Hands linked together, Caroline was still glowing slightly from the most romantic date of her immortal life, at the sight of Stefan and the three Mikaelsons, Caroline couldn't stop herself from dropping Klaus's hand. She felt his disappointment that she immediately chose to hide their growing connection in front of witnesses. To escape his hurt eyes, she bolted towards Stefan, screaming in delight, "Stefan!"
The light-haired vampire caught her in his arms twirling her around once before placing her back down on her feet. He kept his arms around her, "I'm so happy to see you alive, I was worried about you when we couldn't find any trace of you after the explosion." Stefan dropped his hands from Caroline at both Klaus's and Rebekah's growls. Stepping back from the vampire, Caroline surprised the entire group of immortals by pulling Rebekah into a hug. "I'm so happy you guys are safe." She moved to pull both Finn and Sage into a similar welcoming hug. "I was worried I was never going to see you guys again. Where are Bonnie and Kol?"
Klaus strode forward placing a reassuring hand on Caroline's shoulder, "Maybe we should let our guests put their stuff down before we interrogate then, love?"
Caroline backed up into Klaus's chest, causing Rebekah's eyes to nearly burst out of their skull, when she allowed Klaus to loop an arm around her waist to pull her closer to him. Stefan coughed to clear the tension, "Why don't we meet back down here in a couple minutes and we will tell you everything we know?"
Caroline nodded, allowing Klaus to pull her back towards their suite assuming correctly that she would want to change out of her date attire. Pulling the door shut behind them, she moved brusquely to the walk-in closet, pulling on a pair of yoga pants, replacing her strapless bra with a sports bra, and slipping into a loose shirt of Klaus's. When she came out of the closet, she was surprised to see Klaus sitting on the settee, looking quizzically down at his hands, still dressed in his formal attire. "Aren't you going to change?"
He glanced up at her, sighing audibly, "I will, I'm trying to figure out how more of my siblings being present is going to inevitably hurt what is growing between us." He sounded forlorn, and confused. He should be delighted that Rebekah and Finn were alright, not worrying about all the ways their presence could affect her. She felt a flash of guilt that she was dampening his joy in his siblings arrival, even indirectly.
Caroline's eyes widened in shock at his candor, moving forward to kneel in front of him, pulling his hands from where he glared at them, placing one on her cheek. "I can't see the future and neither can you, why can't you just wait to see what happens? Why worry about something that might not even occur?" Am I comforting him? What is happening to me? She just knew instinctively that she did not like seeing Klaus upset, she'd try not to over analyze that for now.
She started to pull away in surprise at her own actions, but Klaus moved his remaining hand to frame her face and stopped her,. "You know what you are to me, Caroline. But you're more than that, and I'm starting to worry that I won't be able to let you go after all this is over."
She couldn't stop herself from sighing softly at his words, "Klaus, I can't make any guarantee or commitment to you. But I won't say that I'm not softening on the idea. I'm sorry, that's the best I can do for now."
Klaus smiled bleakly, leaning back in order to pull Caroline into his lap, straddling his legs. He placed a soft kiss on her lips, groaning as he wrapped his arms tightly around her, pulling her flush against him. She moaned when she felt him hardening beneath her, unable to stop her hips from rocking against him. Placing an ardent kiss on his lips, she twirled her fingers into his hair. She pulled back breathlessly, "Your siblings will be waiting for us."
He stood from the settee pulling Caroline's legs to lock around his waist, flying across the room to pin her to the bed. "They can wait."
Caroline's giggle turned into a moan as his mouth descended, beginning a trail of heat from the tip of her ear down to the base of her neck. His nimble fingers were hooked into the sides of her yoga pants about to yank them down when the suite door swung open. "Bloody hell, Nik! You've had her to yourself for the last week, you can let go of her for a couple minutes to talk to your siblings."
Caroline blushed profusely, hiding her embarrassed face in Klaus's neck. He sent a murderous glare at his sister framed in the doorway, "Your timing leaves a lot to be desired, Sister."
