A/N:
Trigger warnings: Sensitive content below concerning mature themes. Non consent. Slavery. Graphic scenes of torture and murder.
"So many stars and still we starve."
— Tasos Leivaditis
A year and a few months ago
In a small town outside Mystic Falls
Caroline continued walking and she took out her phone. She furrowed her brow. No signal. The light from the screen of the phone started flickering.
She turned around again as she heard footsteps approaching but again there was nothing. She was ready to run away but as she turned a vervain grenade hit her face and she screamed and fell on the pavement.
Her face was blistered and it burned. She could barely open her eyes.
When she opened them she hissed and her fangs dropped but the men around her sprayed her with vervain again and shot her with wooden bullets. Everything hurt so much. She howled in anguish.
Pain brought a loud echo in her eardrums and whatever the men standing above her said seemed to reach her ears muted.
Slowly the sounds became clearer.
"Is that her?"
Her?
What was going on?
"Kill her! Now!"
"Why?" she whispered in pain and tried to get up when more vervain rained on her.
"You are not welcome here vampire!" a man spat and the next thing she felt was a sharp pain in her chest.
She looked down with wide eyes. One of her attackers had pushed a wooden stake in her chest. In her heart. Numbness followed; tears fell from her eyes as her skin started turning gray and she could feel all her energy fading away. The inevitable was fast approaching.
She fell on the street feeling nothing.
The stars in the sky seemed to dim. She didn't even know their names.
Death was claiming her and all she could think of was that she didn't want to die. Not like this. Not all alone. Not before her life would even start.
Not without seeing the world first.
"I'll take you, wherever you want…" was the memory and the last words that echoed in her mind and then… darkness.
.
.
.
Through the anchor of stone, past the statue of old and death, her spirit moved.
.
.
.
Purgatory
It disturbed his rest.
That slight tremor.
Like the flutter of wings.
Kol Mikaelson opened his eyes.
He reached for his blade but instead his hand touched his chest. He blinked, his fingers twitched.
The air became lighter. The coldness dissipated.
He could feel his heartbeat picking up.
The earth moved and shook and the rocks all around the cavern he had found refuge parted and fell. The growling sounds of stones breaking apart joined the howling of the monsters that roamed Purgatory and thunder rolled.
Kol ran outside as the cavern collapsed all around him. In the hundreds of years, he had been left to rot in this hell this had never happened. If there was anything in Purgatory he could count on was the perpetual stillness.
Kol's heartbeat picked up. Everything around him moved. The trees bent. The earth was still shaking and underneath his feet, he could feel the shift. There was an undercurrent of energy.
He knelt down and placed his palm on the ground. Heat was starting to rise. Pure undiluted magic. Kol's eyes widened when the small pebbles near his hand started floating just some inches above the ground.
Well…that was peculiar. Nothing could defy Purgatory's gravity and now the earth was singing.
He removed his hand carefully and looked up. There were neither stars nor sky above him. Nothing but chaos but he could have sworn a fallen star crossed the abyss. It twined, weaved in the mist, and fell.
And then…wind.
Kol breathed in sharply. Wind.
Twigs and dead leaves danced in the wind and dirt rose from the ground.
Wind!
It embraced him. It almost made him soar. He breathed it in. He hadn't felt the caress of the wind since he was…alive.
He closed his eyes and let the soft chill take away his aches.
He rose to his feet just as the earth stopped shaking but there was something different now. He could feel it in his bones.
The air.
He inhaled and exhaled in disbelief. The air had become lighter. Less toxic. The atmosphere was more tolerable. He could feel it. It was as if a weight had been lifted. He could breathe a bit easier and he could…see better.
Rays of light, weak as they were, broke through the darkness of the swirling abyss above his head. The primordial night was turning to dusk as if sunlight was battling to get through. The black of the twilight was becoming gray and hues of color flickered.
Kol realized something else too.
He wasn't the only creature that had felt the change. There were more and from the looks of it they were running towards something.
He took a step towards the same direction and his brow furrowed. It was like a pull because the more he walked towards North the more easily he could breathe.
'That's odd,' he thought and set out to investigate.
.
.
.
Caroline slowly opened her eyes and grunted in pain. She could feel her whole body aching. Her bones cracking and her skin almost melting. The temperature felt both scorching hot and ice cold at once.
She tried to stand up but she fell many times before she could finally fight against the gravity that pulled her down.
She looked around scared. There was no light. Only shadows dueled. Shadows of dark and grey. Where was she?
Was she alive?
No, she wasn't. She could tell that much.
Well, dying really sucked! she thought and she looked around scared. What was this place? She knew that the other side had collapsed and didn't exist anymore. So… where was she?
Tears gathered in her eyes when she remembered the stake piercing her skin. With a trembling hand, she touched her chest; she could not feel a heartbeat anymore.
It was true. There was no going back anymore. This had really happened.
"I am dead," she whispered horrified, and looked around in panic. This place had no sun, nor a sky. Above her only a gaping hole existed. One that she could only describe as chaos. There was no light or absolute darkness. There were gray shades and shadows all around.
Rocks, mountains, and trees rose all around her in shapes and grim colors she had never seen before or she could ever describe in any way.
The wind around her howled.
By the time Caroline got to Marcel's loft, Elijah Mikaelson was already there. She avoided looking at him and instead she focused all her attention on Marcel Gerard that seemed relieved to see her even though she had already called him and told him she was fine.
"Cami told me you tried to stop Klaus and he bit you," Caroline said unable to keep the guilt she felt from coating her words.
Marcel shrugged.
"I already had a stack of his blood," he told her and Caroline frowned at the small pause Marcel made. Something like confusion passed momentarily through Marcel's gaze but just as his eyes glazed over the fleeting disorientation was gone as fast as it came up.
'Weird,' Caroline thought. No. She had to be imagining things because this reaction of his reminded her of the time when Damon was messing with her mind and she was always left with a sense of déjà vu. As if there something in the back of her mind she couldn't reach but it was there. An itch.
Was Marcel compelled?
She gave a sidelong glance at Elijah but his stoic expression betrayed nothing.
"Is Josh alright?" she let her concern come through deciding not to duel to these thoughts with Elijah present, "How about everyone else?"
"Josh is fine. He is with Davina. The only losses we suffered are from the explosion." Marcel pointed out and gave her a warning gaze. This was not the place or the time to speak openly. Not with Elijah Mikaelson present that of course sensed their silent communication and smiled before he faced Marcel.
"How are things in the park now?" Elijah asked with solemnity and Marcel gave him a mocking look.
"As expected," he said, "could have been better if not for your brother," he accused Elijah that in response only straightened his tie.
Marcel and Caroline shared a knowing bemused look at Elijah's decorum of propriety.
"This changes nothing between us Marcellus," Elijah assured him, "I won't let my brother's impulsivity and savageness ruin any chance we have to broker a true peace in this city. You shouldn't allow that either," he advised and Caroline's lips curled at Elijah's patronizing tone. Something that obviously Marcel Gerard did not appreciate either.
The whole peace treaty was a joke. Everyone present here knew it.
"The witches already broke the pact by attacking us," Marcel pointed out peeved and Elijah gave him a curt nod.
"I am aware."
"There will be retaliation Elijah."
Marcel's threat twisted her insides. This was all because of her.
She may not have caused this animosity between the species in New Orleans but she was a spark that could light the fire and everything would burn. She hated that. She hated being used like a pawn for other people's thirst for blood and war.
"You already killed the witches behind the attack but this needs to end here if we are to maintain the peace," Elijah persisted, and before Marcel could say anything else Elijah approached him with lethal grace.
"There won't be any more incidents like this," Elijah gave his word, "the covens didn't know of this and they promised to deal with those that disobeyed the pact their Elders agreed to sign."
Caroline swallowed down the scoff that threatened to come out from her lips. Elijah glanced at her with a piercing gaze before he returned his attention to Marcel.
"This will be dealt with Marcellus you have my word."
Marcel said nothing but it was the words not said that told everyone in the room what needed to be heard.
This was not over. And the way this would be dealt with would be bloody.
It was only a matter of time.
Elijah followed her outside Marcel's loft and even though she felt the need to run away and avoid another confrontation with an Original she only walked calmly as Elijah Mikaelson joined her side and gave her a forlorn look that set her nerves on edge.
"Miss Forbes," Elijah started not at all unkindly but his tone carried a severity she didn't like, "we need to talk."
Caroline exhaled tiredly, her frustration building up quickly, as she tried to walk past him.
"If this is about Klaus-"
She froze when Elijah reached for her arm to stop her from walking away.
He was gentle but this not something he would normally do. Not proper Elijah Mikaelson.
Her eyes flicked from his hand to his face curiously. His hand dropped and his eyes darkened with worry and Caroline felt her heart skip a beat.
"It is about Kol."
Purgatory
Her limbs hurt. Sweat was rolling down her back as did blood from all the places Kol's blade had cut her.
Kol Mikaelson was training her to fight with swords. Swords he had taught her how to forge.
His training was just like him. Brutal and unrelenting.
She was heaving, breathing fire, trying to find her footing.
"Maybe I should have started by teaching you how to move your toes," Kol mocked her as his sword slashed the air, very close to her ear. She barely avoided the impact. She knew Kol would not hesitate hacking her to pieces but she would not heal easily here. Everything hurt like hell. She was inhaling vervain with her every breath, she was starving for blood, she could barely function, and yet Kol Mikaelson seemed just as stealthy and capable of fighting as he was back when they were both alive.
She hated it. She hated being weak. She hated him and his stupid lessons and his stupid irony that would not let her rest even in the solitude of her mind.
Kol chuckled when she almost tripped and fell. She blocked his attack with her sword. Her arm shook as it took in the crushing impact of his blow.
"You are so annoying," she grunted and deflected him back.
"Sticks and stones darling," Kol drawled, his snarky tone annoying her further, and then he started raining more blows at her. Fast.
She could barely evade before his next attack would come. Again and again.
Her whole body trembled. She could barely keep up.
Kol charged at her and their blades locked. He brought his face closer to hers, the sharp edge of their weapons a threat against their throats.
"No wonder they took you out so easily," he taunted her and Caroline gripped the handle of her sword tighter making the leather wrap of the hilt groan, "dying seems to be the only thing you are good at darling."
Caroline felt her blood pumping faster in her veins and something took over her. Something she had never felt before. She slid her blade against his. Metal on metal sparked. Kol hissed and blinked in pain as the burn from the sparks took his sight for a moment giving her all the advantage.
He blocked her instinctively but she didn't stop at swiping her sword at him. Instead, she kicked him and went berserk at him.
She screamed not caring for the monsters she would attract. She only wanted to slay the one in front of her.
She was dead after all. Because Kol was right.
She had been weak. She had been killed off as easily as one would kill a fly.
She had nothing left to lose.
The only thing she knew was that she would not be weak again.
Never again.
Again and again, she swung her sword at Kol seeing in his face everything and everyone she hated. Her killer, her abusers, herself.
She brought her sword down at him without stopping. Without showing mercy. Her moves became coordinated. Lethal.
She felt her instincts take over and for the first time she felt as if the vampire inside her was coming alive. In death.
The wind became stronger. It blew at her hair, at her body. It set her free. She could breathe easier. She was becoming stronger. Faster. Deadly.
She became death herself.
Death.
Death was nothing to fear when it became part of you. When you became part of it. When you became the same.
Her sword shone and her blade…drew blood.
Caroline froze just as Kol Mikaelson did.
Her eyes went wide. Kol's went wider.
Time stopped and the wind blew between them. Its fury became a soft breeze and Caroline's eyes widened at the blood that was pouring from Kol's arm.
Kol stared down at his wound in shock.
"I-"
She didn't know what to say. She was so much in shock that his blood didn't even tempt her thirst.
She looked at Kol in disbelief and took a step back fearing that he would lash out at her but instead, he started…laughing.
Caroline blinked. It was not a peal of maniacal laughter like those she had gotten used to from him.
No. This time his laugh was one of pure joy.
'It finally happened,' she thought, 'He's gone mad…well madder.'
Kol threw his sword to the dirt and launched at her.
Caroline lifted her blade in one of the defensive stances Kol had taught her but he only laughed harder and before she could understand what he was doing he had swept her off her feet and he started twirling her around.
Her grip on her sword loosened and it fell down with a thud but Kol didn't seem to mind.
He held her. He held her close and he was laughing.
He was actually hugging her.
She didn't know what had gotten over him but she found herself hugging him back tightly as he spun her around. She relaxed in his arms and hid her face in the crook of his neck.
This was their first hug and the first physical touch of comfort she had felt in Purgatory ever since she died and she didn't want to let go. She held on to him for dear life and as he laughed tears grew in her eyes.
Kol finally lowered her to the ground and she tried to catch her breath. She looked at him and saw pride and happiness in his eyes.
It made her breath hitch because now that his eyes were laughing, without the twisted mischief that was constantly present in his gaze, he seemed human.
No. Not human.
He reminded her of something else. Someone else.
He reminded her of his brother. Of Klaus. Of the way, he used to look at her with a caring expression.
That look made her feel safe for the first time here but it was more than that. In that look, she finally saw in Kol a friend. For the first time.
"Do you know what this means?" Kol asked her pointing at his still bleeding wound with delight.
