Ellavm18 - Yay! You're welcome! 3

MNM - Me too. They're my favorite subplot.

BeccaSco - Thank you for the input! I wish I was better at delivering :(

stardash19 - Noting that short and quicker is better but I am absolute crap at getting that right. I'll try to do better!

chloequinn96 - lol I'm trying to figure out if you're yelling at me or commending me. I'm going to go with the latter. *hugs*

jessicasnyder13 - Me? Write smut? You must have me confused with someone else. ;)

Candycolabear - Awwww let me love you with all of my heart! You are the sweetest! Thank you so much for defending me there against that silly little troll. It really makes my heart explode with love. I dedicate this chapter to you!

JuseaPeterson - Well I will say things are going to go quite interestingly with Team Sneaky.

LubinDancing - Aw I'm glad you love the Kalijah. They're so much fun to write. (If you want more check out my Kalijah fic, Playing House #shamelessplug). As for Rebekah and her shoes, I kind of tried to pick one of the harder ones to knock off cause it's literally the tiniest difference. As for Kol, I will be bringing him back around soon. He has his own stuff going on, I just haven't gotten to it yet. But I will. Hooray for winning the internet and a kingship! I feel so royal.

SK Steven - Well he has to maintain SOME authority. :P But he might have been crueler than he needed to be and while that's very Klaus of him, it might also be because of what's up with him.

LonelyAnne - I'm glad you caught up too!

Guest - I will never give up and disappear without notice. I just have bad time management.

As always, many thanks to all of you lovebugs giving me the time of day and leaving remarks, following, favoriting, and all that jazz.

So three months later, here is the next chapter. And yes, it's exactly what you think it is. ;)

Chapter 36

Caroline waited for him in his room that night, but Klas never came. She slept fitfully in his bed with nothing but the scent of him to comfort her. When he didn't return from checking on Ryanne, all sorts of scenarios started to play in her head. She had to remind herself to have a little more faith in him, despite her best judgments.

The following day felt hollow. Her mother was gone, Klaus was being unusually distant, and none of the Originals seemed particularly fond of company. Rebekah was locked in her room, Kol was gone as usual, and Elijah was...well...unapproachable. Really, what would they even talk about? She'd peeked in on Klaus once or twice, holed up in his studio. The first time, he was working on a new canvas but his body blocked most of it. The second visit he was on the phone, his tone authoritative. She figured he was giving commands to his hybrids back in Mystic Falls. She wasn't desperate for attention but the loneliness was beginning to swallow her and if she went down that rabbit hole, there was no saying how or if she'd get back out.

With all the tension there had been between them, she decided they needed to find a way to ease it. (And she really needed the distraction.) So she concocted a plan. When he finally emerged from his solitude that afternoon, she seized the opportunity to put her plan in motion. It was silly and it was fun, and it was totally out of both of their elements, but it would help them laugh and bring them close again so they wouldn't have to be so on edge around each other.

When he entered his bedroom, he was clearly unprepared for her surprise. He stopped in the doorway, mouth ajar, his breath catching as he took in the sight of her.

"Hello, Mr. Mikaelson. I've been waiting for you."

The formal address was much less surprising than her arousing choice of apparel – a soft white button down, detailed with rouging, tucked into a form fitted high-waisted pencil skirt that stopped mid thigh giving him a greater appreciation of her long legs. Black stilettos pumped up the sex appeal. Her hair was up in a messy bun with strands strategically loosened around her face which brought his attention to the trendy 50s style glasses with winged frames. The only other accessories were the pencil and clipboard in her hands. He swallowed and reached behind him to push the door closed, eyeing her suspiciously all the while. She remained poised and professional, even as he sauntered over.

"I'm a curator from the Louvre." She stood up from the desk, hugging her clipboard to her chest, and slowly began to walk towards him with a sway of her hips. "And I am here because our gallery has taken a special interest in your work."

A slow smile started and he hung his head with a laugh, shaking it when he looked at her again. "Caroline - "

"As a potential investor," she continued, circling him, "it's my job to evaluate and examine both the art and the artist." She tilted her head as she eyed his rear. "Thoroughly."

He smirked, watching her out of the corner of his eye as she circled back into eyesight. "I wasn't aware it was such a literal process."

"Well I take my job very seriously." She emphasized, adjusting her glasses.

"Evidently," he gestured, forcing back a laugh. "Though I am curious as to how my name ended up on such a prestigious list of considerations without a single submission."

She pursed her lips, trying not to falter and maintain her eye contact while she thought quickly. "Clearly someone thought highly enough of you to recommend you."

"I see. It must have been someone with a particular interest in me."

"Or your art."

