Author's note: I have no way to express my gratitude for the response this story got. Thank you for every comment and every follow.

Songbird

Summary: She asked for his protection. He gave it to her. But with Klaus Mikaelson everything came with a price and into his web Caroline Forbes went. However that was only the beginning. Mafia!Klaroline AU/AH. (Short Story)

Chapter II: In the land of Gods and Monsters

...

Detroit

November 2012

Easy listening instrumental music was floating to the air.

The hands of the pianist were gliding over the piano keys. Sounds of relaxation along with the jazz melody the saxophonist was blowing to the air.

Rebekah Mikaelson was standing to a shady corner talking to one of her clients when the doors opened and a man all dressed in black, along with a security team following him, entered her bar.

She beamed once she saw him and run towards him, ignoring everyone else.

The man with the dark blond hair and the stubble laughed as she jumped on him and he twirled her around while he chuckled. His men around him laughed also and when Rebekah stood on her own two feet she hugged him.

"I missed you Nik!" she whispered and her brother smiled.

Elijah had already informed her that Klaus would be coming to Detroit this month. They were having some issues with the authorities in Chicago and this was a perfect opportunity for Klaus to supervise business in Detroit while Elijah would be left behind to his politics and Kol to his bloodshed.

Detroit was her territory; Although everyone knew that everything belonged to Klaus and just like Mikael before him he trusted no one. The new King had made changes but some things always remained the same. A different system but the same mistrust.

Klaus had divided everything that belonged to Mikael to different factions. Every sector belonging to a Mikaelson brother and for the first time in ages to a Mikaelson sister also. However Klaus was controlling everything, and everyone, with an iron fist. He was the King and they were all under him. Devoted and obedient, otherwise dead.

As long as they were loyal to him he would kill and die for them all. He would give them power, territories, control. In his name they could rule on their own and flourish on their own. They would have his support and he would even clean up after their mistakes. However Elijah, Kol and she knew that Klaus had his spies everywhere even in unexpected places. He knew everything at any given time. He didn't believe in trust and they all knew that if they dared to cross him he would not hesitate to destroy them.

Even those that were not afraid of losing their own lives feared Klaus because they knew that he would destroy and even kill everyone they have ever met.

Klaus could not understand that his siblings would never do that. They were in this together and they believed in him. He was a far better ruler than Mikael ever was. He took control and he rose to the occasion. He took great power and made it even greater. He was born for this and they were born to be by his side even if he would never trust them completely.

In the same way she owned Detroit Klaus, with Elijah by his side, reigned over Chicago while Elijah was also handling New York. Kol had his domain in New York also, terrorizing Harlem, Brooklyn and the lower east side. From what she knew this year at Kol's birthday Klaus would give to Kol Los Angeles. A smaller faction that Kol would be able to control without Elijah's supervision. Klaus had done the same with her. Originally he had given to her Las Vegas to play but she was under his restrictions as Kol had been for years under Elijah's care.

At first Kol wanted to be Klaus's protégé but Klaus refused because he didn't have the temper to deal with Kol that always seemed to take extreme pleasure at riling Klaus up. However Rebekah always had her fun by reminding to Kol that Klaus had chosen her over him something that always upset Kol much to her delight.

Klaus's most trusted men, Stefan Salvatore and Marcel Gerard were controlling, under Klaus's wing, New Orleans and New England.

It has been years but in her mind time seemed to have passed by so fast. It was just like yesterday when Mikael started losing his mind. Turning into an even more unstable form of his former abusive self. He was always volatile especially with Nik but towards the end he had lost his sanity completely thus endangering them all.

And Klaus stepped up. He confronted Mikael, Esther, Finn and their allies. In a fight that turned bloody. Klaus won and liquor fueled days followed. And then more blood until it seemed as if Chicago was drowning in rain and rivers of it.

Mikael's death had been a gruesome sight. A message to them all. Esther simply gained a bullet to her heart and then a heartfelt funeral in which Klaus attended with a smile.

Klaus of course exiled Finn from their family's borders, however much to Klaus's dismay Finn had managed to create factions of his own in New Jersey and Philadelphia once he formed an alliance with his lover Sage and her family. He was a Mikaelson after all and after their parents' death by Klaus's hand he ran away. And Klaus let him, the first and the last time her brother had shown mercy to anyone was the night he averted his eyes and let Finn escape Chicago, bruised and battered and with several broken bones, but no fatal wounds.