Caroline shook her head at him and he grinned at her.
"You are finally ready."
She didn't know what that meant and she didn't know why but she found herself smiling at Kol even when the monsters that lurked in the shadows circled them with glinting eyes in the dark.
They picked up their swords and fended them off.
Together.
Night had fallen by the time Elijah took her to an old crumbling house. The building had a gothic look and it was quite secluded. Most of all it was falling apart.
Caroline stared at the broken stone walls.
What would Kol do in a place like this? Ever since they came back Kol would either prefer modern luxury or anything suiting a royal. Either it screamed old money or it would be extravagant enough to scream ridiculous and absurd.
She had seen him go to underground clubs to get blood or participate in orgies but even those dwellings offered luxury in their decadence.
Nothing was as abandoned or ghostly as this place.
The last place anyone would think of looking for Kol and yet she knew that in Purgatory Kol had been inhabiting far worst places than this building.
Maybe this was it actually. Maybe this was why Kol came here. Maybe it was the desolate vibes this place was giving.
Caroline gritted her teeth.
"One of my confidents called me," Elijah informed her as he surveyed the collapsing structure in front of them.
"Fancy name for spies," he mumbled unimpressed but Elijah ignored her dig.
"Apparently Kol has requested to talk with one of the city officials and he hasn't been seen ever since," the eldest Mikaelson told her, "one of his witches informed me that Kol has gone underground," Elijah relayed his information at her before he repeated the witches' words, "He can't be reached."
Caroline wet her lips slowly trying to control her conflicting emotions. Her worry and her anger clashed.
No wonder the witches chose to attack her when Kol got lost in his own shenanigans. It was the perfect opportunity and Kol just handed that to them.
If he couldn't be reached they would reach her.
"However one of the vampires in Marcel's patrol has seen him," Elijah continued, "close to one of the most prestigious law firms near the Quarter."
Caroline said nothing as Elijah kept talking, his tone stern and grave.
"He snatched one of the city officials, Miss Forbes."
Caroline closed her eyes and opened them back slowly. She focused her hearing and she could indeed hear two heartbeats coming from the house. One belonged to a vampire.
The other to a human.
"It does not look good," Elijah concluded.
Caroline took in a deep breath and lifted her eyes to the sky. She searched for Andromeda. It was meant to guide them home she thought feeling the hollowness inside her expand.
"No," she sighed wearily, "It does not."
She started walking towards the building. Elijah Mikaelson followed.
Purgatory
So she had made a makeshift bed. What was the point of learning how to flay everything that moved in Purgatory if she couldn't make the best out of it?
She was now lying with Kol on the mattress she had made from leaves and leather and pointed at the abyss above them.
It didn't resemble the sky but she didn't care.
She pointed at a place in the moving abyss above them and Kol hummed.
"If we were in Mystic Falls right now," she began and smiled at the thought, "let's say at the rooftop of Klaus' mansion and looked up at the sky where would I be pointing at?" she asked Kol, "What would I see?"
Kol smirked.
"Klaus hovering over you wondering why were you on the roof and not in his bed."
Caroline rolled her eyes at that.
"Really though," he snickered, "he would then be awkwardly trying to seduce you, probably by showing you the stars," Kol purred mockingly and she elbowed his ribs which made him chuckle at her.
"What would I be looking at Kol?" she insisted and he huffed annoyed but indulged her anyway.
"There would be Andromeda."
"Andromeda?" she asked and Kol hummed.
"It looks like a star, well a cluster of stars, but it's a galaxy," Kol informed her and she burst out laughing.
"I knew it!" she exclaimed clapping her hands excitedly.
"What?"
She returned his curious gaze with a sweet one.
"You were a romantic!"
Kol arched a brow at her.
"Come on," Caroline giggled, "you know all about the constellations and the celestial events! You are like those nerds that love gazing at the stars!" she fawned at him with a cooing sound.
Kol shook his head.
"I was a witch," Kol grumbled, "I had to learn all about the stars to draw power from them, besides," he continued peeved, "some of us were born in a time when we had to look at the stars to read a map properly."
Caroline huffed a laugh.
"Don't tell me Magellan was your friend too," she mocked him and Kol stretched on the makeshift bed and pushed his hands behind his head.
"Nah, I was in hiding when he was alive," he told her, "Mikael was searching to kill me, Nik was hunting me down to dagger me," he remembered sardonically, "lovely times."
"Is that it? Or simply you had a problem making friends?" Caroline joked, "I mean…even Klaus had friends Kol!"
At least so he claimed.
"I had friends!"
He sounded offended and Caroline's brow lifted.
"Name one!" she challenged him.
"Well there was-"
"One you didn't kill or eat," she interrupted him and Kol pressed his lips childishly.
Caroline laughed.
"So, how would Andromeda look like in the night sky?" she asked him when her laughter died out.
Kol said nothing, only stared at the abyss.
"Come on!" Caroline plead with him almost petulantly, "it is not as if I can google it here!"
"Of course you would google it" Kol snorted and he knew what he was talking about because she had already explained everything about the technological advances he had missed when he had been daggered. Later on he didn't have much time to become accustomed to the new inventions since you know he..died. "you know…instead of going out to actually see it."
"Stars were quite hidden! Smog and all that crap," she groused.
"Vampire eyesight," Kol sing-sang annoyingly.
Not to mention telescopes. Before he died he had found the progress in the modern telescopes as brilliant and fascinating as music.
"Fine," Caroline hissed and crossed her arms in front of her chest, "I never bothered. I took some things for granted," she finally whispered.
Silence enveloped them for a while and then Kol's voice was a soft whisper.
"It's faint. A fuzzy patch in the sky."
Caroline turned her head to the side and watched his profile curiously. He was staring at the abyss as if he could see Andromeda. He then took her hand and lifted it guiding it upward. He created an imaginary path pointing at the abyss above them as he would if it was the night sky.
"With the naked eye it was more recognizable in the darkest of nights," he paused and smiled, "moonless nights."
Caroline looked up at the abyss and wished she could have seen it when she was alive. She sighed but then Kol let go of her hand and his fingers skimmed over her temple.
Flashes of the night sky took shape in her mind. She closed her eyes and smiled as she saw the stars through his eyes.
"As a human, you would probably need binoculars to clearly see it but as a vampire all you would need to do was look up," Kol's voice had turned hypnotic, and then more images filtered through her mind.
She saw him as a small boy running into the woods. He was holding a piece of glass. It had an orange tint.
He would then look through it and the stars would turn bigger and wonder would fill him as he would lay down on the dirt and watch at the night sky.
"In my time Ayanna had a magnifying crystal," Kol remembered as he removed his hand from her skin taking away his memories too, "Its magic made you see far into the night sky and everything came closer. Became brighter. Andromeda was more brilliant in the fall," Kol said and Caroline smiled.
"Andromeda," Caroline mumbled, "I remember reading about her in one of Bonnie's Greek mythology books. Her grandma had tons of them and we used to sneak in her attic when were kids. The bookcase had all sort of weird books or at least we thought of them to be weird. They were about witchcraft. In retrospect Sheila probably wanted Bonnie to find them as to get an idea."
Kol smirked at that.
"I don't remember much of Andromeda's story though. Aside from her love story with Perseus and how her name meant ruler of men that is," Caroline winked at him.
"I see you kept the useful information," Kol jibed and Caroline shrugged.
"She was rumored to be the most beautiful of all the goddesses and she paid for her beauty by getting sacrificed to a sea monster. They chained her on a rock by the sea."
Caroline swallowed down harshly.
"She survived darling. Although I was kind of rooting for the monster."
"Of course you did," Caroline scoffed.
"Eventually she did die though," Kol said, "and Athena the Goddess of wisdom placed her at the Northern sky."
Kol smiled at that.
"To guide us," he mused and then added pointedly, "the celestial event we need for the coin to work aligns with Andromeda."
Caroline stared at Kol and then at the abyss.
They were close. There was one piece of the coin missing and then they would get out of here.
Andromeda survived the monster and reached for the stars. That is what she would keep from the story in the end.
Andromeda survived.
So would they.
Caroline sidestepped one more dead body and her nostrils flared. She looked at the dry blood that covered the walls and the fresh trail of blood she followed. She was at the top of the building unimpressed by the Victorian gothic horror show Kol had orchestrated so far. However, every step she was taking forward was bringing the overwhelming smell of blood even closer. Living blood. Warm, tangy, metallic.
With Elijah following suit she had stepped up the old staircase that led to the attic. Every step they had climbed creaked had made their presence known. She wanted it that way. Ambushing Kol would not give her an advantage at this point.
She had not failed to notice the dark instruments Kol had placed around the building and inside it. To prevent magic attacks, to block locator spells, to keep the screams on the inside not heard outside. Some of the objects he was using were set to detonate on command taking the whole place down as if it would be nothing but a house of cards. She found the possibility less amusing now that she had already survived one explosion for the day.
She didn't have to look behind her back to see that Elijah had probably reached the same conclusion as she had. This wasn't the first time Kol had come here.
Of course, the rotten corpses that were littering every floor and she had to make sure she wouldn't step on as she climbed the stairs were also quite telling as was the stench of death and decay.
They had reached the top floor. She pushed her hair behind her ear. Two heartbeats were echoing the other side of the door. One calm and one erratic.
Caroline swallowed hard keeping her control on a tight leash and ignoring her bloodlust as she slowly pushed the old door open fully prepared for what she would see.
Still, she scrunched up her nose at the sight of the massacre she saw. In comparison with the rotten remains outside the attic inside the killings were fresh. Dead bodies were scattered everywhere.
Caroline's eyes roamed over the pieces of mangled flesh and she stepped over bloody ripped-off teeth, fingers, entrails, and limbs. Blood made squishy sounds under the soles of her shoes and her mouth salivated.
There was so much blood. It was running down the walls and the broken windows. It was a pool she had to tread through.
On one side there was a huge pile of bodies. Many of them dead for weeks and on top of that new bodies that still dripped blood were thrown carelessly on. The moonlight gave the grotesque carnage an unreal glow but all Caroline could think was how unsanitary this was.
A few candles were lit and their flames flickered weakly. Caroline almost laughed at the fact that Kol had bothered lighting up the candles.
The figures sitting in front of the antique table seemed like shadows in the dark but Kol's eyes glimmered like lit-up coals.
She rolled her eyes and went to the wall and turned on the lights. Surprisingly electricity still worked and the old lamp on the ceiling came to light illuminating the room making the sight far more horrifying and real.
Elijah stood by the door and viewed everything with disgust and a judgmental look but Caroline focused only on Kol.
He was sitting on a red velvet high armchair. He was drenched in blood but sat comfortably drinking a glass of cognac as he played chess with a terrified man that was cowering on his simple wooden chair.
Caroline let out a sigh. Could the Mikaelsons be any more dramatic?
She turned to Elijah and he gave her a slight nod. This was the city official Kol had abducted and Caroline watched the man narrowly. She realized she knew him. She had seen him in the Ball the Mikaelsons had thrown. He was the freaking City Attorney. Great.
She shook her head slightly when Elijah almost took a step forward. Instead, she casually walked towards the table with the chess and eyed the attorney. The human was shaking uncontrollably. Tears were falling from his glazed eyes and aside from his bleeding neck he was already missing three fingers.
She arched a brow at Kol that and he shrugged in response.
"He made three wrong moves only an idiot would have," Kol reprimanded the lawyer that was sniffling pitifully, "So-" Kol trailed off gesturing at the fingers that he had put next to the pawns at his side of the chessboard.
Caroline frowned at the smell of urine. The man had pied himself. And given how he was bleeding out he wouldn't last long.
"What are the stakes?" she asked, her tone sounding bored.
"If I win I will suck him dry," Kol winked at the human that was cradling his hand but still stared at the chess with horror and dread.
"And if he wins?" she questioned and Kol gave her a feral grin.
"I will give him a head start."
Caroline smiled amused much to Elijah's surprise. She then turned to the older Mikaelson.
"Can you give us a moment Elijah?" she asked even though her voice conveyed that she was not truly asking. She turned her attention to Kol as she said, "I need to have a talk with your brother."
"Yes 'Lijah," Kol drawled sardonically, "go outside to eavesdrop us as she scolds me."
Caroline heard Elijah walking away but she didn't remove her attention from Kol.
"Play," Kol commanded the man that shook and tried to reach one of the pawns with his good hand.
"I wouldn't do that," she advised the attorney, "quite the wrong move."
The man's eyes widened in terror and Kol huffed annoyed.
"That's cheating!"
Caroline rolled her eyes at Kol's childishness.
"I already had a crappy day and had to face your brother's bullshit," she grouched, "I've hit my Mikaelson quota for the day Kol."
She then bit into her flesh and shoved her wrist into the man's mouth ignoring Kol's baleful look. She fed the human some of her blood healing his wounds before she removed her hand and gripped his chin tilting his head towards her.
Her pupils dilated ensnaring the lawyer into her thrall.
"You will leave and forget about this," she compelled the man that relaxed under her hypnotic command, "you lost your fingers in an unfortunate accident with the garbage disposal."
Caroline knew Elijah Mikaelson would take care of the rest when it came to the details of medical care and covering the whole thing up properly so she let the man go.
The lawyer got up and left in a daze.
