Aaaa sorry guys, I had to exist in the abyss for a while, listen to Sour on repeat, you know, normal people stuff. My brain didn't want to allow me to post a new chapter until I had edited and changed up some of the stuff that bothered me in the previous chapters with my earlier writing again, so I could only allow myself to post once everything made sense in my head lol, sucks being mentally ill.
I edited quite a bit, so if any of you need a refresher on the story or wanna check out what I changed, please do go back a little, I tried to keep all the major plot points while still changing up my writing in the earlier chapters, added some beloved Klia moments and a few other scenes between Gia and her family that felt really important to me, and I felt would make it all more compelling.
When I changed the order of the chapters, I added one earlier, meaning that I had already published this one before but it's gonna appear as new, taking the Chapter 30 slot that was previously empty, I don't want any comments saying it's a repeat because yes, yes it is. Next one is fully fresh though, and was such a pain to write that I had actually felt the need to go back and review the whole fic before actually diving into it :).
I wanted to thank you guys so, so much in advance for sticking with this one and for all the support you guys have always given me. It makes me so happy to come back to this story, and to be able to continue with the vision that I have for it.
Animexchick: Hahaha I actually wrote that line down before you commented. Don't worry, Katherine just got her out, they won't get to be together for too long. She's a "delivery service", if you will, but I wanted her to have a little showdown with Klaus too. She would definitely not miss the opportunity to exploit any weakness she found in him; it's been her plan to use Gia against him since chapter 9 so it's super on brand.
Blu3b3rryT3a: Yessssss. Gia will do whatever she can to protect the ones she loves as part of her character, Klaus knew that, and that moment in the story just served to reinforce that she would do that for him too, I love it! I wanna bring the originals back into the fold in Mystic Falls, but it's not quite the time yet, some things still need to happen first. I love your "mwahahaha" moments btw hahaha, always make me smile :).
JackOfAllAnimeAndBatman: Aww I'm sorry! I posted three days in a row because I knew it'd take me some time to get to post this one, I didn't expect everybody to see it, don't worry! I want her to teach Klaus that love can indeed make people strong, it's not a weakness like he originally believed; in that way, she and Elijah are very similar. I love love love writing Klia, especially her dark side a little, that we don't see often. She is a succubus after all, no matter how much Klaus puts her on a pedestal.
Long AN, sorry!
They have the huge potential to be a power couple, I missed them so much. I'm glad to be back and hope to hear back from you guys soon too :)
This is Her - by Majid Jordan
I don't own TVD or anything you recognize.
Flashback - August 16th
"Where in the world are you taking me?" She laughed out, looking around the halls of the storage units with confusion, numbers upon numbers of red doors under the open sky looking more like a row of containers, sun streaming above them and warming up her skin as they walked hand in hand. "Is it another fancy dinner? Please don't tell me you're just trying to find a place where no one would find my body".
He let out a chuckle at her joke, shaking his head. "I would never, sweetheart. It won't be long. My family has been keeping collectibles over time, I thought you might enjoy seeing some," Klaus spoke, pulling her closer and watching her face light up with excitement and a wide smile. "And the more time we spend away from them and their constant pestering, the better".
"They're just excited to see you acting normal and not like a dick all the time, it's not pestering," she defended, earning an incredulous look from him before she shrugged with a small smile. "What? Just because we're together doesn't mean I'm gonna to suck up to you". He smirked at her choice of words, watching her look down with an embarrassed laugh, biting her lip before she turned back to him. "You know what I mean".
"Always so bloody romantic, sweetheart," he chuckled, Gia smiling widely before stopping. She stood on her tiptoes, pulling him closer to her as she wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning up for a sweet kiss and feeling him smile against her lips, hugging her to him in return. They melted into each other's embrace, her hand playing with the ends of his hair near the nape of his neck and making him hum in content before she pulled away, his eyes trained on her as he allowed his gaze to run over her features.
"I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings, mi vida," she teased, watching him smirk at the nickname before she pulled away, taking his hand again and intertwining their fingers, lifting their joined hands up to her lips to leave a soft kiss over the back of his and making his heart warm as they kept on walking, the hybrid focusing back on the task at hand. They had barely fallen into a comfortable silence as they enjoyed each other's company when she broke it again.
