Prompt: "My friend and I moved into a new apartment. Strange thing is our room was selected for us the moment we entered the building by a mark appearing on our wrists. Also I think this apartment building is ruled by the demons living in the penthouse."
Thanks for the prompt creatureintree and for donating to saving the Klaroline Mag, it's such a wonderful cause! I have changed it a little but I hope this still works and you enjoy it : ) Also quick note, Enzo is not a vampire.
Hotel California
"You can check out anytime, you like, but you can never leave."
"What is in this box?" Enzo growled, panting wildly as they approached the front door of the apartment complex. "Lead?"
"Part of my shoe collection, so you better be careful with them, mister," Katherine ordered.
"Only part of it? Geez, how did I get lugged with helping you two move house?" He groaned, struggling to hold the box, which seemed close to breaking point.
"Because you have no life…" Katherine trailed off.
"Hey, I resent your assertion," he argued. "I have a hot date tonight with…"
"Your hand," Katherine snorted.
"Says the girl whose expensive shoes I'm holding precariously in my arms," he shot back, pretending to drop them and making Katherine squeal in fright. "Don't mess with me, Pierce."
"Enough, children," Caroline drawled, having to break up their squabbling yet again.
She looked ominously up at the foreboding apartment building. She'd been apprehensive about this option given they hadn't seen it in person. Katherine had checked out pictures online and spoken with the agent and even though Caroline objected, she'd insisted they'd never get a well located apartment at such a great price. Caroline was suspicious to say the least, but Los Angeles was expensive and they were just poor college grad students, after all.
"Are you going to open the door, or what?" Caroline asked, impatiently.
"Well, last time I checked I had my hands full with the ugly stepsister's footwear," Enzo quipped, earning a death glare from the brunette.
"I meant Katherine." Her best friend just rolled her eyes and proceeded to push on the door and Caroline could swear she felt a cold draft escape. She closed her eyes telling herself it was just her imagination.
"Finally," Enzo grumbled, walking inside trying to juggle the heavy box. Katherine followed, her eyes wide in amazement at the plush red carpet, elegant chandeliers and dark marble adornments. It certainly was opulent. How did they secure this apartment again? Before she could ask, the door slammed shut with a bang.
"Why do I feel like I'm in the Haunted House in Disneyland?" Katherine asked, looking around curiously.
"All we need is the floor to drop," Enzo joked, but Caroline could sense some slight hesitation in his voice.
"It's fine, let's just get to our apartment, what number is it again, Kat?"
"I'm not sure," she mumbled, uncertainly.
"How don't you know your apartment number, Kitty Kat?"
"I'm pretty sure I did before, it seems to have escaped my mind," she uttered, the confusion on her face evident as she rifled through her purse for the details.
"You always were a bright one, Pierce. If that's the case, I may have to drop your exorbitant shoe collection then," he drawled, dumping it onto the red carpet. He was expecting a lecture but instead he was met with deathly silence. Both girls staring at their wrists ominously. "What am I missing?"
"It's…" Caroline said, attempting to make sense of what was happening. Enzo looked between them curiously before consulting her wrist, noticing the number 36 etched on her creamy skin.
"Did you get a tattoo you didn't tell me about, gorgeous?" She didn't speak, just continued to look stunned at her wrist. He looked over noticing Katherine was doing the same thing. Enzo grabbed hers seeing the same number engraved on hers. What the hell was going on?
"I think we need to leave, like right now," Enzo suggested, as Katherine attempted to open the door but failed given it seemed to be locked shut. "What the hell is going on?"
"I'm sorry I didn't tend to you sooner," a voice called out from the front desk, startling them all. "I'm your doorman, Josh."
"Well, Josh," Enzo began. "We'd like to leave if you would be so kind to open the door."
"You are more than free to go, sir," he explained. "As far as I can tell you are just a visitor, then I can tend to Ms Forbes and Ms Pierce and get them settled into the apartment."
"How do you know our names?" Caroline bit out, finally tearing her eyes from her wrist.
"You've just taken over apartment 36, isn't that right?" He asked, consulting his book.
"Well, according to my wrist that's correct," Katherine drawled. "What's with the creepy mark anyway?"
"I don't know what you mean."
"Here," Katherine offered, holding out her wrist but noticing at the same time that the mark she'd seen before had magically disappeared. "I swear it was there before, right Care?" Caroline nodded, looking wordlessly at her now bare skin.
"You saw it didn't you, Enzo?"
"I did, which is why I think it's best we leave right now."
"Well, you know where the door is, sir."
"He's not going anywhere," Katherine replied, pulling him closer so he could act as a protective shield.
"I never knew you liked me so much, Kitty Kat."
"I don't, but if I'm going to die, you're coming with me."
"Charming," he shot back. "Well, if we're in this together, let's get to your place so I can rid myself of your excessive shoe collection.
"Of course," Josh replied, gesturing towards the lift. "Level three, sixth door on your left." They looked at him quizzically, still unsure of what to make of their strange doorman.
"What the hell have you signed us up for Katherine?" Caroline murmured, as they ascended the building, the floor numbers climbing towards three.