Kol was about to protest when Caroline glared at him before she occupied the empty chair.
"You are playing with me now," she informed Kol as she started setting the chess pieces back on the board. She made a face as she shoved away the torn fingers. She had barely had the time to shower all the blood after the explosion and now she would have to scrub extra hard to get all this blood out of her nails again.
"Am I?" Kol purred while drinking his cognac slowly.
Caroline hummed as she licked some blood from the board with her finger as if she was tasting a cake making Kol smirk at that.
She leaned back to her chair and crossed her legs.
"You've been playing me for some time now Kol," she sweetly reminded him and gestured towards the chessboard, "so this should be right up your alley."
Kol's face remained closed off but something dark flared inside his eyes.
"What are the stakes, darling?"
Caroline gave him a crooked smile.
"You win and I'll pretend you haven't lied straight to my face and I'll give you a head start for what's about to come."
Kol snorted at that but set his glass on the table and leaned forward.
"And if you win?"
Caroline narrowed her eyes giving him a stern glare.
"You'll get your act together so I won't get any more impromptu visits from your ever so serious brother asking me to come and clean such a mess again."
"Nice to know you still care," Kol's mockery slid like velvet on skin, "even though you obviously hate that you do."
Caroline didn't reply. Her eyes betrayed nothing more than what her words had told him.
Kol reached over and set his elbows on the table. He rested his jaw against his hands and provoked Caroline with a sarcastic smile that resembled more of a sneer.
"How come and you can't stay away Caroline?"
She glowered at him.
"Come on," Kol taunted her," you don't have any reason to come for me, beautiful," he told her and even though his voice held no inflection he dropped his gaze, "I think you made that clear enough."
Caroline gave Kol a mocking pout.
"Have I hurt your feelings Kol?" she snidely cooed and Kol grinned at her.
"It looks as if I've hurt yours."
"You have," she admitted simply and Kol's eyes darkened even further.
"You have and it freaks you out doesn't it?" she continued not bothering to coat her words with anything nice. Instead, her tone was cynical and hard, "Obviously you hate that you care for me. I am the only friend you have and you hate that you care but not more than how much you hate hurting me," she pointed out and took in the way Kol stiffened, "You are afraid you are going to lose the one and only friend you made in more than a thousand years," she saw right through him and his shenanigans, "This is why you are lashing out like this," she dismissively gestured at the dead bodies and the destruction around them, "but this self-destruction won't make any difference. I don't give a shit if you are insane, manic, unhinged or whatever other crap is your brand of crazy Kol."
This time it was Kol's gaze that turned harsh. Borderline manic, but she didn't care because she meant what she had said.
Kol had been her mentor, her protector, her ally, and friend. He had been the angel and the devil on her shoulder and there was nothing he could do that would shock her or make her see him any differently. She would kick his ass if she had to and she would be there to scream at him, worry for him, hold him through thick and thin no matter how much she wanted to throttle him most of the time.
But that didn't mean that she wasn't hurt either. She was. Because she knew he was lying at her and was doing things behind her back. Things that concerned her and after everything they went through she marked this as a betrayal against her and what they had but somehow this couldn't change the fact that she also cared for him despite all that.
At the end of the day, Kol could massacre the whole city and he would not make her afraid of him. This could not make her turn her back on him. His lies on the other hand could and he knew it. And he was terrified.
"You don't give a shit for my murdering streak but you give a lot of shit about me don't you love?" Kol laughed spitefully making her grit her teeth, "You can't help it. That's why Elijah came to you and that's why you are here."
Caroline nodded.
"Never said otherwise," she agreed with a tight voice, "that, of course, doesn't change how angry I am and you know what I am capable of when I get angry," she emphasized with a low voice and leveled her cool gaze with his, "you are the one who taught me how to direct my anger after all," she reminded him, "so I may not have a dagger to turn you into sleeping beauty but you and I will have some fun soon; that I can promise you," she vowed and her expression turned both caustic and sweet, "No matter how much I care."
Kol let out a heavy breath before he downed the remaining of his drink.
"Can't wait," Kol grumbled and she beamed.
She then waved at the board she had set.
"Your move Kol."
Purgatory
Caroline saw how the pieces magnetized. Almost as if they wanted to glue together. Kol snapped them apart and gave her one while he kept the other.
She had not seen him for a couple of months and she had missed him. Not that she would tell him that.
They had puzzled two pieces and needed to find the other two that were probably just as broken as those they now had in their possession.
Kol rolled his shoulders and stretched against the rock as if it was the fluffiest pillow.
"Could we be making any slower progress?" she nagged and Kol shrugged as if he didn't care.
"It will take us time to escape this place. You knew this already."
"That doesn't mean I have to like it."
"Patience darling," Kol chuckled and she growled and plopped on the ground. She played with the coin piece twisting it masterfully between her fingers.
"At least we have nothing but time here," she sighed unable to take her eyes away from the unnatural glow of the metal she was holding. Kol would keep the one and she would keep the other. It was part of their agreement and their trust in each only went up to a point. They needed leverage against each other and Caroline knew he could very well kill her and take her piece if he wanted but thanks to him she was not an easy opponent anymore.
She knew Kol needed her because in comparison to most vampires that ended here she had lived more years as a human than a vampire. She had a chance to escape Purgatory by fooling the magic into considering her soul to be less vampire and more human and she would carry his with her. It was still a risk because if the magic that would cloak her vampirism would backfire or if it would not be enough her spirit would disintegrate. But it was a risk she was willing to take. Anything would be better than spending eternity here. She would either escape this hell or would dissolve into oblivion. She was fine with it. And she knew Kol was fine with it too. He knew the spells, he knew the magic and he had the knowledge but she was his ticket and medium out of here. He needed her as much as she needed him.
Of course, Kol could always wait for another young vampire but it would take him time and he had already spent decades training her so she would get stronger in order to get out of here. Ironically she needed to become stronger as a vampire here to withstand the magic that would get them out of here.
Purgatory's environment turned them physically into humans leaving their vampire nature only on the surface and that so to starve them and heighten the pain. But they were weak as newborns would be and it took her years for her powers to somewhat return and for her skills to progress. Kol had revealed to her she was not the first he had tried to train here in order to get out but usually most of his experiments failed or he got bored.
She was special in a way but she knew what that meant. Kol was fascinated because she had been Klaus' obsession so at first, she had been his punching bag and plaything to torture to get even with Klaus and at the same time he protected her exactly because of a weird sense of brotherly honor. Kol was definitely bipolar but as time passed they actually found a mutual understanding. And now each one held from one coin piece and Kol knew she could protect hers and she could protect herself even without him here. She also knew this had been one more test and she had passed it with flying colors.
She could survive on her own without him. Kol wanted to be sure of this. Because when the time would come for her to carry his soul out of here she would be on her own and he would have to trust her to make the trip no matter the obstacles she would have to face.
"We will get back," she whispered more to herself than him. She pocketed the part of the coin in her belt along with her dagger and made herself comfortable on the ground. She could get comfortable anywhere now.
"Unless we miss the celestial," Kol chirped in with a dry voice and Caroline tensed.
"Then we wait for another," she replied knowing all too well that the alignment celestial happened every hundred years and lasted for seconds here, "no matter how long it will take us," she forced out mentally promising herself that they would make it in the one that would come in a few years. They would not fail, she would not allow it. "We will get back."
The determination in her would not lessen. It would not recede. She would be patient. She would wait. She would do everything to get out of here no matter the price she had to pay.
"Two peas in a pond," Kol snickered and Caroline frowned and glanced at him curiously.
"You and Nik," Kol clarified, "once you set your mind on the prize you don't stop."
Caroline snorted.
"As if you all Mikaelsons don't share the same trait."
"Not with the same single-minded drive," Kol noted and Caroline watched him curiously, "I always admired that in Nik," Kol confessed and Caroline's eyes widened not expecting him to admit that.
"What do you mean?" she probed and Kol exhaled slowly.
"Klaus is a loose cannon except for the times… he is not," Kol ironically observed, "Elijah always acted as if he was the sensible one but truth is that if it wasn't for Nik we would have been eliminated centuries ago."
"You admire him," Caroline realized in awe.
Kol lifted his shoulders.
"I can recognize the fact of who my brother is and what he has done for our family. The good and the bad. He kept us alive for a long time despite how I had to go and die on my own," Kol made fun of his death and Caroline shook her head in bemused disbelief, "despite how much I could not stand him and his obsession to control us I can both hate and respect that."
Kol sat up and stared at the ground.
"Elijah always fell short when it came down to it because his sense of honor and his obsession with the doppelgangers blinded him. Rebekah starved for love and would always get blindsided by her flings," he grimaced and then sighed, "I tricked my way through everything but at some point, tricks ended and I ended up here because I didn't know when to stop. Which was the reason why most of the time Klaus chased me down with a dagger throughout the centuries."
Caroline didn't react to what he was saying because she didn't want to him stop talking to her now that he was finally opening up to her.
"Nik knows when to stop Caroline even if it doesn't seem like it."
"It really doesn't," she replied slowly and Kol nodded.
"Don't get me wrong. He can have his tantrums and relishes in a good bloodbath like the best of us," he proudly said, "when he is hurt he lashes out but historically he let himself go unchecked when he knew Elijah would be there to clean up his mess. He became loud and sent a message when he had to but he also outran Mikael even on his own when he carted us in coffins and no one else had his back."
"That's his fault though isn't it?" Caroline wondered, "He wouldn't be on his own if he didn't dagger you and for someone who claims to hate loneliness he really caused it to himself."
"He is his worst enemy yes," Kol agreed, "That also runs in our family. And believe me when I say that Klaus daggering us is the reason why a part of me will always hate him which is something he knows very well. And where there is hate there can never be trust," Kol stated and Caroline felt sad for the way he said that as if he had accepted it. She could see that despite everything Kol really loved his big brother and looked up to him. It was a twisted love but it was love and yet they were so broken that they could never repair their relationship. Kol would never forgive Klaus for daggering him. Caroline could imagine that Klaus would never forgive Kol for getting him to the point where he would have to dagger him in the first place.
"My point, however," Kol continued, "is that despite all that I could still trust Nik's abilities. He knew when to lay low and when to spread terror. He knew when to wage war and when to become a recluse. He waited a thousand years to break his curse, to kill Mikael, to gain everything he ever wanted. Despite the odds, despite how everything was set against him, he never accepted defeat. He only waited for his chance."
Caroline felt shivers coming up and down her spine. Kol's words in a way made Klaus' promise to be her last love seem like something inevitable.
"My brother never loses Caroline," Kol pointedly said, "he fails, throws a tantrum, and makes others feel sorry for getting in his way, and then he tries again. His defeats were only another path to victory. Just like you, he is an unstoppable force when he sets his mind on something and when someone beats him they only make him better. Stronger. More determined."
Yes. Caroline knew how that felt. She had been in those shoes more times than she could count.
"Nik learns from his mistakes and never repeats them. He is a perfectionist, hates incompetence and he is confident in his belief that one way or another he will get what he wants. As emotionally stunted as he may be he is brilliant when it comes to war because he knows how to play the long game. He can plan several steps ahead; he makes no mistakes, he can be manipulative and driven. Which is ironic because as a human he was insecure. Sensitive. Afraid of failure. Totally neurotic."
Caroline's breath was caught in her throat.
"Reminds you of someone you used to know?" Kol joked but she didn't comment. She had told Kol all about her human self so he knew what he was talking about but seeing Klaus from Kol's eyes truly gave her a new perspective of Klaus Mikaelson.
No wonder Klaus had been able to see and understand parts of her that even her friends and family had been unable to comprehend they even existed in her. While others could only scratch the surface Klaus had that uncanny ability to see past the superficial mask she wore and dig in deep and in the same way she could do the same with him. That connection between them had always scared her because it seemed effortless.
Back then she had wondered how she could be able to relate to a villain more than she could do with those she considered the heroes of the story but now she knew better. There were no villains or heroes. Only survivors and victims and sometimes those two were the same.
"Becoming a vampire suited him," Kol remarked about Klaus and his words hit home for her, "vampirism heightened his strengths along with everything else and the curse my mother put on him in a way gave him purpose. He spent all his energy, all his intelligence, all his need into one goal. Into one mission. He became invisible and powerful and never allowed himself to lose perspective. He became obsessed and many times I wanted to get out of the shadow he cast. I wanted to have fun, breathe, be free," Kol confided and Caroline frowned at that.
"I am pretty sure you and Klaus had your share of fun."
"Oh yes! Nik knows how to throw a party and when he goes on a rampage? He does it so well! Legendary and glorious times," Kol reminisced fondly making Caroline shake her head at the way Kol was glorifying their murderous tendencies.
"But those moments were fleeting because Klaus would never allow the fun to stop him from seeing the bigger picture. In the end, I didn't want or cared for the same things he did but Klaus would never let any of us get in his way and he would not let us choose another way either," Kol perused, "not with what was at stake for him. Klaus always looked behind his shoulder and always had his eyes on the future. A future where he gained what he dreamed of and he would never allow any loose ends to stop him from getting where he wanted to go. So daggers always came in handy," Kol mentioned sourly, "of course Mikael was always on our trail, and Klaus would never forget it nor allow any of us to forget it either. Me, Elijah, Rebekah even that weakling Finn? We all lost focus but Klaus never allowed this to happen. Maybe he didn't trust us fully and believed we were capable of siding with Mikael against him. He would not allow that either."
