Author's note: This is a sequel to Chapter 84 in this series. And wow — I'm amazed at the response from the last chapter — good thing I'd already started writing this follow-up!
Warning: Again with the angst. Also, some sexy times. Not necessarily in that order.
"All human wisdom is contained in these two words — wait and hope."
― Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo
The quiet was her enemy. Caroline leaned her head against the window, the whisper of the jet's engines spectacularly failing at drowning out her racing thoughts. She kept glancing at the coordinates her resources had sent, pinpointing the exact locations of Klaus and his siblings, with Mikael clearly lying in wait to ambush them. Centuries later and Mikael was the same sadistic bastard he'd been in their village. While Mikael had no interest in killing Klaus as it would end his own life, he clearly reveled in the fear he instilled.
Fortunately, she'd cultivated an extensive network of spies over the years, invaluable not only to her survival but also to covertly tip off Klaus and his siblings whenever Mikael was closing in. Ages ago, she'd had a powerful shaman place a protection spell on Klaus, but experience had taught her that nothing was foolproof. It was one of the reasons why she'd sought out and compelled some of the greatest warriors and generals to learn everything she could of war — from William the Conqueror to Shaka Zulu to Douglas MacArthur. That knowledge had kept her and Klaus and the rest of his siblings alive.
And it almost cost her everything.
It was the heat that woke her. Nearly 800 years as a vampire and her bed remained cold. As she sat up with a start, her lungs were filled with smoke, orange and red flames climbed the sides of the carved walnut, surrounding her. She dumbly sat there, fine linen sheets knotted in her hands as adrenaline kicked in at the figure in her doorway.
Klaus had found her.
Somehow, he was in her farmhouse in Kent, looking just as beautiful and terrible as she remembered. Nearly eight hundred years since she'd seen him face-to-face, and it was still a knife to the chest. His curls were shorter, and she allowed herself a moment of girlish fantasy where she imagined what it would be like to run her fingers through them — would it feel the same?
Of course not — nothing would ever be the same.
His predatory strut toward her bed did nothing to dispel the way her heart sped up at having him near once more. The intensity of his glare burned more than the flames as he sneered, "I regret my arrow hit its mark that day. Had it drifted, I could've spared us this moment."
A flame licked across her forearm, but she didn't feel it — the pain in her heart was far worse. Klaus wanted her dead; she'd known it since the day she started running. But to hear that same vitriol all these centuries later, reaffirmed every insecurity, every doubt.
Caroline leveled her piercing blue gaze to her lover, inwardly thankful that despite her fear and heartbreak, she'd managed to hold back her tears. He possessed every part of her — but she refused to give him her pain. "And I would change nothing," she said simply, her voice a bit more broken than she would've liked.
They stared at each other, framed in the fire as it raged across her bedroom, and she briefly considered taking the coward's way out — remaining frozen in this wretched moment until either she was set free by Klaus' vengeful hands or the flames. The stench of burning fabric filled the air, and she let out a small gasp as the bottom of her long nightgown began to smoke as it caught fire. Flames attacked the tall headboard, and suddenly she felt the searing heat across her chest as her skin boiled.
With a pained cry, she leapt from the bed, a renewed sense of self-preservation coming over her. She would not be cut down in this manner. She was surprised to see that while Klaus had flashed toward her, his claws shredding her burned skin as he clutched her, the warring emotions on his face betrayed an uncertainty that was unexpected.
Caroline hated how her flesh reacted to the press of him, desperate for his touch after all this time. Her stubbornness was her salvation though, and she reminded herself that he and his siblings had hunted her across the world for centuries. He set fire to her home. He would always view her as the enemy. Making up her mind, she ignored the pain in her heart and her burned flesh, and grappled with Klaus with renewed ferocity.
Klaus responded in kind, the feral gold of his wolf rising in his gaze as he gripped her neck. She could feel his fingertips strategically align at her upper spinal cord, and fear flooded her thoughts as she realized he intended to break her neck. Probably so he could make her death last as long as he chose. Even without her network of spies, she was certain tales of his penchant for torture would've reached her.
Decades earlier, she learned several hand-to-hand combat maneuvers from the Zulu, and it was immensely gratifying to knock Klaus on his ass before he could draw breath. Realizing the flames had all but consumed the upper story of the farmhouse, she flashed toward the window. Just before she jumped, he grabbed her arm, his fingertips catching her bracelet. It held the same beads he'd given her when they were human, and she felt indescribable panic as the leather snapped and the wooden beads scattered. It was all she had left of the innocent boy whose hands had trembled as he gave her the bracelet. And now another piece of her soul had been lost. She'd already given up so much of her soul — how much was even left?
