Elijah sat in his study reading an old story he picked up off the shelve, trying not to listen in on his brother's conversation with his blonde beauty. She was correct in the soft words she told Klaus, being King was something he always strived for and this time it was no different. The idea of having power over people reminded him of how their father treated him, the harsh words indented into Klaus' heart and mind to remind him that he was "nothing". If only their father could have seen the good that he sees when Caroline is with him.
The soft ringing of his cell phone in his pocket pulled Elijah out of his thoughts. Checking the ID before answering, he let out a small sigh before pressing the button and holding the device up to his ear.
"Sophie," he greeted he over the phone.
"Elijah, I believe we have a problem."
Klaus held Caroline in his arms, kissing her ever so lightly as if she would break in his arms if he put too much pressure on her. It was slow and sensuous, the tension slowly, but surely, building up between the two. Caroline held his face in the palms of her hands, keeping his face close to hers. Just as the kiss was going to go a bit deeper, the door to the balcony was pushed open to reveal the eldest Mikaelson brother decked out in his usual suit. The couple pulled away from each other, smiling a little from the tingly feeling left on their lips, and looked at Elijah.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I think there is something that must be dealt with immediately," he told them.
Her smile faded as Caroline looked at Klaus then back at Elijah. "What wrong?" She asked as Klaus' arm slid around her waist to hold her close.
Elijah motioned for them to follow him inside, "it seems that some of Marcel's followers want to overthrow their new leader, start a revolution if you will. Sophie just called and said that Diego has rallied some vampires together at her bar."
"Then I guess it is time for us to straighten out this resistance," Klaus said with a smirk. Unwrapping his arm from around her waist, he went to grab his coat from the coat hanger while Caroline ran up to their room to grab hers.
People glanced their way as the walked thru the streets of New Orleans, their eyes never leaving the trio until they were out of view. Caroline couldn't tell if they were human eyes or supernatural eyes at first, but as they walked closer and closer to their destination she found that almost everyone around them was watching them. Not in disgust or fear but in pure aw. These people, supernatural or not, knew those three were not to be disturbed from the power that radiated off them. Their king was back in power with a queen by his side. Klaus seemed to notice this too as the arm slung around Caroline's waist tightened slightly until he understood what kind of looks these people were sending. Caroline glanced at him when his arm loosened greatly, to a relaxed position. She found his face somewhere between a smile and a smirk. She smiled as well and shook her head.
When walking in front of the bar, they noticed the many vampires inside sitting around a few tables. The ones that stood outside shrunk away as the trio came forward, in fear of what would happen if they stayed. Elijah pulled open the door and Klaus went in first, Caroline trailing not far behind. The door shut with a bang and all eyes were on them. To Caroline, it was almost like an old cowboy movie she watched when she was a child. The tension filling the air quickly was enough for her to want to hide in a corner. Diego stood around a, not surprisingly, large group of vampires who all glared at them. Klaus' face was dark with no expression making Caroline almost shiver, she had forgotten how he got around people who conspired against him.
"What is going on here?" Klaus ask with a growl. The few humans that were in the bar had quickly left through the back, leaving the new rulers, their revolting subjects, and Sophie, who quietly slipped through the back door and away from any blood scene that was going to be taking place in a matter of time. No one moved or spoke. "Well?"
Diego sped over to us, stopping in front of Klaus so they were nose to nose. "You're not king. Marcel was king, that didn't make you the heir," he growled. Klaus' body was rigid from anger, his eyes full of flames and his mouth forming a tight line. The other vampires stood when seeing his anger and took attack stances.
Caroline saw the quick movements and knew she had to step in or Sophie's bar would be destroyed. She stepped forward enough to push Diego back slightly, feeling that he was too close for anyone's liking. "I think you both need to calm down a little. Sophie's letting us talk in here, the least we could do is not destroy her bar," she said quietly between the two. Neither of them glanced at her but Diego did step back slightly. "Besides, we're only here to talk," Caroline told Diego while stepping in front of Klaus to look Diego in the eyes.
Both males growled at the thought of just talking, they felt that violence was necessary in this situation. Caroline watched as Diego's fangs dropped and he hissed in her face. Out of instinct to protect his love, Klaus' fangs dropped as well and he went to push Caroline behind him when a gasp erupted from the bar. Everyone had been so worked up about the argument that no one noticed another body sneak in through the back. All eyes went to the new body.
"Camille," Caroline started slowly.
Camille stared at Klaus and Diego in shock and fear. She had never seen anything like this in her life in New Orleans, it was almost like out of a scary movie. And there it was, people she had come to trust, friends, and in turn they had kept a giant secret from her. She watched as the two "monsters" put their fangs away and their eyes went back to normal. Camille thought she was going to faint . . . Or scream.