"Even though you wouldn't do it," Caroline commented with certainty but Kol scoffed at that.
"We would," he revealed shocking her, "we were all capable of it and Klaus knew it."
"Were you?" she pressed and Kol inclined his head in affirmation.
She blinked at that. She believed that despite everything the Mikaelsons loved each other. She had seen Kol's love for his siblings no matter how he tried to pretend otherwise. Every time he spoke of them was with nostalgia. Even now the way he spoke about Klaus was with pride and longing.
"This is why it is called betrayal Caroline," Kol warned her, "it always comes from the people closest to you and when you enter a circle of hurt and abuse it's not really that surprising to get such an outcome, is it?"
"I don't think I can relate to that," she disagreed, "I may not have siblings but for the people, I love there are some lines I would never cross."
"Unwavering loyalty is a rare trait. Maybe you are better than the rest of us then," Kol mused but then gave her a look that told her that he didn't believe that to be true, "or maybe you never got to the point of showing your love by inflicting misery because every other way burned out."
"I don't get it," Caroline insisted and Kol smiled.
"Not yet," he promised her and her insides tightened, "give a few centuries and everything becomes twisted. Betrayal becomes as natural as trust used to be."
"Would you do that? Betray someone you love?"
"Yes."
Caroline exhaled slowly and Kol grinned at her.
"Never forget that darling. The more you trust the easier it is to be betrayed. The more you love someone the more able you are to hurt them. There is no stronger poison than love."
"Love is meant to heal, not hurt."
"Who told you that? Fairytales?" Kol snickered and Caroline pressed her lips annoyed. "There will come a time where the temptation to love someone to death will become very literal and pragmatic. Love wakes up everything inside and we feel everything far more intensely. Love casts light even to the darkness waking it up. You think that is a good thing? To wake up the monster and make it crave love? Make it addicted to it, make it demanding? Or is it that you think no monsters are lurking in your shadows?" Kol taunted her, "Lovers, friends, family. It only takes time Caroline. Love and eternity should never mix."
"What's the alternative then? Hate? Emptiness? What would make eternity, life for that matter, worth living for?"
"The answer philosophers always chase and have never been able to find," Kol quipped.
"I have seen the way you speak about your family Kol," she called him out, "You care for them and they care for you. You can't pretend otherwise."
"I loved my siblings and they loved me," he agreed and his gaze turned hard, "and then they forgot I existed a second after I died."
"That's not true," Caroline whispered remembering how Klaus had reacted to Kol's death.
Kol let out a sarcastic sound at that.
"I have no doubt they raged, inflicted terror, and promised retribution. Klaus probably scared the living shit out of you lot, Rebekah ruined her makeup shedding a few tears and Elijah mourned nobly and privately. All temporary and insignificant. All a betrayal in their own way."
Caroline said nothing at that.
"I was capable of tearing my family apart when I was alive, something I intend to do when I come back to life too and we were just as likely to turn against each other as we were to keep eternal promises of how family is above all," Kol explained, "immortality would be awfully boring otherwise," he laughed, "but…and here's the irony of it all, Nik the most unstable of us-"
"That's debatable," she cut it giving him a knowing look making him smirk at her before he continued as if she hadn't interrupted him at all.
"Persevered amid all this chaos. Always did. Always will."
Caroline was bewildered by the way Kol was able to speak both with resentment and admiration about Klaus and their family. They truly were a dysfunctional twisted bunch and to think she used to believe Stefan's and Damon's relationship was perverse. In comparison to the Mikaelsons, the Salvatore brothers seemed perfectly balanced.
"The lengths Klaus was always willing to go to get what he wanted were impressive," Kol continued, "because he walked the distance even when it went against every fiber of who he truly is."
Caroline somehow knew what Kol meant. This was why many times she had believed Klaus to be a contradiction too. He was capable of the best and the worst.
"This is why Klaus is so good at chess too. Far better than Elijah could ever be, much to his chagrin," Kol revealed with delight and then his gaze became piercing and kind of unsettled her, "Because Klaus has issues with control and those issues allowed him to do things others could not. He could discipline his impatience when needed, he could reign over his instincts. He could mask his rage and let his anger fuel him until he would unleash it in the opportune moment. His tantrums made him notorious but his unnatural ability to withstand time and never give up made him victorious."
Kol gave her a wry smile.
"Klaus never gives up Caroline. Neither do you," he compared them easily, "You two are steadfast and unwavering. Honestly I find it very taxing," he waved indignantly, "I crave chaos you crave to control it. I have never met a control freak that could compete with Klaus's impossible controlling tendencies but here you are. Walking his steps, step by step. I guess that's why he fancied you so much. He probably saw a kindred spirit in you."
Caroline stared at Kol that now watched her with a devilish grin.
"My brother promised you eternity has he not?"
Caroline stilled. Kol saw. From when he had returned briefly from the other side. He had probably been lurking around his siblings that night.
"Are you sure you want to return to the living?" Kol sweetly asked her making her give him a dirty look, "I warned you, darling. Love is one thing. Eternity another and my brother chose you for eternity. He will give chase, he will wait, he won't give up and eventually, he will gain you as a trophy to keep, cherish and twist for all time to come," he gestured around at their surroundings, "if you think this hell is bad wait until my brother gives Purgatory a run for its money. Who knows, a thousand years of being loved by my brother and you may become nostalgic and desire to return back here. Fair warning though. I doubt Nik will allow you the freedom of that choice though."
Kol challenged her to deny the truth of his words. In response, Caroline's gaze hardened and became fathomless.
"Have I mentioned I am very good at chess too?"
Kol smirked at her unexpected answer.
"I expected as much," he guessed.
"Maybe Klaus and I share some similarities," Caroline amended ignoring Kol's mocking snort, "but we share one major difference."
"Do tell," Kol played along amused.
"He waited a thousand years to break his curse," she said shrewdly and Kol arched his eyebrow expectantly.
"So?"
"I won't wait half as long to get out of here," she declared confidently, "I am breaking his record."
Kol burst out laughing.
"And just as Nik would say you are about to do whatever it takes right?"
Caroline smiled and arched her eyebrow in a 'duh' expression.
"However long it takes," she softly spoke Klaus' promise answering Kol in a way that made him watch her with renewed interest.
In the end, Kol had been right on one thing. She and Klaus were similar when it came to not giving up when they set their minds on something.
Because if she could relate with Klaus Mikaelson on something this was in the firm belief that some things were worth fighting for. They were worth the wait and no matter what it would take, however long it would take, and she just like Klaus and Kol would never give up.
Kol didn't get it but in many ways, he was also very similar to Klaus. He followed in his footsteps even if he couldn't see it. Kol was just as stubborn and determined and so was she.
She would get home.
Victorious.
Yes. She quite liked the sound of that.
As for what would come next?
She was game.
Caroline stared at the board with a look of concentration. She had already captured a few of Kol's pieces and he had more of hers.
Kol was lounging on his chair certain of his impending victory.
"One of your witches attacked me today btw," she told him conversationally as she picked up one of the pawns and moved it diagonally, "one of those you had appointed for my protection," she updated him wiping the look of smug satisfaction off his face.
Kol straightened on his chair his eyes clearing immediately and whatever insanity had its hold on him dissipated as he took in what she told him.
"What?"
Caroline pointed at the board showing him it was time for his move.
"Clarisse something," she added giving him the information in a way that signified she didn't really care.
Only she did. Especially as the words of that witch came haunting her back.
The witch had told her she carried the Devil's Mark and because of the Mikaelsons Caroline didn't even have the time to search to find out what that meant. She didn't plan to share this information with Kol although at this point it wouldn't surprise her if Kol knew all about it and didn't share it with the class.
"Clarisse? You are sure?" Kol asked with a strained voice and Caroline gave him a condescending look.
"Friend of yours?" she taunted him with a scathing voice and a muscle ticked in Kol's jaw, "if so, my condolences, she's dead," she faked sympathy, "I am waiting, Kol," she impatiently commanded him to play and he moved a piece without bothering to even look at it. His eyes were set on hers.
Caroline let out a humming sound of disapproval at him not paying attention as she captured his knight.
"What happened?" Kol demanded, now sober and serious.
"Clarisse along with a few more witches blew up a dozen vampires to take me out and then your bitch of a mother possessed her and tried to get me. A snapped neck later, ding dong the witch is dead, unfortunately, your mommy dearest is not," Caroline reiterated bitingly without telling him how Esther had also gotten in her head, "and then your psychotic brother snapped my neck and kidnapped me. You don't need me to tell you which brother right?"
Kol blinked at that.
"Nik-"
"Is a major ass and I am pretty sure after today he may be gunning out for me too," she coldly said.
"What did you do?" Kol muttered confused by her tone.
"Play," she snapped and he let out a frustrated sigh and did as he was told.
"I did what I had to do to get out," her words reverberated without emotion, "I guess I can consider myself lucky I am not an Original because I would be in a coffin right about now."
Kol cursed between clenched teeth but Caroline exuded calm. Icy, hard calm.
"All of which you would have known," she sweetly drawled playing the blame game effortlessly, "if you haven't cut all communication with the outside world and you weren't here playing …chess," she pointed out with distaste.
Kol slumped back on his chair.
"Obviously your witches keep tabs on you too and once they saw your newest manic episode they correctly predicted you would be occupied long enough to allow them to attack," she chastised him and leaned forward holding his gaze hostage, "do you want me to tell you how close they came to killing me Kol?" she seethed letting her anger come out without any pretenses of civility. Kol swallowed in an audible breath as blood filled her eyes and veins puffed above her cheeks, "I almost died today."
Accusation rang in her voice and Kol swallowed harshly, his control and logic fast restored. He had messed up today. Big time.
"Is this what you want?" she snarled, "me dead?"
Kol's eyes widened in horror.
"Of course not," he immediately denied, his voice coming out weak. His gaze clashed with her violent one.
"You need to get your shit together!" she hissed and looked at him with contempt before she glanced at the board and made her last move.
"Checkmate," she declared coolly and without bothering anymore she got up and left him behind without bothering to not step on the corpses that were standing between her and the door.
Kol fell back and ran a hand through his hair.
He kicked the table and the chess rattled.
The pawns fell on the floor splashing blood around.
Blonde hair, green eyes, beautiful face.
He was drinking greedily from the vein in her throat listening at the way her heartbeat was flattering, slowing, dying.
Her nails were digging into his shoulders. She was compelled to stay but she was not compelled to not be afraid.
He stopped gulping her blood just to breathe in her fear, to savor her last breath. Her scent was not the same though.
Caroline's smell was different. It was addicting. It was enveloping him in magic, mystery, and light. He craved her smell and this was but a pale imitation.
He sank his teeth deeper into the fragile skin and tightened his grip at the breakable waist that snapped under his strength.
The human girl whimpered and Klaus Mikaelson drank in the last drop of her blood before he let her fall from his lap down at his feet next to the other three blond women he had drained.
He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and barely glanced at the corpses on the plush carpet. Their eyes had glazed over and lifelessly stared at the void. But the green was not the exact shade that tormented him. It was all wrong.
He rested his arms over the back of the Victorian sofa and leaned back throwing his head at the gold frame of the furniture.
He stared at the painted ceiling, at the crystal chandelier with the black diamonds, at the majestic mural painting of Andromeda he had created more than eight hundred years ago. A beautiful woman chained among the constellation that was named after her. A shade of a haunting beauty eaten by the darkness of the galaxy.
Klaus wiped the last drops of blood that lingered on his lips with his tongue.
He closed his eyes hating how fate was mocking him because the drawing on the ceiling, the one Nyx had copied from his work, ironically resembled Caroline even though centuries ago she was not born, and yet somehow her image seemed to haunt him ever since then.
"When did you turn into Mikael?"
He wished he could kill Caroline's taunting voice just as easily as he could kill these human girls. They all looked like her.
Just like Camille looked like her. He had been drawn to Camille when he had first come to New Orleans because he had looked like Caroline.
And now all he wanted was to erase Caroline's image that was stuck in his brain. He wanted to tear it out with his bare hands, with claws and teeth. And he couldn't.
"When did you turn into Mikael?"
His worst fear had come to life. His siblings had accused him of the very same thing. He had turned into the one monster he had feared and hated the most. He had turned into his worst nightmare. Caroline was not the first one who accused him of this. Rebekah had told him the same. It really shouldn't be surprising. It was a tale as old as time. You always ended up becoming what you hated the most, what you feared the most, what hunted you and haunted you.
And he felt nothing.
The utter lack of feeling was the only thing left inside his heart. He could not feel grief or hate or pain or rage. Caroline's words were ringing true and in their truth, he knew that his parents had won.
Mikael had won. Esther had won.
"You are no better than your mother."
Fucking Esther.
Fire burned in his veins. His mother had taken away from him one more thing he could not live without. His daughter was in exile and now Esther had locked Caroline inside New Orleans and created a wedge between him and her that no distance could cover.
"If it ain't Klaus Mikaelson."
Klaus opened his eyes as Raphael Bonnett approached him. Raphael spread his arms open and gave him a sharp grin.
"Mon ami!"
Klaus remained impassive when Raphael whistled at the dead girls.
