A/n: I'm finally back in the past. HALLEUJAH! I can finally write Klaroline again, and I am so happy about that. I'm just happy about writing, period. I'm out of that stupid slump with the last chapter. I can write in peace again. But I will be honest. I put a lot of effort into this story. It's complicated. So much work to be intricate and to make all the details come together. I get a lot of faves and viewers and story alerts. But I hardly get any reviews. Reviews are the blood that keeps the stories going. So instead of just favoriting the story, please comment on why you liked the chapter. It would mean so much to me.
Disclaimer: I do not own TVD. I own nothing.
Chapter 35: Longer
Chicago
Past – June 8, 1922
For as long as Klaus could remember, he knew that he wasn't like other people. He was different from the rest of the world. Even from his family, he was different. He felt it deeply carved into his bones. All of his instincts and the way he saw things were not in alignment. Standing with his family in a single room, he couldn't help but feel as if he was just alone. No matter how many times he tried to convince himself, the old truth remained. He would always stand apart from others; he would be the lone wolf.
He was the definition of it.
That's how it had always been. It was the old way of things. Even with all of the times he took the lead with his family, no matter how much he protected them from their father's wrath, his actions that he took to keep this family together. It wouldn't change a thing. Soon enough, he accepted that and forged it within himself. It made him stronger. He would be the definition of strength in his own right. He would make the isolated difference his ally.
Then Caroline came barreling into his life, protecting his brother from Klaus of all people. As if Klaus were the threat that needed to be dealt with.
"You're not going to hurt him. Not if I can help it."
Ha, even Klaus had to admit that at the time that even he was furious with her. He wanted to bite off that pretty little neck of hers.
"What makes you possibly think that I would relent to your orders?"
And then she looked at them with eyes that appeared like there was too much wisdom in them. It was out of place with her.
"Because I know you would regret it in the end."
Now, after Caroline shed some light on her situation, Klaus began to piece things together. At least, from what he could understand from his view.
"Adele, what can you tell me about time travel?" Klaus inquired, observing the duo of witches for any signs of trickery.
The blonde witch – Charlene – her loud and beating heart quickened at his question. It practically echoed in his ears. He didn't miss how her blue eyes widened and darted left to right from her teacher and the Mikaelson in shock. She had fumbled and almost dropped the glass she was previously cleaning at the bar when the question rang in her ears.
The other witch was an entirely different story.
Adelaide continued on with her business unfazed. "There's nothing really much to tell aside from myths and legends."
"I'm trying to make sense on this topic because it has really been in my mind lately. And after what Caroline had spoken to me the other day, I wanted the full story. I am certain in suspecting that she has become close to you as a special confidante." Klaus explained, engaging the older witch. "Am I correct?"
While Charlene was at a loss on what to do, Adelaide just gave her one clear look. She nodded towards her student, reassuring her that she will handle the situation. Adele would deal with Klaus. This wasn't up to Charlene.
"Yes." The answer was simple and open, but not without the catch that soon followed. "However, what Caroline has told me in confidence will stay that way with me. I am not going to betray the girl's trust, and I am sure you don't want to ruin the progress you've made so far with her."
Klaus had to suppress the irritated growl climbing up his throat. When he thought he would have the upper hand, the witch quickly countered against him. 'Well played,' he thought. The Mikaelson only had met a few people in his lifetime who had the courage and wits to keep up with him. Of all the witches he employed into his service, Adelaide proved to be one of the few who delivered. Besides his other witch, Greta, he had to admit that the Creole witch has served him well along with Charlene as well.
"Now, what has she told you?" Adelaide asked, taking a seat across from Klaus as she eyed the bottle of scotch close to him. She frowned in disgust with its repugnant smell making its way to her nose as Klaus poured another glass. Do all vampires have to be alcoholics?
Taking a sip of his glass, he started from the beginning. "I know she is telling me the truth. However, she is only telling me a portion of the story. Not the story in its entirety."
"Ah," the witch mused. "That's understandable. And I am sure that bothers you to a certain degree."
Klaus couldn't deny it. "Always sharp as usual."