"Please tell me it's not human teeth," the girl suggested with a shudder, hearing him let out a laugh. "I'm not a picky person, and I don't have a lot of deal breakers, but that'd definitely be one".
"You have nothing to worry, there are no body parts involved here," he answered, looking around to notice they had passed it in his distraction, cursing under his breath before he turned back with her, his pace slowing to a stop in front of a particular number. "I do believe this is it. Well, one of them anyway. Would you like to do the honors, sweetheart?" he offered, handing her the key and watching her eyes flick over him suspiciously before she took it, leaning down to turn it in its lock before opening up the unit with a sharp tug, hissing as the metal door slammed up loudly.
"Shit, sorry!" Gia breathed out in a whisper, watching him shake his head with a smirk as she looked around to make sure she hadn't disturbed anyone before he gently turned her around to face the contents of the large metal room as soon as it was illuminated by the sunlight, the place housing racks of dresses, with paintings and jewels decorating it wherever she looked, making her gasp in wonder.
The colors took her aback, even despite the thin layer of dust that had settled upon them she could tell that the dresses and robes had once been vibrant and rich, with fabrics and embroidery that were not used as much nowadays. The paintings looked more conserved than anything else, some covered with sheets of plastic while others were wiped clean completely, seemingly recently, and she could tell that although the garments looked to be from centuries ago, they were as conserved as they could be without the damage of sunlight and chemicals.
He looked at her frame beside him, stunned by the everpresent sparkle of bewilderment and excitement in her eyes, as if she always saw everything in the world with a brand new gaze like he had not done in a long time. He rested his hand on the small of her back, guiding her forward as he boasted proudly. "This particular archive is from the 16th century; most of them are Rebekah's gowns, but there are one or two pieces of mine and Elijah's wardrobes that we kept." The girl smiled warmly, looking up at him in surprise.
"That's farther back than I expected. The 16th century is Ann Boleyn and Queen Elizabeth all that mess, right? When you met Katherine?"
"And here I thought you failed history class," he taunted, laughing as she rolled her eyes and nodding in confirmation at her. "Yes, that's part of it. I was a lord back then".
"That's cute. I would've been colonized," she deadpanned, his face falling, her eyes shifting with realization before she turned to him warily, taking a step back with her eyebrows drawn. "Speaking of deal breakers, you didn't…"
"No, I did not." he stopped her before her mind could wander, meeting her gaze assuringly as she relaxed before his eyes deviated back to the items, walking around the spacious storage unit with his hands behind his back casually. "When we travelled, it was to run away from our father, on our own not to draw too much attention. We were always too busy running to truly settle anywhere, or with anyone," he turned back to her, catching a small smile as she looked down before she spoke up once more.
"Good. My ancestors would haunt me if I was sleeping with a colonizer".
"I did spend an earlier time in Mexico then, about a hundred years prior to meeting Katerina, that's when I made up the curse of the sun and the moon. I was always intrigued by the Aztecs; their culture, their deities, the art, the sacrifices," he explained, opening a large wooden chest as he seemed to remember something and fishing out a golden necklace decorated with beautiful bluish-green jade stone, a pendant of a star and a serpent carved expertly with a precision she knew to be characteristic of Mexica gold workers. He urged her closer, watching her grin and push all her hair to the side in compliance, turning her back to him as he fastened it on before meeting her eye in the intricate full body mirror in the storage, reflecting the blue sky and the outside light behind the couple.
"I would've found you then too, you know. No matter when or where," he assured, flashing her a charming smile in the reflection as he set his chin over her shoulder before leaving a small kiss on her neck, meeting her eye in the mirror as she traced a hand over the jewel.
"Nice save," she complimented, turning back to him to pull him into a gentle kiss, feeling him hum in approval against her lips as he hugged her body to his until she broke away, looking up at him with a wide smile. "It's beautiful. You have no idea how precious this is to someone like me, and to study now about how it's made and its significance to my people..."
