A/N: Welcome back for another chapter^^ To all of you who're new to the story, again, welcome. I'm really pleased all of you are here and was happy with all the comments and continued support. You guys make my day!
As for my guest reviewers, I'm sorry I can't reply to you personally but know that your comments are greatly appreciated.
o.O.o
Chapter Sixteen, Klaus
It was dark now, and the evening had been filled with fog and swirling leaves and gusts of wind. Even now, seated on the dark sofa in front of a crackling fire, I heard the wind blowing outside and the rain pattering against the house.
I wasn't sure where I was, only that I'd awakened in the trunk of a dark car minutes before we arrived at this large, low-roofed house. It's walls bulged and its roof seemed jagged, with rich red bricks and large windows.
I had tried fighting him off, but his hand had come up to my neck, tightly holding me to his chest and bodily pushing me into the house.
I frowned, staring into the glow of the fire. My lips were tightly pressed into a thin line, fingers had found a tight purchase in the material of my denim shorts and one leg shook with nerves.
The vampire was busying himself in the other room, having no problem with the invisible wall that had been in the doorway when I tried to do a runner. I understood a witch had trapped me in the house, prevented me from getting out and I gritted my teeth.
"How long are you going to keep me here?" I asked angrily, knowing he could hear me just fine. He entered the room, still dressed in his khaki pants a grey henley and a leather jacket, although his hair was a shade darker like he'd recently showered.
"As long as I need to, Sweetheart." He answered dryly. "I can't have you collaborating with Katarina any longer."
"Oh, so that's why you took me here?" I asked sarcastically. "To keep me away from Katarina? Why not kill me? It seems silly to keep me here."
"You mean here where you can't escape?" He answered dryly before smiling, his canines glinting in the firelight. "Sweetheart, the longer you remain useful the safer you'll be. And what better way to ensure my Doppelgänger's cooperation when having the baby sister in my grasp?"
"How did you even—" My eyes widened. "You've been collaborating with Katherine too!"
"She was reluctant to tell me about you if that would make you feel better."
"Do you care either way?" I retorted gruffly and he grinned, suddenly leaning in.
"You're chatty," he stated and I watched in fear as the skin around his eyes turned a deep purple, littering with streaky veins. My heart started to beat erratically and his face got close to my throat. Too close really. "Mouthy is probably more the word." And then ran his tongue across the tender, puckered skin of his bite mark. It was still fresh and he grabbed my chin, forcing me to crane my neck for better access.
"No!" I muttered my attempts to struggle were futile. "Please stop!"
He didn't of course, and I felt an electric shock of sharp, pointed canines against my flesh. My back arched up against the back of the sofa. He bit me slowly, his teeth slowly digging into my skin.
The drinking itself didn't hurt that much, but it felt weird all the same. I was still a bit too dazed from the last time he fed on me and I curled frightened fingers tightly into his shirt.
He pulled back for a second, inhaling deeply: "You do taste wonderful, Love."
I tried to pull forward my magic, tried to concentrate on it but I must have been too weak to summon it. He grinned at me like a Cheshire cat, fingers tightening around my chin. "I'm sorry Love, no magic for you. Can't have you try any witchy things when you're with me, can I?"
"You took my magic?" I gasped in horrific surprise. He grinned again and lunged forward again, my back pushed tightly against the wood of the sofa and he pressed his lips to the wound again. He pressed himself up against me, cradling me against his chest and took several swallows before letting me go.
"Oh don't worry. You won't need it now. We're going to be best of friends, you and I," he told happily and I lay there slumped on the sofa, breathing hard.
"Tell me, how long have you lived in Mystic Falls?"
I glared at him, but certainly didn't want to be his breathing blood bag forever and pressed my hand tight to my neck: "My whole life."
"Good girl, you're learning. And a fast learner too." He grinned, "Very good. And you have two siblings right?"
"Yes."
"The Doppelgänger and a brother."
"Yes," I agreed again and glowered at him, "But you knew that already, why do you still need me?"
"What does Elena do in her free time?"
"Write in her diary and spent time with Stefan," I answered, while Nikaus' fingers slowly circled around the stinging bite-marks. I felt blood still welling up, running down the side of my neck, down my collarbone, and saturating the hem of my jacket and button-up beneath it. "Are you going to kill me?"