"Yet you can't blame her, Klaus. Like herself, I am sure that you have your own secrets you do not wish for her to know." Adele pointed out. "You wish for her to know them at the right pace for you. There's a trust that needs to build between you and her before both of you decide to go further in this…endeavor."
"And are you going to have your children listening in about my personal matters?"
The old witch shook her head. "If you prefer not to have them here, then fine. It's your call." She then turned to her student, gesturing her towards the front doors. "Go ahead to the market and see what we need. And tell Jean to go with you and stop listening in on the conversation."
Charlene was caught with surprise at her teacher's request, but it wasn't long before that feeling passed over her with the rolling of her eyes. Of course, Jean would pull off that kind of stunt. The werewolf was definitely nosy when she wanted to be. She hated it when Adelaide was alone with Klaus; that protective side of her came out with an obvious intent to hurt Klaus if he posed a threat. Sometime though, she made it too obvious with her emotions always on her sleeve.
"Yes, ma'am. Right away."
Both the vampire and witch watched the blonde scurrying away and heading out of the door into the summer heat sweltering outside. Adelaide was only right in her predictions because she knew the werewolf like the back of her hand. She couldn't actually hear them unlike Klaus.
"I swear, Jean. One day Klaus is going to break your neck if you keep on antagonizing him." He heard the blonde with warn her, concern leaking into her voice.
"You know how I am about the situation. I don't like him around her. Hell, I don't like him around any of you." Jean replied, her disdain towards him all too evident. On the other end, Klaus will admit the feelings were mutual. The stubborn bitch was always interfering and lurking around, annoying him like a pest.
Klaus could hear their voices lessening in volume. "Adelaide can handle herself around Klaus. I've told you this way too many times."
"Still, Char. It's not just that I don't like him. He…he worries me. He sets me on edge to the point where I'm paranoid whenever y'all are alone with him. Dammit, I haven't felt like this since what happened before I met y'all."
And for the first time, Klaus could hear the stubborn and fierce werewolf drop her guard. The moment of weakness in her voice, the fear she had of him…Klaus thought it was delicious. Something new to enjoy while he had been tolerating her behavior; she was lucky to have been part of the deal for Adelaide or otherwise her neck would have been broken by Klaus and more.
The wolf had her uses for now.
"Well, let's not lose her heads by either of them. We need to get going, and I've been dying to get out of that damn bar. I was getting bored of cleaning glasses." Charlene chimed, her steps going further up the street and away from the bar.
"Wait for me, will ya?!"
That was the last he heard from the two before shifting his attention back to Adelaide.
"Nosy stubborn child." Adelaide muttered under her breath. "She's gonna be the death of me."
"If the pun was intended, it could be arranged for free if you would like." Klaus said nonchalantly, entertaining the thought while it was on the horizon.
But that garnered a nasty reaction from the older witch. And, what was worse was that she was almost smiling. "You lay a finger on her, and I'll make sure that one of your siblings will have a fate worse than a dagger in a box. Hmm, maybe Rebekah would do quite nicely. You're always going on and on about hating to deal with them."
"Yes, you are correct. However, Rebekah and Kol are my family. I will be the one who will maintain over them on my terms."
In other words, stay away from my family or suffer the consequences. The message was mutually loud and clear both for both of them.
"Now, that those two are gone." Adelaide brought them back to topic. "Let's get back to the situation at hand. You want more information about the time travel, even though I am limited."
Klaus was more than ready to take everything she was saying, and not leave anything to spare. "I will take all that you have to tell."
"Like I said before, Klaus. There's not much to tell." Adele explained, breathing deeply before jumping into the subject. "Time travel is actually a form of expression. It's very dark and complicated spell to do."
"But it is still possible as events has shown by Caroline's appearance?"
"It's possible, but not for what you want, Klaus." The witch quickly reminded him. "The trick is that no living witch on Earth can do the spell. It's a spell only reserved for the spirits of dead witches. To be more specific, the only ones who even have the ability and enough power to do it is a council of witches on the Other Side."
