Present
He stood there for a while, looking at the walls of her empty room.
There was a mug of something steaming on her bedside table and the covers of her bed were ruffled with pillows tossed askew. She seemed to be working on something at her desk, a textbook open along with some pieces of paper with scribblings on it. He didn't have the energy to look at it though, too deflated with failure that he could barely move his eyes.
If he had only run a little faster, or if he had realized it a little sooner then maybe he could have warned her.
But now she's gone, thrown into an unknown time dimension while being as ignorant as he first was.
How could he let this happen? He should have just told her on the phone, and explained it quickly because he didn't know if he'd make it.
Apparently he should've listen to his instincts.
With one final glance around the room and a violent kick of a stuffed animal on the floor, he flashed away.
There was someone he needed to see.
They had settled somewhere different on their second day together. When she arrived he asked if the garden would suffice since it was such a beautiful day.
"And why waste it stuffed up inside?" He had said.
She agreed as it didn't matter much to her. She never suspected him to be someone who cared about sunny and warm days where the sky was blue and not one cloud could be seen. But she was astonished to see his face brighten as they walked out into the backyard. He smiled as his gaze had fallen onto the dense forest in the back and his eyes sparkled as the birds chirped.
It was a sight she never thought she'd see.
"That's better," he said, motioning for her to sit in one of the chairs.
She settled herself, arms going onto the rests as she leaned back.
It was this relaxed position that he found her in. There was a small smile that he caught on her face as she soaked up the sun and he couldn't help but smile too. He could watch her all day like this because for once, the hatred in her eyes was gone.
"What?" She said, bringing him back.
He stared at her for a second before smiling. "Nothing, love. So how was your day?"
She shrugged, still reclined in the chair. "Okay I guess. I didn't go to school because everyone is still so obsessed about the stupid cure."
Klaus raised his eyebrows before nodding his head slowly. "And you're not as quote, 'obsessed', with it as they are?"
"No," she said quickly, folding her arms across her chest. "It's all for Elena, anyway, and we all know that one of those boys will end up taking the cure for her." She wrinkled her nose.
He paused, not sure if he wanted to know the answer to the question he was about to ask. A part of him knows he shouldn't care, it's her decision. But he can't help the pang in his heart as he thought of the thing he didn't want to hear.
"What would you do, though?" He asked slowly. "If...if they found the cure?"
She licked her lips, as if preparing to answer him, though she paused. But it was only for a moment. "I'm supposed to say yes or at least...that's what I think they would want me to say. Because being a vampire is horrible, right?" Caroline shook her head smiling, though it never reached her eyes. "I don't think it's horrible, to be honest," she whispered next, "Does that make me a bad person?"
"For liking who you are?" He couldn't help but sound relieved.
Caroline shrugged. "But is this who I am? I mean I was human, for seventeen years I was someone and now suddenly I'm someone else." She sighed and turned her head to the forest before speaking again. "You wouldn't have liked me much when I was human."
"So you prefer who you are now to the girl you once were?"
"Of course...I would never go back."
Klaus nodded, placing his laced fingers under his chin. "Then you have your answer."
Caroline frowned, looking down at her hands. She supposed he was right, something that was happening more than she liked, but he wouldn't understand. It didn't matter what she wanted. No matter what her choice would be judged and sometimes she wished there wasn't anything to choose from in the first place.
"What about you? I'm guessing it's a no."
Klaus smiled. "You know what they say when you assume."
"So you would like to be human again?"
He shook his head. "I didn't even like being human so I couldn't imagine ever going back."
Caroline cocked her head to the side. "Why? I mean I didn't like my human self but that didn't mean I hated being human."
His eyes glanced to the time on his watch and he took that as an advantage. She didn't need to know that much about his life and he was in no mood of explaining it. Perhaps at a different time.
"As much as I'd love to continue this conversation, it seems I've eaten up all your time."
She seemed confused at first but upon realizing the time she sprang from her feet in a haste. "Oh my God! Wow time sure flies when you're-" She was gathering all her things, not understanding what she said until he was merely inches from her.
"Fun?" He whispered, breath ghosting past hers. "You mean when you're having fun?"
Caroline's eyes connected with his briefly and she smiled, something he loved seeing. "In your dreams."
And she flashed away.
Chicago, 1923
Caroline awoke from the memory abruptly, eyes flashing open. Her cheek was pressed against cold concrete, hands splayed out in front of her as she slowly pushed herself up.
