A/N Here is chapter eleven. I'm sorry that this took a long while to write but I finally finished this morning. Hope you like it.
Chapter Eleven ~ Will You Always Be Just Out Of Reach?
1000+ Years Ago
"Wait, Nik, wait for me!"
Sixteen year old Angelica ran after her older brother, pouting as he chuckled when he noticed that she was trying to keep up but having trouble doing so. Her legs ached while his long ones made him keep at least a full meter in front of her. Her long hair waved around the young girl, her cheeks slightly pink from all her running, eyes wide with determination to keep up with her big brother. Klaus grinned, purposely going faster, knowing that she would not give up, that she would do anything to keep up with him. She knew that he was only playing with her, his laughter echoed in her ears as he slowed down a little, giving her a chance to catch up with him.
Fingers curled in her dress, keeping it above ground, Angelica giggled when the wind hit her face, almost stealing her breath. She was slowly closing the distance between herself and Klaus, who was smiling proudly, encouraging her. A few moments later, her smile dropped, now an expression of discomfort.
"Niklaus, my feet hurt. I cannot run anymore, slow down!"
Her brother turned around, now running backwards."Now, now, sister. You said that you would be able to catch me this time."
He waggled his finger at her then turned back around, and even though she knew that he wasn't mad with her, she felt somewhat disappointed with herself. She wanted him to be proud of her, anything to put a smile on his face that had been so used to frowning. So, pushing herself, ignoring the pain in her legs, she forced herself to run faster. She kept a firm grip in her dress, careful not to trip over it as she ran towards her brother, her eyes pinned to his back. Klaus turned his head for a moment, his smile widening as he saw her approach him.
"That is it, angel, you're doing well. Maybe this time you will finally catch me."
The lake was getting closer, and that was the finishing line. She giggled once more as she saw the shining sun bounce off the sparkling water that was coming closer with each step her feet took. Her brother was getting closer to the edge and Angelica let out a long breath, urging herself to keep up with him. He had always been faster than the rest of them, he had always managed to disappear out of their sight during their chasing games. Her brother was just out of reach of her long fingers, never failing to escape just as she caught him.
Yet, he always managed to catch her. There was never a time where he failed.
Whenever they played their game, he would always manage to sneak up behind her, without warning, surprising her. Klaus always knew where she would hide, and she had never succeeded in beating him. But that was what her brother was like, unless he wanted to be found, it was impossible to find him. He liked being at the lake, which was just near the forest, he always told her that it made him feel free. She understood, even at a young age. Their father was never near the lake, that was why Klaus enjoyed it so much. The lake was surrounded by trees and bushes, and he never took anyone there but her. It was their lake, a place that just belonged to them, and he wanted to keep it that way.
"Sister, we're cl-"
Klaus was cut off when he was suddenly pushed to the ground, Angelica's hands clinging to his arm, causing him to tumble down next to her, just inches from the edge of the lake. He let out a groan when his back hit the ground, but ignored it, he had felt much worse at the hands of Mikael. He could hear her pants as she tried to get air back into her lungs. As she evened out her breathing, her laughter rung in his ears, laughter of victory. He turned his head, looking down at her, his eyes meeting hers as she gazed up at him, her eyes wide with surprise.
Through her giggles, Angelica, her tone laced with proudness and she said to Klaus,"I caught you, Nik! I caught you..."
"I can see that, sister. You are the only one out of our siblings who has caught me. Nobody ever catches me."
He jumped up, another smile on his face. It was one of surprise, mirroring her own feelings. She had never managed to catch him, even as a young girl. He was always the quickest of them all, that was what kept him out of Mikael's grasp now and then if he ever felt confident. He would always run as far as he could away from his father whenever he got into one of his rages. He smiled once more when he saw the look on her face, her cheeks still pink, and he reached out his hand. She took it eagerly, getting up onto her feet, her eyes suddenly serious.
"Do I get to keep you now that i've caught you?" She grinned up at him.
"That depends."
"On what, Nik?"
He twirled her around in a small circle, his eyes full of playfulness."Will you be able to keep ahold of me? Won't you get tired of me?"
She nodded, sure of herself. In her mind, his words were ridiculous. She wanted to keep her brother forever, he was her best friend."I won't. I'll keep you always. I promise."