Adele wasn't surprised to see Klaus displeased. Working for him all these years helped her to observe his mannerisms and the things that made him tick. She took note of it and memorized it to her brain. Besides, it took more than that to truly scare her.
"Care to enlighten me on who they are?" Klaus asked instead.
"There's only so much I can tell you. All I can say that is that it's a fool's errand if you're plotting against them. You can't fight against time, Klaus. This is not a war that even you could try to beat."
Klaus's mouth turned up into a familiar smile, wicked as if he knew by experience. And he did. "In war, no matter how advanced the enemy is, they will always have a weakness. Everyone has a weakness, witch. It's a fact that has been established and shown for longer than even you have lived. Eventually, all weaknesses are exploited and can be used to anyone's advantage. Of course, that person would have to be intelligent and cunning to steal that advantage."
The vampire continued to drink more of scotch with the amber liquid burning down his throat. It definitely hit the spot, especially for the long day ahead of him. "Care for a drink?" he offered the bottle to her.
"No thank you," Adele declined. "Not my taste."
"Suit yourself." Like Klaus was ever going to give away his scotch to her, but hey? It was fun to tease the witch and get a reaction from her. He could see why Kol had his fun with her. Adelaide proved to be an unpredictable witch, even with her morality. It kept him on his toes. However, the one thing that remained steady was all that Klaus was concerned about.
Her loyalty to him remained firm. The deal in place bounded her to him until her death. And she wasn't dying any time soon.
She waited for him to finish the last of the alcohol before speaking again. "Is there anything else you wish to speak about?"
He had to give her credit. She kept her manners at least. That took a lot of patience to do, especially with him. He's been known to drive people up the wall, practically insanity on a few occasions.
"Actually, there is." Klaus almost purred, his stormy eyes stirring. "Tell me how Caroline ties in with the time travel."
{Louder Than Thunder}
"How old is Klaus?" Caroline's question came out of the blue.
A little too random even.
Rebekah shrugged, taking a sip of her cool lemonade. (Well, lemonade that had blood added to into it.)
"Caroline, I know you're not a natural blonde. I'm pretty sure you have a pretty good idea on how old he is."
"I know Klaus is like 900 and something, but what I really wanted to know was how old was he…" Caroline couldn't help the urge of looking around her, eyeing to see if Klaus was around just in case he was lurking around nearby. This question had been poking her curiosity for a while now, especially since things have been more personal between him and her. "…when he turned."
The blonde Mikaelson just laughed it off. "Caroline, darling, that's so long ago. Do you really think he would remember that long ago about details like that? The importance of that is so minuscule compared to the big picture."
"And what would that be, Bex?" Stefan interjected, the bottom of his face caked with spots of blood on top of his vampire smile. The drunkenness of the ripper clouded his eyes from an obvious feeding.
"Oh, my God!" Caroline yelped in shock seeing him as a bloody mess. "Are you insane?"
"Sit in the bloody chair before someone sees you." Rebekah barked, seeing the blood on him and not in the mood to deal with humans other than for food. "You're lucky I had the place compelled before we came."
Almost in a drunk manner, the younger Salvatore paraded over towards Rebekah, taking a seat next to her. He casually brought his arm around Rebekah's shoulder, tilting his head at Caroline with a look that reminded her of the kid who didn't care about being caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He dared anyone, even her to say something about it. They'd have a ripper to deal with.
No problem for him. More blood for him to drink.
"I've been drinking the same human blood since 1864, and I haven't had problems."
'Ha, denial much?' Caroline thought as she rolled her eyes listening in. However, she almost missed the ripper's green eyes narrowing at her. They were dark with hunger.
"Although, I am curious as to what hybrid blood could taste like," he said with a dark smirk.
"Stefan!" she hissed to him. "Enough with the suicidal jokes! Do you want Nik to tear your heart out?!"
"No. Knowing Klaus, he'd probably wouldn't give him the easy way out. He would try to make me bite him knowing that werewolf venom is toxic to vampires." But she left out the fact that hybrid venom was more potent and twice as deadly. She would hate to bite her future best friend from back home, and there was no hint of Klaus' blood hitting the Original Hybrid status yet.
