Elijah jolted from sleep at the sound of voices in the guest room, his wing was trashed, so he'd carried Katerina to a clean room nearby. His little sorceress was tossing in bed, caught in the grips of a nightmare, she had them frequently over the last couple of weeks, but this was the first time he'd slept in the same room with her without the cuffs blocking her power. Apparently when she dreamed, her power projected it. He turned to wake her, but the voice of his father stopped him. On his feet, moving to protect Katerina, he passed right through Mikael. An illusion.
Returning to bed, the illusion began to speak, "You're a foolish girl to return here, you should have left your sister and run. You knew what I would do to you if you returned."
Elena, bound and clearly tortured, screamed at her gag, as his father swung his sword.
The illusion darkened, and only the softest of sounds came through. "Heal and live, Kitty." Elena, still bearing the effects of torture on her face, outside of Mikael's castle in Russia, persuaded Katerina to heal from her severed head.
To have lived through this.
Suddenly, the illusion changed, a crowd of angry villagers surrounded them, and when glancing to her right, Elena was tied to a stake, wood piled at their feet. Elena, wearing a somber black dress, and white cap, indicating a dark time period for the Lore. The illusions were always from Katerina's perspective, he never saw her face, nor heard her voice but knew it was what she experienced.
In the current scene, she glanced down at her feet, as her skirts caught fire. Elena's voice breaking through the cheers of the crowd, "Break free, Kitty. Kill them all."
When Elena persuaded, the body would do anything to obey. Katerina had dropped down into flames licking her skirts, burning away her skin and the ropes binding her. Then one by one she'd slaughtered the townspeople who'd gathered to watch as she and her sister burned.
One-by-one, scenes of her deaths unfolded, she'd drowned, been dropped from a cliff, beaten, buried alive, and more. Every time, Elena arrived after the dust settled to use her power to resurrect Katerina. The trials she's gone through, makes seventy years on the island look like a vacation.
Before he could process it, another scene emerged, total blackness, but Elena's voice echoed again, "Rise up, kitty-kat. Heal, and live."
With a small ray of light, Katerina clawed out of a shallow grave, but what shook him most was Elena, she couldn't have been more than six years old. Katerina had climbed out of a grave as a child.
Who would dare harm such a child?
Unable to bear it, Elijah reached over to awaken Kat, to assure himself that despite what was playing out before him, she was alive. She came to groggily, and the illusions disappeared, "What's wrong, Elijah?"
Her voice soothed some of the horror he just witnessed, but nothing could erase what he'd seen. Sitting up in bed, he turned his back to her, "You were having a nightmare."
Kat subconsciously rubbed her wrists, wearily she asked, "What was it?"
Turning back to her, his knee on the bed, he lightly touched her face, "Your deaths."
Kat sighed, and got up from the bed, having pulled on Elijah's button up on the night before, went searching for her clothes.
"Why didn't you tell me what Mikael did to you?"
"Elijah," she surprised him, by returning and taking his hands in hers, kneeling next to him, "I didn't tell you, because in the end, I still betrayed you. He had Elena, yes, but to be honest at that time, I didn't know you. I knew you thought I was your Bride, and I wanted no part of that."
Searching his eyes, her voice lowered, "I'm not a good woman, Elijah. I've lied, cheated, stole because something was pretty and I wanted it, I've killed humans and Loreans. I've earned my reputation as a heartless bitch and then some." She withdrew slightly on a hollow laugh, "I don't know if I'll be any good at this, at you and me, but I want to try."
Elijah's heart thundered in his chest, "Could we start over, Katerina? Without the past driving a wedge between us?"
Searching his eyes for something, her voice broke on emotion, "I would like that very much."
Yanking her against his chest, squeezing her to him, he pulled back to add, "But you must tell me what you think Katerina. I cannot guess at your thoughts and feelings, and without this knowledge, I'm at a loss."
Smiling weakly, "I'll try." A serious omission for her, one she'd never made to another.
Kissing her gently, he coaxed her back to sleep finally seeking solace himself.
Davina checked in on Kol in the early morning, he was healing rapidly, his limbs regenerating with the aid of her magic were still sunken and weak but he was a powerful immortal, and wouldn't be down for long. When she entered this time, Marcel, who'd refused to let her be alone with the notorious Lothario, had passed out in an arm chair by the window. She pulled the blanket over him, a small smile at her lips, he was a conundrum, to say the least. He was Klaus's commander, but seemed more like a member of the family. The rumors of his brutality in the past overshadowed by how sweet he was to her.
Pulling back the bandages, she smoothed salve over his wounds, with the slightest of touches, Kol jolted awake, and the bleariness of his eyes indicated he wasn't fully awake yet.
"Shhhhh- "
Trying for a calming tone, Davina tried to lure him back to sleep, but his completely healed arm, whipped out and clutched her throat. Choking, she tried to hit at his arms, to claw his hand from her throat. Kol, was still far away mentally, his voice unrecognizable to Davina. "My Bride, where is she?"
Unable to answer, the lights began to flicker as she lost air, fortunately, Kol's voice had awoken Marcel. Breaking Kol's grip on Davina, she fell to the ground gasping in air and coughing. Marcel struggled to keep Kol from attacking him, resorting to knocking him out.
He lunged to aid Davina from the floor, but she held her hand up to ward him off, "Stay away from me." She brokenly whispered, struggling to her feet and leaving the room, Marcel often forgot that witches and vampires were natural enemies, and it looks like Davina just had an awakening about their long struggle.
For the first time since they'd arrived at the complex, Klaus awoke with Caroline snuggled in his arms. Usually, he feigned sleep as she slipped out early to pick the lock on Elijah's door, but she slept through instead. Pulling her tighter to his chest he placed a kiss to her forehead before getting out of bed, himself. He wished he could awaken her, to see if she remembered what she said the previous night, but he was already late to meet Finn to discuss their numbers problems. Caroline assumed most of the house slept late into the morning, but instead they were in the cellar, which connected to the tunnels leading away from the property. For the last week, his hybrids captured werewolves in the bayou, bringing them to him to make more hybrids, slowly increasing his army. The first of his hybrids sought him out, the torture of changing into a wolf every full moon was too much for most to bear. Often, they sought his protection as well, after Lachlan, the werewolf king, was imprisoned in the catacombs by the last vampire king, they needed the protection of the Vampire royal family, and he'd agreed so long as they became hybrids in exchange. Most readily agreed, but since his return, many feared being drafted into a war against Mikael and hid from him. He'd resorted to hunting them and changing them against their will. He didn't want to hide this from Caroline, but she wouldn't understand. So, every war table meeting, he'd mentioned to his advisors that if they dare address it in her presence, the results would be… unpleasant.