Angelica blinked for a moment, tilting her head, as Klaus spun her around in his arms before pulling her into his embrace. His thumb moved over her knuckles, tightening his grasp on her fingers before he faced her. She processed his words, blue orbs drifting over the water, wondering what was outside of their small world. She had heard Klaus talk about it as if he had traveled long and far, as if knew what was beyond them. She glanced up at her brother, her gaze trailing over his face, and she saw nothing but the yearn for freedom. He wanted complete and utter freedom, and so did she. His hand ran down her arm before he flattened his palm on the small of her back. She sighed, her head resting on his shoulder.
"We will always have eachother."
"How can you be so confident in that, Nik? If I do not find someone, father will find me somebody to marry, I am sure of that."
His jaw clenched, humor gone from his face. The thought of it made his skin crawl. For as long as he could remember, they had been inseparable."Wherever you go, I shall follow."
"What if you find somebody you love and want to be with her. You might love her enough to leave us all."
She clung to him, her words leaving a bad taste in her mouth. Klaus shook his head once more, sending her a reassuring look."That will never happen, I would never leave you all behind, even Kol. Family comes above all, sister. If I ever had to choose...it will always be you. You are my family, you're my home, always and forever, Angelica."
She smiled softly, her brother only said her full name whenever he meant something. Klaus mirrored her smile, letting out a long sigh as they looked at the water once again. His free hand grabbed her hand, tugging her long behind him. She, as always, followed her older brother, waiting for him to continue. Their fingers laced as they walked around the lake, hoping that it would be a long time before their mother called them all for their meal. They felt at peace whenever they were alone, the sound of birds singing in the trees, calmed them as they got lost in their thoughts. She swallowed as she caught sight of Klaus' bruise on his cheek, something he had gotten from Mikael after he went on one of his temper rages. Sometimes, he just beat her brother for no reason, it was something that she always feared to come. She was terrified that one day their father would go too far and kill Klaus.
She shivered in horror. That was something she would never be able to handle.
"Life is a race, if you don't keep up with it, it'll slip through your fingers before you reach the end. You will miss all the magnificent parts of it...life is short, that is why you must experience all that it has to offer, that is why you must keep up with it."
"But what if there is nothing to keep up with, Nik? What if you're wrong? If there isn't anything magnificent out there for us to see? If there is...what if we never get to see it?"
He faced her taking both of her hands in his, bringing them to his chest."Because i've dreamed about it. I have heard about it...there is a whole world out there, angel. Things that we have never even imagined, there is genuine beauty and it is waiting for us, I am sure of it."
He spun her around once more, eyes lighting up when she laughed once more. His words compelled her, lulled her into believing his words. Klaus pulled her back into his arms, nodding to her when he saw question in her eyes. He knew that she somewhat doubted his words. She didn't think that there was anything worth to see, and Klaus didn't like that. Dreaming of being free from their father, of knowing that there had to be something more to what they had been dealt, kept him up at night. It was the only thought keeping him from letting their father break him. The thought of showing his siblings that there was something else made him want it even more. He caught Angelica's eyes once more, their identical blue orbs connecting as he spoke with so much determination.
"I'll show you, baby sister. One day, I will show you the whole world, I will show you what is waiting for you. I promise."
"I believe you will, Nik. I believe in you. You always keep your promises, that is why I love you so."
She felt something flutter in her stomach as his face brightened up, her words affecting him. She raised her arms, looping them around his neck before she pulled him into her, hugging him tightly. He wrapped his arms around her waist and returned the embrace, his face burying itself into the crook of her shoulder, her hair falling around him, a curtain locking out their problems. He didn't know how he was going to do it, what would take to do it, but he was going to show her freedom. At that moment, he promised himself that they would all escape their parents one day. He was going to show Angelica everything the world had to offer, and he didn't care what he had to do.
Why?
Because she believed in him, something nobody else had ever done before.
That would be the last time they visited the lake as humans. The next time they stood by the lake, which was only a few weeks after, just after her seventeenth birthday, their race with life was nothing but a forgotten thought, they no longer had an expiration date. Their father had turned them into something they had never felt before, something that was beyond their imaginations. They never returned to the lake after that, instead, they ran and never looked back.
Klaus lived up to his promise, he showed her the world...he showed her the beauty that he had been dreaming about ever since he was a little boy.
He showed her freedom...but years later, he snatched it away from each of them.