"Want some more?" the vampire asked him courteously.
"I would not object."
Raphael snapped his fingers and another girl came closer. Klaus' eyes took in the sight she offered without any excitement. She wore a beautiful black dress made from lace and silver chains that hugged her body temptingly. She was beautiful, lost and so very human.
She was... so very wrong.
Wrong hair. Wrong eyes. Wrong...everything.
Klaus shook his head and Raphael arched his brow and glanced at the girls on the carpet.
He caressed the girl's red hair and gave her a reassuring smile that she reciprocated. She was compelled of course. Every human in Nyx was.
"Bring one of your blonde companions for my friend here," Raphael observed the dead girls once more, "curly long hair, green eyes."
The girl nodded blissfully and left.
"May I?" Raphael asked respectfully and Klaus nodded. The man unbuttoned his tailored jacket and sat next to him.
Soon one of his butlers brought them two crystal glasses filled with absinthe and blood.
Klaus took his glass as did Raphael.
Soon after a blond girl came and Raphael pointed in his direction when she came and stood in front of them.
She wore white, looking almost angelic. The blonde beauty smiled and fell on her knees placing her head on Klaus' knee.
Klaus absently twirled a lock of hair around his fingers, taking in the color. Not the shade he quite craved but it would have to do. Given the peace treaty he had signed with the factions it would not be wise to hunt around the city for his victims.
Nyx would provide the outlet he needed.
And what he needed was to kill Caroline Forbes tonight.
Elijah Mikaelson was walking Caroline Forbes home despite her objections. For the first time in centuries, he had to admit that he was genuinely amazed and impressed. At this point in his life not many things could surprise him but Miss Forbes today had been a revelation.
He already knew that both Kol and Klaus cared for Miss Forbes deeply and profoundly. The recent oath they gave to keep her safe and protected was proof of that and it was the first time in centuries where his hot-headed brothers selflessly found common ground that was not built on destruction but something altruistic and loving. Personally, he disagreed with the way they had decided to handle Caroline's past and the danger that surrounded her but he was not going to become an obstacle on the only thing his brothers ever agreed upon. He would aid them in their cause of course but tonight has been another kind of an epiphany. He had already seen the influence Caroline had on both of his brothers but it was shocking to see the extent of it. He had been astonished by the way she handled and controlled Kol.
Usually, it had been him that cleaned Kol's messes. He had assumed this time would not be any different but he had decided to test another alternate solution and much to his wonder he realized that what Caroline was able to do for his youngest brother none of them had been able to do in their thousand years of existence.
In the past when Kol had such manic episodes he could be contained only by a dagger in the heart or equally harsh methods because no other approach would work. Usually, this would be the first stage of his crazed episode. He would then spread havoc and terror all through the city and he would have to be contained before he razed New Orleans to the ground or exposed the existence of the supernatural world to the public. Especially now with the progress of technology and the social media where a snapshot was enough, it was even riskier to allow Kol to roam around like this.
In the past, both he and Klaus and Rebekah too had tried to talk to him, soothe him, even participate in his killing sprees in hopes to somewhat contain the fallout but nothing worked and everything escalated.
And Caroline in less than half an hour had managed to not only bring Kol back from the brink of madness, not just contain him but also put him in his place and restore his sanity. Kol listened to her and she actually made him see common sense. That alone was enough for him to believe in miracles.
He couldn't begin to imagine what those two had survived in Purgatory but whatever it was it brought them together. It turned them into a unit. Caroline dared speak to Kol in a way no one else could. She was caring and manipulative. She matched his irrational emotionality and his conniving nature.
On the other hand, he could see that she had an equal if not much bigger influence on Niklaus. There were parts of Miss Forbes that eerily reminded him of Klaus and in any other instance he would consider her dangerous but the girl had honor. Just like Bonnie Bennett and Elena Gilbert Caroline Forbes was capable of loyalty and devotion and he hoped her influence would be positive. He would have to ensure this no matter the cost. Because he was afraid that both Kol and Klaus should they face the possibility of losing Caroline or in the chance of facing her rejection they would lose the last shreds of their humanity completely and he could not allow this. He could not allow this girl to drag them into the darkness out of love or pit them against each other. No. He would not allow love to turn to poison for his brothers. It would have to be the remedy. No matter the cost.
"It is like for every step forward I am getting ten steps backward with your brother!" Caroline complained and Elijah smiled in understanding.
"Which one?"
Caroline grumbled annoyed and Elijah responded with a solemn expression.
"Kol is getting out of control," he recognized, "he has been worse ever since he returned from the place you were stranded."
"That is a way to describe it," Caroline said unemotionally with her eyes trained on the night sky.
She couldn't help but search for Andromeda something Elijah didn't miss but thankfully he didn't comment on it.
She felt betrayed somehow. Betrayed by a constellation that was created long before she ever existed and long after she had died. She felt so unimportant and insignificant in comparison and yet staring at Andromeda still felt like a physical blow.
"I am afraid that Klaus' patience is wearing thin," Elijah cautioned and Caroline stopped walking.
"He can't dagger him, Elijah," she pleaded with the Original without hiding her obvious worry, "neither can you."
The foreboding silence that stretched between them was loaded.
"Maybe it will be the only way," Elijah sighed grievously and Caroline breathed in sharply.
"No!" Caroline protested, "no, it won't. Kol is," she hesitated and lowered her gaze to her fidgeting hands, "…already hurt. It is not an excuse but hurting him more is only going to make everything worse," she argued but she could stop herself from glowering at the Original, "He is your brother! You should be there for him now more than ever. He needs you."
Elijah didn't seem to be moved by her outburst.
"Kol is not letting anyone in except you for now, but you should voice these concerns to Niklaus," Elijah encouraged her, "he will be more inclined to listen to you."
Caroline flipped her hair aggressively and started walking again.
"I am afraid this will make things worse. Me and Klaus do not see eye to eye lately," she made the understatement of the century, "as a matter of fact I don't want to see or hear about him ever again," she ruthlessly said, "and I am sure as of today he feels the same."
Elijah's expression turned solemn.
"I am aware of what transpired between you today," he stated calmly but his voice made it clear that he disapproved of what he had learned. Although Caroline imagined that he had only gotten the gist of it.
"In that case, I apologize for wasting one of your best wines," Caroline apologized with a sweet and very dishonest smile.
Elijah's eyes narrowed slightly as he realized that she wasted it on purpose and her stance didn't deny it.
"Which one?" he inquired and Caroline's smile widened.
"A Penfolds Grange 1951."
"Good choice," he earnestly approved her pick even though she imagined that he was trying to contain his displeasure over the fact that the wine fell victim to her confrontation with his brother.
"Enjoyable for the most part," she conceded, "could have been better though."
Elijah's mouth twitched but his attempt at a smile vanished quickly.
"I wish I had been there to put a stop to Niklaus' irrational actions," Elijah told her in what sounded like utmost sincerity and she wondered how many times Elijah Mikaelson had to clean up after both of his brothers, "however," he carried on, "I am of the firm belief that where you are concerned his intentions do stem from a good place."
Caroline scowled at that.
"That does not make what he does any less unforgivable," she sibilated.
"It does not," Elijah agreed gravely, "I know Niklaus' actions have been abominable and I know it is not an excuse or consolation but I am stating a fact when I say that he cares deeply for you and only cares for your well being. But whenever he is afraid for those he cares about he loses his mind and then-"
"Hurts them," finished his words and Elijah nodded.
Caroline straightened her shoulders refusing to operate on that principle and excuse Klaus' actions. Despite how she knew that right now Klaus was a loose cannon. She had hurt him today and he would lash out at the world and she hoped the body count would not be high but she would not allow herself to feel guilt for Klaus' actions or allow anyone to blame her for those. She would not allow Klaus to hurt her and then find excuses for his abuse because Klaus happened to be hurt or misunderstood or had good deep down. She had seen his good but that didn't mean it excused the bad. Fuck that.
"You are right. It is not an excuse," she shut down Elijah keeping her tone void of any feeling that could be misguided as an opening for Elijah to debate this. "And I do not have to stand for this. In fact," she intoned, "I won't.
She was fiercely resolute on this and Elijah's gaze examined her. It was clear that he was trying to decide which approach would serve him best.
"I understand this and I respect it," he concluded but approached her with an austere but amicable expression, "However it is of the utmost importance to make a truce with my brother, Caroline."
Caroline arched a brow at him calling with her name and not by using his impersonal polite distance by referring to her as Miss Forbes.
"No matter how paranoid he is he is right to be worried about you," he diplomatically appealed to her logic and her sentiment, "You know this to be true. If anything the explosion and the attack proves this much. My mother's threat is not to be taken lightly," he warned her but Caroline only watched him without opening her cards.
Elijah halted.
"I know that I should not be asking you this considering what my brother did but you should reconsider the possibility of returning to the Abattoir," Elijah offered and she crossed her arms in front of her chest indicating this was not an option.
"Either this was orchestrated or not by my mother she took advantage of the explosion and the commotion that followed which means she is keeping a close eye on you all the time."
Caroline swallowed harshly. She suspected as much for a long time and today was the proof she needed. She was under Esther's microscope. The witch kept her under a very short leash waiting for the opportunity to tie it around her neck and choke her with it.
"Even if mother was not behind the witch attack this does not change that not even Kol has any clue what ignited this," Elijah noted, "If he had this wouldn't have happened, and yes. His brief absence was the opportunity the instigators waited for so to make this move but you are a smart woman. You don't need me to tell you this has been planned for quite some time despite Kol's influence on the witch community and despite the fear my family has instilled in the factions. The peace treaty didn't stop them, the consequences did not matter even though they know they will be swift and grave."
"You are right. You don't need to tell me this."
Elijah sighed at her stubbornness.
"At least consider some additional protection," he negotiated.
"Bodyguards? Really?" she objected and shook her head, "I can protect myself."
"I do not doubt it," Elijah acknowledged, "but do not deny my family's protection either. Those two things do not have to be mutually exclusive," he advised her, "And if you do not find a way to make peace with my brother I can't promise you anything concerning Kol's future."
Caroline glared at him. This sounded a lot like blackmail and Elijah's gaze didn't deny it.
"Despite their confrontation, Marcellus and my brother do see eye to eye when it comes to Kol and a fight won't change that," Elijah forewarned her, "Niklaus won't allow a witch uprising now more than ever and he and Marcel agree to that as they do to New Orleans relative peace."
"You call this peace?" she exclaimed sarcastically.
"It doesn't matter what I call it. Both Marcel and Klaus understand the importance of playing their part at keeping pretenses."
Every muscle in her body coiled and Caroline had to mentally force herself from lashing out.
"While Kol does not?" she asked keeping her tone leveled. She was lethally calm but was starting to plan murder in her head.
These people were unbelievable. They were no better than Kol but just because they had different ambitions they were choosing to act in a holier than thou attitude as if they had any ground to step on.
Not that Kol wasn't a maniac but the rest of the Originals, including Marcel Gerard, were no better. She so called bullshit when it came to that crap and no matter the bone she had to pick with Kol they would get to dagger him over her dead body!
"He does," Elijah deflected and she hated how good he was at playing such mind games, "but he can be quite unpredictable too. We have already started peace talks and you have witnessed how that went," he pointed out and Caroline's eyes turned to slits as she realized that Elijah was about to use what happened today against her. He was ready to use her as leverage to pull the strings of his brothers.
Elijah Mikaelson had another thing coming if he thought she would let him do this.
"Add to that highly explosive atmosphere Kol's manic tantrums and this won't end well," Elijah remarked.
"What of Klaus' manic tantrums?" she bit out.
"Fair enough," Elijah admitted before he sighed, "Niklaus is not an easy person to deal with. I know this all too well," he divulged, "but he holds you in great esteem. I would advise you to find a way to coexist with him, Miss Forbes," Elijah counseled switching back to referring to her as Miss Forbes. "Even compromise. If only for helping me to contain an imminent confrontation between him and Kol."
Caroline received the message loud and clear. Klaus would dagger Kol with Elijah's blessing unless she played Elijah's game and kept Kol and even Klaus on a leash by being their distraction, their voice of reason, and their emotional crutch.
In other words, Elijah Mikaelson threw the ball in her court. He wanted her to move around like a pawn. He wanted her to replace his role and start cleaning up after his brothers in an attempt to turn her into a preemptive strike to stop those messes from happening in the first place.
"Rest assured I will be having a discussion with Niklaus too," Elijah promised her, "I am not asking anything from you that I won't ask from him concerning his behavior."
Raphael Bonnett sipped his drink slowly. His movements even after all these centuries retained their feline grace.
"You haven't been in Nyx for decades," Bonnett mentioned aloofly, "The only Mikaelson who entered my lair after centuries of radio silence has been Kol. Surprising considering he should have been dead."
Klaus said nothing at that.
"When he fell a considerable part of my clan fell with him. Yet here he is," Raphael chuckled, "even hell spat him out."
"Consider yourself lucky you weren't part of his sireline then."
"Speaking of which," Raphael started, his eyes shining with nostalgia, "how is beautiful Rebekah?"
Klaus's mouth became a cruel line.
"Exiled."
"Pity," Raphael lamented, "She would enjoy the latest changes I made."
