Chapter 5 - Reunited *edited 2/20/14
Last time...
The council meeting on the Other Side reveals that the words Klaus spoke to Caroline during their lovemaking in the woods was an Eternal Vow, of which no supernatural creature has spoken all but three times in history (spoken by Silas, Manning and Klaus). The magic of the Eternal Vow forever binds Klaus with Caroline beyond death, which, hers, will be soon. Manning reveals that Caroline's death has the potential to make Klaus turn off his humanity switch, which would put everyone's lives in danger. After a vote, majority rules to kill Klaus as a solution. Once the meeting is done, Manning goes on a killing spree with the blessing of the spirits, among those killed being the Hunters, Klaus' 12 hybrids, the 12 witches killed by Caroline, and Mikael. When Manning tries to kill Esther, however, he cannot because her soul is somehow still connected to the land of the living. After letting her go, Manning turns his attention to Kol, Elena and Bonnie to discuss ways to ensure Caroline's survival.
A/N Manning wants to say a few words. *kjsama moves aside as Manning comes up, almost bashful* Manning: Well. Young ones, I must say I'm flattered. I only agreed to appear in 3 chapters for this story yet I've been informed that the majority of you are fond of me. I thank you. Truly. I am partaking in conversations regarding further involvement in this story than originally intended and I hope you shall be patient with the process. Again, my sincerest thanks.
Alright! Here is the double update. Sunday morning is close enough right? ;) As stated above, I'll find more ways to put Manning in the story since you guys approve of him. So happy about that! Wish he was on the show. Anyway, special thanks to those who:
Started following last chapter:d0ricaa, wendy wade 94, f0r3v3rl4rk, teenytinytwilighter, chellz21, fizz9219, TheWeirdoBookworm, Sarine77, kasraya, flygirlDC, Jwaher, kefelton57,raquelgars, leggy freak003, charlottemikaelsonwhinchester92, tippy093,klarolineloover
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Some of you expressed how much you miss Klaroline! I miss them too! So I postponed the Bonnie, Kol and Manning conversation for next chapter. There is a quick POV switch in this. Hope it's fine.
As always, answer to guest reviews at the end!
Caroline POV
When I open my eyes, I find myself in the trunk of a car, squinting against the intense glare of the sun and unable to move because of the chains wrapped around me. I can barely make out the face of the person above me before I hear the telltale sound of a camera.
"Okay. Now that's done," says a voice that wants to sound like Elena but has too much sass and bitch to be. I panic when she moves to close the trunk, the thought of being in a dark, confined space not sitting well with me.
"No! No, please!"
My eyes adjust to the light when the trunk lid opens wider, revealing Katherine with a hand on her hip, wearing sunglasses. "Don't tell me Miss Mystic Falls is claustrophobic," she says in annoyed tone. "You're a vampire. Toughen up. "
She begins to close the trunk again.
"You owe me!" I blurt out.
The trunk opens again, and Katherine looks at me skeptically. "When you were human," I continue hurriedly, "I could of killed you, as payback for killing me, but I let you stay in my dorm room. I even got you food! Don't you think that if you're going to kidnap me, you can at least let me sit in the car?"
I see Katherine bite her lower lip, calculating. I inwardly smile, knowing I had her. Practically everyone treated her horribly when she was human. Only Stefan and I were semi nice to her, even though she so didn't deserve it. That had to mean something to her!
It did. "Okay Blondie. You have to promise not to give me a hard time. I had a witch cast a spell on us, so if we're separated without my consent, you start to desiccate. Among other things," she finishes with a smirk.
I glare at her skeptically. "If that's true, why'd you chain me up?"
She leans forward and yanks the chains, setting me free. I stumble out, the vervain in my system and the lack of blood making me feel weak. When I manage to stand straight, I rub some life back into my arms that had fallen asleep from the lack of circulation due to the chains.
"That was just a photo op for our villain of the week Klaus," she says nonchalantly, walking to the front of the car.
I freeze and frown, remembering my last conversation with Klaus full force. I was so happy to have heard from him. I had been missing him so badly, and then I had to go and mess it up because I was scared. Scared of my friends, scared of the idea of a future with him, scared of these damn FEELINGS that seemed to only grow the longer I'm away from him, the more I hold his ripped shirt at night like a lovesick IDIOT...
I gasp sharply, startling Katherine when I turn back to the trunk and frantically look.
I had it my hand! Did I...Yes!
I can't help but smile when I see it, grabbing it.
I take the shirt, inhaling deeply, and the smell that greets me almost bring tears to my eyes, the nostalgia so great.
Klaus...
