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.
Chapter III: Each Man Kills the Thing he Loves
...
Chicago
September 2013
The next day after their deal was struck Klaus took her to his home in Chicago. Caroline didn't even have time to talk to Rebekah about resigning from Loup Rouge or to even pack her things from her house. Klaus took control and said he would deal with his sister and that his men would go at her house and bring everything she wanted.
From the moment she gave in to him he kept her close to him. It was then that Caroline realized with awe and dread that Klaus had stayed in Detroit mostly for her and what it meant to be with him. It was overwhelming and scary. Once he got her in less than twenty four hours they got to Chicago.
His territory he said as if he was referring to his own personal Kingdom. And his castle like house was probably the one of the places from where he ruled.
House was one word for it. In reality his "home" was a majestic opulent estate. Secluded and surrounded by acres of plush-green land and never ending electric fences, iron gates, countless guards and impenetrable security systems.
From the moment the limo passed the main iron gate and the cameras' control and closed behind them she realized she had past the point of no return. She didn't care though. She was impressed by the security. From the looks of it this place was a fortress and that is what she needed. To cage herself inside a place no one could enter. And from the looks of it Klaus had no issue when it came to placing her in a golden cage.
Klaus introduced her to the guards and Stefan Salvatore and to his personnel as the lady of the house. Which made her feel extremely awkward and weird. To the outside world he would introduce her as his mistress but to his domain she served as his lady.
Truth was that she had never been in the middle of so much wealth and she never had people following her around ready to satisfy her every whim. One of Klaus' assistants then took her to what was meant to be her room from now and on.
A breathtaking expensive looking room that looked as if it was a 5 star hotel room. A bit impersonal but from the looks of it all hers. It was not tacky but it was massive. She also noticed that in the vanity there were products and cosmetics she was using. Along with her favorite perfume. And Klaus had arranged this in less than twenty four hours which made her realize that he was planning this for some time. He was planning to bring her here. Probably one way or another.
She didn't know what to think when two girls came in and introduced themselves. One, Claudia, was meant to be her personal assistant that would help her at whatever she needed and the other, Angelica, was meant to be her personal stylist. Klaus had already introduced her to the guards that would always follow and protect her.
She tried not to roll her eyes at Klaus' attempts to impress and maybe even intimidate her and she simply nodded.
She had expected to have lunch with Klaus that day but her meal was served in her room and later at night Angelica brushed her hair and got her a simple blue dress to wear and told her that Klaus was expecting her.
Her stomach had turned into a knot upon hearing this. It was midnight and she was sure that Klaus was ready to collect whatever he thought she owed him.
She had gathered herself and followed Angelica's instructions and let her pamper her and then followed her half expecting the girl to get her to Klaus' bedroom.
However she only got her to some corridors further where Klaus was waiting.
"Thank you Angelica, that will be all," Klaus kindly said as his eyes scanned Caroline's form and the girl nodded respectfully and left them.
Klaus then approached Caroline and gently placed his hand to the small of her back.
"I know I have been a terrible host today sweetheart but after my absence there were a lot of things that needed my attention," he told her as he lead her towards the single door at the end of the hallway.
She remained silent and followed his lead. He wore a simple Henley and black jeans. His scent was overpowering her senses and she half jumped when they reached the door.
She still expected him to get her to his room. She tried not to flinch when he opened the old mahogany door. She was ready for him to lead her to his bed, undress her and to have sex with her. A part of her felt as if this would be terrible and yet exciting also.
What she didn't expect was for him to bring her in a room full of canvases, paint and brushes. A room with many paintings and build in shelves full of books.
"What is this place?" she curiously asked as she turned and saw how Klaus gently closed the door behind them.
He looked amused as if he could read her thoughts.
"You can call this my personal…sanctuary," he told her and she looked around intrigued.
"Why would you bring me here?" she asked a little bit confused.
Klaus smiled at her then and walked further into the room.
"I am keeping some of my most precious possessions in this room," he admitted and she scrunched up her nose in indignation.
"Seriously?" she said with an annoyed voice that made Klaus laugh.
