[~Don't Bury me Alive~]

It was a somewhat long drive from the private airstrip of the Mikaelson Company to Klaus' secluded mansion.

When they landed a luxury armored SUV with tinted bulletproof windows waited for them.

In the backseat of the Mercedes, Caroline had tried to sit at the edge of her seat close to the door but Klaus wouldn't let her. He brought her to him and wrapped his arm around her waist and held her tightly by his side no matter how uncomfortable she felt. His behavior was proprietary and he was set on showing to her and everyone else that watched them that she was his property.

Klaus wasn't allowing her any personal space and she hated it. She could tell he was doing it on purpose and she hated being so close to him. It messed with her mind and her defenses. She couldn't handle it. She couldn't handle the way her body seemed to battle her mind and wanted to relax by his side while it was still tensing at the close proximity. She feared Klaus and she feared her body's reaction to him. Her heart's reaction to him.

Eventually, she rested her head against Klaus's shoulder and watched the city she had so missed blur into moving flashes through the windows. Klaus was playing with her hair and it was a hypnotic sensation that lulled her to sleep. Exhaustion was finally taking over her and her eyelids felt heavy until they dropped and Klaus pulled her closer allowing her to get more comfortable and use his body as her pillow. She remembered that she had mumbled something only for him to kiss the top of her head.

When Caroline opened her eyes again she felt disoriented and then tensed when she realized where she was. She was in Klaus' arms, surrounded by his masculine scent. This time when she tried to detach herself from his hold he let her and she realized why.

They were…home.

The car was rounding up the high wall that stretched seemingly for miles before it finally reached the gate of Klaus' house.

Caroline now remembered the kind of fortress Klaus' mansion was. One that she used to live in. She used to feel safe in here and back then she used to be able to come and go as she wished but now she knew that this place would be her prison. Klaus would monitor her every move and she wouldn't be allowed to leave this place unless he allowed it. If he ever did. That thought alone made her heart drop. She already felt entombed in even before the gates closed behind the car and locked.

There were armed guards everywhere. Trained dogs. Security cameras, solid walls, and electric fences. She had never thought this place as a prison before but that was what it truly was. She used to come in and out freely because Klaus used to allow it. Now she doubted he would permit her to leave this place. Not unattended for sure and even though Klaus had shown her the hidden passage from where she could get out of the house in case of emergency or danger she also knew that he must have secured that exit too now.

When the car parked at the path that led at the main entrance of the house Klaus pulled her along with him and helped her step outside the car. He once more wrapped his hand around her waist and Caroline bit her tongue to not lash out to him as he practically carried her in the house. Lucien followed them and some guards stood near the doors of the house. Everyone watched and Klaus could have very well put a leash on her and pulled her along. She didn't fight though. She couldn't. Not when her father's life was in such danger. She had to coax Klaus into showing mercy. At least into honoring their deal. She had effectively taken her father's place as Klaus' prisoner and as far as she knew prisoners didn't have rights.

When they finally entered the foyer of the house Klaus let her go. The surroundings were familiar but Caroline felt as if she had never stepped foot in this house before. It somehow seemed cold and impersonal to her now.

She didn't bother getting reacquainted with what was meant to become her home again.

Before Klaus could say anything she did.

"I want to see my father," she said without preamble and Klaus watched her with a detached look.

"He is back in his house recovering."

Caroline took in a deep breath to stop herself from lashing out.

"He needs a hospital," she urged Klaus that remained indifferent to her plea.

"He'll be fine."

Caroline shook her head unable to hold back her worry and anger any longer.

"I want to-"

Klaus stepped forward, his cold stare effectively cutting her off.

"We will discuss about your wants and needs and which of those matter and which not later," he pointed out and Caroline felt as if he had just slapped her.

Klaus cupped her cheek with his hand when she opened her mouth to object and gave her a harsh glare that was followed by his thumb sweeping over her lips in a forbidding motion that felt both demeaning and patronizing. He had never treated her like this in the past. Certainly not in front of others. Caroline realized that he was putting her in her place which obviously would not be the one she used to have. She was now Klaus' plaything slash possession. His prisoner because as he had said in the plane he now owned her life. He owned her.

