Marcel hinted his way inside but stopped on the spot, he tried measuring how much Klaus was in a bad mood but it was hard since he had his face hidden behind a book.
Maybe he should come back later… yes, that was a wonderful idea.
"What do you want Marcel?"
The vampire stopped half way on his subtle turn to leave the threshold. "I was just wondering if you need anything."
Klaus dropped the book on the desk with a loud noise. "Join me for a drink."
Marcel cleared his throat, for some uncanny reason he wasn't euphoric about the invitation. "Kol got a new lead but he is getting a little impatient Klaus…" Marcel said slowly assessing Klaus' reaction.
He grumbled into his drink. "There's no need to rush. We should wait a few more days."
"It's been two weeks Klaus, she's not coming back." Marcel held his drink watching Klaus as he went back to the desk.
"She took the hideous painting with her." He said with a sad tone.
Marcel knew how serious this was, Caroline took the painting that she won and a few clothes but left behind the diamond necklace that he gave her and that really messed with Klaus. "You should go after her."
"Who asked your opinion Marcel?" Klaus snapped ending his drink harshly.
"She left because you haven't been honest with her, your passive attitude by refusing to go after her is only proving her point."
Klaus snarled with his lips closed.
Yet Marcel wasn't stopping now. "What are you waiting for?" He asked standing up taken by the moment. "Go to her and tell her how miserable you are."
"Sit down Marcel." Klaus ordered him coldly.
The other man did as he was told but had his drink looking at Klaus.
"She left me. Caroline made her choice and I'm respecting her decision." Klaus poured more Scotch into a glass.
"Since when are you so thoughtful and composed?"
"I'm always composed… too composed perhaps…" Klaus murmured.
"Are you talking about feelings?" Marcel inquired unsure.
"Don't be ludicrous, I don't discuss my feelings." Klaus snapped dropping the bottle harshly on the desk.
"Do you miss Caroline?" Marcel simply asked.
Klaus faced him with a sad look. "She always sleeps so peacefully… and her hair smells like flowers." He said with a dreamy tone, he slowly twirled his drink with a sad smile. "She enjoys horror movies and role-play."
Marcel buried his thoughts into the drink, he wished that Klaus would stop now but the hybrid was looking at the wall with the most absentminded expression.
"I found a tiny school girl outfit among her things… that would have been extraordinary." He breathed out dreamily.
Marcel quickly left the chair with a jump. "You two love each other and you need to do something about it, a little more than just sit there remembering how amazing she is." Marcel said serious prior to leaving Klaus alone.
Klaus sighed deeply while staring at the wall. "My queen is perfect."
Caroline added two books to the small pile that she already had in her arms and went back to her table in the library, it was a quiet night and most students were either partying or exploring sex back at the dorms.
It was obvious that two weeks in the small college was enough to make an educated guess about the new shallow people in her life, so different from the crazy yet educated family that she traveled with.
Caroline opened one of the books and ran her fingers through the old English, she couldn't help but find it strangely dull compared to Aramaic, with a vehement shook of her head she pushed the thoughts away and started taking notes for her Literature assignment.
"I can't believe you are actually going to Beverly Hills on vacation. That is like… so classy."
"I know right? It's like a big adventure that I can post on twitter and make everyone jealous of all the famous people that I will see."
"I'm so jealous already… you are so lucky."
Caroline looked at the girls sitting near her, they were having the silly talk just loud enough to make sure that others would listen to it, how truly naive she found them.
There were so many places around the world that would leave them speechless and although Caroline only had been to a couple of them it had been suffice to leave a deep mark on her soul.
Her mind welcomed the memory of Prague and the kiss that she shared with Klaus on the spectacular little bridge, she chuckled remembering Egypt and Kol's friends who taught her how to move her belly and her hips in a mesmerizing way.
Her birthday in Italy brought a bittersweet taste to her recollections and suddenly she wanted to listen to Opera, even the poor version that she experienced during their road trip sounded terribly appealing right now.
Caroline changed pages on the book biting down on her lip, even the awful trunk of his car sounded appealing because of everything that they went through together.
But that was exactly what he wanted, he was counting on the fact that she would miss him and all the crazy plans and how well they worked together and she was stronger than this, damn it, she was a survivor and she was set on starting over away from him and his family.