"Seriously love. But instead of keeping you here I decided to give you the room next to mine," he informed her and she squinted her eyes at him.
"Did you like your bedroom Caroline?" he asked and she noticed that his question was sincere and didn't hide any innuendos.
"Bedroom? I can hardly call it that. That place is like ten times my apartment in Detroit Klaus," she said with a tone that made it clear to him that she was not one to be impressed by his wealth and he smiled at her.
"And FYI I am not your possession," she retaliated and he raised his brow.
"How would you call yourself then?…after our deal that is," he asked her and she hated the smug look in his face.
"Inconvenienced," she muttered and Klaus's laugh filled the room and she tried hard to hide her own smile.
She straightened her back then and looked at him seriously. She was most definitely not his possession. Even if she had to stay by his side and even if they would have sex that didn't mean anything to her. She was her own person and in reality she was the one manipulating Klaus' interest. She was using his attraction towards her in order to stay safe. It was her life. Her choice.
"I mean it Klaus. I belong to no man," she declared and he nodded as he approached her.
"For now," he whispered creating a sweet haze in her mind and before she could reply he put his warm hand to the exposed skin of her upper back and gently led her towards the fireplace while pointing towards the soft cushions on the floor.
He helped her sit there and she noticed that next to her was a silver plate full with her favorite cupcakes and two glasses of red wine.
"Do you like Oscar Wilde Caroline?" he asked as he went towards one of the book shelves.
"Excuse me?"
"Oscar Wilde. Have you read any of his work?" he asked as he took a book out of one shelf.
"Uhm…yeah…why?"
"Yes you have read his work or yes you like him?" he pressed and then sat next to her on the cushions. The flames from the fireplace next to them were illuminating their figures more.
"That depends. I think I liked The picture of Dorian Gray the most," she admitted and he nodded and opened the book.
"How about The Ballad of Reading Gaol?" he inquired.
"Never read it," she admitted and he smiled at that.
"…He did not wear his scarlet coat. For blood and wine are red. And blood and wine were on his hands. When they found him with the dead. The poor dead woman whom he loved. And murdered in her bed," [1] he started reading with a soft voice and she gulped.
Time passed and he kept reading. Her eyes trained on his lips. She looked at him with wide eyes not believing that the man everyone feared and the man she desired and despised in equal measure, the man that had offered her his protection and had manipulated her fear, was a man devoted to art.
A man that would paint, and read poetry and literature. A man that would kiss her softly in the cheek but ask permission to kiss her lips.
Soon enough she had made herself comfortable on the cushions. She had drunk her wine and ate some of the delicious pastries. She had propped her chin on one hand and rested her other on his thigh as she looked intently at him as he kept reading. His one hand holding the book and the other covering her hand on top of his leg.
Klaus was so strange. She could feel his passion and his coldness all at once. A man that killed and tortured without mercy and yet one that he wanted to sit next to her and find comfort to words of fiction and poetry with her. A man that she had seen with her own eyes hurting others and yet a man that talked to her about genuine beauty and music and art.
She could not believe it when he had started reading to her.
He had simply sat next to her, opened the book that seemed to be old and all worn out and he started reading.
"Each man kills the thing he loves," he continued and looked straight at her for a moment before he returned his attention back to the book.
"Some kill their love when they are young and some when they are old. Some strangle with the hands of Lust some with the hands of Gold. The kindest use a knife because the dead so soon grow cold. Some love too little, some too long. Some sell, and others buy; Some do the deed with many tears, And some without a sigh:
For each man kills the thing he loves, Yet each man does not die." [2]
She lost all sense of time. All she knew was that Klaus had a magnificent voice. One that could enchant anyone. She should know. She was a professional singer. She was used to people looking at her in awe every time she would sing and yet she was not used at feeling so drawn to another person's voice.
She was also sure that this particular poem Klaus chose to read to her in her first night at his house was meant to tell her something. Either it was a promise of a threat. A thrill and an intimidation. Her past, their future and their present written and spoken in old words.
