25 Days of Klaroline Day 14- Mafia.
Sequins and Blood. Lace and Fangs.
Set in Chicago in 1920. All Canon as far as Klaus is concerned.
This one got away from me a lot! So much so I have to break it down into two parts! Part Two is almost done and will be up very soon!
So my plans as of now; I am finishing this one up and then that is it for the 25 Days of Klaroline event outside of Christmas Day. I am going to finish working on Above all Else, my secret Santa for my giftee. I am also not going to post any new storylines or drabbles until I get all the second/third parts done to the ones already posted. I have so many projects going and I don't want to disappoint you all!
If all goes well the coming weeks will be filled with finished stories and sequels! Wish me luck!
Thank you to everyone who is reading and reviewing! Following and adding as a favorite! As always, your support means everything to me!
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"I'm sorry little sister." Klaus whispered as her body began to grey due to the dagger he held in her chest. "But I can't have you running off with Stefan and getting caught by Mikael."
His head snapped up at the sound of clacking heels, catching a whiff of a sweet perfume he couldn't name and a hint of cigarette smoke. He flashed to his feet standing protectively in front of his baby sister's desiccated body as a figure walked slowly into the warehouse.
The dim light filtering down from the swing overhead light was just enough to make of a shadow of a female form even to his enhanced eyesight.
The woman emerged further into the warehouse, the light hitting her from the ground up starting with her feet that were incased in golden high heels. Her long milky legs were next, her dress teasingly revealed her legs from her knees down due to two slits on its front with every step she took. Her body was wrapped in a large open dark fur coat showing off her stunning body in her form fitting golden dress to his gaze with its low cut décolletage.
Despite the situation Klaus, ever a fan of beauty, was struck with awe as her delicate and stunning face came into view. Her large blue eyes, framed by thick black lashes gave her an air of innocence while her red tinted lips wrapped sensually around the end of her cigarette adding in just the right amount of carnal flair.
If he wasn't so pressed for time he would have enjoyed nothing more than to have that glorious body of hers wrapped tightly around his own. But as it was his luck, he would not be as fortunate as to have her this night.
Klaus stuck his hands in the pockets of his trousers, walking forward with a shuffling step and a light grin, hoping to deter her from seeing his sister's body; he would hate to have to kill such a thing of beauty.
"I'm sorry Sweetheart, but this is a private storage area." He grinned flirtatiously, hoping to disarm her.
The breathtaking woman before him giggled sweetly with an air of innocence as she put out her cigarette with her shoe, "Oh I know." She flicked those wide crystal blue eyes at him from under her lashes with a slight tilt to her head.
Klaus chuckled along with her, "Well then," He tilted his head in question.
"Caroline." She beamed at him, her smile so infectious he couldn't help but feel one grow naturally over his lips.
"Well then, Caroline," He purred her name. Just because he couldn't take her didn't mean he couldn't flirt with her, "We must get you out of here before the owner shows and you get yourself into trouble."
Caroline giggled softly behind her hand drawing an acute interest to his grey eyes, "Well that's just silly. Why would I get myself into trouble when I own this warehouse Mr. Mikaelson?"
His body tensed, his face turned to stone as all emotions fled from his expression at the sound of his name, "And just how is it you know who I am?"
"Oh I know a lot about you Mr. Mikaelson." The blonde Goddess, who was treading on thin ice said with a smug smile.
"Obviously not enough or you would know not to tempt the beast." Klaus snarled, his senses quickly scanning the area finding nothing but human heartbeats.
Caroline arched a finely scalped eyebrow, "Oh I know plenty. Enough to know that your teeth won't be biting me this night."
Klaus flashed forward, grasping her by her upper arms and pinning her against the far wall, "Really Love? And how do you reckon that I wonder?" He leaned in closer, surprised by the lack of fear he found coming off her, "You know what I am so that must mean you are aware that I could kill you now before you could even bat your pretty little eyelashes."
Caroline titled her head to the side, purposefully fluttering her lashes as she spoke staring him straight in his eyes. "But you won't."
"Oh?" Klaus blinked in shear surprise at this woman's backbone, "And just why would that be?"