"Behave love and I may allow you to visit that sorry excuse you have for a father in a couple of days," he said in a soft voice that contradicted the ice that had taken over every aspect of him, "It is up to you," he warned her and gave her a quick peck on the lips while she kept her eyes on him and remained still as a statue as realization dawned upon her.

Klaus wouldn't kill her for running away but his punishment would be far worse. He would bury her alive.

"I have work to do," Klaus dismissed her, "Go with Lucien."

Lucien appeared by her side just as Klaus turned around to leave while she tried to swallow down her tears.

Klaus cast her one more glance before he left. One of distaste as he took in her appearance.

"Make yourself presentable for dinner," Klaus told her dejectedly before he left, expecting from her to follow his command.

Caroline walked behind Lucien and she didn't fail to notice the installed cameras in every corner of every corridor. She also didn't fail to notice that another guard kept an eye on her as he shadowed her from a few steps behind. More guards were placed upstairs.

Klaus was not going to leave her any room to breathe it would seem.

Caroline remained silent and kept her thoughts to herself. Lucien kept glancing at her and she knew that he probably felt pity for her now. Especially after the way, Klaus treated her in front of him.

"Klaus has a lot of work to take care of given he decided to retrieve you himself in such short notice," Lucien started trying to break the ice and somehow apologize for his boss. Not that Klaus would ever need such a thing. Not to mention that somehow Lucien also treated her like an object that belonged to Klaus which he now had to 'retrieve'.

"Excuse his absence for now Caroline."

"I'll try to survive the pain of missing him dearly," Caroline bit out and Lucien grinned.

"He's right," Lucien chuckled, "You've changed. You've got spunk now. I like it."

"Wait for it," Caroline retorted under clenched teeth, "You may change your mind."

Lucien chuckled but then turned serious.

"Klaus has appointed me to your security service," Lucien informed her as he kept walking up the second flight of marble stairs.

"So you will be the official guard dog slash jailor," Caroline mumbled not bothering to pretending that she wasn't petty about it.

"Basically."

Lucien's cool acceptance made her bristle but instead, she only snorted.

"Demoted much?"

"Promotion," he only said.

Caroline scoffed but kept walking and when they reached the door of her old bedroom with Klaus that was also guarded by another bodyguard Lucien turned around and faced her with a solemn look. The constant humor that colored his eyes was gone.

"You are very important to him Caroline," Lucien confessed, looking at her with sympathy trying to make her understand, "He wouldn't trust your safety to just anyone."

Caroline's lips curled in a bitter line. Somehow the new code for her imprisonment was now 'safety'.

"Whatever you say, Lucien," she shrugged, "Hope your new 'promotion' works out for you better than it works out for me."

"He has missed you, Caroline."

"Yeah. I saw exactly how much."

This time Lucien regarded her with pity before he opened the doors of the bedroom for her to get in.

She became hesitant for a moment staring at the opulent room beyond the open doors with a pained expression.

She didn't want to go in. Not to that room. Not to the room she used to share with Klaus.

Lucien waited for her to get inside and she knew that if she wouldn't on her own he would make her.

Once she did manage to enter the room and take a few steps forward she felt as if the walls would close in on her.

Instinctively she stepped back.

"Can I use another room?" she asked, almost begged, trying to keep the despair out of her voice.

"Nope," Lucien only said making sure to pop out the last syllable of the word.

"If you need anything you can use the intercom device," he suggested before he closed the doors and Caroline heard the lock turning.

He had locked her in.

The room was warm but Caroline wrapped her arms around her body trying to stop herself from shivering.

So many memories assaulted her at once. She had been so happy here. How could everything have become so tainted? So ugly?

Caroline's eyes traveled around slowly. Everything in the room was the same. Klaus hadn't changed anything. Anything… except for one thing that made her gasp.

Time came to an abrupt hold and she stumbled back, her hand flying over her heart.

Her cheeks started burning hot as the past collided with the present.

Five years ago

"Come on now…Nik," she whispered and walked towards the couch, close to the windows, that was now bathed in sunlight.

She loved the way Klaus' eyes filled with heat. She rarely called Nik except for a few times in bed.

Only members of his family called him that.

But today. Here in his art studio, she couldn't resist.

She wouldn't have considered doing this with anyone else but this was Klaus and she wanted him to have all parts of her. She wasn't ashamed of him. If anything the way he always looked at her made her feel bold and feminine and powerful. There were times she felt that she could have him wrapped around her little finger and she loved holding that power over him.

