Hello, my lovely readers. There's a little bit of Klaroline and we're going to see the plot thickening with a big arrival from TheHunter'sCouncil and some twists. On with show…
Chapter 10: Does Anyone Else See Those Ominous Clouds?
Klaus strode from one end of the Salvatore's Great Room to the other. His thoughts were a chaotic haze at the moment. He attempted to create a plan of action in his mind and the field was unclear. Too many unknowns. He felt unsettled by not knowing where to begin. War was where he excelled. Strategy. Out-witting the mere fools who thought they might match him move for move and find themselves having lost everything, as well as their heads. However, this time it felt different and he locked eyes with Caroline Forbes. Caroline. She was the piece that he could not place in any set position.
"Okay. Are you going to talk to me?" Caroline demanded, placing her elbows on her knees and cupping her face with her hands. The sweet smile she offered him tugged at his heart. He could tell she was trying to appear unfazed by whatever was on his mind.
"Maybe he changed his mind and still wants to kill you, instead of screwing you all over MY house!" Damon added, leaning against the back of the couch Caroline sat on, with an annoyed look on his face.
"You could just as well leave. Your attendance is unnecessary at the moment, Damon," Klaus replied with a biting smile.
Damon rolled his eyes and smirked back at Klaus. "Well, I would, but you see, this is where I keep the good booze." He opened a chest behind Caroline and then straightened up with a bottle in hand.
Stefan Salvatore strode into the room. "So, what's up?" he asked, his eyes on Caroline. He offered her a happy-to-see-you're-still-alive expression before giving Klaus a not-so-much-that-you-are one.
Klaus clapped his hands together. "As much as I would like for this to be part of a Scooby Meeting, Caroline and I have things to discuss. Alone."
Damon rounded the couch and plopped down next to Caroline. "I don't think so."
Stefan crossed the room and sat down on Caroline's other side. "Me, too." He threw an arm around the back of the couch and the Salvatore idiots traded smiles with each other before turning to look at Klaus.
Caroline sat up and slapped the brothers on their respective knees, moving to push herself upward. "This is fun. But I can take care of myself. And I'm going to do that. Somewhere else."
"Not so much, Blondie!" Damon replied, slapping a hand on Caroline's shoulder.
"Not without someone else there. Just because you and Klaus didn't kill each other last night, doesn't mean he has the best of intentions for you. Now." Stefan added, placing a heavy hand on Caroline's other shoulder.
Rolling her eyes, Caroline shot a look at Klaus, who crossed his arms over his chest. "Seriously!" she groaned. She suddenly shot to her feet and was next to Klaus in the blink of an eye. "Look, I appreciate the completely unnecessary show of solidarity bordering on overbearing Papa Bears' status, but I can take care of myself. Thank you!" Turning to Klaus, Caroline nodded. "I guess this is where we go and talk. Somewhere else."
"Caroline, please. I don't think it's a good idea for you to be alone with him. Not yet," Stefan tried. He stepped in front of Caroline.
Klaus smirked when Caroline turned to face her friend. "Stefan, I get that you care, and that's lovely. But I need to deal with this. On my own." With that said, Caroline started to walk around Stefan when Stefan's hand came up with a syringe in it.
Klaus let out a quiet growl when he felt a hand come down on his shoulder and then he felt a prick at the side of his neck. "When you don't listen to reason. You've got to go back in the cell." Damon's words made Klaus vastly irritable and he would have whirled and ripped Damon's heart of his chest, but the world was tilted. He narrowed his eyes as Stefan injected Caroline and turned to see Klaus dropping to the floor.
~0~
Waking up, Klaus found that Caroline was already up and pacing about the cell. His eyes narrowed. Staring around the cell, Klaus perked up his ears to see if he could hear anyone outside the cell. As if she knew he was awake, Caroline whirled on her heel to stare at him. "They're worried about me," she informed him.
"I believe you're correct," Klaus said. He eyed the ceiling. "They should be worried about how I plan on punishing them for this great mistake they've made!" he called out, hoping they heard him.
"Another spell?" Klaus inquired. Not waiting for an answer, he moved toward the door.
"Yes." Caroline replied while Klaus attempted to push his fingers between the rails.
Finding he could not move past another invisible wall, Klaus shook his head. "How lovely of Miss Bennett to use her skills for vampires." He knew witches hated working for vampires and he hoped she was nearby and would hear him.