But yet she could not look away and she could not feel fear. She was now older and wiser. She would not feel fear not even when Klaus recited the poem by heart looking straight at her.
"And all men kill the thing they love, By all let this be heard, Some do it with a bitter look, Some with a flattering word, The coward does it with a kiss, The brave man with a sword!" [3]
She felt oddly comforted. Because she knew that she had in her past a man that was a coward and had broken her down. First with kisses and flattering words full of false and empty promises and then with his fists and his punches.
A man she hoped that maybe somewhere down the road would find himself in the "mercy" of the man that now read poetry to her.
Because she also knew that now she was in the presence of a brave man. A man that would kill for her and maybe even kill her too. But if Klaus was to kill her he would do it with a "sword" and he would look her straight in the eyes.
Maybe Klaus way would be more cruel. He was already aiming for the heart. And yet her heart refused to fear him.
...
Chicago
Today
She looked at the grey walls and kept her calm. Her face a mask of cold indifference. Whatever the FBI wanted from her was of no importance.
Either they brought her here because of her past or because of her present she knew that it was a matter of minutes before Klaus would retrieve her. His influence surpassed everything and everyone in this city and that oddly made her feel relaxed and gave her an air of certainty.
...
Chicago
January 2014
"You have been the last dream of my soul." [4] His voice echoed all around her and her hands stilled over his necklaces as she inhaled his scent deeply in. A mixture of whiskey and smoke.
They were entangled on the couch. A fortress of pillows was supporting Klaus's body while Caroline's had found refuge over his as if she was his personal blanket while a fluffy blanket was covering them both.
He held her close, his one hand wrapped around her waist, as her head rested on his chest, her fingers tangled with some of the leather chords he wore around his neck. She leisurely but carefully helped him turn the page of the book he was holding with his other hand and then she made herself even more comfortable into his embrace. His accented deep voice and the way his chest was rocking her body up and down gently with every breath he took were her passage to dreams and other worlds.
She would never admit it to him but in these moments she had found her personal safe haven.
"Vengeance and retribution require a long time; it is the rule," [5] he read almost with reverence as his free hand travelled from her back to her hair sending shivers up and down her arms.
She lost herself in his narration and in memories. Of her past life. Of her new life with him. Memories that hurt and memories that didn't hurt so much. So far Klaus has been the perfect gentleman. He hadn't touched her and he hadn't shared her bed even though months have passed since the day she came to his house. At first she expected him to disregard any of her wishes concerning this. That was their deal after all. He would offer her his protection and she would give herself to him. However he hadn't initiated anything sexual between them. Neither had she. No matter how there seemed to be times where both seemed to want to cross that line and give in to each other.
When they were in public he acted like a royal possessive prick that paraded his mistress around. Always claiming her and even kissing her and holding her close like an object. But when they were in private he never initiated anything more and he was always respectful and acting as if she was made of glass.
She knew that he had to look ruthless and unemotional to the outside world and she never objected. It was part of their deal after all. But his behavior when they were alone made her respect him. Something she never thought that would ever happen.
And even though they might not be having sex Klaus was set on spending many hours with her. To his club and at the house. He was taking her out on dates and they were driving around the city. They were having breakfast, lunch and dinner many times together. He was taking her shopping and at events she liked like concerts, the ballet and the opera. He was always attentive and gentle.
His guards were always following them and she knew that he was always armed up to the teeth but she had gotten used to it by now. It seemed normal to her. Klaus enjoyed parading her around and she enjoyed how no one dared to approach her. It was a brand new world; extravagant, lavish, full of debauchery, blood, alcohol and shimmering bright lights in the midst of smoky nights and Klaus kept offering it to her.
However it was these times she appreciated the most. It was right now that she felt comfortable with him. Almost every other night, like tonight, he would bring her to his painting room. His sanctuary and now somehow hers too.
He would offer her a drink and they would sit either to the cushions on the floor in front of the fireplace or to the red couch in the sitting area of the room. Then he would bring her closer to him and he would read to her or ask her to read to him. At first he was the one that chose the books and they would read and talk about them for hours.