"You can keep it, love, I can't think of anyone better to have it," he suggested, watching her face light up. "Although I should probably have it cleaned first, I found it in a mass grave back then".
"What? Ew, Klaus" she pulled away, shoving him away playfully, taking it off and handing it to him with a grimace as he chuckled. "Why would you put that on me?"
"It was a joke. Well… of sorts. I cleaned it once I first got it," he shrugged, watching her roll her eyes with a frown.
"You're not funny".
"On the contrary, sweetheart. I think I'm hilarious," he grinned, the action contagious as he watched her smile back, looking down with a small laugh before she met his eyes again, fighting to keep the smile off her face. "Go on love, have at it. Choose anything you want and it's yours".
"Is it all blood stained and death-like?" she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I don't know what you expect, you're talking to a thousand year old vampire, sweetheart" Gia looked at him pointedly before he continued, shaking his head to her assurance. "I wouldn't let you have it if it was. They're cleaned regularly, I've compelled people to take care of it over the centuries, and to make sure nothing is stolen in the process."
"Must be nice to just snap your fingers and have everything handed to you".
"It is," he answered with a smirk and a shrug, her resistance fading as she allowed her wonder to take over once more, trailing her fingers over a few of the dresses, looking around at the jewellery, the paintings and sculptures that he had collected all in one place.
"I can't believe you kept all this. This is amazing," she breathed out, stopping at the sight of a lovely emerald green dress, the golden embroidery on it making it stand out from the others.
"I sold some off, but Rebekah is…" he sighed, shaking his head with a small smile. "My little sister is quite fond of her clothes, always has been. That particular one was one of her favorites," he pointed out, taking his place behind her, his hand resting over hers as she trailed the dress. She looked up at him with a smile, tilting her head back due to their height difference and leaning up on her tiptoes to leave a small kiss over his lips, his fingers intertwining with hers over the expensive fabric.
"I've only seen these in paintings, it's so different to be really standing in front of dresses and jewels like this. Could I maybe..." she suggested, turning towards him and hearing him chuckle as her hands ran over his chest with a cute smile, watching him nod.
"Of course, angel. I'll help you into it".
She chuckled at his suggestion, watching him close the door and shaking her head at his words, his hands playing with the thin strap of her dress as he pushed it over her shoulder, trailing a few soft kisses over her skin.
"Yeah, like that's gonna happen. I bet I couldn't even get halfway dressed before you lost your patience".
"I've always had a soft spot for women in corsets, we'll just have to try and see how long I can keep my hands away from you," Klaus mumbled as he kissed up her neck, her hand running up his biceps before she tangled it in his curls.
Gia arched her back as he made quick way of her dress, light fabric barely having enough time to hit the floor before their lips connected, his hands exploring her body and hearing her giggle as they stumbled their way to lean on one of the largest wooden chests, a soft breath of his name leaving her lips.
...
September 21st
'How could I have been so stupid? I ignored every single sign that was right in front of me,' Damon thought, downing another glass of scotch and refilling it again almost instantly, barely feeling the burn by now. His plan had all been an epic failure. He had counted on the two people in his family that mattered most to him and they had both let him down; not only that, they had actively gone against the plan. He didn't know what hurt more: having bet his chips on Stefan only to have him push him away right when he was about to deliver the final blow, or to watch Gia fight to keep Klaus alive.
He should've known they were close that night at the bar, he had seen it, so desperate to ignore it that he pushed the inconceivable thought of her actually returning his feelings to the back of his head. The way her eyes lit up when she looked at him, how calm the hybrid looked in her presence, how even in a room full of people, they had not been able to take their eyes off of each other until Damon had sat down beside her. He should've known there was something going on, but how could he? How could he admit to himself that Gia, out of all people, could ever feel something for a man like him?
'He must've manipulated her or something', he concluded. It had to be the blood bond.
He would have avoided doing this at all costs if he was in any other situation, but there was only one person that knew succubi enough, who knew Klaus enough to understand what was going on. He searched for the contact in his phone, pressing the dial and raising the device to his ear with a defeated sigh, anger a dull feeling in his chest by now.