Klaus' eyes traveled to the luxurious surroundings. At the gold veined black marbles and the dark aquarium glass walls. At the pillars with the monstrous carvings and the mirrors that encased shadows in their reflections.
Raphael Bonnett had indeed made quite the changes around here. He had used many of the dark objects he had gathered over the years to create illusions and to enslave one's mind into a fever dream. The mists that swirled inside Nyx created the mirage of night and starry skies but most of all once you inhaled them you became inebriated and the magic eroded your inhibitions.
Once you entered here it felt as if you stepped into concentrated magic. It was a drug that tempted hallucinations and bloodlust.
Raphael had taken Kol's gift and turned it into the most prestigious vampire club of the vampire underworld. Here in New Orleans more than in any other place in the world.
Nyx was neutral ground for all vampires. Once you entered no feuds existed. It was considered holy ground and everyone respected the one and only rule. There would exist no provocation in here. No vampire was allowed to kill another vampire here. Only human blood was allowed to be shed in Nyx. Even witches sought refuge in Nyx that was given to them in exchange for their services.
Blood, darkness, and sin prevailed in Nyx but vampires had to maintain peace.
Klaus looked around. Human women and men were served to vampires as entertainment or sacrifice. Human flesh was a commodity in this place and of course expendable. The magic of this place infected the humans more than it did the vampires. Where it freed the vampires it enslaved the humans.
Klaus watched the humans that danced slowly in the mist, their brains fogged, their bodies moving sluggishly. A girl was humming a beautiful slow tune and another human was playing the violin. Vampires were feeding on those that danced and all those that had fallen in the mist and inhaled the smog in. The feedings were only a prelude that led to either orgies or carnage.
No human that would enter here would leave alive.
Many came willingly seeking the thrill of addiction from the magic or because they had a death wish. Others were stolen in the night, tricked, or manipulated. Many were desperate and others were simply idiots. They all bargained their lives for a year. At the end of the year, the very few that would survive would be given the choice to be turned or be hunted for sport. Upon their death or transition, their families would be compensated with wealth and fortune by offering one more of their blood to Nyx every ten years. The contract would last for a century or until the end of five generations depending on the bargain the first human who would enter Nyx would make.
The two caveats, Elijah decreed much to Raphael's chagrin, was that for the contract to be drawn the first human would have to be of clear mind and no compulsion would be used as means for them to sign.
The second was that the innocent humans that would be given to Nyx by their families would not be allowed to be killed for the duration of three months and by the end of that time they would all be given the offer to either complete the year or to be turned into vampires that would only be set free from Nyx's rule once the century or the timeframe of the five generations would expire. If they chose to turn and serve for that period of time they would have to work for Raphael and Nyx.
Most of the humans of course would be so addicted to Nyx's magic and their minds would be so muddled even without any trace of compulsion that they would continue as living playthings or would prefer to die than turn and serve Raphael. It took only the strongest of minds to decide otherwise and Raphael would turn those to very dangerous weapons and assassins and by the end of their time of servitude, most if not all would remain loyal to Raphael and enjoy the privileges of becoming part of his elite league of assassins. If anyone would choose to leave Nyx…well accidents still happened.
And of the other side of the coin was that every vampire who entered Nyx would have to give in to their most base instincts. Decadence and corruption thrived in these walls and every vampire was giving into their true nature. Not attachment with the humans was allowed to take place and the more one tortured, fucked and killed, inside these walls the more welcome they were to return. Magic sucked the energy of death and of every last breath and became more potent in Nyx.
Nyx had been Kol's favorite place because he had founded it in France centuries ago. Rebekah had been the one who helped Kol design it and Klaus was the one who had made the drawings of how the club would look under Kol's instructions. Elijah had been the one who turned Nyx to neutral ground. Under Kol's control, Nyx had not become a slave trade of humans. Of course, the human death toll would be high under Kol's reign too since he didn't have any regard for human life and relished in blood and death but Kol had envisioned Nyx to be a blend of vampirism and witchcraft. It was meant to be a blend of a world where witches and vampires could coexist in harmony while giving into their darkest desires and create chaos all around.
Raphael, given how he had been a witch turned vampire, had been drawn to Nyx but once he took Nyx from Kol he turned it more into a vampire nest that used magic as a means to magnify a vampire's primal nature. The kind of magic that was used here now was the kind that completely went against nature and so witches were no longer welcome here unless they were obliged to serve Nyx and create more dark objects for Raphael. And now magic in these places was circulating by dark objects that would be charged by the aura of humans and their deaths. This was one more reason as to why every human here was so drained, confused, and sluggish. The magic was sucking their life quite literally.
Klaus had never understood why Kol had gifted his jewel to Raphael or allowed him to twist it like this but Kol did it with the promise that he would always be welcomed in Nyx and that no rule would apply for him. Kol was free to roam free and do whatever he wanted in here even though he had never broken Raphael's rules. Even so however Kol Mikaelson was the one vampire in existence that could enter Nyx and not be subjected to the law of non-interference. Everyone else, including him and the rest of his siblings, respected and followed the rule of peace. Kol on the other hand could free all humans, take away any witch, kill every vampire he wanted just for the heck of it and Raphael would not seek retribution.
Other than Kol Raphael ensured that every other vampire would be subjected to Nyx's law. To achieve this Raphael had created his league of assassins. Assassins that could curse even Originals with hexes from dark objects that not even Kol knew where they came from or how they operated. This was the reason why he personally had wanted Raphael dead but Elijah had insisted that he could be useful to them and if he ever posed a danger or grew too powerful they would kill him together.
Raphael was smart enough to know this and so he always sided with the Originals and bowed to them.
But with every other vampire or witch he was ruthless.
Once a curse or a death contract would be drawn it would be the end. No contract could be called off once signed. Even if the one who commissioned it would die the contract would still remain active and in effect until terminated. It could take days, decades, or centuries but Raphael assassins would keep their mark and their target would fall.
Those targeted always received Nyx's black omega –Ω– coins that signified they were marked and once that happened they lived in terror, always looking behind their back, until a Nyx Assassin would get to them and leave a gold alpha –Α– coin on their corpse or what remained from them. The league had numerous assassins so even if one failed the –A– coin would be passed down to another member of the league that would take their place until the target would be eliminated and more so by making a spectacle out of their demise to avenge the fallen assassin and send a message. Although no assassin of Raphael had failed in centuries.
And now centuries later after Kol created Nyx and gave it to Raphael every supernatural hub in the world had a version of Nyx in their Underground. New Orleans could not be any different.
Klaus could not miss the obvious parallel here. In many ways, Kol had created his own Kingdom and even though he had given it to Raphael probably through deception it was still a Kingdom usurped. In the same way, he had created New Orleans and Marcellus proclaimed himself the King of what he had made.
And maybe if Mikael hadn't been hunting them to the world's end both he and Kol would have been able to reclaim what was stolen and taken from them. Maybe they wouldn't have lost in the first place.
Raphael leaned back and crossed his legs elegantly. Despite his stance of nonchalance, Klaus could see the gears in his brain turning.
"Why are you here Klaus?"
It was unsurprising Raphael would choose the direct approach with him. He knew with whom he was dealing with.
"I need a favor," Klaus simply said and the smile that formed in Raphael's lips was serpentine-like.
"Favours cost."
"In that case, I want two," Klaus commented lightly and Raphael threw his head back and laughed.
"Kol's favors always bring me trouble," Raphael cheekily said, "alas he is the founder."
Klaus's eyes dropped to the girl that was moaning breathlessly as his fingers skimmed the nape of her neck. Her heart was not picking up. If he wanted fear out of her he would have to compel her. This was he never enjoyed what Nyx offered in the place. Pain, fear, pleasure, joy. Nothing was genuine. Everything was fabricated. Cheap and hollow.
Kol had wanted to create something that would take real desires and magnify them to the point of madness. He had wanted to dive into the deepest darkest places inside the psyche of formidable creatures and maybe even drown in that ocean. Raphael took that and turned to something without depth.
Back then Klaus had been impressed by Kol's venture and while he was afraid it would attract too much attention and bring Mikael to their step he could also see the possibilities of such an undertaking.
Only for Kol to waste it all away claiming he had gotten bored. And maybe Klaus would have believed him if he hadn't seen centuries later Kol staring at a painting of Andromeda with regret. The painting he had drawn for him.
"You never revealed why Kol gave you this place," Klaus apathetically remarked and Raphael gave him a faux expression of offended surprise.
"I am his friend."
"My brother does not have friends."
Even as he said that a little voice in Klaus's mind reminded him that Kol had now a dear friend. Caroline.
Raphael's amused gaze remained secretive. Whatever leverage he had over Kol he would not reveal it.
"You never let my sister pay," Klaus deflected indifferently and the vampire smirked at that just as he lifted his glass without paying any attention around. Soon a servant came and filled his glass with more blood and absinthe.
"I am a gentleman and she is my sire," Raphael played along as he dismissed the servant without looking at them, "Not to mention she is far more convincing than you and your brothers. Far more pleasant to the eye too."
"Last time I heard there was a time you found Elijah quite pleasant to the eye. A sentiment equally shared much to Rebekah's dismay, no?"
"A gentleman never tells," Raphael drawled.
Klaus' lip curved upward. He traced his thumb over the girl's cheek. A tear fell from her eye as she looked at him with a smile. He was not into mercy killings but whenever he visited Nyx he got the sense that his victims found relief when he killed them and that dulled his excitement considerably. It was no fun to step over something that was already crushed down but he wanted Raphael to be amicable tonight so the more he killed the lighter the mood between them would be.
Not to mention that after his confrontation with Caroline he was itching to kill something and as it happened draining blonde girls that resembled her tonight both elated him as it disgusted him confirming that he was indeed a bad replica of Mikael.
Klaus shook away these thoughts and abruptly got up. The girl fell down looking dazed. Raphael snickered at that and then peered at him questioningly.
"If we may take this somewhere more private," Klaus proposed but his tone made it clear it was not a suggestion. Raphael nodded and snapped his fingers to the girl that got up with considerable effort, stumbling on her feet continuously. It was pathetic how Raphael considered this entertaining.
The girl looked at him and her eyes were screaming for him to end her. To end this suffering even though she had completely given into the temptation of the magic that had taken away everything that once must have made the girl lively.
Bonnett slid him a glance and Klaus inclined his head. He would take the girl out of her misery tonight and he could have sworn she understood it and breathed out in relief.
Nyx's host led Klaus towards the dark corridors of the most luxurious of the pleasure halls and the human girl followed them silently as if she was nothing but a ghost.
Because of the magic that thrived in Nyx the corridors seemed to have no beginning and no end. Only the coins Raphael handed to his guest could guide them inside and outside the illusion. Klaus didn't bother looking at the endless doors.
Sage was burning everywhere along with additional magic that ensured silence would prevail. Klaus knew better. Behind the closed doors and below the polished floors straight at the basements where the cells and the torture chambers were built, all sorts of sounds were echoing inside the confines of magic. Sounds of cruel laughter. Screams and moanings of pain and pleasure. More screaming. Of anguish and tortured agony. Sounds of death.
Raphael took him to one of the bedrooms.
Elegant details, silks, and translucent curtains created the view of extravagance.
Sage was burning to give them privacy.
Under Raphael's instruction, the girl went and dropped at the feet of the bed making Klaus internally disgusted.
Klaus went towards the table with the bottles and poured whiskey in a tumbler. At least the alcohol was fine.
"There was an attack on vampire ground today," Raphael casually said and Klaus let the amber liquid burn his throat to buy some time. That asshole was baiting him. Raphael knew everything that took place in the cities he occupied. If there was one thing that flowed more in abandon in Nyx aside from magic and death was information.
"I heard," Klaus replied.
"Am I to expect more company soon?"
"Yes," Klaus affirmed curtly, "Kol will come asking for answers soon enough."
Hot rage filled Klaus once he said that. He had made a pact with Kol and that stupid thing he had for a brother couldn't even keep his witches on a leash because he was busy having his manic breakdowns. How could he trust him to protect Caroline when he was out of control and so incompetent? He should dagger him just for that failure alone.
Raphael ran the pad of his thumb over his long nails.
"You want me to deny him?"
Klaus met his gaze with one of mirth.
"Not at all," he drawled causing Raphael's brow to lift in wonder. After all, Raphael was used to the game he and Kol played over the centuries. Whenever they visited Raphael concerning their feuds it was to cause each other problems. "I want you to assist him," Klaus continued earning Raphael's genuine surprise, "Anything he wants for this you give it to him. No questions asked," he stopped and pointedly stared at the man, "No tricks for keeping all sides content."
Raphael rubbed his thumb over his lower lip in contemplation.
"I am neutral in this war of yours," he diplomatically reminded him, "I always have been."
"I am not asking you to change," Klaus reassured him, "Neither will Kol. However, I want you to remain neutral while giving shelter and refuge to those that may come asking for it. Once you do you open your doors for us as you always would. Kol in particular," Klaus added with a smirk and Raphael sighed as he understood what that meant.
"Nyx is holy ground," Raphael stressed out and Klaus put down his drink and prowled closer. The man didn't show any sign of fear.
"Your witch inheritance is long gone," Klaus purred unveiling the threat that lingered beneath his intentions with words delivered in dulcet tones, "Holy is not a word suitable for our kind."