Caroline craned her neck closer to him, her intoxicating breath washing over him, "Because I have a proposition that I am very sure you won't refuse."
Klaus chuckled as he heard footsteps stop directly behind him and guns cocking to the ready. "I can smell the wooden bullets in the guns Love. You should know that won't kill me."
Caroline smiled widely, "Oh I know, but it will hurt like the dickens. Though," Her eyes flickered over the parts of his body she could see, "It would be a shame to ruin the nice suit that you cut so well." Caroline smirked as she watched the interest flair back up in his eyes once more. She arched her neck to the side to glance over his shoulder, all traces of the flirt were gone from her voice, leaving her sounding cold and demanding. "Steady boys and step back, Mr. Mikaelson here means me no harm." She pulled her head back to look directly at him, grinning sweetly and fluttering her lashes once again, "Do you?"
Klaus slowly released her body, impressed that she still showed no signs of fright. He tossed his arms out to the sides, "Color me intrigued Miss Caroline…"
Caroline knew he was fishing for her surname and she had hoped to leave this part out for a while longer but knew she had no choice but to give it up. Though, if she played her cards right, and she always did, they would both walk out of here with more than they had come in with. She drew herself up tall speaking proudly, "Forbes. Caroline Forbes."
Recognition flashed through his eyes at her name. Klaus clasped his hands behind his back as the two walked circles around each other, "And what pray tell does the elusive daughter of the recently deceased mob boss want with little old me I wonder?" He leaned in closer on his next pass whispering huskily in her ear, feeling quite pleased with her shiver his low voice brought, "Are you looking for a little more danger between your sheets? For that you could have just bought me a drink Love." He looked at her mockingly, "No need for you to put on this show."
Klaus flicked his eyes covertly at the two men noticing the dark leer sent towards Caroline from one of them; a look he strangely found he did not like in the slightest. He filed that reaction away from later.
Caroline crossed her arms over her chest with a scoff, "No. I'm not one of your loose girls Mr. Mikaelson I assure you. I am a Lady with class not trash." She was so sick of men, no matter their age, thinking a woman was only good for one thing and one thing only. By that way of thinking it meant that if she knew what she wanted and knew how to get it, it made her a woman of loose morals. That sort of thinking had been reason enough to have some men killed.
Klaus bowed mockingly at the waist, "My apologies Miss Forbes, I seemed to have lost my way for a moment. I forgot I was in the presence of a Lady." He watched as a fire lit in her eyes and her jaw clenched at his jeering. Oh, she was simply exquisite. He folded his hands behind his back once again, "Forgive me, you spoke of a proposition?"
Here comes the hard part, Caroline thought with a swipe of her tongue over her lips before she drew in a deep breath, "I am in need of a body guard."
Klaus's eyes widened comically before he burst into riotous laughter, "You cannot be serious?" She lifted that eyebrow of hers once more, crossing her arms with a flare to her hip. "My God you are!" He sobered his laughter and shook his head with his hands spread out before him, "Look Love, I'm not a muscle for hire or rather, fangs for hire." Klaus glanced behind him at the two men, "But my advice about those two over there; those goons couldn't protect you from a fruit fly."
Caroline narrowed her eyes making Klaus believe that she knew what he was trying to tell her completely, making his respect for her intelligence grow. "Mr. Mikaelson, when a deal is offered a bargain can always be reached."
"Okay Sweetheart I'll bite," He smirked, "Just what is it you think you have that I would want."
Caroline licked her lips exhaling sharply before saying firmly, "Mikael. I have Mikael."
Klaus felt the veins crawl beneath his eyes, "What do you mean by that and how do you know of him?" His fangs dropped as he hissed harshly, "No more games Caroline. If you lie I will kill you where you stand." She still showed no fear of him, which was the only thing keeping her alive since the moment she uttered that vile name.