"Kol? I need you to tell me everything you know about blood bonds". Damon's voice rang through to the other line, making the original chuckle and glance around the bar he had been in, just outside of Mystic Falls, sounds ringing in the background of the call.
"I see. So now I'm useful enough for you to call, is that it?"
"What do you want me to do? Boost your ego? You're my last resource. Gia's in trouble".
"What has my brother done now? I take it he still walks among the living, if you're asking me that," The original asked, the amusement clear in his voice as he downed yet another shot, earning a grin from the pretty redhead waitress that had been flirting with him the whole night.
"She saved him, Kol".
"Of course she did, she would do anything for him," he answered as if it was obvious, a slight bitter tone in his voice.
"So you knew the plan would fail?" Damon's voice rose, Kol perfectly calm as he sipped on his drink.
"I suspected it. Let me guess, did she warn him?"
"She was the one to take down Mikael," Damon corrected, hearing a pause from the other line before the original started laughing. "I'm not kidding".
"Oh I know, I know. That must've been a sight though, my father was always a proud man. It must've been awful for him to die at the hands of an eighteen-year-old girl. I'm glad our training was worth something," he smirked.
"I thought you were teaching her how to control herself," Damon asked incredulously, almost hearing the original shrug from the other line.
"Amongst other things, yes. It is one thing to know how to fight a human, but something else entirely to be able to fend yourself off against an original. Knowing my family, she would likely come to need that knowledge at one point or another, and I've grown too fond of her to just let her die''. Damon slumped on the couch and cradled his head in his hands at Kol's words. "So she saved my brother, what seems to be the problem?"
"It's not just that. When I staked him, she felt it too. She... bled," Damon explained, hearing Kol hiss a small curse, sitting up abruptly on his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose as he shook his head. "Tell me what you know, because I'm pretty pissed right now. What did he do to her?"
"It's not that complicated, mate. They fancy each other, I'm sure you've been there before," he deflected.
"No, I haven't been there, I was never sired to a psychotic hybrid. I'll get mad about their… feelings later," Damon said in contempt. "I want to know why she started to bleed when I staked him".
"She's not sired. The blood bond doesn't change her free will, doesn't determine her loyalties, it simply amplifies whatever she had for my brother, to a point where it's a tad harder to grasp, their connection beyond anything common." Kol explained, Damon's anger only rising. Being forced into loyalty for Klaus was one thing, but actively choosing to save him, because of feelings he had manipulated, was another thing entirely. "You see, their connection extends past emotional or physical. If blood is the conduit of the soul, think of it as their souls are bonded. They feel each other in a near-psychic way. Pain, pleasure, sorrow, anger, joy, love. They share it all. She would go to great lengths for him, and him for her. I suppose it was his failsafe, in case she would leave. The bloody bastard, I didn't know it had gotten this far," Kol sighed out, taking another shot.
"Dammit. Dammit, dammit dammit! Where the hell was Stefan in all of this?" Damon yelled out in panic, pacing holes in his living room floor.
"I doubt he knew, they're not very easy to come by. Though I suppose it would work differently with her kind," he mused, almost thinking aloud. "Where is she now?"
"I don't know! Katherine took her and whisked her away to god knows where, to torture him through her or blackmail him into something."
He chuckled, tone dripping with irony. "That'll work out for her".
"She'll get herself killed, won't she? I never thought she could be this stupid".
"If anything, your little doppelganger will just try to flit her way into my brother's good graces, using her as a shield. If Gia can feel him, that means it's already past the point of an ordinary little bond, they're connected." His voice had a hint of something that if Damon didn't know better, he would've classified as wonder; curiosity, intrigue, as if Kol had stumbled upon a new knowledge.
"Yeah I got that much, how do I break it?"
Kol hesitated, closing his eyes and cursing his brother for the millionth time. He needed to get to a witch, quickly, and continue the work he had started before he was daggered; solve this mess and kill two birds with one golden dagger. "I don't know".
"What do you mean you don't know?" Damon asked, his voice escalating with anger. "You're an original, you've been with succubi before, you're involved in witch business. If anyone should know, it's you".
