I'm only going to say this. WOW! I never really imagined how much people would enjoy this story! You guys are the best! I LOVE YOU!
Okay, another thing, before you go to read this addition, a few of you have expressed, well I'm going to say concern of the shortness of the chapters, so I'm going to say this. The chapters were intended to be short in the beginning, but from now on, starting with this one, they will be longer, significantly longer!
Also, a few have requested an Elijah/Caroline scene, well, I write to please, for the most part, and so here it is!
Please remember to review at the end! : )
To most people, if they had ever talked that way to him, Klaus would have had their heads on a platter. So why was she still alive?
He growled as he lifted a chair, and threw it across the dining room. The sound resounded off the marble halls, as the chair broke into pieces.
No one controlled Niklaus Mikaelson. No one! No one talked to him in such a vile manner! No one!
He gripped the table hard, and felt tears burning his eyes. "How can I want to get to know a monster?" Her voice played in his mind, over and over.
Every time he heard her voice, his heart felt like it was being ripped from his chest. The pain hurt him worse than any he had ever felt in his whole life.
His body began to shake in fury. He should hate her.
Hate.
No, he couldn't hate. He, especially, couldn't hate her. He didn't know why, but he just couldn't. There was something about her that just cried out to him.
So, no, he couldn't hate her. As much as he wanted to hate her, despise her, he couldn't.
He couldn't.
Though, the same could not be said about her. Klaus shook his head. No, she would never care for him. He was a fool to think she would feel anything but hatred.
Her light encompassed him, made him feel something different than he had ever felt in millennia.
After every hateful word she ever said to him, he still couldn't hate her. Truth was she was right. He did only care for things, possessions, but he also cared for her. She was not just another object to him. She was a challenge, a prize.
With a grunt, he pushed himself away from the table, and ran his right hand over his mouth. Perhaps he could make her care. He shook his head. No, she said as much. "You can't force it. You have to earn it."
Klaus scoffed. He didn't have to earn anything. He was the Lord of the Underworld, King, in fact. He didn't have to earn anything.
He moved to the river stone fireplace at the far end of the room, and stared into the flames.
"I see your temper hasn't mellowed." A voice replied, from behind.
Klaus dropped his hand from his chin, and closed his eyes as he shook his head. "What do you want, Elijah?" He asked, turning to his older brother.
Elijah, dressed in dark leather pants, and an equally dark leather vest, which was opened at the arms, and chest, smirked. To one, who didn't know, he looked more like the God of War, than the God of Wisdom and Battle Strategy.
"I heard you had a visitor, and I've come to see that she is treated well." He replied, looking down at the broken chair.
Klaus gritted his teeth. "She's is being treated just fine, Elijah." He replied, stepping toward his brother. "How did you know anyway?" He asked, his eyes narrowing.
Elijah gave a slight shrug. "The Bennetts informed me." He replied, casually.
Klaus tilted his head up. "Ah, of course the Bennetts," He began with fake amusement. "They are always sticking their noses in where they are not wanted." He replied, moving past his brother.
"The Bennetts were created to enforce everyone's fates, Niklaus." Elijah scolded, watching his brother, sit down in his elaborate silver chair. "Even you should respect that." He added, watching as Klaus tensed up.
Klaus stood up abruptly, causing the chair to collapse on the ground with a loud bang. "Don't tell me what I should or should not respect, Elijah." He shouted, pointing his finger at his brother. "Fate should not be entrusted into anyone's hands. It should be up to us to determine our own fate." He stated, harshly.
Elijah sighed. "Perhaps if you weren't so vocal about your distaste for the Bennetts you would not be stuck down here all the time." He replied, turning to go.
Klaus growled. "Mikael was the one who exiled me to this hell, Elijah." He shouted at Elijah's back.
Elijah stopped and turned his head over his shoulder. "You were in hell long before Mikael even exiled you, Niklaus." He whispered, sadly.
Klaus straightened, but no words would leave his mouth.
Elijah sighed as he continued on his trek. "I'm going to visit your guest." He began, but turned around to stop Klaus' rant. "I'm not going to take her away from you, Niklaus. I just want to meet her. I won't be long." He replied, disappearing in a flash of light.
Klaus tilted his head. Why wasn't his brother trying to take her away from him? Something was going on in his brother's mind, and Klaus wanted to know what that was.
~X~
A knock resounded through the willow made door to Caroline's room. She stood up from her bed, and wondered if he had come back. No, Klaus would never knock. He usually barged in.
"C…Come in." She replied, her eyes wary around the room.
The door opened to reveal a distinguished looking gentleman, even in the leather.
Caroline's eyes widened as she recognized him in an instant. "Elijah." She whispered as she bowed her head.
Elijah smiled, at her gesture. He knew, unlike other new gods, that Caroline respected the older ones. Well, except for his brother.
"You must be Caroline." He replied, coming toward her.
Caroline smiled for the first time since she had been taken. "I am." She whispered, softly.
