Time for the ball!

Note the lack of flashback povs in this two-part chapter, thought that so much was already happening that it would just get in the way of the plot. Really hope you like it. Been so anxious about uploading this, hence the long hiatus. It was just hands down the hardest chapter(/s) to write so far...

Anyways, enjoy. x.

Chapter 27: We were dancing, part 1
Present day
New Orleans, Louisiana

The crystal lights above them shimmered in a prism of colors as the afternoon sun hit the ballroom. She glanced over at her partner with a beaming smile as he spun her around the dancefloor. Drawing giggles out of her as he dipped her low before pulling her back into his arms again. The music felt distant, the audience around them blurry, but she was too focused on the hybrid to care.

"What is it, love?" he asked her as she shook her head in an incredulous grin.

"I'm just happy." she admitted in a sigh of content.

He spun her expertly then, her dress flowing around her as she twirled and swiftly returned to circle her arms over his shoulders. A thought occurred to the blonde as she admired the green eyes before her. "Are you happy?" she countered.

"We're alive, Caroline." he noted with a nod. "Of course, I'm happy."

She furrowed her brows as his words confused her. "What do you mean?" she drawled slowly.

"Simply that I have everything I want in my arms right now." he shrugged, but she still felt strange about his voice. It didn't quite sound like him.

"Caroline." a muffled call echoed through the room, shooting cold dread down her body as goosebumps spread over her skin.

Turning back then, she tried to locate the voice calling for her. "Who was that?" she murmured to herself, glancing back at her dance partner and wincing at the sight.

"No one, Alice." he told her as his face suddenly took on Lucien's features instead.

She tried to pull out of his grip, but he held her tight to his chest. "Where is Klaus?" she stammered as the vampire grinned darkly in reply. "Where did he go?"

"Why do you ask, dear?" he challenged with narrowed eyes as he gripped her wrist hard, making her hiss in pain as she stared at his cold face.

"Did you do something to him?" she pressed. Her name was called again, bringing her to look over her shoulder. "Who is that?" she muttered before turning to her date again. This time his face was darker and charming as Marcel's grin met her disoriented eyes.

"How did you get here?" she stuttered, shaking her head as she pushed at his chest and stepped back from him. "What happened?"

"What are you talking about, Care?" he countered as he analyzed her intently.

She gulped hard, backing away as she suddenly needed some distance. "What did you do?" she asked in horror, looking for the voice that had called on her before. "You did something to him." she stammered as she hurried past the blurry silhouettes on the dancefloor.

"Caroline." she stopped short as she heard it again, suddenly recognizing the voice.

"Bonnie." she whispered before running through the ballroom and reaching a dark lobby. "Bonnie!" she called out as she scanned her surroundings.

"You can't trust him." the weak voice replied from the shadows.

"Who, Bonnie?" she pressed desperately, catching sight of her in a corner then and kneeling before her.

She sat with her knees to her chest, holding onto her legs and rocking back and forth on her heels. "He has the dagger."

"Bonnie, can you hear me?" she asked gently as she reached for her arm. The witch flinched when she touched her, staring up at the blonde with wide eyes.

"Caroline." she hissed as she watched the vampire closely. "Do you have it?"

"Have what?"

"The Candle." she clarified, only confusing her friend further.

"The Candle?" she echoed, shaking her head in reply. "I don't know where it is, Bonnie."

"And the dagger?"

"I'm close to getting it, and to finding you. I promise." she squeezed her hand reassuringly. "I'm going to find you."

The witch shook her head slowly at that. "I saw it." she whispered. "I saw what you're going to do." Bonnie stuttered as she rubbed her temples in a sigh.

"Me?"

"You had it, Care." she continued.

"The dagger?"

"Yes. You had the dagger. You found it." the witch confirmed in a nod. "You can't let go of it, Caroline. Don't give it to anyone. Don't lose it. Don't let it out of your sight."

"But where is it?" she pressed desperately. "Where is the dagger, Bonnie? Who has it?"

Her friend coughed as her body shook, her face pale as her gaze weakly met the blonde's. "You made a choice. One that made you lose it." she stammered with a shaking head.

"Okay, wait… just tell me." the vampire pleaded, her voice breaking as she studied the witch as she looked so beaten down and scared. "Tell me what to do, Bonnie."

"If it comes down to it; don't give them the dagger." she gritted through her teeth.

"To them? To who?" Caroline stammered as the witch began to shimmer before her, blurring as if slowly melting into the background instead. "Bonnie... Who did you mean? Who can't I trust?"

Her eyes locked on the vampire's as her face covered in fear. "Marcel." she told her as she started to disappear before her then. Her voice echoing through the empty room as the darkness covered the blonde then. "Don't trust Marcel."

The morning came too quick for Klaus' liking, wanting to drag the night out as Caroline laid beneath him in a peaceful slumber. Her arms still around him in a sweet embrace, his head resting over her chest as he glanced up and studied her closely. Admiring the way the early sunlight covered her features, bringing a glow to her smooth skin and blonde hair. Creating shadows by the side of her nose as well as over her cheeks while her long eyelashes fluttered softly.

He reached up and brushed back a wavy strand behind her ear, running his fingertips over her face and tracing her skin further. Reaching the end of her sleeve by her shoulder and continuing down her arm before returning towards her neck again. Trailing the veins tenderly as he moved to draw lines across her covered collarbones, protruding through the cotton fabric of her t-shirt. Her arms wrapped tighter around him in her sleep, causing him to smile in content.

Stretching slightly, he nestled into the side of her neck and left gentle kisses over the sensitive skin. He closed his eyes and inhaled her scent deeply, listening to her steady heartbeat and slow breaths. Tracing her jawline with the back of his index-finger, partly wishing she would wake up and partly hoping for a moment longer to simply enjoy the intimacy. He noticed a smile tugging at the corners of her lips, making him wonder what she was dreaming of. Fighting the urge to enter her mind and find out.

Today would be difficult, and he was not looking forward to it whatsoever. If it were up to him, they wouldn't even be attending the ball. He hated the thought of putting her in that kind of danger, and he resented Marcel for allowing it. To make matters worse, the rise and fall of the event relied solely on their ability to keep a distance from each other. And it occurred to him that it was quickly become much too painful to do so. To watch her from afar and not be allowed to touch her. To hear her chiming laughter and be unable to simply stop and admire the smile on her face. To feel her scent in the air as she passed by and desperately struggling to keep from pulling her into him and kiss her deeply.

He sighed out as he nibbled on her skin, trying to put his worry out of his mind for the time being. Focusing instead on properly absorbing the serene moment as he found himself exactly where he wanted to be. It was strange to think of the nights they had spent together now, despite being rather few they had quickly become a wonderful little routine that he constantly looked forward to. To have her in his arms as the sun filled the room and soaked them both in warmth light… It was the best part of his day.

In the short span of a very few weeks, it now felt impossible to return to how their relationship used to be. Estranged. Thin. Distant. He didn't have the strength for it. To survive another decade, or even another week, waiting for her. Not now. Not after everything that had happened between them in the past days. He couldn't begin to fathom the hollowness he would feel in her absence, the pain he would be left to endure...

There was only one solution. She had to stay.

The thought drew a dark pit within his stomach as he suddenly missed her. Being preemptively swallowed whole by the dreadful possibility of parting with her again. His heart already calling out to her in longing despite not even having left.

"Caroline." he murmured as he urged her awake, needing to hear her voice before he lost his mind. She was present, but she wasn't there. And a part of him whispered in his head that it could come to continue for the rest of his years; him feeling her, sensing her, hearing her, and yet having to live with the fact that she was far away and out of his hold.

He pressed kisses across her throat as he worked to quiet the catastrophic scenarios building in his thoughts. "Wake up, sweetheart." he whispered as he outlined her relaxed face with his touch.

Her chest rose in a deep breath as she stirred beneath him, she reached for his head and stroked his cheek absentmindedly. Causing a thrill to run through him as he leaned into her delicate hands with a sigh. Humming in agreement against her jaw, he tilted her chin and stretched her neck out to allow him further access as he ventured on. She let out a meek sound of delight as he shifted his body and nipped at the other side of her neck tenderly.

Noting her eyelashes fluttering, weighed down by sleep while he moved his lips over her cheek and temple. He smirked as her heart skipped within her chest, picking up in reaction to his beckoning. Turning to him in a soft sigh, she leaned closer and met his lips with hers.

He caressed her jaw as he responded to the sleepy kiss, brushing his lips against hers in a smile. "Good morning, my love." he crooned, glancing up at her dazed glance as she smirked in response.

"Good morning." she hummed, kissing him with a little more force before she studied his face. A breath of something akin to relief escaped him as he was met with a loving gaze and entrancing eyes. "How did you sleep?" she asked.

"Exemplary." he replied, nibbling her lips gently.

"Mm. Me too." she murmured, a playful smile tugging at her features as she pressed closer into his body and flipped him on his back. He circled her waist tightly with his arms as she lied on top of him, her hands stroking his face and her fingernails scratching against his unshaven jaw. "I had this wonderful dream." she purred while kissing him tentatively.

"Did you?" he smirked in reply. "What was it about?"

"There was this man." she drawled as she threaded her hands into his hair. "Really great kisser, but kind of too smug for his own good."

"Is that so?" he teased as his teeth nipped at her lower lip, drawing his tongue by the corner of it heatedly. "Who was this mysterious and dashing man?"

"Oh, just some guy I met at a bar once or something." she snickered, making him growl low into her skin and spin them quickly. Pinning her to the mattress as he kissed her heatedly and earning a light sigh from her parted lips.

"You will forget about all other men once I've had my way with you." he muttered with determination.

"What way might that be, Mikaelson?" she crooned.

"Every way imaginable."

"Mm." she chimed happily. "Better help me clear my thoughts then."

He grinned in response as he brushed his hands over the sides of her face gently. Taking her in as she closed her eyes and leaned into his touch, a strong force pulling at his heart as he suddenly couldn't breathe properly. The feeling echoed with something ancient and forgotten as he watched her. A screaming constricting his chest and making him question if it perhaps was possible to become sired to younger vampires; it being the only explanation he could think of in the moment.

"I don't think you realize just how incredible you truly are, Caroline." he admitted with a shake of his head.

A wide smile spread over her lips in reaction. "Yeah?" she crooned. "Even now when I've just woken up and can barely keep my eyes open from the light?"

"Especially now." he promised as he traced her nose with his fingertips, brushing down her cheek softly. "I enjoy you like this."