"Relax girls, Nik knows I wouldn't be that stupid. I just get curious. I maybe an emotionless, bastard of a ripper but I have some manners. I usually stick to human blood. It's easier to get to, and I'm not feeling too adventurous at the moment." Stefan explained, his dark eyes scanning until he landed on a female patron of where they were staying. "Excuse me, ma'am."
The woman striding towards them was a beautiful dainty brunette with vibrant blue eyes. "Yes, may I help you with anything?"
Looking into his eyes, she was instantly captured by him for the trap of compulsion. "Why don't you sit down with me and these beautiful ladies and take a load off? Don't run and don't scream. You're just enjoying our company."
"I am just enjoying your company," she replied robotically.
Caroline watched with amazement as the brunette came to sit in between Rebekah and Stefan, the black, spidery veins rising to the surfaces of their faces. She couldn't deny the familiar pull of thirst tugging at her as she heard the girl's beating heart.
"Tell me, love. What's your name?" Rebekah's accented voice whispered.
"Laura." The brunette answered.
"You'll enjoy this, Laura. It's not going to hurt much." Rebekah was glad to have at least settled that damn almost-dispute with the hybrid and her current boy-toy before it got ugly. And how could she say no to blood? She's a vampire after all.
It wasn't long before their vampire natures rose to the surface and took over their instincts. The sound of the quickened heartbeat pounded in their ears as they sunk their fangs into Laura's pale throat. Caroline just sat across from them, idly just drinking her lemonade in the summer heat while the other two vampires enjoyed their feast. The vampire part of Caroline craved for blood more so than usual thanks to the abundance and volume of blood she'd taken in ever since she arrived in this time period. However, there's a certain type of blood in particular she craved for at the moment. And it wasn't solely human blood that made her taste buds dance.
Damn the stupid blood bond. Damn bloodthirst. Damn Klaus' blood.
"So I guess my question isn't going to be answered after all?" she asked nonchalantly, knowing where this was taking her.
Rebekah let out an annoyed growl before releasing her fangs from the girl's neck. Her eyes were a murky red with a splash of blue from the irises. From the way she looked, her mouth was opened in an 'o' shaped as if the blood-high was orgasmic. But that didn't hide the annoyance in her face.
"Caroline," she growled out. "If you want to know about this so much, ask Nik about it. Let me enjoy my meal before it goes to spoil."
"Relax, Bex. There's plenty more for you to go after." Stefan said, the same look from the blood high evident in his face too. "Caroline, whatever you want to ask him, I'm sure he'll give you some answer. At least be honest with him about it. Besides, there's plenty of humans to share. Don't you have a preference for handsome type?"
"They taste good, don't get me wrong. I'm just really not craving blood at the moment." Yeah, not human blood. She wanted Klaus Mikaelson's blood in a bottle and drink it. Through most of the hot morning, she kept imagining sinking her fangs deep into Klaus' neck like Bex and Stefan were with that other girl. But there was a greedy part of Caroline who didn't want to share Klaus.
She wanted his blood for herself and her alone.
She gripped the spiked blood lemonade tight and drank the whole thing down before the vampires across from her released the brunette from their grasp.
"Hmmm, that was good. Deliciously sweet like a nice red wine." Rebekah mused, trying to wipe the blood off of her face with a napkin. "I hope my makeup isn't ruined because of this."
A boisterous laugh made its way outside through the double French doors. "You practically gorged your teeth into that girl, sweet sister. You can't expect not to look like red velvet cake after that session."
Caroline tried her damnedest to hold a neutral face. But the look on Rebekah's face and the situation was a bit hilarious. Now, Rebekah was livid.
"You think that's funny, huh? Well, laugh at this."
Faster than the normal eye could see, Rebekah threw a fork at her brother's head, aiming for it to end his brains somehow.
But Kol being the elder brother was faster than her speed. He dodged quickly enough to evade it and landed himself a seat next to his favorite hybrid, much to Caroline's disappointment.
"You'll have to work on your aim, Bekah. All the heavy petting with your boy-toy has made you soft."
