Chapter 33: Part 2 — Fretting Zoo
Author's note: Hi everyone! I cannot tell you how much all of your reviews, favorites and follows mean – thank you for continuing to support my work! I recently asked on my tumblr for suggestions on which of my stories needed a sequel next and I received a lot of requests for this sequel to Chapter 15 in this series. In this chapter, the mighty hybrid Klaus suffered a minor setback when he made some "ass"umptions about Caroline. Will Kol be the unlikely hero needed to convince the immortal Greek sorceress to reverse her spell?
"Ah, how shameless — the way these mortals blame the gods. From us alone they say come all their miseries, yes, but they themselves with their own reckless ways compound their pains beyond their proper share."
― Homer, The Odyssey
Regardless of how sweet the victory of self-indulgent gloating can be, it fails to mask the stench of manure. The sour expression on Caroline's face reflected that sentiment as she watched Kol grumbling under his breath while he mucked out the dappled gray pony's stall. She rubbed the animal's nose affectionately, causing the bitter Original to snort. "Don't get too comfortable with that mangy beast — pretty sure it tried to bite my arm off the other day when you made me clean his hooves."
"Don't be ridiculous. Those are just little love bites. Stefan is perfectly harmless — now. In fact, given his penchant for tedious self-reflection about his addiction and codependency issues that he clearly has no interest in changing, I would say I did him a favor."
"Yeah, you're a giver," he muttered, stomping the soles of his rubber boots as he scooped dirty straw with a long pitchfork. He groaned when one of his boot heels made an unpleasant squelching sound as he stepped in the center of a pile of manure. "Bollocks! Horses are filthy, disgusting beasts."
Caroline chuckled, flicking the end of her elaborate blonde plait behind one shoulder. "You're certainly judgmental for a creature that spent almost every waking hour frolicking in the mud hole."
Piling more soiled straw into the wheelbarrow, Kol huffed, "Not my fault, Circe! You're the one who turned me into a bloody pig!"
She giggled, lightly tangling her fingers in the long white mane of the pony at her side. "I told you to call me Caroline. After all, I feel like we've grown closer this past month, Kol. After your brother, Klaus, came to visit, he was quite insistent that I restore you. His appalling manners convinced me he needed a little upgrade instead." She smiled wickedly at the memory of the furious hybrid who had stormed into her petting zoo and demanded that she change his brother back. His rage made him all the more appealing, but his arrogance was rather off-putting. Honestly, Klaus was already mostly jackass anyway; she barely had to work any magic to complete his transformation into a donkey.
Kol emitted a few stray oinks, causing him to flush with embarrassment. "Damn it, when is this supposed to wear off?!"
She arched an eyebrow, studying him closely. "Perhaps when you stop thinking like a pig. Admit it — how many jokes about donkey shows did you just think of?"
He wiped some of the sweat off of his forehead and answered petulantly, "Two." At her disbelieving snort, he threw his hands in the air and admitted, "Fine! Five! But technically just three because the fourth joke is really a two-parter." At Stefan's sharp whinny, he scowled, noticing the steaming pile of manure he just deposited. "How much longer am I to be your bloody stable boy until you agree to fix Nik?"
She shrugged, the neckline of her blue and white crochet tank top dipping a fraction to reveal the edge of her tattoo, the four interlocking circles of the mark of Circe. "You could always tell Elijah about your troubles. From what you've mentioned, he sounds like he would be familiar with cleaning up after his brothers' messes."
He tugged off his leather work gloves in aggravation. "Please. That judgmental wanker enjoys wagging his finger and reminding us of our failures. And believe me, that stuffy bastard has a long memory." He leaned on the handle of his metal pitchfork, whispering conspiratorially, "He still brings up that spot of trouble with those overenthusiastic revolutionaries. I'll admit I was getting right pissed with King George III and innocently may have dared him. In my defense, I had no idea those plucky colonists would be so sensitive about taxes."