She took advantage of the shock she saw on Klaus' face and leapt out the window, his threat carrying over the sound of shattered glass. "I will find you."
"Not until I want you to."
Caroline fled England that night, plagued by thoughts of whether he'd allowed her to escape.
Once her plane landed, she met with her most trusted coven, a powerful group whom owed her a life debt as she saved their bloodline from the Inquisition and subsequent persecutions. The high priestess studied the ancient parchment of the grimoire intently, her green eyes alight with wonder as she said in a hushed tone, "After all this time, I can't believe you found Esther's grimoire. You're playing with deep magic, you know?"
Caroline didn't miss the warning in her voice. It was a well-worn argument, one that she'd had with most of the coven's members over the centuries. "Yes, Bonnie. I know."
Bonnie shot her a completely unimpressed look, displaying that sass which most of the Bennett line seemed to possess. "All this trouble for a Viking jackass."
"It would seem so."
Bonnie shook her head, tapping her nails on the grimoire's thick cover as she ordered around her coven to make the final preparations. As Caroline waited for the ritual to be complete, she found herself thinking back to the day she'd first learned of Esther's grimoire that eventually would bring an end to this madness.
It had been foolish to seek out witches known to be allies of Kol. Whispers from her spies had informed her of the youngest Original's fondness for witches and their magic, but thus far, Caroline had been able to steer clear of him during her quest to break Esther's spell. But now she had to risk their paths crossing; these witches were too well-informed about Esther's grimoire to miss the opportunity to discover what they knew. It had been a fruitful exchange, and she now had enough clues to start her search in earnest.
Unfortunately, Kol appeared inside the church in San Francisco before she could make her escape. "You met them in a church? How quaint," he mocked, taking a dangerous step toward her.
"It made them more comfortable. I'm in no position to judge another's faith."
He casually unbuttoned his tailored morning coat, eyebrow wriggling slightly as he noticed her rapt attention. He shrugged it off, lightly tossing it on one of the pews off to the side. "I'm curious to know more about this faith of yours, pet. Does it provide you with comfort whilst running from us?" Black veins crawled along his boyish face as he spitefully told her, "You're certainly no predator, just a meek little rabbit."
With a practiced eye, she noted the muscles in his trim body flex, alerting her to his attack. Fighting in a corset wasn't ideal, but she'd had the foresight to wear one with flexible rope inserts to her meeting with the witches — it had been her experience that these types of meetings could become contentious. When her fist glanced off of his cheekbone, his brown eyes widened in surprise.
His answering crouched form spoke of time spent on the Indian subcontinent learning wrestling, but from his sloppy lines, she was confident he wasn't well-versed in pehlwani. Firmly planting the pointed toes of her boots, she delivered a powerful uppercut and elbow strike combination she'd learned from observing battles in Southeast Asia. She delighted in watching Kol fall to the pine floor, sputtering indignantly.
"What's this then? You've always run from us rather than fight." He narrowed his eyes suspiciously, body relaxing somewhat despite remaining on his back. "We thought you weak. But there's something else at work here."
Caroline huffed impatiently, keeping her knees bent in case Klaus' brother attempted to lure her into a false sense of security. "A desire to avoid battle isn't a sign of weakness."
"You're capable of terrible deeds, pet, just like the rest of us. Delicious tales have reached our ears about the viciousness of your monster." Kol slowly rose to his feet, his face suddenly serious as though working through a complex problem. "When Klaus found you a century ago, you sought out the spy who'd betrayed you. You beheaded the traitorous bloke slowly, taking tiny slivers at a time."
Her smile was bitter. "But first, I peeled his skin into long strips and forced him to eat them. What's your point, Kol?"
"That you're a clever, formidable creature, Caroline. You always have been. If you don't wish us harm, then what are you after? You've spent all these centuries running, but you could've hidden yourself away and it's doubtful we'd have found you for ages, if ever." His eyes widened as he suddenly said, "You're searching for something, are you? What magic are you trying to obtain, pet?"
Startled by the mischievous brother's perceptiveness, Caroline was struck speechless. She felt the first stirrings of fear that someone might discover her secrets. Esther's secrets. If Mikael believed that she'd revealed Esther's crimes against Klaus, he'd kill himself just to ensure Klaus' death. At a loss for what to do, she flashed away before Kol could ask more questions she refused to answer.