"I told you Mr. Mikaelson I know plenty. I know that your sister's body is over there behind those boxes. I know what you run from and I know why." She stressed. "What I offer you in lieu of your help and protection of my person is this; Mikael has been desiccated, his body placed in a semi-permanent state of it for at least the next fifty years and kept in a safe and secured location." Her large blue eyes shone with honesty along with the hopes that he would believe her, "I am giving you freedom Mr. Mikaelson, for the first time in centuries you can live free from fear, free from running. You can go anywhere, do anything, be anything you want. I'm dreadfully sorry that I cannot offer you more time than this, I tried, I truly did but this was all I could gain."
Klaus's eyes sparkled with hope at the sincerity pouring off of her but his mind quickly tamped down, "And how did you, a mob bosses daughter manage all this hmm? How do I know this is not just a trick that Mikael himself is playing?"
"I own this warehouse, I own the bar connected to it," Caroline rolled her eyes, "and I am very close with Gloria herself. She owed me a great debt and this is how I chose to have her pay it." Caroline sighed, her shoulders slumping. It was time to play her last card and hope for the best, either way, she would be free.
"My life has been tied to the spell placed on Mikael. The spell used to put him in his desiccated state needed to be anchored to a living being. This doesn't mean you cannot kill me where I stand, whether I die or whether I live, he will remain where he is and just how he is. It was only for the initial part of the spell that I was needed, you may ask Gloria all about it if you will." She waved her hand in the air, "I did not do this to hold anything over your head Mr. Mikaelson. I did this to give you the one thing I lack, the one thing I yearn for more than anything else."
Klaus was rendered speechless by her, by her voice, her demeanor and by her doe eyes shimmering with tears and a hope for something so far out of her reach. "What's that?"
"Freedom." She whispered through trembling lips before laughing with a harshness one such as her should never feel, "I'm not the daughter of a dead Mob Boss, I am the Mob Boss. I have been since the day I turned sixteen and my father fell ill." She gritted her teeth, jabbing herself with a pointed nail in the chest with each word she hissed, "I made this town what it is. I handled all the underhanded deals. And now?! They all wish to strip it from me by any means necessary as if it wasn't me all along!"
Klaus heard the guns shake in the hands of the goons behind him and by the look in Caroline's angry face she did as well yet she chose to ignore it.
Caroline closed her eyes, inhaling and exhaling to calm her frazzled nerves. Once she opened them again they showed a strange combination of her truly young age and a wisdom way beyond her years, "I have a plan Mr. Mikaelson." She stated calmly with a shake of her head, "A plan that I cannot see through to its fruition without your help. Everywhere I turn I am fraught and met with danger. I cannot even sleep in my own bed without someone attempting to accost me and kill me where I lay." Her arms that had gestured wildly beside her fell to her sides, her shoulders slumping in what looked like defeat. It was a look Klaus found that he oddly disliked on her. "I'm tired Mr. Mikaelson. So blasted tired. I'm only twenty-three, I want to see more than what this dark seedy town has to offer."
Caroline mistook his stunned silence as that he needed an extra push. And since she had nothing left to lose she continued speaking, her passion blaring from her with every word.
"You have your freedom Mr. Mikaelson, no strings, no gimmicks. You. Are. Free. Won't you help me find mine as well?" When he just stared at her, his face unreadable even for her, who could find everyone's tells, her shoulders dropped and her sigh was resigned knowing it was no use. This man would never help her, "I will not allow them to be the ones to kill me. I will take my own life before such a thing. Or better yet, allow you to be the one to do it. At least in death I will gain some semblance of the freedom I long for."
Klaus flashed over to her, grasping her wrist in one hand while the other raised her chin, "Do not ever speak that way again. Do you understand me?" Hearing this stunning and unbelievably strong creature speak so callously about her own death struck such a deep cord in him that it vibrated through his body with the force of an earthquake.
Caroline's eyes shot up to his, her mouth dropping in awe as she search his face, "You'll do it? You'll help me?"
Klaus exerted more pressure on her delicate wrist giving it a small shake, "Answer me!"
"I…I won't. I promise." Caroline stuttered in awed relief that he was willing to help her.