When he would read she would gaze at his lips hanging on every word and syllable. Maybe to others this would seem ridiculous and pretentious but to her it was thoughtful and made her feel all warm and comfortable. And it was their secret. Like how would anyone believe that the mafia King had initiated a book club with his mistress that was not really his mistress.
After a while he started asking from her to choose the books and so far he had seemed to be pleased with her choices. For the past nights they were reading Charles Dickens's novel, A Tale of Two Cities.
"Do you think that it will seem long to me, while I wait for her in the better land where I trust both you and I will be mercifully sheltered?" [6] He read and then with a sigh he closed the book with a sudden move.
She blinked and looked up at him. He placed the book to the table next to them gently and looked intently at her.
"There might come a time when the police will come to you. If not the police then probably the FBI or the DEA. In order to get to me," he warned her, his fingers tilting her chin up.
"What do I do then?" she asked with a determined voice that reflected her loyalty to him and that earned her one of his smiles that were filled with pride.
Because they both knew that her loyalty could not be bought and here she was giving it to him. At least to an extent. And that meant a lot. For both of them.
"You wait for me to come and get you," he simply said and she nodded.
He wrapped his hands around her bringing her closer. Their bodies intertwined.
He then brushed her hair away from her face so tenderly that she could not believe that his hands could inflict unspeakable pain to others.
"I will always come for you Caroline," he promised and it was the first night she pressed her lips to his.
So she waited. Patiently she waited for Klaus to work his magic so that her lawyer would come and get her out of this place she so much loathed.
She elegantly crossed her palms over the metallic surface of the table and looked at her reflection in the two way mirror on the wall.
She was still wearing her white gown she used for her performance. Red lips and beautifully styled hair. From the stage of Loup Noir and the arms of Niklaus Mikaelson straight to one of the CPD's districts accompanied -for lack of a better word- by the feds.
It was all for show. They could have brought her here at any other time. At any day. Yet they chose to come and get her from the club while she was with Klaus.
She was now in an interrogation room. She remembered these kind of suffocating box rooms from a few years ago all too well. It was places like this one, all sterile and unfriendly, where she would ask for help and her cries would go unanswered.
People thought that after Elizabeth Forbes's death, and her part in it, she had not only lost her mother but also part of her mind. And the man that she was accusing for doing such vile things to her was the one that loved her, cherished her and above all helped her when her medication was obviously not working.
She never had any bruises to show to them so there was no evidence. She had no bruises to show to them because her "loving caring boyfriend" made sure to keep her locked up until she would heal. For her own good he would say.
"She had tried to hurt herself again" he would say.
He made sure that everyone would not believe her. No one believed that a highly valued member of their society was stalking her and raping her and beating her. No one believed that due to his family connections he had doctors in his paycheck. Doctors that signed on papers proving her mental instability.
They would interrogate her for being assaulted in rooms like this one. Until they would turn her more into a victim than she already was.
Oh yes. She still remembered.
She remembered how she was fidgeting back then with her long sleeves unable to hide her trembling. She remembered how restless and helpless she felt. How she mumbled songs under her breath in order to feel safe. She remembered her despair and guilt all too well.
This time was different.
This time she was sitting on the chair with her back all straight and her expression neutral.
She was checking her red nails with a look of boredom knowing that behind that mirror people were already watching her. She could tell.
Being with Klaus Mikaelson and having people watching her every move had made her even more alert. She knew when she was being watched. She could sense when a set of eyes or even more were following her every movement. And right now people were watching her.
But what she did not expect was to see a familiar face when the door opened and two officers came in.
She blinked for a moment, her neutral expression slipping for a fraction of a second.
She gulped when the man came near her and smiled encouragingly to her.
But she had left Mystic Falls behind her for a reason. She had left her old life behind for a reason and seeing someone that belonged to that life made her relive everything all over again.
"Matt?" she stuttered breathlessly and got up. Her legs shaking.
Her old friend came near her and hugged her. His hug a warm gesture that didn't melt her ice.
Damn those wounds that refused to close and damn Matt Donovan that had followed her here and threw salt on them just by being near her.
