It was late in the evening when Stefan entered the parlor of his house. He was tired and didn't really want to see anyone at that moment.
Great, he thought, Damon is here.
He wasn't in the mood to talk to his brother, but they had too. He felt that there was more to Caroline's departure than what they already knew.
"Hey little brother. Any news?" Damon asked pouring his favorite drink to his favorite glass. Stefan thought Damon did nothing else but drinking when he was at home.
There was no need to ask what he was referring to. They were both preoccupied about the lively blonde. Even Damon seemed depressed about the situation though he always teased Caroline.
"I asked around but no one has seen her the last couple of days." Stefan said in his usual brooding mood. "What about you?"
"Nothing on my end either. I talked to Liz and she said they couldn't trace Caroline's cell phone. She is starting to panic and that is not good." Damon added, letting the slow burn in his throat relief the tension he was feeling.
"Something doesn't feel right." Stefan added more to himself than to his brother.
"Tell me about it. So many gorgeous guys around and she had to fall for that douche."
Damon being Damon helped no one at the moment, but Stefan was too tired to start an argument. And what could he say? That apart from being a psycho killer, Klaus loved Caroline probably more than anyone else in the world?
"How is Elena doing?" Stefan asked, a sharp pain cutting through his chest. He couldn't get to grips with the fact that he had to ask Damon about the girl he loved. But it was not the time to dwell on it.
Damon could see how painful it was for Stefan, so he didn't come back with one of his usual retorts. "She is still shocked. She is with Bonnie right now, eating tons of ice-cream and chocolate and probably watching The Notebook."
"But it's not a boyfriend situation."
"It doesn't matter. Put two girls together and a bowl of ice-cream and it is always time for The Noteb..."
He didn't get to finish his sentence. A loud noise came from behind the couch Stefan was sitting on. He got up on his feet in no time and stood next to Damon, ready to face whatever it was that disrupted the quiet atmosphere in the parlor.
To their great surprise, they saw a large wolf standing a few feet away from them. It had broken through the main window and now was growling at them as if it had a purpose.
Damon felt a sense of déjà vu, the memories from the scene with Rose and Jules rushing back painfully. He was tired of werewolves coming and going from that damn window as they wished.
He grabbed an iron pod from the fireplace and prepared himself for battle, all the while trying to figure out how the hell would they get the cure if the werewolf managed to bite them, now that the bad Hybrid was God knew where with Vampire Barbie.
Stefan stood still studying the beast. He made a sign to Damon to not make a move, despite the glare he got in return.
"It is not a werewolf, it's just a regular wolf." he said surprised at the finding. It didn't make sense.
"Really? So now who is going to pay for that window?" Damon sighed dramatically.
"Look, it has something in his mouth." Stefan noticed and with very slow, careful moves approached the beast.
The wolf looked at him with intelligent eyes and then let the object he was holding fall to the ground. His job was done, so he went out of the window just as swiftly as he had come.
The Salvatore brothers were at a loss for words. They had dealt with many monsters and demons and other supernatural creatures in their many years of existence, but never before had they seen a courier wolf.
Stefan stooped to gather the white object. He took what looked like a piece of cloth and brought it in front of his eyes. Damon came closer to have a better look at the weird thing.
"It is a message." He sniffed the air and then added. "Written in blood."
Damon took the cloth from his brother's hand and sniffed it as well. His features relaxed visibly. "This is Klaus's blood."
Stefan was more than surprised at the declaration. "What? Are you sure?"
"Please don't make me lick that thing. I am almost sure it is Klaus's blood. As much as I despise that bastard, his blood is unique." He thought about it a moment and then his signature smirk lit up his face. "I have tasted his blood twice and I can say I could get addicted to it. So yeah, this is not Blondie's."
Stefan let out a breath of relief. "What does it say?"
"It says Caroline is at his mansion at the basement. Bring Bonnie." He looked up from the message. "This is not good."
"Do you think Klaus kidnapped her?"
"I'm not sure. If so, wouldn't it be more dramatic to write the note in her blood rather than his precious blood?" He tested the fabric and raised an eyebrow. "Not to mention that he ruined a really nice shirt."
