True to his word, Klaus sent Nicole up with art materials for Jeremy. There was a second when Jeremy considered making a run for the door. Yet at that moment, Nicole started yelling at him in French or a similar language.
Jeremy noticed that she was indicating the tray of untouched food.
"I'm sorry. I'll eat it now," he said. He was actually starving.
She said, "No, petit garçon I will bring you something else."
Did she just call me a little boy? Jeremy wondered. He wished he had paid more attention in French, but he had been pretty high the year he took it.
A few minutes later, Nicole brought him a steaming tray of food. There was pizza, steak, fries, grilled cheese and a bottle of Coke. It was almost as if Klaus knew what he usually ordered at the Mystic Grill.
Jeremy ate at least half of the food while looking at the art materials Klaus sent to him. There was a beautiful Italian leather bound sketchbook, a small watercolor kit, charcoal pencils, colored pencils, and all the supplies he would need.
Before long, Jeremy had finished his food and began to sketch lightly in the journal. The room had a large marble bathroom and a closet full of clothes in his size.
As Jeremy was checking out the television, Klaus came in.
"Have you found the quarters to your satisfaction?" Klaus said looking hopeful.
"Ah, yeah. Thanks. I mean, it's really nice but I can't stay here," Jeremy blurted out.
"Oh, but you will, Son," Klaus said with conviction.
"I have a family, friends...A life, dammit. And I told you, I'm not your freaking son," Jeremy said realizing that he had to go. Elena and Jenna would be worried by now.
"I was at your window and I heard how you either tried to kill yourself or tried to turn yourself into a vampire. Now if you were so happy with your life, why would you do that? Hmm...? I'm going to save you," Klaus mused.
"Fuck that. I made a mistake. My old girlfriend died and I freaked okay. I got hooked on drugs and ...yeah, I was a goddamn mess. But it is my life. I don't want to be your prisoner," Jeremy said slamming the rest of the food tray to the floor. The leftovers spilled all over the carpet.
Klaus just smiled slowly.
"Son, I was just about to give you a tour of your new home. Yet, I see you need to calm down a bit. Perhaps a time out in the corner is in order," Klaus said, vamping over and leading Jeremy to the corner of the room.
"I'm not a kid. I'm not going to stand in the fucking corner because my kidnapper makes me. Screw you," Jeremy sputtered still enraged.
Klaus held the boys arms gently as he tried to twist out of his grasp.
"Now, you can stand here like a big boy by yourself or you can stand here with a hot bottom. What will it be?" Klaus said in a condescending and patient voice.
Jeremy's face grew red. He was not a fucking kid.
Crack! Crack! Crack! Klaus's palm strike his backside rapidly three times.
Jeremy instantly shouted, "Big boy. I'll stand like a big boy!"
"That's what I thought. I know this isn't easy for you," Klaus said to Jeremy's back as Jeremy rubbed his backside. "But I really think that this could be the best thing for both of us, okay?"
Jeremy sniffed and nodded, "Okay."
Klaus went over and cleaned up the tray of food Jeremy threw. He was proud that he was being so patient with the boy who seemed determined to test him. He really did not want to crush his spirit, but this wasn't gong to work if the boy was completely out of control.
"Are you ready to behave now? If so, you can come over here and talk to me," Klaus said calmly.
"Yeah," Jeremy said, wiping the tears of frustration out of his eyes.
He turned and slowly walked back to Klaus who was sitting in an arm chair need the bed.
"Calmer now?" Klaus said with a hint of a smile.
"Yes, I think so," Jeremy said ashamed of his outburst. "I just really need to go home."
"Jeremy, you are home. Now come, I'll show you around," Klaus said brightly.
Jeremy figured he would have to play the game until he could escape. He also thought that he had better control his temper as his backside was smarting sharply.
Klaus led Jeremy out of the long hallway and down the stairs.
"This is the foyer. And this is what they call the great room. Be careful, it's a sunken floor. Watch your step," Klaus said indicating the short set of stairs. The house was luxurious and decorated in a clean palette of whites and grays. Jeremy sucked in his breath when he said the view outside. He saw water outside.