"Oh, so you think I've gotten soft? Let's see you say that after I've compelled Caroline to bite you, and you're dying from werewolf venom. We'll see who's soft then."
"Hello?! Hybrid still here?! I have a say in this!" Caroline retorted sharply, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Not so loud in my ear, darling." Kol teased, wrapping an arm around the blonde's shoulders. "Save that for the pillow talk."
With that, Caroline snapped. "That's it! I'm out of here!"
She stood up immediately and not giving a damn about her actions. She wanted to just get the hell out. Before the other vampires could stop her, she managed to climb onto the table, ran away through the double doors, and sped out.
As Caroline disappeared, the other three vampires were silent with different reactions. Kol was disappointed. Stefan was amused. Rebekah was pissed. Put that combination and what do you get?
"And this is why I never invite Kol to go out with us." She growled out, glaring at her brother with daggers in her eyes. "You always RUIN everything!"
"Pish posh, sis. If anything, I've made this outing turn for the excitable. Do you know how dull it is to watch and hear you girls going on and on about Nik forever? Very boring indeed. I expected Stefan to at least turn the tables or something, but he enjoyed in your bloody drinking threesome with you and that other girl. So, I did my duty and surprised all of you with my presence."
"Well, you're going to have to watch out now since I'm pretty sure she's going to rat you out, Kol." Stefan said with a knowing smirk.
"Caroline isn't going to do anything." Rebekah replied too calmly for his own good. "It's going to be me."
Her evil, red smile said everything.
"You really think our brother is going to scare me?" Kol challenged her.
"If I get to convince him to stuff you in a box for week then yes. You should be scared."
Kol's face then suddenly blanched. "…you wouldn't…"
"Oh, I would. Just ask Stefan, he's only my boy-toy after all." Kol may have won the battle, but Rebekah was definitely going to win the war between siblings. She's not so easily outdone even if she was the only female Mikaelson in the family. "Stef, I'll meet you again later this week. I have a scary older brother to find."
With the grace of cat, Rebekah leaped from the balcony with ease right before Kol could snap her neck. Thankfully, she sped away from everyone before anyone could spot the crazy blonde jumping from high places like some dodgy daredevil. All she could hear was the wind rushing behind her ears and a bit of Kol's yelling as she ran to find Klaus.
Kol was fucked, and she was loving every minute of it.
Later that day…
Dusk was just approaching in Chicago. The long summer days had the sun longer up in the sky, and they could feel it too. The pushing weight of the humidity pressed on until the sun was completely away and nighttime kicked in. Still, people living in this city dealt with it because once the sun's out of the way, the party starts to kick in. The summer heat didn't change anything. It didn't stop the Prohibition. They still drank, still partied, and other things among them.
At night, the humidity only lessened slightly. However, it was so nice when a cool breeze would finally blow in through the huge metropolis. But right now, Caroline wasn't there in the city. She was elsewhere.
Well, she "was" elsewhere until a few minutes ago.
Before Caroline came back close to civilization, she ventured out of the city, keeping away from people as she explored. Outside of the city, there was a forest preserve nearby. So many acres of land as far as the end could see. Caroline was awed by the sight of the little creeks flowing with water, the trees painting the forest with green leaves, and the sounds of the other animals nearby. No humans were around.
It was perfect.
Before she knew it, wolf inside of her and stirred for something she'd been long neglected of. Caroline craved the freedom of her own will. No other vampires to control her and compel her. No laws to bind her down. She was free.
The yearning to come out to be free overruled the anger that usually was required for her to turn. She found herself using that drive in her to push the turning to take place. Yeah, Caroline was in pain, but it was worth it. The twisting and cracking of bones made her yelp in pain, but she focused ahead to the vastness of trees in front, the wild unknown calling to her.
Quicker than she thought, her transformation was finished. She was a wolf again.
The rush overtook her. She ran.
The wind whipped through her thick coat of fur as she ran along the creek. The soil felt soft and natural in between her paws. Pure euphoric joy ran through her veins as she gave into the wild instincts that she had been holding back for so long. Letting go Chicago was a nice place to be in, but it felt like a gilded cage at times. Someone always keeping an eye on her as if she was ready to break. They had no idea on what she went through and how she made it.