"Like what?" she asked as she studied him closely.

"Open and relaxed." he replied as he followed the lines of her lips with his touch. "Light." he continued while he admired the way her skin felt under his fingers. "Happy." he concluded, running down her jawline slowly. "It suits you particularly well."

She breathed deeply before she reached up and stroked his face in return, sending light tremors over his temples and cheekbones. "It suits you too." she beamed, making him smile as he leaned down and nudged her nose with his. Cherishing in the serenity of her, his insides practically cooing as he barely kept himself from rubbing his body against her on pure instinct.

He wasn't entirely sure where it came from or what exactly it was about her that caused such an impulse to strike him. Perhaps his senses had become addicted to the pheromones she radiated… Or maybe their repetitive and rather extensive blood-sharing had caused her DNA to be carved into his veins.

Or it was possible their chemistry had gone from explosive to something far more intense. A string seeming to have been tied between their souls, binding them together and therefore making any physical distance excruciating in result. He wasn't sure he was whole without her, something simply missing in her absence.

A flicker of a thought passed through him swiftly, pushing at him to explore the affectionate connection deeper. But his logical side turned away, not interested in poking holes into such a perfect tenderness. Not willing to scare her off nor get ahead of himself…

However, it was awfully strenuous when she smiled at him with sparkling blue eyes, her skin beaming and her cheeks lightly flushed. Caroline was without a doubt the most marvelous being to ever exist. Both past and present.

Her slender fingers brushed over his lips, the touch making him gulp as it ignited sparks across his skin. "I don't think anyone's ever looked at me the way you are right now." she breathed out timidly.

"What way is that?" he hummed, cherishing her sweet caress down his jaw.

"Like…" she began with a shaking head, seeming at a loss for words before whispering her response. "Magic."

He smiled at the analogy, impressed at how she had managed to name it so accurately. Because in so many ways, she was magic. Absolutely magical.

As well as miraculous. Ethereal. Angelic. Otherworldly…

"You don't realize how terrifying that is." she admitted with a sorrow framing her features. The confession making him nod slowly in understanding, the thought having crossed his mind once or twice already. What was it about the young vampire that made him fear for his sanity? That made him devastated and petrified in fear of possibly losing her?

"Just might give a girl the wrong idea." she teased, a playful grin on her lips as he chuckled in response. Her words warmed his heart as he inhaled slowly, his planned proposal ringing in his mind as he decided to keep it to himself for the time being. Instead, he leaned down and kissed her gently, brushing against her lips with air light pressure. Savoring the wonderful tremors that passed through him in delight.

She sighed softly before deepening the kiss, circling her arms around his neck and holding him close. His hand cupping her jaw, tilting her chin with his thumb as he angled her head gently. The pull increased between them, his senses heightening as she kissed him heatedly. He relished in the feeling of her nails running over the back of his neck as she wrapped her legs around his hips.

Reaching for his hand, she squeezed it softly before moving it from her face. Letting it run over her neck and graze her chest slowly, drawing it down her curves and making swallow hard as the blood rushed through him. His lips becoming more eager as he reciprocated her passionate kisses, her responsive body causing his cock to twitch in anticipation.

She continued guiding his hand over her, directing it under her top and allowing him to feel her smooth skin. The muscles of her abdomen squirming slightly beneath his touch as she slowly moved him lower. Guiding his hand to the waistband of her shorts and pushing it past the fabric then. A harsh shiver struck him as the slick heat welcomed his touch, fascinated with her forwardness. Finding her dominant side so delectable and addictive as he fell under her control.

Her fingers ran over his and pushed them to her wet opening, eliciting a hiss from his lips as she used his touch to pleasure herself. His body moving on its own as he found himself grinding against her hipbone, his excited and hard bulge craving friction as she sighed into the hot kiss. Drawing slow lines up and down her slick folds, he followed her pace and resisted the impulse to regain control and make her cry out his name.

Bringing his lips to her neck, he breathed her in deeply and nipped at her skin. Smirking lightly at the way her pulse hitched in response as her free hand braided into his hair and kept him in place. His name on her pleading lips made him growl as he rubbed faster against her core, marveling in her added heat as she became incredibly wet under his fingers.

"Klaus." she whimpered, causing a wave of pleasure to flow through him at the sound.

He growled in response as he moved faster against her core. Elated at the way she throbbed under his hand as she rubbed at him for more friction. Building the pressure with his touch, her whimpers and writhing urging him on as she started nearing her cliff. Her voice ran through his body like unadulterated ecstasy as he leaned in and bit into her skin then. Drawing out strangled cries from her as he fed on her blood.

"Yes." she gasped in response. "Oh, Klaus."

Something reached him then, and he wasn't quite sure if it had been in her blood or if she had said it herself. But the words made him nearly freeze up in result. "Klaus... Ah… I love you…"

She found her release and broke apart underneath him, drawing his attention to the sweet taste of pleasure instead. Her body trembled and convulsed as she shattered in quiet gasps, tugging at his hair and sighing against his temple. Holding onto him tightly, her nails digging into his skin as she rode her high.

He rocked into her as he marveled in the thrill rushing through her blood, sparks hitting his nerves as he groaned in reaction. Licking his lips when he pulled back, he sucked at her skin and pressed kisses over her neck. Leaning back to glance at her, his chest constricted at her blissful smile as her eyes glistened back at him. He smirked back, drawing his hand back and raising it to lap up remnants of her wet satisfaction on his fingers.

Closing his eyes as he savored the taste in a hum, gazing down at her again and smiling at the awe across her face. "I'm not sure which is sweeter, Caroline." he purred, earning an eye-roll from her as she barely kept a wide grin away.

"You are impossible." she snickered in entertainment as he leaned down to her cheek and kissed her tenderly.

Smirking against her skin, he breathed her in and let out a pleased sigh. Her blood still calling to him as he brushed his nose over her veins. "And you are incredible." he crooned softly.

She giggled and spun them quickly, pressing him into the mattress as she cupped his face and watched him with warm eyes. Stroking his cheekbones and trailing his jaw, her touch sending tiny shivers through him as he basked in her loving gaze. "What?" she giggled, widening his smile then.

"I didn't say anything." he chimed.

"You have this secretive look." she countered with pursed lips. "Like you know something I don't."

He caught a ringing of those words he swore he had heard then, wondering shortly if he should ask her about it… Perhaps he had only imagined it? Maybe she wasn't aware of what she was saying, not meaning any of it as she had been caught in the throes of passion... If her curious expression was any indication, the latter seemed like the more probable explanation.

His phone interrupted him before he could decide on what to say, making him reach over to the nightstand and study the screen shortly. "I need to take this." he sighed out as he read his brother's name. Directing an apologetic glance at her as she let out a little sound of disappointment in reply.

She stretched out over him and nestled into the crook of his neck, bringing a smile to his lips. Wrapping an arm around her waist and holding her closer against him before picking up the call. "Yes?" he said, stroking her spine with his free hand as he listened to his brother's response.

"We were expecting you an hour ago, Niklaus." Elijah sighed out with hints of frustration. "Where are you?"

"I am…" he drawled slowly, casting a glance at the blonde wrapped around him and smirking widely as he continued. "Tied up at the moment." he explained, causing Caroline to look up at him with a look of half-hearted scolding in her eyes. She muttered something inaudible before lying back down and breathing deeply into his skin.

"I was under the impression that we had made plans this morning." the older Mikaelson chided.

"I suppose time got away from me." Klaus shrugged. "Could it wait or is the matter urgent?"

"That depends on whether or not you'd enjoy Hayley's wrath brought upon you."

The hybrid rolled his eyes at that. "I already sent the box of clothes with Freya; did she not arrive yet?"

"According to your daughter, there's a dress missing. The others apparently have the wrong flowers on them." Elijah snickered, bringing a warm smile to his brother in response.

"Which flowers would she prefer then?" he chuckled as a part of his heart was suddenly gripped with a deep longing for his littlest wolf. "Let me guess, the sunflower one?"

"Yes! How could you forget the sunflowers? I can't find it anywhere…" Hayley's voice called out in the background, muffled with the sound of shuffling.

"I figured as much." Klaus crooned. "I believe it was dry-cleaned after the last time she used it. It's likely still hanging in one of the maiden armoires somewhere."

"We'll continue the search then." Elijah chimed in.

"Was that all?"

"Yes, if you insist on being preoccupied despite our scheduled meeting this morning, I suppose I can let you go for now."

The hybrid rolled his eyes at his brother's bitter tone. "Much obliged." he snickered sarcastically before hanging up and focusing on the vampire on top of him again.

"That was the cutest thing ever." she told him cheekily as her eyes met his.

He chuckled at her animated expression, brushing back some hair from her face as he studied her intently. "What are you referring to exactly?"

"Sunflowers." she chimed, making him grin in result.

"Yes, my daughter informs me they are the 'happiest' flowers." he relayed, his chest swelling at the thought of his littlest wolf. "She always wears them when in a good mood."

Caroline nodded at that with an amused smirk on her face. He tilted her chin and looked down at the bite on her neck as it remained unhealed. "You need to leave, don't you?" she sighed out as a frown started to wash over her features.

"Yes." he confirmed in displeasure. "But not until we've taken care of this first." he assured her as he ran a finger over the wound.

She wore a glowing smile at that, swiftly straddling his lap and leaning into his lips. "Sounds like a plan." she murmured, kissing him softly before sitting back and pulling his hand to her mouth.

Her face transformed as she bit into the wrist, her gorgeous eyes framed by a dark red as veins crawled over her cheeks. It was one of his favorite looks on the young vampire; when she was utterly and entirely herself, in all of its unadulterated glory. He admired her in silence as she fed on his blood, a pulse of heat struck him and made him close his eyes in a deep breath.

Glancing up at her again, he brought his free hand to stroke her cheek. Running his fingers over her neck and following the curve of her shoulder. Hoping shortly that she actually meant the words that had slipped through her earlier.

Because in the moment, he was convinced that he reciprocated such feelings for her. Especially when she pulled back from his arm with a pleased sigh, gazing down on him with admiration in her eyes that touched his undead heart.

Yes, he thought to himself. If he were to love anyone at all, it would surely be the magnificent being that was Caroline Forbes.

As the Strix Ball was now only half a day away, Caroline was getting anxious. She and Marcel stood in the middle of the beautiful ballroom and directed decorations and food in all the right places. The high tables and stools, the stage and dancefloor were all prepared earlier. All that was left now were the floral arrangements, lights and some smaller details.