Caroline gave a dry chuckle, "It's like the time I tried to warn Sophocles that radical, free-thinking philosophers and a rigid, superstitious society mix about as well as a hemlock smoothie." At Kol's surprised laughter, she smiled, coming to a decision. "I will consider releasing Klaus from his punishment early if you can procure two bushels of Oymyakon Snowdrop petals."
He was so surprised he lost his grip on the pitchfork, the metal pinging as it hit the warped planks of the barn floor. "Blimey, woman, you are sending me to quite possibly the most ball-freezingest place in Russia to brave the caves of the Likhoradka? Those grimy, hairy creatures have these pustules that ooze and they're right misers when it comes to those flowers. I'll be kissing their greasy arses, and in some cases literally, for weeks just to get even a quarter of the amount you need."
With one final affectionate pat between Stefan's dark gray-tipped ears, she favored Kol with an unimpressed look and added, "And before you leave on your trip, please rebraid Stefan's mane and tail. But watch out for his love bites — he seems very particular about his mane."
Crossing his arms in front of his chest, he grumbled, "Fine."
With an impish smile, Caroline walked out of the barn, calling back to Kol, "That'll do, pig. That'll do."
Later that afternoon, Caroline was grinding dried mint leaves when she was rudely interrupted by her newest employee, Davina. The vibrant young woman had fire and energy but possessed a surprisingly gentle touch when it came to caring for the animals at Circe's Creatures. Right now, that passionate fire was directed at Caroline: "What the hell, C? Kol just told me you're forcing him to go all the way to Russia for Oymyakon Snowdrop petals!"
She stomped her foot on the stone floor, her dark hair flying around her head like an angry halo. "I know I just catalogued a whole shipment for you just last week." Her eyes searched the greenhouse furiously, finally resting along the back wall which was completely full of containers of the dried petals. "Ah ha! Knew it! I'm texting Kol right now to tell him not to waste his time. I can't believe you were seriously going to make him spend a couple of months freezing his ass off with those oozing Russian cave creatures!"
Nodding to herself, Caroline set down the quartz mortar and pestle, eyeing Davina carefully. "You started working here two weeks ago and met Kol on your first day, correct?"
"Yeah, why," the girl said defensively, balling up her fists.
Caroline cocked an eyebrow and said in a bored tone, "Let me guess — he accidentally ran into you and a bright yellow daffodil fell out of his pocket and when you asked him about it, he stammered and finally admitted that he picked it for the prettiest girl in all the land that had captured his poor, foolish soul and he'd be a bloody fool to let you get away."
Davina scoffed and said in a voice full of indignation, "That's not exactly how it happened. Besides, he confessed to me just the other day that he's ready to fully commit to me and that he's never done anything like this before. He took me to his favorite pub over on White Oak Lane and he made me this out of our straws." She reached in the front pocket of her jeans and slammed down an elaborately knotted black plastic rune onto the worn work table. Her voice went up an octave as she explained, "It's a kenaz, the Viking rune for eternity. He said that our connection had transformed him and he felt alive for the first time in centuries."
Caroline took a moment to examine the rune, seeming to reach a decision. She stretched one arm across the wide work table, plucking the lid off of a red and black clay jar. She rooted around for a moment, pulling out several knotted black plastic runes and carefully set them in a row in front of the confused girl. Pointing at each one, she revealed, "Kol gave that one to my receptionist, Vicky, about three weeks ago. That one, he gave to my friend, Bonnie, yesterday."
Her voice barely above a strangled whisper, Davina asked, "And the third one?"
She wryly answered, "He tried to give me that one in a bar the first time we met. He had the audacity to grab my breasts and swore he was blind." Blue eyes darkening slightly, she divulged, "I turned him into a pig." With a careless shrug, she added, "How you choose to handle your man trouble is up to you."
Without another word, Davina immediately whipped out her phone and furiously began typing. At Caroline's curious expression, she explained with a wicked smile, "I'm texting Kol that you've demanded three times the amount you originally told him."
