I've read this like a million times and I don't think it's going to change much so I decided to just post it and hope you guys like it.
Chapter Fourteen: Change of Heart
After Maddox left, Kiara fell into a deep sleep. She tried to fight it, hoping to tell Klaus the things on her mind before it was too late. She knew there was a chance she wasn't going to make it. It seemed unlikely that Klaus would tell Holly what she asked him to, not that she could blame him, they weren't friends and he had never even met Holly. But Elijah was still out there somewhere. Gerald had done something to him because of her, and Kiara needed Klaus to know that. So Klaus could help him if he needed it. So they could be a family again.
Maybe it was naive of her to still have hope for them or for her to even care if they can work out their differences, given the predicament she was in, but she cared for the Mikaelson brothers. And what else was there to do when facing death but to worry about those you are leaving behind?
The fear of slipping into the darkness and never waking again terrified her. But she didn't have a choice in the matter. The stone was draining her energy and her eyes fluttered closed.
Unable to sit still in that stuffy apartment and watch as Kiara slowly slipped away, Klaus made his way toward the door. He needed to do something. It had been a long time since he felt so helpless. Being stuck in a useless human body was making him feel restless.
"Where are you going?" Katerina asked
"I have some things to take care of," he said, turning to face her so he could compel her to do as he said. "You will watch over Kiara and keep her alive until I get back. You are not to leave until I tell you that you can."
"I don't understand…" Katerina squinted her eyes at him. "She told me you wanted her dead. Why the change of heart?"
He grabbed her by the throat and said, "What makes you think you have the right to question anything that I do?"
"Nothing," she gasped, her hands gripping onto his wrists. "I'm sorry I asked."
"Keep her alive like your life depends on it," he said, releasing her. "Because it does."
Klaus went back to Kiara's house. All the while asking himself the same question that Katerina asked him. Why the change of heart?
If he was honest with himself he would admit that Kiara had gotten under his skin, but it was more than that.
He didn't know how he ended up in front of her house at the exact moment she needed him. The last thing he remembered was killing the witch, leaving the high school, and going for a celebratory drink at the grill. Next thing he knew, he was walking down the street in a daze. Kiara's voice snapped him out of it. After spending so much time with her the past week, he recognized it immediately and he knew she was afraid.
When he saw her sitting there in the doorway with a blade embedded in her chest, he thought she was dead. It was only for a moment, but it was long enough for him to realize that her death wasn't something he wanted.
And the things she said…
This blade was made especially for me. A present from my father.
The words ran through his system like a dreadful poison, it settled in his stomach and made it hard for him to breathe. She didn't just sympathize with him. She knew his pain, knew what it was like to have a father who hated her, one who wanted her dead. The thought baffled him. What could she have done to make her own father want to kill her? But it explained why she defended him from Mikael that day in his nightmare and why she seemed to be searching for the good in him, even after he threatened her twice. They were the same. Weren't they?
You drew me. It was nice. You're really talented.
No, he shook his head, not the same. She was better. Not quite as broken as he was. Still capable of optimism and forgiveness and all things beautiful. Just thinking about her words was enough to jump-start his heart back to life. She didn't ask why he drew her and he was thankful because he honestly didn't have the answer. Not one he would say aloud anyway. Instead, she just complimented his work, complimented him. She had no reason to show him kindness. He had threatened her, invaded her dream, lied to her, and taken possession of someone she trusted to get the information he wanted from her. She knew all of this as she sat there on the brink of death and yet there she was, smiling at him like that. And he knew he was in trouble because at that moment he would have done anything she asked of him.
I need you to do me a favor, okay?
He expected her to beg for his help. To save her. But she didn't. Instead, she asked him to take care of another in her place. Even in her last moments, she was worried about someone else. How they would feel once she was gone. Who was going to take care of them. If they were going to end up alone. Putting others before herself seemed to be a habit of hers. One he didn't expect from a succubus. One he couldn't understand. She even seemed to care more about him than she did herself.
"No," Kiara shook her head. "You can't risk it."
"Do you want to die?"
"No," she said. "But I don't want to bring you down with me either. Enough people have died because of me."