"Hello Caroline," Matt whispered and hugged her tighter.
For a moment she closed her eyes and let his familiar scent wash over her. For a moment she left like her old self. She felt like the cheerleader she used to be. Full of joy and laughter. She raised her hands to hug Matt back but half way she let them fall and backed away from her friend's embrace.
"What are you doing here Matt?" she asked him with a harsh voice and Matt looked at her surprised as if he could not believe that she would greet him like this.
He looked hurt.
Behind him another man had followed. He was dressed in a black suit and holding black briefcase.
"Hello Miss Forbes. I am the detective signed to your case. My name is Galen Vaughn," he introduced himself and extended his hand to her.
She didn't shake his hand but raised her eyebrow as she sat back down to her seat.
"An FBI agent? How quaint," she sighed bored and almost huffed in exasperation. God she had even started sounding like Klaus!
Galen Vaughn sat to the opposite side of the table without any comment and Matt sat next to her. Caroline refused to feel intimidated by the stern way Vaughn looked at her.
"Mr. Donovan has informed me in length of your case. He is very interested in your safety as we all are," the agent said in a professional voice and Caroline leaned back to her seat with an ironic expression which didn't seem to deter the agent.
"I know that upon Logan Fell's escape you were visited by the police but I would like to ask you some more questions if I may," the man continued but Caroline shook her head.
"I am afraid I can't answer to any questions without my lawyer present," she replied with an innocent smile.
"And your lawyer is no other than Elijah Mikaelson correct?" Galen Vaughn asked her.
"I assume you've heard of him," she noted with a mocking smile understanding all too well where this was leading and she felt Matt shifting uncomfortably next to her.
Galen Vaughn then smiled to her as if accepting an unspoken challenge.
"You have created strong ties with the Mikaelson family haven't you Miss Forbes?" he commented intrigued and she let her nails leave a soft trace on the metal of the table as the agent continued, "Elijah Mikaelson is your lawyer. You have worked for Rebekah Mikaelson in Detroit and now for Klaus Mikaelson which also happens to be your latest love affair if I am to believe the rumors," he said and she shrugged.
"Is any of this any relevant with the case of my ex detective?" she asked in a casual tone.
"It depends," Vaughn said and Caroline kept her expression neutral.
"On what?" she asked pretending to be clueless.
"It depends on your willingness to enter the witness protection program," he told her and Caroline narrowed her eyes at him.
"And if I was willing?"
"Then all you would have to do was cooperate with us," Galen Vaughn said in a rigid tone that now resembled her expression.
"Which means?" she asked with a slight tilt of her head.
"In exchange for our protection we would like you to testify against the Mikaelson family," he informed her and she let her eyes widen.
"Testify? Testify what?" she asked coloring her voice with the right shade of confusion. Too bad she was not recording this. Klaus would be having a blast with her performance.
"We would like you to testify about any illegal activity you might have seen the Mikaelsons engaging in," Vaughn pressured her but she blinked and then bit her lip pretending to not understand what Vaughn was telling her.
"I am afraid I can't help you with this detective," she replied nonplussed and Matt covered her palm with his over the table.
"Caroline listen to him," Matt pleaded with her and she turned her head and looked at him showing perplexed. She squeezed his hand and gave him her most honest looking expression.
"But I can't help. I can't testify about things I know nothing about," she incredulously told him and contemplated how aside singing maybe she could also try acting.
Galen Vaughn however didn't seem to buy into her act. She did her best not to snort at this charade. It was not as if Klaus included her into his business anyway but she indeed had eyes and ears. Something that the FBI seemed to count on.
"Do you really believe that these people will keep you safe Caroline?" the agent asked her using his most sincere tone.
She nonchalantly shrugged; she was not buying into his act either.
"It is Miss Forbes for you and I have no idea what you are talking about," she coldly told him and the agent's huff felt like a personal victory for her.
"Yes you do Miss Forbes. You rely on Klaus Mikaelson for protection. Everyone knows who you are. They call you the mistress of the King do they not?" he tried to pressure her in a more aggressive manner now and Caroline smirked.
