[~Reckless Motion~]

Caroline felt as if she was put through the wringer.

She couldn't believe that in less than twenty-four hours her life had turned upside down like this. Felicity Martin was gone and now Caroline Forbes was staring her reflection in the mirror. She felt as if she was sleepwalking in another woman's shoes. What happened in the shower between Klaus and her had numbed her inside. After the orgasm, he gave her he had been attentive and gentle. He dried her body and hair with a fluffy towel. He wrapped her in a cashmere robe and treated her as if she was made of glass. He was caring but she knew better.

Klaus had a lot of venom. He sank his teeth inside her and tore her apart. She was rotting inside. He infected her and she didn't know how to get the poison out. He made her feel things she didn't want. How could she want him and hate him at the same time? There were remnants of love inside her that still existed and the embers needed just a bit of stoking to turn to a raging fire but how could that be when Klaus abused her like that? When there was a part of her that wanted to hurt him too? What was happening to her?

Caroline shook her head and focused on her appearance. She wore a tight dress that reached mid-thigh and showed a lot of cleavage so she combined it with a drop shoulder crop top and a belt. She chose a pair of strappy high heels and even though this wasn't near as conservative as she would have preferred it would have to do. It was not as if her closet had modest clothes and Klaus threw the clothes she had brought with her in the trash.

At least she had managed to cover the bruise he had left in her upper arm that indeed looked bad in the light of day. It had an angry bluish color and it did hurt. This was the first time Klaus had physically hurt her and she didn't know what to think or to feel about it. Would he be abusing like this only to apologize later and do it again? She hoped not.

Caroline adjusted the sleeves over her shoulders. She had lost some pounds in the last years and the top's sleeves tended to fall down her shoulders. There wasn't much she could do about this either. In any case, this was the best she could do and she still felt uncomfortable.

Klaus had told her that he expected her to come down for breakfast where they'd talk about how things would be from now and on. She didn't know what he wanted to talk about. He had already explained her situation to her in the shower. She had no options, no freedom. He had won, he'd get anything he wanted and as he told her the faster she came to terms with it the better.

The only problem was that she didn't know how to come to terms with the fact that she was stuck with Klaus Mikaelson. How would she survive him? How would she survive the onslaught of emotions he caused in her?

She just didn't know.

Caroline felt as if she was going to suffocate. She didn't need Klaus' guards to show her around the house. She had lived here before. She didn't need them to escort her everywhere. It is not as if she would be able to escape this place.

Just as she went down the stairs she huffed and turned around crossing her hands in front of her chest glaring at Lucien that looked at her amused.

"Are you going to keep breathing down my neck like this?" she snapped at Lucien Castle that arched a brow at her.

"I am here to ensure your comfort, Caroline."

"Oh, please!"

"I have strict orders to not allow you out of my sight," Lucien shrugged and Caroline let out a deep breath looking upwards praying to any cosmic power that could be listening to give her patience.

"Well, do it from a distance," she fired back at him and before he could argue with her she approached him and jabbed a finger in his chest, "preferably from another room since Klaus has this whole place wired anyway and you can monitor my every move at any time," Caroline pointed out before she gave him a mocking smile, "I assume you can check up on me even from your phone."

Lucien pressed his lips to stop himself from smiling.

"Still-"

"Still," she cut him before he could continue, "I wonder how long you'd get to keep your promotion as my guard dog if I… let's say kissed you right now?"

Lucien's mouth dropped open as she let her fingers wander up and down his pretty tie. The idea of kissing him, cute as he may was, was abhorrent to her somehow but he didn't need to know this.

Lucien backtracked at once as if she had burned him, the guards next to him looking just as uncomfortable when her gaze traveled at them too.

Caroline stopped herself from rolling her eyes. She had guessed right. Klaus paranoid as he was must have already issued the whole hands off my woman thing. In the past when they used to date he had beaten up guards for giving her even a glance after all. Possessive asshole as Klaus was this could at least come handy to her. Of course, she knew that if she did anything like that she would have to pay the consequences too but at this point, she was about to go nuts with this treatment so to hell with it.

"Step back Lucien unless you want me to step closer," Caroline warned him making sure to keep the provocative stance Katherine had taught her a long time ago and Lucien cleared his throat.