"Camille," Caroline said again after seeing no response originally. She stepped towards the bartender only to have her drop her bag and run out the back door. Caroline could feel small tears stinging at the corner of her eyes. It brought back memories of when she first turned and people she thought cared about her believed her to be a monster. Caroline looked at Klaus and Elijah, "I'm going to hope that you two can do this without destroying the bar." She looked at Klaus with eyes that asked him to try for her, which he sighed in response letting her know she won. She looked once more at Diego before running out the back door, smelling the air for any trace of Camille.
The brothers watched as Caroline ran out the door. Out of all the things that could have happened today, they certainly weren't expecting the blonde bartender to walk in on all this. Did she even know about Marcel's demise? Probably not as she seemed quite surprised when she walked in. Though, they did let their vampire/hybrid faces be shown so being frightened and surprised would be the expectation. Klaus looked at Elijah, who nodded towards Diego and followers, and turned back to them.
"Now that we are alone again, let's discuss what's going to happen here," he said to them, motioning to some empty chairs.
A tight look formed on Diego's face, "Why, because your girlfriend asked you to?"
Elijah stepped up before Klaus could grab him by the throat, "I would watch what you say about her. She is family and neither me nor our sister would hesitate to rip out your throat out for any harsh words." Elijah's voice was strong yet dangerous, a sound that caused the vampires standing behind Diego to shudder slightly. "Now, I believed you were asked to take a seat."
Klaus smirked slightly as Diego eyed his brother before sliding down into the chair. He, himself, pulled out a chair and lifted his feet to relax on the table in front of them as Elijah sat up straight in his chair. "So, I would like to know why a revolt has been started against me and my family," Klaus started.
"I'm just trying to get back what isn't yours," Diego stated.
"And what might that be?" Elijah inquired.
"Rule over New Orleans." Klaus let out a dark chuckle while Elijah raised an eyebrow. Diego had to have been about 100 years old or so, and he expected to be able to take over New Orleans. "This was Marcel's kingdom and now it goes to me, I was the second in command after all," he told them.
Klaus took his feet off the table and looked at Diego, "And what's stopping me from ripping out not only your heart but everyone of those vampires that think they can go against me?"
Now it was Diego's turn to smirk, "Marcel's witch. Do you really think we would come here without protection?" Klaus' face dropped slightly, finally noticing how easy this all seemed to be. "We are the only ones who know where she is and she has put some powerful spells on us for protection from you," he told him.
Klaus growled slightly, his eye turning dark and colder than before. "Who is she? Where has she been hiding all this time?" he questioned.
"We're not sending her to the hands of a tyrant like you," Diego snarled back, "And she knows a lot about you Originals. Last I checked, she was trying to find something that would shut you up for good."
"Well then I will let you know now," Klaus taunted with a sly smirk, "we can't be killed. We are indestructible."
"She has been working very hard and very powerful. Who knows, she might find a way."
Klaus was livid, he was ready to tear out this pest's heart right then and there. But he made agreed to Caroline not to do so, and he will hold his temper for her. Even if it might kill him. Elijah saw his stone cold emotion and knew he had to act fast. "I think it would be best for you and your companions to disperse. Quickly and quietly," Elijah said, standing from his seat with Klaus following behind.
Diego looked back and nodded for the daywalkers to leave. "You're not going to win this," he threatened before turning to the door and following his friends. Klaus felt rage grow so quickly watching the man walk out the door with confidence. He was being played, and all the while Caroline and his family could be in danger.
"I'm calling some of my allies in the area. Someone will be able to keep tabs on them and report back," Elijah told him with his phone to his ear. Klaus nodded and listened as his brother made the plans. Klaus felt like a pawn in this giant game, being played even though he is obviously not a pawn. He's a king, one that should have control over this game. Yet Diego seemed to believe that he was king and had control. He should learn his place. Elijah watched his brother from the corner of his eye and noticed the tight, cold look that covered his face. When the phone call was over, Elijah placed his hands on Klaus' shoulders to gain his attention. "This is not over yet, Niklaus. He should have thought of the consequences of testing this family," he growled slightly.
Klaus nodded, "You're right, but right now I need to go find Caroline." And with a small nod, Klaus flashed out the door.
Caroline slowed down as she turned the corner. She just left Klaus and Elijah to deal with those daywalkers while she went to find Camille, who ran off very quickly. She thanked god that she could track Camille's scent through the tourist filled streets of the French Quarter. Sniffing the air one last time, Caroline made a sharp left turn to a dead end street with a small cafe at the end. There, sitting in front of the store with a cup of coffee in her shaking hands and a pale face, was Camille. Slowly, Caroline made her way towards her so not to startle her. When she was close, she placed a hand on Camille's shoulder. She jumped and tried to get away.