"Or my art," he corrected, unable to repress his laugh this time. "Unfortunately your source is a bit too presumptuous. My studio is not open to the public eye."

She blinked, snapping out of character. "What?"

"Most of the work here is unfinished and I'm not fond of showings until the art is complete."

Her shoulders slumped, the clipboard dropping to her side. "Oh my god. Seriously? I'm trying really hard here and you're totally shooting it down!"

"I'm only responding as I would in this situation."

"That's not the point of this!"

He raised his brows with a short laugh. "Did you really expect I'd make this easy for you, love? Considering you sprung this on me, it's only fair I level the playing ground."

Her jaw dropped slowly and she breathed a laugh, crossing her arms so her cleavage lifted into better view. "Oh really?"

He swallowed and pressed his lips together, but his eyes were gleaming with devilish amusement. "Go on then, Miss Curator."

At his skeptical brow raise, she stepped forward turning on her coquettish charm. "I guess you don't want to persuade me to buy your art, then."

He tilted his head, lips parting to speak but instead he let himself look her over, his fingertips brushing along the hem of her skirt. "I have a feeling you'll be doing more persuading here."

She smirked, moving closer. "Oh I'm a very avid buyer." She trailed her finger in a line down his chest. "But you'll have to sell me on your work if you want me to buy it." With that, she turned on her heel and walked through the archway into his studio to begin perusing his canvases.

Klaus grinned at her display and followed her in. "I prefer to let the art speak for itself," he admitted, looking around at the paintings. "It's hard to truly put an artist's intentions to words. Art is perceived by the viewer, and they're meant to take away what they want from it. An emotion, a story, a memory." He walked over to one of his landscapes, frowning pensively. "The artist could pour their soul onto the canvas and no two people would see it the same way as he initially planned."

Caroline watched him all the while, smiling fondly. She adjusted her glasses again, remembering her role. "And what about these?" She moved to his drawing table, setting the clipboard down to pick up a sketch she had seen back at his mansion in Mystic Falls. It stirred memories and made her jump when he spoke from right behind her.

"Portraits tend to be the artist expressing their point of view of a particular person." His voice crept down her spine as warmly as his breath. "And no one can view another in the same light. Picasso, for example, was very abstract with his portraits. He and Georges Braque started the cubism movement revolutionizing the original perception of abstractism."

Caroline smiled mischievously and set the sketch back down, sliding past him towards his easel, unbuttoning her shirt all the while. He grew quiet and she glanced over her shoulder. "Oh you can keep going." She turned back halfway through the buttons, revealing her lacy white bra that left little to the imagination. "I'm just getting comfortable." His lips parted as his eyes drifted towards the lingerie. She tapped the unfinished painting he was working on earlier standing on the easel next to her. "Tell me about this one," she said, slipping the blouse off altogether.

Klaus glanced briefly at his unfinished work before his eyes drifted back to her. She smiled flirtatiously and took her glasses off, biting down on one of the temple tips to egg him on even more. He meandered over slowly, watching her with a fiery gaze.

"That one is a very long story," he said huskily, his voice dropping low to slither over her.

She slowly drew the tip from between her lips, eyes glued to his. "I don't know about you, but..." She glanced down at her chest, knowing his gaze would follow, and reached behind her to pull the elastic holder from her hair to let her waves fall loosely. She shook them and flicked her eyes back to his from beneath lashes, a minx like smile pursing her lips. "I have all night."

His expression was a priceless mix of awe and lust and she could swear she could actually see his pulse jumping against his neck. He sauntered over slowly, his eyes never leaving hers, closing the distance between them with only inches between their bodies. Her heart began to pound as the intensely heated look he was giving her set her own libido into overdrive. Every instinct implored but her determination to not break character was nagging.

"Tell me about it," she demanded, turning her head away to look at the painting, but peeking back at him out of the corner of her eye with an edge of hope.

His eyes narrowed with curious intrigue. Her words and actions were adamant, but her eyes betrayed her. He could read them easier than any part of her body and they were begging him to disobey. Instead, he used her own little game against her. Tearing his gaze away from her nearly naked torso, he focused on the smears of color raging against the blackened base. Blues, greens and hints of burgundy were battling it out but streaks of grey prevailed against the darkness.

"I initially had no clear direction for this one," he began, his voice soft and raspy, purposely taunting. "I was just painting to distract my mind." He moved away from her and tilted his head, taking in each paint stroke one by one. "I used black because it suited my mood. The white was so blinding, I just wanted to hide it. And then it looked like nothing, so I threw in a few blues and greens to give it depth. There, that one spot, I tried some red to see how it felt. I didn't think it would work but," he nodded, "I'm starting to come around." He glanced at her and she smiled appreciatively. "And then, little by little, white worked its way back onto the canvas, creating the grey lines you see."

