Chapter Ten: You Leave Me Haunted
Bonnie and Elena were gone by the time Caroline made her way to the kitchen for coffee. She had about an hour before Bekah would be over and she took her time making and eating breakfast. As much as she enjoyed her friends, sometimes it was nice to have some quiet time.
After cleaning up and starting the dishwasher, she went to dress for the day. Since they would be going out to lunch later, she picked a white sundress and set aside her sandals for later.
A few minutes after ten there was a knock at the door and Caroline opened it with a smile seeing Rebekah standing there. Behind her on the sidewalk stood a very well dressed handsome man.
Turning her head towards the man, Rebekah spoke, "Okay Elijah I got here fine, you can leave now." She walked in to the house rolling her eyes and Caroline closed the door behind her.
"Who was that?" Caroline motioned for Rebekah to set her things down on the dining room table.
Letting out a sigh Bekah said, "That is my oldest brother Elijah. Just as overprotective, since I wasn't allowed to walk the two blocks here by myself. Sometimes it sucks being the only girl and the baby of the family."
"It must be nice to have family though. I'm an only child, so I was really lonely growing up." Caroline grabbed two glasses out of the cabinet. "Would you like something to drink?"
"A coke would be great. Thank you." Rebekah was very nervous since this was her first time hanging out with a girl friend that wasn't compelled by one of her brothers to like her.
Caroline handed her friend the cold glass and poured one for her self. They walked to the living room and sat on the couch. There was a bit of awkward silence and she bit her still tender lip. "So how is Nik?" She almost regretted the words as they left her mouth.
Bekah looked down at her glass. "I don't know. He left on business Friday night and I haven't heard from him since. Elijah is looking after the house, me and my other brother Kol for the time being."
This news shocked Caroline. "Oh. Well I hope he returns soon." She then quickly changed the subject. "So have you seen that new movie Bachelorette? We ordered it over the weekend and can still view it. It was pretty funny."
The last movie that Rebekah saw was Titanic so she was not familiar with recent releases. "That sounds great. Do you have any popcorn?"
About five minutes later the girls were settled on the couch with refreshed drinks and a large bowl of popcorn between them.
The movie both shocked and entertained Bekah, though she wouldn't be basing her friendship with Caroline off of the characters in the movie. Even for a vampire, their lives were a little too wild for her.
After taking their dishes to the kitchen Caroline went to her room to put on her shoes and grab her purse. She wasn't sure where they were going to lunch so she grabbed her keys and walked back out to her friend.
"So where to for lunch? Do you know any good sushi places around?" Bekah asked picking her purse up.
Leading them out the door and to the car Caroline spoke, "Yeah. I know a great place just on the other side of the neighborhood. They boast having the best sushi in Richmond."
It only took a few minutes to get to the restaurant and they decided to sit at the bar and watch the Sushi Chefs prepare food for the lunch crowd. They both order hot green tea to drink and picked three rolls to share along with clear soup.
They had light conversation and were flirting with one of the young Chefs. Caroline was surprised when Rebekah spoke a few words of Japanese to him, making the young man blush.
"How do you know Japanese?" Caroline said impressed.
Finishing her bowl of soup with a load slurp Bekah blotted her mouth with the cloth napkin. "I went to prep school back home and we had to learn like three languages."
"That is very cool. We had to take two years of a language in high school. I took French, which I could possibly hold a very simple conversation in, but I have forgotten most of it."
Bekah nodded in understanding knowing that schools in the States didn't stress learning other countries language and culture. "Have you ever seen Paris?"
Their food had come and Bekah made sure to wink at the young man one more time for adding his signature roll to their order, on the house of course.
Caroline finished chewing her food and answered. "How I wish! I hate to say it but I have never been outside of the States. I've hardly been out of Virginia and only on an airplane once. I am very naïve when it comes to the world outside of this state."
Rebekah felt very naïve about a lot of things, but she was grateful for all of the traveling that her family had done in the past five hundred years. They were able to stay long enough for her to learn the customs and languages of over a dozen places around the world.
