Chapter 52

Bad boys

I looked at the green eyes and the golden curls on the canvas, I wasn't sure if I had managed to do justice to my model. Rebekah was sitting on the armchair; she was completely motionless like a statue. Clearly her portrait had been painted before, she was a perfect model. This was our fifth session and I was finally starting to be finished, although I was a little concerned of what she would think. I closed my eyes for a brief moment and looked at her and the canvas. The painting looked good to me, but I had no idea would she agree.

"I am finished," I said.

She stretched her arms before standing up.

"Let me see."

I stepped aside, allowing her to move in front of my easel. She looked at the painting intently and crossed her arms over her chest.

"I like it," she finally said. "You are talented."

"Thank you," I replied, feeling relieved.

"Really, beautiful work," she added keeping her eyes on the canvas.

"You are a beautiful model," I stated, even though it was needless to say that out loud, Rebekah certainly wasn't insecure about her appearance. She turned to look at me; there was an amused smile on her face.

"Yes, I know."

She paused and moved next to the table, pouring herself some wine.

"Are you thirsty?" she asked and sat down on the sofa.

I shook my head.

"No, thank you. It's almost dinner time."

"Yes," she huffed and leaned back on the sofa. "I won't be attending to dinner this evening; I have… a prior engagement."

"Oh…" I muttered. "May I ask what his name is?"

She laughed.

"What makes you think I am only meeting a one man?"

I shrugged.

"I am sorry; I did not mean to pry."

She waved her hand carelessly.

"It's fine. His name is Raoul, he is an old…acquaintance of mine."

"Oh. Is he a nice man?"

Rebekah smiled.

"Well, to be honest, I have never really been interested in nice men; the naughty ones attract me more. He certainly is naughty…"

I bit my bottom lip and moved next to her on the sofa, I really liked her chamber.

"How about you?" she asked. "Do you like bad boys?"

I hesitated, even though I liked Rebekah and I had talked with her more after being sick I still didn't feel comfortable sharing everything with her, not like I did with Bridgette. Not to mention I wasn't sure what to say, for some absurd reason my first thought was Kol… I was so stupid, still letting him affect me like this. The connection between us was still there, but it was easier for me to ignore it now, I didn't care what he was doing and with who. He had put me through hell and I hated him, period.

"I…do not think so," I muttered.

Rebekah looked amused.

"Good for you, they are not usually very reliable. I am sure you will find someone nice, you are quite pretty for a human."

I couldn't help but to smile, that was definitely a compliment coming from her.

"I don't know about that, Katerina was the beautiful one in our family."

"That is debatable," she snorted. "No offence, but I was not very fond of your sister."

"Why?"

She huffed and took a sip out of her goblet.

"Let's just say that she reminded me of someone who almost destroyed my whole family once, turning my brothers against each other."

I wasn't sure what to say, but there was something that had been bothering me ever since I found out that Katerina wasn't a human anymore. I couldn't ask Klaus about it, I didn't want him to read my mind and I hadn't managed to bring it up with Bridgette or Elijah. Rebekah could surely give me an answer.

"Does becoming a vampire change a person a lot?" I blurted out before I would have second thoughts.

Rebekah raised her eyebrows, she looked surprised.

"Yes. How much, that depends on the person."

I nodded, her answer didn't really surprise me, but in some level I had hoped something else. I wanted nothing more than see my sister again, but was she still my sister? Would I still recognize her? Ever since I had been brought here, the thought of Katerina being safe and happy somewhere had offered me comfort.

Now I knew that our family had died because she had run from Klaus and became a vampire. I didn't blame her for that, even if I didn't know all the facts, only that Klaus had wanted to use her in some kind of ritual. His thoughts were difficult to interpret, but it had been strange to notice that he was actually capable of feeling something. Feeling pain and longing towards something he had lost. Few times I had even felt sympathy towards him, as strange as that was.

I didn't know if he deserved forgiveness or not, but I didn't really hate him anymore, all I wanted was to make sure that he wouldn't hurt Katerina. He truly hated her and he wanted to hurt her, but I believed that he would keep his word as long as I would keep mine. The thought of having a child here was frightening, but I didn't have a choice. Rebekah sighed and tapped my shoulder.

"Look, I am sure that your sister is fine, wherever she is."

I swallowed and looked at her.

"You think that Klaus will keep his word?"

Her lips curved into a tense smile.

"Sure. You might find it hard to believe, but he does not want you to suffer. In his own twisted way, he cares about you."

I did find that hard to believe, even though I knew that she was right, I had managed to get that much from his mind. Rebekah huffed and looked at me closely.

"What is it about you Petrovas…"

I didn't know what to say, but fortunately she didn't seem to expect a reply.