"Klaus would never buy it," he told her with a baleful look, but there was an edge in his tone.

Caroline snorted. She hated using such cheap tricks but hey…she was Katherine's cousin and she knew how to play her games too. Katherine had taught her a lot of things Klaus hated even though Caroline had used every trick in Katherine's book only to seduce and please him.

An ache formed in her heart. Oh, how she missed Katherine! If only she could call her and let her know she was here.

Caroline pushed that thought aside and focused on Lucien again.

"He wouldn't," she agreed with him. Klaus would never believe she suddenly had the hots for Lucien or that Lucien would betray his trust when he knew that he'd lose his head immediately, "and he would still cut off your balls anyway," Caroline beamed at Lucien Castle brazenly, turned around and went towards one of the corridors that led to the kitchen.

Alone.

The contentment of making Klaus' men back off didn't last long.

Before Caroline could even go to the kitchen strong male hands grabbed her, picked her up and twirled her around startling her.

"Now that was awesome little sister! Never saw Klaus' bitch so flustered like a headless chicken before!" Kol Mikaelson laughed and Caroline had to punch him to make him put her down. Which he did when he got her into the parlor.

"Ouch," he complained while he still grinned like crazy.

Rage filled Caroline at the sight of Klaus' brother. The memory of the video call from the other night appeared clear in her head and with it, the terror, the betrayal and the horror came rushing back. Kol had aimed her father with a gun! He had beaten her dad and played with her fear and his life. All so to aid his brother in blackmailing her!

She always knew Kol was a trigger happy maniac but that didn't stop her from wanting to claw his eyes out.

"You psychotic son of a bitch!"

Kol stepped to the side when she marched at him not giving her the chance to hit him or leave the room. He seemed surprised by her outburst and then he tilted his head as if in deep thought before he nodded at her.

"Sure," he shrugged, "no arguments for the psychotic and Esther was kind of bitch yeah," Kol accepted with a lascivious grin before he gave her a sweet 'innocent' smile, "and here I forced myself to wake up this early," he whined even though it wasn't that early but she imagined for Kol it was, "and came to greet you back home for you to treat me like this! Darling what have I done to warrant such a welcome?" he asked her perplexed and Caroline couldn't tell if he was being serious about this or not. She could never tell. Kol had always been manic, hyper and unhinged but he was always kind with in the past. Sure he got in her nerves but he treated her like a sister he wanted to annoy and not hurt and to do this now…it made her sick!

"You pulled a gun on my father! You beat the hell out of him!" she exclaimed enraged and Kol's eyes widened.

"I told you I didn't touch a hair from that fucker's head," he denied looking offended even though he usually took pride when it came to destruction and bloodshed, "Nik did!"

"Well don't worry I hate him as much as you," Caroline fumed and Kol threw his head back and laughed.

"Double ouch," he chuckled and then narrowed his eyes at her examining her from head to toe with a look of delight. He acted as if he was seeing her for the first time and it unsettled her, "you aren't that faint of heart anymore, are you?" he observed with a pleased smirk.

"As for your father dearest I'd apologize but I'd be lying and lying is a sin so they say," Kol unrepentantly chirped and Caroline wanted to scream at him again but he raised his hand stopping her from saying anything, "I do apologize for disturbing you. But I admit that it was totally worth it since you've returned to us."

"I haven't returned," Caroline spat, "I am being forced into this prison your brother made for me."

Kol rolled his eyes. He went and made himself a drink that he quickly drank in one gulp before he refilled his glass again.

"You are being overdramatic now."

Caroline glowered at Kol that drained his drink again. How much did he have to drink at nine in the morning?

"You know what! You stay away from my father and me!" she exploded, "I may have to tolerate your brother but as I sure as hell don't have to do the same with you!"

Just as she was about to turn around and leave Kol tossed the crystal glass carelessly, run at her, picked her up and soon she landed on him on a couch. She hit his shoulder trying to get up, a string of curses escaping her lips making Kol whistle at her.

Kol was like an overgrown man child for crying out loud! A psychotic murderous one that always messed around with people. Back when she had first been with Klaus Kol made her life hell until Klaus put an end to it and after that Kol kept pestering her. None of the other Mikaelsons had admitted what they truly did; none but Kol. It was her fault she hadn't believed him at first. He had been the only honest one. Not even Elijah had been truthful with her. But Kol was nuts and she was so stupidly in love with Klaus that she had chosen to keep the rose-colored blinders on. If anything this had been her fault.