A street light shone over her and there was soft music coming from behind her. Night had fallen and if she looked up closely to the sky she could see the same flicker of stars poking their way through. For a moment she forgot and admired the beauty of it, almost smiling before it hit her.
It came back slowly. She was sitting on the bed, the pain nearly consuming her when he called. She remembers how abruptly it stopped, the anxiousness in his voice as he told her to stay put. Although she didn't understand why he was acting the way he was or why he had disappeared for so long, she knew there wasn't anywhere else she would go to. She needed him in that moment as she worried the bite had come back. But then everything fades, the world going dark around her. The last thing she remembers is the phone slipping from her fingers and the black...all black.
And now she's here, on a city street and...and dressed.
Caroline nearly screamed when she saw what she was wearing. It resembled the dress she wore to the decade dance, red beads and fabric with just a little bit of sparkle. Her hands were covered in white gloves and bracelets and she even had on the matching shoes.
"What the-"
"Hey!" Someone called from the end of the street. It was a woman about a few years older than her, dressed in something similar only silver instead of red. Her hair was pulled back into a bun with curls framing her face. She had bright pink lips and was waving her arms frantically in the air. A few girls joined her as she made her way over to Caroline.
"Excuse me?" Caroline said, stepping hesitantly towards the group.
"Could you tell us which one you came from?" She asked, the girls giggling behind her.
Caroline took them all in carefully. The outfits, the smiles, the makeup. Her eyes drifted behind them, to what was parked on the streets and even tuned in again to the music filling the background. It was like she was in some movie. But it couldn't be-
"I heard Club Lucky was on this block?" The other girl said.
Caroline tried speaking but that's when someone stumbled out of a door in the alley behind her. They were a couple, arm in arm as they laughed together. The smell of booze and cigarette smoke filled the air but she watched in amazement as the girls in front of her squealed with delight.
"I told you it was down here, Dorothy." One of them said, nudging the woman before heading straight.
The two girls left but one hung back, linking her arm with Caroline's as she began to walk.
"What are you doing?" Caroline asked, trying to wrench herself away from the woman.
"Well you're obviously dressed to go out and I hate being the third wheel."
Caroline shook her head and stepped away from the woman. "No, you don't understand. I don't belong here. This isn't-"
The woman smiled, shaking her head. "I know it's hard to get used to at first but trust me, once you loosen up you'll have the time of your life!"
Caroline shook her head again because the woman simply wasn't understanding. If only she really knew what was going on. But before Caroline had a chance to explain further, the woman grabbed hold of her hand and dragged her towards the girls. They were already being let in, one of them pointing to Caroline and the woman as if to say they were with them. The man by the door was smiling, nodding at each of them as they passed. He especially eyed the woman pushing Caroline, his eyes sparkling as he met hers.
But there wasn't anymore time to think. She stumbled through the entrance and into a dark hallway. The woman was guiding her through, giggling along with the other girls. Caroline blinked only once and it seemed, when she opened her eyes, that she was transported to a completely different place.
A stage stood right in front of her. On it stood a beautiful woman hugging the microphone, her vibrato echoing throughout the room. It was a slower song so not many people were dancing but they were talking, laughing and shouting from all over the room. Most of the men hung by the bar, dressed in suits and ties with their hair slicked back. They were holding either tumblers or glasses of champagne, one hand clutching their drink while the other hung on tight to a woman. Everyone seemed to have someone be it in the booths lining the walls or the dance floor where the a partner was near mandatory.
She's never seen anything like it. The atmosphere was so lively, so full of light and life that it seemed almost overwhelming. Everyone was smiling, everyone was drinking and there wasn't a single person in the whole room which a sour look on their face. Caroline couldn't imagine such a thing. It seemed like these people didn't possess a care in the world. Well they were breaking the law, after all, might as well let everything else go. She wished she could be like that, just forget about it all for one night and embrace it.
"We're going to introduce you to one of my friends. She just moved here a few weeks ago and I know she'd love to meet you."
Caroline tried shaking her head. The reality of the situation began to sink in again because little did they know that she didn't belong here. This wasn't right and none of it made sense. She had to either wake up or get to the bottom of it on her own. Because this was either a terrifying nightmare or a spell gone horribly wrong.
"Rebekah I'd like you to meet-"
And then their eyes connected. You hear about it in movies all the time, in romance books that girls swoon over but you never really believe it could happen. After all it's such a crowded place, how could they ever find one another?
But of course, of course, she finds those blue eyes by the bar. He's nursing a drink in his right hand and wearing a grin on his lips. She never thought he'd look good in this kind of time frame, the whole slicked hair and happy atmosphere just didn't seem like something Klaus would fit into. But, oh, how she was mistaken.
