Chapter 20
Back in the safety of her apartment after the long day she had, Caroline let her head fall in her hands.
When she saw Inspector Coleman this morning, she'd learned that after all Klaus wasn't in on Marcel's arrest, it was just a ploy from the Inspector to diminish Klaus's influence. And he had formed it on the information she'd provided him. She was part responsible.
She'd never felt guilty when she'd begun working as an operative for Coleman in Virginia, she'd even felt proud it had led to the arrest of criminals. But things were different here. And maybe because time had passed since, or because she knew nobody here had anything to do with the death of her father or Tyler. Even thought she knew they were criminals, well, most of the Mikaelsons and their men. She felt guilty. She hated that.
It wasn't like she was trying to get innocent people in jail like Bonnie or Matt. Granted, both Matt and her worked at a saloon owned by Gloria serving alcohol against the law. She only wanted bad people to stop hurting innocent people. And Klaus was the big bad in this part of town, probably had hurt more than his fair share of innocents, and he would certainly be given the death penalty. And she felt as if her heart was being squeezed when thinking about it. And that was the problem.
She was too close. And she thought maybe Inspector Coleman was beginning to suspect so, seeing his warning this morning.
She had never spoken directly to either Marcel or Rebekah so she didn't feel as guilty about it than when she thought back to Bonnie getting drunk at the bar.
She couldn't deny she liked it here. She'd found friends in Bonnie and Matt she'd never had before. She liked Gloria and felt grateful when she encouraged her to sing. She liked watching Bonnie and Enzo banter. She liked the big city, even with its danger. She felt like she belong. But she was an informant. And she felt so confused right now.
Her parents had taught her about what was right and what was wrong. Would they be okay with what she was doing right now ? She didn't want to know the answer to be honest.
It would probably be wiser to leave like Coleman proposed. But she didn't want to. She sometimes wished she truly had just come to the big city looking for work and nothing else. But then she had to wonder, if that was the case would she have already fallen into bed with Klaus Mikaelson ? Because she could admit to herself, if only that, that she liked Klaus. And the only thing that made her resist the attraction still was that she was lying about her reasons for being here. And he'd probably kill her if he knew she was working with Inspector Coleman.
She was going to have to choose soon what she wanted. No matter her choice she felt the odds of her getting out of this alive in the end were shrinking each day.
-O-
It had been a while since Rebekah had felt so happy. She had dragged Davina with her for an afternoon of shopping, the other protesting at all the money lost on clothes, but the brunette had been smiling and laughing with her by the end.
She definitely liked this sister-in-law better than Sage.
They came back home arms filled with bags.
"Did you take my wife to rob a shop ?" Kol teasingly raised an eyebrow watching them.
"Shut up Kol."
"You kidnap my new wife and leave no time for me to spend with and I can't even protest."
"You spend all your nights with her, I'd think she see enough of your face."
"That is impossible little sister." Kol was smug.
"She is here and can speak for herself." Davina got tired of their sibling bickering, though she was getting used to it in the three days she'd been here.
"Sorry Darling." Kol innocently looked at her. "But since the two of you are back, then is it my turn to monopolize you ?" He got closer to Davina.
"I'm not a thing." She narrowed her eyes at him.
With a mischievous expression he put a hand on her waist, pulled her closer and whispered to her,
"You can monopolize me as much as you want too."
Davina's eyes darkened a bit at the suggestion and judging by Kol smirk, he saw the effect he had on her.
"Ugh !" Rebekah groaned at their flirting, or at least at Kol abysmal attempt and left, she truly didn't want to be here to witness this.
-O-
Caroline needed a break. She told so to Gloria and went to the backroom and then through the back door into the alley used for delivery.
She took a breath, Chicago's air wasn't nice, but at least she didn't feel suffocated anymore. It wasn't that bad, but those few days people had been stealing glances at her. Ever since the wedding celebration, ever since she danced with Klaus.