"We still have a flat in London. Maybe sometime you can go back with me. The shopping is to die for!" She picked up her ceramic cup of tea and took a palate-cleansing sip.
Caroline couldn't believe that her new friend had just invited her to London. "I can drink to that!" She laughed and clinked her cup on Bekah's.
The two new friends finished their meal and they left a gracious tip for the Chef and Bekah blew him a kiss as they neared the exit.
Driving back through the neighborhood they chatted about how good the food was and the cute Chef. "I had a really good time today Caroline. Thank you for invited me over."
Just like her friend's brother, Caroline felt a deep connection with Rebekah, like they were always supposed to be friends. "I had fun too. We need to it again soon." Approaching their street she said. "Do you want me to drop you off at your house, or is your brother expecting to come fetch you?" She said that last part in a teasing tone.
Bekah playfully groaned. "I know they can be a bit much. You can drop me at home." She gave directions to the home that was one block down and one over from Caroline's.
Pulling up to the large red brick home Caroline was stunned by the size of it.
"Yeah, Nik never does anything on a small scale. Apparently this house used to be the home of the President of the University from the late eighteen hundreds until about fifty years ago. With the four of us living here it gives us all our own space." She shrugged like the large house was no big deal. She had lived in hundred room castles just a few centuries ago.
The girls exchanged phone numbers and while Rebekah was collecting her things from the car, Caroline asked, "Do you want to meet up before class on Thursday and grab a coffee?"
Bekah smiled widely. "That sounds great. See you at the Commons then?"
"See you Thursday." Caroline waited until her friend was safely in her house before driving forward on the circle drive in front of the home and pulling back on to the quiet tree lined street.
When she got home, her roommates were home as well.
"Where have you been?" Bonnie asked from her spot on the couch.
Caroline plopped down next to her reaching for the bag of trail mix in Bonnie's lap. "I hung out with Rebekah today. We went and had sushi at that place around the corning that we all like."
Bonnie looked at her friend concerned. "You are still going to be friends with her even though things didn't work out with Nik?"
Sighing Caroline spoke. "I don't know if things with Nik didn't 'work out' because we weren't even together. I mean I felt like something was there, but I don't know if he felt the same. Bekah said he is out of town for business and she isn't sure when he will return."
Patting her friend's hand Bonnie said. "Well this time away will let him think about the wonderful woman he is missing out on."
Caroline laid her head on her friends shoulder and put another hand full of trail mix in her mouth. After chewing slowly she said quietly. "Thanks Bon for being my best friend."
Interrupting their moment, Elena came down the hallway from her room. "I just had the most genius idea. You will just love this."
Bonnie and Caroline just stared waiting for her to continue.
"So you know how this weekend is Labor Day weekend and we don't have any class on Monday. I was thinking, why not have a girls weekend? Let's rent a room on the beach over in Newport News and party it up!"
Who could say no to that. The two other girls just smiled and nodded their heads. "Hey do you guys mind if I invite Bekah. She's really nice, and a lot of fun. She hasn't really made many friends since moving here and I think it would be nice to include her."
Elena clapped her hands and said, "I say the more the merrier!"
Caroline took out her phone and sent a text to Bekah about the weekend plans.
Rebekah was lying on her stomach in bed reading one of her textbooks when her phone chimed with a new message.
Hey it's Caroline. The girls and I are going to Newport News this weekend for girls retreat at the beach. We would love for you to join us! Let me know so we can book a room.
She jumped from her bed knocking the book onto the floor. Running down the stairs with her phone in hand she yelled. "Elijah! Elijah where are you?"
Skidding to a stop she found him in the living room with his thin silver laptop sitting on the coffee table. "Brother! You must let me go. I would die if you said no."
Elijah smiled at his sister's contradicting statement. "You have not asked a question for me to say no to."
