Hello dear readers,
As some of you may know; I have been rather occupied with life as well as finishing my first work Resilience so I couldn't update this for some time now. If you found your way to this story but not to that one, I do hope you'll take the time to give it a read. But anyhow, here is the newest chapter! Oh, and see the end for a disclaimer that might help answer some questions about how I've decided that the 'humanity switch' works.
(Also, nsfw warning - but it's pretty mild in my opinion)
Please enjoy, xx.

Chapter 3: Let me make myself clear

Present day
New York City, New York

It was still fascinating to the young vampire how different feeding was without her humanity. She kept expecting to hear the alarm bells in her head, feel the apprehension in her chest… Instead, only the rush remained. Her heart beating rapidly as her body grew warm by the fresh blood in her veins, sparks spreading through her limbs as she clung to the muscular man's shoulders. His hands tracing her sides and his body caging her into the corner of the grand room, bringing even further heat to hit her as she rubbed closer against him.

She pulled back with a soft sigh, resting her forehead against his as she grinned at the hooded look in those grey eyes. "That was… delicious." she crooned as she dried the residual blood off her lips. "Don't tell me - you're some health nut, right? You never eat processed foods or things like pizza… I bet your favorite meal is grilled kale or something."

"Black cabbage, actually." he murmured. Wavering a little on his feet as he held onto her waist for balance, the blood-loss beginning to affect him.

The reply caused her to chuckle incredulously as she played with the ends of his hair. Scratching against his neck as his gaze traveled over her form in appreciation. "It really doesn't make sense how people who eat things that taste just horrible, have the most incredible blood…" she mused to herself leisurely.

He shrugged a little, wearing a confused frown before smiling again and leaning in to kiss her. Bringing a deep smirk from the blonde as she reciprocated eagerly, locking her arms around him as she marveled in the steady body against her. His hands kneaded her curves as he held her tightly, his tongue meeting hers as he groaned in response to her taste. He began to turn heavy against her as he gradually slackened, his body weakened by her feeding and his eyes blinking slowly as he squinted at her through the daze.

"What did you do to me?" he asked in a slow mutter, causing her to roll her eyes in reply.

"Just as things started to get good." she whined before pressing a hand to his chest and pushing him away with the tiniest movement. It was enough for him to topple over and collapse on the floor, his gaze still trying to find her as he looked completely out of it.

She caught the new scent just before the familiar man showed up with a humored smirk, his arms folded in front of him as he leaned against the doorframe across from her. "What did you expect from a human, love?" he crooned, so many thoughts glimmering in his blue-green eyes that it nearly wore her down. "His stamina couldn't possibly hold up to yours."

The reflex to tease back was so strong, she had to dig her fingernails into her palms to resist it. Only shaking her head in a passive expression as she looked him over. "Is this how it's going to be now?" she pressed. "You following me around town and sharing your unwelcome commentary until one of us inevitably gives into the other?"

"I wasn't aware that this was some test of persistence, Caroline." he chimed, the mirth glowing in his features. "Are you suggesting that I'm trying to provoke you in some way?"

"So, that's your new tactic now? Irritating me into following you to New Orleans by dropping shameless innuendos in all of your sentences?" she countered in a disbelieving scoff, walking towards him with a shrug. "Interesting choice, Mikaelson."

"Why, is it working?" he taunted, pushing off from the doorframe and closing the distance between them. Reaching forward and cupping her cheek, his thumb brushing over the skin just beneath her lower lip.

The touch burned against her as she held her breath, waiting to see what he would do next. His lips parting as his face covered her view, slowly bringing his hand back and prompting her eyes to lock on the drop of blood he'd caught with his thumb. He brought it to his mouth with a smirk as he sucked it off, her gaze shooting up from his lips in time to catch the flash of amber in his irises.

She wanted to applaud herself for keeping such a stoic stance as she refused to show any reaction. Instead, she allowed herself to only snicker in response as she shook her head at him. "I can't help but feel like you're just setting yourself up for disappointment here, Klaus." she countered with a low voice, internally cursing herself for not sounding as unaffected as she'd hoped. Leaning in as she continued in a whisper. "We both know you're not going to actually act on it." she baited, earning a cocked eyebrow from the hybrid as he scanned her closely.

"Act on what, Caroline?" he asked, sounding so innocent that she nearly burst out laughing in result.

A short snicker slipped from her lips as she shook her head again, taking a deep breath as she stepped back from him. Pushing away the tiny crumb of regret in her chest as she raised her chin in determination. "I have an audition to get to." she proclaimed leisurely. "And as much as they love fashionable tardiness in some businesses, I have a feeling it might be frowned upon in the theater."

"Yes, I thought I caught your name on the sign outside…" he mused with a nod as his gaze took in the large dressing room around them. "Never did take you for a Barbara Streisand fan."

"I'm a 'get to sing on Broadway' fan." she clarified, glancing at the unconscious man behind her pointedly. "And he was just a quick bite between performances. The next song is in a few minutes."

"Are you kicking me out?" Klaus asked cheekily then, bringing a sigh from her in response.

"I need to rehearse the lyrics to 'People', and you're kind of distracting me."

"Am I?" he pressed with a pleased grin on his lips, stepping closer to her once more. His hands locked behind his back as he studied her. "Interesting, did you not just tell me that my supposed advances were all in vain?"

"They are if your plan is to make me feel something... real." she pointed out. "And I should warn you, the last time someone tried that - I kind of ordered a med-student to perform surgery on Stefan's last human relative while she was still awake. So, I really wouldn't recommend you pushing me."

"Are you saying that I should fear you, sweetheart?" he chuckled in amusement. "What could you possibly do to me?"

She closed the distance between them in a swift move, glaring at him as she assessed his expression silently. Tilting her head to the side as her eyes narrowed, her lips pursed in thought. She raised an eyebrow in challenge as she met his steady gaze. Her face moving close enough for her lips to brush against his as she spoke. "I could figure out your secret." she suggested, imitating his trademark mix of both a soft and dangerous tone.