"Oh come on! Don't get your knickers in a twist little sister!" Kol kissed her cheek and she pushed him away trying to get up.

"I am not your sister!" she yelled at him and Kol wrapped his hands around her waist keeping her on his lap.

"You'll be soon enough if Nik has a say on this."

Caroline froze.

She opened her mouth to retort but as Kol's words registered she remembered the wedding ring Klaus had painted on her on that nude portrait.

Her body slackened over Kol that bounced her on his legs happily as if she was a child.

"No, no, no!" she shook her head. Marrying Klaus? No way in hell!

Kol snorted when she jumped up as if the whole world was on fire.

"Denial, sweet denial," Kol joked and nonchalantly leaned back to the couch, "It will be fun for all of us to become a big happy family. I don't think Nik will be that happy with his father in law though. Talk about awkward family dinners," Kol pointed out with a sardonic smile.

Caroline watched Kol seriously this time. She couldn't believe he could be so aloof with this.

"He almost beat my father to death Kol. Both of you-"

"Enough already with the dramatics," Kol waved dismissively with his hand and crossed his ankle over his knee, "Daddy asshole will be fine. Nik only roughened him up a bit. Well…a lot," Kol's pretense at false concern was contradicted by his widened smile, "but he still draws breath…that alone should be celebrated a miracle," he snickered as he hinted at Klaus' reputation, "served him right if you ask me."

Caroline swallowed down harshly at Kol's murderous intent now. He looked dark and vicious and Caroline felt as if ice was thrown at her. Kol Mikaelson had put her father on his list. No. This couldn't be happening. That meant that only Klaus stood between her father and sure death and if anything Klaus wanted her father dead even more than Kol ever could. And now that he had her trapped in here how long it would take for Klaus to decide that keeping her father alive didn't make any difference? It is not as if she could leave him. He had her literally trapped. His blackmail could mean nothing now. Could she trust him to keep his word? And now Kol wanted to kill her father for fun. Oh God!

Caroline took a fortifying breath and went and sat at the couch's armrest and gave Kol a placating look.

"I know my father stole from you but-"

Kol's laughter was so cold that made Caroline tense. It was if spiders started crawling all over her skin.

"You think Nik beat the shit out of Bill for the money? Please," Kol kept laughing before he abruptly stopped giving Caroline a mental whiplash. Kol clicked his tongue loudly, "Nik was gunning after him for the way he treated you for years but you wouldn't let him hurt daddy dearest," Kol mockingly purred, "now that you haven't been here…oh well, fun time all around!" Kol exclaimed happily and Caroline's shoulders fell.

Kol wasn't lying.

Klaus hated Bill Forbes for years and it was more than her father being Mikael's accountant and his sly servant. Klaus had his own father issues. Her father wasn't physically abusive with her. He was more like negligent and didn't care. But that was enough for Klaus to hate him. An emotion that was prompted probably by Mikael's abuse and Klaus' own experience with an asshole father but that didn't stop Klaus from hating her father.

"Deep down Nik is a romantic at heart," Kol's irony was sharp, "All for the damsel's honor and whatnot," he pointed out and Caroline bit the inside of her cheek harshly. She tasted blood. She knew that in his twisted way Klaus wanted to get even with Bill for her.

"My relationship with my dad isn't any of his business," Caroline mumbled.

"You are his darling," Kol countered, "Of course it is his business."

"I am not his!" Caroline vehemently rejected what Kol said and gotten up from the couch wanting to put some distance between her and Klaus' brother.

"Yeah keep telling yourself that," Kol made fun of her statement showing her how ludicrous he found it, "But while you do that make sure not to tell him that."

There was something so straightforwardly serious in Kol now that it made Caroline blink. He rose from his seat and towered over her. It took everything in Caroline to not run away.

"I am not afraid of him."

Even as she said that she knew it lacked conviction.

"That's a lie," Kol drawled seeing right through her. His lips curling to a deadly smile, "You are afraid of what he will do to your father, no?"

Caroline pressed her lips at Kol's threat.