"I am a singer at his bar. I am called many things occasionally. None of which should be your concern especially if they concern my personal life," she pointed out with a sweet and yet unrelenting tone.
Galen Vaughn sighed and took a folder out of his briefcase.
"You have already dated one abuser Miss Forbes and obviously it was not a lesson well learned," he observed and the atmosphere changed in the room.
Suddenly there was a sharp edge in Caroline's eyes. One that didn't go unnoticed.
The agent threw some photographs over the table and Caroline pressed her lips unable look away from the photos.
"Those photos were taken in Logan's cell. He is obsessed with but you already know this first hand. And that kind of obsession does not go away," Galen continued and Caroline took a deep breath.
Logan Fell seemed to have written her name in every wall and surface of his cell. There were pictures of her too on those walls.
Her breath became labored and she tried to regain her composure.
Galen Vaughn placed more photographs on the table. She focused on the bruises. The blood. The cuts. The swollen face with the broken nose and cut lips. Welts and purple color all over.
"And these are pictures of you after you got admitted in the hospital the night Logan Fell beat you and almost killed you," the agent unemotionally said and she seemed to be in a daze. He then threw more photos towards her direction and she blinked confused.
It was not her in those pictures. Some photos were depicting men and others women. All of them brutally killed or beaten. In all sorts of ways. It was turning her stomach.
"And these are some pictures from other victims. Victims like you. Only those people were not facing Logan Fell but members of the Mikaelson family. And they were not as lucky as you," Vaughn mercilessly accused her as if she was responsible for those deaths.
All pretences of civility now gone.
"Lucky? You think I was… lucky?" Caroline rasped as she looked straight at the eyes of the pretentious asshole she was facing.
"Caroline try to listen to him. Please?" Matt tried to reason with her and Caroline cast him a gaze full of anger.
"Listen to what? To him trying to guilty trip me into doing what he wants? And what about you? How are you willing to stand by and join him in a crusade that has nothing to do with my "safety" but everything to do with his manhunt. Let me guess my cooperation will also bring the magical promotion word on the table. For both of you," she accused them. She was turning to ice now. The cold sweat was gone. She was feeling nothing. She didn't care for nothing.
Matt tried to make her listen to him but she has raised her walls high. Nothing could penetrate her armor now and if anyone tried they would live to regret it.
"Caroline this is not what this is about-"
"Sure Matt," she mocked and the detective tried once more with her.
"Miss Forbes your friend came here to help you. He sees more clear than you. I understand that your fear is blinding you but you are not the first woman Klaus Mikaelson gets to his bed. What do you think happens to his lovers once he gets bored with them?" he questioned and Caroline rolled her eyes at him disinterested.
"I am here to give you a chance to save yourself before it is too late for you," Vaughn told her now frustrated.
Caroline threw her head back and laughed.
"That's funny. Because when I needed your protection the first time you were not anywhere to be found. Not the first, or the second or any other time that followed. I had to go through hell and almost die for any you to come to my aid," she reminded him and heard the man sigh. She also noticed the guilty expression that was now painted in Matt's features.
"The system is not without fault. I understand that but-"
"But the truth is that if in your mind I was not involved with Klaus Mikaelson we would not be having this conversation. I would still be an irrelevant case while Logan Fell would be on the loose coming after me," Caroline interrupted him with a glare.
"He is still coming for you Miss Forbes. You still need our protection," Vaughn said.
"The same protection you have me years ago? The same protection you gave me when you let him escape?" Caroline asked and then took one of the photos from the table and inspected it. It was a man or so she guessed. Instead of a face he had a gaping gruesome bloody hole.
Yes she knew what Klaus was capable of. She threw the photo towards the agent and then pointed to the rest of the pictures with indignation and resentment.
"Are all these pictures of dead people meant to scare me? Because when I was will Logan I was hoping to be one of them. And if you did not need me to become your snitch you would not care if I was to become one more faceless victim photo would you?" she asked the blonde man with a mocking smile full of contempt.