Present—French Quarter
"Just what I needed...fresh blood."
Discreetly wiping the blood from her lip with her finger, Angelica let out a long sigh as she trailed down the pavement of the French Quarter, her eyes drifting over the bright lights that caught her attention. Crowds of intoxicated people passed her, dancing to the music that was playing in the streets, none keeping her interest, the youngest Original was too busy processing everything that had happened to the world since she had last been apart of it. She was constantly being surprised, and she wasn't sure how to take it. Kol was enjoying himself, he was embracing it, more than willing to be apart of the new century. Everything had him in awe, he was like a small child in a candy store. He preferred to go out at night, and the only explanation he gave to her was that 'his prey was easier to catch'. She understood completely. Kol reminded her of a snake whenever he was around his prey, he toyed with them until he was ready to pounce for the kill.
Angelica wasn't sure if she was enjoying it as much as Kol was. But, unlike her brother, she hadn't been out much, too worried that she would run into didn't know what she would say if she had bumped into him. Half of her wanted to make him feel the pain he had put their family through, but the rest of her wanted him to wrap his arms around her. She had been in a foul mood, torn between crying and having the urge to rip the town apart. Like her brothers and her sister, she had a temper, and had a problem dealing with emotions.
You hate that you love him. But more importantly, you hate the fact that you miss him.
Angelica shook her head, as if it would get rid of the thoughts that had been clouding her mind. She had left the plantation after tossing and turning. She was tired of locking herself away, tired of feeling sorry for herself so she had snuck out when she was sure that her siblings weren't on high alert. Kol had been checking on her, trying to lure her to go on a hunt with him, something that they had always enjoyed doing together, but not even that did the trick. They hadn't heard from Klaus in over a week, and Elijah hoped that he wouldn't attack, but he knew better. Their brother was vengeful, that was what he was known for.
But finally, she had given in and let herself wind down, desperate for a change of scenery. But most of all, she was craving fresh blood. She'd always been just as bloodthirsty as Klaus, he had been the one who had taken it upon himself to teach her how to hunt as soon as he had mastered the art of it. She had left as quiet as she could and disappeared as soon as it was safe. Kol always returned just after midnight, something that he had never explained, but she knew that it was because he was secretly concerned that their brother would attack. She had waited for her brother to settle down, after he had checked on her before he went to his own bedroom, something he did every night to make sure that she was still with them. Then, not long after, Angelica had left, making her way to the French Quarter. The night air and the lights had always been something that had made her feel content.
It always looked somewhat magical.
She smiled sadly to herself when she remembered the magnificent parties her hybrid brother used to throw. He never failed to show off what he had proudly built. He would surprise her with a beautiful dress, and if she was lucky, he would even dance with her. That was when they were most happiest, he had finally begun to let go. Let go of his tight grasp on Rebekah, and finally let her be happy, but most of all, of the pain he had felt for so long. Angelica released a shaky breath as she wandered further down the street, her eyes fluttering as memories continued to haunt her. The memory of Klaus' hand holding tightly onto hers as he led her through the French Quarter, a somewhat childish smile on his lips as he told her that they had finally found their home, a place that would be theirs forever.
She smiled sadly to herself as the memory, clear as day, played in her mind.
"This is it, baby sister. This is the beauty I told you about all those years ago. This city will give us the home and the freedom we have always dreamed of."
Angelica felt Klaus' strong hands settle on her hips, fingers dancing over the material of her dress as he stood behind her. Both of them looked down at the city that he had built, the balcony giving them a perfect view of his 'kingdom'. The darkness made the lights shine brighter, and Angelica had never felt more proud of her brother. She smiled widely when he pressed a kiss to the side of her temple, his voice dropping to a seductive purr.
"We have finally found our place in the world...we have finally found somewhere that we can call ours and be happy. All you have to do is say it."
She turned around in his arms, eyes wide as she stared up at him, knowing what he wanted. He needed to be reassured, to know that she was still more than willing to stick by him. Strangely enough, it reminded her of the game they used to play when they were young. He was running from her, and she still had to catch him if she wanted to keep him with her. He wanted to know if she still loved him enough to chase him, no matter how further he slipped into the darkness. He still wanted her to catch him, bring him back towards the light.
"I love you, Nik. Always and forever."