His eyes gave nothing away as she waited for a reaction, and it frustrated her to death. She still didn't understand how he could be so good at hiding what he was thinking or feeling… Even from her. But it also made her understand that whatever he was trying to keep from her must be something incredibly important. And perhaps she could find it out in other ways...

With that thought, she raised her hands to his face. Her knuckles brushing over his cheeks softly, her fingertips grazing his jaw gently. She caught something in his eyes and fought to hold her triumphant smirk back, instead pressing towards his body further. Taking note of every tiny little flicker in his heartbeat, every flash of emotion in his gaze, every twitch in his features. She knew if she was ever going to try anything like this, it would be now. When she was as in touch with her vampire instincts as she'd ever been, when she felt no remorse for her actions. When she could just close her eyes and follow the pull between them without second thought.

So she did, she leaned in and touched her nose to his. Her breath blending with his through their parted lips. Her neck stretching as she moved her weight to her tiptoes. And with all of her determination, she dove into his mind.

The images moved too quickly for her to follow, his thoughts not making much sense as she fought to piece it all together. She felt the echo of something emotionally powerful and moved towards it, seeing flashes of auburn hair and freckles through the chaos inside. It was only for a second before she was abruptly pushed away, his hands gripping her wrists and holding her back with a hard scowl on his face.

"What do you think you're doing?" he asked through a clenched jaw, surprising her as it confirmed that she was onto something after all.

"Well… I was going to kiss you." she lied, barely keeping herself from smiling as she felt incredibly pleased with her successful experiment. "Did you not want me to?"

"Don't test me, Caroline." he pushed on, ignoring her acting with a glare as his grip tightened on her wrists. Squeezing hard enough to leave bruises on any human skin.

"I don't know what-" she began with feigned ignorance, causing him to scowl deeper as he spun them in a quick flash. Pinning her to the wall as he looked very dangerous to her just then.

"You forget who I am." he chided with a slow drawl. His words filled with anger, his eyes covered in signs of how hard he was restraining himself from retaliating. "As much as I may enjoy occasionally playing this age-old game with you, it does not by any means guarantee that I will not do what I need to - were you to ever cross the line."

"What line?" she scoffed in disbelief, whimpering silently as he pushed her harder into the wall firmly in reply. Tiny bones in her wrists cracking in result of his hold as his eyes flashed with golden hues.

"You know… I had the inkling that your new state would become a liability." he mused darkly. "However, I never thought you would act reckless towards me."

"So, I was right." she stated as she watched his furious face. "You are hiding something. Someone."

"Enough." he growled, his hand swiftly circling her neck as it kept her from speaking. "I am going to make this very easy for you, Caroline." he chimed with a cold smile. "You either follow me to New Orleans, or I leave on my own and kill every last person I encounter from here to Louisiana."

"What?" she spat out in surprise, staring at him with wide eyes as she stuttered in response. "I don't… Why would I care who you kill? No humanity, remember?"

"Oh, but I think you do care." he crooned softly, his breath hitting her lips as his eyes bore into hers. "Because you know that once your year is up, or when someone does finally manage to flip your switch back on, you will remember this conversation. You will remember how you were the reason that so many innocent, defenseless people died… All because you wanted to test your luck with me."

She gulped as she felt the traces of fear trying to trickle into her mind, setting her face in a hard expression as she watched him. "And what happens then, Klaus?" she asked calmly. "What happens when I remember how you forced me to do what you wanted; manipulated me and played on my evident empathy and guilt… What do you think will happen when I can feel every last bit of betrayal, resentment and hate for what you did?"

There were hints of regret spreading over his features as he took in her words, his grip loosening and his eyes hiding away hurt as he blinked silently in reaction. She saw that she had thrown him off, even if just slightly, and decided to take her shot. Reaching for some prop pillar beside her, immediately plunging it into Klaus' chest. Causing him to let her go with a groan as he doubled over in pain, giving her enough time to run out of the dressing room and get as far away as she could. Flashing down the halls of the grand theatre, she managed to get out on the busy street and quickly attempted to blend in with the pedestrians. Thanking New York for being so overcrowded as she heard Klaus' voice from afar calling on her, the volume low and steady as he was sure she would catch it.

"Running from a wolf? Interesting strategy, sweetheart…" he chimed in amusement, his chuckle causing a shudder to coarse through her in a mixed response. "However, I suppose I will let you go - for now." he crooned in promise. "See you soon, Caroline."

She gulped down the turmoil of emotions that tried to rise in her chest and hurried to get back to her loft as soon as possible. Struggling to shake off the strange feeling in her body as it seemed to be a blend of way to many senses… ranging from fear to excitement and anger. It was all too dangerous for her to indulge in, so she made sure to lock herself in the apartment.

Damn that Original asshole, she thought to herself as she flipped some furniture and tore down lamps in fury. Fear settling in her body once more as she realized that this had been the first time since leaving Mystic Falls that something had gotten close to reaching her. The first time that she had been right on the edge of that wall that held her humanity back. Cracks having begun to spread through it, light beaming past the crumbling stonework, a flood having nearly torn the entire thing down. He had brought the wall close to ruins… just barely pushing her over.

She stared at her reflection in the panorama windows, chocked to see that tears had made their way to her eyes despite the empty look in them. Her body seemingly reacting to something she couldn't quite feel inside, not truly. It was shielded from her, like a dirty window preventing her from properly seeing through the glass. She knew it was there, the emotions that could so easily pull her humanity back, but it wasn't palpable to her. She could feel the presence of it all, how she would react before with her switch on, but now it was nothing more than a hollow echo of what it used to be.

Caroline decided then that there was no longer a choice in the matter, it was way too risky to try and balance the humanity switch whilst Klaus was in town. She had to do everything possible to stay away from him, or else it would all come crashing down… and he would bury her in the ruins.

Packing her things had been quick, moving it all into storage - or rather, compelling some humans to move it for her - went a little slower. But by the end of the day; Caroline Forbes had erased every trace of her ever being in the city. She'd ripped up her lease, forced her real-estate agent to forget about her and threatened any neighbor that could possibly become a liability to her escape plan. But as she got into her rental car, immediately being boxed-in by the NY traffic, she started to feel a nagging irritation build in her stomach.