She was just asking the personnel to remove some tables to enable a larger dancefloor, when Marcel nudged her side. "Time for a break?" he asked, his bright smile shining as he held out two flutes of champagne to them.

Something fluttered in her heart as she thought of someone else... The reminiscent smile still on her lips as she sipped it and hummed in delight. "Excellent choice, Marcel."

"We really do make quite the team, Care." he chimed, winking at her playfully.

"Mh!" she said as she handed her flute to one of the servers passing by. "Let's pick it up again. Where were we?" she asked as he nodded and thought for a short moment.

"Elias Wells, CEO for an IT-company in London. He turned Clara, Gretel and Lisa." he said, as he continued through the list of the attendees. They had made it a point to get Caroline up-to-speed on all the living Strix members in preparation for the evening.

"Right, they were his sisters...?" she asked, earning an approving smile from him. "And the ages were, in order: 130, 121, 119 and 103. Right?"

He nodded again before continuing the alphabetical rehearsal of names. "And after him, Bartholomew Weston..."

Caroline listened closely, taking it all in point by point. She and Marcel had a few more things to over-see before they could leave, then they had promised to attend a small luncheon at Lucien's penthouse. No doubt, Klaus would be there as well. That was something that turned her stomach inside out.

She dreaded having to play her role before Lucien's observing eyes, hanging off of Marcel's side and dismissing Klaus in conversations... It wasn't easy. Especially now, after everything that had happened in the past few days.

How was she supposed to pretend to be in love with Marcel when she was pretty sure she had already managed to fall for the Original hybrid instead?

They finished the list of members and took one last look over the venue. Caroline smiled to herself, it was going to be a most spectacular event and she was really looking forward to seeing the turnout of her hard work.

Something felt strange as she glanced at the staff as they worked around the vast space. Something in the way the light reflected off the chandeliers. Something eerie and chilling rushing through her as she stood in the middle of the room.

Something wasn't right, she just couldn't put her finger on it.

"Care?" Marcel's voice called to her, making her turn around to face him. As she did something flashed before her eyes, a thought… A memory.

For a short moment, he was wearing a tux and spinning her around the room while she searched for something. Someone.

What was she missing?

Her own voice ran through her mind as she thought she heard echoes of a conversation in the wind.

"How did you get here?"

"What happened?"

She furrowed her brows as she studied her friend with narrowed eyes. Something wasn't right. A dark feeling filled her stomach as she remembered his response to her questions.

"What are you talking about, Care?"

"Caroline?" he called cautiously, walking towards her with slow steps as he scanned her face. "You okay?"

I don't know, she thought as she blinked silently in reply. Had she dreamt about this? About dancing with Marcel at the ball?

No, something else.

The young vampire glanced over her shoulder as she studied a door across the room. Suddenly feeling drawn to it, she ignored Marcel's calls and instead hurried to find out what it was that alarmed her about it.

Walking out to a dark hall, she looked around in search for clues or something familiar. Anything. But she didn't recognize her surroundings and was really not sure what she was looking for in the first place. All she knew, was that it seemed to call for her. Pull her in. An energy in the air pushing at her to continue, to look closer.

"Caroline?" Marcel nearly made her jump out of her own skin as he suddenly appeared right behind her.

"Jeez! What!?" she hissed out, earning a perplexed glance from the man in return.

"What are you doing?"

"I thought… I thought I heard something." she stuttered, shaking her head as her eyes continued to roam over the walls. "Maybe." she added.

"Like what?" he asked, causing her to sigh out in frustration.

"If I knew, I'd tell you." she quipped, shaking her head as she decided to move on. "I think we should get going before we're late for Lucien's." she concluded then with a determined nod before walking past him.

He stopped her by her elbow, turning her to face his confused eyes. "Hey, everything is going to be fine. You know that, right?" he asked softly, eliciting a smile from her.

"I know." she agreed. "I guess being so close to the finish line is just stressing me out."

"Don't tell me you're gonna write me off altogether after this?" he teased. "When you're no longer in need for a fake boyfriend and all."

She chuckled lightly and shook her head, squeezing his hand reassuringly as she spoke. "If anything, it'll probably become much easier to be friends once we don't have to pretend around other people anymore."

He cocked his head in a smirk. "Good." he chimed before gesturing to the door. "Let's go then." he told her before offering his arm to her.

Accepting it, she shook her head in a chuckle before they walked out together. Headed to begin the end of their charade.

The strange chill in her body refused to leave, even as she and Marcel arrived at Lucien's and even as she was seated opposite Klaus at the table. She just couldn't let go of the feeling that she was missing something. But how are you supposed to remember what it is that you have obviously forgotten?

She was just sitting down and fought to avoid the hybrid's gaze as her stomach fluttered violently. Thinking back to their morning and nearly breaking out into a wide grin. Her eyes wanted desperately to turn to him, making her dig her fingernails into her chair as she focused on the food before her instead.

"I am so glad you could join us, Alice." Lucien chimed as he patted Marcel's shoulder and walked around to sit across from him. "I had hoped to see you both before we all split up for the day."

"Split up?" Caroline echoed.

"Yes, Nik was just telling me about it." he explained, earning her an excuse to finally look over at the man in question.

A curse nearly followed her deep breath as she met his eyes immediately, something warm and loving covering his features before his poker face went up again. "I believe it was Marcel's idea to have you ladies get ready for the ball together." Klaus said in a shrug. "I merely offered the abattoir to serve as such. That way we can all leave as a group."

"I like that." she chimed, turning to Marcel quickly as she hurried to direct her growing smile to her date instead. "But I assumed we'd need to arrive before the rest."

"Yes, but I don't see why you can't get ready with the others before we leave." he replied sweetly, reaching up to stroke her cheek with a playful wink.

"I still don't know who you're bringing for tonight, Lucien." she quipped as she tried to divert the attention from the 'loving couple'.

"We were just discussing the matter, in fact." the host said then, nodding to Klaus as he continued. "I had hoped to ask Freya, but Nik informed me that she won't be attending,"

"Really? I didn't know that." Marcel drawled slowly before Caroline could.

"She was needed elsewhere." Klaus chimed nonchalantly.

"So, will you both be going stag then?" the female vampire asked as she poured water into her glass.

"No, I'm afraid I will be the only one without a date this evening." Lucien sighed out, making her freeze up shortly before she put the jug away and reached for her glass.

"Oh, I just assumed." she stammered with an apologetic chuckle before glancing up at the hybrid again. "I didn't realize you were bringing someone."

A flash of something sad passed over his eyes as Klaus opened his mouth to reply, but Lucien cut him off quickly. "Not just someone!" he announced cheekily. "The one who got away."

"The…?" she began, the words dying off her lips as she felt like someone had just slapped her face. Hard.

She looked at the Original with furrowed brows and an anxious chuckle as she spoke. "Wh-who would that be, exactly?" she pressed, smiling as she tried to look nonchalant despite the nagging feeling that chewed away at her sanity.

Again, he didn't get to respond before he was interrupted, this time by Marcel. "Remember I told you about Camille?" he said to her with a pointed look as he seemed to send a very strong message through his eyes; Keep it together.

"Camille." she echoed as she scanned her date's face slowly, trying to piece her mind together as it threatened to bury her alive with crushing thoughts.

Cami, the name ran around in her head and made her chest constrict. Cami, who left under mysterious circumstances. Cami, whom Klaus had been in love with - despite his promise of waiting for her.

That Cami was now going to the ball as his date!? And Lucien knew about it before she did!?

"Right, um… Camille O'Connell." she drawled with a slow nod. She noticed Klaus freeze up in the corner of her eye as he clearly hadn't known about the conversation between her and Marcel on the subject.

"Exactly." her friend smiled then in an encouraging expression.

"I didn't realize you knew of Cami." Lucien mused with something dangerous playing in his eyes as she glanced back at him.

"Oh, yeah." she said, shaking her head as she started to get a grip on the screaming in her mind then. "I heard she was back in town, I just didn't realize she and Klaus had rekindled things between them." she explained with an easy smile as she nodded to the Mikaelson.

A muscle ticked in the side of his jaw as he occupied himself with his drink, not missing the fact that she had suddenly switched to his less familiar name. Despite her quick habit to refer to him as 'Nik' in Lucien's presence.

"Come on, old friend." Lucien crooned then as he patted the hybrid's shoulder hard. "Drop the chivalrous silence and tell us; have you carved each other's names into the trunk of some tree yet?"

Marcel chuckled, quickly reminding Caroline to do the same as the host teased on. "At least tell us if you will be going to the ball as friends… or lovers?"

The young woman scoffed loudly at the end before she could think, making her widen her eyes shortly as the men all turned to her in result. "I-I think it's pretty obvious, Lucien." she chimed with a pageant smile in place as she quickly thought of an excuse to her reaction.

"The man is clearly in love." she stammered as she refused to meet Klaus' gaze then. "I'm just surprised you didn't mention anything the other day when we were all discussing your relationship status."

"I think it was still in the early stages then, Care." Marcel snickered with an easy shrug as he nudged her side.

Lucien shook his head in a grin before leaning closer to his sire then. "How uncharacteristic of you to remain silent, Nik. Will you at least confirm or deny our suspicions?" he pushed on before looking over at Caroline with an entertained pout.

"It is odd to see him so tight-lipped when just moments ago he could not stop going on about her." he purred cheekily. "It was all 'Camille this' and 'Camille that'."

A hand covered the blonde's, making her aware then that she had squeezed a fork into a ball of metal within her fist. The prawns digging into her skin as they threatened to draw blood from the force. She gulped as Marcel carefully took the metal out of her grip and held her hand in his instead. Barely registering Lucien's voice as he went on and on across the table.

"What shade did you describe her dress in?" the vampire mocked. "Oh, yes. I believe your exact words were 'dark onyx, making her look like the sun in the vast galaxy…' I don't reckon I've ever heard him speak that way of any woman in his life before."

For a moment, Caroline was a hundred percent convinced that Lucien knew the truth about her and Klaus. Because there was no other explanation to the utter torture he was suddenly putting her through as he went on about Cami's hair and how it looked in the light. Or how her skin was flawless, her scent sweet as sugar or how her smile could stop time itself.

A crack reached her ear as she suddenly realized she was breaking Marcel's hand with her hold. "I'm so glad to hear you have someone like that, Klaus." she interjected with a sickeningly happy voice. "It sounds like she means a lot to you. I look forward to officially meeting her tonight."