No for some reason, he felt guilty slipping away from Caroline, as if he knew it was wrong to be keeping this from her. Stalking down to the cellar, his annoyance at his own guilt vamping up his internal frustration. The full moon was tomorrow, and he still hadn't claimed Caroline. Though he wouldn't wolf out uncontrollably when the moon was high, his rational brain was muted and instinct drove him. Instinct which would insist on claiming and marking his mate when the moon was high. When he marked Caroline, his fangs would pierce her neck, holding her still when he came. Leaving a permanent mark only visible to Vampire and werewolves, but distinct. His hybrids would instinctively know her as their queen, immortals would give her a wide berth knowing she was claimed and by who.
The idea sated some of his frustration, Caroline would be his, completely. He was still harsh as he passed the sentries guarding the cells. There were four werewolves chained inside, several lunged at him, he barely spared them a glance, focusing on Finn and Sage who were speaking in hushed tones at the end of the cell. He'd put them in charge of collecting the werewolves because he could count on both of them not saying anything to Caroline. Though he trusted Marcel and his brothers implicitly all now had Brides or mates tied to Caroline. Marcel with Caroline's pet witch Davina, Rebekah with Stefan, even Elijah had been too messed up to consider him for this. Finn and Sage stopped whispering when they noticed him, and his brother called out, "We have a problem, brother."
Sighing he asked harshly, "When don't we have a problem Finn?"
His brother obviously dreaded continuing, "Several of our hybrids have been captured by a pack of werewolves."
"What the hell do you mean they were captured?"
His hybrids were a force they were never captured. Sage continued for Finn, "We weren't sure why they were so late in returning until we received this earlier." She held out a note, and Klaus swiped it from her hand.
The Hybrids in exchange for the Valkyrie. Tonight, Jackson Square.
Klaus's rage notched and he crushed the note in his hand, "Who?" His voice a deadly whisper.
Finn slowly approached his brother, "We believe it to be a group of werewolves and a berserker."
Something tugged at the edge of his memory, and when it clicked into place he lunged at one of the werewolves chained to the wall, his hand reaching into their chest and squeezing his heart without removing it. "Does your pack run with a wolf named Tyler? And a berserker named Matt?"
The werewolf whispered, "Yes..."
Squeezing tighter, Klaus's eyes glowing, "How do they know Caroline is here?"
The wolf struggled against the pain, "A note…"
Enraged, he stopped himself from ripping the wolf's heart out settling for turning his into a hybrid and snapping his neck. When he awoke, he would feed and complete the transition, becoming bound to Klaus. He hurriedly completed the process with the other werewolves captured, and without a word stormed from the room, looking for Marcel. He would give anything to leave the compound and rip this Tyler's heart from his chest but he couldn't be sure this wasn't a ploy by Mikael to lure him out of the compound. Marcel was still holding vigil over Kol but seemed annoyed, glaring daggers at the unconscious Kol, interrupting his reverie, Klaus commanded, "I need you to capture a werewolf for me."
Marcel stood, and nodded, "Of course. Any particular one?"
Klaus moved towards Kol's bedside, his limbs regrown and his skin regenerated he was close to being fully healed thanks to Davina's magic, she had shortened weeks of recovery into days, but healing on the outside didn't erase what he went through.
"Name is Tyler Lockwood. He's captured some of our hybrids out on patrol and is asking for Caroline in exchange. Show him why it's a bad idea to move against anything that's mine."
Marcel was excited for this, get some of his frustration out of his system, before talking to Davina. Before leaving the room, Marcel inquired, "How do they even know Caroline is here?"
Klaus ground his teeth, his fists clenched, "Apparently, my little queen, is quite the authoress. She somehow smuggled notes out of the compound to those who would aid in her plight." She doesn't want to stay, she was just manipulating him just so she could leave him. He'd made himself such an easy target. Klaus's disgust at his own naïveté rose within him, how could I have thought she wanted to stay?
Marcel gulped and before he thought better of it he mentioned, "Let her explain, it could be innocent."
Klaus's laugh was hollow, "How could she explain this?" I truly thought she was starting to feel more from me. He wasn't going to be manipulated by his emotions again, it had happened too many times over the centuries and he wasn't going to let it occur another time, not even at the hands of his mate.
Marcel left, his worry Klaus was going to damage his relationship irreparably paramount, as he departed the compound. A feeling of dread settling in his stomach.
Caroline stretched like a content cat, when she awoke to knocking on the bedroom door, Klaus never knocked, instead entering like the King he was. She remembered everything from the night before, remembering how she told Klaus she wanted to stay with him, even after Mikael was dead. She hollered, "One minute!"
Moving to the closet, she pulled on a pair of yoga pants and a sweatshirt. Swinging the door open, two hybrids she had seen around the compound stood, one addressed her with reverence, "My queen, we're here to escort you to the King."
Klaus enjoys having her delivered to him, a little too much. But she was giddy, excited to see him, especially because she was pretty sure she was getting laid tonight. Following the two sentries, leaving her short swords behind, into the guest wing of the house. At the very end of the hall, they opened the door and gestured her into what must have been servants room a long time ago, a musty cot was the only thing decorating the space, she turned back to the sentries who hadn't followed her into the room, but Klaus was alone standing there, not crossing the doorway.
A luminescent smile spread across her face, and she skipped towards him but stopped short as an invisible wall keeping them apart, throwing her back. No, no, no, not the day she decided to stay!
"Klaus, what is this?" Please let me have misunderstood this.
A cruel smile stretched across his face, condescendingly explaining, "It appears I can't trust you to wander about the compound on your own."
