Beauty and the Beast

Part III

A/N: Excuse all the mistakes!

In a dark, dripping dudgeon cell, Katerina Petrova, thought again for the millionth time that day how much she hated the Beast. She'd been imprisoned for eighteen years…at least that's what Elijah told her when he came to feed her, and she'd felt it. Time dragged by so slowly. She constantly though of ways to escape, only for Klaus to come and break her spirit so badly she'd beg him to just kill her and be done with it.

Klaus would smirk in her face with that angel's mask, and tell her, "You wanted to live forever, why would I kill you now?"

What was her crime? Wanting to survive. Even animals had the instinctual need to survive and she was being punished for it.

Katerina had been the beast's bride eighteen years ago. She'd walked into this castle with her head held high, knowing she wouldn't go down without a fight. In the short period of a month, she'd discovered what monsters Klaus and his siblings were by using her womanly wiles on the eldest brother, Elijah. Like a naïve young fool, she'd fallen in love with him and was betrayed by the very man she claimed to care about more than anything. In her weakness, she'd thrown herself out of the highest tower's window, but not before black-mailing the castle's resident witch into giving her vampire blood.

The first thing she'd seen when she'd woken was the Beast's monstrous face in this same cell. Elijah visited her daily to give her just enough blood that she wouldn't desiccate. Klaus' visits were infrequent and met with much dread.

"Hello, Katerina."

Shackled to the wall, Katerina could only raise her head. "Elijah." Her anger at him for betraying her was like a scarred wound; completely healed, but still pained her from time to time. She vowed to never forget and promised herself to never love again.

"Niklaus has married again." He informed her, stepping inside the cell. The once beautiful girl was covered in grime and her skin held a grayish tone from only being fed enough to keep her heart pumping. He remembered the girl she used to be and his heart ached. He'd never been closer to loving someone and his brother had forced them apart forever. She believed he'd betrayed her, when in truth, it was only Niklaus' deeds that torn them apart. She was safer believing that, anyway; loving him would just get her killed again...this time for good.

Elijah didn't think his heart could handle it.

Katerina scoffed. "Poor girl."

He ignored her comment. "We think she's the one."

That got Katerina's attention. "Truly?" She dared hope that if the curse was broken that Klaus would free her. "What makes you think that?"

"They have a connection I've never seen before. He acts like he cares for her."

"He destroys everything he touches." Katerina venomously announced. "He'll destroy that foolish girl too."

The resentment and pain in her voice caused him to wince. He wished he would set her free, but he knew Klaus would find and kill her without a second thought. He let the subject drop. "Open your mouth."

Katerina obeyed, the monster prowling behind her comely mask growling weakly. The blood Elijah poured down her throat was never enough. She wanted so much more. She licked her lips and batted her eyes at Elijah. "An extra nip?" She murmured. Every now and again, Elijah would offer her his wrist. She imagined he felt guilty for the part he played in her imprisonment.

The older vampire nodded wordlessly, his brown eyes darkening with excitement. Katerina feeding from him was as much for her as it was for him. The thought of her tiny feminine fangs sinking into him, her lush lips kissing his wrist, and her velvety tongue licking the tender skin of his wrist was enough to make him question everything he stood for just to have her again.

Locking eyes, Katerina let the monster out and sunk her aching fangs into her once-lover.

Caroline found herself in the dining hall once again, more food than she'd ever seen lined the long table. "Eating alone again, are we?" She asked Klaus.

He gave her a lopsided smile that make her heart flutter. "My family will be joining us."

Caroline reminded herself that he was still the Beast from the night before. A few kind words didn't erase the horrible deeds. After they'd made it back to their chambers this morning, they'd both dressed for the day with few words between them. Her husband appeared behind her as soon as she'd stepped into her dress and tightened the corset for her.

The companionable silence between them had unnerved her a little.

Klaus pulled out her chair for her and gestured for her to sit. Caroline sat with a grimace. It was going to be hard to keep reminding herself what a beast he was when was he had the face of an angel and acted like the perfect gentleman.

Klaus sat beside her at the head of the table. "Wine?"

The blonde vampire wrinkled her nose. "For breakfast?"

"It's blood-mead." He poured the red liquid in a goblet and offered it to her.

It reminded her of their wedding night; when he'd feed her blood without her knowledge. A flash of anger and revulsion filled her but she tapered it down quickly. All these heighten emotions drained her energy. Caroline shook her head, declining the cup. After all, she'd just fed from him.

Her husband pressed her to take it. "An infant vampire needs blood many times a day." He smirked, "If you'd prefer to feed from me, we'll have to go somewhere private."