The hybrids easy shrug made her want to punch his smirking face. "I appreciate that, Caroline." he crooned with dark eyes. "I suppose I was inspired by the epic love between you and Marcellus."

"It certainly brings about hope to see you two together." Lucien agreed, but her eyes were too busy drilling into the hybrid's to meet the host's gaze.

Her date's touch made her break away from Klaus as the vampire beside her stroked her cheek. She turned to him fully, meeting his charming smile and kind eyes. "I think that means they approve." he said, his arm swiftly snaking around her waist and pulling her close as he kissed her then.

It took her a beat to reciprocate as she grinned up at him. "Well, who wouldn't?" she chimed against his lips. "I'm a catch." she added before leaning in and kissing him back. A sudden desire to ricochet the awful feeling in her stomach right back at the man responsible for it.

You only have yourself to blame, Caroline. she thought as she pulled back and fought to keep her eyes at her date. "Would you excuse me for a moment while I powder my nose?" she asked courtly with a polite smile.

"Sure, babe." Marcel chimed.

"Of course." Lucien agreed.

She nodded in reply before leaving the table then, feeling the fake smile fall off her face right away as she headed through the apartment with quick steps.

Locking herself in the nearest bathroom as she splashed some water on her face. An image of the Original's sweet smile from earlier that morning haunted her and tore at her heart.

How the hell did he keep his plans for the evening from her?

Why hadn't she brought the subject up the other night right after Marcel told her about the infamous Cami?

How did she end up here?

"How did you get here?" the sentence sparked something in her mind as she felt that strange chill fill her body once more.

The image before her flashing to something else as she suddenly remembered where that question came from.

She was dancing, with Klaus, in the ballroom. Lucien had been there, replacing her partner and worrying her as she looked for the hybrid. The memory hit her forcefully as she was thrown back into the dream.

"Where is Klaus?" she stammered as the vampire grinned darkly in reply. "Where did he go?"

"Why do you ask, dear?" he challenged with narrowed eyes as he gripped her wrist hard, making her hiss in pain as she stared at his cold face.

"Did you do something to him?" she pressed. Her name was called again, bringing her to look over her shoulder. "Who is that?" she muttered before turning to her date again. This time his face was darker and charming as Marcel's grin met her disoriented eyes.

"How did you get here?" she stuttered, shaking her head as she pushed at his chest and stepped back from him. "What happened?"

"What are you talking about, Care?" he countered as he analyzed her intently.

She gulped hard, backing away as she suddenly needed some distance. "What did you do?" she asked in horror, looking for the voice that had called on her before. "You did something to him." she stammered as she hurried past the blurry silhouettes on the dancefloor.

Her head started hurting as it replayed before her. Pushing through the flashes as she tried to get to the end faster to find out what it was that hid within her subconscious. What happened next?

"Caroline?"

She glanced back at the door behind her as Marcel called for her. Sounding like something in her dream as she hurried to focus back on the flickering memory again.

"I'll be right out." she replied shortly before closing her eyes and searching the dark.

Where had she gone? What had she heard? What had she seen?

"You can't trust him."

An image appeared then as she suddenly recognized Bonnie Bennett sitting on the floor before her. Her words floating through the air as the vampire rushed towards her friend.

"Caroline, do you have it?"

"Have what?"

"The Candle." she clarified, only confusing her friend further.

"The Candle?" she echoed, shaking her head in reply. "I don't know where it is, Bonnie."

"And the dagger?"

"I'm close to getting it, and to finding you. I promise." she squeezed her hand reassuringly. "I'm going to find you."

The witch shook her head slowly at that. "I saw it." she whispered. I saw what you're going to do." Bonnie stuttered as she rubbed her temples in a sigh.

"Me?"

"You had it, Care." she continued.

"The dagger?"

"Yes. You had the dagger. You found it." the witch confirmed in a nod. "You can't let go of it, Caroline. Don't give it to anyone. Don't lose it. Don't let it out of your sight."

"But where is it?" she pressed desperately. "Where is the dagger, Bonnie? Who has it?"

Her friend coughed as her body shook, her face pale as her gaze weakly met the blonde's. "You made a choice. One that made you lose it." she stammered with a shaking head.

"Okay, wait… just tell me." the vampire asked, her voice breaking as she studied the witch as she looked so beaten down and scared. "Tell me what to do, Bonnie."

"If it comes down to it; don't give them the dagger." she gritted through her teeth.

"Them? Them, who?" Caroline stammered as the witch began to shimmer before her, blurring as if slowly melting into the background instead. "Bonnie… Who did you mean? Who can't I trust?"

Her eyes locked on the vampire's as her face covered in fear. "Marcel." she told her as she started to disappear before her then. Her voice echoing through the empty room as the darkness covered the blonde then. "Don't trust Marcel."

Caroline was sure her heart had stopped beating as she finally caught up with her lost dream again. Don't trust Marcel.

"Care?"

She flinched as the voice called on her again, making her cover her face with her hands as she tried to think. To understand. To figure out what to do now.

The warning kept ringing in her ears, the dreadful message digging a pit into her stomach. Don't trust Marcel.

Her body moved on its own as she opened the door and looked up at her date then. Earning a furrowed frown from her supposed friend as he examined her closely. "You okay?"

"Yeah, fine." she shrugged. "What's up?"

He hesitated shortly, looking her over before speaking again. "Elijah called." he told her. "He was hoping to go over some Strix traditions with us before tonight."

Elijah, she echoed. Thinking he would be the perfect person to talk to about her dream as she nodded eagerly. "Yes, of course."

"You don't mind leaving the lunch early, do you?"

"No, not at all." she shook her head. "As long as Lucien is okay with it of course."

Marcel smiled warmly at her, the sight usually bringing her comfort and reassurance. But now, all it did was freak her out as she couldn't yet see why she couldn't trust him. "I already filled him in on it." he explained with a shrug, chuckling as he continued. "I may have promised him a dance or two with you in exchange though."

"That's fine." she snickered before nodding at him pointedly. "Shall we?"

"Yes, let's." he chimed and took her hand in his, leading her back to the dining room again. "We will see you gentlemen later." he announced, bringing her to sneak a short glance at the hybrid by the table.

His face furrowed slightly, seemingly seeing something on hers that she hadn't intended to display. Lucien spoke up and drew her attention to him swiftly. "Should I walk you two out?" he asked politely.

"No, that's fine." she quickly told him with a waving hand. "Thank you for lunch."

"Of course, Alice." he purred with a nod, making her nod in return before glancing over at the Mikaelson again.

She noted his gaze locked on her hand, reminding her that she was still holding onto Marcel's. "Bye, Klaus." she said with a short tone before looking up at her date again. "Let's go, babe."

"Yes." he agreed with a last round of smiles and nods to the men. Rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb gently as they headed out of the apartment together then. Her stomach in knots as she tried to make sense of her dream, without letting Marcel know that she was onto him.

Whatever his endgame or intention was, she was determined to figure it out before tonight.

The Strix tutorial a la Elijah Mikaelson included the proper way to greet the members upon their arrival as well as what her duties would be during the ball. A detail she hadn't expected was that she and Marcel needed to hold a short speech together once everyone were gathered. And it was apparently very important to look crazy in love too, or the others could wonder why their leader was inviting, in Elijah's own words; 'casual relations' to the group.

It wasn't necessarily a happy surprise to the young vampire that she needed to make a whole ballroom of strangers think that Marcel was the love of her life. But in the moment, she had far more important matters to focus on than being betrothed to the King of New Orleans in public.

Like the fact that she needed to tell Elijah about her dream. As soon as possible.

As Marcel occupied the Original with a rundown of safety protocols while examining the blueprints of the hotel, the young blonde found herself wandering through the large building. Searching for some place to collect her thoughts until she could finally relay them to Elijah in peace.

She took in the oil paintings of the family, studied the courtyard as she passed the pillars surrounding it from the higher floors. Passing several doors as she followed something familiar in the air, a scent which lead her to the bedroom belonging to Klaus.

The habitant was absent, but his presence was everywhere. In the air as she took in the traces of his smell with a lump in her throat. In the scattered rags stained with various acrylic colors. In the stacks of books on almost every surface. In the Henley shirt slung over a chair and the necklaces hanging by a hook next to a wall-mounted mirror.

Walking over to the open balcony doors, she ran her hand down the white curtains flapping in the wind and stepped out to face the bustling street outside. A little smile played on her lips as she imagined him standing in the same spot, looking down at the lively city as he contemplated his plan for world domination.

"I guess I shouldn't be surprised to find you here."

The voice made the blonde turn around and face the woman walking into the room with folded arms and a curious expression in her eyes.

"Hayley." she said, taking her in with a shaking head as she barely recognized her. She looked nothing like she had back in Mystic Falls all those years ago, the girl who clung to Tyler despite him being taken, the flakey teenage werewolf who was quick to switch sides whenever it suited her...

No, this was like an entirely different person. Even aside from her being a hybrid now, even aside from her having a seven year old daughter… She seemed steady and strong in a way that Caroline hadn't really seen before.

Like she was living the life she wanted. Being where she wanted. Doing what she wanted. Like she had everything figured out.

"I was wondering when I'd be running into you." Caroline chimed as the brunette smirked in response. The motion so familiar as it showed how much time she had been spending with the Mikaelson's. Even their characteristics seeming to have rubbed off on her.

"Yes, well. Klaus was quick to drive us out of town the second you arrived." the hybrid snickered with amusement playing behind her hazel eyes. "He isn't here, you know."

"No, I know." the vampire replied with a chuckle. "I'm actually here with Marcel. We're attending Elijah's private lesson on Strix etiquette."

"Right, I heard something about that." Hayley hummed with a slow nod. "Or rather; I noticed someone losing his mind over it."

Her words brought a sad smile to the blonde. "He isn't the only one." she muttered, earning a raised brow as the woman eyed her closer in result.

"That's new."

"What?" she chuckled as Hayley walked towards her with amusement and interest written over her face.

"I was trying to figure out what it was that seemed so different about you." the brunette explained with a shrug. "You still look like the same Caroline back in Mystic Falls, but it's obvious that a lot has changed. I guess I just spotted the first thing that has."

"Yeah, what's that?"

"You and Klaus." she said with a pointed look. "Well, I always knew how he felt about you. Everyone did. But I never really considered the possibility of you feeling the same way in return."