Slamming her hands against the barrier, "What the hell are you talking about?" She shouted, wishing she could grab him and shake him. Anything to get that cold, unfeeling smile off his face.
Sneering down at her, "How many notes did you manage to send? Hoping they would come rescue you, while you feigned feelings for me until you could escape?"
Caroline flinched as if he struck her. He thought so little of her? "I sent those notes when I first arrived here. I sent three: one to my aunts, one to Elena and Damon, and the last to my friends." He thinks I was faking my feelings? She couldn't help the lance of pain that seated her chest at the thought.
Klaus remained silent, glaring at her, "Congratulations, two of the three have been answered, apparently, Tyler," his voice dripping with disgust, "is so desperate to have you back, he kidnapped my hybrids and is holding them captive, in exchange for you."
She paled, her notes had said she was worried about Katerina, and that she was fine and would figure her own way out of this mess. Tyler, the misogynistic ass, thought she couldn't possibly get out of here on her own. "Let me talk to him, I'll get him to release them." She heard the slight tinge of desperation in her own voice, covering the pain at Klaus's heartless manner.
Klaus let out a cruel laugh, "Like I would allow that, you would probably run into his arms when you saw him."
Caroline flinched at the well-aimed barb, he doesn't know what it means to a Valkyrie to run into someone's arms. "Klaus, just listen to me, I dated Tyler a long time ago, I don't feel anything anymore for him, but I can get him to release the hybrids, he's still a friend."
He was unrelenting, if anything his face became even harder, "No, you stay here, alone. I can't trust you with anyone in the compound, whether it's my own hybrids who foolishly jump to follow your orders or," he purposely let his eyes drift to the ring she still wore, "my witches."
Shit. "I never used it against you." She whispered.
Another cruel laugh, "Not that it would have worked, I had it made immune to me when we first sparred." The echo of his laugh causing barbs of pain to lance her chest.
"Klaus, please, we can talk about this. I meant what I said last night." She still added, foregoing her pride.
"How can I believe that, when you've been planning to be rescued the entire time?"
There was a tremor of uncertainty in his voice, which he tried to cover with cruelty, but Caroline caught it. She pushed this vulnerability, "Klaus, listen to me very carefully, I want to stay with you, even after Mikael is dead. I really think that we can be something together, I want to give us that chance to see if there is something more between us. Please don't do this." She begged.
She thought his eyes softened for a second but steeled up as he stood straight and began to saunter away, throwing over his shoulder, "Enjoy your new quarters. I believe I have a werewolf to kill."
Caroline pounded on the invisible wall, "Klaus, listen to me! Don't kill him, please don't. He's an idiot but he's still my friend! Klaus! Please don't do this!" The last was on a sob.
He didn't look back. Not once.
Caroline screamed at his retreating back until her voice was hoarse. She sat on the dusty floor and tried to understand exactly what happened. The dust motes lifted into the air, swirling as she disturbed them. Why didn't he listen to her? She finally began to feel that they could have a future together, and he'd done this instead. She heard footsteps striding down the hall, and she yelled," Help!"
To her chagrin, it was Rebekah who appeared in the doorway, Caroline scrambled to her feet, not wanting to appear pathetic before the other blonde.
"What the bloody hell are you shouting about?"
Demonstrating for her, Caroline pressed against the invisible wall, "Your mistrustful brother trapped me in here."
Rebekah raised a tawny brow, "Now just why would he do that?"
Turning away, Caroline tried to cover how emotional she was about it, "He thinks I've been pretending to care for him this whole time, just so I could escape."
"And have you?" Rebekah's voice betrayed her suspicion.
"No! I..."
Rebekah smiled her brusque attitude momentarily muted, "My brother's an idiot, and he's a stubborn idiot. Anyone would just have to look at the two of you and see you were mad for each other."
Whirling around, she pressed a hand against the barrier, "I feel something for him Rebekah, but how do I get past this? Every time he suspects me of wanting to run from him, he imprisons me." She gestured to her new "quarters." In an odd voice, she added, "You can never keep a Valkyrie if she wants to be free."
Rebekah glanced over her shoulder, insuring no one would hear. "Nik has been betrayed by everyone in his life. When our mother turned us into vampires, it became apparent that Nik was not one of my father's children. Our mother had an affair with the then King of the Werewolves. Nik was the result. Our father punished him for his existence," Rebekah gulped as she thought back on what Klaus had endured, "and our mother did nothing to stop it."
"So, we ran here, our father and his older brother Fyodor, or Demestriu as he was later called, built the kingdom of Vampires with their hold in Helvita, Russia." Caroline leaned her back against the door jam, enraptured by the story, Rebekah sat down on the floor as well, weaving the history of her brother for his mate. "Mikael made Demestriu King of The Horde, so he was free to hunt us down."
"He caught Finn in France a couple of hundred years later. Making him the heir apparent to the throne, I'm sure you've heard that he took himself out of succession, so that he could be with Sage." Caroline nodded, gesturing Rebekah to continue, the gesture was so Klaus-like, Rebekah had to smother a smile.
"Finn managed to escape and met us in New Orleans in the early 1700s. We built this city. By that time Nik had figured out how to make more hybrids like himself, and he had free reign. Elijah became King of the Vampires in the New World, far from Mikael's reach. Nik becoming king of his hybrids."
"You know what happens when you are King? You get betrayed by your closet confidantes, all seeking to depose you and claim the throne for themselves. By the time we were captured, Nik only trusted his siblings and Marcel, becoming cloistered from the Lore and cruel."
Done with her story, Rebekah stood, and Caroline finally spoke, "How can I possibly hope for a future with someone who lets the past color the present?"
Rebekah looked down, empathy radiating at her for her sister-by-fate, "I have no idea, Caroline. You're clever, hell you managed to make Klaus's witches create a ring that propels immortals back, got his sentries wrapped around your finger, even Klaus has trouble predicting your moves. Figure it out."
"Rebekah, I want to be with him, but if his plan is to lock me up every time I do something he doesn't like, maybe it's time for me for me to leave."
"That's your decision then."