Elijah smiled as he took her in. Her light was brighter than he had ever imagined. Yes, he could see why his brother was infatuated with her. She not only had a physical beauty with her blonde hair, draping down her back, and piercing bluish green eyes, clear smooth skin, and a dazzling smile, but also a graceful air, and a light which surpassed any he had ever seen.
"I came to see how you were fairing in my brother's domain." He replied, stepping around her towards the window.
Caroline's smile faded. "I'm a prisoner." She returned her voice full of malice.
Elijah gave a slow nod. "I imagine it is hard being away from your home, and your mother." He said, looking over his shoulder at her.
Caroline nodded "It is." She whispered, looking down.
Elijah sighed. "Niklaus is a very stubborn man, when it comes to something he wants." He replied, turning to face her.
Caroline shook her head, and turned it to the right "So, I've noticed." She replied, harshly.
"You will have to excuse him, Caroline." He replied, stepping toward her once more, in a soft tone. "He has not had an easy life, and everything he has always wanted, he was refused." He explained, with sad remembrance.
Caroline rolled her eyes. "That does not excuse him being cruel and unfeeling." She stated, with a glare.
Elijah studied her. "His life made him that way, Caroline. Surely you have heard of Mikael?" He asked his eyes becoming slightly harsh.
Caroline nodded. "Only in the stories told." She answered, watching him carefully.
Elijah sighed. "Mikael was our father, as you know, but not Niklaus'." He explained, softly.
Caroline felt a pain run through her.
"You see, even though our father had many indiscretions, our mother was punished for only having one." Elijah replied, remembering when Mikael banished Klaus down to the underworld, taking him from his mother at the young age of thirteen.
"Mikael ripped Niklaus from his mother, when he was thirteen, and banished him down in the underworld." Elijah replied with hatred.
Caroline envisioned Klaus at the age, and what he went through because of his father's jealous rage.
"When Niklaus turned twenty-one, he became the King and Lord of the Underworld, much to Mikael's dismay." Elijah replied, turning his head away from Caroline. "Mikael did not want Niklaus to rule over anything. He wanted him to be a servant, but Niklaus had become very powerful, and influential." Elijah replied with slight pride.
"He's the one who led the rebellion against Mikael." Caroline concluded her voice slightly wavering.
Elijah nodded. "We all rose up against him. He never stood a chance, and now he is either dead or imprisoned." He added, looking back at her. "We are not sure." He added, softly.
"Why are you telling me this?" She asked, narrowing her eyes.
"So you could at least understand him, Caroline." Elijah answered, with a tender look. "Niklaus has always had to fight for everything, and he never gives up until he has what he wants. He learned that from Mikael." He added with sadness.
Caroline turned away from him, by walking towards the window. "That doesn't mean I'll give in to what he wants." She replied, looking at the still light in the distance.
Elijah sighed. "I would never ask you too, Caroline, but perhaps you should ease up on him." He replied, softly.
Caroline scoffed. "Ease up on a monster?" She asked, wheeling her head around, her blonde hair flying through the air.
Elijah frowned. "Niklaus may be many things, but a monster is not one of them." He replied, tensely.
Caroline scoffed. "Well, then what you do you call a man who takes a girl away from her home?" She asked, her tone wavering when she said home.
Elijah stepped toward her. "A man, who only wants to be loved." He replied, watching her throw her head back.
"Love?!" She shouted, her face contorting in anger. "How can anyone love that man?!" She shouted, pointing towards the door.
Elijah raised his eyebrows. Caroline dropped her arm, and her eyes closed at the realization. "You love him." She concluded, softly.
Elijah sighed. "He is my brother, of course I love him." He responded, looking down at the ground.
Caroline stepped toward him. "But if he wasn't, would you still love him?" She asked, tilting her head.
Elijah lifted his head. His eyes conveyed ancient wisdom, causing her to gasp. Elijah stepped closer, and gazed into her eyes. "I would." He replied, simply.
Caroline searched his eyes. "Why?" She asked, in a whisper.
"Because I've seen his goodness and compassion, and I believe he still has this inside of him." He replied, earnestly.
Caroline moved her head backward, taken aback by his words. "Are you saying this because you are the God of Wisdom or because you are his brother?" She asked, in a low whisper.
Elijah inhaled deeply. "I'm saying this, because he's my friend." Elijah replied, sternly.
Caroline studied his eyes, and realized he was telling the truth. Elijah may be brothers with Klaus, but he did consider him a friend.
She wondered what Klaus did to inspire such loyalty out of someone. This was not the man she hated.
"What has he ever done to inspire such loyalty?" She whispered, continuing to search his eyes.
Elijah sighed. "I believe you will have to find that out for yourself, Caroline." He replied, stepping back from her, before turning to the door.
Caroline scoffed. "And why would I want to?" She asked, watching him pause at the door.
He turned his head to look at her. "Because, believe it or not, Caroline. Niklaus cares. Be careful how treat him." He replied, softly. "Or you may find a different kind of monster, and believe me when I say; you have not yet seen his true darkness, and I pray you never do." He added, sternly, before opening the door to let himself out. "I'll give your regards to your mother, Goddess." He whispered, with one last look before he closed the door.