Was she really running?

The short image of Klaus trying to catch up with her just as she disappeared into the crowds of the Big Apple replayed behind her closed eyelids. Bringing her to sigh heavily as she dropped her head forward with a scowl. Her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly, causing tiny cracks to spread across the rubber.

He was going to find her.

She knew it didn't matter where she went, nor how far, the man had spent centuries hunting down Katherine Pierce for having the gall to die before he could use her to break his curse… If Klaus Mikaelson wanted to, he would get to you. It was that simple.

So, what was she supposed to do here exactly?

Give up?

Surrender?

No, she quickly thought with a clenched jaw. Gritting her teeth roughly as her hands nearly snapped the wheel into pieces. The fear and anxiety quickly overshadowed by the strong survival instincts left behind within her empty soul.

She refused to be pushed into a corner, to be forced to follow someone's orders, to be made to turn her humanity back on - and for what? So that she could drown in self-loathing, loss and guilt?

So with that, she exited her car and ignored the hollering New Yorkers and screeching horns behind her. Grabbing onto the first person on the street and smiling sweetly at the dark-haired young girl.

"Hi, I'm Caroline." she chimed gently. "Do me a favor, will you?" she added while pressing the car keys into the stranger's hands and locking her bright blue eyes with hers. "Take these and return that car for me." she ordered, nodding to the stranded vehicle before finishing off the compulsion. "Oh, and I need some money."

The woman blinked shortly before digging into her purse and pulling out her wallet, sorting through the contents to follow the command. Caroline grabbed the entire wallet and quickly caught her eyes again. "Thanks." she purred before compelling the girl again. "Forget about me now." she instructed leisurely, turning away but spinning right back as she stopped the woman from leaving.

"Oh, and here…" she drawled while taking the driver's license out of the wallet and handing it back to the stranger. "You'll need that for the rental place."

At that, she left the girl and scurried down the sidewalk with an easy smirk on her lips. Browsing the wallet with daft fingers as she went over the cards one by one. "Boring." she muttered at the club memberships of various clothing stores. Snorting at the several different food coupons and business cards for lawyers and handymen.

"Nope…" she scoffed at the loyalty cards for some fast-food restaurants. Dropping each little piece of plastic not of interest over her shoulder as she searched on. Grinning when she finally found something of worth and turning the tiny dark paper over in scrutiny.

"Now, what are you?" she drawled in curiosity as she read the faded letters on the back of the card; coordinates typed out along with a shorthand-written message.

'Until next time. - A.'

"Perfect." she snickered to herself as she wrote out the coordinates on her phone. When no results were listed from her search, it only intrigued her more. Zooming in on the spot on the map, she studied the pinned building with pursed lips as it seemed to be nothing more than an apartment complex in the Village.

But it was worth a shot anyhow. Because if she really was going to run - and if this really would be her last evening in New York - then she would be damned if she didn't get drunk and danced on a table or had one last hook-up… preferably all of it and in no particular order.

That was how Caroline Forbes ended up at an underground night-club amongst New York's elite. Surrounded by people dressed in brands she couldn't even buy back home, paying way too much for complex drinks she could barely pronounce, people talking over her head in all kinds of languages and flashing outrageously expensive jewelry her way…

She couldn't think of a better way to absorb the last of the city. Until a man with glimmering dark eyes and equally dark hair walked in on her in the middle of feeding off some Upper West Side snob.

"You must be new." the Latin accent sent pulses of excitement through her as he spoke – thought, it could have just been the blood high she was currently on. Regardless, she pulled back from the pale body in her arms and gazed across the hall at her company with hooded eyes and a deep smirk.

"I'll get to you in a minute, sweetie." she purred, noting the shadow of dark veins crawling underneath his eyes and grinning widely at her discovery. "Or maybe you'd like a taste?" she quipped tauntingly, grabbing her victim's frail neck and showing off the bloody bite. "I don't mind sharing."

The fire flashing over his face made her insides curl as she watched him walk closer with slow steps. A predatory smirk covering his lips as he reached for the woman in her hold. Raising her head and studying her dazed features with a snicker. "As tempting as that is…" he crooned with that warm, caramel spice voice. His eyes meeting hers again with a spark of something dangerous in them. "It is not how we do things here, hermosa."

"No?" she scoffed, shrugging as she grabbed the back of the woman's head and snapped her neck with one swift move. The body had barely touched the floor by the time she flashed forward and pinned the man against the wall.

"And who are you to tell me how to do anything, hm?" she pressed, her lips brushing over his as she pushed close to his chest.

He scanned her with something curious in his eyes as his hands fluttered upwards the sides of her body. Finding her hips and holding on, pulling her closer to him with a deep smirk. "You are trouble, aren't you?" he snickered in amusement. "There are rules in place." he added with a leisure tone. "Some you can break and others…" his eyes darted to her victim by their feet pointedly. "You cannot."

She shrugged at that, pulling away from him abruptly and casting a quick look at the body. "Well, I guess there's some point in staying under the radar…" she mused to herself, turning to him with a raised brow in question as she continued. "Something tells me you might have an idea or two as to how to best take care of this."

"Certainly." he replied with a levelled voice. "But why would I help you?"

Scoffing at that, she shook her head and stepped over the corpse casually. "Then don't." she countered as she began walking down the long hallway by the restrooms which she'd lured the now dead lady to. "I don't care if anyone finds her… you, however, seem to." she teased, resisting a gasp when strong hands suddenly pulled her back into his hold.

Her back pressed flush against his chest as his arms circled around her waist slowly, his breath hot against her ear as he buried his face in her hair. "How about this…" he began with a slow drawl. "I'll deal with the left-overs, if you wait for me outside."

"Wait for you?" she repeated, fighting back the pleased smirk nudging at her lips as she drew patterns over his forearms.

