A big thank you to my beta, the one and only ladyluck 25 :) and to all of you guys for enjoying this story!

I sadly still don't own Vampire Diaries or The Originals. If I did, episode 4x20 wouldn't have happened... just saying!

Lyrics used are Freak Like Me by Halestorm.

Here's chapter 14.

...

So shout if you're a freak like me,
You were born to burn,
This is no disease you don't need a cure!
It's our time now to come out!
If you're a freak like me!

So shout if you're a freak like me,
Don't apologize,
They can't hold you down,
You were born to rise!
It's our time now to come out!

…

It seemed they didn't need an introduction when they entered the bar. Heads turned as they walked in, but no words were spoken as Klaus pulled out one of the seats by the bar for Caroline and she gave him a sweet smile. She sat down and Rebekah took the seat to her right.

"How am I doing?" Caroline asked her in a whisper and Rebekah gave her a genuine smile.

"You're doing wonderful, don't worry about it. Nik wouldn't put you in an uncomfortable situation."

She wanted to say that she was in an uncomfortable situation with everyone there treating her like a princess, but she didn't have to. "I know exactly what you need!" Rebekah continued and waved for the bartender to come over and ordered two Hurricanes, whatever sort of drink that was, but Caroline could only guess it was strong.

The drinks were soon in front of them, bright red in tall glasses and smelling sweet. Klaus took the seat to Caroline's left and smirked at the two girls.

"Might want to sip that slowly, love." he said as Caroline tried her drink and was overwhelmed by how sweet it was, but she had always had a sweet tooth, and didn't really mind it.

Rebekah told her about how the city had changed since they'd lived there, and how the bars and clubs had always been a meeting point for vampires, and humans willing to offer their blood.

This bar, however, was new and the originals hadn't been there before, but it was classier than the ones they had visited in the past. It was a place for dancing, and music. Not at all like they used to be, filthy and with all too trusting whores.

They noticed people were whispering about them, mostly about Caroline and it was obvious that some of them was unaware of her new status, or maybe they thought they couldn't be heard.

Klaus was deep in conversation with Marcel and two other men, and as Caroline and Rebekah listened to the whispering, she twirled her straw nervously.

A tall, slender man with combed blonde hair and dark eyes, obviously a vampire, approached them and Rebekah straightened up.

"So this is where they hid the treasure." he said with a smirk while chewing peppermint gum. Just the fact that Caroline was bothered by the smell let her know he was too close, even if he was a good three feet away.

"It is not yours to find." Rebekah told him and he let out an almost offended chuckle and leaned in between them.

"Come on ladies, take me for a spin."

Caroline rolled her eyes and glanced at Rebekah before she turned to look at him.

"I don't think so." she said and he eyed her up and down.

"Such a fragile, little flower." he said, shaking his head and he reached out and stroke her cheek. She grabbed his wrist, her eyes flashing red.

"Don't touch me!"

The vampire was pulled away from her, Klaus' face barely an inch from his and the hybrid clenched his jaw, his body tense with anger.

"I believe they just told you no." Klaus said and the vampire held his hands up to surrender and let out a nervous laugh that was quickly silenced as Klaus grabbed him by the throat and the vampire made a choking sound. "How dare you touch her!"

The entire crowd had turned to watch the scene and the live band had stopped playing. Marcel leaned against the counter and watched with a humored expression, casually sipping his drink.

"I'm surprised I was the first to ask her for a dance." the vampire choked out and Klaus tilted his head as the whites of his eyes turned red, framing dangerous, yellow orbs and he flashed his fangs.

"We better take this outside, mate."

Klaus threw him out the glass door and pieces of it flew everywhere as the crowd inside gasped. Klaus walked out of there calmly and Caroline quickly followed, with Rebekah in tow.

The vampire was on the ground, laughing as he tried to pull himself up. Klaus stopped next to him, his coat swaying in the wind and with a cold expression he moved his boot to the blonde head, pushing him so he was facing upward instead of to the side.

The vampire swallowed.

"You have ten seconds to apologize to my lady," Klaus said calmly and the girls were just staring at the scene. The vampire yelped.