She nodded. "I like it."

His eyes widened slightly and he looked away, unsure of himself. "It isn't finished."

"Well, when it is," she stepped forward, "I'd like to buy it." She smiled, turning back on her curator charm. "What's your price?"

Klaus' eyes lifted to hers as he pursed his lips in a grin. "Make me an offer, sweetheart. See if I can't resist."

She laughed. "That'll be easy."

He lifted a brow, scolding her for her break in character. "Very confident for a curator."

She blinked, realizing her mistake. She opened her mouth to rectify, but nothing came out and so she rolled her eyes and threw her glasses aside.

"Screw it."

Before he could ask, she grabbed a handful of his shirt and pulled him down to sear his lips with a passionate kiss. He growled softly and gripped her hips to hold her against him, returning her fervor with heat of his own. She broke away, panting, looking into his eyes with a blazing need. The understanding became mutual and in less than a millisecond they were through the connective door and into his bedroom.

He dropped them onto the bed and her legs hooked around his back. She pulled his shirt off and he was back at her lips, his hands grazing her lace covered breasts before giving them a firm squeeze. She moaned against his mouth which gave his tongue an entrance and she started to tug at his pants, her fingers slipping as she kept trying to undo the button. Instead, he pushed himself up off her to be rid of them himself. As he did, Caroline leaned up on her elbows and utilized the brief moment to ogle. It was rare she had time to appreciate the lean sculpt of his body while he was awake. Klaus stopped, watching her with a teasing smirk. She blushed when she realized she was caught and pulled him back down with a laugh for a loving kiss.

Impatient, he tore her bra open from the center and took hold of the mounds of flesh he'd been craving, massaging in his palms. She arched her neck, sighing in contentment as her lashes fluttered. He watched her face as he gyrated his hips into hers, letting her feel his hardness. Her head snapped up and she reached with one hand to grab the curls at the back of his head and kiss him again, her tongue dancing along his. She ran her free hand down his chest and into the seam of his boxer-briefs, reaching for his cock. She pulled it out and began to stroke it, circling her thumb around the tip and stroking the slit of his head each time her palm slid up. He hung his head, licking and nibbling at her nipple between panting moans. As he neared his threshold, he quickly tugged at the waistband of her skirt and panties, simultaneously ripping them down the middle so she was completely exposed. He moved his body downward so his cock was out of her reach and ran his hands up her thighs, pushing her legs farther apart. Her feet were still at his lower back and he felt her making strides with one leg to slip her heel off the ball of her foot. He grabbed her ankle and she paused.

"Leave them."

Her brows raised and she let out a short half of a laugh, conceding and relaxing her legs. He released her leg with a mischievous curl of his lips and she laid back, her heart pounding with anticipation. Klaus took in the sight of her splayed before him and caught his breath, his thumbs idly tracing circles against her inner thighs. Caroline bit her lip as she met his gaze, her body reacting with a shiver.

"You are truly a work art," he murmured.

Slowly her teeth loosened her lip and she smiled broadly, heat flourishing in her cheeks. She pushed herself up and hooked her arms around his neck to reward him with the sweetest of kisses. He looped his arms under and let his hands slide up her back to hold her shoulders as she leaned into him and rolled them over so she was on top. When she sat up, he peered up at her in surprise. She smiled deviously and he mirrored it. Slowly her hands ran down his abs and she leaned down to press warm kisses to his chest, working her way southward. Klaus closed his eyes, breathing unevenly as he throbbed beneath her. He felt strangely at ease despite his excitement, her kisses spreading an affectionate warmth throughout him. It wasn't until she had nibbled at his hip bone he jumped with a shiver. She lifted her head in alarm, freezing completely.

"What was that?"

He licked his lips, feigning innocence. "Nothing. Just...caught me by surprise."

A smile broke out across her face. "Are you ticklish?"

"Caroline, I am warning you - "

But she was back at it, biting gently and adding a tiny lick. He writhed with a shuddery laugh.

"Don't!"

She laughed too. "Oh my god, you are!"

"Yes, you've found my weakness. And I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't – " Again he jumped when she'd playfully tickled his groin, his breath caught between a laugh and a groan. "That's it." He grabbed her wrists and flipped them back over, retaking his dominance. "Seeing as we can't behave appropriately."

"Says the rage-aholic!" He lifted a reprimanding brow and she rolled her eyes, grinning. "Oh shut up and just kiss me."