He slowly smiled fingers grasping her chin, their lips a breath apart. As long as she loved him, as long as she stayed with him and needed him, he was content.
"Always and forever, angel."
Angelica broke out of her thoughts when she felt a tear run down her cheek, and her lower lip wobbled, angry with herself as she allowed her mind to play their memories on loop. She felt alone, even with her siblings around her. She'd never been without Klaus. He'd always been there, always by her side, whispering comforting promises into her ear whenever she felt lost. He may have caused her a large amount of pain, but at the same time, he was the only one she thought of whenever she felt alone. When their father was after them, she instantly looked to him for safety, he took care of her just as much as he hurt her. Even with their family locked away, he still made her happy. She knew Kol wanted her to hate Klaus, but spending one thousand years with someone wasn't something she could just forget.
He had always made her celebrate her birthday, he willingly took her to their horses when she missed them, he still let her crawl into his bed when she needed him near. He had never chosen anything over her, and she knew that he hadn't thought about leaving her side. The youngest Mikaelson let out an angry cry before she ran a tired hand through her hair. Her mind was spinning, and before she could take it out on the nearest person near her, she felt her tears being brushed away gently, and someone hushed her. Her eyes widened when she instantly recognized the touch, and the soothing yet cheeky tone that followed it.
"Hush now, sweetheart. You'll draw attention to yourself. Never let outsiders see weakness...that is the first rule of being a Mikaelson, remember?"
She wanted to scream and yell at him, tell him that she never wanted to see him again. Angelica opened her mouth to say something close to that, but she couldn't. Her mind was telling her to say it, that he didn't have the right to be near her, let alone touching her. But the words wouldn't leave her, instead, something else left her instead.
"Nik? How-"
"How did I know you were here? I always know when your near, love."
Angelica inhaled sharply when he slowly turned her around to face him, not ready to look at him. She was sure that she would crumble if he looked at him, or that she would tear him apart for what he had done to her. Klaus tilted his head, a small smile on his face when he saw more unshed tears in her bright eyes. Her legs felt weak, and she felt like she would crumble at his feet at any moment. His hand cupped her cheek somewhat softly, only making her more emotional. His touch was gentle, close to affectionate, as if nothing had happened, as if he hadn't stolen close to a century of her life. She glanced at his hand, wanting to push him away, but wasn't sure if she had the strength to. He held something over her, she didn't want to upset him but at the same time, wanted to claw at him.
...and by the look on his face, Klaus knew that, too.
"What's caused my angel to cry?" He asked innocently, still wiping the wetness from her cheek, but at the same time, his eyes held concern for her.
Well, what she thought was concern.
Klaus had changed over the time she had been locked away. Yes, he had lost sight of himself and slipped further into the darkness over the nine hundred plus years she had stood by him and he was at his worst when he daggered her but now, when she looked into his blue orbs, she saw nothing. There was no life in his eyes any more, he was now controlled by his own paranoia and anger that he held dear. His thirst for power had overruled him to the point that he was his own worst enemy. She wondered what went on inside of his tortured mind, but wasn't sure if she was willing to find out. It had been so long since she had seen the Niklaus that only Angelica herself knew, those moments he showed his true self had become from being rare to nothing. He wasn't Niklaus anymore he was Klaus, and it had taken over him.
"You know it pains me when you cry."
She almost laughed, tempted to tell him that he was the cause of her current state, but cut herself off. Angelica sighed when his long fingers combed through her hair, acting as if comforting her would make everything better, just like it used to. She felt herself become angry as her thoughts continued to control her emotions. Her brother was a master at manipulation, it always resulted in him getting what he wanted, and he had never failed to prove the extent of his abilities or powers. He always believed that he would always earn her forgiveness, that he had some sort of right to it. She inhaled sharply when his thumb pressed down on her lower lip, eyes telling her that he knew exactly what she was feeling.
He smirked and Angelica backed away, more angry with herself than with him. He frowned once more, his mask slipping as she winced at his touch. She felt like glass, close to breaking each time he touched her. She hated him, she did. She hated him for still being able to make her feel guilty for pulling from him. Angelica cursed his name each time she tossed and turned, each time she regretfully wished that he was on the other side of the bed.
"Y-You cannot do that, Nik. You cannot assume that you have the right to show up like this after what you have done. This isn't going to go your way anymore, I will not let you talk your way out of this."