They all knew that Finn would forever remain loyal to the diseased Esther Mikaelson and by their unwritten law he was the next in succession something that Klaus or even Elijah would never allow to happen.

Finn ran for his life that night and Elijah stepped down from the line of succession as he always supported Klaus. Better to be a general and an advisor behind the scenes than a dead King he would say. It was that time that Klaus killed everyone loyal to Mikael, dismantled the former council and stepped up as the new King.

'Long may he reign' was what the survivors would mutter bitterly under their breath. The King was dead, long live the King.

Then change followed much to the dismay of many.

One of the reasons Klaus had divided their empire was in order to create a new order different from Mikael's and to assure that no one outside their family would be able to rise against him. Many back then still planned to overthrown the Mikaelson bastard. Klaus needed to have trusted alliances and to expand his supervision while he was shuttering any reminder of Mikael's power.

It took time and effort. And most of all blood. A lot of blood.

Now the structure of their family was different. Klaus had changed the ways of the Mikaelson family, something that hadn't happened for decades. With this system they would not have to be dependent on others. A Mikaelson would always be present and ready to summon loyalty and protection. If any of them was in danger individually and would be in need the rest of them would be able to provide safety, means, power. In their father's days everything belonged to one hand. Mikael's. Now however Klaus always had the absolute control but the power underneath him was divided.

If she was to be honest with herself Klaus didn't plan on giving her Detroit. He always believed she was capable but not capable enough…Or so she had thought for some time.

Originally she believed that he had sent her to Detroit in order to isolate her. To put some distance between her and Stefan.

As he had said back then her love life was causing him a headache and he would rather not kill Stefan that was proving to be an asset.

She had refused, screamed and cried but none the less Klaus forced her to leave Chicago. His men had taken her to Detroit and if she was to leave the city then Stefan's head would hang outside her bedroom's balcony in Chicago as Klaus had so sweetly warned.

According to Nik she was distracting Stefan and he had plans for him. Plans that the ripper of Chicago was ready to destroy just so he would be with her. Something that Stefan didn't do in the end.

In the end Klaus won and she came to Detroit brokenhearted.

However this was the best thing that could have happened to her. The first time that she was living alone without the suffocating attention of her family.

Las Vegas was a gift to her, but Detroit she earned.

First time on her own, far away from the clutches of her brothers she blossomed into the woman she was always meant to be. A Mikaelson, in spirit and blood.

And she had even made Niklaus proud.

She had multiplied their gains and she was supervising all aspects of their legal and illegal activities in Detroit. It took her some time before Nik and Elijah were convinced and it took some defiance from her part along with a lot of manipulation, threats, a few bullets, dismembered bodies and some severed gang heads she delivered to her brothers but she was now the Queen. And she was not going to step down from her throne. Her heart was mended and her power undisputed.

Elijah had later revealed to her that Klaus hadn't sent her in Detroit in order to assure Stefan's development in their ranks. He had sent her there because her affair with Stefan was messing with the plans he had for her. Plans that ensured her position in power. She was meant to be a Queen and not just a princess in love and Klaus had made sure that she would get her throne and she would not throw it all away for an infatuation.

And so she did.

And now Klaus had came to her city. Sure she was spending some months to Chicago every year but having Klaus in Detroit meant the world for her. Showing to him her achievements and earning his approval was what she desired the most.

Always and forever they had said when they were kids and the promise was still running deep into their veins.

"You are looking great little sister," Klaus commented as he theatrically twirled her around. She smiled at him and took him to their private table. The one that was always empty, every night, waiting only for her Nik.

She ordered his favorite drink and she sat next to him, her gloved hand covering his own on top of the table. His men standing some feet behind them, along with her own bodyguards.

"I've heard about your last involvement with the latest liquor shipment," Klaus commented and her eyes sparkled.

"You did good Bekah," he praised and she smirked. Both of them knew that if she hadn't interfered the cops would have gotten the upper hand on them.

"I only learned from the best," she complimented him intentionally boosting his ego and in return Klaus smirked at her. He knew she was buttering him up because she wanted him to give her permission to deal with the next gun shipment directly and not via Elijah's diplomatic means. The problem was that the next deal had common interests with New York and that was Elijah's turf.

They kept talking for a while. Seemingly two people in a bar socializing like everyone else, drinking their drinks, smiling and laughing.