Always easier to say than to do, as proven when Kol sat down in front of her.
"Hello."
He smiled hugely at her but she didn't react from the shock because Rebekah and Elijah joined him.
"What's this?" She whispered somehow expecting Klaus to pop up any time soon.
Kol leaned over the small table when she looked around. "He stayed home grieving your departure."
Caroline looked at Rebekah who pouted at her.
"I thought that your tantrum would last only a few days but two weeks is stretching the dramatic plot a bit." The Original said with pouting lips.
"I'm very happy away from him and I intend to stay like this. Far, far away from Klaus and his mad plans to go after Evelyn."
"I'm going after her myself for Bonnie. I want her to be immortal and safe and Evelyn is the only one who can grant me that." Kol easily said with a sweet smile.
"Snowflake fell in love hard with the fire starter." Rebekah smirked.
"Quite the epic romance that fills great novels." Elijah held back a big smile.
Kol tilted his head looking at his siblings. "Mocks me the one who hasn't touched a lady in centuries and the one who has been touched too many times."
The other two rolled their eyes in perfect synchronization.
Caroline laughed quietly in her place which made Kol turn his attention to her.
"Are you even going to try a denial here? We all know how much you miss this."
"I love this family…" She looked down on the table.
"Nik is part of the family." Rebekah quickly said, when everyone looked at her she just straightened her long hair. "I was only making sure that everyone included him."
"I can't go back." Caroline accused how much she still felt hurt.
"We all want you to return Caroline." Elijah calmly and sweetly said. "You are part of the Mikaelson family now."
"Nik and I had exactly the same idea when he told me about the immortality spell, there is a way to keep you and Bonnie safe and well… with us, forever." Kol emphasized.
"That's very romantic but you are missing the big picture here." Rebekah took over the talk. "You can do anything. You can have extreme power without caring about silly deadly wounds that could tamper with a perfect life. Think about it Caroline, you can do whatever you want once you become immortal, do it for the right reasons." She dropped her voice to make it more appealing. "Unlimited power and a strength that could match or surpass Nik's."
Not that she hadn't thought about it but for now Caroline was still skeptical.
Elijah wisely took over the moment and stood up, he offered his hand to Caroline hopping that she would take it.
She twisted her lips knowing that she was cracking her iron armor but took his hand following him to an empty hall.
He stood as she imagined all heroes to stand when they are transported from a delicious book that triggers the imagination, out of them all, Elijah carried the Original tag the most and she promised herself to at least listen to all that he had to say.
"I'm not a selfish man Caroline, I have given up on my happiness often, purely to ensure my brother searched for his. I have put up with many outrageous plans and whims of a man who simply was different from all of us. I am by no means saying that is a bad thing but Niklaus changed greatly from his human days and from that day on we sort of fell behind his ways. He became closed up in his own strategies and with time we all stopped trying to reach him and understand him. Suddenly my brother was stronger than all of us and unable to shed a tear, he was the complete opposite of who I knew and the outcome of it all was an invisible wall that stood between us and Niklaus."
Caroline promised herself to listen but she wasn't expecting to be moved by it.
Elijah reached for her arms kindly. "You've managed to tumble down that wall and find a niche inside of it."
"I fell in love with him like he is now, what does that mean Elijah?"
He left a soothing pattern on her arms with his thumbs before he pulled away. "That it would be a shame to put all that to waste."
Caroline felt her tiny world close up on her just that little bit more.
"Thank you." Bonnie told the waiter as he smiled lowering the tray of champagne for her, she made a really pleased sound after tasting the beverage. "I could get used to this life."
"Those were my exact thoughts about your look tonight." Kol ended his lust words with a lazy glance down her generous revealing dress.
"Keep your eyes up Snowflake." She warned him.
"I assure you that it's not the only thing up." He sighed loudly.
"We are in public Kol." Bonnie gasped dismayed.
He held the silence for a minute before he reacted. "Oh, you are implying that that should matter to me, I wish I had a hint of shame left in me darling."
She pressed her hand to his chest pushing him away when he inched to kiss her. "There is no shame in you, I've given up on that."
"What usage do I have for shame when you are wearing that dress and now have blond hair?"
She smiled touching her new wig. "Do you like the blonde approach?"