"I think we're going to hell," Enzo offered, as they all stood in the lift apprehensively.
"I think if that was the case, we would be going downwards," Katherine growled. "You know, at least the lobby was gorgeous and Josh seems pleasant enough. He doesn't seem to like you Enzo, so that's definitely a plus in my book."
"Seriously?"
"I'm just trying to make the best of a weird situation," Katherine scoffed. The elevator dinged, announcing their arrival. Just like the lobby, their floor was large and beautifully furnished.
"Here we are," Caroline gulped, as Katherine let them inside. To say their apartment was gorgeous was an understatement. Rich hardwood floors, generous sized bedrooms and a large open kitchen and living area. "This is…"
"Amazing," Katherine smiled, taking it all in. "I did pretty good, all things considered."
"Except for the weird temporary tattoo and your pushy doorman."
"I'm willing to put up with those things for this view," Katherine replied, taking in the Los Angeles city skyline illuminated from the large bay window.
"Someone's easy," Enzo snorted. "Surely you agree, Care Bear?"
"Huh," she asked, her head stuck in the huge walk in wardrobe, her eyes widening at all of the possibilities for her clothes.
"Oh come on, this is a scam, it has to be. Nothing this good comes this cheap." There was a knock at the door, interrupting their conversation. "That's probably your friendly doorman here to make sure I've left the premises."
The knock sounded out again, both girls slightly hesitant about answering and sending Enzo their most dazzling smiles.
"Oh fine, but if I die I'm going to come back and haunt you." He promised, stomping towards the door, ready to get another earful from the cheerful Josh. What he wasn't expecting was the beautiful blonde on the other side, with what looked like a casserole dish in her hands.
"Well hello there," he grinned, trying to focus on her blue eyes and not on her snugly fitted black pants and top. "What can I do for you?" Caroline and Katherine rolled their eyes recognizing his pathetic pick-up attempt from a mile away. He can't have been too worried about the situation.
"Do you live here?" She asked curiously, her English accent unmistakable.
"Pretty much," he smirked. Caroline gave Katherine a look which plainly said 'are you serious'.
"Oh you must be the one Josh told me about, he mentioned you wouldn't be staying long though."
"Of course he did," he growled. "What's your name, gorgeous?"
"It's Rebekah, Rebekah Mikaelson."
"Well hello, Rebekah, Rebekah Mikaelson. Do you live on this floor as well?"
"Do you always ask this many questions?"
"Only when it involves a gorgeous woman," he murmured.
"God help us," Katherine murmured from the living room, rolling her eyes.
"I'm actually in the penthouse."
"I would love to see the view from there, if this one is amazing, yours must be spectacular." Caroline actually felt sorry for the poor woman and decided she needed to intervene and save her from his blatantly obvious charm offensive.
"Hi, I'm.."
"Caroline, right?"
"Ah yeah, how did you know that?"
"The thing you'll learn about this apartment is that everyone knows everything. I actually just came downstairs to give you this stew I made," she offered it to Caroline, just as Enzo greedily snatched it. She'd be surprised if they got any given his huge appetite. "Also I wanted to invite you to our housewarming party on Saturday night."
"Ours?" Enzo chimed in.
"I live upstairs with my three brothers, unfortunately."
"Brothers I can live with."
"Well, you haven't met them," she drawled.
"We wouldn't miss it, Rebekah," he whistled, taking the dish from her outstretched arms. "I'm Enzo by the way, in case you were interested."
"She's really not," Katherine interrupted, sending her a knowing smile. "Hi I'm…"
"Katherine Pierce, nice to meet you."
"You really do know everything. So you just moved in then I assume?" Caroline asked, curiously.
"No, we've been living here for a long time. Why do you ask?"
"It's just you said you were having a housewarming party," Caroline said.
"Yes, for you," she insisted.
"Well, thank you Rebekah, but why? I mean you don't even know us."
"You'd be surprised just how much I do know," she replied, sending a chill down Caroline's spine. She thought this place was weird enough, it turned out the people were just the same. "So, I'll see you on Saturday night."
"See you then," Enzo called out to her retreating back.
"Could you be any more obvious, St Jude?" Katherine muttered. "I'm surprised the floors isn't covered in drool, you were that obvious."
"Yeah Enzo, what happened to your reservations about this place?"
"A beautiful blonde happened, Care Bear," he grinned. "This party should be interesting."
"I'm not sure we should be going, I mean this is all a bit weird, don't you think?"
"A beautiful woman is planning you a housewarming party, what could be wrong with that?" Enzo baulked, opening the dish and inhaling the smell, his eyes widening at the contents. "At least we know the food will be good."
"And you were calling me easy," Katherine groaned. "Not that I ever like agreeing with Enzo but he's right. At least this way we can get to know the other residents and hopefully it will allay our fears."
"Let's hope," Caroline murmured, looking at her wrist again, just in case.
xxxxxxx
Three days later and she was still well and truly alive, which Caroline thought was an achievement in itself. Besides all the initial weirdness things had been fairly normal and she'd be lying if she said she didn't love living there.