"Well, I feel that since I've already introduced to you the restrictions of our lifestyle here…" he mused with a shrug. "I'd show you the luxuries involved as well."

"Luxuries?" she asked, turning her head to meet his gaze over her shoulder. "That sounds like a pretty tall order if you ask me."

"Seeing as I interrupted your meal and all, it doesn't seem more than fair." he taunted, bringing her to beam back with a shrug.

"Fine." she chimed, stepping out of his hold and leaving him to deal with the dead body on his own.

Walking through the nightclub and ignoring the raised eyebrows and disgusted grimaces cast her way as she realized that traces of her little snack were still visible on her collar. Likely causing the rich snobs around her to think that she had spilled a drink and then not bothered washing up. She supposed it was better for all parties involved that they kept that theory. Preferring that they didn't bother coming closer to investigate it further, since it would cause an unfortunate scene in result.

As she stepped out onto the busy street, she was surprised to see that the man was already waiting for her. His arms crossed over his chest as he leaned against a lamppost. "That was quick." she noted with a raised eyebrow as she scanned his looks in the lit-up sidewalk, glad to find that he was as pleasing to look at as she'd first suspected.

"I know better than to leave a woman like you waiting." he shrugged, his eyes sparkling as he smirked at her. "Now, how about we go find a less… public way to spend our night?"

Moving towards him with a seductive smile, she studied his lips momentarily before meeting his eyes again. "Vámonos." she crooned, accepting his offered arm then and snaking her hand around his bicep. Deciding that this was a far better use of her energy than hurrying to escape the Big Bad Wolf.

Caroline hadn't meant to fall asleep. She'd planned on sneaking out sometime in the small hours of the morning, but Nico - as the mystery vampire introduced himself - had managed to reel her back in with deep kisses and rough caresses. So, when she did open her eyes again, she noted the sun shining brightly and hitting her face.

On the plus-side, it brought her attention to the incredible apartment the man had taken her to. A modern and sleek interior with wall-length windows like her own temporary stay. White leather furniture that informed her that the man didn't worry about cleaning the place, since she knew what a hassle it was to keep light-colored furniture spotless.

She ran a hand through her hair as she glanced over at the sleeping man beside her, his arm strewn over her bare chest as his ruffled hair hinted at the night's activities. Lifting the covers subtly, she took in his naked state and smirked to herself in approval, sitting up then before carefully getting out of the bed. Her clothes seemed to have been tossed all around the place and she only managed to find her underwear and heels before Nico began stirring.

"Leaving so soon?" he murmured, his voice even sexier with the added rasp as he sat up and studied her from across the open space.

"Morning." she quipped leisurely, aware that Humanity-Caroline would never act so nonchalant standing half-naked in the bright light of the day. But now? She really couldn't care less. "You wouldn't happen to have some B-positive to spare for my ride back downtown?" she asked lightly as she resumed picking up the scraps of her outfit off the floor.

"Why don't you come back to bed, and you can have some of mine?" he suggested heatedly, making her shake her head as she didn't need her humanity to know what a bad idea that was.

"I'm good." she smirked shortly as she pulled her dress on, a flash of wind hitting her swiftly as he turned up behind her. His hands helping her with the zipper and drawing slow patterns across her spine as he did.

"You know…" he crooned as he reached for her shoulders and massaged them gently, his breath hitting her ear as she closed her eyes and relaxed under his touch. "I find it a bit unusual for a lady to want to hurry out of here before even having a cup of coffee first." he mused.

"Well, maybe you're not as charming as you'd like to think." she teased, stifling a gasp as he pressed her against his chest in reply. His palms tracing her curves while his lips hovered over her neck.

"Hm…" he drawled as he left a bruising kiss to her throat, causing her legs to wobble a little as she leaned back into him in response. "How about we put that theory to test?" he purred, prompting her to chuckle in disbelief.

"You're timing is terrible." she snickered, forcing herself to step out of his arms and turn an apologetic grimace his way. "I happen to be running from a very persistent megalomaniac with a tendency for stalking… So, I kind of need all the head-start I can get." she explained with a sigh, her eyes traveling down his naked body then as she struggled not to give in to the man's offer.

"Any other day though…" she hummed wistfully, biting her lip as she met his eyes with regret already starting to build in her gut.

A buzzing sound interrupted them, bringing him to grin widely then as he nodded pointedly. "Ah, it's a shame." he shrugged in taunt as he put on some boxers while moving to get the door. "I was going to offer breakfast." he relayed, opening it and revealing a tall girl who smiled at him politely.

Quickly realizing that she wasn't carrying anything, Caroline watched them with suspicion as he ushered her inside. His hands traveling up the girl's arms as he bent down and breathed her in. Informing the blonde then what the meal in question actually was. "Oh." she said, feeling a little uncertain then as she didn't know what exactly he was suggesting. "That's not really how I do things…" she drawled, earning a smirk from him as he gazed over at her then.

"I believe I got front-row-seats to how you do things, hermosa." he chimed, pushing the woman forward and surprising the vampire further as to how relaxed the lady appeared in their presence.

Was she not aware that she had just walked into her own death?

"Yeah, and you lectured me on rules and etiquette." she reminded him. "How is this any different?"

"Ah, but see… This one here is fully aware of what her role is." he explained cheekily, turning the girl's head to meet his eyes as he nodded at her pointedly. "Aren't you, dear?"

"Yes." she replied calmly, looking over at the blonde with an easy smile. "Although, couples cost extra." she added as she studied the vampire before her.

"Cost." Caroline echoed with a chuckle, shaking her head as she ran a hand through her hair. "So, you're a, what, call-girl?"

"Not at all." Nico snickered as he rounded their company and walked to her with a leveled expression, as if this was the most normal thing in the world. "This is one of those luxuries I mentioned." he shared with a shrug. "A city like this, with the kind of vampire population it has, there needs to be a system in place. One which ensures that the ecosystem isn't disrupted by some vampire going off on a random killing spree…" he explained as he cupped her cheek with a warm smile. "There are rules regarding when, where and on whom we feed."