"What's that?"
Startled, so caught up in the moment I was, I stutter while Katherine looks at me strangely.
"I...It's a..." I glance at it, letting out a nervous chuckle. "A scarf! And a...A headband! Yeah!"
She arches an eyebrow at me suspiciously but let's it go. "Then put them on and get it over with. We got places to go, things to do," she says, turning away.
Letting out a relieved sigh, I go to the passenger seat and I glance at the two pieces of cloth on my lap as we pull off. I smirk when I come up with an idea. I tie the two pieces together, intertwining it until it becomes a sophisticated braided headband that I slide over my head, arranging my bangs in front of it and fluffing out my hair.
I pull down the visor in front of me, silently praying for a mirror that greets me. I made the band somewhat thin but it came out well. It looks nothing like what it really was, meaning I can wear it without questions. I can't help but feel secretly pleased about that. It actually looked...
"Nice."
I turn to Katherine, who glances at my band before looking back at the road.
"Thought you had a scarf though," she adds.
"Decided to make it part of the band instead," I answer casually.
"It works."
I roll my eyes, suddenly irritated that I was engaging in small talk with my kidnapper. Definitely not happening. "Okay Katherine. What's your mind blowing agenda this time?" I ask with all the snark I can muster. "Kill another blonde? Fuck up another innocent person's life? And HOW are you even alive? Last time I checked, you couldn't even stomach my blood, and were on death's doorstep, but here you are!" I exclaim with an exaggerated gesture of my hands. "A vampire from what I can tell. How?"
A mischievous grin spreads her features. "Didn't anyone ever tell you curiosity killed the cat?"
"You already killed me," I spat.
"And I could do it again. You haven't fed in 2 days and you have so much vervain in your system that a human can take you down. Speaking of which, you were embarrassingly easy to kidnap."
I give her an indignant look. "You caught me at a vulnerable moment," I say with a huff.
"Maybe, but, don't you have a history of being the victim? As you so aptly pointed out, I did kill you..."
I roll my eyes again in irritation. Do I really got to listen to this?"
"...And from what I heard, you've been kidnapped by werewolves, your own Dad..."
I feel my throat constrict with emotion when she mentions my father. "Get to the point," I say, quickly losing patience with her.
"Ever thought of learning self-defense? I could teach you, you know. I know a thing or two after running from your Original boyfriend and his groupies for the last 500 years..."
I slam my hands on the armrests, angry. "Okay. Seriously?! First of all, why do you even care? Secondly..." I blush at the thought but cover the best I can, "Klaus is NOT my boyfriend!" I end with an awkward laugh.
"Yet."
"Whatever Katherine."
"But I am serious about the self-defense thing."
I stare at her, dumbfounded. "You? My former killer? My current kidnapper?"
Her face turns solemn. "Believe it or not Caroline, I actually like you and as you pointed out earlier, I do owe you for taking me in when I was at most vulnerable." She looks at me dead in the eye, taking her eyes off the road a moment, "And Katherine Pierce always repays her debts."
The genuine quality of her statement takes me aback for a moment, but I get back down to business. "Fine," I say reluctantly. "I'll take you up on your offer, but tell me, why kidnap me? It can't be only because you want to get back at Klaus."
She gives my a calculating gaze. With a huff, she says: "Okay! Fine. I found this witch in New Orleans powerful enough to make me immortal. Like, Silas immortal. She says she'll do it if I manage to find Klaus' weakness and help put him down."
"And that's me?" I let out a derisive chuckle. "Come on! You can't actually believe this witch? No one can do such a spell!"
"That bitch Qestiyah did it!"
"That was Qestiyah! Not some no name witch!"
"Her name is Celeste and she was actually a big deal back in the day..."
"Was?" I utter, confused.
"Did I mention she came back from the dead?" she asks rhetorically with a smug grin. "That's more than lighting some candles honey. It really isn't that far fetched to believe a witch with that kind of a power can do a little immortality spell."
Okay. Maybe she has a point but..."What makes you think she'll actually do what she's going to do?"
She scoffs. "Is that a serious question?"
I stare at her in response.
"Please. I created the book called villain 101. I always have a plan A - Z."
Actually, Klaus probably wrote that book but I won't say that out loud because that would be me admitting I was thinking about him and that I secretly admired him...Ugh! Banish all Klaus thoughts now!
It doesn't work. I don't know if it's the vervain or the lack of blood, but I can't stop remembering how hurt he sounded when I told him that we needed to move on. That it was just sex.