Caroline felt herself blushing under his wicked gaze. His intensity was so frightening, but at the same time it thrilled her. She reached out and took the cup, smelling the blood inside; her face transformed into her vampiric mask. "I'm sorry. I can't seem control it." she quietly murmured.

Klaus stared at her be-fanged mouth. "You will." He replied absently, still gazing at her. He brought his eyes to hers and Caroline felt a shocking thrill run up her spine when his eyes had turned gold. "May I kiss you, love?" The Beast murmured, leaning across the table toward her.

Her first thought was to deny him, but she was well aware he could take what her wanted. The truth was that she wanted to kiss him after all he'd done. Caroline remembered his kisses from the night before, they'd absolutely wrecked her. Just the thought of what all those full lips could do caused her to blush, her lower regions aching.

The beast inhaled sharply, eyes darkening. "I can smell you, Caroline." He told her huskily, "There's no need to deny ourselves. I have much to teach you, yet."

The blonde vampire shook her head. She would not lie with him again...but a kiss wouldn't hurt, right? "A kiss only." She bargained. Caroline felt her monstrous mask slipping away and she almost sighed with relief.

Her husband nodded, his golden gaze turned back into blue. Their lips met in a surprisingly gentle kiss. It just a soft press of lips before she was blinking at her now empty personal space. Klaus threw back and drank a goblet of blood-mead with inhuman speed, avoiding her gaze. Caroline didn't deny the confusion she felt.

The sound of the door opening took her attention away from her alluring husband. She watched Elijah, Rebekah, Kol, and a dark-skinned girl walk in. Caroline peered at her, pursuing her lips. There was something about her eyes...

The beautiful young woman looked about her age with expressive eyes and dark ringlets framing her heart-shaped face. She wore plain blue dress and walked with her head held high beside Kol. Finally, blue met hazel eyes and Caroline jumped out of her seat, flashing in front of the pair.

"I know you." She claimed to the dark skinned woman escorted by Kol.

She shook her head, eyeing Caroline distrustfully. "I've never met you."

Caroline reached out slowly and brushed a curl back from the woman's face. "Your name is Bonnie Bennett."

Bonnie gasped and glanced to her escort, Kol, whom asked, "We've raised Bonnie since she was a babe, how could you know her?"

"Shelia Bennett helped my mother raise me. She had a drawing of a babe she kept close to her heart." Caroline turned to Bonnie, "I would recognize your eyes anywhere."

"You knew my grandmother?" Bonnie asked. She turned accusing eyes on Kol. "I thought all my family was dead."

Klaus joined them, placing his hand on Caroline's lower back. Shivers raced over her sensitive skin at his touch. Before Kol could answer, she supplied, "She lives in the village. I just saw her two days ago." Her husband's grip tightened and Caroline got the feeling she said something she shouldn't have.

Suddenly, Kol bowed over in pain and Caroline scooted back away from him, not knowing what was happening.

"I expect them to lie to me, but you?!" Bonnie ground out, her hands held out like she was holding a great force. "I never want to see your face again!" With that, she released whatever hold she had on him and ran from the dining hall.

Caroline stepped forward, wanting to follow, but Klaus held her arm firm. "Let her go, love."

Kol stood and looked at the door with miserable eyes for a few moments before turning on Klaus with a hiss, "This is your fault!"

He was the picture of calm in the face of Kol's anger. "Come now, Kol, let's not point fingers. Let's have a nice breakfast and I'm sure Bonnie will come around later."

Caroline watched her husband interact with Kol, wanting to step in and defend the troublemaker. He obviously had feelings for Bonnie and Klaus was brushing it off like it didn't matter.

"Why do I listen to you!? I never wanted to lie to her!" Kol thundered, "You only want us to be as miserable as you are!"

Caroline glanced at Klaus and noticed a muscle ticking in his jaw as he watched his brother stalk out of the room and slam the door.

The Beast turned her back toward the table. Elijah and Rebekah looked at them with mixed expressions. "Let's eat!" He exclaimed, like this was a normal family meal.

Bonnie ran to her work space, passing the dark dungeon on the way there. A thought suddenly occurred to her. She stopped and turned back around, entering the room that held Katerina Petrova.

The chained vampire didn't acknowledge her presence. "Wake up, Katerina."

"Castle Black's very own Bennett witch. How may I help you?"

Bonnie grasped the bars between them and peered through the darkness. Katerina was looking at her with a hungry expression. "I want some answers."