After Davina left to undoubtedly plot other nefarious schemes because of Kol's incorrigible wandering eye, Caroline strolled out to the small paddock in the shade of an apple orchard. She tended to wander there near the end of each day, although she would be loath to admit the real reason why. As she leaned against the white fence, her pink lips curved into a small grin as she watched Klaus covertly observe a group of children playing among the fluttering autumn leaves underneath the trees. He flicked his pointed ears inquisitively as their high-pitched giggles floated on the gentle breeze.
When she had first transformed Klaus into a donkey, he had been predictably angry, lashing out at the petting zoo workers who came near him by kicking and biting. However, after a week or so, he seemed to have turned his anger inward and instead kept to himself, stubbornly refusing to come out of his stall. Caroline had seen this as a challenge, and had taken to calling him Eeyore for the amusement of seeing his large eyes narrow in what would have been threatening if not for the intermittent braying, and then he would huff in annoyance, stomping his small hooves.
While she had begun purposely seeking him out just to irritate him, soon, however, her intentions shifted. Her fascination began in small ways, in which she would tell him about her day just to see his still very Klaus-like reactions, from jerking his head in irritation or snorting derisively. After a while, she found herself telling him stories of her time on the island of Aeaea and her adventures with a ship full of hopelessly lost Greeks who were too stubborn to ask for directions. Despite his growing frustration with her, it was clear Klaus' curiosity had gotten the better of him, and he would listen to her stories intently, his pointed ears twitching.
She occasionally even spoke to him about her family, how her sea nymph mother instilled within her a deep connection with the ocean and had taught her how to make the waves dance. Her voice would grow harsh when she mentioned her father, though, and the terrible burden of never meeting the sun god's impossible expectations. Klaus would flick his tail at the marked change in her tone, and then would surprise her by affectionately butting his head against her hip.
The children's sing-song voices interrupted Caroline's wistful thoughts, and she frowned when she noted the teasing lilt of their tone. As she quietly observed the small group, it appeared that they were making fun of one small girl for not being able to run as fast, and they scampered off, leaving the child by herself. A few sniffles escaped, followed by a clumsy kick into a particularly tall pile of colorful leaves. Flurries of crimson, copper, and gold filtered through the air as the girl stormed off, stubbornly swiping at her reddened cheeks.
Caroline's blue eyes widened in surprise when Klaus let out a soft grunt, capturing the child's attention. She hesitantly moved toward the paddock, softly crooning to him. Normally Klaus avoided the children and kept to the shadows. Since the petting zoo was overflowing with a variety of animals, none of the guests seemed to mind. She watched in amazement as Klaus' eyes seemed to soften as he studied the girl's trembling fingers. He slowly pushed his nose through the rails of the white fence and patiently waited for her to feel safe enough to pet him.
A gasp left Caroline's lips as she saw how Klaus had disarmed the little girl, whose tears seemed to have stopped as she patted his nose. A tremulous smile could be seen on the child's face as she whispered softly to him and he seemed to answer her with gentle grunts. When she walked away, it was with a skip in her step and a familiar youthful exuberance that always brought a smile to Caroline's face.
Klaus flicked his coarse tail, signaling that he finally noticed Caroline's presence. He casually moved toward her in what he clearly tried to model after a swagger but with his tiny hooves was actually more of a steady clop. An amused noise escaped her as she greeted him with, "Hello, Eeyore."
He jerked his head, letting out a huff of irritation, but continued until he was standing in front of her. Even as a transformed farm animal, he had inexplicably maintained his powerful aura, that magnetic presence that seemed to both invite and intimidate.
Caroline considered him, finally releasing a soft sigh. "I saw you just now." She nodded in the direction in which the little girl had disappeared. "You offered comfort. Not something you freely give."