At first, she'd lived in terror that Kol would tell Klaus of his suspicions, but she soon learned from her spies that Klaus had daggered his brother in a fit of rage for letting her escape.
"The ritual is complete."
Caroline pulled herself from the memory, realizing that Bonnie had spoken. "It's done?"
"Yes," Bonnie asked briskly, a worried furrow appearing on her forehead. "But just say the word, and I'll gladly undo that shit."
Embracing her warmly, she said, "Thank you for your loyalty, your strength and your spirit over the years. Live well, Bonnie."
Her preference had been to confront Mikael alone, but it was not meant to be. He'd cornered Klaus and his siblings in Mystic Falls, flaunting his sadistic need to torment his children. Fitting that it would end where it began. She arrived just as Mikael had set fire to the beautifully restored mansion that she knew Klaus had built for his siblings. What is it with this family and fire?
"Mikael!" Her war cry was filled with the centuries of pent-up rage and fear. The slight twitch of his shoulders was the only sign that he'd been surprised by her appearance. It pleased her to no end to realize she'd managed to unsettle the mighty hunter.
"Ah, it's Niklaus' little whore. Finally ready to face me after all these years of running like a coward?"
"No more running," Caroline swore, struggling to keep her face impassive. Give nothing away. She was no stranger to the Mikaelson patriarch's cruel smile, but it still made her shudder like the naive mortal she once was.
"It's utterly confounding how such a shrewish woman could also be a whore," he commented, a wicked gleam in his eye as he added, "I once caught you rutting on top of Niklaus in the apple orchard. Or, was it near the strawberry patch?" He called out, "Niklaus, do you happen to recall which it was?"
Caroline felt her face redden, cursing herself for being so distracted by Mikael's viciousness that she failed to notice Klaus and his siblings had flashed from the house and looked on with both disdain and confusion at her presence.
It was Klaus' face she studied the longest, searching for a sign that Mikael's words had affected him just as deeply.
Of course she remembered that day. It was in the apple orchard where they used to sneak away for precious stolen moments. His kisses always left her in a marvelous fever, but she felt something new in his attentions today. A tension, a nervousness that made her heart pound. He pulled away just enough to stare into her eyes, his breath ragged as he smoothed back the wild curls that had torn free from her braid.
"There's a light that surrounds you, golden one. I wish to bask in it always. Marry me, my Caroline?"
Her heart was too full, her smile too wide, and she didn't care if Ymir himself attempted to drag her away — she easily could best the frost giant of her people's legends on the strength of her love. "Yes," she whispered, tenderly cupping his face, "I am yours as you are mine, Klaus." She watched in awe as he tied upon her wrist a bracelet strung with beads that only his practiced hand could have carved so artfully.
Their lips joined, a joyous harmony that grew in passion as her hands roamed, exploring the smooth muscle hidden beneath his rough tunic. She bent to kiss down his chest, boldly taking his nipple in her mouth as he let out a low moan.
Spurred on by her actions, Klaus grabbed at her hips, the blazing heat of his touch reaching her even through the layers of overdress and shift. She spread her legs wide as she straddled him, the brush of his hard length making them both gasp and writhe. His fingers danced to her core with only the slightest hesitation.
"Your flesh speaks to mine, my love."
She grew wild from his ministrations, finally understanding the ache she always felt when she was with him. The illicit feel of his fingers was maddening, and he swallowed her groan of frustration with his lips. "Must you tease me so? You feel my need just as I feel yours."
His gray eyes widened at her brashness, quickly fumbling with his trousers as she guided him inside her eager warmth. The press of him awakened something primal within her, and she began to rut her hips in time to his with a ferocity that left them both flushed and gasping for air.
"My love is yours, Klaus."
"And mine is yours, my lady. Everything I am has been bettered by your beautiful light," Klaus told her tenderly.
Mikael's cruel voice shattered the fragile peace of the orchard. "That you call your worthless whore a lady is an affront to our family and a testament to your foolishness."
Caroline wrenched herself out of the memory in disgust, hating how Mikael had tainted that beautiful day. From the conflicted expression on Klaus' face, it seemed as though he'd just relived the same bittersweet memory.
Klaus narrowed his eyes at her, suspicion heavy in his tone as he asked, "Why are you here?"
"To set things right."