A soft chuckle sounded from the other side of the door. Movement in the darkness, the appearance of a shadow and then a blonde woman strode to stand on the other side of the invisible barrier. "Hello, brother." Freya's lips curled up in the corners. "It's good to see you, again."
Klaus smirked back. "Ah, I see you decided to step in for your little…what is it you're calling Bonnie these days? Does Kol know?" He lifted his eyebrows and Freya's smirk froze for a moment. "Let me out and I will help you to keep Bonnie safe when Kol's grief of his lost love takes hold and his desire to harm you both takes control."
Freya shook her head, "Niklaus, do not attempt to manipulate me." Her eyes moved over his shoulder. "Caroline. I am sorry for all of this." She offered Caroline a look that meant to convey her genuine regret. Klaus felt that Freya would regret this, but not for the reasons she thought.
"So, you've decided to work with the idiotic Salvatores?" Klaus inquired, tilting his head to the side.
"I'm not working with them. And they seem to have reasonable concerns. At this moment, our concerns align." Freya watched Klaus closely. "Now, tell me, brother, have you truly had a change of heart when it comes to Caroline?"
Stepping away from the door, Klaus moved away from the door. "Dear sister, I would love to answer all the questions you would like to ask me. However," chuckling, Klaus looked at Caroline, "I do not wish to discuss matters which could mean harm to more than just myself." Turning on his heel, Klaus pointed at the ceiling.
Shaking her head, Freya moved closer to the invisible barrier, "Niklaus, you know that I cannot help you. Not if you refuse to tell me what you're planning."
Klaus turned to Caroline. He moved toward her and placed his hand on her cheek, "Forgive me," Caroline's expression became confused when he suddenly snapped her neck to the side. Wrapping his arm around her middle, Klaus placed his hand over Caroline's chest. "Tell the Salvatores to let us go, or they can watch as I tear her heart out and we can find out if demons out-live that condition."
Freya's eyes widened and she turned. Klaus could hear her feet on the stairs.
Cradling Caroline in his arms, Klaus forced himself to harden himself as he waited for the Salvatores to come down. Stefan made it first. His green eyes widened. "What have you done!" he cried, his voice low as Klaus pushed his hand inside Caroline's chest cavity.
"Not 'What have I done?' 'What will I do?'" Klaus offered Stefan a dark smile and Stefan turned away from Klaus as Damon appeared with a crossbow.
"Damon, put it down!" Stefan snapped.
Damon shook his head. "No! I've had enough of this jackass!"
"He'll kill Caroline!" Damon shouted. He continued to point the crossbow at Klaus. "I'm done playing his games!"
A sigh came from the other side of the door. Then Stefan's and Damon's necks snapped. They both dropped out of sight. Hearing familiar words spoken in Latin, Klaus watched as the door opened.
Stepping out of the cell, Klaus turned to Freya. He lifted the hand that was not covered in blood. "Come with me, sister," he said quietly.
Freya followed Klaus who lifted Caroline in his arms. They left the Salvatores' home and Freya stopped by her car. She opened the back door and Klaus laid Caroline across the backseat. He felt a prick of guilt before he moved to take a seat on the passenger side. He did not speak until Freya started the car.
"The Hunter's Council will come," Klaus said quietly. "They always do. Especially with a new Slayer in play. When they do, they will discover Caroline…"
"You're afraid of what they'll try to do to her?" Freya's brows rose. "I thought you feared nothing. Other than our parents." She shot him a smirk and Klaus rolled his eyes. "Possibly death," she added.
Inhaling, Klaus glanced in the rearview mirror at Caroline's prone form. "If all of you thought me mad by how I reacted to Caroline's return, then you will not be prepared for how the Council will react to this."
"What do you think they will do?" Freya inquired, glancing away from the road.
Klaus let out a quiet growl. "They will do everything they can to destroy her. Bar that possibility, they will find a manner to trap her and ensure that she is never seen or heard from again."
Freya frowned. "Well, then it's a good thing she has so many people who are willing to die for her, isn't?"
Klaus wanted to hug his sister but if she flipped the car and then ended up in a bloody and twisted wreck, that would do little good. He settled for two words: "Thank you."
Freya shot him a smile. "Thought you weren't capable of saying that."
"You listen to Elijah too often," Klaus replied. Now, he would just have to sort out Kol. Hopefully this would not end with his younger brother in a box. They would need all the help they could get.