"Do you?" The vampire grinned. "Nothing is free, Bon-Bon. What will you give me in return?"

The witch thought for a moment. What could she offer the prisoner? She couldn't release her and she refused to be a blood bag. "A favor." She decided.

Katerina clucked her tongue. A favor from a Bennett witch was rare and very valuable. A witch of her caliber could accomplish many things. "Deal. What answers can I provide?"

"What happened to my mother?"

The vampire smirked. "Didn't your lover tell you?"

"Kol isn't my anything." Bonnie denied. Not anymore. She elaborated, "What really happened to her?"

"Remove the spell holding me here."

"You know I can't do that." Bonnie knew the Beast would eat her without a second thought and as far as she was concerned, she had a grandmother to find.

"I didn't say release me." Snapped Katerina. "Just remove the spell and I'll tell you all about mommy dearest."

Bonnie huffed and closed her eyes, she felt the magic in the bars. It was a strong spell, but Bonnie had no problem removing it. "There. Now talk, vampire."

"They lied to you. Abby isn't dead. She's a vampire."

The witch exhaled a shaky breath. She was glad, but also confused as to why her mother never came back for her.

"Wondering why mommy never came back for you?" Katerina mocked. "I forced her to give me Klaus' blood and she knew he'd kill her for it so she took the rest and killed herself before he could do the honors. Unlike myself though, she was smart enough to escape."

"How do I know you're telling the truth?"

"You don't, but a deal is a deal. Now leave me."

Bonnie stalked from the room, intent on confronting Kol. She would get the truth from his deceitful lips today.

A screeching metallic sound halted her and she whipped back around to see the ravenous red eyes and fangs of Katerina Petrova. "It's amazing what a little Original blood can do for a girl." Her smirking mouth was filled with sharp teeth and Bonnie knew then she'd be lucky if this starved vampire didn't drain her dry. "Don't fret, Bon-Bon, I haven't forgotten what your mother did for me. I won't kill you." Katerina thought for a moment. "But witch blood is very potent and as you can see, I'll need all the strength I can get to kill the Beast."

Before Bonnie could defend herself, Katerina attacked with blood in her eyes and teeth bared.

The family breakfast didn't help Caroline's outlook on Klaus. She was still unsure about everything. Together, they walked back to their chambers without saying a word.

"Would you fancy a stroll through the garden?" He asked her as they arrived.

"I think I saw enough of it last night." She answered, turning to look at him. "As I was trying to escape."

Her husband frowned, opening the doors to their suite. "The wards wouldn't have allowed you off the castle grounds."

Caroline couldn't believe him. Of course, he'd trap her here. "Did you imprison all your wives too, or am I just the lucky one?" She ungracefully flopped down on the window ledge, looking out at the beautiful mountains.

"It's for your safety, love." He poured himself a tumbler of brown spirits. "While you don't have to fear anyone here, there are other monsters who'd love to murder you."

"Just for being your wife, naturally." She knew her tone irritated him, the way he gripped the glass harder, but she was miffed about being trapped here. "You expect me to sit in this empty castle and be happy."

His voice was a growl. "Caroline, love-"

But Caroline wasn't done. She was so angry! "I will never be happy here. I wanted to see the world and now I'm stuck here with a beast who doesn't care about anyone but himself!"

"Wife, stop this-"

"A beast who only takes, takes, and takes! Never to give! You don't connect with anyone because you don't try to understand them!" The baby vampire knew she was pushing him but Caroline didn't care. She couldn't seem to see past the red anger clouding her vision. "I pity you!"

The glass in the Beast's hand shattered, halting her rant. Blood dripped on the stone floor as he rounded on her. Caroline flattened herself against the glass, her heart thumbing so hard she feared it was going to burst. Fear clogged her throat at the anger evident in her husband's face.

"You know nothing!" He roared, invading her personal space and slapping the window beside her head with his injured hand. Black veins moved under his golden eyes like snakes and his double fangs glinted in the afternoon sunshine. "But you will know imprisonment!"

Caroline's eyes widened. "Y-you wouldn't dare." She hated the way her voice wavered.

"I would dare, wife!" He bellowed, grabbing her arm and jerking her up and dragging her bodily out of the room. "I'd even dare that your opinion of me would change after a fortnight in the dungeon!"

Caroline tried to wretch her arm away, but Klaus was too strong. He was really going to lock her away! Fear ran through her veins like poison, drugging her mind until all that remained was the instinct to survive. With all the strength and sped she could muster, she torn herself away and grabbed her husband's face. She looked into his eyes for a split second, seeing surprise in them before realization settled in. He knew she would betray him.

