Ch. 9

Downstairs, the castle was buzzing with life like she had never seen it. Servants ran around to decorate and light candles. The cooks had been slaving away for days to prepare and make the feast for the many guests soon to arrive.

Upstairs, her hands trembled as she picked up the gold and cream colored fabric before her. Gold embroidery and crystal beading made up the most exquisite detailing of roses she had ever seen across the bodice. She refrained from picking up the accompanying accessories, a pearl and gold necklace with matching earrings, and about twenty small gold flower hair adornments. A dress fit for a queen, not a disgraced merchant's daughter.

Caroline had not seen either brother all day, they had been scarce for a few days, actually, giving her the suspicion that they had been avoiding her. Not surprising, since she had inadvertently spearheaded the preparations. What was she to do when the maids and servants were placing tulips on the tables where peonies should have gone, the meals hadn't been planned, and she shuddered at the state of the candles they had thought were fine. Really, it was a wonder at how they lived before her arrival. Lord, what would their guests say at being received in such conditions?

The brothers had said she'd be seen as a special friend to them, God, what did that even mean? Her mind provided several theories for what the guests would no doubt think. She supposed she didn't care, she would likely never see these people again. Were they people she had seen before? People she had conversed with at court? The lack of any helpful knowledge made her anxious. And there was a small voice that worried over the little things if she would make a fool of herself, embarrass the brothers. God, what would Klaus say if I said something trivial to his guests? Why in Heaven's name do I care?

The cacophony of voices told him his guests had all arrived. He allowed his brother to greet them in his stead. Though both knew the preferences of the other. His brother would have wanted to be seen as polite and courteous while he would rather make an entrance.

As he made his way to the stairs that led to the great hall he was surprised to find Caroline. Shrouded in the shadows, she had been spying on the guests. Her hair had been pinned half up allowing her golden curls to fall gracefully down her back. Small golden flowers adorned the braids her maid had worked into her hair. The dress he had picked for her made her look regal.

He realized at that moment that she would make an enchanting queen, with her stubborn fiery eyes and sharp tongue. He could see her becoming a great vampire as well. He pushed the thought back for another day.

Quietly making his way to the vision of gold beauty he whispered in her ear, enjoying the shudder it produced, "Will you not join them, love?"

In a hushed tone, she said, "I suppose I'm just nervous." She bit her lip, tempting him in ways she could not fathom.

"You, nervous?"

"I hardly knew what a vampire was and now I'm to step into a room full of them?" She scoffed, adding a dramatic eye roll, the little trait of hers amused him greatly. "Forgive my hesitance," she said sarcastically.

He laughed softly, "You have nothing to fear, sweetheart. Now go and find Elijah."

She hesitated, before turning to him. "Happy birthday, Klaus." Smiling, she pushed up on the tips of her toes and gave him a quick peck on his cheek. His heart jumped into his throat, finding a home there for a few minutes, shocking him with her actions. Her cheeks blushed prettily, the soft rose color he found so captivating before she quickly descended the rest of the stairs.

Did I do what I think I just did? Was I going insane? She refused to think on it further as she made her way to Elijah. She doubted she would be able to with the sudden set of nearly every eye in the room on her for a brief moment only for everyone to continue their conversations at a suspiciously lower volume. Casting a bewildered and slightly worried glance at Elijah, she found she hadn't much time to gather her bearings or question the odd behavior before she was being introduced.

"Caroline, you look lovely. Allow me to introduce one of our guests that will be staying with us, Trevor."

A tall man, with dark brown hair that fell into his pretty blue eyes, bowed. She offered a curtsy in return. "A pleasure," she smiled warmly.

"The pleasure is all mine, the stay will be made all the better with two beautiful women in attendance as well." He offered a charming smile to her. Something in his cat-like grin instantly set her nerves on fire once more.

Giving him a serene smile, she replied, "Then luck must be in your favor, sir."

Elijah cut in then, "Where is the lady you speak of Trevor?"

"She is just this way, I shall fetch her, a moment," he nodded his head towards Elijah and left quickly, Caroline frowned at his retreating form.

"Where is your brother?" Caroline looked towards the stairs, he was right behind her after all.

"He likes to make an entrance."

Caroline had figured as such, he seemed the type. Her thoughts effectively halted as Trevor was walking back, a girl at his back. She could not make out the girl following behind him until she stepped into the gap he had left for her. Her heart and world effectively stopped.

"Katerina!?" The blonde half shouted in disbelief.

"Caroline?" Katerina countered just as shocked as she was.

The two girls quickly embraced, laughing at each other and ignoring the men next to them. Caroline wasted no time questioning her friend, "Where have you been? I have not seen you in nearly two years!"

Her long lost friend grinned at her, "None of that, tell me why you are here? Last I saw you were still at Court, I thought that Earl was pursuing you? Is he here? Are you now married? Tell me what I missed!"

The Earl had noticed Caroline but only when Katerina had left to visit her family for a month. He pursued her until Katerina came back to Court when he sought her friend instead. Funny, she had a dream about them just last night, the anxiety of the much-anticipated event causing her unneeded stress.

She blushed at her brazen friend, reminding her that they were not alone. "I am still unwed, we can talk later. I must introduce you," at this she turned to Elijah, completely caught off guard by his wide-eyed stare. He was practically gawking. He reminded her of all the men at Court who encountered her friend, one look at Katerina, with her rich dark curls and her seductive air, had them falling to their knees at her every whim. Why would Elijah be any less affected? "Lord Elijah, my good friend Katerina Petrova."

Katerina smiled demurely, extended her hand and curtsied, "A pleasure, my lord."

He bowed over her hand, kissed it, and replied, "The pleasure is all mine."