"I-I didn't know she was yours, I swear!"

Klaus rolled his eyes with a sigh.

"Now that's definitely a problem," he said and pushed his boot against the vampire's cheek, the sound of crackling bone filling the air, along with the vampire's scream. "And that's about five seconds wasted." Klaus removed his foot and kneeled beside the vampire who was whimpering from pain. "You're lucky, mate. I could just rip your arms and legs off and leave you here until nature took care of the rest, but you know women, they can't stand a mess."

His fist went straight through the vampire's chest, who gasped and stared at Klaus.

"You're him," the vampire panted. "The original hybrid."

Klaus smirked.

"And you- are dead."

He ripped the heart from his body and dropped it next to the corpse.

Caroline swallowed, but didn't say anything. Klaus walked up to the two girls, eyeing Rebekah, before he turned to the baby vampire.

"Are you alright, love?"

She nodded and he leaned closer, capturing her lips with his own and she closed her eyes. It was a quick kiss, but it calmed down her tense nerves.

They went back inside as Marcel sent two of his vampires to take care of the mess outside. Caroline needed another drink after that, and Rebekah, again, read her mind.

They threw back a Sazerac each, Caroline noting that it wasn't just some ordinary whiskey, and they left the bar, heading for the dance floor.

The blonde original needed only to snap her fingers and the band began playing again, but the ones who were already on the dance floor hesitated and refused to meet their eyes.

No wonder the originals always felt so alone, Caroline thought.

She and Rebekah loosened up and moved to the tunes of an old Maria Ball song.

She glanced over at Klaus, who was wiping his hands. The white towel now stained red. He raised his head and smiled at her.

Caroline winked at him, before turning the other way, waving at some people to join them on the dance floor.

They must've figured it was best to do as asked, because all of a sudden there were no hesitations as they were joined by a few dancing couples.

Caroline felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around, just to see Kol there with a mischievous smile on his face.

"I thought you girls might want to dance with someone a little less slimy." he said and Rebekah snorted.

"Yeah? Where do you keep him?"

Kol rolled his eyes and offered them a hand each.

The girls giggled and pulled him up on the dance floor. It was not the easiest way to dance, but Caroline had so much fun and she wished Stefan could see her now, after all his nagging about how she should have more fun.

To her surprise, Elijah came up and asked if he might join in, and how could she decline when he so rarely was up for some fun?

She let Rebekah and Kol dance for themselves as she accepted Elijah's hand and they moved to the music together. He was a good dancer, all three of the Mikaelsons were, but then again they'd had a lot of time to learn.

"You have only been here for two hours and already spreading fear among the vampires. I'm impressed." Elijah said and she chuckled, shaking her head.

"It's crazy." she said. "I'm not used to this."

He shrugged.

"You should try and get used to it."

He twirled her around.

"I'm still trying to get used to you." she joked and a smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

The vampires in the bar soon realized that they had nothing to fear if they simply showed respect towards Caroline and the originals, and while she had Klaus watching her closely, she also asked strangers to join her for a dance.

A few songs later he couldn't take it anymore. He emptied his glass and made his way towards her.

The vampire she had just danced with thanked her with a slight bow, and Caroline turned towards Klaus, smiling brightly.

"Are you having a good time?" he asked with a dimpled smile and she nodded.

"And it just got better," she said. "I've missed you."

…...

It was clear pretty early on that there were things you could do to people that even made Klaus feel uneasy.

He wasn't sure whether it was because this girl was still just a child, fourteen, maybe fifteen, and just the way Marcel talked about how to torture her that made the local vampires laugh and cheer him on.

The girl had her hands tied behind her back, her face wet with tears and her small frame trembled in fear.

Marcel kneeled in front of her and cupped her chin as he flashed his signature smirk and she whimpered.

"Y'know, it's a shame you have such a pretty face," he said and shook his head, mocking her as he tsked. "Cause we're gonna mess. it. up."

She cried and Marcel stood back up, laughing in triumph as the others cheered.

Caroline looked away, just the thought of what they'd do sickened her, and she could tell that the Mikaelsons weren't approving of this behaviour.