Yeah. What a hypocrite I am. I made his ripped shirt into a damn headband because I didn't want to let go! Who was I lying to? There was no moving on. Not after EVERYTHING we've shared!
Distraction. I need a distraction.
"When are we going to eat?"I ask, breaking the silence. "Or are you planning on starving me to death?"
Suddenly, her phone rings. Glancing at the caller ID, she smiles and picks up. "Well, if it isn't my favorite witch?"
"Appears that news of your demise were greatly exaggerated, Katerina."
I gasp, my breath catching in my throat. Klaus!
All the color drains out of her face. I see her jaw tighten momentarily when she mouths a swear, and abruptly turns the car around, driving faster. She gives me a warning look, silently commanding not to say a word before she sarcastically: "Klaus. Isn't this a pleasant surprise."
"Where is Caroline?" he growls bluntly.
"Fine actually," she replies as if she's talking to a friend instead of a mortal enemy. "We're just having some girl time, braiding each others' hair, painting our fingernails..."
"I have no patience for your audacity Katerina," he snaps.
"And I have none for a moody, biopolar, Original hybrid," she shot back.
"You have quite the mouth for someone who'll be dead soon. Which is what will happen, when I find you."
I smile with a mixture of surprise and happiness. He's coming. After everything...He's coming for me...
"Where have I heard that before?" Katherine responds bored.
"I know you have this false sense of security, believing you have outwitted me the last 500 years but I'll have you know that you only lasted this long because I found your paranoia and our game of cat and mouse amusing. No longer. This. Ends. Now."
Fury burns behind her big brown eyes, her cheeks flushing. "Actually, I think this goes on a bit longer. See, if I die, bad things will happen to your favorite blonde next door. I called in a favor and had a friend bind us together. You're not the only one with connections."
"You're bluffing." His tone hadn't changed, but I sense his hesitation somehow and I liked to think that despite what happened, he still cares. Why else would he call Katherine asking for me?
"Good-bye Klaus." She hangs up, crushes her phone and throws it out the window.
Slamming her hand on the wheel, she shouts: "FUCK!"
"What happened to plans A-Z?" I taunt her.
"Oh shut up Caroline," she huffs. "You were asking for food. In the glove compartment."
I open it begrudgingly, my fangs coming out almost immediately when I see the blood bags. Without another thought, I pull the cap and guzzle it, feeling almost normal after the third bag. When I reach for the 4th one, Katherine speaks up.
"Drink them all why don't you?" she says indignantly.
Embarrassed, I put it back and close the glove compartment. Looking out the window, I realize where we are.
"An airport?!" I cry indignantly. I whirl at her. "Seriously?! I don't even have a passport!"
Katherine baulks. "What the hell? You really are a small town girl huh? Next thing you're going to tell me is that this your first time out of state."
I turn away, another Klaus memory coming forth.
"Oh my god!" she says stunned when she gathers the truth from my silence.
I find myself repeating the words I told Klaus during the ball. "What can I say?" I mutter quietly. "I've never really been anywhere."
In a flash, Katherine is at my car door, opening it. "Well. Guess that's going to change now." She extends her hand. "Want to be the Clyde to my Bonnie?"
I roll my eyes but I can't help but smile at the reference. "Speaking of Bonnie, my friends will be after us. It won't just be Klaus."
"That only means I take you as far as fast as I can. It's not like you have a choice. Might as well have a bit of fun."
I shake my head. "I only have one request."
She folds her arms, all sass with her black leather jacket, stiletto boots, curve loving blouse and butt hugging jeans. "Shoot."
"We don't go to Rome, Paris or Tokyo." There's only one person I want to go with to those places. If I ever get out of this and if he even wants to anymore, I think grimly.
She smiles broadly at that, extending her hand again. "How's Thailand sound?" In silent agreement, I take her hand and start our life on the run.
Two Months Later - Perth, Australia
Despite the circumstances that started our whole world tour, I'm having the time of my life.
With Katherine Pierce of all people no less.
She still didn't tell me how she survived, but I got so caught up in all the things I was seeing that it just didn't matter anymore. We are on the run, but Katherine, I had to say, is an expert. It didn't feel like it one bit and we never talked about any of it, including my friends or Klaus.
It's an unspoken rule between us that we never break, dead set on enjoying the sights, pigging out on the local cuisines, and shopping our brains out, among other things.
And, oh yeah. The self defense training every day at 2am. We never had time for it during the day, always too busy enjoying our travels.
True to her word, she taught me since we left how to block, parry, the works. I wouldn't lie and say that I didn't feel stronger, more confident. I am so over being the victim and I am pretty sure that I wouldn't have to worry about being one again.
