Hey guys, this chapter is a little short but I am having trouble finding the energy to write lately. I have some new projects I am working on, a new business I am hopefully going to start up soon. Anyway, I wanted to get you guys an update. I am probably halfway through the next chapter. It's just a bit of a challenge to get the next parts I have planned right.
Chapter Twenty: Weak Spots
After Kiara showered and got dressed for bed, she found herself alone in the little motel room. All evidence of the altercation had disappeared. The bloodstains bleached off the striped carpet. The pieces of the broken lamp were picked up and discarded.
Kiara stood there, eyes searching for any sign that it had happened. Her fingers searched her neck where the wound would have been if she were human and she wondered if she would have felt better if there had been physical proof of the attack left behind. It still felt so unnatural to her. The advanced healing. The strength. The charm. Inside she was still the girl that grew up believing she was human and although she was happy to have survived up until this point, she missed being that person.
It's true Kiara had grown up miserable, but she always thought she had potential. The potential to have a better life. The potential to become something more than she was. Something good. Maybe even great, if she tried hard enough. And she had tried.
Thanks to Holly, Kiara was given a chance, a glimpse at the life she could have had if things had gone differently. True they had to move around a bit at first. But she was able to focus on her studies and catch up with the other kids her age in record time.
Eventually, they settled in Mystic Falls and she thought maybe she could have a normal life. Whatever that was. So she tried to reach out, make some real friends for the first time in her life. But it was harder than she thought it would be. Everyone seemed to have all the friends they needed. For a while, she was almost invisible. Only the teachers seemed to pay her any attention and they started asking questions she never had to answer before. What did she want to be? Where did she want to go to college? She never did settle on an answer. Instead, she researched possible careers and places to live obsessively. School had opened her mind up to the enormity of the world, suddenly it was so much more than her bedroom, and she found herself wanting to experience it.
The day Kiara woke up to discover she was this thing with a new face and body and abilities and desires, she lost her potential. Now she was officially labeled. Succubus. A soul-sucking monster with no home, no friends, and little control of her own destiny.
What a fool Kiara had been to think she could be happy after that. How stupid could she have been to think she could have a family and friends and the perfect man who saw only the good in her. It was selfish of her to have even tried knowing that her father would search the earth until he found her. It didn't matter how big the world was, she would never live happily ever after there. Deep down she always knew that.
"Hey, Kiara?" A voice called to her through the doorway. "Are you okay?"
Kiara wiped away the tears that had silently escaped her. "Yeah, David. I'm fine. Did you clean all this up?"
"I thought you wouldn't want to see all that after…"
"Yeah," Kiara nodded even though he couldn't see her. "Thanks. That was nice of you."
"Listen, Klaus is still out. We can talk… you know, if you want."
"Thanks," Kiara smiled sadly to herself and sat down on the bed furthest from the door. "But I'm pretty beat. I think I'm gonna just try to get some sleep."
Try being the keyword, of course.
Sleep should have been easy for her. A guaranteed escape. But the truth was, she was having a hard time controlling herself ever since they left Mystic Falls. Especially while she was sleeping. She kept finding herself in Klaus's dreams. Sometimes she would wander into David's, or Stefan's. She even tried to find Elijah a few times, even though she knew it wouldn't work. After all, it didn't work last time he was daggered, but she was linked to Elijah's brother and she thought it might be easier to find him somehow. Or maybe she just missed him.
When Kiara was awake she told herself she didn't care. About anything. At first, she almost believed it because when she saw Elijah turn grey and fall to the floor, dead, for all intents and purposes, she went numb inside. It seemed succubus had their own sort of "switch" to flip and Kiara flipped hers. Creatures that felt with the intensity Kiara did would have to to survive in this world. While numb, her heart was perfectly safe, her mind unshakeable. Fear couldn't touch her. Neither could happiness or love, or hate, and that was fine with her.
If Kiara had her way, she probably would have remained that way. But her link to Klaus simply wouldn't allow it. He was charming and flirtatious and difficult and stubborn. He constantly flips from one emotion to the next. It was frustrating. There were moments when all she wanted to do was slap him, but then there were moments when all she wanted to do was press her lips against his. Kiara found herself starting to want again, to yearn, despite herself. Despite his possessive bossy tendencies. Despite the fact that he turned Stefan into a ripper. Despite the fact that he forced her to travel along with him. She found herself wanting him. And it was confusing. Scary even.
