Chapter 12: You Always Wanted Her Heart
Klaus awoke the next morning feeling the oppressive weight of depression suffocating his soul.
His visit to the O'Connells, though interesting and enlightening, had ultimately been a waste of time. They were no longer the faceless ogres he'd imagined them to be, but they were of no help either. He could have insisted they risk their lives to come here, but there was no guarantee they'd be the key to waking her up, and he knew their daughter would never forgive him if the last of her family perished, no matter how noble their end would be.
In a flash of inspiration, he'd asked Freya about moving Camille to Connecticut. As it turned out, that wasn't an option either. Freya was adamant that once Cami left New Orleans, the curse would automatically be triggered, and Camille put to sleep for the rest of her life.
If family was the key to breaking the spell, he'd never be able to use it.
And this—today—was his last chance to save her. Unless he found a way to unlock the curse, today was the last day before she'd be lost.
Forever.
He was not in the mood to contemplate the parade of strangers coming and going downstairs, so he spent the morning in his study, scouring his mother's books for some missing piece of information, something that no one had yet thought of. After hours spent in vain, he threw a particularly heavy tome across the room. He'd always attempted to shape his own fate—or at least make the most of the hand he'd been dealt—but now fate was openly laughing in his face.
He hated feeling so helpless.
The temptation to murder someone was becoming overwhelming. He knew Camille wouldn't approve of him spilling the blood of an innocent, but the victim he had in mind was far from innocent.
His priority was to keep her safe, and there was only one way to do that.
Besides, he'd made a promise to her father to make the people responsible suffer. And the person most responsible was the one he most looked forward to exterminating.
A win-win situation all around.
He knew the ding of the elevator outside Lucien's penthouse would alert whoever was inside to his presence, but he didn't think stealth was necessary this time. In fact, he wanted Lucien—and Aurora, hopefully—to know he'd come for them.
Just as he thought would happen, the doors opened even before he got to them. From inside the apartment, Lucien gave him a cheeky grin. "Why, Nik," he said, "how wonderful to see you again."
Klaus grinned back. "Is it, Lucien? Perhaps you won't think so when I tell you why I'm here."
"Don't tell me, let me guess. You've come to tell me how your dear friend Cami is doing. I do hope you've been able to revive her. I'm still shocked I couldn't bring her round. The ladies usually can't resist me." Lucien winked at him and gestured for him to come in.
"And yet," Klaus said, walking past him into the opulent apartment, "the one woman you want has managed to resist you for a millenium."
The smile was wiped from Lucien's face momentarily. "That's a low blow, Nik, even for you." Plastering the serene façade back on his face, he added, "But I forgive you, old friend. Care for a drink?"
"No," Klaus replied, "I don't care for a drink. I've come for her."
Lucien shook his head. "Who are you talking about?"
"You know who, old friend. We were talking about her not more than ten seconds ago. Aurora. Where is she?"
Lucien shrugged. "Why would you think I know where Aurora is? I told you when I first got to town that we haven't kept in touch. That rather awkward dinner of yours was the first and only time I've had the pleasure of her company in ages."
"And I told you when you first got to town that I trust no one. Not even one of my oldest friends." Klaus stared pointedly at the closed doors to Lucien's bedroom. "I'm sure you won't mind if I take a look around."
"Is that really necessary, old chap?" Lucien said quickly. As Klaus meandered in the direction of his bedroom, he added, "I assure you, you won't find anything." His voice grew more insistent the closer Klaus got to the door. "I give you my word."
In a flash, Lucien was between him and the door. "Can't a fellow have some privacy? I could have a lady friend in there."
Klaus smirked at him. "You're not normally this puritanical. I'm absolutely certain there is nothing behind that door I haven't seen before."
Lucien didn't share his amusement. "Don't do anything you might regret, Nik."
"Why would I regret it?" Klaus asked innocently.
"I don't mean that you'll regret it exactly," Lucien said lightly, "but I have a right to be miffed that you don't trust me. Is it worth ruining our friendship over something so trivial?"
Klaus looked his old mate in the eye. "You can either stand aside and let me into that room, or I can compel you to tell me where Aurora is."
"I don't much like either option," Lucien snarled. Then he smiled widely. "However, I have no way to stop you, do I? Have at it then."
Lucien sidled out from his position between Klaus and the door and walked over to the kitchen. "Now would you like a drink?"
"I'm glad you see things my way." Klaus grabbed the door handles. "I'd love to have a drink once I've dealt with your treacherous companion."