"Really?" she pressed with a raised eyebrow. "So, this is some kind of service for the friendly local vampire?"

"In a sense, yes." he chuckled, snaking an arm around her waist as he moved her closer to the lady. "And the meter started the moment she entered this home, so I do hope we make the most of it." he crooned, gesturing to the girl then who smiled in reply.

"Wait." Caroline said as he began reaching for the woman's neck, moving her hair back when he stopped to meet the blonde's slightly alarmed eyes. "What's your name?" she asked, earning a surprised expression in reply from the stranger.

"Does it matter?" the girl asked leisurely, adding to the incredulity already filling the vampire's gut. A second passed before she let out a sigh, as if reluctant to respond but deciding to do so anyway. "Lisa." she told her. "I go by Lisa."

The young vampire wasn't sure whether that made things easier or worse, but it seemed to sate some need for reassurance lingering in the back of her mind. So, she finally stepped forward, leaning into Lisa's right as Nico took her left. Her senses picking up on the coursing blood and quickly pulling her in, bringing her to sigh in delight as she bit into the woman's skin and started feeding.

A part of her noted the girl's wince as she did, and how her body stiffened when Nico followed suit. She felt the surge of anxiety fill her blood despite the willingness she'd displayed earlier. Caroline observed it all, but she found such freedom in the fact that she genuinely did not care.

Especially not when she tasted so good, when Nico reached for her face and made her pull away in time to share a bloody kiss, when her body lit up in excitement as he started undressing her again… With all of it adding up, it became less an issue of ethics and more one of pleasure. And in the end, whenever the two did go up against each other, didn't pleasure always win?

She found herself getting lost in the high. They pulled the girl with them and got comfortable in his wide bed, her in the middle of the two as they took turns feeding and making out. He stroked her back in encouraging motions as she straddled Lisa's waist and fed off her hungrily. His hot breath hitting her skin as he kissed her neck and shoulder while she lapped at their respective bites. Her mind was entirely silenced as the man kept spurring her on, and she likely would've drained the girl whole in the end if Nico hadn't pulled her away.

Apparently in far more control than she was, he pinned her to the mattress and nipped at the blood staining her neck and chest. His hands drawing focus away from the still bleeding body beside them as he elicited sighs and moans from the blonde. Wrapping her legs around his waist as his hips ground down against hers, her fingers burying in his hair as she guided him to back to her neck.

The fresh blood hummed in her body as he heated her up, his hands ridding her of the last pieces of garment between them before his lips made a path down her form. Nipping at her breast shortly and fondling the other one as he dipped lower, her hands nudging his head further past her stomach in encouragement. A long sigh falling off her lips as he settled between her legs, his tongue tracing her sex and spreading delightful shivers through her in result.

Her back arched as she closed her eyes in a moan, directing his head to the right spot and grinning widely as he obliged. The smell of blood still evident in the air and making her just short of giddy as she lied back and enjoyed the combined feel of it all; of hunger and lust both being sated at once. Of how his tongue drew circles over her clit and his fingers pinched her nipple. Her nails scratched against his scalp as she tugged at his curls slightly, an image popping in her head then as she was hit by a memory that she rarely allowed herself to replay.

The grass tickling her back as his hands ran down her body, those eyes sparkling so vividly in that mix of blue and grey. His smirk meeting hers before his mouth connected with her sex.

She threw her eyes open at that, shaking her head as she refocused on the man currently pleasuring her. With his warm chocolate gaze, smooth voice and dark hair. With his not smug face, not irritating comments nor all-knowing eyes.

The smile faded off her lips as she wondered how the introducing man had managed to latch onto her thoughts, making her eyebrows knit together as she cursed the ghost in her mind. Doing her best to follow the waves of sparks brought on by Nico's tongue, to lean into his touches, to whisper his name in encouraging pleas…

But that damned phantom kept bothering her behind her eyelids, and she finally stopped trying to fight it and let herself just feel. Allowing her mind to relive the memories she'd stored away for when she'd felt far too lonely and frustrated that she really needed to feel better… When she'd longed for release.

So, even though it was Nico's fingers that began pumping in and out of her, she pictured someone else's. Though his muffled groans made her legs shake in appreciation, she heard an entirely different voice echo in her ears. As lips sucked against her clit and finally sent her flying, her hips rising from the mattress and her hands ripping at the sheets beneath her as she moaned out in pleasure, it was another name that rushed out of her.

And damn it, she would've felt embarrassed about it too if it hadn't been one of the best orgasms she'd had in months.

Either the man didn't hear her sigh for someone else in ecstasy, or he simply didn't take offense to it - because when Nico's lips traveled up her chest and his eyes met hers with a soft smirk - there was no sign of jealousy or resentment of any kind in his features. He looked completely unbothered, albeit a bit proud of himself, as he kissed her warmly and stroked her cheek.

As she opened her eyes, she looked over to find Lisa unconscious beside her and felt the whisper of a voice scolding her for it. "What do we do with her?" she asked, breathing deeply as her heart slowly returned to its normal rhythm.

Nico followed her gaze casually before shrugging. "We heal her and send her on her way." he said, turning her head back to him as he gave her a mischievous look then. "What do you say?" he asked cheekily. "Have I made my case for you to stay and enjoy the city a while longer?"

She fought back a grin in response, chewing on her lower lip as she let out a wistful sigh. "Maybe." she admitted. "If the rest of it is as good as what I've seen so far…"

He chuckled at that, kissing her lips again as his warm eyes filled with mirth. "Give me today." he told her teasingly. "I'll make sure you are well taken care of."

Mulling it over shortly, she snickered to herself in disbelief as she wondered how she could be charmed when she was supposed to be immune to feelings of all kinds. "Alright, handsome. You've worn me down." she concluded. "Give me the ultimate New York experience!" she added with a smirk.

Another day couldn't hurt, right?

It was one thing to make all the cliché tourist stops that Caroline had seen in movies and tv-shows that supposedly 'defined' New York, but to experience it all as a vampire with the legions of benefits it included? Now, that was something different entirely.