Rebekah rolled her eyes in annoyance, "Hurry up."
Klaus released Caroline, moving quickly to change, allowing the Valkyrie to escape down the stairs and into the common living room. Rebekah remained, waiting for Klaus to change, she'd managed to pull on her most comfortable clothes, though she was confused by her new styles. Her black pants were made of some type of elastic material that clung to her like a second skin, her top was cotton but dipped dangerously low on her cleavage. Being imprisoned for seventy years meant that fashion had progressed to allow more scandalously attired females, which had confused her initially. Marcel had ordered the staff to update all the siblings wardrobes so they wouldn't stand out in this unfamiliar decade. She still felt it was impossible women went around dressed like this in public.
She called to her brother, who was hastily pulling on clothes in his closet, "It looks like things are going much better with the Valkyrie since the plantation."
She heard an audible sigh from Nik, before he strutted from the closet dressed in jeans and a gray Henley, throwing a brotherly arm around her shoulders, leading her downstairs to the common sitting area. "Things are never as simple as they appear, Beckah."
Before she could question him more about his cryptic comment, they found Caroline talking with Stefan, Sage and Finn, in the entryway. He clapped his hands to gain their focus, gesturing for them to follow as he settled into a large couch, allowing his siblings and their mates to settle around them. However, when Caroline moved to sit next to Stefan instead of him, he gently linked his hand around her wrist pulling her into his lap.
Her annoyance immediately sparked, he might as well have hung a "Beware of Dog" sign around my neck. She struggled to move off his lap, he merely placed a hand against her ass pulling her tighter against him. Whispering into her ear, nipping it slightly making her shiver, "This is happening, Caroline. If you keep struggling, I'll be forced to take you back upstairs to deal with the consequences." She only stopped struggling when he made to throw her over his shoulder. "Fine! I'll be good!" She conceded.
Satisfied she understood the situation, his eyes locked onto Stefan, his eyes glowing with anger. "Is that your mark I see on my sister's neck Stefan?"
Finn who'd been gazing into Sage's eyes locked on the offending mark on his younger sister. His eyes flickered in rage, shifting menacingly towards Stefan. He'd been so consumed with his Bride he hadn't noticed the mark earlier.
Stefan smiled in response, betraying no nervousness despite being the center of the ire of two powerful immortals. Rebekah was the one who answered tartly, "It would be, Nik. Maybe you should ask for pointers." She glared pointedly at Caroline's bare neck. Klaus's body began to vibrate with rage and she noticed Sage was whispering into Finn's ear, and as she watched the vampire's eyes returned to normal, becoming almost serene. Could she calm Klaus down? Did she wield the same power over him that Sage did over Finn?
She could almost feel his rage coming to a boiling point, so she calmly rested her hand on Klaus's chest, drawing his eyes from Stefan. Without words she conveyed how disappointed she would be if he were to attack her friend. Tilting her head, she knew he could read her unasked question, why can't you just be happy for Rebekah? Within seconds Klaus calmed from simply gazing into her eyes, her presence like a balm to his anger. Without taking his eyes off Caroline, he floored his siblings with his next words, "I'm happy for you, Beckah." All trace of rage gone from his voice and eyes.
Rebekah couldn't believe the influence his mate already had on her brother. "T-t-thanks, Nik." Her mouth was still gaping open slightly in shock.
She exchanged wide eyes with Finn, who's mouth had dropped open earlier. Sage came to the rescue, hoping to cut some of the tension in the room. "About Kol and the young Bonnie."
Caroline whipped to face Sage, pulling herself as far from Klaus as she possibly could in her current position. "You said you were together, but got separated on the way here."
Stefan joined in, "Bonnie saved Rebekah and I from the explosion with magic. Finn and Sage were blown clear of the building, knocked out. We didn't know that at the time, so we started off towards Damon's house for shelter." He shifted uncomfortably at the mention of his brother. "We stayed with Elena and Damon for a few days recuperating from the blast. Finn and Sage showed up within twenty-four hours of our arrival, apparently, your aunt Nïx helped them." Caroline swung her gaze till she met Finn's eyes in surprise.