~0~
Julian could have sent someone, anyone else to Mystic Falls. However, you could say he was feeling nostalgic for his last trip to the tiny town. "Over there will do." He spoke quietly to the young woman who drove the car. He reached in his pocket and glanced at the address on it. Marcel Gerard's new home. For now.
Getting out of the car, Julian glanced to his left and right. Humans walked around without any sense of the danger that surrounded them every single day. And it was Julian's duty to ensure they never had to look into the face of all-out horror. The thought made a smile come to his face.
"Ladies first," Julian told the blonde at his side. She marched ahead of him. Her curls bounced up and down and her once cheerful demeanor had slid away to reveal a dark personality. This made her the best companion, in Julian's expert opinion for this job.
The blonde made her way into the building and glanced at the row of mailboxes before moving to the staircase. She went up them ahead of Julian. He glanced at the names Gerard/Marshall typed on a piece of blue paper. So, Marcel had chosen to use their real names. Julian shook his head, feeling bemused. What would be the cover story here, he wondered. Cousins? Half-siblings?
The blonde stopped in front of a door and rapped her fist on it. Julian leaned against a wall, a few feet away. He wanted his presence to be a shock to the two occupants. That's why he came on the weekend, hoping to find them at home.
After several long moments, the blonde turned her head, poised to speak when the door opened. "Marcel!" she cried with a delighted smile.
"Cami! What are you doing here?" Marcel replied.
Before Cami could reply; Julian moved into view. "We're here to visit old friends. May we come in?" His blue eyes glittered and he offered Marcel a wide smile.
Marcel covered his shock well, but Julian could still tell that the younger man felt uneasy about Julian and Cami appearing on his doorstep. "Sure. Come on in. Can I get you guys anything to drink?"
"I could use a cup of tea," Julian said. He entered the apartment and noted the closed door. "Is she here?" he asked, his eyes moving to Marcel who knew exactly who Julian meant.
"Hales! We've got company!" Marcel shouted.
It took another long moment before Hayley jerked the door open with an unhappy look. Her dark hair was shorter than it had been when she left. She had dark circles under her eyes but when she saw Julian, she grinned. "Hey!" she cried.
"Hey? Is that all I get?" Julian cried, shaking his head. Opening his arms, he waited.
Hayley came running across the room and threw her arms around his neck. Lifting her off her feet, Julian hugged her tight. Setting Hayley on her feet, he cupped her face with both of his hands. "How have you been, darling? Have you been behaving like a proper Slayer for Marcel?" Julian inquired, tucking a dark lock behind her ear.
Hayley nodded, tugging her mid-driff T down and placing one of her feet on top of the other. In that moment she looked like the ten-year-old he had a hard time reminding himself she was not anymore. He placed an arm around her shoulders. "Doesn't matter. We'll sort everything out as we go, shall we?"
Hayley nodded. She moved to sit down at the tiny table they seemed to be using as a dining room table. "Hi, Cami," she said quietly as Marcel went about making a pot of tea.
"Hey, kid." Cami took a seat across from Hayley who moved to place her chin on her knee, her foot on the chair she sat on. Julian gave Hayley a long look and she moved her foot down, wrapping her arms around herself.
Cami glanced at Julian who stared back until the blonde turned her attention back to the child. "How many vamps have you killed since you've been here?"
"A few," Hayley replied.
"She's being modest," Marcel called out, pulling out two mugs.
"Not drinking with us?" Julian inquired.
"No. Not much of a tea drinker," Marcel replied. He pulled out a bowl and then moved to grab a box off the top of the fridge. "Hales, you want breakfast?" he asked, shaking the box with the cartoon on the front of it at her.
"Yes…" Hayley glanced at Julian. "Please," she added quietly.
"What is that?" Julian beckoned Marcel with a hand. Taking the box, his eyes widened and he gave Cami a horrified look. "Sugar?" Shaking his head, Julian moved toward the fridge. "Our Slayer shall not be binging on this junk like a normal teen." He used the word normal with the same disdain that most people would say "mold" or "vomit." "What she needs is fruit and eggs." He opened the fridge and found nothing that looked like what he described. "My God, man, what are you feeding our girl?"
Julian shook his head at Marcel who stared back at him. Straightening up, Julian hoped that Marcel would challenge his authority but Marcel disappointed him by looking at Hayley. "I suppose Hales and I can drop by the store and get something."