However they were also plotting schemes and murder as easy as others inside the bar where having a good time and were talking about their ordinary lives.

Klaus had his hands rested on the back of the sofa, enjoying his cigarette.

Rebekah knew that her bar here was one of Nik's favorites. He always called it a Hybrid creature and he even created a club in Chicago decorated in a similar way that Loup Rouge here was. He had even named his club 'Loup Noir' as homage to this bar something that had sparked great pride to Rebekah.

This was one of her refuges after all. A place where more places coming together. Part performance space, part lounge living room; all decorated artistically. Never ending alcohol as the party would never stop. A place where people could listen, drink, dance, socialize. The perfect cover for working deals under the table.

A personal haven with explosive chemistry, good taste, and prestige. Things Klaus always appreciated.

Rebekah and Klaus had been talking for some time when the lights dimmed and the music stopped playing.

The only shadowy light now was coming from the candles in the table and everyone seemed to have stopped talking in anticipation of what was about to come next.

Klaus narrowed his eyes and looked at Rebekah that smiled innocently and shrugged.

Soon enough from the stage the sounds of heels clicking on the shiny slippery floor resonated all around.

A woman dressed in a beautiful silk white gown walked to the tall stool behind the microphone. When she sat on it the spotlight illuminated her form and Klaus's breath hitched.

The pianist started playing again, a different tune this time, and the girl waited with closed eyes as her palm wrapped around the microphone and adjusted it in front of her face.

And then her eyes opened and it was as if her gaze was directed straight at Klaus.

Green eyes setting his world in fire.

Blond curly hair, a flamed halo, around her angelic face.

The girl breathed in, the inhaling sound a soft echo travelling all around before her red lips opened and she sang. With the most mesmerizing voice he had ever heard. Klaus's body tensed as if her music had a life of its own and was wrapping itself all around him rendering him powerless.

…In the land of Gods and Monsters, I was an Angel living in the garden of evil…

He could swear that the angel on the stage was a bloody siren.

"Who is she sister?" he asked Rebekah while he was unable to take his eyes away from the beauty on the stage that seemed to be singing only for him.

"The girl on the stage you mean" his sister playfully asked and he nodded as if he was in a trance.

"My new singer Nik. Caroline," Rebekah said and narrowed her eyes at Klaus's reaction towards Caroline.

Caroline kept signing, unaware of how Klaus seemed to be looking at her as if she was the only woman left in the world. His eyes sparkling with lust and interest.

…Screwed up, scared, doing anything that I needed, shining like a fiery beacon…

"Caroline," he repeated, the name rolling seductively on his lips as sweet wine would roll warm down his throat.

Rebekah narrowed her eyes more at him but he didn't pay any attention. He was focused on the blond that sang on the stage.

He brought the glass to his lips and slowly sipped his scotch. His eyes never leaving Caroline.

Then she noticed that for a split second Caroline's eyes focused on her brother. It seemed electrifying, a sensation that was bouncing from the stage back to her brother. Almost like gravity.

She had seen her brother showing interest to other women before. She had seen his desire for war, blood, sex. For power and control.

And yet it was the first time she was seeing him looking at another person as he was watching her new signer right now.

As if he was positively bewitched.

And he was.

...

Chicago.

Today.

You got that medicine I need fame, Liquor, love give it to me slowly,
Put your hands on my waist, do it softly, ,me and God, we don't get along so now I sing.

Caroline was holding the microphone and was singing for Klaus. She noticed how he smiled at her at the choice of her song and she smiled back seductively. Something that seemed to always please him.

Her fingers slowly travelled over the mike and she closed her eyes.

She could feel Klaus's eyes in return travelling on her form. White hot passion was what she was translating in his eyes.

She was also wearing white like the first night she had first met him. If it was up to Klaus she would be wearing only white or blue for the formal occasions or black and red when they were in private.

As the song was coming to its end she noticed that one of the patrons had drunk too much and was ogling her from his table making certain gestures towards her and "compliments" while he was laughing with his friends.

She shifted uncomfortably for a bit, lowering her gaze and then she froze on spot realizing her mistake.

It was as if Klaus could always read her mind and understand everything from her expressions and so when he noticed her momentary discomfort she knew that it wouldn't end well.