She could see the people looking at her differently. The Mystic's waitresses whispered behind her back about her, the female patrons would cast judging gazes at her and the male patrons would also glance at her but fearful in their cases, they'd become more respectuous, or at least some who used to flirt were careful not to do it again. Because they didn't want to provoke Klaus.
He'd shown an interest in her, she was marked as his. They all thought that he wanted to sleep with her, if he hadn't already. That made her untouchable in this part of town controlled by the Mikaelsons. Which annoyed Caroline to no end.
Only a few people still treated her as before. Gloria, though she gave her knowing looks sometimes, Matt, who only seemed to be worried about her. Enzo, who still flirted with her, but flirting was as much a part of his personality than being charming to the Mikaelsons, plus everyone knew who he truly had his eyes on. And speaking of Bonnie, she'd directly confronted her about Klaus when she'd heard about it.
Caroline hadn't known what to say besides, it's complicated.
"Either you like him or you don't." Bonnie had said.
"You like Enzo, but you're not with him." She'd replied a bit meanly.
"You're right, I am attracted to him. But I don't like what he does. How about you ?" She'd raised an eyebrow at her.
Caroline had been unable to answer, not because she didn't know, she'd found that answer during her meltdown, but because she couldn't explain it without revealing being an informant.
"What are you thinking about ?" A voice who she'd learn to recognize very well sounded in the dark alley.
Klaus came to stand near the wall, not too far but not too close either, and Caroline was glad for that. She needed to make things clear.
"I'm not talking to you until you tell me what you want from me." She said firmly.
Klaus didn't show it if he was surprised, he just gave her a considering look before answering.
"I fancy you."
It was simple words, but even though she expected them, it still took her breath away. Her eyes widened.
"Is that so hard to believe ?"
"Yes." She blurted out.
"You're beautiful, you're strong, you're full of light. I enjoy you."
"Maybe you don't know me as well as you think." She said in a small voice, looking away from him.
She wasn't 'full of light', she was lying and spying to put him and most of his family in prison. She felt like claws were painfully squeezing her heart.
"Then give me a chance to get to know you." Klaus stepped into her space, their faces only some inches apart.
"Just to be clear, I'm too smart to be seduced by you." Caroline held her ground.
"That's why I like you." He smiled genuinely at her, dimples coming out. And he was beautiful.
Caroline eyes went to his lips before going back to his eyes to see the blue darkening in a stormy color.
Leaning down slowly, leaving her time to escape, but she was rooted where she stood, he finally pressed his lips to her. Her eyes fluttered close as he encircled her waist with his arm and she melted into him as their kiss deepened.
Klaus stopped their kiss as their foreheads and noses touched, and they breathed each other in.
"It's your choice Caroline." He took a step back, letting his arms fall at his sides. She already felt cold without his warmth.
"Now go in before your presence is missed." He inclined his head toward the door.
Caroline still in a daze, snapped out of it, cleared her throat, nodded to him, readjusted her clothes and hair under his amused gaze, and marched back into the Mystic.
-O-
"It's good to have you back." Giuseppe Salvatore told the man facing him.
"I should never have left two years ago. If I was here the Mikaelson would never have been able to rise as much." Silas responded.
"Confident much." Damon sassed from where he was leaning arms crossed against the wall.
"Ah, here's something I didn't miss." Smiled Silas mirthlessly.
"Not everyone can take being in my awesome presence."
"Enough !" Giuseppe glared at his eldest son. "With you here, the Mikaelsons will think twice about going against us." He turned to Silas.
"I already know how to take care of them." Silas nonchalantly said.
"What are you planning to do ?" Stefan had a note of wariness in his voice.
"Why, I'll simply have a chat with Klaus Mikaelson." The older man smiled.
He explained his plan to the other three Salvatore before the brothers were dismissed.
"That's never going to work." Damon said as soon as they stepped out the room.
"He shouldn't have come back. Things are tense enough as it is. He loves bloodshed too much." Frowned Stefan.
"Well, he is a psychotic bastard." Damon gave him a look.
"We need to prevent that."
"How ? Klaus Mikaelson will probably be more than happy to help him make the blood flow, until only one of us is left in Chicago."