"Fine," Raphael cast him a reproachful look as he always did when any of them reminded him that he was not a witch anymore. That he had chosen not to be and all for a lie. Rebekah had played him good. "Neutral ground," the former witch amended testily and Klaus' lips tipped up.
"You seem to forget that Kol is not bound by any law or rule here," Klaus shot at him dryly, "once he steps in Nyx there's nothing to stop him."
In reality, none of them would hesitate to disobey Raphael's rules but Nyx's pesky curses could become annoying so better to let Kol use his loophole for this one.
Raphael tensed as he took in the situation.
Even though Kol had free reign in Nyx, not that any rule would have stopped him anyway, he had never acted on it. He had shown restraint. All this was about to change now. Klaus knew all too well what Kol was able to do when he was provoked in things that actually mattered to him. That rarely ever happened because Kol rarely cared about anything but himself but when it did hell hath no fury like what his little brother could unleash to the world. On occasions like these Klaus was actually proud of his baby brother and admired his handiwork because in times like these they were of the same blood, of the same mind, of the same depravity. True brothers.
And as pissed as he was at Kol for failing to protect Caroline today he was willing to take a step back and let his brother cause havoc and spectacularly end those that dared to oppose him. He could always dagger him afterward.
Klaus sauntered closer to Raphael and let the predator inside him out of its cage. He would enjoy tearing Raphael in pieces if he dared defy him tonight. Damn the consequences. It was about time everyone remembered who he was and what he was capable of. He had been lenient enough and it got him nowhere. If he was to be another Mikael he would make the reputation true and loud.
"If anyone concerning this comes to you, you won't turn them away Raphael," Klaus droned and Raphael tensed when his claws elongated.
After all, with the wolf howling inside him he didn't need painted nails and sharp jewelry to slash a throat as Raphael did. He could rip it with fangs, he could tear it apart with claws. He could flay anyone in less than a second and torture them some more once he skinned them alive.
Raphael watched him warily as Klaus ran a razor-sharp claw down his cheek.
"You will give them shelter and no matter the temptation you will remember that whatever they are willing to pay you Kol will double it and I will triple it," Klaus offered him graciously. The promise of profit and gain intertwined with his threat, "Elijah may be open to negotiation concerning any future assistance for your lucrative investments. He may even lift the ban when it comes to your torture experiments in that pesky window of the first three months."
Raphael's eyes shone at that prospect but remained indecisive.
"And if I don't do this?"
Klaus' claws receded and he cast a bemused look at Raphael.
"Whatever Kol gave I can always take away."
Raphael's lips pressed until they turned to a white line. Klaus went and retrieved his glass again and drank slowly enjoying the caress of the alcohol against his tongue.
"You think you can?"
"You think I can't?" Klaus chuckled in delight before he shrugged playfully, "it was a joy to see my brother lose his favorite toy. He never admitted it but he resents you for it," Klaus willingly passed down the information. It was not as if this wasn't old news for Raphael anyway, "As fun as this has been you better remember his birthday will soon come up."
"So?"
"So," Klaus sighed as if he was facing a troubling issue, "after a thousand years it's not easy to come up with imaginative ideas for gifts," he faked sorrow with a long-drawn sigh, "and as you pointed out even hell spat him out so this will be his first birthday after coming back from the dead. Quite the milestone really, so I need to find something worthy of the celebration. What do you think I should give him Raphael?" Klaus mocked him and then gave the man a wolfish grin as he pointed his glass around, "how about I give his little candy-land back as a birthday gift? What do you think?"
"I think," Raphael breathed out, his whole body going rigid, "that is not wise to threaten me here Klaus."
Klaus placed his hand over his heart faking surprise.
"Here? In your holy neutral ground?" Klaus ridiculed him, "Besides. What kind of a man you think I am? Would I ever threaten anyone, here in the company of gentlemen?" he tsked with his tongue before his eyes glimmered with wickedness, "I am only stating facts."
Klaus finished his drink and let his eyes travel up and down Rebekah's old lover. If he hadn't been such a powerful witch when his sister had taken him in her bed he would have killed him but he had found his talents useful.
"I am finding you entertaining Raphael," he admitted and his lips curved to a sarcastic smile, "more so since you had been able to con Kol into giving you Nyx. He hates it and I tend to have a special fondness for all things that annoy my little brother," his smile widened, "Still, your kingdom, your assassins, mean nothing to me."
Raphael's mouth had become a tight pale line while he twisted the ring in his forefinger. He seemed to be contemplating what would be the best course of action.
"Originals are not immune to Nyx's magic or its hexes."
Klaus gave him the kind of look that showed he was finding his threats adorable.
"That sounds horribly invasive," Klaus complimented Nyx's host, "I quite like the idea of it, my kind of terror," he stopped for a moment as if he was thinking about this more and then theatrically opened his arms wide in provocation, "As a matter of fact I may be tempted to feel it under my skin just for the fun for it," his gaze then went Raphael's way, "can you say the same?" Klaus challenged him, "will you be ready to face what I dole out?"
Klaus waited for an answer but Raphael chose to be prudent and keep his mouth shut.
"I am a very patient man Raphael, once I draw my personal contract I can wait for eternity to fulfill it. Do you want us to play the long game, mon ami?" Klaus purred and Raphael straightened his shoulders quickly as if he was bracing for an imminent attack.
"I am your family's ally," the old vampire compromised, "I always have been."
"And in return, I will be yours for as long you want me to be," Klaus said, "It solely depends on you. I want you to keep prospering under my family's protection Raphael but for that to happen you need you to remember where your loyalty lies," he emphasized, "neutral or not."
Raphael studied him for a few moments before he regained his aloof posture.
"You said you wanted two favors," he asked, keeping his tone genial, "So what is that other favor of yours?"
Klaus could see that beneath his unperturbed attitude Bonnett was worried about what he was going to ask from him given what he already had. He could however also see the intrigue. Raphael was known for creating opportunities out of thin air how much more when he was able to interact with powerful individuals.
Klaus turned his back at Raphael and pushed his hands into the pockets of his pants as he stared at the painting above the lit fireplace.
The constellation of Andromeda was illuminated inside the gold frame. The art was beautiful and part of Nyx's insignia as he had once sketched it for Kol. Raphael had altered it by placing coins at the star peaks but the foundation beneath still remained.
He found it ironic how the initial drawing was based on the myth of the chained woman and tonight he had come here because of a woman. One that if you asked her she would say that for all intents and purposes she believed that he only wanted to chain her and so instead of Perseus he was the monster to her Andromeda.
"When did you turn into Mikael?"
Maybe she was not wrong.
He slowly turned around and he remained unflinchingly steady as the next words came out of his mouth.
"I want to draw a contract."
Raphael's head whipped at him.
Out of every Original, he was the only one that had never bargained a contract with Nyx.
As tempting as it had been when he was trying to break his curse he never approached Nyx. Every other Mikaelson had. Even Mikael at some point although he had not created a death contract for them because he had always wanted to be the one to kill them and would never allow anyone else to take that away from him.
Klaus also suspected that Kol's first and last contract with Nyx was the one that delivered Nyx to Raphael and from that point forward Kol had learned from his mistake and perfected his own way of forging deals mostly with witches but never with Nyx or Raphael again.
Rebekah of course had no issue with signing up for all sorts of deals even for the most trivial matters and even Elijah had signed a few deadly contracts with Nyx but not him. Never him. Those bloody things were magically binding and unbreakable. It was an obligation he didn't need and he was used to holding deals over the head of others and not the other way around. He never wanted something so irrevocable to be used against him because there were always loopholes.
Klaus did not miss the way Raphael's eyes seemed to glow brighter with wicked satisfaction at the prospect of binding him to Nyx with a contract.
"I think your little threatening speech made it clear you have no regard or respect for the services I provide," Raphael pointed out and Klaus smirked.
"They can have their uses occasionally."
Nyx's ruler arched a brow.
"Since when you want my assassins to do your killing?"
Klaus lifted his shoulders coolly.
"I don't want a death contract per se," he cryptically corrected the man, "not a specified anyway."
Raphael seemed confused now.
"A curse then?"
Klaus shook his head declining that offer too.
"I don't understand."
Rage roiled in Klaus' gut but he didn't let it show. He was left out of options. He had lost Caroline today but deep down he wanted to have a window of opportunity with her as slim as it may be. For that to happen Caroline would have to believe that he would honor her wishes and let her be. Unchecked and free. None of which he was about to allow to get in his way when it came to her survival but she didn't have to know this. He would have to make her believe otherwise while he still pulled the right strings.
He could wait several millennia to manipulate his way back into her good graces if he had to. Despite his anger towards her he wanted to keep that door open even if he was never going to use it.
He couldn't let his rage for what happened today cloud his judgment. He had been in that kind of crossroads before. When Mikael had been hunting him, when Esther had cursed him, when both of his parents wanted to kill him. Even back then he could have let his bitterness, his rage, and his disappointment over his family and the hurt they caused him blind him but he never lost sight of the bigger picture. He never deviated from his goal and Caroline would not be any different.
If one path was destroyed he would have to step back, wait and slowly build another in the shadows. It was the only way to get the upper hand and he was never one to make the same mistake twice. In the same way, he worked towards breaking his curse even after the Katerina fiasco he would have to do the same now too.
Unfortunately, Raphael was a means towards that end.
Besides the walls were closing in. If anyone ever found out about Caroline's heritage they would come after her. Nyx would be one of the very first on that list that would want to get their claws into her. He could not allow it. He would have to turn the tables now before it would be too late.
And what better way than having Nyx bound by contract and by their own rules when it came to Caroline.
"I want a different type of contract," Klaus clarified, "the first in Nyx's history."
Raphael looked both interested and fascinated now.
"Every contract in Nyx so far has had the brand of death."
"It will still be a death contract of sorts," Klaus disclosed but the next words he forced out were plucked out of his lips softly as he kept his face a mask of calm, "but...I don't want her dead."
"Her?"
Klaus gritted his teeth and it took him a thousand years of practice to maintain his expression of apathy.
"I want your eyes and ears on a woman yes."
Raphael's eyes lit up with fire as his green eyes took an unnatural shine. Klaus's face remained unfeeling as if it was nothing but a statue carved in stone but he could tell that Raphael had sniffed weakness and he would not let this go without taking advantage of what he was judging to be a possible Achilles' heel of his.
"To what end?" the vampire dared to play with him and seething anger sluiced inside Klaus' veins.
"I want her protected," Klaus said without preamble and without playing into Raphael's games, "make sure she maintains her illusion of freedom but I want everyone who works for you to become her shield. And to report back to me. Everything she does I want to know. Everything she sees, plans, thinks, every move she makes. Everyone who works for you will have her as a priority from now and on."
Silence. Waiting silence that irked Klaus way more than it should. He knew Raphael was purposely drawing this out.
"Everyone?" Raphael asked.
"Everyone," the word was spoken with finality and it was in that moment that Raphael seemed to understand what he truly meant. By everyone, Klaus meant everyone that was currently part of Nyx and every future addition. Everyone.
"In New Orleans?"
"Worldwide."
That way Caroline would be protected and no member of Nyx would be potential danger to her. Plus he would also know her moves and everything she did. He had warned her that if she chose to be on an opposite side, if she became his enemy he wouldn't treat her with soft gloves and she was obviously capable of causing him great harm. If things turned worse between them she could even become a dreadful enemy and he couldn't afford this with everything that was at stake. If he was on his own he would enjoy war between them much more. He would turn it to foreplay and relish in it. But now he had to find ways to be many steps ahead of her.
At the same time, he realized that if he had done this a long time ago just as he left Mystic Falls Caroline would have been protected and would not have died in the first place. He had foolishly believed that just a few eyes and ears from a distance would have been enough but he had been wrong.
It was time to correct his mistakes and this time the web he would create around her would be unbreakable even by her.
Raphael whistled impressed but then frowned.
"You said it will still be a death contract."
"I want your assassins to slay those that aim to harm her," Klaus pressed cruelly and his eyes lit up with the kind of sadism that had made him infamous in the supernatural circles, "anyone who dares to touch even a hair from her head you bring them to me," Klaus commanded him darkly, "until you hand them over to me everything is fair play. Torture, curses, maiming, and even death if you have a necromancer to bring them back. Become as creative as you want," Klaus shrugged, "the more agonizing your methods the better. If however none of that is an option and it's her life on the line then a swift death will do," Klaus approached him. His voice held no kindness as he made his intentions clear. There would be no room for error on this, "If it comes down to it her life she comes first."
Raphael seemed to be at a loss of words for a moment as he took in what Klaus just told him but then he regrouped quickly.
"She must be quite important if you want to amass such power," he realized and Klaus could see that he was starting to understand that this kind of contract could potentially cost him more than what it could give him in return but at this point, he was backed up in a corner and Klaus could see that he was going to milk him for everything he got to even consider drawing a contract with so many potential complications. After all, Klaus Mikaelson would never come to him for a contract if things were not a matter of life and death on epic proportions. "You are asking me to raise an army of thousands of assassins for her protection. Of warriors that don't even exist yet."
Klaus gave him a subtle nod.
"Of course I will compensate the losses once they arise."
More silence.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Klaus merely smiled but there was nothing kind or nice about that smile that was all a promise of death and destruction.