Kol leaned over brushing her ear with his lips. "Will you be wearing it later?"
She trailed his chest with a finger and smiled coyly. "Would you like that?"
"As long as you are naked, I like anything on you. Please take into consideration that I'm restraining from adding something very dirty right now." He closed his eyes and touched his forehead.
His painful expression made her giggle and she melted her body closer to his. "The torrid sex that has been happening between us… is all sorts of dirty Kol." She informed him with a gentle lick of her lower lip covered in bright red lipstick, clashing in lust against her dark skin.
Kol cupped her cheek, and stroking all the soft skin under his fingers he finally had his way with a kiss, he parted her lips after wetting them with his tongue and then he was sweetly teasing her and prolonging the deep kiss a few times before breaking away from her.
As they pulled away from each other their eyes rested on the champagne glass in her hand, it was fuming after she made the alcohol unintentionally boil inside of the glass. They shared a silly conniving laughter but Kol kissed her cheek loving that she was this close to him and Bonnie moved her hand under his jacket to stroke his back.
"We've lost those two." Rebekah complained watching the foreplay happening in front of her.
"They are doing just what they were told to do, to distract the rich old ladies who wish that they were Bonnie." Klaus answered without looking at the couple.
"I could do that with Marcel you know?" She grumbled upset. "You didn't have to force him to stay back at the house..." She looked at Klaus. "Unless you wanted someone there in case Caroline returns."
"Why don't you do what we arranged for and stop handing me your brat ways as a gift Rebekah? I am not in the slightest mood."
"Why don't you stop being prick all the time?" She smiled hugely at him.
The last that he needed was to add to his ill temper a sassy Rebekah so he smiled back. "Drop dead Rebekah."
"You could have been a bit kinder…" She grimaced at once.
"Now Rebekah." He hissed.
She lifted her upper lip with a growl before she made a strange face, Rebekah touched her head with a slow complain. "I'm not feeling well Nik…" She said loud.
"What's the matter sister?" He asked concerned.
"I…" She raised her hand a little and then collapsed to the floor with a big hassle.
They were all attending a private party at the house of one of the most notorious art collectors and the posh crowd instantly gasped and approached them.
Klaus dropped to one knee and carefully checked on her, he slapped her face without much force but still enough to leave a red mark. "Rebekah? Sister, can you hear me?"
"Let me through… I'm a doctor" A tall man in a dark suit made way to them. "Is there a place where I could examine her?" Elijah asked one of the security men.
He nodded pointing towards the staircase. "I'll take you to one of the rooms."
Klaus swiftly picked Rebekah in his arms and followed Elijah and the other man properly dressed in a suit as well.
He stopped down a long hallway and knocked on the house den, when no one answered he opened the door and waited for Klaus to go inside with Elijah. "I'll give you some privacy."
Klaus smiled and waited until he closed the door to hastily drop Rebekah on the sofa, she almost bounced to the floor and snarled upset but Klaus paid no attention to her.
Elijah was removing the painting that covered the safe already but looked back at Klaus when they found the safe open and empty.
"Someone was faster than us." Rebekah fixed her long green dress annoyed.
They all looked back at the door as movement was heard and waited for the security fella to come inside but instead it was Kol and Bonnie who joined them.
"It's not here." Klaus shot upset and left the room under the numb gaze of the compelled guard.
Klaus didn't bother waiting for the rest of the family, he left the party and headed for the car.
"What do we do now?" Kol asked him just as Klaus reached the car.
"Go on a killing spur just to forget how someone briskly snatched Alaric's diary with the rest of his investigation about Evelyn and possibly our only lead to find that potion before us?" Klaus slammed his door before anyone answered him.
"He's so grumpy and touchy now that Caroline left…" Bonnie said quietly next to Kol.
He took his tuxedo jacket so that he could warm her bare shoulders and held the door for her. "There's always a solution darling."
"Are we meeting at the hotel to regroup and come up with another plan?" Rebekah asked clueless.
"I'll keep you company because I don't think we will see Kol or Bonnie until late tomorrow morning." Elijah closed her passenger door and left in his car driving closely behind Kol, by now they had all lost track of Klaus in his car.
Klaus gripped the leather wheel incredibly upset and angry, his mood was as bad as it could be, he punched the wheel furious.