"So the girl that Klaus is in love with, Caroline, and her roommates Bonnie and Elena are going to the beach for the weekend and they have invited me. Please say yes or I shall never love you again."
He was quiet for a long moment. Elena, that is the doppelganger. "I would like to meet these young ladies before I agree for you to spend a weekend with them. Invite them to dinner Thursday night for a formal introduction."
Bekah was fine with this because even though his answer was not yes, it was also not no. She just knew that her brother would approve of her new friends. "Thank you Elijah!" She ran back up to her room to text Caroline back.
My brother Elijah would like to meet all of you first. He has invited you, Bonnie and Elena to dinner at our home Thursday night. – Rebekah
A few minutes later her phone chimed.
What fun! Count us in. I'll see you Thursday morning – Caroline
Rebekah giggled with excitement, pushed play on her favorite play list and danced around her room until it was time for bed.
"So it appears that we have been invited to a dinner party at the Mikaelson Manor." Caroline said with a dramatic curtsey. Her two friends laughed along with her.
The girls had a quite night in with Bonnie and Caroline making fried chicken, macaroni and cheese and potato salad for dinner. They ate on the couch watching a few sitcoms and then a late night talk show before each going to bed.
Caroline checked her phone before going to sleep, still nothing from Nik. She wasn't expecting groveling or anything but she also didn't think he would totally ignore her. She set her alarm for nine in the morning and curled up with one of her pillows and fell into a restless sleep.
The morning brought Bonnie off to school and Elena and Caroline sitting at the dinning room table studying. Elena had her laptop out and was scrolling through websites looking for the perfect set of chairs for her design. "What are you working on Care?"
Leaving a highlighted mark where she left off, she looked up at her friend. "My addictions class. We are covering policies behind legal and illegal drugs. How about you?"
"We have to design a master bedroom and bathroom this week. I'm looking for armchairs for the sitting area. I just can't find them. I might just have to design them from scratch."
Caroline smiled at her friend, slightly jealous of her creativity. "Well it's about lunch time. What would you like?"
"Sub shop down the road?" Elena said closing her laptop.
Caroline eagerly agreed the sandwiches there were heavenly. She threw her keys at Elena, not really feeling like driving and the two girls made the short trip to the deli. Caroline ordered a turkey and Swiss sandwich while Elena got a pressed Cuban. They got bags of chips and fountain drinks and sat outside in the warm sun to enjoy their lunch.
"I have a date with Tim tonight." Elena mused.
Caroline finished the bite she had just taken. "That's great. Do you know where you are going?"
Her friend twisted her nose a little. "The Diamond. We are going to see a baseball game."
Caroline understood the look on Elena's face. "Ouch. Why didn't you just suggest something else?"
Elena sighed, "He seemed to excited about it and I mean I don't hate baseball, I'm just not into it. Let's just hope that I can pick the next date."
They both laughed finishing up their lunch, throwing away the trash and headed back home. Caroline finished up her reading and Elena found her chairs. Bonnie was home now and with a few hours until Caroline's class they found a movie on demand and curled up on the couch.
As Caroline pulled into the parking structure at school her friend Jennifer was gathering her books out of the truck of her Subaru.
"Hey Jenn! How was your weekend?"
Jennifer threw the strap of her bag over her shoulder. "My weekend was good. How about you? That was crazy what happened with Tyler."
The bruises on her face had healed and the cut on her lip was just a small scab now. "Yeah, I'll be happy when he is behind bars after the trial."
The girls walked the rest of the way to class in silence. The lecture went by quickly and Caroline was ready to be home when they were let out almost three hours later. This time Jennifer, Michaela, and her walked back to their cars together and parted ways until next week.
An hour after she got home, she was on the couch watching a made for television movie while eating ice cream right out of the container. She heard Elena get back from her date and quietly tiptoed over to the window watching the couple share a sweet kiss at the door. She felt a pain in her chest and thought about her most recent kiss. Shaking her head, she sneaked away from the window, putting away the ice cream and going to her room to get ready for bed.