She was made from iron. She was tough.
Caroline didn't hold back. Everything was heightened, and she loved it. The wolf within her was becoming more natural to her instead of something foreign she couldn't understand. The blonde wolf continued to run along the creekbed and through the forest; all her problems falling away behind her as she left them in the dust.
Which now brings us back to the present.
Caroline had been out for the hours. Leaves were tangled in her blonde curly hair, she smelled like she'd been rolling in the dirt too much, and all of her bones felt like they were made of jelly. Going back home was going to be a slow trip. She wasn't looking forward to dealing with Klaus' heightened version of worry and paranoia. Knowing how he was, he was going to give her hell for just leaving his siblings without explanation.
Her stomach rumbled impatiently as she kept moving stealthy away from the partying folks in the city. She grimaced at the slight pain, the pain of suddenly turning earlier flaring up with a vengeance. "Crap, what does a girl gotta do to get a bag of chips around here?"
She needed nourishment. No, she needed a whole refrigerator. Caroline wanted to tear the whole thing down and eat everything in sight. Her mouth salivated at the thought, and she wanted it badly. It was drowning out her thoughts of even wanting blood. She had enough blood for the day to the point of where she almost got sick of it.
Thankfully, Caroline managed to fool the humans enough to get her to the Mikaelson residence in time. She was so tired and hungry and sore to the point where she couldn't decide what she wanted to more: sleep or eat the rest of her life.
Deciding to hell with sneaking in, Caroline just knocked on the door, waiting for someone to let her in. What surprised her was who actually answered the door. Klaus stared at her dead in the eyes, shock clouding with worried anger in his eyes.
"What the devil…" Klaus cursed as she took in Caroline's naked state, even more shocked when her knees buckled and she silently fell into his arms. Her body felt almost limp.
"Please," Caroline asked tiredly. "Just get me upstairs. So…hungry…"
Klaus was seconds away from berating her, wanting to pound sense into her skull, but his mouth fell silent once he adjust his hold of her to carry her bridal style. The sensation of her being this close to him would always affect him no matter how much he tried to wish away his weakness. Caroline's head lolled to the side and landed against Klaus' chest. He watched as she fought to keep her eyes opened, trying to get closer to him. He could still hear her quickened undead heartbeat that only a hybrid could have from what he figured.
Klaus decided to carry Caroline up into his room so he could properly care for her himself. Bringing her into his grand bathroom, he silently put the blonde hybrid into the huge tub, and began to run the water.
"Klaus, what are you doing?" Caroline asked hanging on to the tub for support.
"I'm running you a bath." He answered like it was the most obvious answer in the world.
Caroline shook her head. "You don't have to."
"Trust me, love. I don't think anyone else in this house wants you to smell like a damp and wet muddy dog. Rebekah would try to kill me in my sleep, especially after a number I did to her today."
That's when Caroline woke up with eyes wide open.
"What did you do?" Her voice raised in volume. "Klaus, tell me right now."
"Oh, someone's finally awake." He smirked as finished running the water and filling the tub with soap, making bubbles form on the water. "Glad to know that the fire hasn't gone out of you."
"I'm only tired, Klaus. I'm not dead." The blonde retorted, letting her head rest against the edge of the tub. Her hair tumbled and fell on her shoulders, and she couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. The dirt caked to her skin and the leaves tangled in her hair drove her crazy.
"You could have been…" The words left from him were close to a whisper.
It was then Caroline's heart lurched a little hearing that. God, why did everything had to be so complicated with him? Distracting herself, her hands began to work on trying to get the leaves out of her hair. Trying to ignore the ache in her bones, she lifted her arms to reach her head, but the pain grew sharper too fast. Biting back the pain, she put her arms down, letting them rest in the water.
She couldn't believe her situation. She couldn't believe on what she was about to do next.
"Klaus, I need your help." Caroline requested with a bit of difficulty.
God, she couldn't believe the words coming out of her mouth.
At that request, it gave Klaus pause. With an indiscernible face, he replied back. "Need help for what?"