His eyes darkened wickedly and he obliged with a lustful, fiery kiss, lowering her wrists to rest above her head. She kept them there as his hands slid tantalizingly down her arms and skimmed the sides of her body. She arched her back in reflex and his lips trailed down to her neck, his fangs dropping with a light hiss. A soft sigh whispered from her lips and he licked along her arterial line, panting with desire. She clenched her legs around him tighter, pulling him tighter to her, and began to use her heel to try to tug his boxer-briefs, accidentally scratching the back of his thigh. He groaned and the sharp sting was enough to make him sink his fangs into her neck. She whimpered and grabbed his shoulders suddenly, her toes curling inside her shoes causing her to dig her heels into his calves. He growled against her neck, drinking in more. When her body began to tingle with numb heat, she gripped his curls to tear his head away, her own blood lust rising to the surface. He panted, blood dripping from his lips onto her chest, and seeing the veins beneath her eyes, he bit his wrist and offered it.

As she drank, he maneuvered to rid himself of the last shred of clothing and started to position himself. His blood coursed through her, revitalizing her in more ways than one. She tossed his arm to the side and panted raggedly, her need for him accelerated. She gripped the back of his hips, nails clawing his skin as she pushed her hips up to meet him as he started to push into her.

Klaus grunted as he slid in faster than he'd meant to, her relieved moan only heightening his arousal. He drew himself out slowly, mostly to tease her and see her adorably scrunched grimace of frustration where she'd bite her lip and plead with big round eyes. He relished that look of pure submission and tried to make it last as long as he could hold it. Which wasn't a very extended span of time. Before long he was thrusting into her again and continuing a steady pace. Their breaths chased each other with little moans and merciful pleas as a curling heat uncoiled between them. Her ankles slid against his hips, heels scraping his ass every so often, giving him a little more drive each time.

As her cries grew in volume, he bent her legs forward more, holding them behind her knees so he could hasten his pace and go deeper. He felt her growing wetter with every plunge and watched himself glide in and out of her, the visual making him harder, loosen his control, and roughen his movements. She thrashed against the pillows, pins and needles all over her body. He grunted with each subsequent thrust, his own pleasure rapidly coming to a head. It felt sooner, and stronger than normal.

Caroline was in a world of her own, oblivious to his dwindling restraint. Stars flew behind her eyelids and her ears were ringing as her whole body burned from within. Her legs clenched tight around him and she gripped the sheets around her as the onslaught of pleasure hit her at once. She cried out loud and brokenly as ripples of ecstasy poured through her over and over in multiple orgasms. Klaus followed with a feral groan, the sound of bones crackling in the distance. Her legs went slack but he stayed hovering over her, his panting uncontrollable now, and laden with inhuman growls.

Caroline was relearning how to breath and find her way back to her own skin when she heard the whimper. She slowly blinked open her eyes and saw a sweaty, flushed Klaus staring down at her through yellowed, veiny eyes.

"Klaus...?" She reached up tentatively to stroke his cheek and he flinched. "Hey... It's just me."

But he stared right through her, his wolf seizing control of his consciousness. Graphic, distorted images flashed before his eyes of havoc and gore. And then the most terrifying of all – her still, lifeless body, shredded and bloodied by his own claws. He let out an unintentionally little whimper, subconsciously clutching her tighter. Sensing his fear, she reached up and held his face with both hands, pushing herself up against the pillow in the hopes that he would see her.

"It's me," she told him, a little more forcefully. "Look at me, Klaus."

Her voice echoed but her touch awoke his humanity. Slowly but surely his eyes bled back to their original hue and he gasped a shaky breath when he could see her again. She searched his eyes for any trace of him. He nodded and lowered his head to her shoulder, his hold on her never loosening.

They laid together in silence for a long time. Once he'd calmed, he moved off and beside her. He wouldn't look at her and she didn't object. She simply laid curled against him, tracing circles around his heart until its rhythm had slowed to a normal pace. She wasn't sure what had just happened, but it couldn't mean anything good. A big part of her wanted to question him, wanted answers. But sensing his insecurity, she held her tongue and waited him out. He stared at the ceiling in deep thought and so she closed her eyes and drifted into daydream.

She envisioned a similar scenario where they were together in bed, waking up to a beautiful morning with a view of the Aegean sea. He was smiling, completely at ease with her and no trace of worry behind the cerulean of his eyes. Only love. The scene shifted and she was walking out to the adjacent balcony, a warm mug in her hands and a soft breeze blowing through her hair. Klaus' bare back was to her and she smiled at the tiny black triangle inked into his shoulder moving with each shift of his arm as he made new strokes on the canvas before him. It was a mirror image of their view of the beach. He stopped and turned to smile back at her when she said his name. The next transition had them playing on the white sands of Athens. He was chasing her towards the water and she splashed him to keep him back. She turned to run again and he was there in front of her, capturing her in a loving embrace, and as he leaned in to kiss her he hesitated so he could whisper softly –

"Can I ask you something?"