Marcel walked around the circle of people surrounding the scene, and somewhere on his way he was given a bullwhip, which he stretched in his hands as he came to a halt in front of the girl once more.

"Please," she begged in a small voice. "My baby brother needs me. My mama's dead."

Marcel grabbed her by the hair and pulled her head back.

"I guess you'll see him in the afterlife, honey."

And then came the first blow. With a whistle through the air, he had used the whip with full force and Caroline jumped at the sound of it breaking skin and she felt Klaus' arm around her tighten.

The girl screamed out in pain as it hit her across the face and drew blood immediately.

Marcel took a deep breath and his eyes scanned at the crowd. He hummed contently.

"Doesn't she smell delicious?!" he mocked and the girl lowered her head as blood mixed with salty tears on the ground.

Again, Marcel raised the whip to strike her again, but strong fingers around his wrist stopped him and when his dark eyes met the deep, blue ones, he let out a snort.

"What's up with you, Klaus? Wanna take over?"

The hybrid gritted his teeth.

"You stop this now," he threatened. "Since when did vampires torture children for show?!"

Marcel lowered the bullwhip and took a step closer to him.

"Since this became my city," he growled. "My city, my rules!"

Klaus huffed angrily.

"Last I checked, I built this city," the hybrid told him. "And perhaps you've forgotten that I am in fact immortal, and you are not."

Marcel let out a nonchalant chuckle and licked his lips, before a whistle escaped them and the girl was set free.

She stumbled as she ran away from the crowd of monsters and into the dark of night.

Marcel bit his lip before his mouth turned into a grin.

"You're getting soft, Niklaus." He mocked the hybrid. "But since you are my guest of honor, I'll respect your wish."

Caroline felt uneasy. The whole show had reminded her of the times she had been tortured herself, and she knew what scars this girl would have to the rest of her life.

As the vampires scattered from the ring they had all ben forming, she remained still, frozen in place, staring at the ground.

She felt a hand on her shoulder, but didn't bother to see who it was.

"Caro', are you alright?"

It was Rebekah.

Caroline shook her head and blinked back tears as a weak laugh escaped her lips.

"No." she whispered.

The hybrid approached her with concern in his eyes and he knew that the whole thing had a deeper meaning to her than to the others, but he had no idea why, and he wasn't sure he wanted to know.

Caroline looked up at him, her eyes glistening.

"There are things I haven't told you," she began in a weak voice. "Things I thought I'd put behind me."

He swallowed, not knowing what to say.

"Let's go home." Elijah suggested and they returned to the house in silence.

New Orleans was not as they had left it a hundred years ago.

…

They were gathered outside on the terrace. The air was cool from a light breeze that sung with the crickets, and the stars sprinkled across the raven sky twinkled in silence.

Caroline had wondered for a long time when she would tell people everything, and apparently, now was a good time.

The Mikaelsons watched her, not knowing what to expect.

She took a deep, shaky breath and stared at her hands as she began to tell them.

"It started when I was still human. The Salvatore brothers had basically just arrived and I didn't know what they really were. I was compelled by Damon, and he used me for his own pleasure."

Klaus clenched his jaw and closed his eyes for a moment as his hate for the oldest Salvatore boiled inside him. Caroline continued. "He had his way with me, fed from me, slept with me… I was a rag doll and he did what he pleased, and not gently either. There was nothing I could do. I tried to hide the bruises and bite marks, but Elena found out." She bit her lip and sighed. "That's why I don't compel people to feed from them. I've felt the pain and degradation it brings, and I don't want anyone to feel that because of me."

She told them about Jules, the werewolf, and how she had been shot in the head with wooden bullets and how her dad had burned her in the sun and forced her to breathe in vervain.

"And then there was Alaric, but you know that…"

She didn't cry, didn't even feel sorrow for what she'd been through anymore, because now it wasn't a secret anymore.

She turned her head and looked at Klaus. His features emotionless as he faced her.

"Why did you not tell me until now?" he asked in a whisper. She reached out and cupped his face.

"Because I wanted to forget."