"Fuck, man, you must be rich as hell. Where the fuck are we?"
"Manners, Son. That's not very polite. Do you need to have another time out? Maybe with a bar of soap in your mouth?" Klaus threatened.
"No, I'm just shocked. I guess we are not in Mystic Falls anymore. Are we even in the country?" Jeremy asked in a fake calm voice.
"When I can trust you more, I will answer that question. As you can see, we are in a place of great beauty and solitude. I think if you try, you can be very happy here," Klaus said gazing out at the water.
Jeremy had to agree that it was beautiful, all the whites and blues. He had an urge to paint the scene in front of him. He noticed a wide deck around the back of the house full of plants and fountains.
Klaus showed him the lower levels. There was a movie theater, a game room, a library, an office area, two kitchens, a greenhouse, a boat house, an indoor and outdoor pool area, a dining room, another sitting room. Klaus mentioned that his quarters were next to Jeremy's. There was also a servant wing where Nicole and a few other full-time staff lived. Jeremy felt like he was in a movie or something.
"It is beautiful, but I already have a house," Jeremy said after Klaus sat him down in the kitchen to make them tea.
"I have many houses all over the world, Jeremy. I find that none of them become homes without family being present," Klaus said pouring the tea.
"Thanks," Jeremy said automatically.
"It's chamomile, like my mother used to make. It should calm you down," Klaus said.
"I am pretty fucking calm for someone kidnapped and held against his will," Jeremy spouted in a huff.
"Drink your tea," Klaus warned.
"No, it's probably poisoned or something," Jeremy snipped.
"I want you to be my son. I will not harm you. Yet, I'm starting to feel like you may need a firmer hand, boy," Klaus said carefully.
"And beating me isn't harming me? Fuck!" Jeremy said rubbing his backside slightly.
"Jeremy, I would never beat you! I spent my human life cowering from my own father's whip. He was a brutal man who hated me. But I will not hesitate to discipline you lovingly when you need it. Now drink your tea, please," Klaus said softly.
Jeremy paused. He felt like if he drank the tea then he was accepting that he was Klaus' son. Could he do that to Jenna and Elena? No, he had to fight to remain himself.
Jeremy picked up the cup as if to drink and threw it in Klaus' face scalding him.
Klaus cried out in shock and brought his hands to his face.
Jeremy ran to the front door and pulled them open. To his horror, there was water on this side also. They were on an island.
Klaus' burn healed almost instantly. He caught Jeremy easily and tossed him over his shoulder. Jeremy screamed and kicked and punched, but it was if he was attacking concrete. Klaus vamped him up to his room and put him on the bed.
"I'm going to go change. I am too furious to deal with you now. You best think of some ways to control that temper whist I am gone," Klaus growled. He closed and locked the door behind him.
Jeremy was furious. He ran to the door and kicked it. Then, he took a desk chair and tried to throw it against the door. It was heavier than it looked and basically, it just fell over. Jeremy worked himself into quite a sweat. He needed a shower. Surely, Klaus wouldn't come in while he was bathing. The warm water finally worked to calm Jeremy down. He wanted to cry over this whole thing. A part of him felt terrible guilt because he was relieved to be away from home. Jenna was rarely there and when she was, she was with Alaric. Elena was consumed with her issues. Vicky was dead, Anna gone, and what else did he have but stress?
Jeremy came out of the shower and found a drawer full of sweatpants and t-shirts. He got dressed and sat on the bed, waiting for Klaus.
About an hour later, he heard the door unlock and heard a knock.
"Come in," Jeremy called.
To his surprise, it was Nicole with another tray of food. This time it was just a cheeseburger and onion rings. Jeremy ate it hungrily.
He realized that Nicole had left his door unlocked.
Jeremy opened the door and walked the other way down the hallway. He tapped on the door.
"Come in," Klaus said in a level tone.
Jeremy opened the door to find Klaus painting a landscape of the sea. It was stylized and the colors were bright and intense.