"You saw my aunt?" Klaus's hands tightened briefly on her, at the mention of her aunt. She threw a curious glance at Klaus's reaction before turning her attention back to Finn and Sage.
"Not exactly, when we woke up there was a note pinned to Finn's chest, along with a bag of blood and new clothes. The note was the address of Damon and Elena's house." Sage shrugged nonchalantly. "We figured Mikael wouldn't leave a note, and didn't have anything to lose by going to the address. Rebekah answered the door. Together we figured that only your aunt could have arranged such a thing."
Caroline nodded in agreement, it did smack of her aunt.
Stefan finished for Sage, "When word reached us that Klaus was here in the compound, we set off together. We got less than three blocks. We were attacked, Bonnie and Kol disappeared in a huge explosion of magic. Without a trace."
Caroline leaned closer as if she could physically absorb more details the closer she was. She was still aware of Klaus's hands wrapped around her keeping her in place. "There was no hint of where they went?"
Rebekah chimed in, "It was as if they were never there."
Stefan reached out patting her knee affectionately, "We wouldn't have left them behind, but we had no idea where to start searching for them and every second spent on the street exposed was dangerous. So we headed straight here."
Without thinking, Caroline leaned back, resting against Klaus, absorbing this information. She subconsciously sought the comfort of his presence. "I know you wouldn't leave Bonnie behind, Stefan. If there was any other way." She placed her hand over his, squeezing it gently, "I'm happy you are all safe."
Caroline missed the flash of annoyance Klaus shot at Stefan, indicating his hand resting on Caroline's knee. Stefan withdrew it, placing it instead on Rebekah's knee, sending a nonverbal signal, no threat from me, I am mated.
Caroline retreated into thought, snuggling into Klaus's arms, just as he was about to suggest they all retire for the night, Sage inquired, "One of the staff told me Elijah and Katerina are here, are they not going to join us?"
Like a steel rod had been shot down her spine, Caroline immediately stiffened. Klaus could have strangled the redhead. She stood, side stepping Klaus's hands when he tried to pull her back into his lap. "Anyone want some bourbon?" She asked, her voice unnaturally high pitched.
There were several nods, and Caroline moved to the sideboard pouring generous portions into each glass. Having passed them out, she sat on an armchair next to Finn and placed herself in the furthest location possible from Klaus. He saw through her immediately, she had used the alcohol as an excuse to put space between them again. It would seem he had been correct earlier, when he'd puzzled over how his siblings presence would hurt his budding relationship, but apparently it was the sibling already present in the house that caused the most damage. Godsdammit Elijah. Finn read the room, and grasped Sage's hand, beginning to pull her from the room, preventing her unanswered question from being addressed. "I think we will retire for the night."
Rebekah leapt to her feet as well, tugging a resisting Stefan, who clearly wanted to run interference between Klaus and Caroline, from the room, in the direction of her wing.
Caroline frowned into her glass of bourbon, coming to a stand, "I think I'll go to bed as well." She was avoiding eye contact.
Klaus quickly moved to stop her, grasping her hand, forcing her to turn and face him. "Why do you insist on holding Elijah's actions against me?" He hadn't meant for it to come out as an accusation, but the wrinkling of her nose indicated she took it as such.
She peeled his hand from her wrist, "It has nothing to do with Elijah! It has everything to do with you!"
He grasped her upper arms in a firm grip, "What do you mean?"
She threw his arms down from hers, breaking the contact, turning towards the door. Klaus assumed she was going to leave but she threw the words over her shoulder, each syllable a well aimed dagger, "You may not have me chained, but I'm still a prisoner."