He was dressed differently from nearly everyone in the room, contrasting beautifully against the black in his white suit. You would think he'd stick out like a sore thumb but it seemed like the opposite. He blended in perfectly but had this glow about him that no one else could mimick. She's never seen him so happy, with his bright eyes and joyful laugh as someone said something next to him. It's a side of him she's never seen and she was so taken aback by it she didn't realize Rebekah coming up to her. She didn't realize that he was staring back and excusing himself from his group.
He was coming over and-
"I'm sorry! I never even asked you your name!" The woman exclaimed, laughing with the other girls as a waiter brought them over something to drink.
Caroline was too busy staring at Rebekah and then towards Klaus to realize what they said.
"Excuse me?" Rebekah's annoyed voice filled her eyes and she snapped back.
"I'm sorry what?" Caroline said, swallowing hard.
The woman smiled. "Your name."
"Oh!" She brought out her hand and tried to stop the shaking as Rebekah took it. "I'm Caroline."
"Caroline," came a voice behind them and she nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard it. "What a beautiful name."
Rebekah rolled her eyes and placed her hands on her hips. "Nik! Could you leave my friends alone for two seconds? We don't need you breathing down our necks the whole night."
Klaus barely heard her, too enamored by the sight of this woman to bother hearing what his sister had to say. This woman, Caroline, was someone he's never seen before. She had to be new as it appeared she was lost when she first walked in. He saw her before anyone else, the confusion washed over her face but being quickly replaced by the awe. He wondered by it was so confusing, and it intrigued him that her features were so contorted with one look at the room. Hasn't she seen something like this before? But it didn't seem to matter moments later since it overwhelmed her in a sense that only made her feel joy. The beauty of everything consuming her and that's when their eyes met. Those eyes made him forget whatever was flowing through his head and replaced it with her.
Caroline.
"I'm Nik," he held out his hand, pushing past the women and going straight towards her.
Caroline stared at his hands, thinking about how much blood he shed with them. The amount of people he killed and tortured with those beautiful, calloused hands. It was hard to think that they were wasted with all the wrong while they could be doing all the good.
Her eyes met his and she tried to appeared unphased. It was so much easier back home but now...it was at least ninety years before anything between them even happened. They weren't anywhere near Mystic Falls and he doesn't know Elena will be born in seventy years. Right now he's just Klaus Mikaelson, big bad hybrid enjoying a drink.
There were so many times where she wished to forget all of the horrible things that he's done. That he never killed Jenna and Tyler's mother, that he never hunted her best friend and destroyed Stefan. But it was hard. Usually when she lists them all out, writes them down on a sticky note she can see how horrible he actually is. It didn't matter that he sometimes listened to her or saved her (even though he was the one to put her in danger), he was still Klaus.
She was trying her hardest to remember all these things as he broke through their group to her. As always those eyes never seemed to stray anywhere else.
"I don't mean to interrupt," he says then. Her face is like a statue and her eyes seem hollowed out. It's like she's processing something he isn't quite sure of. He doesn't know if she's getting ready to storm away or smile. That's never happened with a woman before. People talked for years about the mystery of them but Klaus always thought they were so easy. But perhaps they had something going for them.
"It's fine," Caroline says and her voice isn't even above a whisper but she knows he can hear it. And it's as if he registers, in that moment, what she really is. Of course it only makes him happier and he takes a step closer, teeth bearing into a wide grin.
"Care to dance?"
She should refuse, scoff that perfect scoff of hers and throw the drink that was placed in her hand minutes before all over his suit. That's what should have happened. But instead she found herself smiling, she actually smiled like a schoolgirl and placed her hand in his. It was so warm and she's a vampire so she shouldn't know the difference, shouldn't feel it send a jolt through her whole body but she did.
And it felt amazing.
Present
He came storming through the Salvatore home, busting the door open and speeding into the living room. It seemed he had just crashed a the gang's meeting seeing as the lot of them were crowded on the couch, serious expressions coloring their faces. But to his surprise, most of the anger and sorrow they were showing wasn't directed at him.
"Sure, come on in." Damon called from the other side of the room. He was leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest and an eyebrow raised. For once he seemed to be the farthest person from the liquor station.
"Sorry to interrupt." Klaus said, smirking slightly as he came further into the room. "But it seems we have a problem."
Stefan sighed. "Yeah and we're trying to deal with it." There was an edge to his voice that Klaus had rarely ever heard. His eyes were squinted and darker than usual, with a rigid stance on the couch. Klaus couldn't help but notice him glancing back at Damon every now and then, fists clenched at his sides as Bonnie whispered things to him.