Jeremy gushed, "Wow, man, that's beautiful. You're really good."
Klaus kept painting and said, "Thank you. I trust you are over your little fit. I believe the calming effects work better if you drink the tea, not douse people with it."
"About that, I'm sorry. I have been miserable lately in my old life. To like it here, feels like I'm betraying my whole life. I shouldn't have thrown that tea at you," Jeremy said ashamed.
"Thank you for your apology, son. You know I still have to punish you for this though," Klaus said, glancing at him, as he switched brushes.
"But I apologized. Isn't that enough?" Jeremy said confused.
"Is it? I think not. Now, come, let's get this over with. Then, perhaps we can watch a movie or talk about art," Klaus said gesturing to Jeremy to come forward.
"Ah, what are you going to do?" Jeremy squealed, knowing exactly what he was going to do.
"Teach you a lesson about what happens when you disobey me. Now come," Klaus said patting his lap.
Jeremy turned to flee. Klaus vamped and caught him. There was a small couch near one of Klaus' easels. He dragged the struggling boy over and sat down with him locked in between his knees.
"You are testing me to see how much of your naughtiness I will put up with. Well, you are about to find out. Now, over," Klaus said, flipping Jeremy over his lap.
Jeremy couldn't believe this was happening to him again. With Stefan, it had been unexpected, but at least Klaus had warned him.
Jeremy's hands grabbed Klaus' leg as Klaus's left arm held him firmly in place.
Swat! Swat! Swat!
Klaus smacked down lightly on Jeremy's backside.
"I am very disappointed that you would attack me like that, young man," Klaus said smacking all over Jeremy's seat a little firmer.
Jeremy's face was ablaze, the smacks hardly hurt over his sweatpants. This was humiliating, Jeremy thought to himself. I get kidnapped and then get a spanking. What else can happen?
"Lift up. I think these trousers need to come down, eh? A few good cracks on your bare behind will teach you to throw things in my face," Klaus lectured as he pulled down Jeremy's pants to below his backside.
"No, please," Jeremy pleaded as he felt the air on his bottom.
Whack! Whack! Whack! Whack! Whack!
Klaus gave him five firm whacks on his bare backside. Jeremy kicked and started to cry, more in shame than pain. Though, those last smacks had stung.
Klaus rubbed his back and said, "Okay, it's over. All done."
"That's it?" Jeremy asked surprised, still sniffling. "I thought you were going to spank me harder than Stefan did."
"Stefan spanked you, eh? Was that your first time?" Klaus asked gently. The boy seemed to have a very low pain tolerance.
"Yes, I tried to cut this kid with a broken bottle in a fist fight. It was the first time I ever even got a swat before. It hurt more than I expected," Jeremy confessed.
"I bet," Klaus smiled, sitting Jeremy up and pulling him to him.
Jeremy cried a little more with his head on Klaus' shoulder.
"I forgive you. You are a good lad. Shhh, shhh. It's over. You've missed having a dad, huh?" Klaus whispered.
Jeremy nodded, realizing how true it was. Grayson had been a busy doctor, but always there for his kids when they needed them.
"Now, that was a very light preview of what you will get the next time you misbehave. The next time, you won't sit for a week or maybe I'll..." Klaus said, still cuddling the boy to him, "just tickle you..."
Klaus started tickling Jeremy until the boy was laughing uncontrollably.
"Stop, stop! I have to go to the bathroom. Please," Jeremy begged as Klaus continued to tickle him under his arms and then his feet.
Finally, after a few minutes, Klaus stood him up.
"Go rest now," Klaus ordered with a light swat to his backside.
"Yes, sir. I don't know what is worse, you spanking me or tickling me. I swear, no more tea!" Jeremy joked as he went to his room.
Klaus smiled to himself. He knew he had gone very easy on the boy. Perhaps that had been a mistake, but he couldn't bring himself to be harder. After all, he had put the lad through an ordeal. Klaus had a sense that Jeremy needed him as much as he needed Jeremy. If not, he would return him to his former life unscathed. Yet, he had a feeling like that would not be necessary.