Chapter 4
Caroline hummed as she did the inventory, Gloria had quickly discovered that she was even better at managing things than serving drinks, and put her skills to use. She was quite satisfied because she felt it meant the older woman was beginning to trust her, but she also had to swallow the acidic guilt that threatened to rise in her throat at that thought. Still, she couldn't help liking Gloria, and her exotic eccentricity, her nice coworker Matt, and the ambiance of the Mystic. After growing up in a small town and living a somewhat sheltered life, it felt like a splash of colors and noises had entered it.
"You like to sing Caroline ?"
Surprised, as she thought she was alone, she turned around to see Gloria leaning on the bar, a cigarette on her lips as she watched her with interest.
"Occasionally. Though I never sang before a crowd like you before, I'd get cold feet." She gave a small smile. She loved when Gloria sang most nights, her velvety smooth voice bewitching the bar patrons.
"It only takes one time, and you'll be addicted to it. The thrill of the music in your ears as you abandon yourself to it, you won't care for who'll watch then." Gloria said knowingly her eyes looking far off.
Caroline had to admit the words were tempting her. Maybe she'd get brave enough someday.
-O-
Finished oiling his gun, Klaus began to put the bullets in the chambers meticulously.
"Enzo reported he found one of Salvatore thug harassing girls in our part of town." Marcel broke the silence.
"Will I need to clean up a mess." Elijah didn't raise his head from his book, unhurriedly turning the page.
"No, since no fight had broken yet when he intervened, he let him go with a warning."
"Enzo, ever the defender of women." Klaus smirked.
"Bonnie was one of the girls."
"And it did not end in bloodshed, first from little Bennett and then by Enzo ?" Klaus raised an eyebrow. Even Elijah glanced up from his book before going back to it. Marcel smiled.
"Rather than who Enzo chooses to court, we have more important matter to discuss Niklaus."
"Important matter ?" Marcel tone turned serious, it wasn't often he was caught out of the loop.
"An eventual alliance, against the Italians." Klaus stated in a bored tone.
"One we probably will need."
"Yes, yes. Didn't I already agree it was a good idea older brother ?"
"Did you look through the list of possibilities I gave you ?"
"Of course. Mr Briggs seems like the best option financially speaking."
"I'll arrange a meeting." Elijah nodded and stood up, leaving the office.
"Marcel, the Salvatore have been too bold recently, tell the men that if they see one of them in our territory they should make sure to return him by way of the lake. If old Salvatore thinks he can walk all over us, he's got another thing coming." Klaus cocked his gun, before putting the safety back on.
-O-
It was chilly this early afternoon as Caroline made her way to The Mystic for her shift. Just as she was close to the bar, from the opposing side of the road, she saw a man she'd only caught a glimpse of a couple of times since her arrival in Chicago. The most infamous man of Chicago, Klaus Mikaelson, was walking in the broad daylight street.
His eyes turned toward her, and their gazes met. Instead of looking away like before, Caroline held his stare, maybe it wasn't so much that she wouldn't turn away but that she couldn't. It felt like his piercing blue eyes had taken her captive and only when he turned back ahead of him was she able to wrench the Mystic door open and get inside. Heart pounding in her ears. What was it about Klaus Mikaelson that could fascinate her so much ?