"Get a room you two." Stefan joked unable to miss the opportunity to tease his brother. It earned him a light punch in the stomach.
"I think Klaus is with her, but I can't guess what does he need Bonnie for. Apparently not to bless their love nest."
"Yeah, you're right. It didn't sit well with me from the beginning."
He reached for his cell phone and immediately called Bonnie. It took him a few minutes to describe the events of the last hours and the implications of the new information.
Caroline and Klaus were standing in Klaus's small room and talking in a low voice. They knew there was no one around to listen to their conversation, still they had lowered their voice subconsciously.
The veil of silence was broken when hasty steps were heard coming from the main entrance. They got up simultaneously and prepared to see Bettie emerge from the shadows. She must be angry if the noise she was making was any indication.
They were not mistaken. The witch made an impressive entrance in front of them. She seemed to be dragging something heavy but they could not make out what it was.
And then, with an unexpected force she thrust a massive weight across the barrier. Caroline screamed in terror and moved to stand behind Klaus, while he stood unmoving even though the corpse of the wolf bounced off his chest and fell to the ground with a thud.
The poor beast had to be dead, otherwise the body would not pass through the barrier. The wolf's eyes were open in terror, but the light of life had escaped long ago.
Klaus was shocked, but tried to hide it as best he could because he didn't want Caroline to freak out. Maybe it was too late for that already.
He kneeled in front of the wolf and petted his soft fur with sadness. Trying to hide from Bettie's gaze, he checked to find traces of the message he had sent to Stefan. He didn't find any and nor did Bettie seem to have found it.
The loyal animal had fulfilled his destiny and was returning to report to his ally. It would be a shame to call that proud beast a pet. He was a companion, a free spirit that had for some time aligned with him, a mutual simplified understanding of life outside the limits of species bringing them together.
Klaus was sorry to see the lifeless body in front of him. He had killed people without experiencing the slightest feeling, now he was almost mourning a dead wolf. Maybe Caroline was right, he was more an animal than a human being. He didn't deserve her.
His eyes glowed bright yellow for a few moments, a low but dangerous growl escaping from his throat. The murderous rage was barely contained, but he didn't want to lose control. The only one who would end up hurt was the woman he loved, while Bettie was safe behing the barrier.
He heard Caroline whisper ever so softly his name in an attempt to comfort him. She was too afraid to come close to him and she should be. Klaus turned around to look at her and didn't miss the gasp of terror she couldn't hide. But to give her credit, she didn't step back.
Caroline had lost her ability to think. All she saw in front of her was death. The poor wolf was dead and probably it hadn't been a gentle passing though she could see no blood. Klaus was out of control. His wolf part was screaming for blood and vengeance. But what could he do?
Punish the only human within reach. She thought terrified. His eyes were so fierce she felt mesmerized. She was afraid, there was no doubt about that. But she was also sorry for she could see the hurt burning in those eyes. Did she see tears? She could not tell.
She had never seen Klaus so desperate except for when Kol was killed. It was not the same reaction of course, yet it was quite intense for such a composed man. She whispered his name trying to calm him down.
And he responded to her call making her heart skip a bit. He managed to tame the beast within, his eyes now that blue color that always reminded her of the clear spring sky.
"Oh stop crying over an animal. You, a killer of thousands, should be accustomed to death." Bettie mocked him, obviously content to have caused him emotional pain.
"Are you feeling better? You managed to kill a wolf. I bet your daughters would be thrilled if they saw you now." His voice was cold as ice, almost unrecognizable.
"If my daughters could see me, I wouldn't need to kill anything you animal." she screamed out of control, the black covering once again her eyes. It was a frightful sight.
"Well, I guess I'll find another wolf to keep me company." he shrugged indifferently.
Caroline knew he could be cruel if he meant to, but this was too much. Yet she didn't say anything, like it or not they were on the same side of the barrier and if anyone could save them, it was Klaus. He would think of something, she was sure. And maybe the wolf had managed to warn Stefan. She dare not hope of being rescued, so Klaus was her only bet.
Bettie took the bait, her face showing her murderous intentions. She couldn't kill Klaus but she could make him hurt as hell.