"Camille, please. I need you to calm down," Caroline pleaded in a soft tone. Her eyes darted into the cafe, looking for anyone who could possible call the police for their little scene. Luckily, nobody seemed to notice the two blondes outside. "Just let me talk, let me explain."
"Explain what?" Camille snapped in a frightened yet brave tone, "How you lied to me? Made me believe that we were friends when you were trying to get rid of Marcel? I may be blonde but I'm certainly not dumb or naive. I see what goes on around here, I always have and I always wonder what about some of the conversations I tend to walk into."
"That's what I like about you, though. You're brave, you're smart, you question everything," Caroline explained, sliding into the seat next to her. "I never used you to get rid of Marcel, nor did Klaus or Elijah or Rebekah. We are genuinely your friends. And as your friend, I feel terrible about lying to you during my time here," She noticed that Camille's shoulders dropped a little at her words so she grabbed her hand for comfort, "Just let me explain about . . . all of this."
After a moment, Camille looked down and nodded her head slowly. "Alright."
With a sigh, Caroline started, "I am a vampire. Elijah, Rebekah, Diego, Marcel, all those people you saw with him . . . they're all vampires. Klaus, Elijah, and Rebekah are Originals, they were the first vampires in history. Klaus, when he was turned, had werewolf genes and he became a hybrid; part werewolf, part vampire. I'm only a baby vampire, I was turned when I was seventeen and lived in this small town in Virginia called Mystic Falls. That was where I met Klaus and his siblings. When the time came, the Mikaelson family moved to New Orleans after being told that someone was plotting against them. They lived here almost three hundred years ago and helped build this city. In their time here, they met Marcel as boy and they saved him. They raised him and turned him into a vampire. When New Orleans broke into fire, they fled the city for fear that someone was after them. Marcel was left to pick up the pieces of the city and became a self proclaimed king, gaining followers and turning them. When Klaus came back, he wanted to be king again but Marcel wouldn't let him. So, Klaus and his siblings started planning with the witches in the city to try and defeat him."
"Where do you and I fit into all this?" Camille asked. Apparently, she had been actively engaged in the conversation.
"Well, when I met Klaus in Mystic Falls he had a thing for me. I had a boyfriend who Klaus used constantly and everyone believed him to be a bad person that couldn't be trusted. But while he was mean and uncaring to everyone else, he was kind and protective of me. When he left, I realized that my boyfriend didn't care about me the same way Klaus did so I came here for him," she explained. "You, on the other hand, captured the attention of Marcel. All those dates that you went on, he really liked you but you never gave him the time of day. Did you ever get headaches? Ever wonder what you were doing? Can't remember certain days maybe?"
Camille's eyebrows pushed together in confusion. "Yeah, I was told that I looked beautiful in this dress that I had. I don't even remember getting it," she muttered more to herself then to Caroline.
"Marcel compelled you to forget. Vampires have the power to control your mind, if you will, through compulsion. They can make you do anything they want, even go on dates with them," Caroline watched as Camille's face dropped, "I'm so sorry, Cami."
"Can you make me remember everything?" she asked, looking down at her trembling hands, "I want to know."
Caroline sighed, "Alright, but remember; the memories might be bad and they might hurt you. I'm so sorry if they do." And with that, Camille looked up at Caroline, who sat up a little taller and looked into her friends eyes. "I want you to remember everything Marcel made you forget," she compelled.
Camille's eyes widened at the images playing in front of her eyes. So many things she had forgotten, so many things she had seen, so many things she had done . . . Tears filled her eyes as the images faded away and she looked at Caroline, who had a sympathetic look on her face. Caroline tried to grab her hand for comfort, but she moved it away. Standing from her chair, she noticed Caroline's hurt expression, "I'm sorry Care, but this is a lot to take in. I just need some time to think."
Caroline nodded reluctantly, "Of course. Well, you know where to find me." She gave her a sad smile before looking down at her hands. Camille nodded and turned to walk away. Caroline brought her hands up to her lips and lifted her head, letting the tip of her nose scratch at her fingers. She sat there, running through her mind about what had just happened. Camille, she was upset and scared of what Caroline was. She was scared of her.
This was how Klaus found her, deep in thought. He placed a hand on her shoulder and lightly massaged it. "It's going to be alright, Sweetheart. Just give her some time," he reassured her, having heard most of the conversation on his way to her.
Caroline dropped her hands and looked down with a deep sigh. "Did I do the right thing by telling her?" she asked, looking up to him. He let go out her shoulder to pull up a chair next to her, grabbing her hands in his. "I mean I could have always just compelled her to forget what she saw," she said.