His tail twitched, but otherwise he stared at her in the same inscrutable way of his, as though he could flay open her soul with just the heat of his gaze and lay all her secrets bare. Caroline rolled her eyes, groaning in aggravation. She leaned over the wooden railing, deftly plucking a single coarse hair from Klaus' short mane. Muttering a complex enchantment, she wrapped the rough strand around her index finger until she felt the familiar tug of magic flood her ancient body.
A startled braying noise echoed throughout the deserted barnyard, growing deeper as it roughened into a man's snarling voice. His bristled hide seemed to melt, rapidly being replaced by miles of smooth, pale skin. He crouched down in the sweet-smelling clover, long ears shrinking as they rounded. His long nose was drawn inward, his small hooves broadening and being replaced by human flesh. He remained in a huddled position on the ground, muscles trembling underneath his sweat-slicked skin. When he finally felt like himself once more, he slowly stood, unconcerned with his nudity as he faced her with an unreadable expression upon his handsome face.
"Welcome back, Eeyore," Caroline greeted him dryly.
Anger flickered in that steel gaze, but his tone was almost teasing as he answered, "Considering the heated glances you gave me in my other form love, I'm starting to believe you have a bit of a cartoon fetish."
"Nonsense," she said airily. "If I was going to sexualize my love for Winnie the Pooh characters, it would always be Tigger. Just imagine the stamina." At her words, she noticed the way his hips gave an involuntary twitch and she could barely contain a giggle as she realized his body wanted to flick his phantom donkey tail.
He easily leapt over the white fence to land next to her, leaning in dangerously close as he rumbled, "I'm not one to shy away from a challenge. After all, enemies have the potential for explosive bedfellows."
Caroline gazed up at him, amused by his seduction laced with the hint of intimidation. "You consider us enemies still?" She trailed her fingertips across his firm chest, delighting in the way his body began to respond to the warmth of her touch. "I would say we're well on our way to a deeper connection."
His snort of derision comically morphed into a loud braying noise which he quickly tried to cover up with a strangled cough. Once his voice returned to normal, he said, "You've gone mad if you think I'd ever trust you."
Caroline let out a throaty laugh and before Klaus could react, she grabbed his face and pulled his lips down to hers. She kissed him as though she was claiming him, marking him thoroughly with her talented tongue as she explored his mouth. He gave a moan of surprise, tightening his hold as he deepened their kiss. She broke away suddenly, giving him a flirtatious smile. "Who said anything about trust? Connections can be forged in infinite ways, Klaus. We'll talk again after you've had a chance to consider all the possibilities." At his baffled expression, she tipped him a saucy wink, leaving him to ponder her intriguing words.
Later that evening, Caroline was walking down the street clutching takeout from her favorite Lebanese restaurant. The smell of succulent lamb shawarma marinating in caramelized onions, garlic and parsley flooded her senses and almost distracted her from the couple loudly arguing up ahead. Keeping to the shadows, she observed a stern-looking gentleman with exceptionally coiffed hair lecturing a stunning brunette. "How could you be so callous, Katerina? Your blatant disregard for human life is baffling. Do you ever think of those poor souls' families and the devastation you have wrought?"
The woman was clearly stung by his sharp words, but she held her head high as she answered, "You're an Original, Elijah. My body count pales in comparison to yours. Stop being such a filthy hypocrite."
Caroline smiled a secret smile when she realized this was Klaus and Kol's elder brother who considered himself their moral compass/babysitter. His strong jaw tightened and he scoffed at his companion in a condescending tone, "I cannot continue to suffer such disappointment where you are concerned, Katerina. What I need in my life is someone whose goodness is such that it cannot be measured. In fact, it's almost as though it doesn't exist. And this person will embody all of my unattainably high standards in a way that is only visible to me." He flashed away with a flourish, leaving behind the furious woman who began an impressive stretch of cursing in Bulgarian.
Caroline approached her with a knowing smile and declared, "Pardon me, but I couldn't help but overhear. You know, I find man trouble to be a relatively easy fix." Her blue eyes were alight with mischief as she asked, "Tell me dear, how do you feel about weasels?"