Rebekah brushed off the dust from her jeans and headed to Klaus's study, were all of her brothers really so inept with women that they can't figure this out on their own? Her idiot brother was about to lose the affection of his treasured queen because he couldn't get over the past. Throwing the study doors open, several sentries jumped at Rebekah's appearance, Elijah and Finn merely rolled their eyes, used to their sister's antics. Klaus didn't even look up. Her voice ringing with irritation, "Unless you are related to me by blood, get out!"
Sentries scrambled out the door, Nik finally glanced up from his papers, "I was busy Beckah."
Striding forward, she slammed her palms onto Nik's new desk, and ordered, "Release your mate."
Nik's eyes turned with rage, "She stays where she is, do not think to interfere with my affairs, Beckah."
Elijah spoke up, looking better than he had in days, "What have you done, Niklaus?"
Rebekah answered for him, "He's trapped Caroline in an abandoned servants chamber, saying he can't trust her to have free run of the compound anymore."
Elijah stood, "Niklaus, I would advise strongly against this course."
Shoving back from the desk, Klaus stood facing his three siblings, fury apparent in his every feature. Glaring at Elijah, "As if you're in any position to judge me, Elijah! Did you not keep your Bride chained to your bed until yesterday?"
Elijah remained calm, he'd dealt with many of Klaus's rages. "Then I would know best about it being a mistake."
Klaus's face mottled, he turned and began to destroy the priceless antiques behind him, "Katerina never pretended she was going to stay, just so she could escape!"
Finn's brows lowered in confusion, "You think Caroline was feigning affection for you?"
"I know she was! Why else would she send a note to an ex-lover pleading for rescue?"
Rebekah raised her voice to match his, "Maybe because you're still holding her prisoner! How can you doubt her feelings, it's obvious to everyone but you!"
Elijah's voice was still calm, "This won't end well for you, Nicklaus."
Finn's voice was far away, "She ran into your arms, Nik."
This drew the siblings' attention, "What the hell are you blathering about Finn?" Rebekah snapped.
Finn's voice was thoughtful, "There's something about that… I can't remember it was so long ago... wait! Sage will remember."
Without another word, he left the study returning with his Bride, leaving his three siblings puzzled. "Sage, my love, do you remember when we first met Nïx in Europe right after we escaped from Mikael?"
The red haired nodded, eyes widening at the destruction Klaus had done to the antiques surrounding his desk.
"What was it she said to us? I can't recall, but I remember you being obsessed with her cryptic comment."
Sage smiled and nudged Finn playfully, "Well you thought she was just a mad woman, I knew who she was, I even asked her again about it, but she seemed to have forgotten the entire thing."
Rebekah, impatient as always, "What did she say?"
Sage flashed a look of annoyance at Rebekah, and settled in to tell her story, "We ran into Nïx in Prussia on our way to meet you in New Orleans. I recognized her as a Valkyrie and showed respect, Finn was anxious to put more space between us and Mikael. We had no idea where the rest of you were, so I asked Nïx, 'Do you happen to know where we might find the children of Mikael, prince of the Vampires?'"
Klaus sat back into his chair, his mate's aunt Nïx was famous for her seemingly innocuous comments, but he had heard rumors that she was steering this Accession. It would be unwise to ignore her words.
"Nïx was more coherent then than she is now. She looked us up and down, and said, 'Prince Finn and Princess Sage, you honor a humble soothsayer with your presence.' She was clearly sarcastic, Finn wanted to leave, but I made you wait. 'Do you see his siblings, shield-maiden? We seek to join them, we flee Mikael.'"
Rebekah and Elijah found their own seats, neither had ever met Nïx but heard her to be an interesting person.
"'Laissez les bon temps rouler.' Nïx turned away as if she answered the question and then I recalled hearing about a French colony in the Americas, which I figured she must have meant. Both Finn and I turned to leave, but Nïx was suddenly in front of us, 'The tighter you hold onto the bright light, the faster it slips through your fingers. You've only to open your arms to the lights for it to embrace you.' Then she was gone. I asked another Valkyrie, Helen, I believe her name was, about it when we arrived in Paris. She'd shrugged and said, 'The only thing I could think of for Nïx to mean by that is that there's an old wives tales among Valkyries that a Valkyrie would know their soulmate, when they opened their arms and she realized she would run forever to get between them. Nïx swears by it.'"
Finn looked at the thunderstruck Klaus, "She ran into your arms yesterday, when she found out Bonnie was captured, didn't she?"
Klaus opened his mouth to answer but he was shocked silent, could it possibly be true? He remembered her running into his arms, and how strangely she'd acted after. He'd thought she was worried about Bonnie, but could there have been more? She'd decided to stay with him that night, was it because she got confirmation when she ran to his arms of their fated bond? He clenched his nose, a migraine forming as he tried to piece through the events of the last twenty-four hours. She'd hesitated before leaving with Katerina, why do that if she was so close to escaping? Why admit to wanting to stay, when she now had a viable means of escape? Could this possibly be true?
He lunged from his chair and turned from the room, increasing his pace as panic clutched at his throat, was he too late to make amends for his mistrustful behavior? Would she even listen if he asked for forgiveness now? She'd been desperate not to be locked in there, had begged for him to listen. Her entreaties pinged around his skull, I can't remember her ever begging before, but she'd begged me not to lock her up. She'd wanted to stay with him willingly, less than an hour before, would she still? Why was I such a fool? The past betrayals he'd experienced had colored his dealing with her, poisoning any possible justification she could have offered. Before he could comprehend it, he was sprinting to the servant's quarters, what have I done?
"I'm sorry, Caroline. I- "
The room was empty. He knew his siblings were close on his heels, so he moved past the barrier and searched the room, Caroline was gone. He frantically surveyed the room, noticing the steak knife sticking out of the door, an envelope with his name scrawled across it. His hands shaking, he pulled the knife from the door, her elegant script accusing him silently. Fear grabbed his throat in a vice cutting off air flow, regret stabbed him mercilessly, turning its dull blade in him. He could fix this, he had to fix this. Clinging to that sliver of hope, he opened the letter.