She undid the belt of her silk robe slowly.

"Draw me like one of your French girls," she dramatically said with a blasé tone letting her robe fall around her legs leaving her completely bare in front of him.

Despite the desire that erupted in his eyes and the way Klaus slowly licked his lips at the sight she presented for him he couldn't help but roll his eyes making her giggle no matter how much she had tried to maintain her femme fatale guise.

No matter how much Klaus grumbled she always made him watch the Titanic with her. Endless times she cried in his arms when Jack died and Klaus always mumbled annoyed how she had an artist that could actually draw her much better than Jack could ever draw Rose.

And right now his wish would come true. It was their anniversary after all.

Klaus' exasperation at her antics however vanished when she touched her body slowly before she lied down on the couch.

"How do you want me...Nik?" she asked him, ready to comply with everything he asked from her. She would lie back in any way he wanted and let him paint her and she would be his muse, his lover… anything he wanted.

And even though she should be feeling vulnerable and exposed she trusted him fully and felt safe. The moment was empowering as she surrendered to him and when his eyes darkened she knew she had him.

He had surrendered to her too.

Caroline couldn't take away her eyes from the wall above the fireplace that was across the king-sized bed.

There was a painting set there. One that she had never seen before.

Back when she had modeled naked for Klaus she had believed it would be romantic for Klaus to draw her but she had ended up spending endless hours without moving and by the time Klaus was done he wouldn't even show her the painting.

He had said it was for his eyes only and no matter how much she had tried to convince him otherwise or how much she had tried to sneak past him and steal a peek he wouldn't let her. Instead, he had made love to her in his art studio, right there on that uncomfortable couch and on the floor over and over again until she forgot all about the painting or her exhaustion. By the time Klaus carried her back to their room, she hadn't been able to think, walk or even move.

Klaus had told her then that he would keep her trapped in that painting forever and she would only be his and no one else's.

Eventually, her painting had disappeared and she never saw it.

Until now.

Even if she didn't know it was that painting she would recognize Klaus' work everywhere. He loved to paint and sketch and most of his pieces hung in the walls of this mansion and in Elijah's house.

Only this was that painting alright and it shouldn't be here.

She recalled that before she left above the fireplace Klaus had hung an old painting he had made. But now the painting with the snowflake was gone.

In its place, there was that infamous portrait of hers. Her nude portrait where she seemed ethereal, beautiful and voluptuous. There was nothing crude or crass about this painting. If anything the art was refined, sophisticated. Aesthetically pleasing. Truly tasteful even though it made Caroline's cheeks flame up.

Klaus had done an unbelievable work. If she didn't know any better she would believe that somehow he had indeed magically trapped her inside the painting. Or at least a far more beautiful version of her that looked so…alive. So real in the illusion it presented.

The colors were vibrant and intense even though there seemed to be a soft glow in the painting too. Every line was precise, the imagery erotic, the result sublime.

What Caroline was seeing was truly beautiful. It made her heart ache and created a yearning inside her. A longing that felt raw and humbling at once. It was a turn on but it was more than that. It was passionate and sweet, alluring and reverent. There were no words to describe it and Caroline couldn't help but wonder if this was how Klaus used to see her all those years ago.

The girl in the painting looked like her only she resembled a goddess. Both angelic and sinful. The resemblance to her was there but the woman in the painting depicted genuine beauty. Her past self was lying over silken sheets, staring back with abandon, trust and…love.

Caroline didn't know what to think or feel. She felt uncomfortable but the painting was also drawing her in. She couldn't stop staring. It was as if the colors had trapped part of her soul inside their shades and she couldn't break free from the hold it had on her.

From the hold Klaus had on her.

He had been right. He had trapped her in that painting. Locked her in not allowing her to get out. He had stolen a piece from her. One she had given him freely and he held it hostage.

He put the painting on display. Here in this gilded cage. Where he would keep her too now. Both the painting and her in captivity.

Caroline became so lost to what she was seeing and the pain and the memories that sight brought forth that she had missed something that was just as painful and shocking.

It would take her a while to realize that the model of the painting also had something that shouldn't have been there and yet Klaus had painted it in. Back then, all those years ago he had added something else to his work of art.

The woman of the painting had a wedding ring on her finger.