"See," Kol pointed out and there was a tone of pride in his voice that made Caroline sick. Kol was happy and proud by what Klaus was doing to her, "that talent of my brother is enviable," Kol praised Klaus impressed, "he can manipulate fear so well. All he needs is leverage and you wearing your heart on your sleeve for all the people that don't deserve it…well, it gives Nik an advantage."

Caroline hated how perceptive the Mikaelson brothers could be.

"I don't wear my heart in my sleeve," she disagreed before she added with a whisper, "…not anymore."

"Sure little sister," Kol snorted and Caroline grumbled.

"I don't!"

Kol shook his head amused at her childish insistence.

"You do. That's why Nik is so obsessed with you. He is one of the people that don't deserve it …but has it."

Caroline stumbled back as if she was struck.

"That's not true!"

"If you say so. In the meantime, however," Kol started as he circled her with slow steps making her feel uncomfortable, "heed my warning Caroline," he warned her and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek before he whispered in her ear, "Nik is not the same man you remember. He cares for you but he became another kind of monster during your absence," he moved back and locked his gaze with her, "don't push him."

If Kol, out of all people, got to the point where he had to warn her for Klaus then she was deep in shit.

Then something changed in Kol, so fast that Caroline felt dizzy. His body language changed completely. So did his intent.

Caroline stared back at Kol that now his gaze seemed to dig deep. Straight into every hidden secret she ever had and somehow what he seemed to see in her was not something she was going to like because Kol's expression changed. From grave, it turned intrigued.

"Or maybe you may be the only person that can do exactly that," he mused.

Caroline did not understand what Kol's riddles meant but for some reason, she felt as if the walls were closing in.

"Just tread carefully," Kol warned her again before he retrieved a knife from the inside of his jacket and Caroline gulped down in fear. Every instinct she had screamed danger.

Kol eyed her up and down. As if he planned to…carve her up.

She looked around as dread made her sweat all over. Where the hell was Klaus? Why was she stupid enough to get rid of Lucien?

Kol picked his nails with the edge of the blade that shone in his hand.

"A storm is coming love," Kol predicted and then pointed his blade at her and Caroline took a step back carefully, her mouth drying up, her whole body tensing, "he may try to keep you sheltered but who will shelter you from him now that he will finally rise?"

That got her attention.

"Rise?" she uttered, keeping her eyes still on the blade in Kol's hand, "what are you talking about?"

There was restless excitement in Kol now.

"You don't know?" he played with her, the color of his eyes taking a sinister tint, "he hasn't told you?"

"Tell me what?"

"What he plans to do now that you are back!" Kol gestured wildly and Caroline hoped he wouldn't throw the knife by mistake. She moved behind the couch ready to drop down and take cover, "he held off everything until he had you back," Kol huffed but then grinned, "and here you are! Nothing is holding him back anymore. He is going for it!"

"I don't-" Caroline inhaled in trying to contain her fear and her frustration. Kol was acting like a frenzied lunatic on crack! But what did she have to do with any of this madness? What the hell did he mean?

"What do you mean Kol?"

"The mantle!"

"The what?" Caroline asked befuddled.

"In the four years, you've been gone! He claimed the-"

The air charged with the kind of energy that seemed to suck all oxygen as a shadow fell over Caroline blocking all the sun from the window.

"Enough brother."

Klaus' voice was the crack of a whip. He was standing behind her. She turned her head to look at him and sighed in relief.

"Nik," Kol whined and twirled the blade in his hand.

Klaus pushed Caroline behind his body.

"Get out," Klaus snarled at his brother, "we'll talk later."

"I was just getting to the good part," Kol groused.

"Out!" Klaus roared making Caroline jump up.

"Yeah yeah, I am out," Kol mumbled without looking impressed by Klaus. However he did lower his knife and Caroline closed her eyes and was able to breathe a little bit better, "or else he will tear off my intestines or something as lovely as that," Kol told Caroline and tried to go near her but Klaus blocked his way with his body so Kol only blew her a kiss before he left.

Caroline felt lightheaded now. Klaus watched her with worry for a moment before he drew her in his arms. She hid in his embrace this time accepting him and his protection willingly.

She was safe but Kol's words still echoed in her head.

What the hell was happening and what did any of this have to do with her?