Caroline felt a blush heat her cheeks as she shook her head in a nervous giggle. "And I never imagined that I would be standing in the same room as you again. And talking about Klaus of all things too." she mused in reply.

"Yes, I suppose it is all a bit bizarre." Hayley agreed in a chuckle.

"Can I say something?" the vampire asked with a friendly smile. "You might not think that I've changed all that much over the years, but you definitely have."

"What, because I'm not chasing after your boyfriend anymore?" she countered teasingly, eliciting another laugh from the other woman in return.

"No, actually." Caroline drawled as she eyed the hybrid. "I think you've found everything you've ever wanted." she explained. "I envy that. I still haven't been able to pin down my own happiness quite yet."

"I don't know, I think it may be closer than you care to admit." Hayley chimed with a knowing smile.

She was just about to respond when a voice interrupted them. "Well, isn't this an odd sight…"

Caroline froze up as she glanced over at the man entering the room, his green eyes shimmering with amusement as dimples framed his face in a smirk. "I don't believe I've ever heard either of you utter a single kind word of the other." he chimed as he looked between the women.

"And alas, here you are, chatting away like old friends." he smirked, his face turning softer as he met the blonde's gaze then. "Hello, Caroline." he said, tugging at her heart in result.

"What, were you expecting a catfight?" Hayley interjected with a scoff, earning a chuckle from the male hybrid as he smiled at her in response.

"Whatever scenario I might have expected, this was certainly not it." he countered, the sweet ease between the miraculous parents impressing the blonde as they were surprisingly comfortable around each other.

"Why don't you come back later, let us girls talk?" the brunette quipped, bringing the Mikaelson to roll his eyes.

"Last I checked, this was still my room." he scoffed before turning to the young vampire with a soft look. "Furthermore, I hoped to have a word with you."

Caroline pressed her lips into a firm line as she didn't know whether that was a good idea. At least not while she was still pissed at him, and he was probably upset with her as well. "I'm supposed to be talking to Elijah, not you." she pointed out.

He snickered with a shaking head before responding. "And what do you suppose my brother had such an urgent need to bring up with you, here?"

She studied him with a frown, not having realized that he had orchestrated the whole thing to speak with her alone. Glancing over at Hayley then, the hybrid offered a questioning look as she quirked an eyebrow in return. "I guess we'll have to finish catching up later." Caroline sighed out.

The hazel eyes looked between the blondes then with one last glance at the young vampire. "Good luck." she told her with an amused snicker before turning away and leaving the room then.

"Go on." Klaus said as soon as the hybrid had disappeared, making her raise a brow in confusion. "Start the yelling already, Caroline. I know it's coming." he pressed with a firm face.

She sighed at him, crossing her arms over her chest as she collected her thoughts. "You could have told me." she said in clear disappointment.

"I suppose I could have." he agreed with a shrug.

"But you didn't." she pointed out.

"No."

"Why?" she pressed, realizing her voice was starting to get harsher and raised despite her collected start.

He eyed her silently for a moment, closing the distance between them with slow steps. "I didn't find it pertinent."

"You didn't find it pertinent to tell me that you had some ex-girlfriend visiting? Or you didn't find it pertinent to let me know that you would be bringing said ex to the ball I'm throwing?" she challenged with narrowed eyes.

"I would have been happy to tell you all about it if I had known that Marcel shared with you some askew version of a particularly undramatic story." he countered.

"He thought I already knew." she pressed bitterly. "Isn't it funny how Marcel had more faith in this relationship than you yourself?"

"Caroline, do you honestly not understand his motives for telling you about her?" he scoffed in disbelief.

She chuckled coldly, fully prepared to defend her new friend just as she abruptly realized that she couldn't. Because it was true. He did have some hidden agenda. She just didn't know what it was yet. However, that did not change the fact that she had been kept in the dark by Klaus for days.

"Is this why you had Elijah summon me?" she quipped with furrowed brows. "To blame Marcel for your dishonesty?"

"Whatever blame I choose to place on him is rather well-founded in this instance, love." he replied firmly.

"Alright, you know what? Let's not!" she interjected in an exasperated chuckle as she raised her palms in retreat. "I don't have the energy to go through this with you right now."

"Then, why did you come here!?" he countered in frustration as he gestured to the room.

She pressed her lips together in a line as she sighed out in return. "I missed you." she said, the straight-forward tone seemingly throwing him off as he blinked at her in surprise.

A lump formed in her throat as she turned away from him then and headed for the door. Not interested in taking whatever verbal bashing he had planned for the two of them. Not this time, it was hard enough without it. She was already done with the day and they weren't even close to the finish line yet.

Quick wind flashed past her as she was swiftly pulled back and pinned to a wall. His wild eyes filling her view as he held onto her with an intense gaze. He reached up and stroked her face tenderly, the backs of his fingers tracing her jawline. She closed her eyes as she leaned into his touch, a sigh of content escaping her in result of the enjoyable shivers and sparks he caused.

He lifted her chin and tilted her head slightly, beckoning for her to meet his gaze and bringing a flutter in her stomach when she did. A smile covering her features as she mirrored his sweet expression. She tugged at his shirt leisurely as he pressed against her body, holding her in place within his embrace and threading his fingers through her hair. A calm washed over her in his close proximity, as if she had been on edge the entire time they'd been apart.

She cherished the serene moment, the way his eyes took her in with such warmth and affection that it touched her soul. Words floated inside her mind as her insides suddenly craved to tell him. To say the phrase that had latched onto her thoughts and refused to let go. She had been so close to uttering it several times, not even thinking as it felt so genuine and true. Making it hard to keep locked away as all she wanted was to chant it over and over.

"Is it tomorrow yet?" she sighed out, earning a soft chuckle from him in response. The bright smile on his face not at all helping her push back the confession that threatened to escape on its own.

"I couldn't begin to describe just how tempting it is to forget all about the ball and instead spend the evening with you." he murmured, nearly causing the words to topple out of her then.

"I…" she cut herself off and quickly changed the direction. "I can't say it hasn't crossed my mind."

"Then why don't we?" he asked curiously. "Why don't we forget about all of this and run away to… I want to say France but I could come up with other suggestions as well."

"What about Bonnie?" she sighed.

"We'll find her without the Candle. Together." he concluded firmly, sounding so sure of himself that it tugged at her heart.

"And the dagger?" she noted, not at all enjoying the thought of leaving it in the wrong hands. Especially after her dream.

"You made a choice. One that made you lose it." her friend's warning rang through her quickly. Making her gulp hard and shake her head in determination.

"Klaus, I'm not going anywhere until that thing is destroyed." she decided. "Or melted into a gold bracelet, whatever. As long as it's gone for good."

He laughed warmly and grinned at that, the sound so contagious as she giggled in return. A gorgeous smile covering his face as he studied her with a deep breath. "I won't let anything happen to you, Caroline." he promised, earning a nod from her as she traced the indents of his dimples.

"I know." she said. "But I'm not letting anything happen to you either."

"I understand that you are worried about the effects of that dreadful weapon..." he sighed, the words bringing her to protest immediately.

"I'm not worried about what will happen to me." she clarified then. "I care about what it could do to you."

"Odds are it won't kill me." he pointed out, completely missing the point.

"I'm not going to let you get tucked away in some coffin for the rest of time either." she added firmly. "I wouldn't be able to live with myself if that happened... I might as well die along with the rest of your line instead."

The words seemed to finally hit him as his eyes widened slightly, his lips parted as he watched her in disbelief. "You feel that strongly about my fate?" he asked. "About me?"

"Of course." she said honestly. "Have you not been paying attention lately or is your old-man memory starting to get to you?" she teased on before turning serious again.

She cupped his cheeks and brushed her thumbs across his jawline. "I think the world of you, Klaus Mikaelson. How can you not know that?" she chimed softly.

He closed his eyes in a sigh, clenching his teeth as if in pain suddenly. "Careful, Caroline." he whispered when he met her gaze again. "It is dangerous to say such things to an immortal being like myself. I may just come to think of you as mine forever."

Do it, the thought appeared on its own as she studied the incredible man before her. He spoke again before she could gather herself enough to respond.

"It would annihilate me to be forced to let you go after that." he murmured with a hoarse voice. "Whatever suffering the dagger could possibly bring is far more preferable to such cruel a fate."

"Klaus..." she whispered as his vulnerable words broke her heart. She didn't know what to say, or rather how to avoid saying what she desperately wanted to. So, she leaned in and kissed him instead, holding onto him by the back of his head as she tried to express herself in another way.

Her lips told him how she couldn't possibly walk away now. Her hands ran over the blades of his chest and shoulders, promising that she didn't want anyone else. Her body pushed into his, explaining that he had utterly claimed her and that there was no chance she could ever forget it.

He kissed her back heatedly, picking her up and quickly flashing them away. Putting her down on some desk or table, she wasn't entirely sure. She couldn't really focus on it as he gripped her top and tore the fabric apart. Bringing a gasp from her which soon turned into heavy sighs as his lips moved over her exposed skin.

She circled her legs around him and scratched at his scalp as she craved more. Taking a page from his book then, she ripped his shirt and discarded the pieces. Running her hands over his shoulders while he pushed her onto her back. His hands swiftly pulled her skirt and panties off while hers worked on his belt and jeans. Smiling in response as she reached for the growing bulge under his boxers and kneaded it gently.

A groan rolled off his lips as he nipped at her neck, gripping her thighs tightly in reaction while he rubbed against her teasing palm. She tugged at his underwear and quickly wrapped her fingers around his hard length. Earning a slow hiss as he thrusted against her and pulled at her hair. He leaned up and faced her with dark and sultry eyes, watching her closely as she guided him to her core. The look on his face along with the incredible feeling of him slowly entering her brought a whimper from the vampire.

He kissed her deeply, absorbing all other sounds from her as he set a needy pace. Pulling out of her wet heat slowly before thrusting back in, the force making her gasp as she smiled against his lips. Moaning silently into the breathy kiss as their lips parted in a joint sigh. It had already become a perfectly choreographed dance by now, he knew just what angle to push into her just as she knew to meet his hips with hers to take in more of him with each motion. He knew what tempo would work to drive her crazy, as she knew where to kiss his neck to do the same to him.

She tugged at his hair as she brought his lips to hers in another passionate kiss, panting heavily while he started to move faster. A quiet groan escaped her as she leaned back with closed eyes, marveling in the friction and heat he brought her. Sighing in a pleased grin as she glanced up at his face, his expression dark with lust as he pushed harder into her. Humming in delight as he bent down and created a path of hard kisses down her throat.