"Now why would I do that?" He asked happily and I shivered. Both from the cold and from fear and he finally leaned back. "You should make yourself comfortable while you're here. You won't be leaving any time soon."
I inhaled roughly: "Fine, how long will you keep me here? If you're not killing me and all."
"Indefinitely, Love."
I glared, I didn't know what else to do, and he jerked to a standing position, jerking his head to the side, indicating for me to follow him. I obeyed without a fuss, thinking obeying him would keep me safer and wrapped my arms tightly around my waist.
Niklaus (it was hard to define him as Klaus after the decent afternoon I'd had and odd to keep calling him Nick) prowled out of the room, holding open the door in a mockery of a gentleman to let me pass through it first and stopped at the foot of a large, wooden staircase: "Now, last room on your left there is a bedroom. Feel free to clean yourself up. Or don't, I find you quite delectable right now."
"Right," I muttered and peered at my bare, pale legs, "And am I supposed to wear these clothes all the time?"
"I wouldn't mind, Sweetheart."
"But I do," I returned softly, making a face. "Besides if you want to babysit a relatively healthy human, I probably need different clothes. It was warm this morning, but it isn't now."
He smirked at me "Hm, perhaps. Go shower baby-sister of the Doppelgänger. Up the stairs, second door to the right."
And I did. I swiftly padded up the stairs and shut the bathroom door behind me loudly. It was a spacious stone bathroom lit by fluorescent tubes and soon the shower roared to life and steam wafted around me.
I checked the lock twice, although I doubted it would keep out the psychopath downstairs, it made me feel a tiny bit better.
And then I dunked my head beneath the warm spray, yanked the shower curtain in place and hissed when it hit the sensitive skin of my throat.
The blood and grime made a rust-colored swirl around the white tiles and the shower drain and I scrubbed my hands harshly over the angry-red skin, probably reopening the wound but not caring enough.
When I was satisfied, I ran my fingers through my hair and when I felt refreshed at least, I shut the shower off. Wrapping myself into a plush cotton towel, I stepped out of the spacious stone shower.
I could feel my magic buzzing under my skin but I couldn't access it— Couldn't reach it, no matter how hard I tried. At least, I knew it was still there. However, Niklaus must have been working with a witch. A witch who was in better control of his or her power, which pretty much left a lot of people.
I might have been decent at doing spells, I was overzealous as well. Peering through the bathroom, I frowned. My short, high-waisted denim trousers were gone, as was my bloodied tank top. My face flushed a furious red and I stomped to the door. The lock was still in place and quivered slightly.
"Where are my clothes?"
I knew he could hear me, even though the door was closed and had no idea where Niklaus was. He didn't answer and finally the day, the anger, the fear, it wore down on me. I took a stuttering breath. I wanted to cry so badly.
I wanted to scream and cry and throw and— and punch my fist into the mirror even though it would hurt my knuckles. Slipping down the wall, hand clasped around my mouth to stifle my sobs I wished I had this bout of hysterics earlier— because now, half-naked and terrified, I had no idea what to do. I clasped my other hand tightly around my throat and I curled my knees up beneath my chin.
"Come on now, Love," his voice stated suddenly. I had no idea how long I'd even sat there, my skin swiftly cooling. "Come on, you have to come out eventually." He said, his voice coming from right outside the door and I curled my legs tighter against my chest, arms wrapped securely around my knees.
I sniffled, blinking through teary eyes: "Why? So I can run around naked? No, thank you."
"Little Witch, you can come outside yourself, or I'll come and get you." He threatened, his voice soft but that did little to ease my fear of him.
"I— I'm not done." I gasped back, scrambling to my feet, slipping on the stones, and catching myself on the tub. I froze when I noticed my reflection, my pallid face, my red-rimmed eyes, and the angry, reddened mark on my throat, just above my left collarbone.
I looked horrible and frightened and it just wouldn't do. He was already lording his superiority over me, making him see me like that would only strengthen that view. Inhaling deeply, I roughly rubbed the back of my hand across my eyes and snatched the comb from the sink.