Meanwhile, Klaus was taking out his frustrations on Stefan. Again. Only this time it was Stefan's blood slipping to the ground, instead of some nameless human. Klaus was furious that Stefan had had the nerve to even touch Kiara, more so knowing he had tasted her blood, and he would be damned if he let Stefan do it again. Klaus would bleed Kiara's blood out of Stefan if he had to. He dragged Stefan into the woods far away from where Kiara was, throwing him from one tree to the next, kicking him while he was on the ground. All the while asking herself why Stefan would do such a thing. Why would he have attacked Kiara like that?
"We're linked!" Klaus yelled at him. "You know that! Didn't you know I would feel you digging your filthy ripper teeth into her? Surely you must have realized I'd have to punish you for such an attack. After all, like it or not, an attack on her is an attack on me."
"You're right," Stefan gasped. "I don't even deserve to be here."
Klaus stopped, holding Stefan up by his neck. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I attacked your girlfriend... maybe it's better if I just go."
"Don't be ridiculous, Stefan," Klaus dropped him and turned his back to him. The act not only showed he was unafraid of the vampire, but that he didn't want to look at him as they discussed the subject. "If you were to leave, who would help me eliminate all the witnesses?"
"I don't think you need my help killing people," Stefan coughed on the ground. "And even if you did, you have David and Preston for that."
"Oh come on," Klaus rolled his eyes. "You and I both know they aren't nearly as much fun as you."
"I'm out of control."
"Then get in control."
"I could attack her again."
Klaus stared at him with a grim expression. "You wouldn't dare."
"You really want to risk that? It's obvious you care about her."
"What makes you say that?"
"We've been killing everyone she speaks to for a reason right?" Stefan got back to his feet and brushed the dirt off his pants. "And the two of you are still linked even though you could have had a witch unlink you weeks ago. It's pretty obvious you're protecting her from something and you wouldn't be going through all this trouble if you didn't care. Besides I've seen how you look at her. I used to look at Elena the same way."
"You and I are not the same," Klaus snapped and then slowly realized something. "Is that what this is about? You're searching for weakness? A means of achieving revenge after I killed your girlfriend. Is that?"
"Of course not. You saved my brother, I owe you."
"Do not lie to me, Stefan. I've been tolerant of you for the past couple of weeks what with your brooding and your sarcastic attitude, but you really are testing my patience and, if it wasn't obvious, that won't bode well for you. Or those you care about."
Stefan put his hands up in the air. "I just wanted her blood."
"So you say, but I'm not buying it," Klaus said, turning to glare down at him. "I think you were testing the link. You figured dead succubus equals dead hybrid, is that right?"
Stefan didn't answer.
"Well let me help you out with the math there, mate. I've been alive for over 1,000 years and I've never met a succubus until her. Let me assure you, I've done my research and I've yet to find a way to kill her," Klaus told him. "But even if you could kill Kiara, her life is bound to mine. Meaning if you want to kill me through her, the method in which you kill her needs to be able to kill me as well and, as I'm sure you know, I can't be killed."
Stefan clenched his jaw and forced out. "I wasn't aware the spell worked like that. It's good to know."
"Happy to help," Klaus grumbled and started heading back toward the motel. "Hurt her again and there will be hell to pay. Got it?"
"Got it."
"Great. Oh, and Stefan? Since you've proven yourself untrustworthy, you'll be staying outside for the night. If you even attempt to leave, I will make you regret it by killing people you care for, starting with your brother."
Klaus returned to the motel room to find Kiara already asleep. She had clutched the blankets tightly around herself. Like it was a shield. She was facing the door as if ready to face another attacker if need be. And Klaus longed to hold her. If only so she would know someone was there to keep her safe. But he didn't.
He didn't want to risk waking her up. After the night she had, he didn't want to risk scaring her. So he changed into some clean clothes and laid in the bed next to hers, the one originally meant for Stefan, and just laid there for a while. His light eyes watched her breathe in the darkness. Just looking at Kiara made Klaus feel better. She was all healed up and clean now. Safe. Sleeping. Like the attack never even happened. It was the second-best scenario Klaus imagined walking into on his way back to the motel room.
The first being Kiara waiting for him with a rather warm welcome.
But this would do well enough. Klaus allowed his breathing to sync up with hers and his body slowly relaxed enough for him to fall asleep.
Although Klaus hoped he would see Kiara in his dream, he didn't expect it. Not on this night. She had already fed and would likely keep to herself. He knew the likelihood was, if he saw her, it would just be his own mind conjuring a likeness of her.
If Klaus did dream, he didn't remember it. Before he knew it, he was awake again. A terrible screeching sound invaded his ears and it took Klaus a moment to realize it was Kiara. She was screaming and thrashing on the bed. A nightmare it seemed. He was at her side in seconds.
"Kiara?" He shook her shoulders. "Come on now. Wake up, love."