"Yes." she whispered, urging him on as she relished in the feeling of him. Stroking down her legs and reaching her ankles, he raised one of them high and rested her foot against his shoulder. Hitting her deeper then and nearly bringing her to cry out in pleasure. Instead pressing her face to the side of his and scratching at his back for more.

"You are absolutely extraordinary, Caroline." he whispered into her ear, eliciting a shiver to rush through her in response. She dug her fingers harder into his skin as she held onto the back of his head. "That's it, sweetheart. Let yourself go for me." he murmured huskily, drawing whimpers from her lips then.

"Oh, Klaus... you feel so good." she replied breathily, grinning as he grunted and picked up the pace even faster in response. "Yes, just like that." she sighed before his lips crashed down on hers again. The kiss desperate and urgent and pulling strangled moans from her.

"Say it, my love." he breathed out as he requested his favorite tune.

"I'm yours." she sighed, the excellent look on his face as he glanced down on her making her bite her lip hard. "Yours."

"Yes." he grunted in reply as he took in her reactions. "Mine." he hissed out, his teeth clenched as he sped up further. "All mine." he added firmly, pressing a hand against her uncovered breasts and gazing down on her with unadulterated passion.

"Please." she whispered as she kissed him gently.

A dark color spread in his eyes as he thrusted harder, stroking her jaw with a triumphant smirk. "There is no sound sweeter." he murmured. "No feeling greater than this."

She could only nod as she started to sense the rise to her climax. "Yes." she breathed.

"It is right." he added with a firm voice. "It is perfect."

"Mmh." she whined in agreement as she bit her lip hard.

"We were made for each other, Caroline." he concluded with determination. His voice sent jolts through her body as she urged him to move faster. He brushed his thumb over her lips, the look on his face taking her breath away as he studied her.

"You are everything." he said slowly as she neared her release, eliciting a gasp from her as she basked in his gaze. The words surely ready to leave her at any moment then, nearly tearing her apart as she fought against it.

I love you.

She felt the orgasm grip her hard and suddenly let her go in pleasurable waves. Her body tensed up before a deep shiver ran through her, making her clench beneath him as she hung onto his shoulders for dear life. Yes, Klaus, holy fucking yes.

He groaned into her neck as the pulse of ecstasy spread electricity to her nerves. Setting her on sweet fire as he thrusted through her release, his movements turning erratic as he chased his own. "Exquisite." he whispered into her ear as he stretched and hummed low.

"Flawless." he murmured as his breathing became heavy against her skin.

"Ethereal." he purred as she slowly came down from her high just as he was climbing his.

"Caroline." he moaned as he slackened shortly before falling apart within her pulsating core.

His hands gripped her hips hard, his pace faltering as he was struck by pleasure in return. Leaving her to gape at his incredible expression as the slow waves hit him one by one. Bringing him to slower thrusts as he shivered and groaned through gritted teeth. A sharp breath leaving his lips as he pushed into her in pure desire. Dropping his head to her breasts as spontaneous shivers made him grind against her swiftly.

Holding onto him in her arms, she stroked his hair and back softly. Soothing him through his climax as they shared in the aftershocks trembling within their bodies. His deep breathing felt hot against her skin as he steadily calmed under her touch. He inhaled deeply before leaning up and meeting her spent smile with one of his own. A fluttering giggle escaping her out of pure bliss and making him join in with a deep chuckle of disbelief.

He shook his head as he beamed down at her with glittering eyes. "How I adore you, Caroline." he murmured sweetly, making her grin wider as she reached up and kissed his lips.

"You better." she whispered, making him kissed her back in a chuckle.

Leaving one final deep kiss to her lips, he straightened up and gently put her leg down from its high position. Breaking away from her with an incredible smile to his face as she sat up and watched him get dressed in a peaceful silence. Admiring his toned muscles as he put on his pants again and ran his fingers through his hair to repair the mess she had made of it.

She hopped off the desk and reached for her own clothes, frowning shortly at her ruined blouse and pursing her lips at him in a chiding expression. He smirked in response, making her shake her head in another giggle as she grabbed her underwear and put them back on. Leaving the skirt on the floor as she glanced around the room and realized where they were.

His studio.

Remembering the last time she had been there in wonder, she studied the drawings with delicate fingers. Awe hitting her as she realized some of them were new. And all of them were of her.

Her smile. Her eyes. Her smirk as she looked back at the artist over her bare shoulder. Her hair as it framed her face in messy curls. She was everywhere...

"Wow." she whispered to herself as she took in the incredible way he had captured her on paper. Making her more beautiful than she ever could have imagined. Her skin looked like it was glowing, her eyes shimmering in different hues, her beaming face bright and captivating.

Warm hands touched her waist as he pulled her into his chest, leaving a kiss to her cheek while she admired the art before her. "Nothing like the original." he murmured, drawing a shy smile from her in response.

She leaned back against him in a content sigh, enjoying his firm arms as they wrapped around her tightly. Her eyes caught sight of some more colorful sketches then, bringing her to reach for the papers carefully.

"The boat." she grinned as she recognized the morning rising in the background while she stood in the center of the bright sun.

"You were particularly stunning that day." he said warmly as he pressed a kiss to her temple.

"I look happy." she noted silently.

"Like bliss itself." he countered, eliciting a giggle from her as she put the drawings down and held onto his arms. Enjoying his embrace and the way he fit so perfectly to her, running her fingers across his forearms and closing her eyes. Taking in the affectionate moment as everything felt perfect.

His lips brushed over her jaw and his heart beat steadily against her back, completely in harmony with her own. A part of her thinking that she wouldn't mind every single day to come to be just like this. Because right then and there, she could think of a single place she'd rather be.

Caroline's sweet and fluttery laughter echoed down the halls as Klaus lead her through the building. They still had a few hours left before they would need to get ready for the evening and he planned on spending every last moment with her. Having lent her one of his shirts, he kept glancing back and admiring the way she looked. The sleeves rolled up over her forearms and the length tucked into her skirt. Her hair was slightly ruffled still and her cheeks rosy, the sight made his chest swell.

"What?" she giggled as she noticed his lingering eyes.

He shook out of his reverie and chuckled softly. "Nothing, sweetheart." he chimed and pressed a kiss to her knuckles as he tugged at her hand and moved them down the stairs. Having decided to show her their extensive cellar and hoping to sneak away from the others a little while longer. Arriving at the dark basement then, she stopped and looked around with a raised brow.

"You're not going to chop me up and bury me here, are you?" she drawled skeptically, drawing out a deep laugh from him in result.

"Caroline, if I wanted to kill you. Don't you think I would have done so by now?" he snickered, freezing up slightly at the implication as he gulped down a lump of dread forming in his throat. She smirked at him as he pulled at her hand and locked her in his arms. "No." he said softly, stroking her cheek as he looked down at her gorgeous eyes. "If I have any say in the matter then you are going to live for a few thousand more years – at the very least."

Her smile faltered slightly, making him furrow his brows as he wondered whether he said something wrong. "Then um…" she murmured with an analyzing expression on her pretty face. "What are we doing in a basement? You're not hiding some mummies or pirate treasure chests down here?"

"No mummies, but I do have something to show you." he chimed, pressing a swift kiss to her forehead before turning away and leading her further into the room.

"Klaus…" she chided cautiously as she trudged behind him in reluctant steps. "I don't like surprises."

"Sure you do, love." he interjected with a smirk over his shoulder.

"Okay, fine. I do. But only when I know what they are."

He chuckled at her back-pedaling and shook his head in entertainment. "That's not how surprises work, Caroline." he noted in a sing-song tone before they reached a door and stopped right before it.

He nodded at her and turned a pointed look to the entry, enjoying the gears turning in her head as she bit her lip in thought. "This is when you show me your Red Room, isn't it?" she scoffed.

"My what?" he snickered in confusion.

"You know…" she said with a meaningful look as she glanced at the door again. "Your sex dungeon."

For a short second, Klaus was sure he had heard her wrong and simply stared in disbelief. But her widened eyes and pressed lips told him the opposite. Bringing him to struggle between different reactions as he wasn't quite sure whether to laugh hysterically at her suggestion or fall into the curious part of him which wondered where on Earth she had gotten that idea from.

"You certainly know how to ruin a surprise, Ms. Forbes." he bit out as he fought back the hearty laughter that threatened to break out of him.

Her face fell as she watched him in silence. "What?" she stuttered, glancing back at the door with such dread in her features that she looked like it would turn into hellfire and swallow her whole at any second. "Okay, I'm not going in there." she stammered with a shaking head.

Rolling his eyes at that, he pulled at the handle and stepped past the door himself, a reluctant vampire tiptoeing right behind him as she seemed to be looking for demons lurking in the room.

She blinked a few times before turning to him again, narrowed eyes and hands rested on her hips. "This is what you wanted to show me?" she asked incredulously, a smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth as she did. "Some barrels and wine bottles? Really?"

"Yes, after your suggestion I reckon this seems rather tame in comparison." he mused with pursed lips as he eyed her closely. "But I'm afraid all of our dungeons are strictly used for torturing enemies."

Slapping at his chest, she scoffed and rolled her eyes. Causing the smirk on his face to widen as he caught her wrist before she pulled away and brought her into his hold again. "So, Red Room?" he quipped, earning another eye-roll as she tried to push him away. "Come on, sweetheart! I'm dying to know where you may have found such interesting knowledge of sex dungeons."

"Get your mind out of the gutter, Nik…" she chided, pulling another chuckle from him in result. "It's just a Fifty Shades thing, alright?"

"Fifty Shades?" he echoed in bewilderment.

"God, you're old." she muttered teasingly before circling her arms over his neck. "It's a book series."

"A book series about sex dungeons?" he pushed, cherishing the twinkle in her eyes as she shook her head in amusement.

"No, BDSM actually." she corrected, bringing his eyebrows to reach his hairline in surprise. "Don't look at me like that! How am I supposed to know what kind of kinks you have picked up over the centuries?"

"Aside from the fact that we have had sex about… At least fifty times or so by now?"

"Well, that's an exaggeration." she scoffed in reply. "Stop changing the subject, Mikaelson; now, what are we doing here?"

He grinned at her bossiness and moved towards her, pushing her against one of the many shelves against the wall. Covering her body with his own as impure thoughts stirred in his mind. "I was going to show you that I found a collection of some rather exquisite bottles of tequila for you to choose from." he crooned lowly, leaning down and tracing her nose with his.