It was without a doubt his comb, but I didn't care and started the process of untangling my dark hair, hoping the common movements would ease my erratic beating heart. Occasionally a tear would slip and roll down the curve of my cheek, but after several minutes, my heart rate slowed.
I'd just managed to stop the sniffing when the door creaked and was wrenched open and the Original stormed inside.
I squeaked, for a moment remembering my modestly was only protected by a fluffy towel and he was essential a man.
He caught my right arm with the efficiency of Matt Donovan catching the football and yanked me out of the bathroom, dragged me along the wooden landing and pushed me inside a dark-themed bedroom.
There was a large bookcase against one wall, a fancy detailed bed near the window and a few paintings were on the wall above said bed. My insides curled and a lump formed in my throat. From the large window to the right the black outlines of the trees gleamed in the moonlight.
Was he going to—
"Oh, so jumpy," he murmured, when his fingers skimmed over my still damp shoulder, "relax, Love."
Goosebumps rose to the forefront of my skin, making the tiny hairs on my lower arms stand up on end and he grinned. "Scared much, huh?"
I gave him a squeamish look. Pain was something to fear, of course, although he hadn't really man-handled me yet (with the difference in strength he could probably break my bones like they were twigs), but— I flinched violently when his hand came up to brush my hair behind my ear and slid a finger underneath my chin when I averted my face.
My heart sped up, gut clenching in dismay, because, oh God, I had no way of fighting him off. Light eyes bored into mine and for a moment it was like he was reading my face like a book. He probably could read my face like a book and his fingers tightly curled around my chin.
"Oh," he muttered and he cocked his head to the side, his eyes flashing in recognition; "Oh, that's why you're scared. You think I would force myself on you?"
"Most of what I've heard of you has not been pleasant." I whispered, the words escaping me.
"I may be many things," he whispered eventually, tapping the pads of his fingers against my cheek and I didn't dare to avert my eyes again, "but I have no need of forcing women to be with me in that sense. I've never been a rapist!"
"I— What?" I blinked profusely and he took a step back, waving his hand to the wooden closet.
"Take what you need."
"Are those yours?" I asked, still too thrown off I could not think of what to say.
"Yes, but if you'd prefer running around dressed in the towel—"
"No, no, they're absolutely fine," I yelped and not so subtle stumbled to the closet and almost disappeared into the rack of clothes. He stood there several seconds, seemingly amused before turning around and leaving me alone. Or seemingly alone. I didn't hear him move away either way.
Quickly, I rubbed myself dry, yanked a grey henley off a higher shelf and pulled it over my head. My search for bottoms that would be fitting took longer. In the end I found a pair of sweat pants I could tie tightly around my waist, turning the legs over several times, looking rather ridiculous.
Very ridiculous, I corrected when Niklaus laughed so hard I almost forgot he was a murderous original vampire and almost felt around for something to chuck at his smirking face. He'd left before I could act on that little slip and I sank down the wall and on the floor, the hems of several pants fluttering against my cheeks.
My teeth ground together and I curled my fingers tightly into the strands of my hair, sucking down each breath like a fish out of the water and counted. I counted till fifty until I thought I could face the world (aka Klaus again) and slowly got up to quivering legs. I had to be smart if I were to survive.
I had to keep calm to stay alive, especially if my family figured out I was gone. I hoped Elena would ask Bonnie to do a locator's spell, but— somehow, I doubted she would notice with everything that was going on.
Besides, I had done a runner before, no matter how temporary. I groaned again, almost flopping back into the closet: "Fuck!"
The positive point: after three days of walking on eggshells, I was still alive. The bad news, I still hadn't managed to get in touch with my magic again. Which was also the primary reason why I hadn't tried escaping till now.
Besides, it was hard to escape when it was magic keeping me locked inside a house. Klaus had left me mostly alone that day and I still had not felt or noticed anyone trying to reach me.
I thought I must have been able to notice someone trying to reach me with magic, however, I could be wrong.
The day was warm, pleasant and I had dressed in shapeless combat trousers and an equally shapeless sweatshirt.
Then again, all Klaus' clothes looked on me like I was drowning in them. It looked rather ridiculous if I was honest, but, at least they protected my modesty well. The downside, Klaus found it amusing. He made no secret of it either…
"Samantha?"
"Hm?"
"Are you sulking again?"