She then saw Klaus talking to Stefan in what it seemed hushed tones and she closed her eyes in defeat when Stefan nodded and gave instruction to his men gesturing towards the company of men that included the person that still had his eyes rudely on her.

Soon enough indeed she noticed that two of the guards that worked for Klaus approached the man.

She looked at Klaus somewhat pleadingly but the coldness in his eyes made her own posture return to indifference. She knew not to go against him in moments like this so she kept signing while Klaus's men forced the man out of the club.

She only hoped that the poor guy would get out of this with just a bloody nose or a few broken ribs and nothing more serious but with Klaus she could never be certain.

If Klaus wanted the man harmed he would be harmed. If he wanted him gone he would be gone. Even permanently, one way or another.

In the end she, along with everyone else, knew that Klaus was always getting what he wanted. Always.

...

Detroit

November 2012

When you talk it's like a movie and you're making me crazy cause life imitates art
If I get a little prettier can I be your baby? You tell me, "life isn't that hard".

Klaus downed his drink with one gulp, his eyes set on the prize he had decided to take for the night.

"Rebekah," he muttered with a hoarse voice and his sister looked at him with interest her eyes moving from Caroline back to him and vice versa.

"Bring her to me," he ordered with an unwavering tone that made even her feel uncomfortable.

Truth is that she and Caroline were not that close but the girl was one of the best singers she had in quite a while and she seemed nice. She didn't deserve to become one of Klaus's conquests. She would either end with a broken heart or a ripped heart and she didn't deserve that.

Rebekah tried to salvage the girl but she knew from the beginning that it would be futile.

"You do realize that the girl is a singer and not one of Kol's working girls right?" Rebekah tried to joke and make it seem as if Caroline was not available or interested for this but she jumped startled when Klaus's hand gripped hers unexpectedly.

You got that medicine I need, dope, shoot it up, straight to the heart please.
I don't really wanna know what's good for me, God's dead, I said 'baby that's alright with me.

Caroline's voice echoed around them but her brother's reaction seemed to be silencing all sounds around them.

Klaus eyes darkened and threw at his sister a deadly glance that turned her blood to ice. Rebekah's breath hitched and she gulped.

"I won't ask again sister," Klaus warned her.

Rebekah sighed and looked at Caroline that was singing across them almost with sorrow but when her brother wanted something then her brother would definitely get it. So Rebekah called for one of the waitresses ready to do what Klaus wanted.

Klaus let go of her hand and turned his attention back to Caroline.

Rebekah could not do anything now. If Klaus wanted Caroline then she would give him Caroline.

Once the brunette employee came Rebekah told her to fetch Caroline when she would end her singing performance. The waitress, nodded but as she was about to leave Rebekah added that she was not take no for an answer and to bring Caroline to their table the soonest possible.

…

Caroline sat on her comfy chair in front of her mirror in her backstage dressing room. Her hands rubbed her neck and she looked at herself almost tiredly.

She had been working at Loup Rouge for a few months only but she was doing well. She enjoyed working for Rebekah. The woman was a bitch but the conditions here were excellent and far better than any other she had encountered so far at the bars she had worked before. Plus she always loved singing and even though she had never expected that this would become her actual profession she was enjoying it immensely. The shallow part of her vanity loved being praised and even desired.

She was thrilled to know that when she was up to the stage many would want her but none would be able to have her. Ever.

But as always every time she would get a phone call from back home her day would be ruined. Her mood destroyed and she would be on edge.

She looked at her reflection and she felt such anger that she had to maintain herself from punching the mirror in rage. After every phone call she had to relive too many memories that were too painful for her to handle.

Vicky Donovan, Matt's sister, had called her again on her cell phone today trying to convince her to come back home. Telling her that it was safe and that they she would help her adjust again. Vicky never cared that much for her so she guessed that Matt was behind all this.

She sighed and unclasped her necklace and let it drop on the dresser in front of her vanity.

She bit her lip and then without any second thought she turned off her cell phone. She removed the phone's lid and took out the SIM card. She looked at the can that was placed next to her dresser and she threw the card in there.

She would never return to Mystic Falls. Never.

She jumped startled when she heard someone knocking on her door.

"Yes?"

"It's Jessica Caroline, may I come in?" one of the waitresses asked kindly and Caroline smiled. Everyone was so professional here. Rebekah had ensured that and from the looks of it no one dared to get on Rebekah Mikaelson's bad side.