"Really?" she giggled, the sound sending a glow to his heart.

"Yes, but your fascinating assumptions gave me some different ideas as to how to best make use of this secluded area." he said in a shrug, his hands sliding past her shirt as he scratched his nails down her sides. Fighting not to smile in triumph as she shivered under his touch, her soft skin lighting up in its path.

Their parted lips hovered near each other as he studied her intently, watching the annoyance on her face turn into lust. Her delicate fingers traveled over his chest and towards his back, latching onto the waistband of his jeans.

He responded by placing one hand on her hip to keep her in place as the other ventured over her tender skin. Drawing long patterns with his fingertips, starting with deliberate lines from her taut stomach towards her sternum. Gradually pacing higher over her uncovered breasts.

Her breathing became heavy as his eyes kept hers in a heated gaze. She leaned in to kiss him, but he held her back and kept her from reaching his lips. The dismay showed on her face as she glanced between his mouth and his eyes, looking disoriented and frustrated. Bringing him to smirk deeper, pleased in her reaction as he continued to tease her beckoning body.

Finally running his touch over a stiff nipple, she drew a sharp gasp through clenched jaw and her back arched into him. Her eyelashes fluttered as she tried to capture his lips again, making him click his tongue against his teeth disapprovingly. "Not yet." he murmured, marveling in her impatience as she protested with a silent sigh.

Roaming over her in taunt, he made her skin grow more sensitive by the second. Tracing the curve of her breast until reaching her little bud again, eliciting another hard sigh as her body chased after his hand just as he pulled it back and resumed his teasing. "Klaus." she whispered, supposedly attempting to scold him but her voice came off pleading instead.

He hummed in delight, closing his eyes shortly as he felt a pulse of lust coursing through him in response. Returning to his patterns; he reached up and dodged her elevated nipple, keeping a smug chuckle from escaping him as she whimpered lightly. Taking in her distraught face with pleasure, her hooded eyes and flushed cheeks as she parted her lips further in panted breaths.

Retaliating against his torment, she moved her hands into his waistband and dug into his ass firmly. Creating the response she wanted, he grunted and rubbed his growing bulge against her. Causing him to fight with his desire to let her tease him back and to bring her to her knees instead. Unsure in the moment which he would enjoy the most. Her dark smirk made up the decision for him as he moved his hand up and pinched her nipple then.

Her body lunged off the wall as she gasped and pushed against his hand. Straying from her avenging thoughts as he palmed her breast steadily and admired the flush it brought to her neck. Easing his pressure slightly, he circled her bud with his thumb in slow motions and pulled further sounds of pleasure from her lips. Her hips struggling against his hand as he held her back, begging for more stimulus from him. "Klaus." she gritted out with narrowed eyes.

"Yes, love?" he whispered and rubbed his lips against hers just barely.

"Stop enjoying my misery so fucking much." she bit out with a disbelieving scoff, turning his smirk into a wide grin.

"How could I when you look so delectable under my touch?" he countered, cutting off her retort as his fingers pinched at her again. Moving his hand slowly from her breast and towards her skirt, using both his thumbs to tug at the clothing until it slid past her hips and dropped to the floor.

"You just wait." she threatened half-heartedly as he scratched over her thighs.

"Mm." he hummed as his hands moved over her sides, gripping her wrist and placing one of her hands to the back of his head. "Until then…" he began sultry while raising the other to an iron sconce behind her. "Hold on." he said before kneeling down swiftly, his gaze keeping her eyes locked as his hands fluttered over her bare legs.

He noticed her breathing hitch in her throat as he leaned in and placed hard kisses against her thighs. Following his directions, her grips tightened on his hair and the fixture on the wall as it worked as a perfect handle. Lifting one of her legs, he placed it over his shoulder and settled near her core. Cherishing the scent of her sweet nectar as he tugged her underwear to the side before diving in.

She yelped in surprise as his tongue dipped past her folds and moved over her velvety sex. Moaning against her welcoming center as he lapped greedily, bringing her nails to dig into his scalp in response. The slow patterns of his ministrations turned faster as he built her up towards her cliff, circling her clit and sucking lightly at the wonderful bud of nerves.

Harsh gasps and whimpers urged him on as he kneaded the swell of her ass in his hands. Pressing harder into the apex of her thighs as he worshipped her body's reactions. Focusing on the rhythm of her heartbeat, he recognized her climax nearing and sped on to bring her towards it. Breathy chants fell off her lips as she writhed above him and rocked against his mouth. Her body began to still, and with quick reflex, he pulled back and earned a pained groan.

"No." she whined at her denied satisfaction, her face twisted into such a sultry pout that he nearly gave up on his plans and granted her what she was awaiting.

"Not yet." he whispered, the muscles of her core twitching as his cool breath hit her slick heat. His lips left deep kisses to her thigh and his hands traced her hips and sides slowly.

"Ugh, why the hell not!?" she bit out in desperation, causing him to barely fight back a deep chuckle.

"Because I said so." he replied leisurely. Noting her pulse having slowed down, he leaned in again and resumed to lick at her opening. Her heavy breaths picking up quickly as he drew deliberate patterns with his tongue.

She was back on the climb faster than before, since having been so near it earlier caused her senses to go into overdrive. His pace took off as he worked faster, her hips grinded in response as she sought more friction to aid in her pleasure.

Humming low into her heat as her nails pressed sharply against the back of his head, fighting to take control and keep him from stopping. He allowed her to think she had the upper hand shortly, sucking and nipping at her core with an eager pace.

The signs reappeared as she once again headed for her climax, letting her slightly closer this time and eliciting delicious moans in response. Until he abruptly pulled away again and caused her to growl.

"Klaus!" she bit out sharply, making him press his face into her leg to cover his wide grin.

Nipping lightly at her skin, he glanced up and met her fiery eyes with a smirk. "Be good and I'll give you what you want." he purred, making her press her lips together in a firm line and toss her head back in a sigh.

She muttered some incoherent comments, but he only caught 'seriously' and 'original-pain-in-the-ass-hybrid' before he leaned in and shut her off at once. A strangled gasp falling off her lips as he lapped at her center again, circling various patterns over her sweet core.

Her frustration kept her dangling by the cliff as she waited for that final push, that one gush of wind that finally tipped her over. The pleading whispers made his motions grow in intensity as he basked in her needy voice. A chant of begging coming out in low breaths as he nudged her closer to the fall.

He felt the pulsating muscles beneath his tongue before her body stilled in a vast explosion of fire. Her high-pitched whimpers of bliss filling his ears as he let her enjoy her high. Drawing soothing lines with his thumb as he steadied her through the orgasm, his gaze fixed on her incredible face of satisfaction pleasing him immensely.

Slowly returning from her climax, her hooded eyes fell on his as she grinned in awe. A light chuckle slipping out from her as she shook her head and breathed deeply. His finger started to pick up the pace as he willed her to break apart for him once more. A slight tremor washed over her and made her twist as his touch built her up again.

"Mmmm…" she drawled in a low voice, the enjoyable sound turning into a song of joy. Her core still pulsed against him, causing him to work gently at first before his pressure heightened.

Exploring her wetness, he focused his thumb over her hypersensitive clit while slowly inserting a finger into her. He watched as her back arched in reaction, her eyes closed shut and her lip caught between her teeth as small moans crept up her chest and throat.

He noted her hips grinding into his hand and her breathing picking up in erratic rhythm, informing him that she had started climbing again. Pulling deeper moans from her lips as he added a second finger to her slick opening, feeling a strong twitching in his groin at the thought of burying himself in her silky walls. The thought nearly overcoming him as he fought to shake off his sudden lust and return to focus on her responsive sex.

She shivered as she neared her release, bringing him to nibble over the skin on her inner thigh. The femoral vein calling out to him, beckoning for him like a song. He glanced up and watched her twisting expression as their eyes shortly met. His must have been glowing as she let out a surprised gasp, making him lean into the instinct building inside and swiftly biting into her leg.

The incredible mix of tastes and sensations as she fell apart into a mess of moans then was intoxicating. Her satisfaction bringing shivers to her entire body and flowing through him like liquid gold. She felt like heaven as she brought him with her on her trip off the cliff, the cracking sounds barely registering as she pulled the sconce off the wall. The iron crumbled within her fingers before she dropped it and held onto his hair with both hands.

It was all he could do not to reach his own climax right then as he savored the glorious connection made by his feeding on her blood. The grip on his hair pulled him off her as he could have lost himself for the rest of time if she allowed him to. He licked his lips and watched her heavy eyes with a happy smirk.

"This one time, you've actually earned the right to look all smug and self-satisfied." she chuckled breathily, her hold easing up before he soothed his scalp with massaging fingers.

He stood up and sucked at his thumb lightly, marveling in the remnants of her wetness. Intending to enjoy being freely smug and happy as she usually scolded him for it otherwise. She surprised him however as she gripped his index-finger and caught his eyes, bringing it to her lips and slowly enveloping the finger within her mouth. Her teeth scratched lightly over his skin as she lapped up the taste of her on his hand, making him watch her in a cross between awe and need.

"You really are something entirely else, Caroline." he murmured softly as she pulled away with a wide grin. The fierce and sultry look on her face making his pants constricted and tight.

"Well, I can't just let you win." she chimed with a teasing pout of her lips.

"Of course not." he snickered with an eye-roll, reaching for her chin and tilting her head until his lips hovered above hers.

"I did actually need to talk to you about something." she said while pulling back slightly.

Smiling warmly, he nodded and brushed his thumb over her lips tenderly. "I'm listening."

"In private." she added, causing him to raise an eyebrow shortly.

"Do you see anybody else here?" he quipped.

"I mean… Private, private." she countered, making him shake his head.

"I'm not sure I understand." he chuckled. "Do you mean without risk for anybody overhearing?" he chimed, earning a nod from her and snickering lightly in reply. "Every room we have been in so far has been spelled, love. Nearly all sounds are isolated and kept from any outsiders, no matter their abilities."

"Oh." she murmured, her face suddenly serious and making him furrow his brows.

"What's on your mind?" he asked, eyeing her closely as she seemed to mull her thoughts over.