"Caroline…" He started, unsure about what he could say to her. She ducked out of the room without stopping to hear him. He whirled in frustration, sending a priceless vase into the wall, watching the shattered pieces fall to the ground. Just like his life. Every time he felt on somewhat stable footing with Caroline, an earthquake tore it from his grasp. Niklaus Mikaelson, one of the greatest strategists in the Lore, could not stop his mate from pushing him away. Falling back into the cushions, he leaned his head back against them, closing his eyes for a moment stopping himself from racing after her. The look of despair and confusion on her face kept him from pushing her.
He barely pulled his head from the couch, when he heard the door squeak open, assuming it was one of his siblings. He was shocked however when a young brunette witch popped her head through, and at the sight of him, alone, her eyes bugged out of her skull and she attempted a hasty retreat, but Klaus had her by the arm in a flash. Yanking her inside the doorway, the sound of the door slamming shut behind her making the young witch jump.
"I believe I had specific orders that no witch was allowed in the main house." Klaus sneered. He didn't trust witches to allow them free reign in his home, it was too easy for them to desiccate himself or his siblings in their sleep. It was more of a safety reason than a prejudice.
The young girl gulped, "I-I-I-"
Klaus released her in disgust it was clear his proximity was making her a lackwit from fear. As expected, she took a deep sigh of relief when he stepped back, "The Queen said I was allowed to visit her anytime I needed." She barely looked up from her shoes as she relayed this, glancing quickly at his frown she continued, "It was a mistake, I shouldn't have thought her offer was serious."
She turned to leave but his calculating voice stopped her, "If Caroline invited you here, you may remain but I require a favor in return for my leniency. A favor you may not reveal to Caroline or your coven."
The witch tilted her head curiously meeting his eyes for the first time, "What favor?"
"I need you to disengage the mystical lock on my brother's bedroom door, and you need to accomplish it without anyone, especially Elijah, catching you." He couldn't help the smug smirk that spread across his face, he needed to remove Katerina's imprisonment as a barrier between him and Caroline, without alerting Elijah to the imminent release of his Bride, seemed simple now.
The young girl nodded in agreement, and again moved to leave, "Caroline's in our suite. Third floor, the first pair of double doors."
She shot him a small smile, backing out of the room.
Caroline was glaring at herself in the bathroom mirror, all evidence of her romantic evening with Klaus scrubbed away. How could I have forgotten about Kat? She needed to get out of here, being around Klaus was messing with her head. When she looked at him now, she felt a tingle in her stomach that was in danger of turning into butterflies, which could lead to her softening towards him even more than she already had. She was a prisoner, not a guest, she needed to remember that. Glaring at her reflection again, why am i so weak? Without thinking, she threw a vase at the wall, letting it shatter. She held her hands up to her mouth in shock, she wasn't one to have outburst of rage or frustration like that, she wasn't…. She gulped when she realized that she had just done something she'd seen Klaus do numerous times. I have to get out of here.
A soft, trembling voice interrupted her, pulling her out of the bathroom. "Umm, Caroline? Are you in here?"
Caroline's eyebrows rose in surprise at the sight of Davina, "Davina? What are you doing here? Not that I'm not happy to see you." She traipsed over to the brunette, pulling her into a brief hug.
Throwing her for a loop, Davina immediately burst into tears when she embraced her. "Davina what's wrong?" Her concern causing her voice to lower. "Do you want to talk about it?"
The witch merely shook her head, then nodded, then shook it again. Caroline couldn't help the slightly uncomfortable laugh that escaped her at Davina's actions. "How about we go for a walk?"
"Yeah, that sounds good." Davina linked their hands pulling her out towards the courtyard.
Lights were still hung from her date with Klaus, she tried to ignore the pang she felt at the sight. The table and dishes were removed, but she could almost smell the crawfish in the air. Davina didn't linger in the courtyard, leading her towards the kitchen. Caroline was surprised by the room, she'd never entered it, never having a need before. Davina appeared familiar, greeting the matronly human mixing a large pot at the stove. "Josie, what are you brewing up here?"