He couldn't believe that he was giving in but he was going to search for her, he was going to find her, drag her to the car and keep her chained to him.
Klaus prepared to turn the car around but there was a small noise coming from the back and he slowed down the fast race across the deserted empty road, as he attentively tried to listen to it again he clearly identified a subtle muffled sound of music, he glanced over to the dashboard but the radio was turned off so he pulled to the side of the road and left the car.
Klaus could hear the opera music louder now that he came around to the trunk and instantly frowned, he pushed it open unprepared for the blonde wearing all black and lying inside of the trunk casually listening to music.
"You are losing your touch, I'm already on the second act of The Barber of Seville."
Klaus knew that he was blessed with the ability of speech but there were no words coming out, he just stood there staring at her and holding the door of the trunk.
Caroline turned the music off and sat up putting her phone inside of the back pocket of her skinny Jeans, she easily moved her legs so that the shiny long black boots dangled from the trunk and innocently smiled at him. "Hi grumpy."
He sighed after fondling with words that still didn't come out of him.
"I'm waiting Klaus." She said with big blue eyes that held so much hope and light in them.
He gripped the key in his hand and clenched his jaw.
"I started off as disposable and falling in love with the man who took me and locked me inside of his trunk was not on my plans Nik but it happened. It probably means that I'm as insane and twisted as you are and that this will not end well but I've missed you."
Klaus finally moved and took her cheek with his big hand, he came closer to her and closed his eyes for a second. "I've loathed every second that I was forced to spend apart from you." He brushed her forehead with his.
"So you want me to stay?" She asked with a cute smile.
His reply came while he cradled her face between both hands now. "I am in love with you Caroline and I've missed my restless queen, my rebellious sweetheart." He smiled in love because she crumbled into that extraordinary smile that weakened him.
Caroline toyed with one of his buttons. "Am I allowed to do anything that I want?"
"Of course not." He said easily.
She grazed her bottom lip with her teeth. "Can I boss around all of your minions? I really want to do that."
"Absolutely out of the question." He said in a playful low voice as he inched towards her lips.
Her hand warmed his neck and her fingers began to play with his hair. "Will you be faithful to me?" She asked with a gentle squeeze of her eyebrows.
"Most certainly not." He said assertive.
"What about your silly refusal to have sex?" She left a sweet circle pattern on his neck.
"Most long-term relationships are based on conversations about good books and foreign films, long afternoons spent in the porch sipping on cider and holding hands while watching the sunset."
Caroline narrowed her eyes distraught. "Talks and Cider? I want my expensive champagne and strawberries and I want you to pour that champagne all over me and then to take your time removing it from my belly button and I want my hot hybrid sex every night and I want the blood sharing and exciting fight for dominance and…"
Klaus cut her speech by clashing his lips against hers, he pressed her lips hard before he ran his tongue over them finding a small breach for his tongue to invade her mouth so that he could kiss her deeply.
Caroline moaned as he powerfully kissed her and whimpered when he lowered his hands to press her to him, she answered his kiss scrapping the back of his neck pinned against him and she was literally left out of breath when he ended the kiss.
"Aren't you forgetting sweetheart which one of us is the hostage?" He whispered with blazing blue eyes.
He had the biggest smile that she had seen yet on him and she leaned her head towards him a bit, he left a sweet kiss on her forehead while she pulled strength from the little intimate moment.
Slowly she left his neck and reached behind her back lifting the shirt to take something from there, she waved the old diary at him. "Let's go make me immortal then."
Klaus squinted truly perplexed. "You stole Alaric's diary before I did?"
Caroline beamed with pride. "I've outdone you."
"And what will you do now my Master?" He asked losing his hands slowly inside of her wall of golden curls.
"You…" She giggled loudly and happily.
"And where, may I ask?" He kissed her neck languorously.
"Hood, back seat or…" She smirked pulling him with her inside of the trunk. "Practice makes it perfect, hostage."
They laughed as the small space barely held them inside with legs entangled together and pressed bodies against each other but there were passionate long kisses on the way and the awareness that they were indeed hostage to one another.
What they had between them was unique, different and even a little naughty at times but it was love nonetheless and it was the forever type.
Soundtrack:
Hit me baby one more time – Travis
You rock my world - Michael Jackson
