We drove for awhile until we came to the small town about 20 minuets away. There seemed to be a lot of people waking around outside, mostly heading in one direction. Finally we came into view of a large crowd of people. A large banner hung, "27TH ANNUAL ELWOOD ARTS FESTIVAL" was written in large, colorful letters.
"An arts festival?" I asked, turning to Klaus and raising a brow.
"That's right, love. Just because you've given up your old life, doesn't mean you have to stop living." He said the words casually with a wink, but I realized how true they were. I got out of the car contemplating, a small frown settling on my face.
We walked towards the festival, our bodies close and our arms brushing against each together every few steps. I looked at the throng of people ahead and I felt a bit uneasy. "Why are we here?" I asked with a sigh.
"I wanted to go." he said with a shrug.
"But why did you have to drag me along?" I said in a whiny voice, noticing I sounded a bit childish.
"Because you fascinate me." he said bluntly.
"I..What?" I looked up at him, his blue eyes sparkling with amusement.
"You fascinate me, little doppelganger." I scrunched up my nose in distaste at the pet-name. "I always thought you were the damsel-in-distress type. But you're a lot more than that. Your tougher, stronger, than I anticipated. Quite frankly you caught me off guard." he said with a small chuckle.
I didn't say anything for a moment, letting what he said sink in. "I'm not strong, or tough. It's a facade, it's how I protect myself. I'm a coward." I mumbled the last part quietly, but I knew Klaus heard it.
He startled me with a big, booming laugh. "You my dear, are not a coward. Any one who ca stand up to me, a powerful hybrid, is not considered a coward in my book."
"Thanks, I guess." I muttered. We were squeezing our way through the crowd. We came to a large circle of people, as we got closer I could hear soft instrumental music playing. I tried standing on my tip-toes to see over but couldn't.
"Come on." Klaus said grabbing my hand in his and pulling us closer. We merged ourselves in the circle, our hands still touching and our bodies pressed together tightly.
I tried not to blush, and focused my attention on what was going on in front of us. There were four dancers. Two male and two female, and they all had long purple ribbons. They dance was graceful and elegant. After the dance was over the crowd dispersed. I noticed that Klaus still clutched my hand tightly in his. It felt strong and warm on mine.
I hid the blush on my face by looking down at the ground. He pulled me along to a large white tent, filled with people looking at pieces of work.
"These are pieces done by local artists." he said, looking down at me. I looked up at him, and for the first time he didn't seem tense and angry or sarcastic nad sadistic. He just looked happy and unguarded.
We walked over to the first one. A woman with the name-tag Julie. I looked up at the piece. It was large, about four feet wide and five feet long. It was a portrait of a young girl. Her hair was dirty, and her clothes tattered. Klaus stared at the portrait for a moment, analyzing.
"Is this your work, Julie?" He asked, his eyes remaining on the painting.
"Yes." she said with a smile.
They started a conversation then. I watched as they volleyed back and forth using different terms for techniques. I watched as Klaus' eyes glittered with passion, how his hands demonstrated and spoke with enthusiasm. He looked so happy.
After that we went to each painting. He would talk to most of the artists, taking time to appreciate each piece. Other times he would explain to me how they painter felt, or what type of painting it was. We came onto a large painting. Quite a few people crowded around it. We pushed our way through. I looked up and gasped in shock.
It was about six feet tall and three feet wide. I looked at the girl in the painting. She was laid out, she was nude, but vines wrapped around her fair skin. leaves and thorns stemmed out. They wrapped up her legs and arms, two giant leaves covered her breasts. Her arms cupped a large rose in the center of her stomach. her dark hair fell softly on her shoulders and spilled out on the white background behind her. I looked up at the face and stared into my own eyes.
I looked over at the sign next to it, and it read: Niklaus Mikaelson
Red Rose
Not For Sale
"You did this?" I looked up, shocked. He nodded, smiling and giving my hand a squeeze. I stared at the photo amazed by it's beauty. My head spun. I was touched by the painting, but it was from Klaus. I hated the way he was acting, ti was so much easier when he hated me.
"Do you like it?" he asked, his accent laden voice sounding slightly disappointed.
I looked up at him, his dark blue eyes staring down at me intensely. " Klaus..." I began, hesitant to say what was on my mind, "It's amazing, but what does it mean?"
"Come on." he said, tugging me away from the crowd and outside. By this point it was late evening, and the sun was about to set. We sat down on a bench facing the setting sun. He didn' tak at first, just held my hand in his two hands.
He looked over towards the east and said, "Abend Erysipelas. It means 'Evening Sun in German. It's the reflection of the colors of the sunset. Beautiful, isn't it?" He asked.
I looked over with a nod. "Did you really the painting?" he asked, desperation straining in his voice.I looked down a tour intertwined hands resting in his lap. "Yes. It was beautiful, but I just don't understand.." i trailed off, pulling my hands away, and looking back towards the sunset, folding my hands together in my lap.
His hand reached out, tipping my chin up to look at him. "Your just like a rose, Elena. Your beauty is strong and bold, but ti's surrounded by thorns. But once you can reach the petals, they're soft and giving, and worth every thorn you've had to pass to reach it." his voice was heavy and thick, like he struggled th say the words. He watched me gauging my reaction.
"I can't do this Klaus. I can't be your Sarah. You have to stop." I begged, pulling away from his touch. A million emotions swam through me, and I could feel tears ready to spill down my face if I didn't regain control soon.
I sat, staring at the sun, just the last of it's colors gracing the sky.
"Elena. This is different. You make me want to be a better person. You make me fell like a human being again." He looked at me, his fac had a small frown on it, his eyes full of pain and sadness.
I looked at him, my heart swelling. "Klaus. I just can't. I'm sorry."
"Just let me try something." he whispered. He shifted in his seat so he was closer to me. He turned my head to face him gently. I looked into his vast, deep blue eyes. His pupils dilated quickly and he muttered, "Don't move."
I froze in my spot unable to move. His face leaned closer to mine, and I panicked. I tried to pull away, but I physically couldn't move. I felt his lips brush against mine. He pressed one light kiss to my lips. He cupped my face in both his hands, his fingertips stroking my cheekbones. He pulled me closer to him, and his lips brushed against mine again, moving painstakingly slow.
Each kiss his pressed to my mouth was light and sweet, but underneath burned a passion I was to afraid to release. I wanted to taste him, to kiss him with everything I could. I knew it was wrong, but the want burned inside me.
He looked back into my eyes, his pupils dilating, and whispered, "Kiss me back, my sweet rose." This time when he lowered his face to mine gently, I kissed him back. Our lips moved in sync. My hands twisted into his hair, clutching him to me. Afraid to let go of him, afraid to face the reality. The kiss was slow and full of passion and possibilities.
When he pulled back this time he released my face. I pulled my hands back and hugged myself tightly, trying to keep myself from falling apart right then and there.
"I'm sorry." he said, he didn't look at me, and his arms were folded tightly across his chest. His voice sounded sincere and sad. "Elena." It was just my name, but the sound of his voice, my name on his lips ripped through me.
I looked up at him, tears in my eyes. "What more do you want from me?"
Thanks for reading! I really love this side of Klaus. I really tried to capture his soft and passionate side. I'm so excited for next chapter one of my favorite characters decides to pay a visit! :D Please review! I promise to update soon! Only probably about 10 chapters left in this story! This is when things start to get interesting!