Each time he put a dagger in Kol or Rebekah's heart, she had stuck by him, ignoring her own pain. She had pushed aside her longing for her siblings, believing that one day, they would all be one again. She had stood by his side as they ran from their father, comforted him whenever he came face to face with Mikael. He had been her world, for nine hundred plus years, Klaus had been everything to her. Yes, he hurt her whenever he locked away those closest to her, but at the same time, he was the main source of her happiness. She had the world, she had freedom, she never wanted for nothing.
"Angel-"
Raising a shaky hand, the youngest Mikaelson pointed at Klaus, more tears brimming at her eyes."No! Do not call me that because it's not going to work."
"Now, now. I know that you are upset with me, love and you have the right, I don't doubt that. But you know, as well as I do, that you'll always be my angel. Mine. Always and forever, remember? No matter what we put one another through, we always stick together. We never fail make up."
"I don't want nothing to do with you right now, Nik. What you have done is unforgivable. How can you be so...arrogant? Don't you realize what you have done to this family?"
His jaw clenched as she yelled at him, something he was still not used to. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. Their last meeting had been overrun by emotions, but he had given her time, more then enough. She was supposed to take his apology, and their family would be reunited, especially them two. He also couldn't believe that she failed to notice that she had hurt him too. Their family seemed to forget that he wasn't totally at fault. He and Angelica had hurt one another, their whole family had hurt each-other, yet he was put to blame because he was the easiest target.
It hurt.
"Me? I don't deny that I have contributed to our recent...spat, but if you think of it, we have all done something that has made us all estranged. Kol's no saint. Even Elijah isn't totally innocent, including 'Bekah. Your hands aren't clean either, angel, but we can deal with that later. All I want is for you and I to be on the same side again."
His expression turned from irritation to another grin."I've missed you, sweet. Don't deny you don't feel the same."
"You bit Elijah, you held the white oak stake, the only thing that can kill us, to Kol's heart. What if you had killed him, Nik?"
He shook his head, determination and promise in his eyes, denying her words."I wouldn't. He's my brother. I know that I was wrong for daggering our family, but I had my reasons, it may seem like I don't care, but I do. I love my family, and I do what I must in order to keep us one and safe. So, despite our differences, I would have never killed Kol."
Angelica stayed quiet, her eyes drifting to the ground, and he tilted his head."You believe me, don't you? You honestly think I am capable of killing my own brother?"
She didn't reply, now hugging herself as she shook, tears streaking down her cheeks. Klaus swallowed and he took a step closer to her, letting out a dry laugh as he waited for her answer. It hurt. The longer she stayed quiet, the more it hurt. He smiled, but there was no humour on his face, instead panic was in his eyes as she didn't respond. He had expected her to shake her head and say something similar to 'Of course not, Nik.', like she used to. Instead, she wore a blank look and continued to look away. It made him feel uneasy, he needed her reassurance, he needed her to tell him that she still saw something in him. He understood that she was angry, but he never doubted that they would someday make up, they always did.
His voice dropped to a soft, soothing tone, similar to the one he used when they were human. "Sweetheart, answer me. Tell me that you believe me."
When she didn't answer straight away, he spoke once more.
"Look, I know that I went too far, but you know that I wouldn't have acted that way if Kol hadn't come up against me, I had to remind him of where he stood. He stood against me, but I wouldn't have used it...Angelica!"
At his slightly raised voice, Angelica answered him, her voice shaky."...i honestly don't know what you're capable of anymore, Nik. You've changed. I look at you now then I think of who you used to be, and I don't recognized what I see standing in front of me. The Nik I knew never would have daggered me, he never would have taken my family from me. He would have been ashamed of what you did to Elijah and Kol, what you have done to them over the years, including Rebekah."
She raised her swimming eyes to meet his, her voice quiet and full of emotion."He never...he never would have broken my heart. You've broken me, don't you see that, Nik? I've given you all i've got, and you still want more...but I don't have anything else to offer you."
Angelica had given him everything she had. Her body, her love, and her soul. She had willingly stuck with him because she adored him more than life itself. But it seemed like that wasn't good enough for didn't believe that she truly loved him. He believed that if she loved another, if she loved their family as much as she loved him, that her love for him lessened. It meant, to him, that she didn't want him no more. Her love for anyone else, in his paranoid mind, meant that she didn't need him anymore. He had to have her constant attention, she had to choose him, love and need him above anyone else. His paranoia, anger and constant fear of being left alone had left him bitter.