Like compelling visitors to leave for the day so they could be free to make out in the elevator-ride towards the top of the Empire State Building. Or skipping the line to a busy rooftop café and getting the best possible table for their impromptu brunch…

Maybe it wouldn't be too bad to stay, she'd considered for a moment between watching Nico pay their bill and pulling him along to buy a couple of ice-cream cones.

However, she was sternly reminded of why she couldn't when she'd caught a glance of what she swore had been Klaus' face from across the street. Before she could confirm her suspicion that he was stalking her still, or that perhaps he was haunting her in increasingly disturbing ways, Nico directed her away from the busy sidewalk and to a bench over at the crowded Washington Square.

"Let's enjoy the sun, hm?" he asked her with a charming smile as he tugged at her hand, directing her to sit in his lap as she not-so-reluctantly complied. "You know, there were times when I'd go months without feeling it's heat on my skin." he mused as he chewed on his waffle cone, her eyebrows knitting together as she kind of hoped they could sit in silent for a moment. "I don't think I ever truly appreciated the freeing ability to simply walk in the sun before I was turned… Without any magical tokens or special spells."

She nodded at that as she focused on her ice-cream, not really paying that much attention as she studied the people around them. Most busying themselves with books or friendly conversations, somehow adding to Caroline's annoyance as she felt the echo of what could only be described as loneliness in the hollow of her soul.

"Were you turned a long time ago?" he asked, informing her that he had finished talking as she shrugged in reply.

"Not that long." she quipped, reaching for his jaw then as she leaned in for a kiss. Wanting to shake off the tingling of something unpleasant in the back of her mind.

As she pulled away from him, she returned his smile with one of her own before standing up from his lap. Tossing the remnants of her dessert in a nearby trash bin, she held out her hand to the man and winked at him playfully.

"Come on, I wanna see the view from the top of the Statue of Liberty next." she crooned, earning a warm chuckle as he threw away his half-eaten cone as well before taking her hand. He surprised her by swiftly pulling her into his chest, his smirk deep as he bent down to kiss her again when a voice rudely interrupted them.

"Sorry, mate, but the lady already has an assigned guide for the day."

Unsure of just what she had expected, the blonde didn't consider a young woman with dark skin and curly hair to stand beside them looking part annoyed and part judgmental. Her arms folded over her chest as her eyes seized her up and down slowly, something curling at her upper lip as she seemed displeased with what she found.

"Uhm…" the vampire drawled as she met Nico's questioning look with a raised eyebrow. "I think you got the wrong girl." she chimed, tugging at his hand then as she urged him to follow her. But the woman was quick to stop the two from leaving as she spoke again.

"I don't think I do, Caroline." she sighed out, bringing the vampire to turn to her with narrowed eyes as she wondered why a stranger would be so damn invested in her.

"And you are?" the blonde asked with an incredulous snicker, turning to study the woman closer as she got a condescending smile in response.

"Eva." the stranger replied with a tiny smirk. "Eva Sinclair."

"Okay, Eva Sinclair." Caroline drawled out, more convinced than ever that she had gotten seriously confused - no matter how she'd been able to guess her name. "Don't take this the wrong way - or do, I couldn't really give a crap – but I'd really much rather keep my current partner for the day." she told her with a shrug. "Thanks though." she sniped sharply, prepared to turn away again before the girl interrupted once more.

"Awe, I'm wounded." Eva sighed with a shaking head. The confidence way too prominent for someone picking a fight with a random vampire… "Or I would be if I didn't know how little this sport meant to you, of course. Otherwise, you could give someone the wrong idea." the woman drawled on, really confusing the blonde then.

"You know what, I'm really getting sick of your voice, lady. So why don't you go back to whatever judgmental congregation you came from and leave me alone?" she bit out through clenched teeth, trying desperately to talk herself out of ripping the stranger's head off in the broad daylight. "I mean, seriously, what is it to you what I do or with whom?" she scoffed.

"Oh, nothing. However, that cannot be said for others in this city." the stranger replied, only bringing more questions to the vampire's mind then. "Although, perhaps that is the meaning of this game of yours…" Eva chimed as she glanced over at where Nico stood with furrowed eyes. "Goading people into trying to reach out to you just so you can use their actions against them in the end."

Okay, now she was just begging to be eaten.

"I'm sorry…" Caroline scoffed out as she gave her a dark glare. "Do we know each other?"

"No, actually. I thought I did… but trust me, darling, I have no idea who you are." the woman quipped with a shrug. "However, I have been sent here by someone who does."

"Sent?" she echoed, finding way too many possible suspects running through her head as she really didn't know who to go after for revenge first. "Who are you?" she asked sharply as she tried to assess the lady from her facial expressions and body language alone.

Eva walked closer to her at that, really getting on her nerves then as she seemed determined to keep pushing the blonde's buttons. "Someone who has been asked to keep you safe." she relayed with a sigh as she nodded towards Nico then. "Which I cannot very well do if I allow you to scurry off with strange men who you've randomly picked up from off the street, now can I?"

"And why do you care?" Caroline pushed in disbelief.

"I don't." the girl replied quickly, confusing the vampire further.

"Then this shouldn't be too hard to get through your head…" she hissed out, closing the distance between them as she focused her eyes firmly on Eva's. "Stop bothering me before you get yourself into some real trouble." she compelled, flashing the veins across her cheeks in threat as she stepped back from the stranger then.

Not bothering to give her another look, she reached for Nico's arm and started walking again. His face wearing some frown-lines as he seemed torn for a moment before following suit. "What was that about?" he asked with a scoff.

"I guess the bigger the city - the bigger the chances of running into insane people." she concluded with a shrug as she tugged at him with a pointed smirk. "Now, let's go get some drinks!"

"What about the Statue of Liberty?" he asked with a chuckle as he smiled at her, making her sigh as she found her interests scattered then. Unsure of what to do first…

"Well, maybe we can have drinks nearby?" she suggested, earning another chuckle as he nodded at that.

"I'm sure we can figure something out." he crooned before steering her the rest of the way.