"She is targeted by forces that can topple empires and armies as easily as you can raise them," Klaus informed him and despite the undertone of rage and dread he couldn't help but say this with pride.
He was impressed after all because one was just as great as their enemies were and Caroline was swiftly rising to greatness. He would ensure her survival but she had been right when she said that she was already a survivor. She had conquered death. Defied the laws of nature. Emerged victorious. There was a part of him that was more than just impressed. He admired her for all that she had achieved and at such a young age. She had toppled expectations and did things in her age, not even he had achieved. She didn't only escape Purgatory but had taken Kol along for the ride. Caroline literally carried Kol piggyback and rode them both straight into resurrection. She was in the driver's seat when Kol was nothing but dead weight on her shoulders. "Not to mention she's Kol's prodigy," Klaus added, with a hard glimmer in his eyes, "so you may want to use only your most efficient in her immediate vicinity and only your most trusted. She won't hesitate to assassinate your assassins so I would only use the best on her."
There was a sparkle in Raphael's eyes as he drank in his description of Caroline.
"She sounds an interesting individual."
Klaus snorted at that assessment and the way he was trying to turn this against him and fish for more information.
"That's a way to describe her."
"Kol's prodigy you say?" Raphael echoed his words with the voice of a lover.
The step Klaus took toward him carried the promise of unending eternal torture so much that Raphael seemed to shrink back into his own body.
He knew what that conniving bastard was thinking. Raphael was always searching for talented candidates to bring into Nyx's fold and turn into loyal assassins.
"She is off limits, Raphael."
Every word he spat carried a threat and it was dripping with coldness. A block of ice jagged and unforgiving and Raphael inclined his head submitting to him.
The man then turned his attention back to the forgotten human girl that was kneeling at the feet of the king-sized bed with dazed eyes as she rocked back and forth softly.
"I suspect Kol's prodigy has blonde hair and green eyes then?" he mused and laughed viciously, "given the number of corpses you dropped tonight with the very same characteristics are you absolutely sure you don't want to draw the contract to kill her instead?"
Klaus didn't dignify this with an answer and Raphael's lips widened into a shark's smile.
"This will cost you, Klaus Mikaelson."
The ice remained in Klaus' eyes.
"Name your price."
This was it Klaus thought. Raphael would exploit his weakness because he had been right when he had told Caroline that he was showing his hand where she was concerned.
And it was a concerning thought that he had not even reached towards these dark paths to even keep his daughter safe but was ready to do so for Caroline. He didn't want to think what that truly meant. All he knew what that he was unable to stop himself.
Centuries ago when he had told Elijah that love was a vampire's greatest weakness he had never thought this curse would infect him so. At the thought of losing Caroline he was standing on shaken knees. He could spend his whole eternity craving her, wanting her and even hating her and feeling everything between them turn toxic and poisonous but he could not let her go. Not really even if he would have to drag her into darkness with him and have her spent the rest of her eternity despising him. And today had been the first day that a part of him despised her too. And he hated himself for it because he couldn't yank her out from his heart and thoughts.
His words from centuries ago echoed in his mind.
'We do not love. We do not care. We are not weak.'
And here he was. Weak, defeated, unloved.
There was no price Raphael could demand that Caroline hadn't exacted from him already in the worst way possible.
He stared at Nyx's leader with eyes filled with nothing but void knowing all too well that no matter what the price, Raphael would ask, be he would pay it.
Raphael's eyes glazed greedily.
"Open end," Raphael Bonnett named his price, "any payment I may desire at any point in time. Now or thousand years from now. Anything I ask."
Klaus didn't miss a beat. He nodded without negotiating or threatening or forcing him into cooperating in any other way and Raphael almost gaped at him.
"Her name?" Raphael inquired still in shock but Klaus' gaze hardened abruptly making the man's throat work in reaction to the lethal warning his eyes were emanating.
"Shall be given to you once the magic binds us," he warned roughly, "only in bargain Raphael."
"She was in the attack, no?" Raphael foolishly decided to push his luck and the air chilled immediately between them.
"Remember where your loyalties lie," Klaus repeated the words by which he had already threatened him but this time they had the kind of finality that would carry Nyx's ashes all over the world and Raphael knew it to be true.
Raphael drew in a sharp breath but then bowed with respect placing his hand over his heart in a vow of devotion.
At last, Raphael approached him with caution, and this time his warning was honestly spoken.
"Once the contract is drawn it won't ever be reversed, Klaus. Are you sure you want to do this?"
Klaus said nothing. This was the last chance for him to step back but he couldn't do that. Not with everything he had revealed. Raphael knew it too. If he changed his mind now he would have to kill him.
"For how long?" Raphael asked.
"The high alert will remain until I say otherwise," Klaus specified the terms, "The general protection will stand for eternity. However," he drawled, "I want an additional clause since your price is steep."
Raphael's lips slanted upward in a bitter grimace. Of course, he would not have accepted so easily if he was not going to bargain more out of the deal.
"Let me hear it."
Klaus' lips curled to a crooked smile as he stepped into Raphael's personal space. The man squared his shoulders as Klaus cast a heavy shadow above him.
"No loopholes. No fine letters. Nothing to backfire at her," Klaus curtly said, making it clear there would be no mercy if Raphael or anyone else from Nyx dared to oppose him on this or try to trick him in any way. There would be retribution and it would not be swift. The mercy of an easy death would not be granted to anyone of them or anyone they had ever met, loved, or cared for. He would obliterate even their names from history and their existence would disappear as if it had never happened except from the legends of their spectacular end no matter how nameless they would remain, "and no other contract will be drawn concerning her," Klaus added, "no one from your assassins will ever target her in any way. She has timeless impunity," he declared, "even from my family. Should she enter Nyx no one and I mean no one," he intoned making it clear that he was also adding himself in the list, "should pose danger for her. Not even Kol."
Raphael blinked and a shudder passed through him and Klaus knew he had been correct in his suspicions. Kol had drawn a contract with Raphael when he gave him Nyx and so tonight the kind of contract he would draw for Caroline would be the first and it would the first night where Raphael would break a contract too.
"Kol is not bound to the law."
Raphael stepped back mortified finally understanding that he was placed in an impossible position.
"For her, he is," Klaus told him flatly.
Raphael shook his hand and Klaus tilted his head at the side threateningly.
"I-," Raphael swallowed down harshly, "I would have to draw a contract for your brother too," he muttered and Klaus almost rolled his eyes. From the sound of it, Raphael wanted to keep all sides content.
"But even if I draw the contract he won't accept it," he said almost pleadingly and Klaus this time did roll his eyes.
"He will."
Raphael's eyes slid incredulously at him.
"Who is this girl?"
Klaus smiled bitterly.
"An adversary."
"An-" Raphael halted stunned and seemed to backtrack his thoughts before he deadpanned, "you want me to protect your adversary?"
"She outsmarted me, unfortunately," Klaus's bitter smile transmuted to something resembling fondness but then he muttered blandly, "leaving me with limited options."
Raphael coughed and tried to bit down the twitch of his lips.
"She must be quite pleasing to the eye," he almost laughed out the words he had previously used to describe Rebekah Mikaelson but this time he couldn't joke about it because Klaus' ire seemed to magnify at his jest.
"I want the contract drawn the soonest possible," he commanded Raphael coldly basically dismissing him and then turned his attention to the human girl again.
"Are you interested in some advice old friend?" Raphael's voice reached him as Klaus went and stood in front of the girl. His eyes fell on her and but she was lost in her own world.
"Not particularly," Klaus disregarded Raphael. The man'sss voice had turned grating somehow.
Raphael moved towards the door but not before he dropped his mocking remark.
"You can kill the entire blonde female population of New Orleans but it won't do you any good," he said with irony as he opened the door, "you know this, no?"
Raphael closed the door behind him and Klaus closed his eyes exhaling sharply.
He did know.
He just didn't care.
He bent down and grabbed the girl by the upper arm and violently dragged her body over his. He furiously bit straight into her throat as she remained nothing but a rag doll in his arms while he feasted on her blood.
He didn't care.
He was not weak.
Only he… was weak.
Only he did care. He cared so much he was the one bleeding out.
He sucked more of the blood that was offered to him. Human blood. Blood that was meant to be rich, potent, enticing. He drank more and more searching for something. Something more. Something that slipped through his fingers like a dream.
He was still chasing the dream. The high. The feeling he had when he had blood shared with Caroline.
The blood that was running down his throat had no taste. It had nothing to satiate him. The moment he craved was gone and with it, everything was crumbling down around him.
He withdrew his fangs from the girl's throat shoving her back disgusted as he roared in rage.
Blood was dripping down his lips.
The girl's white dress was now stained with blood. Her throat was mangled and she was lying half-dead on the bed staring at the ceiling with empty eyes, panting her last breaths in pain.
Klaus heaved and heaved but he felt as if he was the one that was human and dying. He couldn't breathe, he couldn't stand the agony.
He was pathetic.
No better than Mikael.
Caroline had been right.
He could kill everyone that looked like her and she would still be right. He could kill every pretty girl with blonde hair and green eyes but he couldn't get Caroline out of his system. He couldn't kill her in his heart.
He turned around to leave when a whimper stopped him in his tracks.
"Please."
The voice was soft and broken.
Klaus turned around and looked at the girl with narrowed eyes. Her gaze seemed to be focused on him now as if a flicker of understanding had crept into her consciousness somehow.
Klaus slowly walked towards the bed, the scent of blood once more calling him closer. He licked his lips but it was the unsettling gaze of the girl that gave him pause. It was glassy but there was something inside it. She was begging him.
He sat down at the mattress next to her and watched her with pity. That blonde hair. Those green eyes. The life was already out of those eyes and his heart clenched when he finally saw the similarity this girl had with Caroline.
How could he have done this?
The girl had weakly turned her face toward him and Klaus's hands turned to fists. Was this how Caroline used to be when Damon Salvatore had been compelling her?
Oh yes, he knew. He knew everything about Caroline. More things she knew about herself.
The reason he had not ended Damon's pathetic life was that he had been the one who had saved Caroline from his ritual and he grew to be grateful to him because of that. Another reason was the deal he had made with Stefan but the most important reason was Caroline herself. Because deep down he knew he could not take this away from Caroline. This was her decision to make. Her demon to kill or forgive or ignore. It was her nightmare and he would not take away the choice from her. In the same way, he would have felt empty and broken if anyone else had killed Mikael rather than him. Maybe he would have been relieved if his father had died centuries ago but Mikael had been his demon to kill. His nemesis to conquer and no one could have taken that from him. In the same way, he couldn't do take this away from Caroline.
Only here he was now. Being the same monster he always had been. Being no better than Caroline's rapist. Being no better than Mikael. Being everything she accused him of being.
Klaus gulped down with difficulty as the girl tried to speak once more only she couldn't. She was fading away and the taste of her blood had turned into acid in his mouth.
She coughed weakly and frothy blood bubbled in her mouth.
He gently bit into his wrist and tried to give her some of his blood to heal her but the girl closed her mouth and turned her head away as much as she could.
She didn't want this.
Klaus lowered his hand and she tried to speak again.
"What is it sweetheart?" he asked her gently and leaned closer. His ear close to her mouth.
"Please," she uttered again and Klaus frowned barely making out what she was trying to say.
"What?"
"Kill me."
Klaus slanted his head towards her and stared deep into her eyes.
She was begging him.
And another time he would have left. Another time he would have shown no mercy. Another time he would have either drained her or would not have paid any attention. Maybe he would have even laughed or would have found the whole thing pitiful. Another time and those green eyes would not have moved him.
This time he was defenseless against the human pain. Against the pain, he felt as his whole body screamed in understanding.
What had he done?
What would Caroline think if she saw him now?
"When did you turn into Mikael?"
His eyes burned. They burned so badly, everything blurred but he blinked the burn away and stared at the human beneath him.
He gave her a nod and the unnamed girl seemed to finally have a clear mind and the look she gave him was one of relief once she understood that he would show her mercy.
She smiled gratefully.
He snapped her neck.
Klaus dropped his head against the girl's forehead and felt his whole body shaking. He could not keep anything in anymore. He was lost. More lost than this dead girl but he could not end his suffering. He was meant to go on like this forever.
And in this forever Caroline saw him for who he truly was and he could not hide from her or from his nightmares.
He had not killed Mikael.
Not if he carried him inside him. Not if he saw him in the mirror every day. Not if he could not be anything better for his daughter. For his siblings. For the woman, he intended to love till time ended.
Klaus sat up slowly and pressed his palm over the girl's face and closed her eyes. She was at peace.
Peace. Something always so out of his reach.
He got up but he couldn't stand.
He dropped on the floor and sat at the feet of the bed, his back resting against the still legs of the dead girl.
A tear fell down his cheek slowly but he quickly wiped it just as his phone started to ring. He dropped his head back feeling drained and wanting to drown the sound. He didn't want to speak to anyone. He didn't want to hear anyone or anything. He only wanted the silence.
Whoever was calling was persistent and Klaus cursed lowly as he took the phone out of the inner pocket of his jacket.
Klaus checked the incoming call and he instinctively gripped the device as his shoulders tensed.
His phone kept ringing and the name of the caller was flashing on the screen with bold letters.
Stefan Salvatore.