Holding up a hand, Julian shook his head with an indulgent smile. "No. Do take a rest. You look like you've been working ever so hard to keep up with our little Slayer's training. Take a break. Visit with your friend." Julian's smile fell on Cami. "I'll take Hayley out for breakfast and she can show me around the town. It's been some time since my last visit."
"Not much changed," Marcel said. Julian stared at him. Marcel shrugged. "According to locals."
"Well, they wouldn't know what to look for, now would they, Marcellus?" Julian's smile turned up several wattages when he used Marcel's name. For some reason it always seem to irritate the hunter. "Don't worry. We'll be back before night fall. Then you can show me how the hunt goes."
Making his way toward the door, Julian beckoned Hayley with a wave of a hand. Hayley glanced at Marcel before she made her way to the door. She opened it and they left the too-small-for-two-people apartment.
The two went down the stairs and outside. As soon as they were out, Julian stretched his arms and closed his eyes. "Ah, fresh air. After being in the cramped hole; I could use some. How about you, Hayley?" His blue eyes slid to the girl.
Hayley shrugged in her over-sized sweater. She looked like she'd lost weight. The change annoyed Julian. Again, he wondered if he should re-direct Marcel to New Orleans. Obviously, he'd been a poor choice of mentor to this girl. Where was the young rebel that Julian recalled with such fondness? Beneath an ill-fitted sweater and a pair of blue-black bags under the child's eyes.
Not the time. Julian decided he must keep the mood light today. "Shall we?" Julian asked, nodding toward the sidewalk. They were only a quarter of a mile from town. A nice, brisk walk was good for a younger Slayer.
Hayley glanced at the parking lot. "You didn't bring a car?" she inquired with a glum expression.
"Better for the environment and better for your fitness," Julian retorted, setting off along the sidewalk. He glanced over his shoulder.
Hayley frowned but she trudged after him. "Fine," she grumbled. Her eyes darkened and Julian thought he saw a glimpse of her old spark ignite.
Continuing down the sidewalk, Julian nodded at passerby with a wide smile. Most of them smiled back and offered greetings like typical small-town people do. If they knew what lurked about them and how many ways the creatures that walked down their sidewalks could do to harm them.
"Where shall we go for breakfast?" Julian inquired.
Hayley glanced at him. "I guess… The Grill." She shrugged. "That's where most people around here eat." A sudden chiming sounded from her bag and Hayley reached inside and peered at the screen. Her eyes narrowed and she groaned before she tossed it back into her bag.
"What's that about?" Julian inquired.
"High school drama," Hayley replied, hitching her bag higher and giving him a sulky-teenage frown.
"Something to do with a boy?" Julian replied with a smirk.
Hayley's brows rose. "A boy?"
"Or a girl?" Julian added. He watched as Hayley rolled her eyes. "Friends?"
"You said that I'm better off without friends. 'They get killed. They get you killed.'" Hayley's eyes trailed down to the sidewalk.
Julian shrugged. "Small towns. It's hard to stay in one without playing the bit. They're not people you can rely on. You keep going if you lose one of two, but it's always good to play the part you're assigned for the time."
Eyes moving to meet Julian's, Hayley shrugged. "Then I guess I have some friends."
"Oh, do tell." Julian watched Hayley closely as they moved closer and closer toward the center of the depressing little town.
"There's a boy. He's nice enough," Hayley blushed. The hint of a smile made her look just like any other sixteen-year-old. "We spar a lot."
"And he believes you do so for what reason?" Julian caught Hayley freezing up for a second too long. "You haven't been telling your new little friends about who you are, have you? You know the rules, Hayley Jane Marshall."
Hayley stopped and glanced around them. Then she looked back at Julian. "They used to be her friends," she told him quietly. Her gaze had become solemn and Julian took in this new bit of the puzzle.
"You mean: Caroline," Julian retorted. He offered Hayley a kind smile. "You've fallen in with her old lot." Hayley nodded and they continued on their way. "Smart. I always knew you had multiple talents. What information have you gathered since joining their little pack?"
Hayley shrugged. "Not much."
Julian placed a hand on her shoulder. "Not to worry. They'll begin to trust you. And then they will happily tell you whatever you desire them to. Just remember, they're not your friends. They're hers."