Maybe, if she'd leaned into her suspicions before they turned that last corner, Caroline would've heard the phone call taking place back at the Square. The stranger she'd left behind barking at someone in frustration and receiving angry hisses in response.

They didn't catch the orders being given over the phone, nor how reluctant the woman was to follow them. Nor were they aware of the call ending with harsh words as Eva abruptly hung up the phone before hurrying after the pair.

If the vampire hadn't known better, she would have started to suspect the charismatic man of trying to get her drunk. They were seated at a fancy bar with yet another wide view of the city's skyline - because, apparently that was an obligation for the rich snobs that frequented such places. Even though the only ones that seemed to actually be paying attention to the view were some tourists who'd barely been able to afford their sparkling waters, and some men in suits who were immersed in important phone calls… Them, and Caroline.

However, it was starting to dampen her mood just how empty it felt. How the excitement and thrill she'd expected to get from the city wouldn't quite seep in. She still felt traces of it, like a wave of something old and habitual that passed as quickly as it showed up. A flash of something deeper at times, but overall?

It was thin.

Shallow.

Kiddy pool.

The thought caused a shiver to rush down her spine as something inside of her was suddenly way too close to feeling a little too much for the blonde's comfort. So, she excused herself and headed towards the restroom. Hoping to take a breath to properly push down the temporary itch that had tried to sneak in through the cracks.

And apparently, she was too busy watching out for her own self to notice the shadow lingering behind her. It wasn't until her hearing caught the sound of the second heartbeat that she turned around and jumped in response. Ready to use this as the perfect way of refocusing her senses on the very few things she would allow herself to feel for now; hunger being at the top of that short list.

But as the face of the woman from earlier filled her view, Caroline was a bit thrown off as she glared with dark eyes at her intended victim. Before she could question it further, a searing pain struck her and made her clutch the sides of her head as she stumbled to her knees in agony.

"Stow your baby-teeth away, Caroline. They really don't intimidate me." Eva crooned as the blonde struggled to keep from screaming in protest.

"Witch." she hissed in conclusion as she leaned back against the wall with a heavy sigh. A whimper escaping her despite her best efforts as the woman kept her hand raised in the air between them.

"You know…" the lady drawled. "There was a time when that would be considered the most horrendous of slurs. The harshest of allegations." she mused, suddenly dropping her arm and immediately easing the vampire's pain in result as she shrugged on. "Now, however, it is a sign of power and strength. It is a name to be accompanied by fear as well as a profound level of respect."

"Yeah?" the blonde hissed as she massaged her temples while the ringing in her ears slowly lessened. "And what exactly did I do to deserve this live-action history lesson?" she challenged with a snarl as she looked up at the witch then.

"Oh, that? Merely a show of strength, if you will." Eva smirked, her hands brushing through her hair as she admired herself in the mirror leisurely. "No, Caroline, when I do choose to hurt you – you'll know."

The vampire sat back against the wall with a grunt as she silently assessed her options, wondering if perhaps she'd be able to tear out the girl's heart before she attempted her little brain-aneurism-trick again. "What do you want?" she sighed out, watching the lady spin around in anger then.

"I want to leave this urine-soaked joke of a city. I want to stop following you around like some under-paid babysitter with nothing better to do." Eva ranted, looking like the vampire had been the bane of her existence forever as she pointed accusatorily at the blonde. "I want you to start listening to me already so that I can finally be free from the badgering phone calls and hounding messages, all for the sweet little Caroline Forbes who's finally snapped and gone entirely off the rails!"

That brought a snicker from her lips as she found her list of suspects quickly shortened to one sole name. "Klaus sent you." she muttered, receiving another condescending smile then that was really starting to bother her.

"Well, it seems that brain isn't entirely rotten after all." Eva shrugged as she shook her head in disbelief.

"I told him to leave me alone." Caroline said, leaning against the wall as she got up on her feet then and straightened up.

"And he told me not to corner you. Clearly, we're both pretty lousy at following instructions." the witch chimed with something suddenly very familiar in her eyes - something that made the blonde grin widely in surprise as she couldn't believe her own hypothesis.

But it was the only thing that made sense… The anger, the resentment, the strange familiarity… One name connected all of the dots as she let out a disbelieving chuckle in response. "So, what? You're here to escort me back to your boss?" she asked, enjoying the flicker of flames in the girl's eyes too much not to continue her taunts.

"Don't tell me you're sweet on him? You hoping this is going to get him to really see you for the first time?" she asked as she walked closer slowly, exaggerating her wobbly knees as she hoped to catch the witch off-guard.

"I hate to be the one to tell you this, babe, but he's kind of obsessed with me." she drawled with a shrug. "Maybe that's why he sent you out to run this little errand like the obedient lackey that you are…"

That time, when the brunette raised her hand in attempt to repeat her earlier attack again, the vampire had punched into her stomach and gripped her intestines tightly in her hands. Pulling deep cries of protests from the woman as she gaped at her in shock.

"Didn't Klaus warn you?" Caroline whispered against her cheek. "I can't really be reasoned with at the moment."

"He did." Eva bit out between strained coughs. "I suppose it's my mistake for assuming that you wouldn't act like you've gone completely mad."

"What can I say?" she sighed at that, shrugging as she studied the witch from top to toe. "I guess there's just something about ancient, raging bitches who worked so hard to undermine me as cheer-captain through my last years of high school…" she mused with a shrug. "They just bring it out of me. But you would know all about that wouldn't you?" she chimed, seeing the healthy level of fear finally reach the woman's eyes as she identified her then. "Rebekah."

The confirmation was clear all over her face as the witch struggled to push her off. "Caroline… This isn't you." she tried through clenched teeth as blood started running from the corners of her mouth.

"Oh, that's adorable." the blonde snickered, gripping the closest organ then as she continued. "Why don't you go back to that contradicting, conniving wolf-brother of yours and send him a message from me, hm? Tell him to stop coming after me - or I will make it my life's mission to ruin you all." she threatened as the brunette let out a pleading whimper.

