Ch 6

Gasping in fright, that same fear shooting through her spine as it straightened, she swung around fast enough to almost extinguish her candle. She found it hard to see him in this light, but soon she made out the form of Klaus by the bottom of the stairs that led her to this room. He stood still, waiting, for what, she didn't know.

"H-how…what is…," she stuttered as she backed away towards the table.

"Such a curious thing you are, poking around in places you shouldn't," his voice, though melodic, was also foreboding, a promise hidden underneath of maladies to come. "Have you found what you were after?" Slowly, like a fox after an unsuspecting pheasant, he stalked towards her.

Fear gripped her heart, caging her body in its iron grip. Her mind though struggled to find purchase, to grasp at something, anything, to fight back if provoked. Her backside hit the table, surprising her and jerking her mind out of its frozen-like state. With a shaky voice, that grew steadier, she asked, "Wh-who are they?"

His steps led him to the coffin she had opened and, leaning down, he brushed a strand of hair from the woman's cheek. It almost looked reverent, like he cared for the dead woman. He spoke in a nonchalant manner, "My family. Here is my sister, Rebekah. My brother, Kol, is next to her. All these coffins belong to members of my family."

Her eyes widened in shocked horror. These coffins held his family, they were not off living their lives, they were dead. Hidden underneath this castle, like forgotten furniture.

"Why keep them here? Why not bury them?"

"Always questioning...I enjoy that about you, Caroline. You're quicker to ask and seek than to sit and be quiet." He replaced the lid on the coffin, stood and carried on his way to her. Her heart picked up its fast beating, it would leave her chest at this rate. "However, I am afraid that in light of recent events, you must be disposed of. It has been a treat, love, truly." His eyes raked down her body and back up to reveal dark veins and black eyes.

And suddenly, she was quite aware of the state of her dress, still in her chemise and overcoat. She swallowed the lump in her throat, her hands clasping the table for support. What do I do? What do I DO? Her mind raced for all the possibilities before her.

Klaus was now so close to her, a breath away, close enough to see all the spidery veins below his darkened eyes. She must have been possessed, it was the only explanation for her next action, because the next thing she knew, her hand slowly reached up to touch them. Could it have been a final moment of curiosity? A clarity that this unknown creature shrouded in mystery would be the last thing she saw? Or was it blind stupidity that made her do anything when it came to this man? She would never really know, would she?

What she did notice in her rash, crazy mind was the small intake of breath from the monster before her as her fingers brushed lightly across his cheekbone. As she bit her lip in worry at the sudden plan she had just formed in her mind, her eyes dropped to his lips that were too close to her face. What did she have to lose? "Where's the fun in staying silent?" She let her gaze drag up to his eyes. She almost regretted what she was going to do next. What had she to lose after all?

During the brief seconds it had taken him to come closer, and for her mind to grasp at a feeble attempt to escape, her hand had crept further up the table in search of the small letter opener she had seen earlier. Finding it, she pushed up on her toes, hoping to distract him, gingerly kissed his lips. For a moment, his soft lips on hers was a surprise, an entirely unwelcome surprise. She found that she enjoyed it in a way. Regretted doing it instantly, she knew she would be haunted by them now. Before he had time to do anything else, she plunged her impromptu dagger into his chest. Caroline watched the shock on his face before a smirk took over his features.

She ran.

Up the stairs, as fast as she could, her light long forgotten, she found the door wide open and the bookshelves further away than she had left them. A few seconds ticked by as she fought with the idea to barricade him in the crypt, that was what it was after all. But decided time may not be on her side if what he had said was true. And he had her on strength, she may have the advantage of speed and time now. Without a backward glance, she bolted from the library. Her feet carried her out of the castle into the surrounding woods, the full moon a pale beacon in the dark.

Her frantic, rabbit heart beat louder in her chest with each heaving, gasping breath. Each branch reaching out to hold her back, keep her there, scratching her cheeks and tearing the sleeves of her chemise. Her lungs burned at the sheer speed at which she ran. The fright she felt before, only heightened at the sounds she could not place. Each twig she snapped with her bare foot was a shot of fear racing up her spine, each rustling in the leaves a death sentence. She crashed through a thicket of trees and underbrush, ignoring the cuts and stabs of nature, to find herself in a small clearing.