Klaus searched her eyes finding nothing but honesty in them along with a real flare of hope. Gently he released her wrist, taking a step back as his mind raced. What she had given him was more than he dared to hope for over these long centuries; a chance to rest, a chance to plan, a chance to just, as she put it; be. Her impassioned speech, so filled with emotions, struck a deep kinsmanship, this deep seeded feeling of being connected and understanding another person. Something he never before found in another.
Klaus swallowed in shock.
She reminded him very much of himself.
That is what truly stayed his hand, or rather, his fangs from ripping her apart or denying her what she asked of him. He could give her, this beautiful creature, the one thing that no one, not until her, had ever given him.
A chance, a real chance at a life beyond fear and death.
Caroline could finally read nearly every emotion on his face as he stared at her with his back turned away from the hired guns. She seen it clearly when he committed himself to helping her and a smirk grew over her red lips as she bowed her head. "Thank you Mr. Mikaelson."
He bowed slightly, no trace of the mockery like his early bow to be seen as he gracefully placed her hand in his, delicately brushing his lips over her undeniably soft skin, "Seeing that we shall be working together please," He grinned cockily, "call me Klaus."
Klaus watched as she relaxed back into the temptress that strutted her way in the warehouse this evening, a wicked smirk growing over his lips at the sight. He dropped her hand, leaning his body in closely to hers; gently brushing her golden locks over her shoulder and releasing them so that they cascaded over her back.
"I can smell the vervain on you Caroline." He whispered, "But from those two I cannot."
Caroline's smile grew widely as her eyes glittered with mischief, "That's because they have none and have no knowledge of just what you are." She whispered softly, her gaze flicking over to the two men as they tried in vain to overhear what was being said. "I was hoping you could help me out. You know, in a way only you can provide?" She asked him pointedly.
"Tell me what you need Caroline?" His grin deepened at the blush that coursed over her cheeks as he drew out her name lowly. Interesting. He filed that reaction away for later use, now that he knew he would be sticking around for a while he fully intended to discover every inch of her luscious curves.
The hard sophisticate grace fell back over her face as she stepped away from him, his eyes following her every move as she strutted with a sensual yet firm sway of her hips, "It seems as though one of these men hasn't been very honest with me." Caroline crossed her arms downward in front of her body, placing her hands together and swaying with a pout, "It's such a shame too. They know how I feel about lies."
Klaus watched in awe as she went from temptress, to innocence maiden and back to hardened Mob Boss all within seconds. She had a way of keeping all those around her guessing and he found it utterly enthralling.
Oh yes, she was exquisite indeed. Klaus thought delightedly.
The two men began shaking but only one began to run. Klaus smirked; he did so enjoy it when they ran, and flashed after him gaining on him in seconds.
Casually resting a hand against the door frame, Klaus blocked the man's escape, "Where do you think you are going Mate? I believe the Lady wishes to have a word."
The sniveling man snarled through his teeth pointing the gun in Klaus's face. Klaus huffed and rolled his eyes before he knocked it away showing his full fangs at the man before flashing behind him and wrapped his arm around the coward's throat hissing, "It's rude to keep her waiting."
Dragging him back over to Caroline, Klaus held him tightly while compelling the other man to stay still and silent and to only speak honestly when Caroline chose to speak to him.
Once done he spun the man in his arms harshly, gripping his neck as he compelled the same from him only leaving out the staying still. Klaus took a twisted sense of satisfaction out of the man's pathedic attempts at freeing himself from the tight hold he was in.
Caroline stepped up to him, glaring coldly at the shaking man in Klaus's arms as he shouted, "What are you?! You're something straight out of a nightmare!"
Klaus flexed his arm around his neck causing the man to gasp as he hissed in his ear, "You're quite right mate, now be a good lad and answer the Lady's questions."
Caroline smirked at the uncontrollably trembling man running a single finger down his nose before tapping its end tsking him, "You know Peter, you've been a member of my family's staff for what? Ten years? You watch me grow; hell I played alongside your children. So tell me, why?"
Her smile beamed as his eyes widened, "You didn't think I knew of your little plot to kill me?" Caroline scoffed, "Come one Peter you know I'm smarter than that!" Her eyes turned as frigid as the Artic Sea, "Tell me why."