Out of nowhere a huge wooden stake flew across the barrier, aimed straightly at Caroline. Klaus was fast enough to push her out of harm's way, the stake embedding itself in his stomach. He groaned in pain and removed the stake with shaking hands.
Bettie started laughing hysterically. A couple of stakes followed the first one and Klaus found himself pinned to the wall.
Caroline was terrified. He should have been able to dodge them. If it was not for the shock, even she would have avoided the first stake. His moves seemed a little sloppy, small beads of sweat covering his face, his breath erratic.
Bettie stopped laughing at once, now her face dead serious. She started chanting under breath in a language unknown to both immortals. Then she raised her hands as if raising an invisible veil.
They couldn't tell what exactly she had done. Caroline felt a strange tingling sensation on the back of her neck. Probably just the stress from this never-ending ordeal, she thought.
"I'll see you lovers in the morning. The fun has just begun." And with a swift pace, she walked away.
Caroline didn't lose time but flashed immediately to Klaus. He was freaking her out, he seemed so vulnerable and ... hurt. How could he be hurt this easily? He was the Original Hybrid damn it.
"Klaus? What's going on?" She looked like a frightened child and he hated himself for being so weak.
"The witch poisoned me." A sharp intake of breath interrupted him.
"Oh my god ... is it vervain?" She was careful not to touch the stake protruding from both sides of his chest.
"The right one is soaked in vervain. The left in wolvesbayne. Very original I must say." He coughed and a blood trickle ran from his parted lips.
Caroline took off the jacket and covered her right hand with one sleeve like a glove. She placed her left hand on his hard stomach, where a small blood stain had formed where the first stake had landed.
Ignoring the feel of hard muscle under her fingertips, Caroline took a deep breath. Then, looking into his eyes, she extracted the stakes in two smooth moves throwing the stakes away.
Klaus wanted to scream, the pain was more than he could handle in his weakened state. But he would never admit weakness, not even in front of her. He would have fallen to his knees were it not for the support of her left hand that kept him still standing.
Caroline looked at Klaus. He looked pale, his beautiful eyes even more impressive against his fair skin. She helped him move from the wall and go to the bed. They had to pass over the wolf's body, which made her feel sick.
Klaus thought there was no need to stay in this room, what with the dead wolf in the middle of it. He motioned her to the door and Caroline gladly agreed to move to her room. She helped him climb the bed and get comfortable.
When his head hit the pillow he closed his eyes. He was sweating now, the poison running inside his body like liquid fire. He had experienced it before and it was a very unpleasant and painful feeling.
Klaus was aware that Caroline was watching him intently. For her sake, he opened his eyes and smiled at her.
"Thank you love." he said in a strained voice and she didn't find it in her heart to correct him.
"You're welcome." she replied gently. "Are you going to be OK?"
Unconsciousness was starting to claim him, his eyelids feeling heavier than ever. He was exhausted and there seemed no reason to fight it anymore. The danger was gone, for tonight.
Klaus mustered all his remaining strength to answer her question. "I just need a little rest."
He moved as close to the wall as he could and made room for her in the bed. Then his eyes closed and he was lost in a most needed sleep.
Caroline watched him fade into unconsciousness. The wounds from the stakes seemed to have almost healed. From time to time he would frown even in sleep and she knew he was hurting. And then he would relax, his face so ... angelic she couldn't believe he was a devil.
She was tired too. If she were to sleep in the same bed as him, they would have to be pretty close. Her other option was to sleep on the chair or the floor. She dismissed the thought immediately. She was hungry, she wouldn't add uncomfortable to the picture. And the bed next to the dead wolf? So out of the question.
Ah what the hell, he is unconscious and we are adults. There's nothing wrong with just sharing the bed.
She laid down carefully trying too much not to come in contact with his now relaxed body. No matter how hard she tried, their bodies touched. With a deep sigh she turned towards him and adjusted her body so that her head rested on his left shoulder, her left hand resting on his chest.
It was weird how safe she felt in the arms of her enemy. Sleep claimed her soon and took her to a place where there was no death, just laughter, happiness and a pair of blue eyes looking at her with love.