Steeling herself against the sudden aching in her heart, she gripped his chin and jerked it roughly to the side, effectively snapping his neck. Knowing he was much stronger and older than than her, she assumed he'd only be out for a short time.

Caroline flashed her way out of the castle and looked at the horizon. It was time to test these so-called wards.

Nothing had stopped Caroline from running away from the castle. So much for boundary spells. Caroline would've done a victory dance if she hadn't been running for her life. She'd made it deep into the forest and realized she was still far from her village.

The trees cast huge looming shadows, even in the evening sun it was as dark as night. Thick, heavy vines made finding her way difficult. The summer heat caused her silk dress to stick to her skin uncomfortably and she'd lost her shoes miles back. Maybe she'd been too hasty in her escape, but when would she have gotten the chance again?

She kept getting shivers down her spine, like she was being watched. She repeatedly thought she heard twigs cracking but when she turned around, nothing was there. She had run from the Beast because he'd frightened her, but now she knew the actual anticipation of fear. Someone or something was stalking her.

Caroline didn't think it was Klaus, he'd already shown himself and forced her back to the castle. A bone chilling growl broke her train of thought. Her spine stiffened and she dared not to move. She could see multiple large shapes coming closer to her in her peripheral vision.

The large shapes become growling wolves with their muzzles pulled back over their red-stained fangs. They were all various colors and unnaturally large, just as her husband had been in his wolven form. One by one, they surrounded her; forming a kill circle.

"Nice wolves." She whispered, slowly crouching down.

"These aren't regular wolves, as I'm sure you're aware."

Caroline just stopped herself from jumping out of her skin. A figure walked into the area that the she was trapped in. To her surprise, the wolves parted for the person. When the figure was close enough, Caroline gasped, "Elena?!"

An evil smile split the face of her best friend and Caroline realized it was not Elena. Elena was the most kind-hearted person she knew and never could use an expression like the pure malice she saw on this woman's face.

The wolves stopped growling and sat on their haunches, watching the two women interact with gleaming eyes. Did they understand what was happening?

"Who are you?" She asked Not-Elena.

Not-Elena wore a moth-eaten, grimy dress that hung off her frame like it was two sizes too big. Her curly brown hair was matted down over her shoulders and looked like it had been hastily chopped off at her waist. "My name is Katerina and you are the newest bride of the Beast. Let me be the first to give you my condolences for having to wed that monster."

Caroline had her reservations about her husband but hearing this woman insult him made her want to rip her evil tongue out. The sudden protectiveness startled her. "You seem to know my husband, but he's never mentioned you." Her own cruel smile made its way to her face.

Katerina petted the closest wolf to her. "He didn't mention the woman he kept imprisoned and tortured for eighteen years? How like him."

How come that didn't shock her? Caroline brushed it off, it wasn't her problem now. "What does that have to do with me?"

Katerina smirked, mouth now filled with her own set of fangs and blood colored eyes. It didn't surprise Caroline that this woman was a vampire, she'd gotten the 'I'll eat you' aura right from the beginning. "I'm going to rip Klaus' heart out..." She gestured to the blonde, "And here it is, right in front of me, vulnerable and unprotected."

Caroline snorted. "I don't know where you got your information, but the only person Klaus loves is Klaus."

The brunette snarled her lip and glared at Caroline. "How horrible it must be to own the heart of the beast. I pity you."

Hearing those words thrown back at her felt like a slap. No wonder Klaus threatened to throw her in the dungeon. Knowing someone pitied you felt like the worst kind of insult. She regretted yelling at the Beast, but she could never be his prisoner.

Katerina looked at the wolf closest to her. "Bite her." She commanded. "All of you."

Caroline braced herself to dodge the wolves, crouching on her tip-toes and watching her would-be killers. Surely, she could out-run them all.

"I don't know if you heard me earlier..." Called Katerina, over the vicious snarls and growls, "but these aren't regular wolves and one bite from a werewolf will kill you."

There went that plan. Elijah had not mentioned werewolves and their apparent deadly bites! She had no reason to believe Katerina, but it wasn't worth her life to take that bet. The first wolf attacked from behind her, she turned in time to slap it away. It hit a tree with a whimper but got right back up. She was going to have to kill them if she was going to survive.

The problem was she had no idea who to kill a werewolf. Her breath was knocked from her lungs as a werewolf pounced on her. She struggled under its weight, it's breath like something rotten and dead. She gagged, twisting wildly to avoid its teeth. Between this one's snapping jaws, she saw the others approaching her, teeth bared.