Dear Controlling Asshole,
I thought I would clear some things up for your archaic, mistrustful mind. When you first kept me here I thought I might give you a chance, you seemed so different from everything I heard, for days you contradicted your reputation. I thought to myself, that you couldn't possibly be what I had heard. You might have been harsh, and cruel, but I thought you were more. More than a monster. But you showed your true colors today, didn't you? I sent those notes with my concern for Katerina paramount, and nowhere in them did I ask for rescue. I'm a Valkyrie, I would never ask for help. I really was coming to care for you, maybe even falling for you, I thought we could be together if I could get past my own issues and preconceptions, but I never considered yours. It seems futile to fight against a thousand years of paranoia, which is why I'm not even going to try. I would rather take my chances with Mikael finding me. Enjoy your compound, it's minus one Valkyrie.
You Can Never Keep a Valkyrie, If She Wants to be Free,
Caroline,
FORMER Queen of the Hybrids
Collapsing to his knees, the emptiness of the compound seeming to crush him. She had been falling for me. Am I destined to ruin the only light in my life? His siblings arrived in the doorway, Rebekah kneeling in front of him, taking the note from his despondent hands. "I'm sorry, Nik." Elijah summoned the witches and had the barrier removed quietly and quickly.
Staggering to his feet, his desperation apparent, "She must have told Kat or Stefan, where she was going, I have to find her, I have to explain." Caroline would do anything for her friends, she wouldn't have left the compound without telling them.
Rebekah nodded solemnly and followed Klaus to the kitchen, where Damon and Stefan were sipping on blood bags, and Elena and Katerina were enjoying a vegetarian breakfast, the four were congenial with each other, Damon and Elena laughing at her twin's crude humor. Katerina sat on a stool at the marble island, with Damon and Elena next to her, and Stefan bantering with the twins from the round table in the breakfast nook. Klaus arrived with his siblings, Katerina smiled softly at Elijah's appearance, especially as he came forward to place a kiss on the top of her head and pull her into his side. Stefan, pulled Rebekah to him, placing her on his lap, teasingly kissing her forehead loudly, causing the thousand-year immortal to blush.
The attitude of the room froze as Stefan and Katerina noticed Klaus standing in the entryway, both stiffening immediately. Stefan eyes held pity and resentment, he'd never seen a male so determined to fuck up his relationship. Katerina's eyes however, burned with hate, if Elijah hadn't caught her hands gently in his, and shook his head pleadingly, she would have cast an illusion of his worst nightmares come to life, with Caroline as the star in most of them. Sneering, she shot, "What the hell could you want Klaus?"
"She's gone. Did she tell you she was leaving? Where she's going? I have to find her." He wasn't even embarrassed at the desperation in his voice. All he understood was that he needed to find her, and beg her forgiveness.
Katerina stood, every inch the legendary Sorceress, "Yes and yes."
When she offered no more, he almost lunged forward to shake the petite sorceress, but Elijah sent him a frosty look warning him against it.
"I just want to talk to her."
Katerina glanced at her perfect nails as if the conversation was beneath her, turning her back on him to finish her breakfast. He glanced at Stefan, but his old friend had no sympathy left for him, "What could you possibly say to her now? You ignored her when she begged for you to listen less than two hours ago." His voice uncharacteristically hard, and unrelenting.
"I didn't- I wasn't-" Klaus didn't want to explain his weakness to these immortals, there was still the chance they could turn against him, but they knew where Caroline was. The struggle to reveal his weakness fought with the need to find his mate inside him, Caroline ultimately winning. Not that it mattered, the immortals before him had already tried him and found him guilty.
Damon smiled smugly, "What an eloquent and thought out apology. I'm sure Blondie would fall all over herself at it."
"She told us not to tell you where she was going, not that we would betray her. Enjoy what you've wrought, Klaus, you have no one to blame but yourself." These cutting words from Elena. Even the immortals who barely knew Caroline took up her defense against him. She had that kind of effect on people, the ability to inspire instant loyalty. She did so without fear and blackmail, something he had never been able to accomplish.
Nodding silently, he left the room, his shoulders slumped in defeat.
I'm going to kill him. Standing in Jackson Square, sitting at the wood benches in front of the cathedral, waiting for Tyler to show. He was late, as usual.
"Maybe he's not coming." Davina suggested, gesturing at the empty square.
"He'll show, he can't resist the opportunity to show that he's the alpha male." Caroline rolled her eyes, Tyler was nothing if not predictable.
The night lamps giving harsh light to the dark bruises on Davina's throat. Davina had shown up the second Rebekah left, offering Caroline a way through the barrier, so long as Davina went with her. Caroline jumped at the chance, leaving a note for Klaus. He would come after her, that much was clear but he'd have trouble finding her. Davina had "enhanced" the ring she'd given Caroline, she was invisible to most immortals and any type of magical barrier would never keep her contained again. Looking down at the silver ring, her thoughts drifted to Klaus for the thousandth time in the last hour. Did he even know she was gone yet?
The way he'd glared at her as he locked her in. She thought he'd hesitated before he left, wanting to believe what she was saying but couldn't see through his own past. She understood more about him now, Rebekah's story illuminating much about him, but it didn't excuse his behavior. If he wanted a future with her, he would have to prove that he trusted her. No, there isn't going to be a future! He locked you up and threw away the key remember?
She wished she could be resolute, wished she could hate him, but she cared about him, and in the end, she still saw her future with him in it. She was angry that his solution for everything was to lock her up, he thought that there would be no consequences for such an action, a petty side of her enjoyed demonstrating the error in his ways. See, even a thousand-year-old hybrid can learn new tricks!
The howls of wolves echoed through the square, Tyler loves to make an entrance. Standing, she linked her arm reassuringly through Davina's preparing her for the arrival of Tyler. From the mist blowing in from the Mississippi, Tyler, Matt, and some werewolves she didn't recognize appeared. Smiling brightly, "Matt!" She patted Davina reassuringly, unlinking their arms at the sight of the berserker.
Launching herself at him, she almost knocked him over. Matt laughed at her exuberance, twirling her around before putting her on the ground again. "You had us worried Care. Your note was vague to say the least."