"Well, off you go then," she huffed. "My guest will arrive soon."

"Do you want me to leave the painting here?"

"Yes, I think I will show it to Raoul. You can pick your easel up tomorrow, but not too early."

I nodded and stood up.

"Have a nice evening."

She grinned.

"Oh, I intend to."

Absent-mindedly I headed towards the dining room, I was a little hungry. It had been almost two weeks since I had drank Klaus' blood, but the craving wasn't nearly as bad as in the beginning. I felt that I was in control again, there wasn't some scary stranger living in my body. I had been so angry, so sad, so frustrated, my every feeling had heightened. Would I be like that all the time if I would be a vampire? That was a scary thought… When I entered the dining room, I saw that Klaus was already there, he seemed almost as absent-minded as me. As usual, he stood up and pulled out a chair for me.

"Thank you," I muttered, it seemed that the dinner was already served.

"How is Bekah's portrait coming along?" he asked.

"I finished it," I replied and thanked a servant who placed a plate of soup in front of me.

"How nice."

We were both quiet for a while, I ate my soup and he stared at his wine goblet.

"Have you heard anything from Bridgette and Elijah?" I finally asked.

He shook his head.

"No, but they have only been away for few days."

"Yes… Is everything alright?"

He looked up, clearly surprised.

"What?"

"I…You seem upset," I muttered.

"I am not," he snapped tensely.

"Alright, I am sorry for asking."

He sighed and closed his eyes.

"No, I am sorry, the day have been very…long."

"That's alright. Do you want to talk about it?"

He seemed amused.

"That won't be necessary, but thank you for asking."

"Sure," I replied and concentrated on my soup. I looked up when I sensed him staring at me.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing, you just seem…different."

I raised my eyebrows.

"There is nothing different about me; I have worn this dress many times."

He shook his head.

"I do not mean your dress."

I looked at him cautiously when he stood up and moved his chair next to me.

"Liliya," he started. "Things have been better between us during the last months, yes?"

"I…suppose so," I muttered, he was making me nervous. I startled when he took my hand and placed it between his.

"I know I have done terrible things to you, but I hope you know that I care about you."

I felt more and more uncomfortable, where was he going with this?

"I want you to know that I will look after you and your child."

"Thank you," I muttered, I was staring at the table. He lifted my chin and kissed my cheek.

"My little sparrow… I am confident that someday you will be happy."

I looked into his eyes and pressed my lips together.

"I do not hate you," I muttered.

"What?"

"I do not hate you, but that is all I can ever…" I paused and took a deep breath. "There are things I can never forget."

His face was blank and despite of my efforts I had no idea what he was thinking.

"I see," he stated callously. "You do know that I can easily make you forget whatever I want."

I swallowed, but I managed to hide my nervousness.

"Yes, you could, but I do not think you will."

He frowned.

"What makes you think that?"

I leaned towards him and cupped his face; I really wasn't sure what I was doing. Obviously my gesture stunned him.

"You might be many things and I know you like to think there is no humanity left in you, but you are wrong, I have seen it. That does not mean that I could forgive everything you have done, but if you keep your word, I will keep mine; I will stay with you. If that is not enough, then I suppose you just have to turn me into some kind of mindless puppet."

He was quiet for a long while; I looked at him calmly, waiting for his response. I truly hoped that I hadn't been wrong about this…

"I accept," he finally said.

I nodded and gave him a cautious smile, maybe despite of everything there was a way for us to coexist peacefully.

"You really are quite something…" he muttered while moving his chair back to its original place, to the end of the table. Neither of us spoke much during the rest of the dinner, but the silence didn't feel uncomfortable.

"Good night," I said after I was finished.

He smiled.

"Good night, Liliya."

That had been a strange experience, I was still pondering about it while walking to my chamber. Hopefully we had reached an understanding; I wanted him to understand that there would never be anything between us, not unless he would force me. I was still lost in my thoughts when I opened the door to my chamber, Ida didn't seem to be there. I took a deep breath and started to undress when someone grabbed me from behind. A hand covered my mouth before I managed to scream; instinctively I tried to kick my attacker.

"Easy now, darling," a familiar voice said. Kol… I froze when he snuggled his face in my hair and inhaled my scent.

"Just like I remembered…"

My heart was pounding faster when I felt his lips touching my ear.

"Can you be a good girl and stay quiet if I remove my hand?"

I shivered, but I forced myself to nod. No more than a second later, he had turned me around to face him; his dark eyes were staring at me intently.

"Hello, darling," he purred. "Did you miss me?"

I pressed my lips together and glared at him, he had a lot of nerve to come back, hadn't he caused enough damage already.

"What do you want from me?" I hissed.

He smirked and leaned towards me, his face was only inches away from mine.

"Everything."