Caroline sighed as she watched the door close. Why should she listen to Elijah? Why was he so adamant of her giving Klaus a chance? If she didn't know any better, she would think he approved of his brother's conduct.
Caroline lowered her head, and closed her eyes. Could Klaus truly have compassion or any sign of kindness within him? All she had ever seen was the manipulative, possessive side of Klaus. Could he really have a kind spirit?
Could his encounters with his father truly left him a broken man, and all he needed was healing?
Caroline felt a tear roll down her cheek at the thought of a man, unloved by his father, the only father he had ever known.
Still, his past did not excuse his behavior. Caroline straightened and glared at the door. No, she would not ease up on a man who had taken her away from her home. Even if he did have a scared past, he still should have not kidnapped her.
Caroline turned from the door, and walked gracefully to the bed, and sat down. Elijah's words continued to play through her head. She let out a sigh, and gave a wan smile. If he showed her the kindness Elijah claimed he still had within him, then she would think of easing up on him, but until then she would go on pretending to hate him.
Caroline's eyes widened. Pretend?
Did she truly think she only pretended to hate the feared Klaus? Yes, she did. How was this possible? How could she pretend to hate him?
It then hit her, like the waves of the Pacific Ocean, she didn't hate him. She had seen his pain, his longing. True, she had yet to see the kindness and compassion, but if Elijah was right, and she was beginning to believe it herself, then Klaus wasn't a monster.
~X~
Caroline didn't know how long she had sat there before she closed her eyes, but hours later, she awoke to find a cover over her body, and a tray of food sitting on the table, next to the far wall.
Slowly she sat up, and looked around her room. Standing in front of the window was the man, she had thought of the night before.
"What are you doing here?" She asked her eyes wary.
Klaus turned around and folded his arms over his chest. "I came to bring you some breakfast." He replied bluntly.
Caroline nodded, and slowly stood up. "I'm not hungry." She replied, softly.
Klaus narrowed his eyes. "You haven't eaten in two days, Caroline." He replied, stepping toward her.
Caroline lifted her eyes to him. "Is that concern I hear coming from the man who kidnapped me, and told me that he only thinks of me as property?" She asked in a mocking tone.
Klaus' jaw clenched at her words. "What do you want from me, Caroline?" He asked, in a gruff tone.
Caroline crossed her arms. "I want to go home!" She shouted, back at him. "I want to see my mother!" She added with a tearful look.
Klaus glared at her. "You cannot leave, Caroline." He replied, tensely as he headed for the door.
"I haven't eaten anything, Klaus, so I should be free to leave." She replied, following him to the door.
He paused, and turned to face her. "Is that why you are deliberately starving yourself?" He asked, searching her face.
Caroline narrowed her eyes. "Everyone knows that once you eat food from the underworld, you are stuck here." She replied, watching a satisfied smirk come across his face.
"Well, bravo, Caroline, you figured out my little secret." He replied, leaning forward at the last. "Mark my words, though, you will eat something before long." He replied, a smirk playing on his lips.
Caroline stared at him. "I will never eat anything from here, Klaus." She stated, harshly.
Klaus straightened and smiled. "Never say never, Caroline." He replied, as he turned to the door.
"Why are you so adamant of me staying here?" She asked, looking into his eyes. "Especially since you know that I hate it." She added, with a disdain look on her face.
He felt the same pain in his heart at her words. "Because you are mine, Caroline, I found you, and you better get used to this place, because it will be your home for all eternity." He replied, turning back to the door.
"How can I get used to a place with no light, Klaus?" She asked, her eyes searching his.
He lifted his head at her question, and watched her as she studied him. "You brought the light, Caroline." He whispered, surprising even him at his words.
Caroline's eyes widened and watched as he opened the door and left her standing in her room, alone.
She turned away from the door, and looked at the tray so eloquently prepared with a single red poppy in a small white vase.
She couldn't help the smile that crossed her face at his gesture. Surely Elijah was right.
Touching the flower, she watched as the flower leaned over to her, and followed her finger. Even in the underworld her light attracted the flowers.
She glanced over at the bed. She didn't remember ever placing a blanket over herself when she went to sleep.
Another smile appeared on her face, as she thought of Klaus placing it over her as she slept. What surprised her was she did not stir when he did so. Why she didn't startled her. But she shook her head at the negative thought. Then she shook her head again.
"Ugh, what's the matter with you Caroline?" She asked herself, turning away from the table and the flower. "Why are smiling at the kind gestures?" She continued, folding her arms over her chest. "You should hate him. You should shoot him down every time." She ranted, pacing in her room. "He took you away from your home, your mother, and what do you do?" She asked, herself, glancing at the red poppy. "You weaken at the first sign of kindness." She replied, with an aggravated huff.
She paused when she thought about her agreement last night. She had decided that if he started showing her kindness, then she would think of easing up on him. Was she truly serious?
She groaned as she realized, yes she was. She didn't hate him.
She didn't.
What did you think?
Again, if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. (I know you all are tired of hearing it, but it's the way I feel. I apologize for those of you who leave wonderful uplifting reviews! I love each of you! XOXO!
Next Chapter: Explore
Until Next Time...