She hugged Tyler briefly, nodding to the other wolves turning to introduce Davina. "This is Davina, she's a witch that has been, uh, with me for the last month."
Davina waved shyly, Matt ever the gallant, bowed slightly, "Any friend of Caroline is a friend of ours."
Tyler merely grunted.
"Well," Caroline began, punching Tyler, hard, in the arm, "where the hell in my note did it say that I needed you to rescue me?"
"Ow!" Tyler rubbed his arm, pretty sure Caroline had fractured it. "We thought you needed help!"
Caroline rolled her eyes, "So you decide to kidnap people?!"
Matt, ever the mediator stood between them, "We can release them now, Caroline."
Piqued, "it was still a dumbass thing to do! You don't want to piss off Klaus!"
That got both Matt and Tyler's attention, "He's really back?" Both were young like her, so they hadn't been alive for the last time the Mikaelssons ruled New Orleans, but they all knew the stories.
"Yes, he's really back. And you don't want to piss him off!"
Davina nodded in agreement, well-versed in the stories of Klaus's rages.
"Where are the hybrids you captured?"
Tyler whistled and several wolves brought forward three hybrids in chains. She recognized them from her time in the compound and held her hand out for the key. Sighing, Tyler grudgingly handed it over. "Thank you." She said pertly.
Unlocking the hybrids chains, each rubbing their wrists, "Go on, run back to Klaus now."
As they turned to leave, one turned back towards her, "Are you not coming with us, my queen?"
Shit. Matt's eyes widened, and Tyler's began to flicker ice blue, in a deceptively calm voice, he asked, "Caroline, why does a hybrid think you're their queen?"
"I-" she began to respond but the second Tyler began to show any kind of rage towards her, she was behind a wall of hybrids. "You will not speak to her like that." The three she'd freed seemed peeved that Tyler had been about to yell at her.
"Thanks, guys. He wasn't going to hurt me," she said to their backs.
The older one, Jason, she believed his name was, still took exception, "King Niklaus would not like that any dog talked to you in such a manner."
Tyler's eyes changed fully at the insult, forcing her to put herself between them. Cooling immortal tempers, "Jason! I'm fine, Tyler stop being an ass. Obviously, Klaus thinks I'm his mate, therefore Queen of the Hybrids." She didn't mention that she was pretty sure he was her mate too. Though she wasn't Tyler's mate it didn't mean he didn't still feel she was somehow his property. Which usually pissed her off royally.
Changing the subject, a bit desperately, Matt inquired, "Have you told your aunts where you've been Caroline?"
She hadn't called her aunts yet, which should have been her first call, but something had stopped her from calling, even giving a wide berth from Val Hall. She'd spent the day with Davina in an apartment in the French Quarter, one she usually used when staying with her aunts became too much, "I sent them a note like yours. But I haven't had the chance to go by the manor yet, Matt. I'm sure they're busy." Let it go, Matt.
As an immortal warrior blessed by Wöden, berserkers saw themselves as protectors of Valkyrie, something her aunts and she often thought hilarious. As if they needed protection.
"Would you tell them I'm fine, and not to worry about me when you see them?"
Matt nodded, deciding against asking why Caroline didn't tell them herself.
"Good to see you're okay, Care." Hugging her again he retreated from the wall of hybrids who still stood in a line against her back.
Tyler, fool that he was, "You're coming with us Caroline."
"That sounds a little like a command, Tyler. In case, you're not aware, you lost any right to order me to do anything when we broke up." She crossed her arms over her chest, her legs braces slightly apart, her signature don't fuck with me stance.
"It's not safe out here, Caroline." That made her soften, as much as Tyler got on her nerves sometimes, he was still a good friend.
"I'll be fine, Tyler."
Broderick, another of the three hybrids spoke up, "We will look after our queen."
"See I got three hybrids and a witch to keep me safe, not to mention, you know I can bring the pain." She patted the hilt of one of her short swords with a small smile.
Tyler smiled slightly, and with a parting glare at the three hybrids at her back, he left the square.
Turning back to Davina, she ignored the hybrids as she headed for her hideout. She noticed that they were still following her as she left the square, whirling around, "Why are you still following me?"
Jason answered her, "Are we not returning to the compound, my queen?"
"No, we are not. Run along now, I'm sure Klaus is waiting for you." She gestured dismissively with her hands, making one of the hybrid's smother a smirk. She imitated Klaus's hand gestures perfectly, and he was pretty sure it was unintentional.
Turning around, she began striding forward, but they still shadowed her, she whipped around again, "Do you not understand? You can go back to the compound, but that's not my destination."
"The king would have our heads if we left you out here alone."
Caroline nearly screamed, she had plans to accomplish, and they had to be done tonight, plans she could not accomplish with three Hybrid tagging along. She'd see them to the compound and lose her new bodyguards the second she could.
"Fine! We'll stop at the compound first!"she snapped, frustrated and a little anxious at the unnecessary detour. It had been less than a day since Klaus had tricked her into another cage. I can't trust you… she shook her head angrily, the echo of Klaus's cruel words haunting her. Feigning affection for him? Her! Who could lose everything by being with him! She stormed towards the compound, muttering in annoyance.
The three nodded solemnly, and she glanced at Davina who was nervously chewing at her thumbnail, taking her hand, she whispered, "We won't be staying there."
Holding hands congenially, Davina and Caroline headed back to the compound they'd escaped earlier, this time they would arrive with all the cards. Both free from the mystic boundaries, the only way they would be staying is if they chose too. Which based on the last conversation she had with Klaus, wasn't very likely.
Less than ten minutes later, Caroline was pounding on the massive entry doors of the compound. Please don't let Klaus answer, please. She wasn't ready to face him, despite all her mental bravado. The doors swung open and Damon stood annoyed in the entryway, based on his rumpled state, and level of irritation, she'd interrupted him and Elena. Smiling at the site of her, Damon shouted, "Blondie! Long time no see."