I supposed he found me amusing. "No."
"Could have fooled me, Luv." He grinned and fingered the hem of my sweatshirt. It was so big, it drooped off the left shoulder and I glowered half heartily.
"I thought you would be busy planning the demise of mankind?" I remarked and he smirked.
"Hm," he shook his head, "no, just your sister's."
I gnashed my teeth together and stared at my hand. God, I was a coward. I didn't look at him directly, flitting my eyes along the outline of his shoulders and settling at the base of his throat. "Why, you should give lectures about homicidal tendencies."
"Nah, that's Elijah's forte," he grinned.
"Elijah likes lectures?" I echoed and shook my head. "Actually that doesn't surprise me."
"Indeed, he's quite opinionated about— well, about everything."
"I can see how that would be a problem for you," I remarked drolly and took a few steps back.
He smirked and I watched him move past me without another word. At least, he hadn't tried to bite me again…
The eighteenth of May had began sunny but cold and while Klaus was directing his handymen like a conductor would conduct an orchestra, I was left in the passenger seat of a car. I'd been told not to touch, or move or try anything stupid and now I was glumly peering outside of the window.
The first few days as Niklaus captive (and breathing blood bag; because why not and apparently it was a fine way to deal with me when he thought I worked him on his nerves), I'd been terrified.
Niklaus was often cynical and malicious; he could lose his temper in the time span of a second, and when he lost control over his temper, he often ended up throwing pieces of furniture across the room.
His mood swings left me scrambling to understand and to react to, but he'd been cordial enough to not touch me in an indecent way. I supposed I might not be his cup of tea (not sexually at least; he did seem to find my blood agreeable enough) and I was quite thankful for it. Beside that the food he fed me was plentiful and varied; he made sure I got enough.
I sighed again and the door to the wheel was wrenched open and the devil himself took a seat: "Why the glum look, Love, we're taking you home."
"I am under the impression you're not actually taking me home."
"No," he agreed. He seemed to be in high spirits at the moment and started the car. At least he hadn't attempted to push me into the trunk of his car again. I shivered as he grinned almost manically at me. "But look at the bright sight, Love, you'll have a road-trip."
"Wonderful." How I wished to drawl something sarcastically at him. But with his mood-swings, unstable at the best of times, I didn't dare it, just glaring out of the window. At least I didn't burst into tears at every given moment and I breathed out slowly. I was dressed in an oversized sweatshirt.
Sliding off of one shoulder and my denim jeans which at least weren't ruined like my favorite button-up and my jacket were and I'd stopped arguing with him about sharing his clothes.
From what I gathered, if I pushed him too far I'd have to run around in my underwear (if I was that lucky of course). He was prone to mood swings like that and as he started the car I squeezed my eyes shut.
The lovely part about getting into a car accident, again, was that it made me nervous in one. Of course, Niklaus didn't know that.
"What now, Love, you think I'm that bad of a driver?"
"Me, my sister and my parents were in a car accident almost a year ago," I whispered, somehow hoping I could wipe that horrendous grin off his face. "Wickery bridge must have been slippery because my father lost the control over the car and it went over the bridge. My parents didn't make it. Elena was saved and how I made it, I have no idea. Excuse me, for being a little jumpy in a car."
"You were in the car with them?" His voice was low and slow, his smile indeed wiped clean off his face, but it did not really make me feel better. I found it really odd that he was looking at me with an expression I would describe as conflicted.
Perhaps it was the surprise that Elena had been there too. After all, he needed Elena for the ritual— but that was not what he'd said—
"Yes." I agreed softly. "So was Elena."
He pursed his lips, swapping the country road for the high road and I subtly drew my fingers over the healing wounds on my neck. He didn't say much to me during the drive, his face unreadable and his fingers tightly wrapped around the wheel. I'd often wondered what excuses my siblings and even my uncle— father— seemed logical to explain my absence.
John knew I'd gone after Tyler— I guessed he would just conclude I'd decided to stay over for a while and perhaps Niklaus had even sent him a text message (I wouldn't put it past him he'd even gone as far as to tell everyone my phone was about to die) cementing that belief even further (because, fuck, that was exactly like something that I would do).