There was the sound of something whizzing fast through the air, and a sudden piercing pain in his back brought Klaus to his knees with a groan. When he managed to turn and face Lucien, the cheeky bastard was wearing an insolent grin.
"Sorry for the backache, but you know how it is. A chap has to protect the people he cares about. I'm sure you understand that instinct, at least."
Klaus could feel the dagger-like object working its way through his skin. He fumbled around to his back, but he couldn't quite reach the bloody thing. Perhaps if he rolled onto his side, he could twist his body far enough to grasp the dagger with his hand.
Lucien stood over him. "It's ironic, isn't it? Me using one of your pretty friend's dark objects against you. But then she's more than just a friend, isn't she, your precious Cami? It seems only fitting that I save the woman I love with what I took from the woman you love."
Klaus writhed on the floor. Gradually, his fingers were moving closer to the handle. Just an inch more.
"I do like Camille, you know. She's easy to look at, amusing, smart. And a good judge of character, as it turns out. What a pity she got involved with you, though. You have an unfortunate habit of destroying everyone who loves you."
"That's just what Aurora said." Klaus flexed his fingers one last time and finally made contact with the handle. With one quick jerk, he removed it and hurled it at Lucien's chest.
His diminutive mate didn't even see it coming. He lurched forward, then recovered his balance. "Oh, Nik. You do realize I can pull it—"
Before he could even finish the sentence, Klaus had his hand around Lucien's throat. Squeezing tightly, he picked up his friend until Lucien's toes were dangling a foot above the floor. "This has been an entertaining visit, but I think it's past your bedtime. Time for you to take a nap."
He squeezed even tighter and launched his friend's body across the room. Lucien hit the wall with a thud and crumpled onto the floor.
"Goodnight, old friend. Sleep tight." Dusting off his hands, Klaus turned to the bedroom door. "You might as well come out now, Aurora. I know you're in there. I can smell the scent of terror in the air."
There was no response, but his enhanced senses picked up the sounds of someone moving in the next room.
"Very well. If you won't come to me…" He spoke with deliberate slowness. "…I'll have to come to you."
With dramatic over-exuberance, he flung open the doors.
Huddled in the corner, Aurora was staring at him with wide eyes and making whimpering noises.
"Aurora," he said, "I'm somewhat surprised at you. Thinking Lucien of all people could protect you from me was a devastating error."
"Nik, please." Aurora pulled herself up off the floor. "We can work this all out, can't we, my sweet?"
"Do you remember the promise I made you, my sweet?" He could see the naked fear in her eyes, and he smiled menacingly as he slowly walked towards her. "I promised I'd end you for what you did to Camille."
"But…you love me. You've always loved me."
"I did love you once. And now I'm going to kill you."
She squealed when he stopped mere inches away. "You know I only did what I did so we can be together. We're meant to be together."
"I thought that once too, but I was wrong."
"No, my love," she said, her voice a harsh croak. "Remember what we had together. Remember what I mean to you, what I've always meant to you."
"You are nothing to me," he said, enunciating each word carefully. "As soon as I leave this place, you will be nothing more than a bad memory."
"You'll always be the love of my life," she blubbered.
"Which is going to end right…about…now."
He punched his way through her chest and grabbed her heart, causing her to scream and shudder. Tears streamed down her face.
"And know this," he said, squeezing and releasing his grip on the organ. He felt elation pumping through his veins in time with the muscle pulsing between his fingers. "Your brother's death will be slow, painful and spectacular. Mercifully, yours will be quick."
With one final squeeze, he ripped her heart out of her chest cavity. Aurora's face was frozen in horror as she collapsed in a crumpled heap at his feet.
Blood and meaty bits of gore dripped a trail along the carpet as Klaus walked back into the living room carrying the bitch's black and shriveled heart. He hadn't killed anyone for a while—truth be told, Camille had helped quell the urge to hurt others that had built up in him over the centuries—but that had been utterly satisfying.
Near the line of windows that looked out onto New Orleans, Lucien was moving along the floor like the slimy little caterpillar he was. He rolled over and looked up at Klaus, his mouth drawn back in a ghastly O shape. "What have you done?" he screeched. "What have you done?"
"You should be thanking me, old friend," Klaus replied. "You always wanted her heart. Here it is."
He tipped his hand and let the organ slip out between his fingers. It fell onto Lucien's chest with a loud plop.
All the way back down in the elevator, Klaus could hear Lucien's screams of anguish reverberating through his very expensive apartment.