The woman didn't turn to face the young witch, waiting for her to come up and stand next to her, sneaking a spoon into the stew, dodging the woman's wooden ladle when it moved to smack her hand away.
Caroline tilted her head curiously, "I'm guessing you come here a lot?"
At the sound of another voice, the elderly woman glanced over her shoulder, with a wide eyed gaze, the cook whipped around, knocking the pot of stew forcing it to wobble precariously, dropping into a deep curtsy. "My apologies, my Queen, I didn't know you were here."
Caroline held up her hands, "Please don't worry about it, and it's Caroline."
Davina grabbed the pot to prevent it from spilling over, waving Josie up from her curtsy, "She hates that bowing stuff, Josie."
The woman blushed profusely, staring at her feet as she straightened. "My apologies, again."
Josie looked like she was resisting the urge to bow again. Davina interjected in an attempt to clear up the awkwardness, "I discovered Josie one of my first nights here, I had a nightmare and was wandering the compound, unable to return to sleep. Josie caught me pilfering bread crusts from the pantry. She smacked me upside the head with her spoon, then forced me into a stool, while she made fresh bread. I've been coming here ever since, it will be almost forty years this fall."
Caroline pulled a stool out, plopping down on it, "You've worked for the Mikaelsons for forty years?"
Josie nodded demurely, "My family has worked for them for generations, we continued even though they disappeared."
Caroline's curiosity piqued, "Why? Why not go somewhere else, travel, do anything? You were free."
Josie was aghast at the prospect, "Free, ma'am? We are not slaves, we are not even compelled. We are extremely high paid servants that work for an eccentric family. Everyone here feels a loyalty to the Mikaelsons. They have all changed our lives in one way or another."
"They have?" Caroline leaned onto her elbows.
"Yes, ma'am. No servant under this roof dies except of old age, no sickness, no plague. We don't have to fear being accosted in the streets, so long as we wear this," She pulled out a long chain with a pendant with an M scripted on it, she recognized it as the Mikaelsons crest, "No member of the Lore would dare harm us. How many mortals can claim that?" She chuckled under her breath, as if in disbelief at her luck. "Plus, the Mikaelsons are magnets for lost souls, since they are so lost themselves." The cook was rambling, "We get attached to them, like Davina here." She knocked her hip against the witch's hip.
The witch shot her a shy smile. Caroline's eyes were wide in wonderment, "So none of you are prisoners?"
Josie laughed at the idea, "Prisoners! Whatever made you think we were prisoners?" Davina reached out to stop her statement but was too late. Josie realized her misstep immediately, and both turned to Caroline with wide eyes.
"Caroline-" Davina began, but Caroline waved her off before she could offer her pity.
"It's fine D. I'm well aware of my own situation, don't worry about it." Her voice attempted lightness but bitterness shown through. She knew both caught her tone.
"What was wrong earlier, Davina? I was surprised you came to see me." Caroline inquired a bit desperately, hoping to draw the attention away from her. It worked, Davina's face dropped, and it was clear she was trying not to cry.
Caroline's overprotective instincts kicked in, "Who was it? A hybrid? Vampire? Witch? Just point me in a direction, D."
Josie's head lifted at the sound of thunder, "There was no storm in the forecast today." Then she glanced at Caroline's gritted teeth and clenched hands, "Oh." Drawing the correct conclusion.
"It's nothing I haven't heard before, Caroline." Davina attempted a soothing tone but her voice cracked.
"It was the witches wasn't it?" There was an even louder echo of thunder and flash of lightning.
Josie's voice soured as well, "They disrespect her greatly, Your Majesty." Davina shoved the older mortal trying to force her silence, "She deserves to know. I won't tolerate it any longer. I have let it go this long because I could not intervene. She can." Gesturing to Caroline.
Another crack of thunder, "You won't go back there. You'll stay here in the main house." Her tone did not allow for any disagreement.
Josie shook her head emphatically. "King Niklaus has very strict rules about witches in the main house. He would never allow it."
