Quick Bite:
MissTerie - I'm a very Forwood fan, as well. Why do you think it's taking so long for me to break her up with Tyler? :P
KlausNCaroline - Oh no! Don't cry! Here, read this chapter.
GraceTakeaRisk - Aw shucks. :) Thanks doll.
JulyMikaelson - Nothing's impossible, love.
Trich - Yes, I'm bad with cliffys. ;)
LovelyVero - "Take that in the teeth" ...lmao! 3
ilovetvd - I wish she was snarky with Damon too. Maybe she will be now with the whole possibility of Delena on the rise?
chibichibi98 - You took the words right out of my mind.
CarolineXKlaus3 - Wow! Talk about dedication. Thanks so much!
I know a lot of people reviewed the last chapter and I would love to respond and give as much love as you give me to each and every one of you but I'm running late for work so this is all a rush. But do know that I cherish every reader with all my crazy heart!
D'oh, you sillies. The chapter wasn't any shorter than the others, I just gave a longer one before it so it made the next one seem shorter. :P
So um...I hope nobody tries to jump through their screen and kill me by the end of this one.
Chapter 14
On the speedy trip over to the mansion, all of the anger Caroline had built up inside diminished and was replaced, instead, with nervousness. This was the moment of truth. She should have just asked him last night. Maybe then she could have had a good laugh in the face of their intervention. Or a good cry if the answer was what she thought it was... She realized she probably wasn't going to like the answer, no matter which of the two outcomes it was.
Upon reaching the door, she stopped, hesitant to ring the bell. She still hadn't called Tyler yet. He was probably furious. Let him sweat, her subconscious told her. She took a deep breath and pressed the doorbell. Thankfully, Elijah greeted her.
"Hi Caroline," he smiled warmly.
"Hey," she replied. She suddenly felt really awkward. "Is Klaus around?"
His eyebrows raised in a knowing expression as he ushered her inside. Okay, kind of creepy...
As she walked in, she noticed for the first time a table in the center of the foyer. A crystal glass vase with exquisite frost etchings on it sat on top filled with wildflowers. She wondered whose idea that was. Rebekah didn't seem too much the flowery type of girl. But wildflowers didn't really suit Klaus. Maybe Elijah? She still didn't really know too much about him. Other than what Elena had told her.
Her mind was so procrastinating. Maybe she could just turn back around and forget this whole thing if she just –
"He's in his study," Elijah said, startling her. "I'll take you."
Elijah gestured for her to follow and when they reached the doorway he vanished. Caroline peered in, realizing she recognized the room. It was where Klaus had taken her the night of the ball to show her his drawings. Enormous landscapes and abstract paintings hung on the walls – same as before. Klaus was bent over the front of the dark wood desk, working on something. She noticed the bracelet she'd thrown on the floor that night was now sitting on the corner of the desk and wondered why. Well, it's not like anyone would just throw away a princess's diamonds. They were beautiful...
Deciding to stop stalling, she knocked on the open door. Klaus looked up almost instantly, dropping his pencil on the desk. He dimpled.
"Well, I didn't expect to see you again so soon, but I can't say I'm not pleased," he joked.
Caroline smiled weakly. She had no idea how to approach him. Small talk would be a good start though, she figured.
"Working on a new drawing?"
He glanced sideways at the mess of parchments. "Rough sketch. Still in the works." He sat down on the corner of the desk and folded his hands in his lap. "What brings your lovely face here?"
Okay, she braced herself. Just do it quick. Like a band-aid.
"I need to ask you something," she started. "And I need you to be honest."
His expression became guarded. "Ask away."
She exhaled sharply, forcing herself to look him in the eye. "Are you using me to get Elena's blood?"
There. She said it. That was pretty easy. Then she noticed the look in his eyes. Oh boy...
"What - " he stopped, pressing his lips together. He tried again, his eyes suspecting. "Who gave you that idea?"
Clever boy, she thought. But she wouldn't succumb. "The who or what doesn't matter. Is it true or isn't it?"
He pursed his lips. "I admit, I considered the idea briefly. But a particularly new friend of mine has made me realize there are more important things," he said with a smirk.
Caroline stared him down, fighting with everything she had not to grin. "This new friend must have quite the effect on you," she played along.
"If they only knew," he said, his expression as coy as his words.
She folded her arms, and strived for a skeptical look to hide the sudden burst of heat spreading through her. "So how do I know you're not lying?"
He stood and walked the few steps there were between them until he was in front of her. She couldn't read his expression but her heart was pounding furiously in anticipation.
"I promise," he said, softly, "if I want to get Elena's blood, I will find some way to do it that doesn't jeopardize your friendships, your well-being, or whatever it is we have here. I would never do anything to hurt you."
Her heart swelled and she swallowed, hard. Whatever she was expecting, it wasn't that. She looked up at him, trying to find a hint of deceit anywhere in his expression. But once she met his eyes, she forgot her doubts and found only solace in his words.
"Okay."
"I would hate for you to think that low of me." He dimpled, mischievously. "You'd miss out on all my friendship has to offer. And I happen to be a really, very, good friend," he mimicked her words slowly, each one sending a tingle down her spine.