The downside is that is we never stayed anywhere for more than one week. With all the differences in culture to see, that was never enough time. Yet, Katherine didn't have to say why.
Maybe it's in my head, but sometimes, I swear I can feel him.
Watching me, following me...
Part of me wishes he would find us, so I can apologize, but then again, what would be the point? I apologize, then what? Ride off into the sunset with him? I scoff at the thought. No. It's better if he never finds us. That no one does. This drama-free World Tour is just what the doctor ordered.
"Caroline!"
I turn around, smiling when I see Katherine running up the sidewalk in front of the mall plaza parking lot with her shopping bags.
When she makes it up to me, I grab one.
"Hey!" she protests.
"Oh my God, you got them!" I shout happily. "Does this mean..."
"You got it. It's time you graduate to Malibu Beach Barbie, Precious."
I roll my eyes, smiling. "Are you ever done making those references?"
"Whatever. Don't get all sensitive on me."
"Fine. If I'm going to going to be Malibu Beach Barbie, you know we need..."
"...A convertible?" she takes out a key and jingles it in my face before she presses a button and I hear a car unlock in the distance.
I shake my head in disbelief, walking off to the sound. "Do you ever do things half way?"
"Is that a serious question?" she says, sashaying her hips as she walks past me. "I'm Katherine Pierce bitch," she says with a smirk.
Laughing, I run after her, getting into the convertible. It's even red.
"Whose our Ken?" I call out to her teasingly.
"Waiting for us at the beach."
"I approve."
"Thought you might, even though we both know you won't take him home."
My smile falls, seeing Katherine give me a pitying look.
"Don't," I snap, getting in the car, barely seeing her raising her arms in surrender.
The car ride is deathly quiet till we get the beach. Once we are there, we take our bags and change into our bikinis. I take out the white and gold bikini. It's way sexier than anything I would usually wear, but I blame the emergence of my sex cat on hanging around Katherine. I wasn't in Mystic falls anymore, being the typical girl next door all sweet and innocent. I'm in college, a grown woman with great "assets." Why not show them off?
After my quick pep talk, I slip into the deep v cut, naughty swimsuit, held together by strings of gold and white an the front, showing off my chest all the way down below my belly button. I tie the strings at the sides and walk out to see Katherine in front of me, smiling in approval.
The Diva Katherine Pierce didn't look bad herself in a black gold bikini with gold hoops keeping together the shoulder straps and sides of her bikini with a crossover design on the front.
"Taking the small town out of Miss Mystic Falls!" she says, putting on her sunglasses.
"I had help," I say, giving her a warm smile.
"Uh...No. This is getting sappy. Frenemies remember?"
I smile at our ongoing joke. We always feel the need to remind ourselves that we hate each other, but the fact we need to do it at all, says that's probably not true. "Oh no. No worries there, doppleganger bitch," I say, playing along.
"That's more like it," she says with a smirk.
"Hello Ladies," says two male accented voices in unison.
We stop walking and take in the two hot Aussies with blonde hair, suntanned chests and flawless grins.
"I think we found our Kens," says Katherine, her smile broadening.
After a few drinks, a few laughs and giggles, Kat runs of with her boy toy, leaving me to make out with my own on the beach.
He's a mediocre kisser, and I nearly choke on his tongue, he pushes it so deep in my throat. I'm not thinking of the sweetness of a certain hybrid's raspberry lips vs the vodka tasting ones I'm lip locking with at the moment. Absolutely not. When his hands glide over my hips, the underside of my breasts, I don't think of the callous, artistic hands of another man whose name starts with K (well, technically N), who, unlike this guy, held me softly but firmly against him as he rubbed his manhood sexily over my core. It's not his voice I hear instead of the guy in front of me, whispering my name like a prayer:
"Caroline..."
No. Absolutely not...
Katherine POV
I drain the Aussie dry, feeling his heart beat slow and descend into nothingness. I might of slept with countless men, but none of them compared to the men I really wanted.
Caroline, she was different. She wasn't like me who could sleep around to forget. The furthest she would go is second base. I still remember the night she tried to go further, a mouth into our world tour, but she just ended up compelling the guy to leave.
She cried herself to sleep that night, trying to be quiet about it but I still heard. I couldn't figure out her deal until her breathing evened out and in the middle of the night, to my shock, she mumbled the name Klaus.
That's when I knew she had it bad. That this little love connection wasn't a one off thing or just Klaus. Somehow, mindbogglingly so, the biggest, baddest, oldest, bad had managed to get under the skin of a young, innocent, baby vamp despite nearly killing her friends countless times.