"I wanted to wait until Marcel left but I figured him being here was important for our cover. Because why else am I hanging out in the home of a bunch of Original vampires, you know? But he seems deadly set to stick around and I really need to tell you what I've found out." she rambled on, bringing the corners of his mouth to twitch as he enjoyed her rant. "And not that I don't like having sex with you, because you know I do. And I didn't want to ruin our last few hours together before the ball and everything…"

"Caroline." he beamed circling his arms around her waist and nudging her nose with his sweetly. "What did you want to tell me?" he asked, hoping to help her along with the jumbled-up thoughts. A tiny voice in his mind suddenly wondering if he knew what she was going to say…

Would she finally explain her random declaration of love? Would she tell him that she wanted to end whatever it was that they had developed by now? And which did he dread the most?

"I had another Bonnie-dream." she told him, making him both surprised and somewhat disappointed. Of why, he wasn't sure.

"When?" he pressed with a raised brow.

"Last night." she replied. "I just didn't remember it until after the lunch at Lucien's."

He blinked shortly as if trying to piece something together in his head. "Last time you dreamt of her you were beyond distressed." he pointed out in a slow drawl. "I would have surely noticed if that happened again, considering our sleeping arrangements and all."

"Well, maybe that happened because I was already having a nightmare before I dreamt of her." she suggested in a shrug. "I didn't this time."

"Alright, did she have a message for you?" he asked, making her sigh shortly while her hands fidgeted with his collar in anxiety.

"Yes, but it was so weird… All of it felt like some kind of - I don't know, a vision maybe?" she stammered as she relayed her dream. "We were at the ball, but something felt off. Then I wasn't dancing with you anymore but with Lucien instead, and someone kept calling on me, so I asked him where you were." she explained while tugging at the buttons of his shirt. "But then he was Marcel. And he was trying to keep me from going after the voice. I think so, at least."

"The voice, it was Bonnie?" he guessed, earning a nod from her in confirmation.

"I didn't realize it until I got away, and I reached this dark room, but I've been to that part of the hotel and it doesn't look anything like that." she went on. "She was sitting there, weak and hurt and terrified. She barely recognized me when she saw my face."

The memory seemed to bring an eerie shiver to the blonde as she shook her shoulders shortly before continuing. "She was freaking out about the candle and asked me if I had it. Of course, I said I didn't. But then she started asking me about the dagger instead."

"The dagger?" he echoed with a furrowed worry etched on his face.

"She told me I found it. Or I'm going to find it or I'm supposed to find it, it's all a bit messy. But she warned me that I was going to lose it. And she told me there was someone I couldn't trust."

"Lucien." the hybrid muttered in conclusion, a dark scowl forming his features then. Causing her to cup his jaw with wide eyes.

"No, that's the thing. She told me who it was, and I think that he has the dagger. Maybe he always did or he's going to take it from me? I have no idea, but the point is that it isn't Lucien." she clarified, taking a deep breath and studying him intently before she told him. "It's Marcel."

He let go of her and pulled away abruptly, as if her words had hit him hard and pushed him off. Turning away, he ran a hand through his hair and thought it over. Deliberating the possibility of this information being true, and just how exactly that could be.

"Marcel doesn't have the dagger." he said with a hoarse voice.

She stared at him in confusion as he slowly faced her again, a bitter frown forming his lips. "I could have sworn I took the last of them. I thought I found them all." he muttered with a shaking head. "If there is a dagger left, and if what Bonnie told you is true, and Marcel cannot be trusted… Then there is one person who would most likely be in possession of the dagger; Davina."

"Davina?" she repeated in disbelief. "Why would she have it?"

"My guess is she found a way to bring my brother back from the dead." he replied with a set face.

"Wait, you mean Kol?" she quipped in disbelief. "Why would she do that?"

"There's a lot of history between them. I should have known that she had not yet given up on saving him." he muttered in a cold chuckle. "This changes everything, Caroline." he concluded as he looked at her with a firm expression. "You are not attending the ball."

"What?" she squealed in chock. "You can't be serious, Klaus."

"Deadly so." he insisted, turning away again as he attempted to clear his head. She showed up before him with pointed eyes.

"Listen to me, don't order me around like one of your minions." she protested, gaining a sigh from him in reply. "We need to go over this before making any rash decisions. Or you'll just waste the best lead we've had in weeks at finding what we need."

"We can speak for however long you'd like, but I am not changing my mind about tonight."

"Klaus, just hear me out. Okay?" she pleaded as she cupped his face with wide eyes. "Marcel, Davina, Lucien… None of them know what we know. We have to use that to our advantage."

"The answer is no, Caroline." he told her firmly, making her glare at him in disbelief.

"Excuse me? You don't have a say in this, Klaus." she protested sharply. "Not when Bonnie's life hangs in the balance of this entire evening going well!"

He shook his head profusely as he glared back at her in response. "I'm not going to risk your life in an attempt to save hers." he chided.

"Now, you can either get out of my way willingly or I can compel you instead." he threatened, the words feeling like poison as they caused her to gape in result. "I happen to know that your blood is perfectly free of vervain now, love. Do not make me abuse that knowledge in order to keep you safe."

"You cannot be serious." she scoffed out, scanning him closely as if trying to find out whether he might actually go through with it.

Of course not, he thought but redirected his mind before replying. "Move, Caroline." he said, gazing down at her with a message mixed between pleading and ordering.

"Make me." she challenged, the words causing a migraine to start taking root in his head.

He pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration, wondering shortly if there was something down in the cellar with them which he could use to tie her up. Because compulsion? That wasn't a real option. Not ever.

"I have a plan... I think." she said, bringing his attention to her again as he sighed in disbelief.

"Naturally." he scoffed. "I don't want to hear it."

"Klaus." she sighed, holding onto his arm with a pleading look. He considered breaking her neck, but his gaze went to her leg as he remembered the bite still left there. Since he couldn't feed her his blood while temporarily dead, he'd have to figure something else out.

Seemingly understanding his train of thought, she glanced down her body and snickered before looking up at him again. "Ah, I see. Guess we're on a clock, so you should probably listen to what I have to say." she quipped with her hands on her hips as she cocked her head to the side in challenge.

He pressed his lips into a scowl, not at all enjoying being pushed into a corner this way. "Or I could find some syringes of some sort and heal you in other ways." he said with a shrug.

She turned away from him and perused the shelves, looking shortly at the broken lamp fixture on the floor with a smirk. Her hand traced some bottles against the wall until stopping and pulling one out of its spot.

"Here, this should help." she mused, walking over to him and offering the bottle. An expensive brand of rum, to his appreciation. Her daring smile breaking his defenses as he couldn't help but feel his affections for the young vampire blossom up.

"This will all go over faster if you do as I say, Mikaelson." she crooned while pulling on the cap and opening the bottle. Taking a swig and hissing lightly in reaction before offering it to him again.

Shaking his head as he couldn't believe that she actually swayed him to her will. He grabbed the bottle and brought it to his lips in a long chug, closing his eyes in agreement at the way the liquor burned down his throat. Sighing shortly as he turned to her again, he nodded and urged her on.

"Okay, so. Marcel obviously has something planned and I guess it's safe to assume that Davina is in on it too. And possibly Lucien." she began, walking over and reaching for her discarded skirt. Ranting on as she got dressed, disappointing him slightly as she covered up her long legs from his view.

"Obviously, we'll need to keep eyes on them. I've got Marcel but I think you and Hayley should cover Lucien. Since despite his age and strength, he still can't be a match against two hybrids." she mused aloud and paced the room with gesturing hands. "Elijah could watch Davina, since he's scary and obviously knows what to look for in case anything suspicious happens. But we'll still need some back-up since Marcel's guys obviously have the edge up on numbers."

"Hayley can bring in the werewolves." he muttered between drinks, earning a raised brow from her and making him shrug.

"See, you're already starting to come around!" she chimed happily and walked over to him with a wide grin. Circling her arms around his waist, he held onto her as if on pure reflex. "Okay, so werewolf-army - check. Eyes on the evil trio - check. What's missing?"

"You." he noted in a sigh, turning sad eyes to her as he put the bottle on a high table. "Who is going to cover you?"

She chewed on her lower-lip coyly and rocked on her heels in thought. "Well, if the Strix, Lucien and Julian and whoever else can stack up on cursed objects and weapons; then why can't we?"

The mischief on her face made him smile as he cherished her grin filled with self-directed pride. Nodding with pursed lips as he weighed his options with a low mutter. "If I am to consider this plan of yours, then I'm going to need something in return."

"Name it." she replied with a shrug.

He studied her and fought the impulse to ask for what he really wanted; her, by his side. Forever. Knowing it was not the time nor place for such a conversation, and certainly not the way he planned to invite her to stay, he steered back to the matter at hand instead. Drawing a slow breath and threading his fingers through her hair, pushing it back from her face as he leaned in and rested his forehead against hers.

Etching the moment into his memories as he figured this would be the calm before the storm. Their last time together before everything turned upside-down. The last few minutes of content between them before they needed to stay away from each other. He swallowed down the awful fear he felt as he considered the dangers they would face later that evening.

Meeting her eyes then, he frowned shortly at the worry he found within them and took another breath before speaking. "The second things start to go wrong, the moment one single detail does not go according to our expectations, you leave. Immediately." he told her with a clear voice as he made sure to express the seriousness of the situation. "You return to your hotel and stay there until I come for you. You do not go off on your own nor try to be the heroine by doing something reckless. You do not sacrifice yourself for anything nor anyone. Do you understand?"

She eyed him closely, thoughts of protests and interjections flashing across her face. Making him sigh and gulp hard as his expression steeled in enunciation. "Do you understand, Caroline?" he repeated, ready to lock her inside the cellar if that turned out to be the only way to protect her.

"Promise me." he pleaded, his voice sounding like gravel as it mimicked the way he felt about something happening to her. He took in her small nod as she pressed her lips together firmly, as if making sure not to open her mouth and say something else.

"If things start to go wrong; I promise to get the hell out of there." she agreed in a low murmur. "But Klaus? The moment any of us spot a single golden object, dagger or not, you need to leave. And you need stay away until the rest of us can get to it."

His lips parted in surprise at her request as it was filled with resounding honesty and worry for his safety. "If the dagger is there tonight, we leave together." he countered, earning a wonderful and beaming smile from her in response.

"Deal." she said before leaning in and cutting off the short distance between them. Kissing him deeply and causing his chest to swell as she pulled him closer.

He responded heatedly and pressed her body into his with deliberate force, wanting to mold them together as he dreaded leaving her side. Already worrying about her and longing to cure the hollowness within him by keeping her in his arms for as long as absolutely possible.