"It's a bit of a 'till death do us part' situation, mate. If you had succeeded in killing him, she would've been set free. But again, it's not just the blood bond with those two".
"What the hell did he do to her in Chicago?"
Kol smirked, looking down at his glass as he tried to focus on its patterns and ridges, keeping his voice cool no matter the discomfort the thought had brought him. "I'm certain you can imagine the damage they did to each other, she is a succubus after all, no matter how much you lot try to ignore that. Judging by the sounds that came from their room most nights-"
"Nope, don't tell me." Damon interrupted, shivering with disgust. "If you don't tell me, I don't have to think about them together. Dammit I should've known she wouldn't go with it the second I suggested the plan, I saw it in her face. I should've locked her up in the dungeon and kept her away."
"Sorry mate. I don't know what else to tell you".
Damon groaned in frustration, nearly throwing his phone into the fire. "Thanks, you didn't help at all".
"You're very welcome," he answered with sarcastic sweetness, looking down at the phone with a frown as the Salvatore hung up, shrugging and ordering another round, eyes glued on the waitress that would likely become dinner by the end of the night.
...
It had been the perfect opportunity, even if she wasn't sure she'd be able to get away with it or not. Klaus had moulded her into his image whether he knew it or not; a lonely, paranoid mess, always looking after her shoulder and using whoever she needed to survive. Katherine had always prided herself in her brains, her instincts and how flexible she could be when it came to dire situations, and all of that had come in handy when she saw the brief moment in which he had left the vulnerable girl by herself, not missing the chance to snatch her away. She tended to Gia wounds herself, taking the liberty of removing the ruined dress and discarding it to the floor so she could clean the blood off of her skin properly, a soft cotton rag dragging across her abdomen as the girl slept.
"Stupid little succubus. God, if he knew I took you away he'd want to kill me even more, but you're my only shot".
She sighed in exasperation, looking down at the unconscious figure on the hotel room's sofa. Her skin was pale, breath ragged and weak, and she almost felt bad about doing what she had had to do, but this was her way out, her big opportunity. She had tried trading in Elena for her freedom before the sacrifice, and tried gifting the young succubus to Klaus before only to have him snatch her away and show Katherine he would always be in control, always one step ahead, but she had seen the way that he looked at her now. She saw the fear in his eyes when Mikael had grabbed her, had seen the urgency when he called for her name and thought her to be in danger, and even if she hadn't believed Stefan's words earlier, she now knew them to be true. Finally, after centuries, she had found his weakness.
The doppelganger knew she wouldn't hurt her unless it was absolutely necessary, there had always been something about Gia's spirit that Katherine couldn't bring herself to break. She had proved stronger than the vampire had anticipated, stronger than she had been before, almost making her proud in the process, and she patted herself in the back for her plan working out better than she expected. She had wanted Gia to seduce him, never even thinking their connection could extend so far beyond that.
Klaus didn't know how far the vampire was willing to take her plan, and she could very much hold the girl above his head and revel in watching him squirm. She would do anything to get her freedom from him, and her revenge too, for what he had done to her family and to her for centuries.
"Here, keep it. He'll like this one," she mumbled to the girl's sleeping figure, carefully slipping on the dress she had snatched from her own luggage, the most comfortable one she owned, and concluding that it would do, covering her up with a blanket once she was done while she contemplated her next move.
Katherine knew he would come looking for her and wouldn't stop, wouldn't quit until he found her. She could almost taste her revenge, formulating a plan that would not allow her to lose either way, as she thought of ways to make him suffer if he didn't give her what she wanted and knowing that her ticket to glory was just within her reach. Her heart raced with anxiety before she made the decision, laying Gia's body unceremoniously on the backseat of her car, driving away in search of the one being that could help her.
…
September 26th
"I think it's about time we had a drink, don't you?" Klaus spoke up in a friendly tone after Damon acknowledged his presence, standing in the boarding house' living room with a drink in hand as he usually did, barely glancing up as he met the hybrid at his doorstep, hands held almost innocently behind his back.
"I'd say we were overdue".
"Well you've been so busy, what with all your plotting and scheming".