Peter's mouth opened and the terrified shock in his eyes spoke volumes about how much he did not plan to say what he was, "I was supposed to take over for your Father. Instead I had to cower around doing the bidding of a sixteen year old girl. I was going to do away with you and was told I would be in top command."
Caroline's eyes narrowed, there was a reason she had taken over her Father's business and her instincts were screaming at her that there was more to this story, "I think you're holding back on me Pete." She grinned at his sneer at the shorten name she knew he hated, "What is it you're hiding from me?"
His body was shaking in fear and with the exertion he used to try and stop the words from flowing from his lips, "I was going to have some fun with you first. You're always prancing around in those little dresses. Tempting me." He spat staring in her appalled face completely unaware of the livid expression Klaus had behind him, "I was going to show you how a real man behaves."
With a gurgled gasp and a sickening rip Klaus tore the vile man's heart out from his back, his own chest heaving in disgust.
Caroline watched as Peter fell to the ground with a thud and then his heart followed behind him with a wet smack. Glancing back up at Klaus with enraged eyes, "I wasn't done!" She held tight just barely stopping herself from stomping her foot as Klaus licked his fingers clean.
Once his hand was washed of the disgusting man's blood, Klaus spit it on the floor beside the dead man before looking back to her with gritted teeth and blackened red eyes hissing through his fangs, "Apologies Caroline but he clearly had it coming to him."
"I needed to know who he was working for Klaus!" Klaus shrugged his shoulders in response causing her to throw her arms into the air, "Ugh!" She narrowed her eyes and pointed a waving finger in his face, "Next time no killing until I'm done. Got it?"
"I'll make no promises Sweetheart, but I will try." Klaus smirked again at her angry face as she huffed and turned to the other man.
Caroline wasted no time in question the younger man, "Did you know what he planned to do?"
Finally released from his frozen hold he stuttered, "I…I…I knew about the hit but I didn't know the rest. I swear! Caro..." He gulped at the hard look she gave him over using her given name. "Mistress Forbes I swear it to you. I would never...I would never have participated much less allowed such a thing to happen to you."
Caroline crossed an arm over her chest, resting the elbow of her other in her hand as she circled her wrist, "But you knew I was to be killed correct?" At his nod of assent she hummed contemplatively.
Klaus chose this moment to strut his way over with his hand clasped behind his back, "What shall I do with him?"
The malicious gleam in her dazzling blue eyes sent a rush straight to his loins.
"Eat him. If you wish of course." Caroline offered simply.
"Gladly." He replied with a devilish smirk.
Klaus stepped behind the quivering man, starring straight at Caroline as his fangs dropped and his veins began crawling down his cheeks. He kept his eyes looked on hers as he bit into the man's throat and proceeded to drain him dry.
She didn't even flinch at the sight of the blood nor at the beautiful violence of it all, though in her line of work he shouldn't be surprised. The thing that surprised him was how she watched every pull he took from the man. The sight of her acceptance of the act left him utterly and purely aroused.
Once the man was dead Klaus carelessly dropped his body to the ground.
Caroline offered him her handkerchief from her coat pocket, "You'll need to move your siblings. I have another warehouse, which will be spelled by Gloria so that only you may enter. They will be safe there I promise. After we load them into the van we will torch this place."
Klaus wiped his face clean of blood, ready to take hold of her and kiss her until she was numb to all but him. But with one look at her his raging arousal died down at the sight of her drawn and tired face. "Are you well Caroline?"
She laughed harshly, "I haven't slept more than a few moments at a time in nearly a year Klaus. I'm completely exhausted."
"Then allow me to take care of my siblings quickly so that we may get you home to rest." He offered kindly no matter how much he longed to take her in her bed instead. He knew there would be plenty of time for that.
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Klaus wandered the halls and rooms of Caroline's townhouse. When she had brought him here just over a fortnight ago he had been shocked to say the least at her modest dwelling. He had expected someone of her stature and status to live within the walls of a grand mansion; though he did appreciate her reasoning for such a smaller dwelling.