Caroline's lips parted as she caught her breath. Klaus gently raised a hand to her cheek. After a moment, as she hadn't protested, he then cupped her face in both hands. His touch sent shivers through her body bringing her back to reality. She blinked, furiously and put her hands on his arms, stopping him from leaning any closer. This wasn't right. She shook her head, her eyes averted. Klaus peered at her, curiously.
"Well isn't this cozy?" Rebekah interrupted.
Both Klaus and Caroline's heads turned, abruptly. Klaus's hands dropped to his sides.
Caroline began to explain, "Rebekah. It's not - "
Before she could finish the doorbell echoed through the house. All three looked toward the doorway, listening. Elijah had answered the door and an angry voice was arguing with him.
"Tyler," Caroline breathed.
Klaus's face hardened and he began to stalk toward his sister, furiously. "What did you do, Rebekah?"
"Just thickened the plot a bit," she smiled, conspiratorially.
A loud crash sounded and in the blink of an eye, Klaus ran out. Rebekah stayed a moment more, giving Caroline a threatening smirk, then dashed out. Caroline followed after. The scene in the foyer stopped her immediately. The centerpiece was in shambles on the floor. The antique wooden table lay splintered, and the glass vase was shattered into a million pieces scattered in the puddle of water that spilled from it. The flowers lay crumpled, just crushed petals and mangled stems.
Elijah was gripping the wall of the entryway to the sitting room, clutching a bleeding abdomen. There was a long piece of wood from the table with blood on the end of it lying at his feet. His hair was tousled and his bloody lip was slowly healing.
"Tyler, what the hell!" she exclaimed.
But when she turned to glare at him, her anger turned to panic. On the other side of the room Klaus had Tyler in a choke hold against the railing of the staircase. Caroline's eyes widened in horror.
"Tyler!" she cried running toward him.
Rebekah suddenly appeared before her and she had to stop abruptly to keep from bumping into her.
"I don't think so," Rebekah said, coldly.
Caroline tried to move around her but Rebekah was older and quicker. Klaus was forcing Tyler's face upward to catch his gaze. A look of surprise quickly passed over his face.
"Vervain," he commented. "Taking a page from the Salvatores, I see."
"Klaus, please!" Caroline called to him.
Maybe it was the please that did it. He begrudgingly released Tyler, who immediately slumped to the floor. Caroline moved to go toward him again but Rebekah prevented her. She grabbed Caroline's arms from behind and pulled her back against her chest.
"You'll never have my brother," she said quietly in Caroline's ear. Caroline stared up at her like she was crazy.
Rebekah suddenly flung Caroline to the ground wearing a triumphant grin. Unfortunately, both Klaus and Tyler had seen, but Klaus was there first. He put Rebekah in the same choke hold Tyler had been in, against the opposite railing.
"Never put your hands on her again," he quietly and forcefully demanded, tightening his grip.
"Klaus!" Elijah tried to step forward.
Klaus angrily threw her into Elijah's embrace. The two stared at him, wide-eyed. He turned back to Caroline who was now beside Tyler, embracing him. He had barely a moment to register the scene and the twinge of hurt before Tyler had lunged for him again. He rolled his eyes, growing weary. He moved out of Tyler's reach and grabbed him instead, throwing him face first into the wall adjacent to his siblings.
"Stop it!" Caroline pleaded, now standing.
Klaus looked back at her and glimpsed the pain in her eyes. Their eyes locked briefly until Caroline was distracted by something behind him. When Klaus looked back, Tyler was glaring up at him from the ground, blood dripping from his chin. His eyes were now a blazing amber.
"Get out of here, Caroline!" he growled.
"Oh is that how you want to play it?" Klaus asked with a snarky grin. His body gave a slight twitch and his eyes suddenly changed into a fiery yellow-green. "Two can play that one."
"Damn it," Elijah muttered. He clutched Rebekah and the two vanished.
"Please, Caroline!" Tyler pleaded. "Go!"
"Tyler, don't do this," she begged.
"Listen to your boyfriend," Klaus snarled, making the word 'boyfriend' as cold as he could.
Tyler's back started to spasm, his arms and legs breaking and cracking. His breathing became ragged as his teeth sharpened and elongated.
"Go!" he shouted, baring a mouth full of fangs. "Now!"
"I don't want to!" she argued, her voice full of tears.
"You have to!"
At that moment, Klaus's body contorted just as Tyler's had. Caroline jumped, fear overwhelming her. She shook her head continuously.
"I can't just let him kill you!" she cried, not even sure herself who she was referring to.
Klaus turned his head and stared at her through wolf eyes. "Caroline, for pity's sake, listen to him and go," he said, his voice strained. "I don't want you to get bitten."
"I can't! Please, don't do this!"
"It's too late," Klaus reasoned.
Tyler shouted wordlessly as the change was swiftly coming on. Caroline stumbled backward, her fear consuming her.
"Tyler," she squeaked, breathlessly.
"Go!" Klaus urged, his own transformation beginning to devour him. She stared at him, frivolously, then began to back up toward the door. He let out a scream as his body bent in ways it shouldn't have. He made one last effort to turn his head as much as he could toward her. "I promise I'll try not to kill him."
The last image she had inside the house was two wolves mid-air lunging at one another.