Caroline knew she was going to die, here in the middle of this stupid forest, surrounded by glorified dogs and a crazy vampiress.

I wish I could've seen him once more.

The thought came out of no-where, muddling her brain. She thought of him and not her mother or friends? It was frustrating and unwelcome.

The weight on her chest disappeared and she bolted up, finally free. The sight that greeted her halted her movements completely. Klaus stood before her in his beastly glory, chest heaving and eyes wild. He only glanced at her for a moment before turning to Katerina and the werewolves.

Katerina was visibly shaking with fear. "Kill him!" She hissed.

The wolves attacked as one.

Fear bubbled up Caroline's throat but she recognized it was for her husband and not herself. "Look out!"

The first wolf was completely ripped in two by Klaus, blood covering them both. The other's latched on to whatever part of him they could, teeth ripping and tearing. Caroline gasped as the Beast was brought to his knees. She never thought anything could take down her mighty husband.

Klaus growled, ripping the wolves off and killing them quickly. The others circled warily and Caroline looked to Katerina and saw the vampire was gone, abandoning her comrades.

With a great roar that even she felt in her bones, the wolves tucked tail and ran from the Beast. Klaus slowly turned to her, eyes black with rage; his body was trembling with it. Blood poured from his many wounds, but he paid them no mind as he stalked her.

Caroline's chest heaved with many emotions as she backed away from her husband. He still hadn't said a word. The rough bark of a tree bit into her back and she knew she was done for. "Klaus-"

"There is no where you can run, that I won't follow, little wife." His rough voice sent shivers down her spine, despite the threat.

His bloodied hand gently cupped her face and Caroline couldn't stop staring at him. In that moment, all she felt was the happiness blooming in her chest. She was so glad he'd saved her.

Pressing his body into hers, he kissed her forehead and rasped, "I thought I'd lost you."

The misery and fear in his voice broke her heart. Maybe this beast did care for her. "Klaus-" she tried again. The hard press of his lips cut her off and she moaned at the sensation. How could a simple kiss and touch set her body on fire?

All thought left her as his tongue entered her mouth and stoked hers relentlessly. His kisses were dizzying, the more she received, the more she wanted. Klaus kissed her until she was squirming against him, her body aching. She wasn't even aware he'd bunched her dress around her waist until his hard length pulsed against her.

The Beast growled low in his throat, sheathing himself to the hilt inside Caroline's luscious wetness.

"Klaus!" Caroline cried, moving against him, trying to create that delicious friction her body needed so desperately. Klaus began kissing and licking her neck as he began to move. It wasn't the slow, gentle way he'd started their first time. This hard, fast pistoling of his hips overloaded Caroline's brain with pleasure, her mouth frozen open in a silent cry.

A shriek escaped her when he slipped his hand to where their bodies were joined, pinching her little bundle of nerves. It felt like lightening shot through her body every time he rubbed it, the pleasure bordering on pain. The combination of his ministrations and the amazing fullness she felt drove her over the edge, grinding against him in abandon, she came undone.

Caroline felt her fangs dropping into her mouth and gripped his shoulders, biting into the junction of his neck and shoulder. Klaus grunted, shuddering with his release. The blood filling Caroline's mouth was sweet ambrosia after her orgasm. She doubted she'd ever be able to separate feeding from Klaus and having sex with him. Her heart filled with elation when she felt their connection. She felt the joy from Klaus and sighed contentedly, removing her bite.

The Beast stood her on wobbly legs and let her adjust herself as he did the same. Caroline fixed her dress and peered at her husband. "Klaus? Are you okay?" She noticed sweat shining on his forehead. That couldn't be good.

Klaus stumbled into her and it was all Caroline could do to keep him from hitting the ground. So maybe it wasn't a good idea to have sex right after he sustained multiple injuries defending her. And her post-sex bite probably didn't help anything.

"Klaus!" She wiggled against him, but his head just rolled onto her shoulder. "Help me. You have to walk."

He must have heard her because she felt a little of his weight shift off her. She could work with this. She slipped her arm around his back and under his left arm and stood again. It didn't escape her that she could just leave him here and continue to run while he was unconscious. That little nagging voice in the back of her mind reminded her of all the cruel things he'd done to her, but her mother had always taught her that two wrongs did not make a right. Just because someone was cruel to her, did not mean she should be cruel in return, it would just create an endless cycle of cruelty.

"Let's go home, Klaus."

Please let me know what you thought! & message me if you have an questions or just want to say hi! I'm a quick replier under normal circumstances. :)

Tiffywa~