"Caroline you do not know what you are talking about. Detective Vaughn is one of the best in his department. He can help you. Let him!" Matt begged her and Caroline's eyes grew bigger and laughed as if she had heard the best joke ever.
"Let him help me? You will protect me Detective? How? Logan Fell escaped. This is how capable you all are at keeping poor victims like me that have not learned their lessons safe," Caroline's sarcasm had Galen Vaughn realizing that there would be no way to sway her to his side.
"Caroline do not do this," Matt tried again but Caroline shook her head.
"This is pointless anyway. As I have said I cannot testify about things I have no idea about and how much more about things that are not true. Trust me detective. From what I have seen there is no other family that abides to the law as much as the Mikaelsons," she innocently said with a bright smile. Well she was not lying. The Mikaelsons did abide to law. To Klaus' law.
The FBI agent clenched his jaw.
"Miss Forbes I understand that you might be feel a bit unstable especially after what happened to you after your mother's death-"
Caroline abruptly got up.
"We are done!" she announced and Matt got up and caught her elbow gently.
"Care please-"
"You are really going to let this asshole do this to me Matt? After everything?" she accused him. She was ready to pounce.
Her chin rose and she refused to back down.
"I want to leave. Now. You have no right to keep me here," she declared and it was exactly then that the door of the interrogation room opened.
"My client is right," a calm yet unyielding accented voice prevailed in the room and Galen Vaughn immediately placed the open folder on top of the photos in order to hide them from Elijah Mikaelson's inquiring gaze.
Caroline finally breathed in relived and smiled. Elijah approached the table and sent her an encouraging nod which she reciprocated.
Galen Vaughn got up.
"Mr. Mikaelson I assume," he said in an authoritative tone.
Elijah titled his head in affirmation.
"I am Miss Forbes's lawyer. One that should have been called here upon Miss Forbes's arrival," Elijah commented politely but with emphasis.
"We simply wanted to inform Miss Forbes over Logan Fell's case and offer her our protection. Your presence was hardly required," Vaughn said dismissively.
Elijah smirked and extended his hand towards Caroline.
"Allow me to disagree, Agent?"
"Vaughn. Galen Vaughn," the detective replied and Elijah nodded with a smile as Caroline went near him.
"Are you alright Miss Forbes?" Elijah asked her concerned knowing all too well that he would be unable to contain Klaus's wrath if anything happened to this girl. Thankfully Caroline nodded but not before sending a condemning glare towards the FBI agent and her friend.
"Can we get out of here?" she eagerly asked Elijah.
"Is my client's presence required?" Elijah Mikaelson asked in a professional manner.
"No, I think we covered everything," Galen Vaughn said casting a pointed look towards Caroline.
"That you did. And without her lawyer present. While you sent FBI agents in the middle of the night to her working place so to escort Miss Forbes to an interrogation room without any warrant," Elijah said and Caroline was certain that this was a power game between the FBI and the Mikaelsons.
"If there has been any inconvenience we can press charges Caroline," Elijah informed her and Caroline raised her elegant eyebrow.
"I do not think that will be necessary Elijah. As long as this does not happen again," she said with a cold voice and Galen Vaughn and Matt stayed silent.
Elijah took his professional card from the inner pocket of his jacket and handed it to Galen Vaughn.
"If you require my client's presence again you should first inform me and I will arrange you a meeting with Miss Forbes if she will be so inclined," Elijah told Vaughn and the detective smiled mockingly.
"I will keep this in mind," Galen Vaughn said, "I am sorry for any inconvenience Miss Forbes."
Caroline smiled ironically as Elijah placed his hand on the small of her back and escorted her outside the interrogation room.
And all she could think of was that it might have been Elijah Mikaelson that was getting her out of this place but in reality it was Klaus that had come for her. As he had promised.
For each man kills the thing he loves, Yet each man does not die.
.
By all let this be heard,
Some do it with a bitter look,
Some with a flattering word,
The coward does it with a kiss,
The brave man with a sword.
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References:
[1],[2],[3] : The Ballad of Reading Gaol by Oscar Wilde
[4],[5],[6] : A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
No beta.