Her heart jumped and her eyes snapped open in surprise. Her voice cracked a little when she said, "Sure."

"That night out in front of the Mystic Grille when you were distracting me...had we not been interrupted, what would you have answered?"

The randomness threw her briefly but she smiled in relief that he was nearing himself again. "You mean about my hopes and dreams?"

He finally cracked a gentle smile. "And everything you want in life."

"Mm..." She giggled, rolling into his chest shyly. "I don't know."

"You must have some idea."

"Why are you asking?"

"Genuine curiosity."

She rolled her eyes and smiled at the ceiling as she laid her head on his chest. "I want to...see the world - which I'm currently doing, thank you. Take more risks. Experience real love, which is also current." He grinned in good humor and she laughed, sighing wistfully at the end. "I don't know. I guess I just want to live, you know? See and do everything you promised I could when you saved my life."

He studied her expression for a moment before a smirk broke out. "Now did you always want that, or was it purely my influence?" She glanced wryly and his smile widened, causing her to nudge him playfully. His hand ran down her arm, absently stroking her skin.

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

She turned and rested her chin on his chest looking up at him affectionately. "What does Klaus Mikaelson want out of life?"

He smiled, a real, dimpled smile, and began stroking her hair. "You." She rolled her eyes, smiling. His brows raised as he looked skyward, his smile fading a little. "Security. Peace of mind. To not have to fear my own existence."

"You don't." She snuggled closer to him and closed her eyes again with a little contented sigh. "If anything everyone else should be afraid."

He remained transfixed on the blank canvas above him, saying nothing for a while. "You're not afraid," he said quietly, half hoping she was asleep.

She moaned in agreement. "Nope."

"Even after what just happened?"

"That wasn't you. Besides, you didn't do anything to me. You just...got a little carried away."

They both knew it was a lie, but he let it go and instead teased, "You'd like to think you were that alluring."

She lifted her head, giving him a look. "Are you saying I'm not?"

He only smiled and she settled back again, satisfied. But he wasn't. "Why is it you're not afraid?"

She opened her eyes but didn't move, staring at the wall. "You don't want to hurt me." The silence between them was suddenly resounding. Her voice was small as she added, "You're the only person who's never treated me like some shallow, useless afterthought."

He frowned down at her. "Are those your words or someone else's?"

"Either way." She picked up his fingers and started tracing the lines of his palm. "People didn't take me seriously until I became a vampire. And even then, just barely."

He dropped his head back into the pillow. "I can relate."

"Really?" He hummed in response and she laid his hand back down. "What was it like? When you were human?"

He didn't say anything for a beat, then answered, "Life used to be a lot easier. Less complications, despite the major ones."

"Care to elaborate?"

"I'd prefer not to bore you with the tragedies I've endured."

"It wouldn't bore me. It would help me know you better. You know the things I've been through, what's shaped me as a person and a vampire."

"Why are you so curious all of a sudden?"

"I don't know. I mean, you never talk about it. And now, with your father around, I'm sure it's made you think about it at least a little."

"Thinking about it and talking about it are two completely different concepts."

"Please?"

He sighed. "What do you want to know about?"

She leaned up to rest her chin on her arms which she folded on his chest, smiling eagerly. "What were you like?"

His eyes dulled with impatience and discomfort. "I was weak. Mikael had bent me into a scared child and I grew into a coward of a man." Her smile faded. "Is that what you wanted to hear?"

"No. But you already knew that." She frowned and turned her head away, staring at the room distantly, mildly annoyed. "I don't know why you always have to do that."

"Self-preservation."

She lifted her head up and pushed herself away to sit up. "All I asked was what you were like. I already know the tragic backstory, and I'm not dismissing it, but you don't have to let it define you. So tell me. If I had run into you when you were human, who would I have met?"

His lips wavered and he let his tongue slide across his lips to wet them, nervous to speak. He let out a shuddering breath and conceded. "You would have met a diluted version of me. When I wasn't cowering away from Mikael, I was roaming the woods in search of life's hidden beauty so that I might etch it later. I enjoyed those more masculine activities, fencing and hunting, but I lacked confidence in my abilities and that set off my temper. Which, until I learned of my werewolf lineage, was quite unstable. You can ask Rebekah how often I lashed out at her." Caroline let out a little giggle. "There were few romances, all unrequited. If you had met me then, that might have changed."

"And what would human Klaus have done differently?"