Kiara sat up, swinging her hands out in front of her, throwing Klaus across the room. Klaus chuckled a little as he stood up, impressed by her growing strength, and relieved to find that she had stopped screaming.
Kiara's eyes searched the shadows until they found him. "Klaus?"
"Yeah, it's just me, love."
"Sorry," Kiara breathed out. Her hand on her chest as she tried to calm herself. "I didn't mean to…"
"I know, love. No hard feelings. Though I wouldn't object to an apology kiss if you feel so inclined." He smirked. Usually, she would have scoffed or shot a smart remark his way, but she didn't. Slowly Klaus made his way back over to her and sat down next to her on the bed. "You alright?"
"Fine."
"You don't seem fine," Klaus pointed out, not bothering to mention that the link made him aware of her fear. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Kiara hugged her knees to her chest. "It was just a dream."
"Perhaps," Klaus shrugged. "Even still, it's alright if it bothered you. I've had my fair share of nightmares as you well know. There's no shame in it."
Klaus believed this, of course. But he was also not telling her something that was rather important and that was the fact that Klaus had not had a nightmare since the two of them were linked. He didn't mention it because he wasn't sure if it meant anything. After all, it could have been a coincidence. Why dwell on something that might not mean anything? Especially with Stefan circling outside, searching for any weakness Klaus might have that could be exploited.
"Well," Klaus turned to let his legs dangle off the edge of the bed. "If you're alright, I suppose I'll get back to bed—"
The words died in his throat when the familiar tingle that came with Kiara's touch tickled across the back of his hand. He paused and looked back at her half expecting her to say something. But she just tangled her fingers with his and pulled his arm closer to her. He allowed her to guide him towards her and once he was back to laying on the bed, she curled herself against his side with her head on his chest.
Kiara listened to his quickening heartbeat, taking in his unique scent. It almost surprised her how much his presence was calming her down. Almost. The truth was Kiara realized over the last couple of weeks that she actually enjoyed having someone next to her. It turns out she could be quite clingy if given the chance. The constant contact made her feel less lonely. She would never tell Klaus this, of course. It would just go to his head. And who knew what would happen if she admitted such a thing? Certainly not her. No. She didn't even know if she wanted anything to happen.
But on that night, Kiara allowed herself to indulge in him. She pressed her face into his side and let his warmth surround her. Her hands wandered his body, tickling a trail from his collarbone to his waist. She liked feeling the rise and fall of his breath. She smiled as his muscles tensed under her touch and she felt his goosebumps emerge under her fingertips. It wasn't until her nails bushed under his shirt that he brought his own hand over hers, holding it against his firm stomach.
"That's enough, love," he told her, but his breathing was shallow and his body was left humming from the attention he'd received from her. Any longer and he wouldn't have been able to stop himself from doing what he wanted to do.
"Will you stay with me?" she whispered.
Klaus smiled in the shadows. She had never asked him to stay with her before. "Well since you asked so nicely..."
She smacked his chest. "Don't be an ass."
"I wouldn't dream of it," Klaus grinned. "Just sleep, love. I'm not going anywhere I promise."
Kiara laid her head back down trying to process the night she had had. She couldn't understand how she had gotten to this place, to feeling safe in the arms of Niklaus Mikaelson, and she knew she could never understand what was going through Klaus's mind. Not completely anyway. Even a magical link had its limitations.
"You're so confusing. Even with the link, I don't think I'll ever understand you," she told him. Her eyelids were already drooping on their own accord.
"Oh, I doubt that." Klaus tangled his fingers into her hair and she sighed, finally allowing her eyes to close. "I think you understand me better than you realize, love. Better than I'd like if I'm being honest."
It was true. The link connected them in a way that Klaus had never experienced before, but he couldn't bring himself to admit that Stefan might be right to think Kiara was a weak spot for him and not just because they were linked. He was beginning to care for her. More than he thought he would. And it seemed it was becoming noticeable, which was a problem. A problem Klaus might have to fix and fast.
To the reviewers:
May: Thank you so much for your review. :) It made me smile and it was really helpful. I think you were right about which brother should be the one to take her virginity. You seem to really understand their characters. If you have any more suggestions I would love to hear them.
asgardianprincesstia: Your review, although short, also made me smile. So thank you for taking the time to leave it for me.
omgDaddy: Yes, I agree. I am having a difficult time deciding on a brother for her. The more I write of this story, the more I think trying to find a way to make Elijah/Kiara/Klaus work may be the best option. But we will see as we go.
Short, I know. I hope you enjoyed the chapter anyway. Thank you for reading and don't forget to review.