"And what would happen if she walked in on that again? Compel her again? Caroline," Klaus squeezed her hands in his to gain her attention, "You did the right thing." He brushed some loose hair out of her face and caressed her face.
"She's upset and scared, scared of us. Of me. I'm her friend and she's scared of me."
Klaus stood, pulling her up with him to kiss her hair. "Come on, let's get you home. Camille will call when she's ready, just be patient," he whispered against her head.
"You know that isn't one of my virtues," She joked against his chest.
He chuckled lightly, "I'll have to teach you, Love."
She chuckled lightly herself, "I have better patience then, so I wouldn't talk if I were you."
When they got home, both Klaus and Caroline noticed that nobody else seemed to be there. Slipping out of their coats to put them on their hangers, they moved inside. Caroline was still thinking about Camille as she walked to the couch to relax while Klaus moved around to get a drink. The smell of alcohol brought Caroline out of her thoughts and back to reality, remembering why they left the house in the first place. "What happened with those daywalkers after I left?" she asked him as he poured himself a drink of scotch.
Klaus' movements became rigid as he put the cover on the alcohol and put it away, remembering the threats that were made against her and his family. "He let it slip that Marcel had his own personal witch on hand and now she is trying to find a way to kill me and my siblings," he grumbled as he walked to her side.
"Well, what are you going to do?" she wondered curiously. She may be able to read him like a book, but there were times where Caroline couldn't understand what was running through his head. Sometimes he would go the usual route with threatening but never killing. Sometimes he would surprise her and just want to talk through the situation rather than become violent. Sometimes he would become this dark man and ripe the hearts out of everyone who stood in his way. His three different personalities. Niklaus, Nik, and Klaus; The sad man, the kind man, and the angry man. Now all Caroline had to do is figure out which one she was talking to.
Klaus thought for a moment before speaking, "I'm going to get Sophie to take off the spells placed on those vampires, and then I'm going to force this witches name and address out of Diego before killing him." So Caroline was talking to Klaus.
She looked up at him with her arms crossed, "How is that going to help you win their favor? It will either cause them so much fear that they will listen to you or it will cause them to retaliate even more than before."
He raised an eyebrow at her, "Oh? And what do you think I should do?"
"Be nice to them, show them respect. If you show them that you won't kill them, they will be more likely to join you rather than fight you. How do you think Marcel gained so many followers that would fight for him even when he's dead?" She asked him harshly, standing up to look at him square in the eyes.
Klaus' jaw tightened as he looked at Caroline. He placed his glass down before he could break it in his hand. "Don't compare me to him! He was not king, I am!" He growled deeply at her. This wasn't like the growls that erupted from his chest when they kissed, this was one of pure anger and annoyance.
"I didn't like him as much as you and I don't believe that he was king either, but look at the way he 'ruled' over his people. He knew everyone's name, treated them all with the same respect that he would treat any guest. He was a wonderful ruler to them and if you want them to listen to you, you have to treat them the same way," she snarled back at him.
Klaus moved his head down to look at her straight in the eyes, noticing the blazing fire burning in her eyes from the anger that he caused within her. He knew his eyes must have been just like that. With his lips forming a tight line on his face and his eyebrows sloping down, he snapped, "No." Caroline's eyes could have burned right out from her skull from being so angry as he turned on his heels and made his way towards the door.
This movement didn't stop Caroline from wanting to have the last word, "You're only angry because you know I'm right and that drives you crazy!" This didn't stop Klaus from walking. On the contrary, it made him stomp away faster with a slam of the front door behind him. The realization of their argument came in full as she heard him leave. She was still furious with him, she didn't know when this anger would go away, but she could help the hot tears that ran down her face from what had just happened between them. Sliding down to fall onto the couch, she knew that it was going to take a while for the cuts of their words to heal, but she didn't know if they had the time.
I'm so sorry for such the long wait, that was probably the longest you will ever have to wait for an update for this story or any future stories of mine. But I do hope that this drama filled long chapter will make up for the wait. A quick response to a Guest: No I am not dead, I am very much alive just very busy. But, how did everyone enjoy that Klaroline scene a few weeks ago?! I for one had tears in my eyes and couldn't breath at all, I had to replay it like three times to make sure I wasn't dreaming. And the Katherine/Elena situation and Caroline's confession in last weeks episode? I think I'm losing it. Not to mention all the action going on in New Orleans, I'm on a vampires overload. Anyway, I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Years and a nice January. Please, don't hesitate to send me your comments on this chapter as well as sending me a PM for any thoughts that you have on future TVD and TO episodes and crossovers. Hopefully, Julie knows how much we care about Klaroline to know that this is not over and it won't be over without a fight. Thanks for reading! :)