Caroline eyed the two suspiciously, noting the enraptured gazes and awkward silence. Trevor and herself might as well be two chairs for all Elijah and Katerina were aware. Men had always been playthings to Katerina. She used her charms and beauty to get what she wanted and then dropped them for a better match. She knew her friend's tells, when she was sincere, how her eyes glinted with mischief when she played dumb, the way she laughed too keenly at an idiotic joke that some fool had half-baked up to amuse her. Nothing Katerina ever did surprised Caroline. The most cunning woman she had ever met, her friend.

Caroline had learned to be herself thanks in part to this other woman. However, she found it hard to deny her friend whatever she wanted, even if it gave her pain to do so. Maybe Katerina was stronger than her, more confident in herself, less worried about others. Sometimes, in the quiet confines of her room, she found herself envious of her strong, beautiful, friend. She would quiet that part of her, though. Her friend could no more help her behavior than she could help the situation she was in at present.

The voices around them dropped to a murmur drawing the group's attention. Caroline's eyes landed on Klaus as he made his 'grand' entrance, pausing to greet guests as he made his way towards their little group.

"The host has finally arrived," Elijah muttered exasperatedly.

Katerina perked up, eyes searching the crowd. Caroline fought to suppress an eye roll.

As he drew closer, something funny happened. He looked so charming, something she had not noticed before. True, he was handsome. But something in the way he held himself today. The way he had dressed, the way he walked towards them. And with a stuttering in her chest she realized that if they were different people, leading different lives, that she would have wished him to pursue her. A dance partner. A suitor. A husband.

Immediately, her mind rejected that idea, what a silly thing, he would never pursue you. But her heart, with its childlike attachment of love and romance, would not be silenced. As if to tell her, 'There he is. Finally, we've found him.'

With a shaky voice, she introduced Klaus to her friend Katerina, noticing his surprise at her knowing his guest already. With a sinking feeling, she watched him charm Katerina, grinning, bowing over her hand, warmly inviting her to his home-more warmly than she thought he was capable of, how she simpered in that way she always did when she had decided on a new target of her 'affections'. Her chest ached.

And just as quick as her heart had rejoiced at seeing him, setting itself on him in a foolish manner, it was thoroughly caged and beaten. First, by the thought that it would not do to fall for a monster, that he has not shown her any favoritism so far, that the what if's of her imagination were just that- imaginary, and the later, by the sight of him standing up with her old friend, Katerina, for the first dance.

Shaking her head, and the tight vice grip in her chest, she looked around, hoping that she hadn't been caught in a 'lovesick' manner, or missing any conversations directed at herself. Her eyes found Elijah, a look of confusion at war with his thin-lipped grimace. His eyes were steadfast on the dancing pair. Already ensnared by the loveliness of Katerina, she thought. She supposed that in this instance, they were the same. Two fools with eyes for someone they could not have. Though, she doubted Katerina would choose which to offer favors two without extensive time with each. Maybe Elijah had a fighting chance.

As for herself? How could she ever compete with her most beloved friend? Why had the mere sight of him thrown her emotions into turmoil? It had to have been the excitement, stress, and anxious planning for this night. That was all. She would throw herself into this event as if she had never thought highly of him for the briefest of moments. It would be like it had been between the three of them ever since she arrived here. Animosity and cool indifference. But tonight would be for her. She would shine like a jewel, dance with as many men as she could, drink too much wine, and live this night to the fullest. After all, this was probably her last ball ever.

The first dance was coming to an end, and with her new found brazen confidence she turned to Elijah, surprising him out of his intense staring. "Now, Elijah, shall we put our practice to the test? Show them how the fashionable dance?" Cocking her eyebrow in a defiant dare for him to refuse her. She didn't let him answer, instead she tucked her arm into his and led him to the other couples eager to start the next dance.

His doppelganger, Katerina Petrova, had finally arrived, and with the moonstone in tow. He could practically taste his freedom from this curse. See it breaking before his eyes as he danced with the girl from Bulgaria.

The surprise of her appearance, a mirror to Tatia centuries ago, paled when he heard that his Caroline knew her. Had even been good friends with her. With a start, he realized that Katerina was the one from Caroline's dream last night. This girl before him had caused Caroline to view herself as lesser, left wanting. Easy to see why, Katerina took great pains to be noticed and sought after, flirting with him mere moments after he whisked her away, hanging on his every word, smiling in what was no doubt an attempt to be alluring. He found it tiresome, really, reminding him of Tatia once more. Had she been anything other than an ingredient for a spell, he'd have killed her on the spot.

Finally, the dance ended. Leading Katerina away, he searched for his brother and Caroline hoping to pawn the annoying thing off on his brother. Instead, he found Trevor. He never liked the man. How he managed to find the doppelganger and moonstone for him was a mystery he cared little in figuring out.

"Trevor." Klaus acknowledged the young vampire, who half bowed to him, at least he knew his place. "Where has my brother gone?"

"Oh, he is there, my lord! Dancing with Caroline." Katerina dutifully pointed the couple out, batting her eyelashes in a way that made his hands twitch to snap her neck. Taking great pains to refrain not only himself but his mind from concocting too many fantastical scenes of murder for the girl next to him.

Klaus' eyes quickly found the pair in question, watching in fascination at the way Caroline expertly moved through the dance. Golden waves fanning out with each twirl, the gold flowers in her hair catching the light. Her beaming smile dazzled and charmed those around her.

He ground his teeth into a grimace, the muscle in his jaw ticking in time to his irritation and envy. He turned back to Trevor, demanding, "Wine." He waved him away in a dismissal. Forcing a smile on his face, he turned his attention to the doppelganger.