"I would have spared you. Shown you the things that made my life bearable. The secret places I would hide. The hoards of nature's treasures and the beauty of when the sky shifts from day to night. I'd have kept you from seeing the pain."

"What if I saw it anyway?"

"You wouldn't."

"But what if I did?" She tilted her head and her blonde waves fell against her shoulder. "Would it really be so bad?"

He glanced and met her eyes, swallowing as waves of anxiety curled in his stomach. "It wouldn't change anything."

"It would change everything," she laughed. "It's a level of trust, a level of sharing our lives together. There are things I haven't shared with you either, you know. Things that hurt me, that nearly broke me. When Da - " She stopped herself, her heart thumping in shock at her lips' own betrayal. She swallowed and shook her head, avoiding his curious gaze. "When my dad left us," she amended, "it changed who I was."

"The difference being you persevered."

"So did you! Look at everything you have. I don't mean what you've compelled, houses or material items. I mean look at your family. Your hybrids. Me. You have a support system of love and respect that you don't even acknowledge. And that is everything. Having people you can trust does make a difference. You just have to let yourself."

He sat up too, affronted. "So that's what this is. A trust building exercise."

"Well it's not like you've been the model of trust lately."

"This is about the bond with Ryanne. Need I remind you it was completely out of my control?"

"But you still did it."

"Physically! If I were conscious do you think I would, for a second, betray your trust? After all I've done to earn it?"

"And what about all the things you've done to break it?"

He swallowed, not expecting that sharp blow to his chest. "How long are you going to hold it against me, Caroline? Or are you planning to throw it back in my face any chance you get?"

"Oh don't try to play the victim, Klaus. I've shown you who I am and proven my loyalty. I have stayed here when so many times I could have just left!"

"Yes, I'm quite aware. It's your favorite threat to wield."

"Well it's effective."

"Why haven't you then? You continue to stay, despite everything I've put you through."

"Because that's what you do in a real, functional relationship. If I just leave, all the good just goes right out the door. I stayed because I want to make this work because you are the first person that cared what I thought, how I felt, and let me make my choices, not someone else's. And because when you love someone, you don't just leave when the going gets tough and give up. You fight. You fight because it's worth fighting for." She scooched forward, cupping his face between her hands. "You are worth fighting for."

He searched her eyes, her touch soothing the ache in his chest. He swallowed and gently tucked her hair behind her ear and letting his hand rest against the side of her neck. "So are you."

Her heart nearly leapt from her chest, her jaw dropping slowly. She blinked a few times, her lips quirking upward in amazement. "You're not just saying that because I did?"

His brows lowered, surprised at her show of doubt. She was always so confident, and now she seemed almost scared. Was he to blame?

"If there is only one thing in the world I would want to fight for, it would be you, Caroline."

Her smile lit up his heart and her entire face. She let out a little tearful laugh and threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. He held her, wondering why, at this most opportune of moments, he couldn't find it in him to say what he'd been longing.

Something flickered in the corner of his eye and when he looked up past her shoulder, at the corner of his room, there, in her spectral glory stood Tatia, smiling maliciously. She shook her head slowly, shaming him. She pressed the side of her index finger to her lips and whispered a soft "shh" then turned toward the balcony, becoming a wisp of fog as she passed through the sliding door.

Rebekah Mikaelson was many things. An original vampire. A woman scorned. A passionate lover. A clever girl. A vengeful sibling - when the situation called for it, of course. And brave, beyond her thousand years. But bait was never on her list of aspirations. It was beneath her. Decoys were for the Caroline Forbeses of the world. So how had she, a master manipulator, become the manipulation device herself?

Katherine.

It only proved that his time with the doppelganger was rubbing off on her brother. Elijah would never have volunteered his sister for something so degrading in the past. He would have come up with a more dignified way of retrieving information, rather than throwing his own flesh and blood to the wolves. So to speak.

All right, so it was sort of a good plan. Ryanne's crush might be just the vulnerability needed to penetrate the walls surrounding Lyall's secrecy. And considering the amount of times Rebekah had been victim to this tactic, it was familiar territory. Perhaps that's why she had such an aversion. Having experienced the receiving end, she knew too well the pain and heartbreak she was liable to inflict. And she knew its inducing wrath. Still, they needed a lead. And there was no other option.

Step by step, she descended into the cellar. The night was silent so the sound of her heels scraping the pavement echoed louder than usual. At the base of the steps she was met by a glaring Nate, at the ready for an attack.

"Well aren't you the alert one."

"No one but Klaus is allowed through."

She smile dully at his threat. "Klaus is the one who sent me to relieve you. He thought you might be tired of babysitting."