"You know me. Never miss a chance to plan an epic failure".
"Don't be so hard on yourself," Klaus smirked, stepping forwards only to feel the familiar barrier that kept him from entering the house, huffing in frustration and watching Damon smirk, coming forwards to stand just at the edge, leaning against the table in the hallway. "Who could've guessed your own family would betray you?"
"Well I did have a front row seat when your sister lied to you," The vampire retorted with a sarcastic smirk, watching Klaus' expression drop.
"Yeah well, she's fickle, that one".
"And as far as I know, Gia didn't really have a choice when it comes to saving you. What with you using her the whole summer until she developed a freaky blood Stockholm Syndrome," Damon sighed, pouring Klaus a drink and handing it to him through the barrier, shrugging. "The house is hers. Can't invite you in, you know how it works. Unless you want me to call her father of course, I'm sure he'd love to meet you".
Klaus smirked at his words, ignoring the vague threat. "You say you have no idea where she is either, hm? It's been days, and no word from her yet. It's strange that she wouldn't have come home".
"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you have a thing for my little niece". He suggested, watching Klaus's eyes narrow, a small smile on his face. "I don't blame you. I mean, her and Kol have been pretty chummy lately too," Damon teased, Klaus urging forwards towards him angrily only to bang against the invisible barrier, giving the vampire a frustrated huff before he calmed himself down.
"You know, we've actually got a lot in common, you and I".
"Really?" Damon inquired, walking outside past Klaus so they could speak on the small table on the porch as two civilized people. He didn't flinch at the threat of Klaus, even if he knew the hybrid to be completely unpredictable, and he wasn't so sure his history with Gia would keep Damon out of his radar. "Well yeah, maybe we can… bond over our mutual loathing of my brother. Why are you so mad at him? He stole something?"
The hybrid nodded, following him to sit at the table after he pulled up a chair for himself, lounging around it casually. "My family, the Originals. I had them daggered, boxed up, awaiting the day when I saw fit to wake them, and he went in and... pinched the bloody lot".
"Of course he did," Damon sighed, leaning back on his chair. "Ah such a buzzkill, my baby bro. Well I'd love to find him. Trouble is, I sure as hell don't work for you".
Klaus turned to him with an amused smile. "You know, your drink stinks of vervain, so I can't compel you. There'd be no point killing you, because you're actually the one with the most hope of getting me what I need, and yet it would seem a demonstration is in order. Perhaps I wasn't clear enough when I told you to find Stefan." He looked at Damon, noticing he didn't even flinch. "Oh well. It seems you people respond best to displays of violence. Why don't you take this as an example of my reach?"
He reached into the pocket of his jacket, calling someone that didn't leave any tip as to who they were and watching Damon try to mask the worry in his face, knowing it wouldn't be good no matter who. He put the phone back as he hung up, glancing back at Damon with a small smirk.
"Get me my family back, and we won't have an issue".
He had just been getting up to leave, brushing off his leather jacket when Damon spoke up again, making him freeze in his spot and swallow down the lump in his throat.
"You know, she'll never forgive you if you hurt anyone. Even if she saved your ass".
In a second the Salvatore was pinned to the wall by his neck, Klaus watching with amusement as the bricks rattled behind the young vampire's back, a pained groan escaping his lips. "I can feel her. Every second that goes by, she grows weaker. And I grow angrier. If I find out you lot have hurt her in any way, I shall have no qualms with ripping you to pieces. Do you understand?"
"Maybe she's still hiding because she doesn't want to see your sorry ass," he strained, feeling Klaus' hand tighten around his throat as the hybrid's eyes narrowed, Damon groaning in pain.
"Maybe if you give her back to me, she could help calm me down. I'll give you today to think things through before I start tearing everyone you love apart, limb from limb". He smirked before snapping Damon's neck, watching his body fall limply to the floor and closing his eyes as she searched for her, not needing sight to be able to feel her.
The whole house had her scent, he couldn't tell if she was there or not, and it proved useless to try to hear anything, so he did his best to focus, try to feel her, access emotions and thoughts, coming up blank. It only served to worry him further. Her feelings were always so powerful, so raw it brought out something instinctive in him. He knew he needed to find her, and when he did, he would make them all pay if anyone had laid a single hand on her.