I pressed my lips together and curled my fingers into the loops of my denim shorts, finally just closing my eyes, hoping to give myself some rest. I must dozed off for a bit, because when I woke up, we had veered off of the high way and were now in a high-class suburban sprawl.
We passed a large Starbucks and rubbed my eyes. Niklaus steered his car up a parking lot, the sidewalk and a stone path leading up to a large brick building to the right. A blueish Volkswagen was parked in front of it.
"There we are," Niklaus grinned and parked the car with a smirk.
"Where are we?"
He smirked again and in a flash, he was out of the car and stood next to the passenger seat, holding open my door: "Come now, Love, I can't tell you that, now can I?"
"What would it matter?" I muttered and hissed softly when he grabbed my upper-arm and all but dragged me to the blue Volkswagen.
The driver's side window was half down, framing a young dark-skinned girl with long curly hair. She was gripping the steering wheel like a life preserver, but when Niklaus neared her car, yanking me along by my, she dropped them, sitting back. Grinning, she lowered the window fully, and stuck her head out: "Ah, hello Love, and that's the girl?"
"No, I picked another one up," he sarcastically replied and the African-American girl rolled her eyes. I certainly hadn't dared to do that before, but Klaus didn't seem to mind: "Yes Greta, that's the girl."
"Hm," she started, eyes tracing over my face curiosity. "She has potential. Maddox was right."
"I need you to babysit her for the day."
"Babysit?" I spluttered, definitely feeling insulted and Klaus gave me a good shake.
"Yes, babysit." He agreed and turned to Greta. "She's mouthy."
"Hm, that's fine. I don't mind mouth. Besides, when was the last time I'd actually been around a girl?" She tapped her chin and I felt a bit of dread curl up my spine. "I can't even remember."
She flashed me another grin and gave Klaus a helpless stare. I wasn't sure who was the lesser evil in this unholy act. Klaus put his hand on my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. His pupils contracted slightly: "You will do as she says and behave."
"Are you trying to compel me?" I asked and he sighed audibly.
"Such a pity, it didn't take."
'Asshole!'
"Klaus, why is she dressed like that?" Greta asked, sounding extremely amused and the Original averted his eyes to the car again.
"She needed to wear something, didn't she?" He grinned and I was once again reminded I looked absolutely stupid in his clothes. I didn't dare to voice that out loud, of course. With my luck he would probably have me strip them off and go about in my underwear. Yeah, definitely preferred to look stupid as opposed to that.
"God, you really like to irritate your witches, don't you?"
"Oh Love, you know you're my favourite." He smirked sending her a flirtatious smile and I gave him a quelling look. "Now, I have a delivery to await. You can drop her off once Maddox cleared the teacher."
"What?"
He gave me a little nudge towards the girl's car and without much do, I stalked towards the passenger's seat. I supposed getting the upper hand on a human girl was a far easier deed than getting the upper hand on Klaus.
Buckling in, I crossed my arms over my chest, feeling secure enough where I was to glare at Klaus over the girl's shoulder. I felt the utmost relief spreading out through my limbs when he finally turned around towards his car. Greta peered at me again, as the vampire's car roared to life.
"He's an ass," I muttered as Niklaus' car disappeared around the building.
"Not at all, Luv," she disagreed, her fingers running through her curly black hair, "he comes with operation instructions though. You just need to read the manual. Now settle back, we've got a lot to do."
I could tell she was a witch. Even if my magic acted as if it had been drained, and there was an open grimoire behind her, sitting on the backseat, frazzled looking with yellowing pages. It seemed like the most logical option to play along and I dutifully stared out of the window.
Sometimes I wished I was more like my sister. She was confrontational and courageous. I was not. I would stand up for myself on occasions and I could be courageous when getting up to my usual shenanigans, but— I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned back in the car seat. God, was I pathetic or what?
On the other hand, if I waited and was patient, good things might come to me. I swallowed, rubbing my hands over my knees. Patience could be most rewarding and although me having any patience might have been something against popular belief, but I could be patient.
"Well, then, let's start on that long road of yours," I remarked.
Greta's answering smile was sharklike and wetted my lips. Well, at least I could try.
To be continued…
A/N: And that was chapter sixteen^^
Let me know what you think. I do love your comments:)