Mikael scoffed, telling his children, "Or, perhaps the coward is here to watch me finally end your miserable existence."
"Caroline has no interest in killing us," Kol spoke up unexpectedly, while Klaus, Rebekah and Elijah stared at him in surprise.
Klaus shook his head, his familiar, anger-filled voice carrying the tiniest note of uncertainty as he protested, "Caroline slaughtered our mother and then showed her cowardice by running from us for centuries, hell-bent on finding a spell to destroy our family."
"She's not using magic against us," Kol revealed, "she's using it for us." His boyish face was unexpectedly serious and he seemed to be thinking very hard. "That day, you stopped our mother from doing magic. Dark magic."
"What was Esther trying to do," Klaus asked her, waving off the protests of Rebekah and Elijah.
She was surprised by the urgency she heard in her lover's voice. He must have seen the flicker of fear on Mikael's face along with her quiet resolve. As he took a step toward her, she was startled to see the beads from her bracelet were strung from a leather cord around his neck. The bracelet she thought he'd destroyed with his claws when he came to kill her two centuries ago.
She couldn't get distracted by the what ifs and whys of his actions. "After we turned, I found Esther plotting with Mikael to bind your wolf." She hated the slight tremor in her voice as she told Klaus, "I couldn't bear the thought of you being forced to be less than what you are. You couldn't lose your connection to your heritage, to your true father." She glared at Mikael for the last bit, daring him to call her a liar.
The shocked gasps from Klaus and his siblings were overshadowed by Mikael's angry snarl. "You supposedly care so much for Niklaus the bastard, and yet you foolishly jeopardize his life."
His ominous threat still gave her pause, despite her plan. Confused, Klaus shook his head, asking hoarsely, "But then why did you run? Why not tell us of Esther's cruel plan?"
Before the furious patriarch could answer, Caroline spat, "Because Esther bound Klaus' life to Mikael's. He vowed to take his own life in order to kill Klaus if I ever spoke of Esther's misdeeds. It was the perfect punishment for killing that deceitful bitch — he took me away from you and destroyed your love for me."
The emotions that raged across her lover's handsome face were almost too rapid to catalogue. Fury, disbelief, indescribable pain, and crippling regret — they tore at her heart as she watched them overtake him. When he finally was able to look at her once more, she briefly caught a glimpse of the young man whose hands had trembled so innocently when he gave her the bracelet. "No," he told her brokenly, "not destroyed. Never destroyed."
Time stopped for them both as they stood before one another in the shadows of the enormous fire that engulfed the mansion behind them. After all this time, did he mean...could he still love her?
"There are no words to take back my wrongs."
Heart pounding, she readily agreed, "No, there aren't." She swallowed back the overwhelming urge to burst into tears. "But I'm not here for apologies."
Klaus ducked his head, eyes glassy when he looked up again. "Have you found a way to unbind my life from Mikael's?"
"No."
At Mikael's triumphant smile, Caroline added confidently, "But I finally discovered how to shift the binding. Esther's spell requires a life to be bound to Mikael's. So, I chose mine."
The absolute horror on Mikael's face was a sight she knew she'd treasure for eternity on the other side. She tried not to look too deeply into the anguish she saw within Klaus. In other time, and another place, perhaps they could've found their way back to each other.
She quickly removed the concealed white oak stake, plunging it into her heart without hesitation. She welcomed the punishing fire and ice that shattered her soul. Because she knew it meant that Klaus would be safe.
A raging red haze of blood and anger and grief dogged Bonnie's steps as she made her way to the useless, broken Original who'd collapsed inside a mostly destroyed bar. Klaus had rampaged through Mystic Falls, decimating its population and nearly leveling the town, driving away his shell-shocked siblings as he sunk into madness and despair.
He didn't bother lifting his head from the blood-soaked floor when she pointedly kicked several empty liquor bottles out of her way. From the shredded, muddy state of his clothes, it appeared that he'd at least partially changed into his wolf during his frenzied delirium.
She crossed her arms in front of her chest, not bothering to hide her disgust and anger at the creature before her. "I'm here for Caroline."
Klaus rolled over on his back, his face an ugly mask of sorrow. Both hands tore at disheveled, bloody curls as his deranged laughter choked in his throat. "Caroline is dead."
"Yes, she is. She sacrificed a millennium for you. And it's about time you start doing some sacrificing of your own, you Viking jackass." Bonnie slammed Esther's heavy grimoire onto a gore-streaked table. "Now, let's get her back."