"Of course come in," Caroline called and soon enough the brunette came in with a smile.

"Is something wrong? I was just about to change and leave," Caroline asked and the girl went near her.

"Miss Mikaelson asked me if you could join her at her table," Jessica asked but in a tone that implied that it wasn't a request.

Caroline narrowed her eyes. Rebekah had never asked anything like this before.

"Is something wrong Jess?" Caroline asked worriedly and Jessica simply shrugged.

"She said not to be late," the girl said almost fearfully and then left.

Caroline's confusion and surprise got bigger but none the less she decided to go to Rebekah.

She checked herself on the mirror, fixed her stray curls with her hands and straightened her dress.

Then she went back to the bar and one of the waiters pointed towards the private table where Rebekah was sitting along with another man. A beautiful man. Maybe the sexiest man she had ever seen before and was now looking at her with a wolfish stare.

Caroline tentatively walked towards them and Rebekah got up in order to welcome her to their company.

The man got up, eyeing her up and down predatorily and she felt chills running down her spine.

His gaze was marked with appreciation and something dark she could not decipher. All she knew that that it was taking her breath away.

She couldn't do anything else than watch him, almost scared of what he might do.

His eyes were glittering with possessiveness and it was as if he was memorizing the way she looked inside his mind.

He was tall and seemed to have a well build lean body. Blue dark eyes and dark blond hair. He had a stubble and when he smiled at her a set of enticing dimples appeared on his face and unwillingly the toes of her feet curled as her whole body seemed to be wracked with goosebumps.

"Caroline, let me introduce you my brother," Rebekah politely interrupted their staring contest and Klaus smiled at her without even looking at Rebekah.

"You have a beautiful name sweetheart," the man said with a very seductive English accent similar to Rebekah's but far more tempting and Caroline blinked at the way he got closer to her. She barely noticed that Rebekah left leaving her alone with her brother.

She took a deep breath and then she took a step back noticing the way he arched his brow at her reaction. She pressed her lips and stood her ground taking a step forward again and he smiled widely at that.

"And your name is?" she asked him defiantly but inwardly guarded.

The man's smile grew even bigger as if he was enjoying her spirit and the anger that flashed in her eyes.

"Niklaus Mikaelson, but you can call me Klaus," he said and took her hand to his and pressed his lips on the top of her palm.

...

Chicago.

Today.

Caroline approached Klaus's table and everyone that sat next to him stood up immediately and even slightly bowed at her presence. She rolled her eyes as usual and Klaus smirked.

"Come sit with me love," he softly told her and she obliged as his men took some steps back in order for her to pass.

Klaus dismissed everyone with a wave of his hand and they scattered around.

Caroline sat next to him and took his drink from his hand.

Klaus arched his brow as she drank from the same place his lips had touched the glass.

He wrapped his hand around her waist and pushed her on him. He always enjoyed showing to the world that he owned her body and soul.

His thumb caressed her collarbone and she closed her eyes as she leaned on him.

"I am tired, can we go home now?" she asked him with a low voice and Klaus buried his head on her neck slightly nibbling the soft flesh there.

Home. Somehow she actually did feel Klaus's place as her home.

"Please?" she asked again with a throaty moan and he bit her earlobe.

He titled his head up and noticed that she indeed looked tired. His finger outlined her lips and nodded.

"Your wish is my command love," he conceded and she rolled her eyes at him making him chuckle.

She tried to move away from him but his hand held her tightly to his side.

She looked at him and knew that they wouldn't go anywhere before she would kiss him.

Her hands cupped his face and her lips pressed on his. His hand spanned around the back of her neck and brought her face impossibly closer to his, his lips demanding, his kiss passionate.

She opened her lips slightly and his tongue invaded her mouth, dominating it, stealing her breath away.

She barely heard a man clearing his neck but Klaus didn't pay any attention. He would stop kissing her when he would want to stop kissing her.

When he removed his lips away from hers he inspected with pride and a smirk the way she was out of breath, her lips all soft and swollen.

Stefan was standing behind him now and he leaned downwards in order to be heard only by Klaus.

"The FBI is here," he told Klaus and Klaus's eyes darkened.

"For Caroline," Stefan said.

No one's gonna take my soul away

'fuck yeah give it to me this is heaven, what I truly want'
It's innocence lost…Innocence lost

Song: Lana Del Rey - Gods and Monsters

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