Caroline's lips curled in a dark smile, "He won't have a choice."
Davina raised her eyebrows in surprise, at the steel in Caroline's voice. She could barely process it before Caroline had a palm locked around her wrist, forcing her back towards Klaus's wing. Klaus was leaving his study, as Caroline charged towards him, the diminutive witch in tow. "Caroline-" he began.
"Davina is staying in the main house with us." Her voice was uncharacteristically firm.
He smiled inwardly at her use of us. He merely nodded his assent, "There's a spare room next to Marcel, I'm sure the witch would find it comfortable."
He turned his back on the pair, heading for their bedroom, taking the young witch under her wing, yet another tie of her life to mine.
Caroline swung around, heading for the guest wing, she barely heard Davina's objections over her rage, she was smothering it down with difficulty. She could handle any treatment, face any foe, but she couldn't handle cruelty to others. Especially when she could prevent it.
Storming past Marcel's room, his door swung inward revealing one of the female hybrids who had coquettishly lingered in the courtyard earlier. Her hair was in clear disarray and a blissful smile lit her face. Is everyone getting laid in this compound but me?
The hybrid caught one glimpse of Caroline before she let out a screech, and slammed the door to hide behind it, embarrassed at being caught by her Queen. A small smile tugged at Caroline's lips, as the door swung open again, this time Marcel was shirtless at the door, the sheet wrapped around his waist, his mocking smile in place. He bowed slightly, "My Queen, May I formally introduce Calliope?" He gestured to the blushing hybrid, smirking. The hybrid hurried into a curtsy, before speeding down the hall, her face red with embarrassment. Marcel stepped from the doorway to call after her, but froze in his tracks. Caroline had turned her back on him, indicating to Davina the spare bedroom's door. "This ones your's now, Davina. Feel free to customize it however you like."
The young witch threw herself in Caroline's arms, "What did I ever do without you!"
Caroline smiled at that, at least her new status was helping someone. "Don't even think about it." She hugged her briefly before the witch retreated, Caroline didn't miss the moment to send a look of censure at Marcel who was still frozen in the hallway in a dangerously loose sheet. This is one resident of the compound that Marcel won't be seducing. As the witch disappeared from sight, Caroline turned and noticed Marcel was still rooted to the spot he'd been when he'd exited the room earlier. His entire body was stiff and his trademark smirk was absent, his eyes wide as if in shock.
Assuming his reaction was to a witch being in the main house, Caroline hurried to explain, "Klaus said it was okay for Davina to stay in the main house. Stay away from her, she's under my protection."
His eyes turned at the comment, shocking Caroline, she realized she had never seen Marcel lose his devil may care attitude which could only mean… "Gods! Are you serious? She's your mate?!"
Marcel grabbed her arm and pulled her into his bedroom, though not as opulent as Klaus's, the room was spacious and comfortable. Marcel disappeared into the connected bath to pull on clothes.
Caroline was still in shock, "How could you not know your mate was living in the compound this whole time?"
"Do you mind not shouting this fact? I'm not sure Klaus heard you." Marcel intoned dryly, returning to the room fully dressed.
"How could you not know?" Caroline was still stunned by the idea.
He rubbed his hands over his face, sitting on the side of the bed, his head in his hands. "The witches use spells to mute their scent, preventing such a thing from occurring unless we come face to face with them. I've never had the opportunity to see Davina, she was ensconced in her coven."
Caroline felt no sympathy for him, "And you didn't truly want to find her. You enjoy being single a little too much." She kicked towards him a bra that was littering his floor.
Marcel shot her a dark glare, "Maybe. What can you tell me about her?" He pleaded with her.
Caroline threw her hands up, "No, no, no. I'm not helping you. You'll have to figure out how to make her soften towards you on your own." She twirled, throwing open the door to exit the room. She wasn't able to stop herself from imparting some advice to Marcel, "Aren't you suppose to be charming? Maybe start there."
Marcel groaned as the door closed behind her.