But Klaus didn't come here for their drama.
"I think that is where we differ, mate."
Damon pushed himself off the wall and began to walk towards him. "What do you mean? Elena-"
"I don't give a damn about your bloody doppelganger." And then it dawned on them that they hadn't even realized it. He laughed. "You're all unbelievable."
This time it was Bonnie who stood up, anger plain on her face. "What are you talking about? We don't have time to play games."
"Hm, let's see." Klaus grinned and placed his hands behind his back. "One, two and three." He counted everyone in the room; Damon, Stefan and Bonnie. "Now assuming that the doppelganger's absence is excused...we are missing one gorgeous blonde spit fire. But it seems as though none of you noticed."
The room fell silent, as if each and everyone one of them realized their wrong-doing. They didn't bother denying it but he still expected their reactions. Stefan immediately seemed worried, he stepped closer towards Klaus as the guilt began tugging at his features. How could he not know she was missing? He had just spoken to her the other day. The other day….
Bonnie's eyes winced and she crossed her arms over her chest, an eyebrow raised. He saw the skepticism as she wrote off every word he said, not taking the time to consider if his words were true or not. Klaus didn't expect anything less from her.
Klaus was shaking his head, couldn't contain the anger he was feeling any longer. These people hardly deserve to know where she is seeing as they didn't even know she was gone. He was practically restraining himself from tearing every one of their heads off. He didn't even know where to be begin and very much doubted that they'd even believe him. It did sound rather crazy though that she was sent back in time. But sometimes the craziest things are true.
"He's lying." Damon drawled, rolling his eyes. "I bet if I called her now she'd pick up."
"Go ahead," Klaus laughed, his lips pulling up into a smirk as he looked at him. "I dare you."
Bonnie held her breath as Damon began to dial, his eyes still rolling.
It rang four times before going to voice-mail and the sound of her voice echoing through the room made Klaus' jaw clench.
"What will it take for you people to realize that sometimes, almost all the time, I'm right?" Klaus raced to the other side of the room, broke a lamp post in half and jammed it into Damon's stomach. "I'm just," he twisted the wooden rod in deeper, "bloody right."
"I don't think that's really necessary. If you can just tell us what-" Stefan offered, trying to put out the growing fire between the two men.
"Uh," Klaus' attention focused solely on Damon, "I think it is. You see, what I'm about to say seems absolutely ridiculous. Although it shouldn't since we all seem to exist. You know the vampires, witches, werewolves and such. Apparently that's supposed to be the cold hard fiction." He pushed the rod in deeper as Damon screamed. "But days ago while I laid trapped within the Gilbert home, waiting for your curse to wear off, something happened. I fell asleep and although I awoke in the same home...the time was rather different.
"What are you talking about?" Bonnie asked through gritted teeth.
Klaus pushed the rod into the wall so Damon remained stuck there. "What I mean is I woke up in October of 2009."
Bonnie was shaking her head, face paling as she looked at Klaus. "No…that can't be possible."
"Oh I assure you, it is." He stepped towards her. "I had a lovely chat with your grandmother who explained it all to me. Though," he glanced at Damon, "I'm starting to think she got a few things wrong."
"What-" Damon gasped, taking a deep breath. "Do I have to do with anything?"
Klaus smiled. "Well see that's the fun part. I had the pleasure of viewing your relationship with Caroline or should we even call it that? I believe it was more of a forced partnership, was it not?"
Stefan sighed. "Klaus-"
"I mean that does explain many attributes that Caroline possesses. Have we all forgotten about it though? Just like you forgot about her now?" He shook his head and surveyed everyone in the room. "I thought that since I was in fact in the past I could change things or at least better them somehow. I'm not that horrible of a person. So I compelled Damon to forget her, to completely extract himself from her life and to never speak to her again. I was even warned from your grandmother that what I did had the power to change things. But," he glanced at Damon and then back to Stefan and Bonnie, "Apparently she was wrong."
Bonnie was shaking her head, eyebrows knitted in confusion. "Why would she give you wrong information?"
"Perhaps she simply didn't know."
"What spell did she say put you through this."
Klaus sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "It's wasn't a spell...it was a curse."
"Aren't they the same thing?" Stefan asked.
Bonnie shook her head. "Not even close. Spells are ancient, they're concrete and reliable because they never change. But curses are different." Her eyes flickered to Klaus. "They're unique to whomever they're set upon and they change. What she could have said then may not have applied to you now, in this time."