"On any other day, I would take care of this myself. But…I'm hurting right now. Everything hurts and I barely can lift my arms. Can you please help me clean up?" she asked finally, her voice softer than he'd heard in the past.
Drawing near to the tub, he kept his quiet mask on as Caroline's eyes followed. He brought a wooden chair near the end of the tub where Caroline's head laid. Sitting down, he rolled up his sleeves and silently began to take the leaves out of mangled blonde hair. Caroline tightened her grip on the tub as Klaus' hands worked through knots.
She didn't say a word. She didn't want to complain. Biting back her tongue was the only solution she could think of to help against the pain of the damn knots. Before long, the pain was replaced with relief when there was no more knots present. She could feel Klaus' hands raking through her hair and along her head, probably to find more stuff tangled within the rat's nest.
It was then that Klaus spoke once again. "You know, I could have made this easier for you. Giving you my blood for the ease of the pain."
"I don't want to because there's no point." Caroline said laying there in the tub. "I know you think this is what I get for running off, for worrying you. A fitting punishment."
"It's true that is what I thought." Klaus told the truth. "But I wouldn't mind sparring you if you can tell something."
Great another deal?
"Am I going to have to jump through some hoops?"
"No, love." Klaus chuckled to himself. "It's simple, really. I just want to know what caused your current condition."
Normally, Caroline wouldn't have said a word. She couldn't have bear to have a thought towards having something or anything to do with Klaus. Her walls would have been up faster than he could blink. She'd fight him tooth and nail, even against the compulsion. Things were simpler when he was an enemy.
Now, not so much. Things were complicated.
She found herself wanting and aching for him. Caroline didn't want to hide anymore. She didn't to be…dammit.
Taking a breath, she finally answered him. "I turned."
That's all it took. Those two words rendered him silent too long before responding back finally. "…I see."
Caroline remained quiet as she felt warm water cascading from her head down to her back. The process was repeated before she found Klaus' hands against her scalp, getting the shampoo into her hair. A familiar smell filled her nostrils, and her eyes widened. "That smells really good."
The old bite in Klaus' voice returned for a moment. "The feminine items were a gift from the witch. She was insistent on handing them to me to give to you. She said you would know what to do."
"Don't get jealous, Klaus. She's only a friend." Caroline replied softly, trying to hold back the moan of pleasure working up to her throat from Klaus' handiwork.
"I wouldn't be jealous over a business associate. I'm just not keen on the company she keeps."
"Can we get the conversation back to the present? You wanted to talk about me, right?" Caroline didn't want Klaus' eyes set on Adelaide and them. He was already on thin ice, and the ice is getting thinner. She didn't have to watch for long to notice how the air became thicker whenever the three were in a room with him.
She shuddered at those thoughts.
"How long were you turned?"
"For hours." It was the longest she'd ever been a wolf.
"Tell me more then." Klaus said, rinsing the shampoo out of her hair. "I want to know."
"You're going to have to be more specific, Klaus."
"What did it feel like then, Caroline?" he said impatiently.
Thinking for a moment, she tried to put in terms even herself could understand. "It was…intense. Painful a lot at first since you are turning into a wolf with all the bones wanting to break. Everything was heightened like how you would live as a vampire. It's hard to explain really."
She never been a werewolf in her previous life before she was thrown back in time. And somehow, Klaus knew that. His intuition wouldn't shake that idea away. "I can tell. It's foreign to you yet it feels natural." He stated, knowing full well on the feeling. "You can't question the pull or the urgency or the changes within you. All you can do is act. Having that release sets you free. It's freedom."
Freedom.
His words struck a chord within her, enlightening her on the answer she was seeking. That was it. That was exactly it.
"You're right." Caroline spoke breathlessly. "You're absolutely right."
Klaus was halfway finished with the conditioner in her darkened blonde hair. It wouldn't be long before her hair would be clean and free from all the dirt and grime. The intimacy – being alone with her – was something that he had begun to value highly to him. He barely voiced that out loud. He feared of giving spark to any weakness. He didn't want to feed to the flames.