"Then the question is what do we care about the most, our lives or being Chicago top dog ?" Said Stefan.
-O-
The Salvatores weren't the only ones in the midst of planning. Klaus was too as he walked through the sparsely crowded restaurant to sit at a table, face to the man already occupying it, eating lunch.
Said man looked surprised and quite a bit alarmed at the Mikaelson presence, obviously well aware who the other was but still putting on a stern mask over his emotions as quickly.
"No need to worry, I'm here simply for a bit of a chat Police Commissioner."
"I do not believe there is anything for us to talk about unless you are here to confess your crimes Mr. Mikaelson."
"Ahh. But that's where you're wrong. See more than me, I believe Silas Salvatore would interest you more, what with him killing all those officers and escaping a couple years ago."
"If you're here to sell the police the information, you've wasted a trip we already know."
"Knowing he's back in Chicago and being able to do anything about it, is two different things. I'm here with a proposal. I know where he'll be in two days and can help you catch him, however no matter what happens, I will be absolved of any crimes about that."
"Why should I agree ? Negotiating with criminals is not in my habit."
"But it is in your interest in this case, Silas Salvatore's case has already dragged on for two years and left quite a stain on the police."
The police chief seemed torn but steeling himself spoke again.
"What do you want ?"
"Silas Salvatore is as much a nuisance to me as the police, and as long as I get my immunity for helping you with the issue I do not need anything. Do we have a deal ?"
-O-
"Enzo."
Enzo stopped walking and looked into the alleyway shadows. He hadn't heard that voice in years, now.
"It's been a while mate." He stepped into the alley.
"Yeah, kinda hard staying in touch, what with you going over to the other side." Damon said in his usual sarcastic tone.
"For good reasons, you remember." Drolled Enzo.
"I'm not here to discuss my father dick moves, we'd never leave." The Salvatore carelessly said.
"Then what are you here to discuss that you'd take the risk to get both of us killed as traitors ?"
"Well, I'm sure you heard, Silas's back in town."
"The whole city is aware, never one for subtle your relative."
"You should also have heard that he and your boss will have a peaceful meeting to discuss things tomorrow, after all you're a big shot in the Mikaelsons rank or so I heard these days."
Enzo tilted his head, arms crossed, expression clearly telling to get to the point.
"That's bullcrap. Silas doesn't intend to talk at all, but think he can kill Klaus then."
"Why tell me ? Why betray your own camp ? I know it isn't for any love of the Mikaelsons."
"Yeah, I couldn't care less about Klaus Mikaelson kicking the bucket, but see, Silas thinks things will all go his way, his ego only grew in the last two years since escaping the police. And my father is stupid enough to go along with him, blinded by the thought the Mikaelsons are upstart not strong enough to take us on. That doesn't mean I can't see right. Even if Silas and Klaus manage to off themselves there will be revenge to be had, and the streets will turn into a bloodbath."
"I never knew you to avoid bloodshed." Enzo cocked his eyebrow.
"Usually I wouldn't care. But it's different if it threatens the life of my wife and brother. Which will happen if we truly go to war with the Mikaelsons."
"And how is Stefan ?"
"Of the same opinion as me."
"While all this is fascinating, I do not see what you expect me to do ?"
"I know you're not that dumb Enzo, I am your oldest friend after all."
"You want me to warn Klaus and be left out of things afterwards."
"You're the only one I can ask. Do me a favor, on account of us being best friends for ten years."
"I can't promise anything, but I'll talk to Klaus." Enzo nodded and stepped out of the alley.
-O-
"Interesting." Klaus said as he observed Enzo before him in his office.
"Having no love for your fathers, is something you have in common from what I know." Enzo said. Anyone else wouldn't have had the guts to make such a comment afraid Klaus would kill them for it, but Enzo had always excelled at not caring for his provocative words.
"I get it, it won't change the plan for tomorrow, but it could make a nice chess piece for a later use." Klaus ignored him before sinking into reflection.
Slowly the corner of his mouth curled up.