"Trying to protect the huge house my father had us living in was a dreaded nightmare. Besides, with not knowing for complete certainty just who I can and cannot trust this place suits me well."
And suit her well it did. Klaus had discovered many things about the lovely Caroline during the night while she tossed and turned in her bed.
She was a connoisseur of beautiful and exquisite works of art. Her study was filled to the brim with books and novels ranging in a wide variety of guilty pleasures, classic literature and many texts of the newer technologies. She had collected many books that were vastly studied in a number of the universities around the country if not the globe itself.
And something told Klaus that she had read each and every one of them.
Her décor was modest with a subtle hint of flare and personality to each and every piece scattered around her home.
Even the guest bedroom she had given to him, just two doors down from hers with only the water-closet between them, was decorated in such a way that was appeasing to the eyes. Nothing too feminine but not overly male either, it was a hard concept to achieve. He was still trying to teach it to Rebekah after all these years, no man wanted to sleep in a room filled with lace and gaudy flower prints.
But Caroline had found the perfect balance. He supposed that, if he actually slept, waking up to a room with the perfect delicate blends of soft shades and dark hues and the geometric patterns scattered about could actually feel quite…homey.
Klaus scoffed at the fanciful thought. He was here to do a job, to protect her and then he would be on his way to enjoy the freedom she had gifted him so extraordinarily. He planned to seduce her when the moment was right but beyond that, well needless to say, he never stuck around for whatever came after.
His head jerked towards the ceiling as Caroline's typical soft tossing and mumbles in the night took a more frantic turn. He didn't even think to search with his senses for any other heartbeats in the house; all he felt was a panicked dread that Caroline was in danger as he flashed around the corner and up the staircase to her room.
He barged into her bedroom with eyes blazing and fangs bared only to pull up short, allowing the rigid stance of his body to relax at the sight before him.
A look of pity and understanding flashed across his face as he watched her struggle within the web of whatever nightmare plagued her.
As he crossed the room to wake her he couldn't help but notice no matter how much she tossed about on the bed, her left arm never moved from beneath her pillow. He found it oddly adorable.
Carefully sitting on the bed beside her Klaus reached forward brushing her matted hair off her forehead, "Caroline. Sweetheart wake up."
Her eyes instantly snapped open at his first touch, almost too quickly for Klaus to see she had a gun cocked and pointed at his head. He had just enough time to knock her hand away before she took the shot, the bullet going straight through the ceiling.
Caroline's mouth dropped open, sleep leaving her quickly as she realized just what she had almost done. The gun dropped to the bed from her numbed hand.
"Oh my! Klaus I'm so sorry. I didn't...I wasn't…" her voice was shaking and her body trembled.
Klaus leaned in placing his hands on her shoulders only to pull back with a frown was he noticed her flinch.
"You know if never hurt you."
He heard her gulp before she replied in a small voice, "I know."
His eyes narrowed in speculation, "But someone has. Was that what you were dreaming about?" Klaus glanced down to the still smoking gun on the bed, "And just where did you get that?"
Caroline bit her lower lip shifting over on her bed to move her pillow. There built into the headboard was a panel that she could press open with a simple flick of her wrist.
Klaus arched his eyebrow at her waiting for her to speak and explain.
Caroline sighed, pulling the covers up around her after she replaced the pillow. "Remember how I told you that my father's estate was harder to protect?" At his slow nod she continued, "And those things the guy in the warehouse said he was going to do?"
Klaus clenched his jaw at the thoughts of that revolting man, wishing he was alive just so he could kill him once again. "Yes I recall."
Caroline's eyes flicked nervously around the room as she spoke, her fingers twirling the blankets end between her fingers, "Well that's not the first time someone has," She cleared her throat, gulping anxiously, "that someone has tried to do such things to my…to me."
"What?" Klaus's snarl was so deathly quiet that it drew Caroline's eyes to his face. His face spoke of pure rage that he seemed to have trouble keeping in check.