If Klaus, who is way worse than I, can get someone to overlook all the bad he's done and have feelings for him romantically, why can't I? Why can't I be forgiven? Why can't I find love after all this time?
I won't lie. I thought about being with Stefan by pretending to be Elena, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it wasn't what I wanted. I wanted him to love ME, not my poor, drab excuse for a copy.
And Elijah...Ever since that cure business with Silas, he hasn't said two words to me. I knew I still cared about him. Why else would Damon have conjured him up on my deathbed if I didn't, at least subconsciously, want to see him?
I had wanted to confront Elijah, to attempt to resolve things when I went to see Celeste in New Orleans but that ended up being an epic fail. Did he even think about me anymore? What the hell was Klaus and him doing down in New Orleans that he couldn't at least call? Is he really over me? Will I really never see him again or hear him say...
"Katerina."
In my shock, I drop the body I was feeding from carelessly on the ground.
No..No. I just made it up because was thinking of him. There's no way...
"Face me...Katerina," says the voice again. This time, the low timber of his voice compels me to obey.
Disbelievingly, I take in the Original in a flawless, Armani suit, one hand in his pocket. He closes the distance between us, my breath coming out hard and labored with each step.
"Elijah..." I murmur.
His next words sends shivers throughout my body.
"If you want to live Katerina, come away with me. Abort this endeavor with Caroline before Niklaus finds and kills you."
Caroline POV
After making out with Todd, the Aussie, he goes off to get us some drinks. After awhile, the sun starts to set. I take out my phone, frowning when I see an hour has passed.
It does NOT take that long to get drinks.
I get up, walking towards the bar but before I get there, the smell of fresh blood assaults my senses.
Dread consumes me as I follow the scent. I walk along the side of the bath house, the trees covering the narrow corridor in shade.
After a few steps, I come across Todd's body, his heart resting beside his head.
I don't even have a chance to investigate further before I feel a slight ripple in the air.
An attack.
My training with Katherine coming into gear, I use my attacker's momentum against him and fling him clear across the corridor.
Not lingering for one more second, I flash out of there but my attacker is insanely faster and he grabs me by the waist, covering my mouth with his hand.
It's the smell, the smells of fresh rain and nature, the one I have been sniffing over and over on my now headband I wear that gives him away. So potent, so fresh, so...him. The feel of his arms, my lips on a hand so familiar, I flashback to the time I ran from Alaric, where we were in a similar position and he had whispered in my ear:
"It's okay, it's okay. It's me, you're safe. We'll go save Elena. You go straight home, you stay inside. Do you understand?"
This time, I instantly relax against him, very aware of his warm touch making contact with the bare skin on my waist exposed by my bikini. His hand glides erotically from waist, underneath my breast. A pool of wetness collects in my bikini bottoms in record time, his breath on my neck, making me shudder under his grasp. I feel him stiffen in response, letting a low growl emanate from his throat when he presses himself against me briefly before he suddenly lets me go.
I turn to face the hybrid I've been running from for the last 2 months, that I truly believe I would never see again.
My heart stutters in my chest, taking in his face that had dying embers of lust etched in them, his eyes shamelessly raking over my form, resting on my exposed cleavage for a moment.
"Klaus," I breathe.
His gaze softens ever so slightly when his eyes meet mine, his voice coming out monotone, void of the usual affection that is usually there when he says what used to my favorite word coming from his mouth.
Not now. Not when it sounds so...cold, laced with what can only be anger.
"Caroline. "
A/N Next time - Manning, Kol, Bonnie and Elena make a deal. Klaus and Elijah's hunt and discovery of Katherine and Caroline.
FYI - Care's swimsuit - swimsuitsecretdotcom/swimwear-bathingsuits/plunge-deep-v-neck-swimsuits/page/2/, Katherine's - followpicsdotnet/vitamin-a-gold-2012-eco-black-siren-wrap-bikini-swimsuits/.
Answer to guest reviews:
Guest - So glad I can surprise you. I try to not be predictable. Thanks for your review!
Unicorn Amir - Happy that you will continue to read and that you approve of Klaus' Dad. I put some effort into him and I'm glad it paid off.
AmandaKlaroline - I'm assuming you were going to say Klaus' dad. I love him too :). I try to be creative as I can when you guys are so awesome for reading this!
tauruskch - Trust me, you will be seeing more of Klaus's dad. So awesome that you think that he is a believable representation of who you think Klaus' Dad would be like. It was one of the worries I had when I created him.
As always, don't be shy and REVIEW! I literally reread them whenever I get writer's block or want to take a break so keep them coming!