He gazed into her eyes. It angered him that one of those responsible for causing her pain was still walking the earth, and had he been in Mystic Falls, Damon Salvatore would have been dead before dawn.

"I could help you," he said softly and placed his hands over hers. "if you want to forget."

She thought about it for a second, but shook her head.

"If I forget, then it means they've won."

Rebekah looked at her with fire in her eyes.

"You just wait, Caroline. When Damon is on his knees, begging for your forgiveness, you will make him crumble."

Kol threw his hands up.

"Or you could just feed his balls to the dogs. I'm sure it'll have the same effect."

Caroline couldn't help but smile at Kol's attempt to lighten the mood and he did.

She realized that the shame was not hers to bare. She was not the victim, and would never be weak, because despite everything, she had climbed her way to the top, and Damon had always been below her.

…...

Caroline was unable to fall asleep, no matter how hard she tried and couldn't understand how Klaus could be fast asleep. She lay there for a while just watching his bare chest move up and down and listened to his breathing.

Watching him sleep, it was hard to imagine that he indeed was the most evil, dangerous creature on earth, but as she thought about it, she loved that he indeed was, and that he was hers and hers alone, bound by nature to only be hers for eternity.

And just thinking back at all the horrible things he'd done, how dangerous he was, and that he had chosen her, that he loved her and would kill for her, actually turned her on.

But she had to push those thoughts away. If Klaus slept this hard, he needed rest.

She quietly checked the time on her phone. Almost seven am.

Her mother would be up by now, and she would be able to talk to her without being disturbed.

Caroline silently got out of bed and grabbed her phone off the nightstand, before she tip-toed out of the bedroom and headed downstairs.

The sun was rising and made it a little less scary to be all alone downstairs. The others wouldn't be up for a few more hours.

She headed for the livingroom and crept up in a corner of the sofa, pulling the blanket that hung from the armrest around her and clicked through her contact list.

She watched the trees glow from the light of dawn as she waited for her mother to pick up, and it wasn't long.

"Caroline?!" Liz asked as if she didn't believe it.

"Hey mom." Caroline replied, feeling a smile form on her face from hearing her mother's voice.

"How are you?... I mean, are you okay? Why are you up so early?"

The baby vampire chuckled at her mother's questions. She had barely been gone a week, and yet the sheriff acted as if her daughter had been missing for a year.

"I'm great!" she said and thought about what she could actually tell her mother and what would be better left out. "I have stayed away from alligators and haven't hit the town alone."

Liz let out a silent snort.

"Alligators have been the least of my worries." The sheriff confessed. "So, where are you staying?"

Caroline twirled a strand of hair around her finger.

"They have a mansion here. It's beautiful." She said. Her mother replied with a skeptical hum and the vampire sighed. "I'm really happy, mom. Give him a chance."

"You're not the only one trying to convince me," Liz replied. "Stefan's been telling me that you're being treated like a princess, but…" the sheriff sighed before she continued. "Nothing is for free, Caroline. I want you to be careful."

Caroline wanted to tell her about her being Klaus' mate and considered his Alpha female, and explain the meaning behind it, but to do it over the phone didn't feel right.

"I love him, mom." She told her. "And he loves me."

There was a silence between them and all she could hear was her mother's breathing.

"Caroline…"

She knew her mother was going to try and talk some sense into her, tell her she was being naive and that he wasn't boyfriend material, and she didn't want to fight with more people than she had already.

"Just, don't." Caroline said. "I know what you're going to say, but please don't. I know this might not be what you've always wanted for me, but it's what I want, what I need, mom… He is." She then decided to change the subject. "So how's Mystic Falls?"

"Well, the Salvatores have Elena locked up for now to see if she will turn her emotions back on." Liz told her, exhaling. "And Tyler's back in town with that brunette. I think they live in the Lockwood's old hunting cabin in the woods."

Caroline couldn't help but laugh.

"Tyler is a coward, and she's no better. They probably hide a pack of werewolves somewhere."

Liz cleared her throat.

"Something big is about to happen, isn't it?"

Caroline bit her lip. What was she supposed to say?