She took an extra long shower, sitting on the floor just letting the water wash over her. The warmth reminded her of Nik's touch, how her whole body would heat just from a slightest of contact. She let a few tears run down her face, mixing with the now cooling water. Removing her self from the shower, she dressed in a white camisole and a pair of yellow polka dot boyshort panties.
Caroline took in deep breath and exhaled slowly picking up her phone. She opened her text messages and found the last one from Nik. Tapping on the message box and exposing the keyboard she typed out a message.
I was thinking about you today. I hope you are enjoying your trip and I look forward to your return. – Caroline
She set her phone on her nightstand and like every night, pulled her pillow in close to her chest.
Klaus had been away from home for three days and he had gathered much information about the small town that his family had settled in a thousand years ago. He had compelled a young blonde woman to let him use her apartment that sat above a hardware store in the small down town district. She reminded him of Caroline that is why she was still alive. He still fed from her, but healed and compelled. Her name was Linda or Laura or something with an L, he didn't really bother with it.
He had visited the town's public records office that was in the basement of city hall. The rooms of old books and ledgers were stuffy and he held his breath for most of the day he spent down there. He was looking for milling records from the time the town was settled and had found very little from the fifteenth thru seventeenth centuries. He would return the next day and continue his search.
He returned to the apartment and L-name, as he called her in his head, would have dinner ready for him. She still didn't understand what he really wanted. The second night he had been here, he tried to take some of his sexual frustration out on the unfortunate woman. After he drank from her, he tried to kiss her but it felt all wrong. He turned her around so he only saw her curly blonde hair and hiked up her dress. He wrapped his hand in her hair and sank his teeth back into her neck. Usually this would get him aroused, but he felt nothing.
Irritated with himself more than the woman he threw her on the bed and left for the bar across the street. A few women would approach him at the bar and he would usually rudely dismiss them. He went through two bottle of scotch that night.
The next day he went back to the records room and started on the eighteenth century catalogs. It seemed that most of the milling in the town was done by one family. The Salvatore family was one of the founding families.
The concept of founding families in this town made Klaus laugh because his family was the one and only founding family. He found it pathetic how these families strived so hard for feelings of importance but blessed them for keeping such detailed records of events around the area.
The Salvatore's had two living decedents that still owned property in the town but had long since moved on to start families elsewhere. The records he found had spoke of the Salvatore's milling company, but he needed the milling ledgers. He decided to pay the Salvatore estate a visit after nightfall.
He went back to his barrowed apartment to find L-name standing in front of the bed in a green lace negligee that came to her mid-thigh and split up the middle. He smirked because through all of her faults, she was nice to look at. He sped over to her, standing mere inches from her. Her breasts were heaving out of the top of the lace brassieres as she looked at him with lust filled eyes.
Klaus thought what was the harm in trying again. Before he could make a move she sunk to her knees in front of him and started unfastening his belt buckle. "You are a determined little pet." He smirked as she pulled at his button fly jeans. He felt the fabric give way and pool at his feet. She ran her hands up his thighs to his tight muscular stomach. He had his eyes closed trying to feel something, anything.
Feeling his pet's hand slide through the patch of hair above the waistband of his boxer briefs made flashes of Caroline's face show like photographs behind his eyes lids. The woman cupped him through his boxer and moaned. That would be the last sound she made, for Klaus had snapped her neck enraged with guilt for letting the whore touch him.
He heard a beep from his jeans at his feet and he quickly refastened his pants and pulled his phone from the back pocket. The screen flashed and he swore he felt his dead heart race. The message was from Caroline. She was thinking of him, she wanted him to return. He carried the lifeless body of the woman to the bathtub for safe keeping until he could properly dispose of her and he raced off to the Salvatore home. He wanted to finish his work here so he could return to his Caroline.
AN: I'm glad that so many people are enjoying my story. Where are my reviewers? Show some love and I'll see if I can get another chapter out tomorrow.