal with my parents. I shook with anger, still in shock. "Klaus brought me home." The thought came randomly. I hadn't meant to say it out loud. Kieran nodded. "You're welcome to stay the night." I told him.

Soon he was asleep in the chair. I walked to my hall closet, digging up all my tissue boxes. I'd need every single one. It was then, looking at all the beautiful patterns on the boxes, that I realized I was still seeing in color. Klaus was near. I felt hollow on the inside.

I went to bed, hoping I'd feel better in the morning.

My parents kept their word. They weren't at Sean's funeral. As far as I was concerned, Kieran was my only living relative. I visited Sean's grave every day. I spent hours guarding it after someone spray painted murderer on his gravestone. Kieran knew more than he was telling me. He refused to talk about what happened. I read the police reports but clearly he lied on there too.

I didn't go to class, I didn't sleep. Everything felt fake, unreal, I was waiting to wake up from a nightmare. Trish worried over me, while wanting to give me space to mourn. I felt so alone. Sean, my twin, the one person I was connected to since birth, was gone. I don't know how my body kept finding the tears to cry. I checked Sean's autopsy report. He slit his throat the same time my head was yanked back by that drunken frat boy. Our twin connection was strong to the end.

Catching every news coverage available, I soon realized Kieran had put the incident lightly. Sean had taken a knife and butchered the other seminar students before slicing his own throat. Out of know where, he went crazy. My brother was not crazy. He didn't have a psychotic break.

Finally, I snapped. It all hit me. Sean wasn't coming back. I'd never see my brother again. He'd never tell me corny jokes or insult me or hug me again. I trashed my apartment. Everything went flying. The neighbors broke open my door and calmed me down. Everyone wanted me to go to counseling. Trish wanted me to move in with her. Without Sean, I felt so lost. It was thundering outside, which felt perfect because it was the way I felt inside.

Before I knew it I had driven myself near the city's limits. I didn't realize where I was going until I was in the plantations drive way, running up the stairs to Klaus' room. He appeared at the top of the stairwell.

Klaus' eyes flicked over my shaking body before I knew it his arms were around me. Holding me, running his hands along my back and through my hair, in a comforting way. I knew he had been watching me. My vision never went back to blue. But he hadn't shown himself.

I lifted my head, capturing his lips with my own, but he didn't return my kiss. He just held me. When I did it again, with more force, he broke away.

"Do you want this, right now?" Klaus' eyes were serious.

"I need you." I cried softly. My vision was starting to blur because of my tears.

Klaus cupped my cheek, kissing me soundly. The storm was quieting. I needed it to stop. I kissed him with fervor, this time Klaus returned it, picking me up so my legs could wrap around his waist. He carried me to his bedroom and we fell on his bed, wrestling with each other. I lost myself in Klaus, and he let me lead our dance. Klaus ripped my panties off under my dress. His pants were only halfway down his legs before I positioned myself under him and forced my hips up.

Finally, everything was quiet. I relaxed against him, and Klaus took over. He made love to me tenderly, as if he were afraid I'd break. I kept my eyes closed, glad to ride the waves of peace and calmness Klaus supplied. I finished quickly, and Klaus after me. My cheeks were stained with tears. Klaus pulled his pants up and laid beside me on the bed. We stared at the ceiling, not speaking a word. I didn't pull away when Klaus threaded his fingers in my own.

"How did you know?" I asked after some time.

"I was with Marcel when one of his vampires told him what occurred." I squeezed his hand. Klaus turned toward me, he looked like he was gathering his courage. "Camille,"

I couldn't face him. "What?"

"I want you to know, I'm not going to kill you."

He said it so sincerely I laughed. A lot, in fact I snorted, holding my stomach as tears streamed down my face. I hadn't laughed in weeks but I couldn't stop myself. The puzzled look on Klaus' face kept me rolling.

"I'm sorry." I said when I finally caught my breath. "It's just now, I'd actually welcome death." I continued to howl. "Talk about bad timing. If you killed me last month, you'd have spared me the pain I'm feeling now." My voice broke. I covered my face with my hands.

Klaus gathered me into his arms. "I'm here for you."

"I know." My voice was muffled by his chest but I knew he heard me. "I know you won't hurt me. This is crazy." I pulled back so I could look in his eyes. "You're the most dangerous man on earth but you're the one person I feel safest around. I should hate you Klaus." He nodded along, agreeing. "But I don't. I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you too." Klaus kissed my fore head. "You have no idea how much."

"I thought you left town after I left."

"I considered it, but I couldn't leave you behind. I'm here for as long as you need me." Klaus kissed me softly. "I'm yours."

"And I'm yours." The admission made me feel lighter. Sean's words of advice comforted me. Do what you want.

I wanted Klaus. I always had, that's why I was so angry with myself. Klaus apologized for wanting to kill me, and came clean after he was caught. I still pushed him away because I didn't want to admit I still loved him. Now I was ready to stop fighting it.

"Klaus?"

"Yes." His fingers traced my lips.

"Would you come stay with me for awhile? Just until...I don't want to me alone."

Klaus smiled. "Of course. I'll find out what happened to your brother, and make those who hurt him suffer."

"It was a hex." Klaus said one afternoon as he came into my apartment.

I was reading the police reports for the hundredth time. I looked up from the papers. "Who would want to hex Sean?"

"A witch named Agnes, in retaliation for Kieran. Your uncle forbade the witches from completing their harvest ritual."

"So she hexed Sean as revenge?" I saw red.

"That, and to keep him busy. He was focused on your brother's death and wasn't aware they went ahead with the ritual."

"Where is this witch?" I asked lowly.

"Dead." My eyes widened. "It wasn't me, unfortunately. Marcel interrupted the harvest and in the mayhem she died. Kieran and the heads of the other species are discussing how to move forward."

"I knew Sean wasn't crazy." I always believed it, and now I knew it to be true. "Thank you, Klaus."