She reached forward placing her hand on his tense arm, "Hey, hey. I'm fine. No one ever made it," A blush stole over her cheeks, "I am still untouched. A few of my trusted men were able to put a stop to it in time." She pulled her hand back when his eyes flicked between her face and her hand. "One of them, Enzo, he was the one who suggested we move me to a more secure location. He is even the one who built the secret cubby for my pistol. That way if he wasn't around, I could take care of myself. Plus it helps with the nightmares. It gives me a sense of control you know?"
Klaus slid his hand across the bed, wrapping his hand around hers with a soft smile when she accepted his touch without a flinch, "I'm pleased to hear someone was looking out for you Caroline. So where is this Chap?"
Her forehead furrowed, "I'm not too sure. He was a witch or warlock rather. He was only here looking for something personal and in need of employment during his stay so I hired him, don't worry Gloria vouched for him. He would often travel between here and back home to his wife Maggie. And don't even give me that look. There was nothing going on with us and Maggie damn well knew it."
"So then is he back home with his wife you reckon?"
"I don't know. I cannot seem to make contact with either of them and last I heard from Enzo he was meeting his friend, oh what was his name, a Damon something or other." Caroline fell silent her eyes looking deep in thought as she stared at the wall opposite the bed.
"Hey," Klaus spoke softly, "If you'd like I can have some of my people look into it."
Caroline shook her head, "No that's fine. I am sure he and Maggie are doing well and just finally took that vacation she had been asking for."
"Well then, now that that is settled let's get you back to sleep." Klaus looked at her sternly when she was ready to argue, "No fighting me on this Caroline. It is only three in the morning and you need your rest."
Caroline huffed, "Yeah well I don't see you doing much resting."
He smirked smugly, "I don't need quite as much as you do Love. Now off to sleep for you." He stood from the bed making his way to the bedroom door.
Caroline bit her lip nervously as she settled back down in the bed; she cursed herself for not being strong enough to hold back, "Will you stay?"
Taking a good look at her he knew just how much it cost her to ask as well as feel the need to do so in the first place, "Of course Caroline. Let me go grab a book out of your vast collection…"
"Actually, while I was planning to give it to you at a later date, maybe the gift for you there on my table will help keep you occupied." Caroline grinned at his bashful and shock face, "What? Hasn't anyone ever given you a present before?"
"It's been a great many years Love." He breathed out in awe as he watched gratefully when Caroline rolled over in her bed to go back to sleep. He knew her well enough that she was trying to give him space and not make such a big deal over her gift.
Lifting the lid to the box curiously he found a sketchpad and charcoal pencils, a grin growing on his lips at how well she seemed to know him as well. His brows furrowed as he lifted them out only to find yet another very old looking book. Setting the sketchpad down he was astounded to find a very detailed handwritten book covering many years and histories of the vast majorities of werewolf clans around the country.
Klaus looked to her his astonishment clear in his voice, "Caroline, where ever did you find this?"
Her voice was muffled by her covers as she answered, "Shh! My Hired Fangs says I need my beauty rest."
Klaus chuckled quietly, allowing her this pass, though he could not imagine her growing any more beautiful then she already was.
He pulled out the chair at her table to sit intent on flipping through the book but the sight of her sleeping face made his fingers itch for the pencil.
Moving the chair silently Klaus settled himself in closer to the bed and began sketching her lovey features.
Now that he had the time, he could process just what it was she had inadvertently told him. Something he had never truly put much stock into by any means.
Caroline was as of yet untouched, she was a maiden in every sense of the word. In a time where things were changing rapidly such a thing was almost unheard of, especially in the crowd she ran with. Or rather, ruled over.
Studying her angelic sleeping face he knew that his plans of seducing her were out the preverbal window. Caroline deserved better than a quick rough and tumble only to be left alone the following morning. Still, even more so now, he wanted her with a blazing passion.
Perhaps he could convince her to travel with him when all this was over. That maybe they could just enjoy their new found freedom together.
And maybe, just maybe, he could even convince her to turn. Something deep within Klaus told him that he wouldn't tire of her for quite a long while, if ever. And though that thought frightened him in a way he didn't comprehend, he chose to ignore it and put all those wayward feelings to paper.
Besides, Caroline would make a marvelous vampire.
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The end for the moment. Part two coming within a day or two.