He tried her number again, only for it to go straight to voicemail and make him let out a frustrated growl, almost forcing it down before he dialled another number, the tone ringing and ringing for longer than his patience allowed, before going straight to voicemail, Klaus sighing in frustration.
"Rebekah, where are you? Pick up the phone darling, daddy's dead. It's time for a family reunion, you and Kol can come back home".
…
September 27th
He ran a hand over his face in stress, plopping down on his armchair after the long day and sighing deeply, allowing his mind to rest slightly. He would have her found, he knew, no matter who he had to kill or threaten, how many days it took, he knew he would find her eventually; and that when he did, he would make Katerina pay. He had barely gotten to see her before she got taken away, and where he had otherwise felt guilty and saddened by the way their dynamic had changed, he now longed for any trace of her; angry, upset, or not. He would make it work.
'You should've told her your feelings sooner' he chastised himself. 'Bloody fool'. He had known it since the time they first kissed; felt it developing long before that, but he had not been ready to admit it at any of the times. It had taken him losing her to realize how much he had needed her; how every moment of his day seemed dull without her smile, and there was no expectation other than coming home and earning one of her warm welcomes, whether it be a kiss or simply a hello. He longed for the warmth he had never had, the affection he had never expected and the love he found he did not deserve from the one girl who could make him feel like all his worries melted away; and every second with the uncertain feeling that he might have lost her for good was excruciating.
He had warned his hybrids about his need for no interruptions, stuck in his undone study with only the company of his thoughts for what felt like not nearly long enough before he glimpsed one of them knocking on the door apprehensively, his head peeking through the threshold.
"Boss? The doppelganger's here to see you".
"I told you, I don't want any interruptions, Daniel. Tell Elena to leave".
"I… it's the other one," he mumbled, Klaus standing abruptly from his seat, all nostalgia and sorrow now consumed with rage. "She came bearing gifts".
"Then we mustn't keep her waiting".
He adjusted his jacket, glimpsing at his own tired eyes in the mirror before walking out. She had barely had time to take in his presence before he had sped towards her, one hand buried in her chest and the other tight around her throat, her terrified eyes glancing up at him as she clawed at his hand, his fingers only digging further into her skin until she was writhing with pain.
"Ah, Katerina. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" he asked casually, the doppelganger gasping, hands not quite sure of where to pull him away from, scratching at his wrist as she fought for words, before he rolled his eyes with a small smirk. "Right, right. Speak before I tear out your vocal cords".
He only released her throat, gasps and violent coughs escaping her body as he watched her neck heal, groaning in pain when she could finally make a sound in response to his grip on her heart, her voice raspy and disdainful as usual. His hybrids crowded around them, pretending to watch inconspicuously as they waited for the outcome of the confrontation.
"Kill me and you'll never see her again," she struggled, his eyes narrowing before he tightened his hold, the beating muscle speeding in his hand and her face twisting between pain and terror while he simply looked at her as if it was any other Tuesday. "P-please".
"Where is she?"
Katherine glanced to the side, his eyes deviating towards the object of her attention to find Gia lying on the couch, in a different dress than the one he had bought and likely had been ruined, though she didn't look any better than she had the last time he had seen her; starving and tired and fully unconscious. His eyes widened, taken aback before he turned to her and he released her heart, pulling his hand out and extending his arm, a white hand towel falling onto it not a second later for him to dry his hand, eyes back on the girl before him, recomposing herself.
"I thought you knew better than to come to me willingly".
"I wanted to make a truce," she panted out, trying her best to stick to the dignity he had managed to strip away from her in two seconds, flipping her hair and standing up straighter. "I knew she would be the way to get your attention."
His anger rose, defensiveness taking over as he faked nonchalance, trying to keep up with his façade. He was Klaus Mikaelson, and he would bend for someone as conniving and manipulative as Katerina. The hybrid took a step back, circling her in the wide spacious room and watching her shrink into herself slightly, his hybrids ready to make a move if needed, as she realized she was surrounded. "So you captured her and thought you could bribe me with a little girl, is that it? I always thought you were smarter than this, love."