Hayley's eyes shot up to Julian's and he thought he caught a hint of anger. She didn't reply aloud. Instead Hayley nodded at the brick building. "That's the Grill." She now began to move ahead of Julian with a casual cockiness that he didn't remember her displaying while she lived at the Hunter's Council. It made him smirk as he followed her into the restaurant.
Inside, Julian found there was nothing that left a lingering impression. The usual townies you found in most places like this. A pool table. A group of teens laughing a little too loudly while they tossed food at each other.
A tall blonde boy came toward them with a wide smile. "Hey, Hayley." The boy greeted her like they were friends. Julian offered the boy a smile. Was this the one Hayley had been sparring with of late? There did not seem to be anything remarkable about him which made Julian happy. He would not last long as a distraction for the girl before she moved onto to someone else.
"Hey, Matt," Hayley replied. Her nervous smile told Julian that he was correct in his assumption.
"Have you heard from Ca—" Matt began when Hayley began to cough, clutching at her throat.
Concern filled Julian who placed a hand on Hayley's back. "Are you alright?" he asked her.
Hayley shook her head, curling her hand and tilted it upward.
"Get her a glass of water," Julian ordered the blonde boy who hurried away. Julian cupped Hayley's chin. She continued to cough, her face turning rather red while the town's people watched in curiosity. Bloody fools.
Finally, Matt returned with Hayley's glass of water. Hayley lifted it to her mouth and began to gulp it down. Little trickles of water pooled on either side of her mouth and her eyes were watering as she shoved the empty glass at Matt. She lifted a hand to wipe at her eyes and inhale sharply. "I'm okay now," she muttered, rolling her eyes. "Think I got air down the wrong way." She chuckled, looking at Matt. "And, no, I didn't hear from Carl last night."
"Oh?" Matt looked confused before he looked at Julian. "Hi, I'm Matt." He held out a hand.
Julian took Matt's hand. "Julian. I'm Hayley's father."
"Mr. Marshall. It's great to meet you," Matt replied with a big, dumb smile. Yes, he was nothing for Julian to worry about. "Can I show you guys to a table?"
"Yes," Julian said when Hayley took a step to the side.
"I have to go to the bathroom," Hayley told Julian. She did not wait for him to reply. "Girl problems." She muttered before hurrying off.
Matt let out another chuckle and then he led Julian over to a booth. "You been in town long, Mr. Marshall?"
"No. I just arrived to see how Hayley's been settling in to a new town. It's been difficult—the separation. We've always been quite close." Julian shot Matt a smile. Matt smiled back as he handed Julian a menu.
Soon, Hayley came toward the booth and took a seat. "I'd like pancakes and a glass of milk," she said, without taking a look at the menu.
Julian opened his own menu and looked over the offerings. He shook his head. Not much to say for what they served here. "I'll take a veggie omelet and a glass of orange juice. And a tea, if you will."
Matt nodded, taking the two menus and made his way back behind the counter. Leaning closer to Hayley, Julian glanced at the boy. "Is that the boy you were telling me about?"
"No." Hayley shook her head. "No. Matt's nice. He's just not my type."
"Ah," Julian replied. He sat back in the booth and waited for the food to arrive. While he waited, his eyes went to the counter where a man stood up and glanced around him before he spotted Julian and Hayley. A little smirk played at the corners of his lips before he made his way toward the door.
Julian felt his fingers curl into a first. "Excuse me," he said to Hayley.
Hayley nodded and she kept looking around like she expected someone to appear. This gave Julian the ability to slip out of the restaurant. He went around the side before he caught the man who had spotted him by the collar and to slam the man against the side of a car. "Have you followed me here?"
The man held up his hands. "Hey, you know how the boys in Rome are. They like results." The man grinned at Julian whose eyes narrowed.
"Stay out of my business, witch," Julian snarled. "Or there will be the hell to pay."
"There will be hell to pay if you don't end the abominations like you swore to over a decade, Julian," Cade whispered with a grin.
Julian rolled his eyes and stepped away from the other man when people came walking by. "I do my job. You do yours," Julian snarled. "In the meantime, stay out of my way."
Cade shrugged. "With pleasure. Just make sure we see results. Soon."
Julian rolled his eyes before he turned to Hayley. The food was on the table and he cut into his omelet aggressively. He had to admit, it wasn't bad and if it were one of his last meals; he could not complain too much.
Thank you for reading, faving, following and reviewing.
Peace,
-J