"Oh, and in case you still need some convincing…" Caroline drawled before pulling her hand out of her stomach then, both of their eyes falling on the kidney in her bloodstained grip in result.

Eva collapsed to the floor, her hands covering the gaping whole in her body with wide eyes. Her face paling before the vampire as she kneeled down to give her a cold smile. "That should do the trick." she purred, dropping the bloody organ to the floor as she straightened up and headed for the exit.

"Don't make me repeat myself." she bit out over her shoulder before leaving the witch to slowly bleed out in the restroom.

However, she knew that wherever one Mikaelson went - another wouldn't be too far behind. So, in a hurry to escape before the suddenly reborn Original managed to call her brother for help, she ran through the halls and into the elevator swiftly. Not bothering to inform her date of her departure as she felt she'd already humored him enough these past two days.

The elevator was too slow for her liking, but she reasoned it would be way safer than taking the stairs and risk being caught in her attempted escape. So when she finally reached the bottom-floor, she spared no time to run off to the street and hail for a taxi.

"Caroline!" the calls made her curse under her breath as she watched the car pull up before her, calculating the miniscule chances she had of shaking off her follower now as Nico swiftly joined her side.

"Hey, where did you disappear to?" he asked as he turned her around by her arm. His eyes running down her bloody clothes in surprise. "I guess I must've missed something…" he snickered, but his charms weren't enough to make her change her mind this time.

"I'm getting out of here, Nico." she told him firmly before turning back to the waiting car by the curb. Him quickly filling her view then as he stepped in front of her and blocked her path.

"Wait, why? Did something happen?" he pressed on. The blonde had trouble determining whether it was disappointment registering in his chocolate eyes, or rejection. But unfortunately for him, she didn't care either way.

"Yes." she sighed out as reply to his question. "I remembered that I really can't afford losing any more time… So, I'm leaving." she announced before reaching for the doorhandle to the cab's backseat, only for his hand to grab her wrist tightly then.

He pushed her away from the car and stepped closer to her, a suddenly sinister look spreading over his face that she hadn't expected to see on the otherwise laid-back guy. "Yes, see… I can't really let you go, Caroline." he sighed with something dangerous in his voice that sent out alarms through her entire body as she glared at him in response.

"Excuse me?" she drawled incredulously, wincing as his grip made something break in her wrist as he squeezed tighter in threat.

"The problem with meeting vampires in skeevy nightclubs, hermosa?" he mused as his eyes turned pitch black before her. "They don't really do things out of the goodness of their own hearts."

She tried to pull away from him but failed as he tugged her along down the street and towards an alley then. Away from the crowds and evidently minimizing her chances of escaping his hold. Her struggles not working as he kept her caged-in tightly with an arm around her waist.

"Let go!" she hissed as she attempted to kick him in the groin, only to find nothing but air in his place then.

Her teeth clenched as the pain eased from her wrist, cradling it close to her chest as she turned to investigate where the man had gone. Another one standing there and meeting her confused and angered eyes as Nico collapsed in his arms with a loud snap of his neck.

"Klaus?" she stuttered, gulping hard as she already knew that she would be in way more trouble with him than in the company of a hundred Nico's.

"You really should watch who you befriend around here, love." he chimed with a level of amusement in his voice that didn't quite match his eyes.

She began backing away from him and turned to run, but before she could Eva's face appeared in front of her. A pair of hands touched her jaw immediately after that - and then it all went black.

A necessary disclaimer

I realize that there has always been a strange portrayal of "the humanity switch" in TVD and I'd like to clarify what I take away from it, for the sake of this fic.

I believe the root of the problem is that the writers often used the words 'emotions' and 'humanity' as synonymous and interchangeable - which they are not. I have surely made the same misconception myself through all these years and never really dug into the mess of it until I started writing this Non-Humanity fic. Because obviously, feelings are not the same as a sense of humanity - and sure, we could go on and on for literally ever because philosophers and poets and all kinds of variously important people have debated the meaning of humanity since the beginning of time itself.

So instead of confusing this even further, my analysis is that the characters in the TVDu do still feel emotions when "flipping the switch" but (similarly to how a sociopath may feel the difference between right and wrong and understand the line between these two distinctions - though often ignoring it to their own advantage) they do not have empathy for other's feelings nor care about how they affect others. I also think that the first reaction of the various characters when "turning it off" view a permeable sense of indifference, perhaps because it is such a great contrast to the turmoil of grief and hurt that they felt leading up to that decision. This, I believe, is how the humanity switch should be viewed - in this fic at least! You do whatever you do when going on with your life outside of it.

But yeah, in summation; "having your emotions off" is an incorrect term in my opinion. The emotions are still very much there (anger, lust, fear, anxiety, ecstasy etc. i.e. the experience of feelings) but they are not felt to the same extent because they are no longer viewed as a point on which to base one's choices and actions. Instead, 'shutting off your humanity' would much better explain this, because you are cut off from that which (largely) defines us as humans; our connection to each other through said feelings (love, jealousy, loss, grief, sympathy, pity, pride, awe etc. i.e. the consequences of feeling).

An example would be how the difference between harming someone because they 'deserve it' and harming someone simply 'because' wouldn't be there anymore - since you now only act on what you need or feel in the moment. Not to any worry of how it affects those around you - because it doesn't matter to you anymore. Think of Elena after Jeremy's death with burning down her house, or Caroline when snapping Elena's neck because she was literally just in the way - 'it had to be done' is the common denominator. Either with the intention of literally burning bridges, making sure no one would stop them from 'turning it off', or to make sure that nothing would accidentally do it for them through various triggers (like photos of family members or other objects with strong emotional value).

In one sentence; the reasoning for the actions of a vampire who has 'flipped the switch' is no longer tied to their humanity and are often a result of impulsive needs, this due to a disconnect between having emotions and feeling said emotions.

That whole rambling was supposed to help frame this fic in the right perspective. Because hey, I'm taking some creative liberties already so why not clarify what the writers never did and thereby help the structure of my own writing? Feel me?