The apartment itself was gorgeous and the close proximity to college and the city centre was so convenient. Katherine seemed to be enjoying herself too and even though he'd had his reservations at first, Enzo had become a regular visitor. Caroline knew it had more to do with running into Rebekah than them. Although strangely enough they hadn't seen her since.
Caroline had attempted to return the casserole dish but for some reason she couldn't access the penthouse in the lift. She figured it must have been for security reasons and decided to return it at the party the next night. She still couldn't believe that relative strangers wanted to throw them a party though.
It was Friday night and Caroline was home alone trying to write her thesis. She was studying psychology and was in her final year but for some reason it wasn't coming along as quickly as she'd hoped. Unfortunately, procrastination was one of her more annoying traits and she decided to do her washing instead.
The girls didn't have their own washing machine and Josh had mentioned there was one in the basement. She'd deliberately been avoiding going down there given how frightened she was of the place, but she couldn't ignore it any longer because Katherine was working a night shift at the local Emergency Room as part of her medical degree. Piling her dirty clothes into the washing basket, she proceeded downstairs, watching as the numbers descended.
She noted her appearance in the mirror, her blonde hair was messily piled up on top of her head, her grey hoody and sweat pants completing the casual look. She figured it was okay because surely no one would be around on a Friday night.
The elevator dinged, announcing her arrival and stepped out, a little daunted by the dim lighting, when the rest of the building was so well lit. She walked around the corner, noticing one of the dryers going but strangely enough no one seemed to be there.
Caroline decided not to worry, busily piling her clothes into the washing machine and pouring the detergent in after.
"Hello, love," a voice said, making her jump in fright.
"You scared me," she said, attempting to slow her rapidly beating heart but it was pointless given just how gorgeous this stranger was. Dark blonde hair curled over his ears, dark blue, penetrating eyes, crimson lips and disarming dimples.
"I'm sorry," he murmured, his eyes flickering over her body. Why did she have to be wearing the ugliest clothes she owned right now? "I didn't mean to frighten you."
"It's okay, I get spooked pretty easily, so it's not your fault," she explained, wondering how she could make her hair a little less messy without him noticing. "I'm…"
"Caroline, I know."
"Of course you do," she replied, everyone else did so why would this handsome stranger be any different? "And you are?"
"I'm Niklaus Mikaelson, but you can call me Klaus," he said, those lips curving into a sly smile.
"Mikaelson," she murmured. "You're Rebekah's brother, right?"
"Well, I don't usually like to admit that publicly," he joked. "My little sister can be a bit of a bossy handful, and that's on her good days."
"So I guess that begs the question, why do you live with her then?"
"I'm a glutton for punishment, what can I say?" he chuckled, jumping on top of the nearest washing machine and dangling his legs. "If I'm being perfectly honest, I'm not here because I don't have a dryer upstairs, I just need my space from her every now and again."
"That's okay my roommate has her moments."
"Katherine, right?" She rolled her eyes, of course he'd know that.
"How do you seem to know everything about me given we've never met?"
"Everyone knows everything…"
"In this building," she finished for him. "I'm starting to realise that."
"Well, that and the fact that my older brother has taken quite a shine to your roommate," he added. "I don't think I've ever seen him so besotted by someone he's never actually met before."
"Your brother?"
"Elijah, he's ridiculously serious and boring but at least he doesn't talk incessantly like my youngest brother, Kol."
"I'm struggling to understand how you can all live together and not kill each other in the process," she teased.
"Trust me, I've tried," he responded, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly. "They're harder to kill than you think."
"Should I be just a little weirded out right now?"
"Are you trying to psycho analyse me right now, Doctor?"
"How do you…oh forget it, I've given up asking how everyone seems to know my business in this place," she muttered. "I'm not a doctor yet though."
"You've got to get through that thesis first, right?" She inhaled sharply, wondering just how he knew that little known fact. For some reason, instead of running away in fright she was strangely drawn to him. "Theoretical perspectives on sibling relationships, right?"
"Who are you?" She murmured, unable to look away if she tried. She'd just met him but Caroline was intrigued by this stranger.
"Whoever you want me to be, love," he grinned, making her insides melt. Who was this guy and what was he doing to her?
"I figure this load will take about forty minutes, so how about you be my interview subject while I'm waiting?"
"So, you are trying to psycho analyse me?"
"You said you'd be whatever I wanted."
"Fine," he agreed. "Although you might be a little surprised by my answers."
"There's nothing you could say that would surprise me, Klaus. I've seen and heard a lot while I've been studying psychology. I promise I'll keep your anonymity even if it's good, bad or ugly."
"I can tell you all about being the bad guy, love," he smiled, knowingly.
"So, how about we begin then?" She suggested, taking a seat on the washing machine next to him and accidentally brushing up against him, trying to ignore the sensations their intimate contact was causing.
"Who are you really, Klaus Mikaelson?"
"How long have you got?"
"All night," she murmured, just as he touched her hand, rubbing her palm gently with his thumb, causing her to shudder.
"It's going to take a lot longer than that, but I've got all the time in the world." For some reason, Caroline was extremely happy to hear that, whatever his answers would be.