A howl ripped through the air much too close to her. Stunned, she faltered. Where had that come from? Instinctively, her hand found a nearby rock. The weight and sharpness of it soothed her fright a little. Damn her for leaving the letter opener. I will climb a tree if it comes closer, she thought.

A rustling ahead of her, something in the trees close by. Her eyes fought to find just where it was coming from. A twig snapped, chills raced up her arms, more rustling from the darkened woods. Suddenly, luminescent eyes appeared from the shadows, followed by a second pair. Then a third. Wolves. The first snarled and growled at her. God, what could she do now? There was no way she'd be able to get away fast enough. She tried to swallow the lump in her throat. Tried to find any shred of bravery she had once in her life.

Feet frozen to the spot, Caroline tried to bring up that courage she had felt earlier. But then, something odd happened. She was no longer alone.

Standing just an arm's length away was Klaus. Where did he come from? He appeared out of thin air.

He looked relaxed and almost uncaring that they were in the middle of the woods with wolves eager to sink their teeth into either one of them. His head canted to the side, calling back to her, he remarked, "Quite the predicament you're in, sweetheart." One of the wolves growled at him. "I was a little hurt that you stabbed me, I thought we were on good standings."

"Worth the effort," she found herself saying. "Besides, you said I needed to be disposed of."

"A little spat, I'm over it now."

She scoffed. Which seemed to provoke the wolf nearest to her. Klaus appeared before it, teeth bared, one arm reaching out to grab at it. The others moved in as well. Caroline couldn't help but shuffle backward and watch as Klaus fought with the wolves.

A wolf was thrown into a tree, another snapped its jaws at Klaus' hand, while the other bit into his leg. He growled at it, kicking it into one of the nearby trees. A sickening crack resounded in the air. The wolf fell limp to the ground. The other had latched onto his arm, he punched at it until the wolf let him go. But it soon jumped up, teeth aiming for his neck. He sidestepped catching the wolf in the middle, his arms wrapped around its torso, another loud crack and the wolf went limp in his arms. He tossed it on the ground, and looked for the other, only to have it knock him into a nearby tree. One of the short tree limbs stuck out from his chest. Her blood went cold. His eyes looked down at in disbelief as his limbs went slack and his head hung down low on his chest.

The wolf, satisfied with its foe gone, turned to her. In moments it had bound towards her. Instinctively, she thrust her arm out to stop it. Sharp pain like she had never felt before enveloped her forearm. Without hesitation and with all the strength she could muster, she slammed the rock she had been holding into the wolf's eye. Immediately it released her, she reared back and bashed it again. This time it connected with its head. The wolf staggered back before bolting into the trees.

Safe.

A lie, for sure, but for now she was safe. She looked at Klaus still pinned to the tree. Finding a tear in her sleeve she ripped into her chemise tearing it into shreds of fabric. With shaking hands she bound the puncture wounds as best she could. It eased some of the pain, the shock of what had just happened helped with the rest. Quickly, Caroline removed her ruined outer coat. Finding a sharp limb, she cut a hole in the overcoat and proceeded to tear it in half. Without much grace, she pulled Klaus off the tree. Using the two pieces of her overcoat she hooked each around his arms. Grabbing the ends she proceeded to pull him through the forest.

In the distance, she heard a faint howl.

The hushed voices were the first thing he noticed. Voices that grew louder. He realized he was in a home he'd never seen before. Eyes roaming over his surroundings, he noted that this must be a dilapidated farmhouse. Old, water damaged wood beams above him, a creaky, splintered wood floor under his feet. A set of stairs to his left, a table with figures he hadn't met before sat or stood around it. A few candles illuminating them sat in the middle of the table.

Two plain looking women, in outdated dresses, handkerchiefs held up to their noses stood closest to him. Two young men, the one sporting a black eye was seated furthest away, the other who appeared very disheveled blocked most of his view. He could tell there was another, a father figure by the sound of his gruff voice, seated in the middle. He couldn't quite see their face from where he stood. He made to move forward, demand of them what the bloody hell happened. When he caught what they had been discussing.

"Why did you do such a stupid thing father?" The woman, with plain brown hair, who stood further away from him spoke through the cloth around her mouth.

