**SHOUT OUT TO TEGAN...(who apparently IRONICALLY doesn't read these introductions) Yes, last chapter was a reference to the song "Float" by The Neighbourhood. Each of my chapters titles are song names...each of my chapter sort of takes on the feel of each song.**
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Chapter title & story inspired by "Insects" by the XX.
Chapter 14: Insects
Klaus drove Caroline back to his mansion. She had been there before, apparently. He frowned at the thought. Klaus wished he could have seen her eyes light up when she first saw it. He wanted to see the look of awe cross her features. Instead he had to settle for the smile that graced her face as she took in the sight of his impressive mansion for the second time that day.
She looked over at him, the smile still revealing her pearly whites. Klaus couldn't help but grin back-dimples and all. Caroline shook her head.
"I don't even-your house is beautiful," she said a little breathlessly as they made their way through the foyer and up the stairs.
He chuckled, "Glad you like it, love."
Caroline was unperturbed, "I didn't pay much attention earlier...human psycho bitch to save and all..."
Klaus smirked, raising an eyebrow at her as she trailed off. The circumstances of the day finally hit her again. And she realized that instead of gawking at the gorgeous mansion that Klaus lived in, she should be yelling at him for forcing her to live here too. Of course, it made a lot more sense earlier...now it just seemed a little silly to be so angry at someone for inviting you into their freaking huge mansion. Then it clicked for Caroline. No, she wasn't mad to be here. She was mad that he was making her be here. He was forcing her to stay with him against her will like a common prisoner. She frowned deeply and uprighted her previously relaxed position. Her eyes were sharp like the sharpest knife.
"Something wrong, sweetheart?" Klaus asked, all too in tune to her subtle shifts of body language.
She huffed, ignoring him for a moment before finally deciding to face him, "Just show me where I'm to be locked up, Klaus."
His look of concern was swiped from his face like it had never existed. His eyes froze and tension crept into his stature.
Under his breath, he growled softly, "So that's what this is about then; is it?"
Caroline rolled her eyes and gritted her teeth, "Show me where I'm staying, Klaus."
She was in no mood for a confrontation. Not after the day she just had. Right now, she wanted to be in her own bed, but instead here she was in this amazingly beautiful mansion.
She softened a bit, sighing with a hint of frustration, "Look, I'm tired. I just want to go to bed."
At that Klaus straightened up. He rigidly walked by her. She followed behind him quietly as he briskly sauntered down the hallway. Caroline could barely keep up, but she knew asking him to slow down was not an option. Clearly she had ticked him off, but she didn't know how. It's not like he had a right to be mad. She's the one who was being held captive. Caroline sighed for probably the bajillionth time that day.
"I swear, love, if you sigh one more time, I will rip out your esophagus without a second thought."
Caroline scowled at his back, a biting insult on the tip of her tongue. She refrained, opting for a roll of her eyes. It would do for now. There was still a storm on the horizon. Tomorrow it would come in full force. Klaus's pace was unrelenting, and Caroline fought the urge to sigh once more. She almost wanted to test him. She wanted to sigh again, really loudly just to piss him off and see what he'd do. Would he really hurt her? Caroline wasn't sure. Instead she just kept her eyes focused on the back of his curly head as they made their way to her room.
When they got there, he opened the door and held out a hand to usher her in, "Anything in this room you may consider yours."
His speech was cold, lifeless, and brisk. She walked in, amazed once more at the beauty of it; it was decorated in golden and red shades. Everything about it was warm and regal. The room was so huge, too. Her old bedroom back in Mystic Falls could easily have fit in this one four times over. Caroline turned around to thank Klaus. The room was beautiful after all.
But just as the words were about to come out, he spun away. The door slammed, causing her to jump. She was left her, her mouth agape, and the words crumbling in her mind. Maybe angering her captor was not such a smart decision after all. Caroline quickly fell asleep. The day had taken its toll on her, and the mattress was so inviting.
Klaus stalked back to his own room just a few doors down. He stomped his way to his study, taking comfort in the bitter taste of alcohol. How dare she! he thought. Here he was, opening up his home to her...and she was throwing it back in his face. They had had a great day today. And then she had to ruin it. It always came back down to the negative things. Everything he did wrong seemed to slap him in the face when she was around. Klaus drank until he felt the pain numbing. He eventually stumbled to his bed, taking solace in the dark sheets. Just before he fell into a deep sleep, he had an epiphany: perhaps he was truly angry with her only for pointing out what he couldn't bare to see himself. Klaus knew it was wrong of him to make her stay here with him. It's not how he wanted it. He wanted her to come to him, and he knew (or hoped) that one day she would. Klaus Mikaelson prided himself in never compelling a woman into bed with him, let alone into moving in with him. It was wrong. But Klaus didn't always act rationally or think clearly around Caroline. Something about her put him on edge. She evoked something in him that he had always tried to squash down.