He betrayed her. He had broken the promise that he made to her and that, to her, was unforgivable. Not only had he torn her family from her, he had hurt the one person who had stayed with him through thick and thin. But the fact that he had made her happy, that he wasn't the monster that Kol and others believed him to be, only made it harder for her to truly despise him. Memories of him dancing with her, loving her, keeping her safe haunted her to the point that she questioned her sanity.
But the worst thing was, even after all he'd put her through, she still loved him just as much.
...yet she hated him with equal measure.
That was her curse. Her curse was loving him to the point that it felt impossible to live without him. She inhaled sharply when his hands cupped her face, wiping her tears away once more and she looked anywhere but him, sure that if her eyes caught sight of him that she would break. The pads of his fingers moved over the soft skin of her cheek, his own eyes watering the longer she refused to look at him. Eventually she gave in and stopped resisting him when she heard him let out a choked sound, his walls coming down for just a moment, something only she had the power to do. His blue watery eyes trailed over her face, and just for a split second, Angelica swore that she saw her Niklaus, and she whimpered.
"Don't you think I know what i've done to you?! I can see it, but more than that I can feel it. I know whenever you're in pain, because I feel whatever you feel. Remember? You are mine and I am yours."
At his words, her mind drifted to the moment he had made his promise, one she had been sure that he would keep.
"...you are mine and I am yours. Which means, whatever breaks your heart, breaks mine. When you are in pain, so am I. When you're happy, sad, angry or lonely, I feel it. Without you...i'm in pain."
Klaus, happy that he had her attention for a moment, attempted to try and make her see his side of things."That was why I left you in...there for so long. I knew that if I woke you up that there was a chance that you wouldn't want anything to do with me anymore, just like I did ninety one years ago. But, you have to believe that I wasn't going to leave you in there forever, I couldn't live without you for that long. II wanted to make it up to you, that is why I fought for our home, so that we could start over."
"You can't possibly think-"
"Just listen to me. You have to try and understand that this hasn't been easy for me either. I thought you had turned against me, that I wasn't enough for you anymore. So yes, I panicked, I didn't know what to do. I couldn't lose you, i'd already lost everything else, so I did what first came to mind. I read what you wrote, and I couldn't handle the thought of losing you. Mikael was after us, I was upset about daggering Rebekah after she chose Stefan, and Elijah wasn't there, I thought Marcel was dead. It was all too much. If I didn't have you, if I was alone...i knew that I wouldn't have been able to handle it."
She watched as his face fell, he was reluctantly vulnerable, and she knew that he hated it."Nik..."
"It's always been me and you. We've never needed anything or anyone else. Nobody could break us, nobody could understand what we have because what we've got is rare, that's why we are unable to stay apart. I know you've been miserable without me because I haven't been the same without you. Kol, Elijah and Rebekah cannot keep us apart because they do not understand. You love me, I can feel it, that's why I haven't acted against our siblings. "
She opened her mouth to speak, but he hushed her once again."You may hate me, you may want to rip my bloody head off at the moment but there will never be a day where you won't love me. You hate me because your love for me is still as strong as it was the day you first realized what you felt. Do not forget, angel..."
She looked up at him, a small sad smile appearing on his face as he leaned down, his lips brushing hers as he spoke.
"...you're still mine and i'll do my best to stay away to see if you decide to chase me once more. I just hope that you remember what we have fast enough to choose if you want to catch me. I know that you will, but you have to accept that, which is why i'm going to try my best to wait."
Do I get to keep you now that i've caught you?
His words, reminding her of the game they used to play, made her gasp and before she could reply, Klaus' lips covered her own. The simple feel of his lips against hers was enough to make her legs feel weak. It had been ninety one years since he had touched her, and the longer his hands stayed on her body, the longer his mouth worked on her own, the harder he became to resist. His words repeated in her head, and she wanted to deny him, tell him that he didn't know her as well as he thought he did, but she knew that it would be a lie. Lying to him was useless because her brother was a master liar and it was impossible to defy him.