"I'm fine." He stayed rooted to his spot, his eyes stoic but the tension in his muscles visible.

Rebekah stepped forward, exuding her own intimidating power. "Do you really want my brother to know you're disobeying his orders?" His eyes wavered and he swallowed, backing down with a long exhale through his nose. "There's a good boy." She captured his gaze, compelling him. "Go and get yourself some nourishment. Say nothing about my visit to anyone you come across."

He blinked twice, hesitating when he looked at her again, then vanished in a blur. She glanced back at the steps then continued forward. As she approached the door, she took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders, bracing herself for her appointed task. How hard could persuading a hybrid be?

She creaked the door open and peeked in. "Anyone home?"

Ryanne was sitting in the corner of the very desolately empty room, looking wrecked. Her red hair was full of fly-aways, pulled back in a disheveled ponytail. Her body was gleaming with sweat, patches of dirt from the floor sticking to her elbows and knees which were poking out of an overside t-shirt that she could only assume belonged to one of the other hybrids. The walls behind and around her had scratches etched into them, and that's when she saw the chains. She followed their path down to where they disappeared behind Ryanne's crossed arms. Her head had been turned to lean against the wall but when she heard Rebekah's voice she turned, squinting at the sliver of light. She smiled feebly and licked her drying lips.

"I would've made myself more presentable if I'd known you were coming."

Rebekah scoffed, walking in and shutting the door. "You're as relentless as Kol."

"Ouch." But she was grinning.

"Here." She held out a blood bag.

"I'd gladly take it from you, but as you can see…"

She lifted her hands and the chains clinked. Her wrists were reddened and bruised from the shackles. It was inhumane, but necessary. Stowing her dignity, Rebekah walked over and knelt beside her, offering her the blood again. Ryanne took it, watching her curiously all the while. As she worked to open the bag, Rebekah found a clear patch of wall to lean against, crossing her arms protectively. Once opened, Ryanne sucked down nearly half the bag, sighing in relief.

"So this is what it's come to," Rebekah lamented. "You, chained to a wall, treated like a prisoner."

"Aren't I? Oh, wait. That's right. I'm his pet."

She frowned and looked down, pursing her lips. "I shouldn't have said that. It was misdirected anger."

Ryanne slid her eyes toward her then smirked to herself. "I get it. The wound is still fresh." Rebekah peered at her in intrigue. "So," she licked her lips of residual blood, "he's sent you down here to do his dirty work now? What, is he out of minions?"

"My brother doesn't know I'm here." Ryanne paused, lifting her brows, and Rebekah mimicked in more demanding fashion. "Finish that. You'll need your strength if you're to keep this up."

"Why are you being so nice to me?"

She sighed. "I thought about what you said. About how you're trying. I figured I should at least give you the same courtesy."

"Huh." Her surprise echoed.

"What?"

"Nothing. I'm honored."

She smiled playfully and Rebekah rolled her eyes. Ryanne laughed at that and shook her head, fidgeting with the bag's nozzle. Rebekah smiled to herself then held her head up again and really caught sight of her appearance for the first time. Dark circles, tear stains, wild hair and misery.

"Is it painful?" she asked quietly.

Ryanne's smile melted away and she laid her head back against the bricks, staring ahead. "Every bone in my body has been broken ten times over, and ten times over again. Take a guess."

"At least it's for good reason. Once your sire bond is broken, you can leave Lyall for good."

Her brows lowered. "Where else would I go?"

Rebekah gaped. "So all this suffering is just in vain? Are you a martyr or have you actually gone mad?"

"You wouldn't understand."

"Why you would break your bond only to go back to the man who created it? You're right, I don't."

"My parents left me in the middle of the woods as a child and never came back. Lyall found me. He took me in and raised me as his own daughter. Sure, he may have bonded me when he made me, but as soon as I break this bond I'll have my free will back. And that's all I've ever wanted."

"What about your own life?"

"What about your own life? You keep running back to Klaus, even after he's treated you like crap."

"That's completely different."

"Why? Because he's blood? Or because everything boils down to Klaus' contentment? I mean, if it were my brother sabotaging every potential love interest in my life, I wouldn't want to be glued to his side."

Rebekah's eyes glistened angrily. "Clearly you know nothing of the dynamics between family." She regretted the words as soon as she said them. She didn't have to like this girl but that didn't mean she had to be rude.

Ryanne swallowed. "Clearly."

"I'm sorry. I wasn't - "

"Yes you were." She shifted and settled into her spot, flicking the plastic topper off the blood bag again. "You should go. Once Klaus finds Nate he'll come running down here and you'll be on the chopping block yet again."