He wanted to tell her that her life was worth more than most anyone else's, but it was irrational. It was just the charm of the succubus seeping into his mind, knocking him off his feet, stealing his breath and sanity. He told himself his feelings weren't real. They couldn't be. Still, even now, his mind continued to spin and he was no longer in her presence.
It seemed she was talking about Greta's family, the friends she didn't want to leave behind, the ones who defended her from the witch Gerald. This Gerald took down Elijah, attacked Kiara, and may have died by her hand. It wasn't a life she should mourn over and yet, he had a feeling that she felt guilty anyway.
When Klaus got back inside Kiara's home, he found only two bodies. He searched every room and didn't find a third victim. Either someone else had been there before him and removed the body, or she didn't kill her attacker after all. Which meant she could still be in danger.
He sighed and pulled his cellphone out of his pocket. "Greta, I need you to do something for me," he said. He reiterated the directions that Kiara had given him and asked that she check on this Holly woman for him. Although he didn't boast about it the way Elijah did, he also liked to believe he was a man of his word and he did tell Kiara he would take care of everything. The least he could do was assure her only family member's safety.
And no, Klaus didn't mention the passing of Greta's father and brother to her. He didn't want to risk her becoming distracted when he still needed her for what was to come.
"Now," he said to himself, after hanging up the phone. "What to do about you two…"
Leaving the bodies where they were wasn't an option. They could be seen from the window. Besides, how would Kiara explain what happened here? She couldn't.
If he had a witch with him, they might be able to do a preservation spell to keep the bodies from decomposing until Kiara could try reviving them. He would have preferred observing her work, but it was impossible at this point, rigor mortis had set in already. So Klaus did the only thing he could do, he loaded the bodies into their car that he found parked on the side of the road, and drove them to a different location. As he was moving them, a piece of paper fell out of the older male's jacket pocket. It appeared to be a genealogy report of some kind. He didn't understand the significance of it, but he decided to slip it into his jean pocket just in case it meant something to Kiara.
By the time he was finished abandoning their bodies in the empty parking lot of a retail store, it was almost one in the morning. He walked back to Alaric's apartment riddled with nerves.
Kiara was still there, lying in Alaric's bed, dying, and he didn't know what to do about that. Comforting others was never his forte, but he did find himself wanting to ease her pain. If he could.
Katerina stood from the couch when he walked through the door. The lights were on in the main living area and the bedroom door was open, presumably, so she could check on Kiara without waking her. Katerina opened her mouth to say something, but he just ignored her and walked into the bedroom, shutting the door behind him.
He stood there for a moment in the dimly lit room and waited until he saw Kiara's chest rise and fall before moving again. She was still breathing. That was something. Certainly better than the alternative.
After he showered and got dressed for bed, he realized this was the only bed in the little apartment. He certainly wasn't going to stay out on the couch with Katerina. His only options were to sleep on the floor or in the bed next to Kiara. And he was too proud to do the former.
Slowly, he pulled back the bedcovers and eased himself down on the bed. He kept his eyes on her, not wanting to disturb her. Her breathing was shallow and he could see sweat forming on her forehead like her body thought the magic draining her life was a virus she could fight. It wasn't, of course. If Maddox didn't make it back in time, Kiara was going to die. No amount of resistance, or suffering, on her part could prevent the inevitable. When he lifted his legs up onto the bed, she groaned and opened her eyes.
"Klaus?"
He froze. "Yes, love," he said. "It's just me. Go back to sleep." The words sounded uncomfortable coming out of his mouth, almost intimate, like they were a couple in an old sitcom and he was the husband sneaking into bed after working late in the office one night.
She shook her head weakly. "I don't want to."
"Why not?" He frowned leaning back against the headboard, careful not to touch her.
"I'm scared I won't wake up."
He looked at her then. His eyes moving over her face as she stared out the window across from them. "I've already told you, love," he cleared his throat. "You have nothing to fear. I don't plan on letting you die anytime soon."
Her face turned up and she almost laughed, making him shift uneasily next to her. "What a difference a few weeks can make… " she teased.
His hand grazed hers and he shivered, instant goosebumps bloomed to life on his skin. He pulled away on instinct.
"Sorry," she mumbled.
"Don't be," he said, still trying to steady his breathing. "You didn't do anything wrong."