She wanted to pull away, but he broke the kiss, forehead lolling against her own. Her eyes shut, but she didn't have to look at him to know what he wanted. He wanted her to make the next move, and his hand settled on her cheek once more, his thumb running along her bottom lip, eyes clouded with lust as he dared her to walk away from him, challenging her to deny him once again. Angelica raised her hand and cupped the back of his head, bringing him down. Her lips claimed his own, unwillingly letting out a sigh of need as he instantly responded, his strong arms locking around her just in case she pulled away. His lips parted, letting her be in control for once, and as their tongues met in a dance, her fingers fisted in his hair, silently punishing him for being able to break her walls.
Knock knock
Far too soon, Klaus's lips tore off of her own reluctantly, and Angelica shivered when he whispered her name, but even though he was so near he sounded so far away. His temple rested against her own, and lips pressing a gentle kiss on her jawline. Klaus' jaw clenched, knowing that time was running out, his time with Angelica was close to ending, but he prayed that it had worked. She was finally coming close to understanding his point of view, he didn't want to lose her once more.
Knock knock
Placing a longing kiss on her lips, Klaus' eyes fluttered as her fingers locked around his collar, keeping him close.
Knock knock.
"Open your eyes, angel. It's time to catch me."
Angelica's eyes opened when she felt Klaus' hand slip from her cheek, instantly feeling cold at the loss of touch. The sound of something hitting wood came closer and caught her attention. She narrowed her eyes, the street becoming more and more blurry as she turned around, wondering what was happening. Hearing her name being called, Angelica felt herself slipping away, the lights disappearing from her sight. The original vampire shot up, sheets falling around her waist, eyes widening as she looked around the environment she was in. The French Quarter fell from sight, and she was met with the familiar space of her temporary bedroom. Clutching the bed sheets too her, Angelica wiped her eyes as she realized that what had just happened had been a dream, a very realistic dream.
"Angelica? You okay, darling? I heard you mumbling in your sleep, sounded like a nightmare."
Her expression turned to one of contentment as she heard Kol's voice, calming her down. She cleared her throat, brushing her hair from her eyes as she slumped back against the pillows.
"Y-Yes, i'm all right now, Kol. Thank you."
He was quiet for a few moments, and she knew that he was worried about her tone of voice but hoped that he wouldn't say anything.
"All right. You know where I am if you need your favorite older brother."
Unable to help herself, Angelica smiled softly."I know where Elijah is Kol, thank you."
"You're not funny, sister. You weren't funny when we were children, and you're not funny now. You know you love me, it's only a matter of time before you admit it."
She heard him chuckle as he walked away from her door. Angelica let out a long breath as she tried to control her breathing, the dream having a heavy impact on her. She untangled herself from her covers and swung her legs over to the side of the bed, sitting there for a moment. The sunlight bathed her, making her smile once more. As she went to walk over to the window a few meters from her bed, something on her bedside table caught her eye. Angelica reached over and picked up what had gained her attention.
"What in hell?"
She frowned as she held what seemed to be a sketchbook in her hands. It seemed old and worn out, as if somebody had kept it with them for a long while. Angelica sat back on the bed, getting comfy as her fingers ran over the front of the seemed oddly familiar, and it wasn't until Angelica opened it when she realized what it was. The first drawing in the sketchbook was of her and Rebekah when they were children playing in the forest. Her older sister held her close, both smiling at one another in a cheeky manner. They had been close, second to herself and Klaus, when they were young. Her older sister had been more of a mother to her than Ester had. She bit her lip to stop herself from showing emotion as her fingers moved over the worn out pages, and that was when it hit her. She raised her head, looking at the window, as her mind fit the puzzle together. Angelica's fingers curled around the sheets as she thought carefully, and all of a sudden, she gasped in shock.
She glanced back down at the page again and that was when, for the first time, she noticed handwriting. The neat handwriting was new on the old pages, clearly familiar as her eyes moved over it. She let the pads of her fingers move over it, following each letter. That was when she realized what had happened in reality and in her dreams. She swallowed the lump in her throat as she read over the words.
...you always were an inspiration to my best artwork.
- Nik
Angelica dropped the sketchbook in horror as realization sunk in.
Klaus had gotten into her head while she had been sleeping.
Sorry for any grammar/spelling mistakes. Please leave a review. I hope that I can reach 80 reviews before I post the next chapter. Like I say, they really do encourage me to update quicker.