...
Caroline awoke to a lip rap on her wooden door. She squinted as the light met her eyes. Groggily, she stretched out and sat up. For a split second she was completely disoriented. Caroline had no idea where she was...and more importantly whose bed she was in. Suddenly, the events of the previous day rushed back to her and she let out a small sigh. So she was in Klaus's mansion, in this beautiful, regal room. It was her room now, she realized. Another knock sounding on her door.
"Caroline?" she heard his voice ask in a much softer manner than she remembered it from last night.
Her forehead crinkled, "What do you want?"
It came out a bit harsher than she had expected; she winced. Caroline could hear him sigh from outside her door as he shuffled his feet.
"I wanted to talk to you..."
"And?"
"And, I was wondering if you'd like me to take you out to see the city today."
Caroline could hear him suck in a deep breath. He was waiting for her reply. She bit her lip. Caroline really was furious with him. After resting, her energy had returned, and she felt completely ready to have a full-on confrontation with him. This deal they had made was barbaric, and she still couldn't believe he had ever suggested it. Then again, she was one who ultimately agreed to it...
"Can I come in, sweetheart?"
"No!" Caroline shouted in a panic, as she flung herself off the bed.
What was she wearing? The same clothes from yesterday. She hurried around the room, opening drawers and going through the closet. It was stocked with women's clothing. This puzzled Caroline, but she really didn't want to know all the gory details of how all of these items had been acquired. The blonde gave up on finding something to change into, and instead opted for checking herself out in the mirror.
She was a disaster. Her hair was sticking straight out all over her head. It was a complete frizzy mess. Her makeup had smeared under her eyes, and she looked so worn and exhausted. Caroline bit her lip. This was going to take a lot of work to fix. She started messing with the nozzles in the shower, deciding her best bet would be to start fresh. Caroline pealed the shirt and pants she was wearing from her body. She heard some noises from back in her room, figuring Klaus was just knocking again.
"Look, I'm not dressed or anything. Maybe we can talk later," she hollered, not bothering to turn around back toward her bedroom.
"Pity because I'd rather like to talk while you're in this state of dress," she heard the familiar teasing tone from behind her.
Caroline whipped around, her face turning bright red. She desperately tried to cover herself, but his eyes still raked her scantily-clad figure. His eyes examined her like she was some sort of beautiful his dark stormy blues finally met hers, she almost gasped. There was a such an intensity in them, burning right to her core. His eyes examined her like she was some sort of beautiful specimen. Klaus smirked. She frowned, and her forehead crinkled.
"Seriously?" Caroline's eyes lit up with a fierce fury.
She dropped her hands, letting him see her in her bra and panties. She didn't care anymore. He was unbelievable! She moved towards him with her finger pointed at his chest, and her eyes narrowed into slits.
"First, you get this incredibly idiotic idea to force me to come here to live with you. And I had to make that stupid deal to save Katherine. Look how that turned out! And you-you don't get to act like you are anything more than-than my freaking kidnapper. Okay? You don't get to act like you still "fancy" me after this little stunt. Because if you really liked me, Klaus, you wouldn't take away my free will. You and I both know that's the truth. And seriously? Could I have some freaking semblance of privacy? Or are you taking that away too? If you're going to force me to be here, then at least let me have some peace while I'm taking a shower!"
Klaus's eyes burned in a different way. His jaw clenched and unclenched just as his fists did. Caroline saw his demeanor change from comfortable to rigid. He forcefully grabbed the hand with which she was using her finger to poke his chest. He took it in his own, and glared down into her eyes. They were inches apart.
Klaus rumbled in her ear, "Don't think that if I am nothing more than a captor to you, love, that you are safe when speaking in that manner to me."
His eyes held a warning that wasn't so silent, anymore. She moved to back away, frustrated with the entire situation, and even more frustrated with his close proximity. But Klaus held her hand against his chest, and he would not let her back away. Caroline's head whipped back around. Her eyes met his with a challenge.
"And don't you ever think that I don't fancy you anymore, love. I always will."
It was another warning, another promise. Caroline's face contorted into confusion. His last words were more intense and forceful than his actual threat. His hand released her own as he swiftly turned his back on her. A moment later Caroline heard the door click as she shut it. She let out the breath she'd been holding in.
...
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