She tossed her hair coolly. "He can throw his tantrums if he likes. But it won't find him his daggers." Ryanne looked over and Rebekah smirked. "I may be damned to an eternity with a pestilent brother, but I get my digs in too."

The hybrid smiled slowly, studying her features carefully before looking away again, her cheeks tinged with red. She stayed silent, sipping her blood bag. Rebekah frowned slightly, a strange feeling coiling in her stomach. It was almost too easy. She pursed her lips, continuing with her mission anyway.

"Did you ever want to find them?"

"My parents? What for? They abandoned a three year old. What kind of people could I expect them to be?" She shrugged, rolling her eyes in embarrassment. "Besides, we already tried a bunch of locator spells with half a dozen witches."

"Maybe you just didn't have the right witch."

"Trust me, we did."

"If you're referring to Grecia, you can't trust a word she's said."

Ryanne laughed. "Oh I know. I hated that bitch." She rolled her head to face Rebekah with a wry smirk. "Her motives were completely self involved. She never wanted to help Lyall."

"Then why resurrect her?"

"Ask him." She turned her head back again and closed her eyes with a deep sigh. "I know what you're doing, you know."

"Making idle conversation?"

"You're fishing." She peered at her narrowly, chains scraping the ground as she pushed herself to sit up. "You think if you play nice you can get me to give you information on Lyall. Just because I look the part, doesn't mean I'm just some stupid chained up animal."

Rebekah frowned, almost affronted. "I'm aware of that, thank you."

"Then why are you treating me like one?"

Rebekah tucked her hair behind her ear with an arrogant straightening of her shoulders. "Truth be told, I'm worried about his intentions with Klaus. Everything he's done appears to have been to his own benefit and disastrous to my brother in some way. He's had enough trauma from one loathsome father. He doesn't need another."

"I had nothing to do with the things he's done. And I don't know why he insisted on them."

"You're at his bloody beck and call and you don't know why he made my brother murder innocent people? Why he had you two specifically perform an intimate ritual against your wills?"

"It wasn't supposed to go that far."

"Which time?"

"Both times." She swallowed and began blinking too fast, as if to repress tears. "Those were my friends that he killed. My family." She exhaled sharply and wiped her eyes with her fist, angry. "Lyall didn't even try to stop him."

"Exactly. Which leads me to believe that he's had some hand in whatever is happening to my brother."

"What do you mean?"

Rebekah pursed her lips, wondering if she was overstepping, if Elijah and Katherine would have berated. But it was already too late to take it back, so she improvised. "What if I told you that Klaus might have been coerced into that massacre? Magically."

"Why would a witch want him to kill hybrids?"

"I don't think it was the witch that put in the request." She stood, brushing residual dirt off her pants. "Believe it or don't, but that initiation tortured my brother. Klaus spent centuries trying to unlock his wolf half, aspiring to create others like him. It's been his sole purpose to find a place where he wouldn't be abhorred for being as different as my father continuously made him feel. And now he thinks that place is with Lyall and your pack." She shook her head, her heart aching for him. "He wants so badly for this relationship to succeed, and to validate his existence in a way Mikael made him believe could never happen, that he's not even questioning what Lyall asks of him. And if I find out Lyall is using that to his advantage, I will rip him limb from bloody limb myself."

Ryanne chewed the corner of her lip, trying not to smirk. "You're kind of hot when you're protective." Rebekah blinked, her expression wavering in favor of a newfound shyness that had her eager to leave. She began to walk back toward the door and Ryanne rolled her eyes. "I get where you're coming from. I do. But why would Lyall condemn half of his pack? That goes against everything we've been doing."

She stopped and turned her head with a sly smirk. "Ask him."

Ryanne huffed a laugh, shaking her head. "Touché."

"Nik thinks he was doing right by Lyall, but I think he was being forced. Something is triggering his senses and multiplying them. He wasn't supposed to kill those hybrids. And he certainly wasn't supposed to mate himself to you. And if I let myself believe you, then you weren't supposed to either."

Ryanne was looking up at her, and she could see she was getting through. There was a guilt ridden frown vexing her.

"There is someone," she confessed.

Rebekah stood taller, eager. "Who?" Ryanne shook her head with an apologetic shrug and she sighed in an angry defeat. "You're still bonded to him so you can't tell me. Brilliant."

"Can't, not won't." She sat up more. "Once the bond is broken, I will tell you." Her lips twisted into a dangerous smile. "For a price."

Her face fell. "My time and/or affections cannot be bought."

"That's not where I was going." She moved one of the shackles down and rubbed her wrist. "When I'm done here, I'm no longer bound to him. That doesn't mean he can't still control me." She looked up, determined. "You have vervain. I want it."