Rolling his eyes at Damon, who was clearly hoping to provoke a confrontation with her and Klaus. She elbowed him hard in the stomach as she moved past him. Turning to the three hybrids, she gestured to the compound, "Alright, we're here.." she directed at the hybrids trailing her, they immediately retreated into the compound, foolishly believing she was once again trapped within its walls. Snickering slightly, she turned on her heel, and was about to sweep from the compound with Davina at her side, when Damon's amused voice stopped her.
Damon smirked again, "Leaving so soon?"
Narrowing her eyes in annoyance at him, she paused in the doorway just as the parlor doors opened and a haggard Marcel stuck his head out. He looked both relieved and agonized at the sight of Davina, Caroline didn't miss the way he laser focused on her bruises. He stepped towards Davina but she shook her head violently, making his eyes shift again to the black bruises on her throat. In a slightly broken voice, "Can we talk, Davina? In private?" Davina had a painful grasp on Caroline's arm, appearing unwilling or unable to relinquish it.
Davina looked to Caroline as if asking permission, some part of her hoping Caroline would deny her, "I'll be right here." Caroline assured her. Davina had explained how she had gotten the injuries and Caroline honestly believed that Marcel might deserve a second chance with the young witch. Earlier, Caroline had been unable to convince Davina to stay in the compound and knew she could keep a better watch on her if she tagged along. She had been hoping to slowly coax Davina into talking to Marcel, she just hadn't expected it to be so soon.
Davina followed Marcel into the parlor, closing the door softly behind her. Damn, I have to stay in the compound, in case she still wants to leave. She would run the risk of a collision with Klaus if Davina's future happiness was at stake. Best keep myself occupied until then. She sent a longing look at the night just outside the open door, before slowly closing it.
Glaring at Damon, she asked, "Where's Kat?"
Damon shrugged, his stupid smug smile remaining on his face. "Kol's awake, he's been asking where you were, he wants to talk about Bonnie." Her body stiffened, Damon dangling the one thing she would risk venturing deeper into the compound for. She was hoping to remain in the areas she knew Klaus didn't frequent.
"Where is he?" Her tone left no room for argument.
"He's in the kitchen, gorging on blood bags." Damon obliged, never dropping his knowing smirk. Caroline had known the vampire for less than a day, and already his arrogance grated on her. She much preferred Stefan's soft, supportive comments than Damon's abrasive, harsh truths.
"He's alone?" She winced as her voice broke slightly.
Damon smiled wider, "He's with Stefan."
"Just Stefan?"
"Just Stefan."
"Thanks, Damon." She grumbled.
Sauntering off to the kitchen, she didn't notice Damon's smile turn wicked and how he immediately sped off in the direction of Klaus's study.
Caroline tread carefully to the side of the compound that lead to the kitchen, deliberately avoiding the courtyard. Striding through the door with a confidence she did not feel, she paused briefly to stare at the two vampires sitting there. He still looks terrible, Caroline thought as she caught sight of Kol. Stefan raised his eyebrows at her appearance, "I thought you weren't coming back?" Caroline barely noticed the empty blood bags on the table. When did she become so used to living with vampires? She would have shuddered in revulsion a month ago.
"Forgot my curling iron. Kol, you want to talk about Bonnie?" Her tone indicated the urgency of the situation, hoping to get the information and get out.
Kol's eyes brightened slightly at the mention of his Bride but dimmed almost immediately in remembrance of what she was likely going through gesturing for Caroline to sit at the round breakfast table with him. She wasn't eager to make this a long visit, the longer she was here the more likely it would end in a fight with Klaus but knowing more about Bonnie's capture was essential if she was going to plan a rescue.
"We got captured shortly after we left Damon and Elena's house to head to the compound, they came out of nowhere. We just were not prepared to take on a group that size. Not that it mattered, in the middle of the fighting, Bonnie yelled at me telling something was wrong. I had just grabbed her arms when we both disappeared. Mikael's witches had intended to just grab Bonnie, but I had my hands on her when we disappeared. I killed the witches in short order, but not soon enough for escape. Mikael appeared, and snapped my neck." Kol rubbed his neck as he recalled it. "It ended up lucky for Mikael that I tagged along, Bonnie refused to work for him under any circumstances. So, Mikael tortured me to force her to work for him, she said she couldn't bear to see me in pain. I told her I could handle the pain, but she didn't listen. He knew she was a Bennett witch, and that her spells and protections would prevent Klaus's witches from getting close. After a week passed, she couldn't bear to see me tortured anymore, so she used magic to send me here, alone. She also sent a message with me, she said you're the key to killing Mikael, Caroline. That you're more than a Valkyrie." Kol's voice was heavy with regret and pain, he missed his Bride like a missing limb, would rather go through years of more torture than have left her alone in his father's hands.
She'd heard this before, her aunt Nïx had often talked about the bright lights surrounding her, and that the lights would one day blind the world. But she scoffed at Bonnie's message, "How can I be more than a Valkyrie?"
Kol shrugged, "We have to get her back, soon. She didn't listen to me when I told her not to send me away." He glared in hatred at his regenerated hands, which hadn't been able to stop Mikael.
His concern and desperation, she surprised both Kol and herself, by reaching out and placing her hand on his reassuringly, "She never listens to me either, and we will get her back."
Which was exactly how Klaus found them, when he came bursting through the doorway, less than a second later. Caroline gazing into his brother's eyes, her hand affectionately placed over his. Klaus could barely contain the jealously that ignited, she would never look at him so fondly again. No! She's here must convince her to stay! Damon had told him that he might want to wander down to the kitchen, Klaus had been despondent, staring blankly at documents in front of him, it wasn't till Damon said that a certain Valkyrie might have returned did Klaus bolt from the room. He could scarcely believe when her scent flooded him, he had assumed it was just echoes from earlier, taunting him for his unthinking words and actions. Forcing him to remember what he'd done.
Caroline's back was to him, facing Kol and Stefan, he could barely stop himself from clutching her to him. Breathless, he sent a look of anger, pointedly at where Kol's hand held Caroline. Smirking knowingly, Kol still pulled his hands from Caroline, he would have normally enjoyed ribbing Klaus, but the madness in his brother's eyes warned against him pushing it. Caroline stiffened, as if the lightning she caused had bolted down her spine, at Kol's deliberate glance over her shoulder. She knew without looking back, who lurked in the doorway. She kept her back to him, hoping that if she continued ignoring him, he would disappear. Desperately clutching Stefan's hand, she tried to force him to remain in the kitchen to act as a buffer. He didn't though, instead grabbing Kol's arm, and pulling him from the room. "Traitor." She accused under her breath.