She avoided going to her room and facing Klaus as long as possible. She was still incredibly confused about… well, everything. Her growing feelings towards Klaus were dangerous and mind boggling, and every time she got used to some new development between them, a thousand other things pressed in on her. She wasn't able to process anything. Stopping in the courtyard, she plopped down onto a bench on the periphery of the area. Leaning her head back, she closed her eyes, seeking a second of solace to process the events of the last month. She had barely felt her eyelids slide down, before screams of agony echoed through the compound, jolting her awake. When had she fallen asleep? She was sprinting towards the sound without a second thought. She nearly collided with Rebekah on the way to the source of the sound. The other blonde took in her presence with anxious eyes, "Bloody hell, you're not with him! Why the hell are you not with him?"
"What are you talking about Rebekah?" Caroline frantically inquired while they continued their sprint to Klaus's wing. The sounds were coming from their bedroom, she followed Rebekah as she threw open the door. Caroline stopped dead in her tracks when she realized the roars of agony were being ripped from Klaus's throat. He was thrashing on their bed, his body dripping sweat, like unseen demons tore at his flesh. Caroline could barely take in air, she was so stunned by the sight. Rebekah was not surprised by the scene, she moved to Klaus's side, slapping him hard across the face. "Wake up, Nik!" His claws raked his own chest leaving deep grooves of gore in their wake, it was as if he was trying to remove his own heart.
Klaus's head merely turned with the slap, his fangs dropping into his mouth. Rebekah pulled back her arm to hit him again, finally spurring Caroline into action, she grabbed Rebekah's hand, "What the hell is going on, Rebekah? What's wrong? Is this Mikael?"
The blonde yanked her wrist from Caroline's. "He's having a nightmare!"
Caroline's mouth dropped open in shock, "This- this is from a nightmare?"
Rebekah ignored her, still trying to force Klaus awake. His eyes flashed open unseeing, ice blue glowing, tinged with blood red. With a fling of his arm, he threw Rebecca across the room into the wall. She merely grunted at the impact, seemingly unaffected. Striding back towards the bed, Rebekah was clearly going to keep trying to awaken the howling Klaus, but Caroline stepped forward cutting off her path to the bed. Klaus's eyes had slid shut but he'd bitten through his own lips, blood dripping down his throat. Without giving it a second thought, Caroline sat next to his thrashing form, with trembling fingers, she reached out to grasp his hand, carefully avoiding his claws. When her skin touched his feverish one, the familiar shock of electricity coursed through the connection. His struggles became muted slightly by her touch, enabling her to link her other hand in his. Preventing him from doing more damage to himself. She began to scoot closer to him, slowly resting her cheek against his drenched and bloodied chest. His struggles subsided, and his howling stopped, releasing a deep breath as he slipped into peaceful sleep. Rebekah's stuttered in shock, Elijah who had appeared in the doorway moments earlier, though haggard and unkempt was equally stunned.
Without lifting her head from Klaus's chest, she murmured to the two Mikaelsons, "He has nightmares?" Her voice was barely a whisper. His chest was already healing, but left behind the blood he'd spilled.
Rebekah came around the side of the bed, so Caroline could see her face. "You didn't know? He has them every night."
Caroline shook her head in disagreement, the movement causing a groan from Klaus forcing her to freeze, and cuddle closer to him till he settled again. Elijah carefully stepped forward to stand next to his sister, his bloodshot eyes still having trouble taking in the scene. Her voice was still a breathless whisper, "He hasn't had a nightmare since I've been here. I didn't even know he had them." Niklaus Mikaelson didn't have things to fear, so what could possibly haunt his dreams?
Rebekah's voice conveyed her astonishment, "Never? Not even once?"
Caroline shook her head slightly careful not to jostle her hold. "Did he have them at the plantation?"
Elijah nodded this time, "Your friend Bonnie cast a silencing spell on his room, and his chains kept him from doing any real damage."