"I might've. I haven't figured out how it all works yet," she told him. Finally moving her eyes to look at him. "I think I might be able to control how I affect people if I practice enough."
Klaus didn't know what to say. He had spent most of his existence wreaking havoc on the lives he touched. Sometimes on purpose. Most of his life, he had to restrain himself from causing pain like it was his basic instinct to harm others. This woman needed practice to keep her touch from being enjoyable. The thought of such a creature caring about a monster like him seemed impossible, wrong even.
In the silence, he thought she had fallen asleep, but then she said, "I need to tell you something. It's important."
"Tell me tomorrow, love. After I've had that wretched thing removed," he said. Then turned off the lamp next to him. The moonlight from the window illuminated the room in a bluish hue. "It's late. You should rest. Save your strength."
She paused as if debating on arguing with him. Finally, she said, "It's just darkness when I sleep now. I think this thing keeps me from dreaming."
Without thinking, he slipped his hand in hers and she relaxed a little. "Then you shall borrow mine," he said, before closing his eyes and letting her into his head, willingly for the first time.
When Kiara's eyes fluttered shut, she found herself standing on a balcony overlooking a glorious sunset. It was a lively blend of pinks and oranges over a dark blue sky. The ocean was shimmering under them with mountains in the distance. She looked to her left and found Klaus, the real Klaus, standing next to her with a proud smile on his face. His hands held behind his back.
"Is this real?" she asked him, looking back at the picture before her.
"It was," he smirked. His eyes absorbing the surprised look on her face. "This was Venice, Italy in 1743."
"I, I don't understand. How am I here right now?"
He just lifted his eyebrows at her. "You aren't the only one who can play mind games, love."
Kiara playfully rolled her eyes. "Well, thank you for this. It's beautiful, like a painting," she smiled sadly. "I wish I could have seen it for real."
"You still can. Italy's just a plane ride away," he said, a little twinkle of mischief in his eyes that made Kiara's heart skip a beat. "Perhaps I'll take you some time."
She squinted at him. "Elijah warned me about you, you know."
His face fell. "Elijah? Well, this should be good. What did he say about me then?"
She studied his face for a moment. His quick flip to anger made her a little nervous, but he sounded so much like the troublemaking younger brother he was that it made her smile. "He worried if we met, you'd—"
"I'd what? Whisk you away to Venice?"
"Like me. I guess… or at least want to keep me around," she shook her head. "It sounds stupid saying it out loud. It's just, it's possible I may be one of the only succubi in the world and since you're the only vampire/werewolf hybrid in existence, Elijah thought that maybe you'd relate to me or something."
He was quiet for a second before he said, "I can't imagine why. Other than existential loneliness, we have nothing in common."
"I don't know about that," She turned around to lean against the railing so she could face him. "My father was never my biggest fan. I'm told you can relate."
He couldn't even look at her. "My brother has a big mouth."
They sat there in silence taking in the beautiful scene before them. Klaus would have been satisfied with it remaining that way, but Kiara wasn't.
"For a long time, my father didn't even speak to me," she said, making him look at her. "I spent most of my childhood in my bedroom. Members of the coven took turns taking care of me. Sometimes, if I behaved, the nicer ones would sneak me out to visit my mother before bed, but that got harder the sicker she got. Eventually, I couldn't see her at all," she looked down at her hands. "The isolation was worse than anything he did to me physically."
Klaus frowned. "Coven? You were raised by witches?"
"Yes. I didn't know it at the time. They never practiced magic around me, but it turns out my father is a pretty talented witch."
"So your mother was a succubus then?"
Kiara lifted a shoulder. "If she was, no one ever told me."
Klaus considered this for a moment. "If that were the case, then that would make you a hybrid as well."
"Is it even possible to be a succubus and a witch at the same time?"
"I don't know, love," he brushed her hair out of her face. A little excuse to touch her, to feel the butterflies she brought to life in his stomach. "But I, for one, am interested to find the answer."
Kiara licked her lips, making his eyes focus on her mouth. "You're doing it again."
"Doing what, love?"
"Being charming. Elijah warned me how charming you could be," she told him. "I see why now."
"What, this?" He chuckled, pulling away from her. "You think the memory of an old European sunset is an attempt at seduction? Sweetheart, if I decide to charm you, you won't even stand a chance."