Stefan closed the kitchen door behind him, leaving Klaus and Caroline alone. Stiff as a board, she rose from the chair turning slowly around to face him. "Klaus." She nodded curtly, her hands tucked in the pockets of her jeans. Why did she leave her short swords at the door? Because she knew no true threat to her body lay in the house, only a threat to her heart.
He hated that she acted as if they were strangers, he'd woken up with her snuggled in his arms this morning, how had the day turned to such shit? "You left." He's meant to start with apologies, even beg, yet he couldn't stop the way the statement sounded like an accusation.
If it was possible, she stiffened even more, "You imprisoned me, again." She whipped out. Klaus silently rejoiced at the showing of anger, anything was better than her cold formal tone. He could deal with anger, it meant some part of her still cared for him, that he hadn't killed all her feelings towards him.
Stepping forward, unable to bear the awkward distance, he froze, when she crossed her arms defensively. "Caroline, I behaved wrongly." That sounded too formal, was he destined to fuck this up repeatedly? The gaping hole in his stomach seemed to grow wider as she held herself away from him. He had to hold on to the hope she would forgive him, that he hadn't lost her light. He couldn't have lost the one thing he needed more than breath.
Her lips thinned into a small line, "Yes you did. Twice since I've met you, you've imprisoned me. I know when to recognize a toxic relationship." Her tone was acidic and her words were causing true panic to rise. What if she never forgave him?
"Toxic relationship? Caroline, I may have acted rashly but we are fated." Again that sounded like a command, or an order. He could tell by the way she recoiled at the statement that he was losing her, again. Desperation was making him into a fool, and if he wasn't careful Caroline would disappear from his life, forever. He realized he was going to have to forget a thousand years of betrayals in order to win her back. He would do it, something he hadn't thought possible, because the simple thought of life without her was… unthinkable.
She laughed sarcastically, "Just because we're fated doesn't mean we're actually good together! Or even should be together!" He didn't like the sound of that, his stomach roiling in revolt at the idea.
Ignoring her stiff stance, closing the space between them, he placed his hands on her arms. He honestly couldn't keep his hands off her. She was still stiff, and resistant, but he mentally couldn't function with the space between them. He also knew, she was more likely to listen to him if he could remind her of how perfect it could be between them. She was always more willing to understand him when he was touching her, and at the moment he would use any tool at his disposal to convince her of his sincerity. She shivered involuntarily at his touch on her arms, "I know you don't truly believe that, or you wouldn't have run into my arms." He rolled the dice on the legend being true about a Valkyrie's mate, again exploiting anything and everything to convince her to give him another chance. One last chance, and he would move heaven and hell to be sure he didn't ruin it again.
He waited with bated breath, her reaction confirming what Sage had said, because her eyes flashed in surprise and she gasped in shock. "How do you know about that?" Her voice shaking slightly.
Pulling her into his arms, though she didn't uncross her arms, he couldn't help the gust of relief that coursed through him at her silent confirmation of the legend. "Sage told me, I can't believe how foolish I was." She truly hadn't been manipulating me, she was actually coming to care for me! Could he salvage this?
Caroline relaxed slightly in his arms, dropping her hands to the side. "Klaus…" She didn't pull out of his arms, or tell him to let her go, and he was counting that as a win.
He knew she was softening, he pulled back to look at her face, he could make this right, he had to. "Caroline, I let my past color my present, I was convinced you were just feigning affection for me, that you were biding your time until you could leave me. I realized my mistake quickly but you were already gone, and I never regretted anything more. Finding you gone-" he shuddered in horror at the memory, "I'm so sorry for how I've acted. Not only with this but what I said the night before you released Katerina, I understand that your aunts are a part of you, and it was wrong of me to try and force you to chose between us. Will you please give me one more chance? I swear to you, I'll be worth it." He was holding his breath, fearing her answer. He knew he would have to let her go if she couldn't give him another chance and wait hoping she would one day return to him, no matter how long it would take, he would wait millennium for her. He was finally letting her have a true choice on whether she stayed or go. Caroline realized he was holding his breath, and that he was giving her a choice, something that was clearly extremely hard for him to do. But she had trouble placing her trust completely back into his hands, she just kept remembering how he didn't look back when he'd locked her away.
He smiled weakly, but Caroline's eyes flickered silver, her voice low, the hurt in it tied with the grimace of pain on her face, might as well have plunged a sword through his chest. "You imprisoned me without letting me explain or listened when I begged. How do I know you won't do so again?" Her words were barely a whisper.
She's softening, pulling her luminescent face into his hands, "I swear to you, Caroline, I would never be so foolish again. Finding you gone, was," he swallowed the memory, "it was intolerable, I would never give you a reason to leave me again."
Her eyes turning fully silver, hesitantly, "I didn't want to leave."
Kissing her forehead gently, "You wanted to stay once, do you think you could again?"
"Is this you finally asking me to stay, Klaus?" Had he truly never asked her? Always just expected her to? Gods.
Smiling wryly, freezing at the look of intensity on her face, "Caroline," brushing tendrils of hair back from her face, "will you stay here with me, as my queen?"
Smiling weakly, "I'll think about it. On a few conditions."
His heart leaping out of his chest, actively restraining himself from squeezing her in relief. "Anything."
"One, I want to be able to make my own choices, and have you respect them when I do. No more of forcing me to chose. Two, I will be going back to my aunts after all this is over to visit, but you can come with me.. And finally, no more secrets."
"I reserve the right to change your mind regarding choices, but I will respect them if you are firm to them. Otherwise, agreed." He kissed the tip of her nose, and her forehead. Ready to move on, pulling her towards their wing of the compound, stopping when she tugged him back.
"I'm serious, Klaus, no more secrets."
"No more secrets." He promised, kissing her deeply.