A chill ran across Caroline's spine, "Is it because of what happened on the island? Do you all have nightmares like this?"
Rebekah shook her head, "Nik has had nightmares like this since he was a boy. We've tried everything to rid him of them but they cling to him, like a curse."
Elijah's voice betrayed a bit of humor, unaccustomed from his icy lips, "We thought we had tried everything." Eyeing Caroline's soothing touch on his brother.
Caroline flushed slightly at his innuendo, "Well, I've got it from here."
Elijah bowed his head slightly before disappearing, Rebekah lingered at the doorway before departing. "Make sure not to leave him again." Caroline did not miss Rebekah's double meaning either.
Alone, she lifted her head slightly from his chest, glancing up at his face, relaxed in sleep, he looked so carefree, so peaceful. What haunted him? What dogged his every moment for the last thousand years? Immortals had nightmares, with their lifespans, many had witnessed horrors that would have driven most mortals mad. But the old adage time heals all wounds applied to immortals, time faded all memories. What tragedy continued nightly for a thousand years?
Shifting slightly, she felt Klaus's breathing change as he came to. "Caroline…?"
She tucked her chin into his chest, gazing up at his bewildered eyes. "You were having a nightmare."
Klaus's face quickly flickered from agony to embarrassment to rage in the span of a moment. He roughly disentangled himself from her, storming into the bathroom, the door echoing as it slammed behind him. She heard the faint sound of water running, when the door swung open again, his face and chest were cleared of blood and sweat. His fury seemed to had escalated, inexplicably.
Her walls were still down from the agony of his screams, she was a little emotionally raw for a fight. She wanted to leave the room, but knew she couldn't, Klaus's screams would just draw her back. Placatingly, she raised her hands in a sign of surrender, "What were you dreaming about?"
That was the wrong think to ask, because Klaus exploded. "Why do you care, Caroline? You've made it clear that you don't want to stay, why should you know what lurks in my mind?"
She flushed in embarrassment, "That's not fair."
His laugh was empty and cold, "Fair? Let's talk of fair, shall we?" He cruelly continued, "Fair that I wait a thousand years for my mate and find that she's constantly looking for the door!"
She jumped to her feet, his fury sparking her own. "You may have waited for me, but I'm not even a century year old! I wasn't raised to wait around for someone, my aunts wanted me to be self sufficient and strong. To never need another."
His eyes glowed blue, his rage only growing, "Yes your illustrious aunts. Whom you're so eager to return to. You're never to see them again." He uttered the command harshly, his voice grating from behind his clenched teeth.
Caroline paled at the command, "What do you mean I'm never to see them again? Even if I decided to stay, which I'm having trouble imagining it right now, I would still see my aunts they live here."
"Never. Again." His claws curling into fists and blood spilling from his hands as he cut into his palms. His thoughts were still racing from the nightmare and his emotions felt heightened. He didn't want Caroline to know about the nightmares, about how weak he was when he slept. Hw couldn't stop himself from lashing out as a result.
She turned towards the door, so frustrated with the conversation she knew she needed to leave, Klaus thrust himself into her path, preventing her escape, "Why should you even want to see them again?" His asked tauntingly, "Those doting, loving aunts who brutalized and tortured you and called it training."
She paled at his words, "The Valkyrie aren't like other species! We are trained in warfare and weaponry the second we can lift a sword. You may call it torture, but those lessons made me the woman I am today. If you can't accept that…" she trailed off her threat unfinished but clear, if you can't accept me then I will leave.
Panic skittered down his spine, forcing even more rational thought out the window. His lip pulled back in a sneer, "Then you'll stay here, forever."
She flinched as if he struck her, and Klaus wished he could call back the words, but it was too late. "Move." She hissed past clenched teeth.
He refused to budge, pushed past all reasoning, she moved to punch him which he dodge but he was too slow to evade the immediate second punch or the kick that sent him skidding onto the floor.
She didn't wait another second before exiting the chambers, leaving Klaus to stew in his rage, regret and pain.