The other girl, of similar features, was eager to speak as well, "We should send her instead. It would be best for everyone if she was the one to go. Then I could use her room for my clothes."

"Hush, Anne, you're making this worse." The somber, black-eyed man reproached.

"No, she made this worse, like always." The girl, Anne, replied.

"Children, please, no one must tell her what happened. I will go, I was foolish and must pay the price." The older man's voice was quiet, drained. The disheveled man finally moved aside to reveal the older man, who he recognized instantly as the man who stole the rose. Caroline's father.

Suddenly it made sense, he wanted to smack himself for not realizing it sooner. This was another bloody dream of hers.

The softest creak from the stairs drew his gaze. His eyes flitted over the off-kilter steps to catch the sight of a well-worn dress and dirty feet silently disappearing upstairs. He followed them, certain he'd find a stubborn blonde that they belonged to.

As he reached the top steps, the darkened hall had lightened as if he had stepped from a room cast in shadows to one that held the light of midday. There Caroline stood, a tray in her delicate hands, just outside of a room. Her eyes were cast down at the tray in her hands. The food on it was meager, two apples, a half a loaf of bread, two bowls of what he could only assume was stew. She hadn't even noticed he was there.

The voices of the women from earlier floated through the doorway. "Honestly, how can she be so happy in this miserable place? There are no balls, no banquets-"

"No suitors!" The other sister cried.

"Not that she had any," the two snickered, "Remember when that Duke's son thought her cute?"

Another round of laughs, "Her friend swooped him up for herself did she not?"

"Oh yes, I almost forgot! Poor Caroline, that must have stung."

"I never liked that whore, always parading around like she was God's gift to men. I was so thankful that she left Court."

"You heard those rumors, yes?"

"Oh don't remind me!" The sisters' laughter reminded him of squawking seagulls.

This last round of laughter roused Caroline from her stooper. Placing a dazzling smile on her face she entered the room. He remained outside, listening and waiting.

"Oh, Caroline, Anne was just reminding me of your sweet, little friend. Have you heard from her?" The unnamed sister simpered as if she had not been gossiping just moments before. He would like to drain the woman, an annoying creature like that was a waste of air.

Caroline's melodic voice held no trace of the dower mood she was in before she had entered the room, "No, unfortunately, I have not. I have brought you both lunch."

"Finally," Anne had said. He decided he'd like to drain her as well.

In moments, Caroline had exited the room. She stopped short at the sight of him. "Oh! What are you doing here?"

"Fancied a peek into your life, remember?" Not altogether a lie, he supposed.

"Oh..." She looked down the hall quickly then back to him, "I forgot."

Just then her stomach gave a loud growl. They both looked at, as if it was the intruder here, not him.

"I suppose you forgot to eat as well." This felt absurd, talking like this in a dream. Why was he even here? Wasn't he supposed to be somewhere else?

Her eyes slid up to give him a confused look, "I only ever eat supper." She said it in such a matter-of-fact way that he was momentarily floored by it. No wonder she was so thin, she skipped meals. It set his teeth on edge with barely concealed anger. Why on Earth was he so angry about that?

"Why would you do something as silly as that, love?" He asked with a smile on his face that didn't quite touch his eyes.

In a haughty manner, as only she could do when discussing her health, "I'm the youngest, and there are six of us. I can go without for the others." With that, she turned and started down the hall. She escaped behind a door that he had assumed was her room. He followed, only a few paces behind.

As he walked through the door, the scenery around him had changed, transitioned into somewhere else. The wood was finer, richer, and well kept. Looking up he realized he was back in that hall from before. Which meant...

Caroline stood closer to him than before, her hands had flown to her mouth in shock, her eyes staring at his chest. Klaus looked down, the silver dagger she had unknowingly used on him earlier sat neatly in his chest. His eyes dragged up to catch hers.

But she had moved to the door at the end of the hall. Her back to it, she shook her head, "Forgive me- I didn't mean- I'm sorry." She turned, her hand poised to push the door open.

He took a step towards her. "Caroline." His voice held a warning.

Without looking back, her voice trembling with unshed tears, she replied, "I'm sorry, I have to make it right. I will make it right, I promise." She opened the door and stepped into the flames.