"Hm," Kiara fought a smile as he looked down at her with a devilish glint in his eyes. There was something exciting about being looked at like that. Like he could see through her. "Maybe… maybe not," she shrugged.
"Is that a challenge, love?"
"Me? Challenge the great Niklaus Mikaelson?" She reached up and brushed her hand down his cheek. An electric feeling sparked to life in its path. "I would never be so foolish…"
Klaus leaned toward her to place his hands on the railing, trapping her in front of him. "That's cheating."
"You don't seem to mind…" she said, her eyes wandering down to his mouth.
Klaus swallowed, trying to focus. The competitive side of him not wanting to give her the satisfaction of knowing the effect she had on him. He went to answer her, but she cringed and grabbed her head. His hands rushed to steady her. "Are you alright, love?"
She leaned towards him, her head reaching the crook of his neck. "Yes. I'm sure it's just the dagger."
"Is there anything I can do?"
She shook her head a little.
"Perhaps you should feed?" Klaus's heart thudded at the thought.
She sighed, her warm breath tickling his neck as she nuzzles her nose into his skin. "Are you offering?"
Tingles shot through his body and his stomach muscles clenched. He didn't want to move. Despite knowing this was a dream, everything she did felt real and only made him want to get closer to her.
Suddenly Klaus opened his eyes. He didn't know if she had forced him to wake up or something else had woken him, but he was already sitting up when Kiara's eyes finally fluttered open. Her green orbs watched him as he moved through the room.
"Good morning, love," he said, trying not to sound shaken as he got dressed in front of her. He had nothing to worry about, she averted her eyes. Plus it wasn't even his body. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I'm dying."
He frowned and glanced at the clock. It was eight in the morning. "What is taking him so long?" he muttered to himself.
When he opened the bedroom door, he compelled Katerina to make him some coffee. Then a ringing sound went off. It was familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had heard it before.
"What is that incessant ringing?" He frowned looking for the source
"My phone," Kaira said, struggling to stretch her arm out to grab it off the nightstand.
"It's been going off non-stop all morning," Katerina grumbled.
"Who's calling you, I wonder…" Klaus said, picking up the phone and glancing down at the screen. "Ah. Elijah! What a surprise..."
"Elijah. He's okay?" Kiara smiled. Her voice was rough and tired.
"Say hello." Klaus kept his face blank and clicked the button to answer the call before turning on the speakerphone.
"Hello?" Kiara said.
"Kiara!" Elijah breathed a sigh of relief. "Are you alright? Where are you? What happened?"
"I'm, I'm with your brother."
"Niklaus? Did he do this to your house?" he asked.
"No," Kiara said. "It was kind of a group effort. A witch named Gerald Blake attacked me. My father sent him."
"Is Holly with you?"
"No. I… sent her away."
"I don't understand. How did you end up with my brother?"
"He," Kiara looked up at Klaus. "saved me."
There was a pause.
"Has he caused you any harm?"
Klaus rolled his eyes.
"No," she told him.
"And what of the Martin witches?"
Kiara teared up a little. "Gerald… he, they died right in front of me. There was nothing I could do. I'm so sorry."
"Don't be, Kiara. None of this is your fault."
Kiara nodded and found herself wondering if this would be her last conversation with him. Not willing to assume she would be able to tell him later, she said, "I want to thank you, Elijah," Kiara said. "For everything."
"Why does that sound like a goodbye?" When Kiara didn't answer, he said, "Kiara, you listen to me very carefully, everything is going to be alright. I will get you back home safe and sound. I promise you—"
"Yes," Klaus lifted the phone to his mouth. "That's all very fascinating brother, but I'm afraid we have things to do today and don't have time to chat," he said and hung up. "Ugh, he can just drone and on and on, can't he?" he said, turning the phone off to keep it from ringing again. "Such a drag."
Klaus turned away from her, unable to stomach the way she was looking at him right then. Like he had disappointed her. Like he had caused her pain. Not wanting to speak to either woman, he grabbed the coffee from Katerina's waiting hand and walked out the door, taking Kiara's cell phone with him.
Thank you all for reading and for the lovely reviews.