"I didn't think it was possible when Stefan told me you had feelings for her, but I saw it in your eyes that night, I saw her scared you were when her life was at risk, how even if your life was under threat, all your attention was on her," she countered, his smirk falling slightly, and reminding her that she had the upper hand in this. It was a gamble, of course, but one she knew could work, or else she wouldn't have come at all. Katherine wasn't an idiot; she knew holding Gia as leverage could only get her so far before he ended up finding her, and she had wanted to hold control over how and when that happened before he took her away and it was all for nothing. "I couldn't let this opportunity pass. Give me my freedom and you can have her back, intact. If you don't, you'll never see her again".
"I see her right now," he scoffed, glancing back at the unconscious girl. "What's to stop me from killing you instantly the second she wakes? Hm?"
"The fact that she won't," the doppelganger responded, crossing her arms over her chest, the original's eyes narrowing as he stopped, earning her gaze. "You see, the whole point of leverage is having something to hold over your head, and making sure you can't kill me for it. I could've just snapped her neck every time she woke up but that would mean I had to babysit, and I have better things to do. So I got a witch to do me a little favor and keep her down for a while. Her body still functions, she's dissecting faster than she usually would, but she won't wake up until I can signal my witch in person to lift the spell away." He growled at her menacingly, taking a step forward and watching the girl hold her ground, despite her fear. "My witch is channeling her life force for the spell. Let her go, and she'll be dead within the end of the week".
"You dare threaten me?" he yelled, Katherine swallowing the lump down her throat. "With what you perceive to be my weakness, no less? I will not be threatened by the mere likes of you, Katerina." his voice lowered once more, dangerous and threatening as he glared at her. "Go on, I know you're bluffing. I know you care for her".
"I can't care for anyone, you made sure of that centuries ago. You turned me into this," she fired back hatefully. "Little Gia played her part. You didn't expect to fall for her, did you? I did. I knew you would the moment I met her. Did you know we made a deal, that she would distract you so you wouldn't come after me after the sacrifice? I think she got a little too good at it though".
"If you intend to hurt me, know that she told me about your little plan then, and although I allowed her to live I would not propose the same kindness towards you. Do not assume the girl means anything to me".
She scoffed, her eyes brightening with the spark of anger. "We'll see. You let me go and I'll have my witch call off the spell. Perhaps I'll even tell her how much she means to you when she wakes up, I'm sure she'll be happy to hear how your revenge against me was more important than her life."
He stopped, fuming as he looked at her and watching her face shift with pride once she knew she had him, nearly able to hear his internal debate once he glanced back at the succubus, breathing weak and face pale, despite the makeup that Katerine had carefully plastered to disguise it. He could tell she was in pain by the small frown on her face; so different from the angelic features he would often admire when they had slept in each other's arms. He turned back to the doppelganger then, slightly defeated as she looked at him.
"Let me go and I'll lift the spell so you can live out forever with sleeping beauty over here. Deal?"
He knew his answer, even if his pride almost prevented him from saying it aloud, watching her smirk when he finally uttered the words. "If I find you have lied to me in any way, I shall have no qualms with ripping your throat out with my bare hands".
"Do we have a deal, Klaus?"
"Go, tell your witch I've let you go," he grumbled in defeat, Katherine's eyes lighting up.
At last, she smirked, Klaus nodding to his hybrids as he silently ordered them to stand down, the doppelganger looking around the construction one last time before she sped away. He took a moment by himself as his hybrids transported the body towards the most comfortable room they could find in the undone mansion, not having enough time to regret his decision before he heard a sharp gasp coming from the other room, chest full of hope as he sped into the next room to meet her, all qualms and regrets escaping him completely as soon as he set his eyes on her and felt his heart reawaken.
Let me know what you guys thoughttttt. I'm really happy to be back, and I hope I haven't lost too many of you by leaving for a little while. I swear I don't plan on abandoning this story.
Leave a note for me in the comments! I miss you guys!
Love, Bela.