But the flames were growing. That fire burning for Caroline was growing.
He wanted more of her.
"You know what? Despite how crazy the experience was, I could control it." Caroline realized again with a small lighting her face like a candle. "I can control it."
"If only I can begin to understand how you feel…" Right now, Klaus would give more than anything to do it. He was cursed. The wolf inside of him was locked in a cage that he didn't have the key to. The vampire still reigned in his actions. Soon enough, he knew that he would become into what she was.
He would become what he was born to be.
"Can't you feel it in the blood bond?"
"It's not the same, Caroline. I can feel some things through the bond, but those moments are fleeting like the wind."
"If I can show you how I feel, would that be enough? Would that help?" Caroline hated hearing this part of him yet she couldn't help, but listen. She was spellbound by it. She couldn't look away. She couldn't not hear it. It was so rare to see that piece of humanity within him. Why did she keep searching for that? More and more she craved every bit of him she could find.
She felt like she was undone.
Klaus had stopped finished with her hair and had stood up from his chair. He walked slowly to the tub, moving closer within Caroline's presence. He knelt down near the edge with those hazel eyes of hers holding him there. Her hair hung around her shoulders in a wet mess with her naked body hiding beneath the murky water. It left a bit to his imagination, and it made him wonder of every detail along her usual creamy skin.
"How would you show me then?"
"By drinking your blood," she answered. "Seems like things are in favor after all with both of us. We both get what we want."
"Caroline, despite the despicable bastard I can be, I would have given you my blood without a second thought." She had become that dire to him. But he didn't say that. He wasn't ready to admit it.
Caroline's smiled brightened. "I'm glad to hear that."
With Klaus close to her, the hunger heightened and narrowed. She wasn't hungry for food anymore. She was hungry for him. Her thoughts were consumed, and his blood was all that she had in mind.
She dove in with her hunger taking over her. Pain shot through her as she brought Klaus' face to hers and claimed his lips. He tasted of the scotch he always drank and the coppery flavor of blood followed. A selfish part of her wanted him. Rebekah was right. Caroline didn't want Klaus to want anyone else, but her. She wanted to be stronger and have him right here by this tub as much as that scared her. She wasn't ready. His blood would have to do for now.
Her eyes met his own. Gently, she grasped his arm with her hands, bring the wrist close to her lips. The blood flowing through him…delicious. It pounded through his veins. Moments later, he watched something click in her eyes like a switch. She had him there right where she wanted. Those beautiful eyes flickered and darkened before he knew it. The white sclera turned black and the golden irises rose from the surface. The spidery veins followed and pulsed around her eyes. Caroline gave out a low hiss with her white fangs glistening in the light.
The woman before him wasn't Caroline yet it wore her face. She was something else now. Instead of biting at the first moment, the dangerous tempest in front of her bowed her head low to him. She pressed her mouth to his arm, slowly descending a slow burn of her lips. Klaus swallowed thickly as her lips crept closer to his wrist. Those black and golden eyes made him freeze. He couldn't understand this unknown familiarity he saw in her. Inside, he saw himself within her. Something strong, but free.
Her fangs finally sliced into his wrist, stealing his blood that he would offer any day. For her, he would do that. She held a tight grip to his wrist, and she wasn't letting go. The female hybrid had him there by his own volition.
Then he felt it. Everything that Caroline felt came toward him like a steady rain. It wasn't an onslaught of emotions like a storm, but a rain that made him feel like he was alive. He was still breathing. Then he found it. What he'd been searching for forever. He sampled the emotions she felt. The taste of freedom clouded his senses. He also felt all of the yearning, fear, and excitement that swirled around her every time she thought of Klaus.
Everything he had been imagining with that side taken from him finally was shown to him. It gave him hope. It reassured him and the drive within him. That's when he knew. He knew that this was the moment that cemented everything.
He was going to become the Original Hybrid. And he wanted her by his side.
Cause I want to give you more boy.
Nothing in return.
Oh I did wait for you, darling...
Did ache for you darling
And, now you're here, I want you dear to stay.
- "Longer," by Clare Bowen and Sam Palladio