"Hello?" Damon gasped, waving his arms from the other side of the room.
Bonnie ignored him. "What curse did she say it was?"
Klaus looked to Bonnie and then Stefan before focusing on something in the back of the room.
This ought to be good, he thought.
"A mate's curse."
The only person that made a sound was Damon. His bellowing laughter filled the room but not one of them turned to acknowledge him. They all seemed to be taking it in silently with Stefan the only one expressing some sort of discomfort. Bonnie seemed utterly furious.
"Are you joking?"
Stefan glanced towards him. "What do you mean?"
"You're telling me you've never heard of it?" Klaus ignored the question and instead challenged Bonnie.
"I've heard of it before and studied it briefly when I came across it in one of my grimoires. It's when two supernatural creatures are fated to be together. When the bond is so strong and so many things are standing in their way, that's when the curse activates. But it's a curse for a reason." Her tone of voice lowered and her eyes shifted from Klaus to Stefan. "But I don't think, under any circumstances, that it applies to you and Caroline."
Klaus shook his head. "That's not my point. I barely know what this means but it's sending us back in time, witch. Caroline is somewhere in the past and we have no idea when or where that is. Doesn't that mean anything to you at all?"
"Of course it does." Stefan said sternly before giving Bonnie a hard look. "What she's trying to say it that it may be hard to buy into this knowing your history."
"I don't like this. She doesn't deserve this, to be wrapped up in something she never asked for." She stepped towards Klaus, all the fear seeming to slip away. "I bet this was just a plan for you to finally win her over. To prove us wrong once and for all, am I right?"
He couldn't believe what he was hearing, that she would insinuate something like that.
"You think this is a game to me?" He hissed, closing some of the distance between them.
She said nothing, swallowing hard before nodding her head.
"Why the bloody hell would I send myself back in time? Why would I jeopardize my life and even Caroline's?" His eyes winced and he thought no one could have asked a more idiotic question.
"Because you're evil...because you've killed thousands of people including Elena's aunt and Tyler's mom. You're not good and sometimes I don't see why Caroline is so hesitant in our plans with you. She can't see that you'll do anything to get what you want."
"And apparently this is my way, hmm?"
Stefan stepped in then. "No, it's not. Bonnie could you please just tell us what else you know? If he's telling the truth then we're not helping Caroline by arguing."
She sighed, tightened her crossed arms around herself and grumbled something under her breath. She didn't agree with helping him even if he was telling the truth. He shouldn't have anything to do with her. Her and Stefan were all Caroline needed in this. They would save her and not him.
"All I know is that you go back in time and can interact with people from that period as it were real life but you can never change anything. That's the catch of the 're supposed to go and witness what you're meant to see about that person. Sometimes it's painfully hard and it might make you want to change the past but that's the whole point. Part of the curse means you have to live your partner's pain and understand more about them. Then the cycle keeps going."
Stefan ran a hand through his hair. "So you were sent back to 2009...when Caroline and Damon were..."
Damon had finally managed to pull the rod out from his stomach. He fell to his knees on the ground, coughing and wheezing as blood dripped from his lips. His eyes glared towards Klaus and he weakly sped over to him, as if that would some how intimidate him.
"We were nothing." Damon spat, shaking his head. "I don't deserve any of this because nothing ever happened! She wanted me and she had me but now it's over. The more important thing right now is Elen-"
He never got to finish his sentence because Stefan snapped his neck, so fast that even Klaus was taken off guard.
"He doesn't know what he's saying." Stefan said quietly. "Last night he compelled Elena to turn off her humanity and we haven't seen her since. He's just worried."
"That's not my problem, mate." Klaus said. "What I want to know is where Caroline was sent to and how we can stop this whole curse. If she really does get sent back to parts of my past then that could be hundreds of years ago, way before all of your times."
"I can't stop this," Bonnie said sternly, her chin lifting up. "It's a curse, Klaus, it can't just be stopped. The cycle will run its course until you've both seen what's necessary. There's nothing I can do just like my Grams couldn't do anything either. We can help Caroline prepare but that's all I'm going to do."
Klaus was shaking his head, beginning to pace now. "But why us?" He finally asked. "I never asked for this, never messed with a witch so immensely that they would have reason for this."
Bonnie tried to remain emotionless, to not let his confusion get to her. "I'll look into more tonight. All we can do now is wait for the cycle to restart."
"But how long will that be?" Stefan asked.
"I don't know. Like I said I'll leave now to look into it more. Meanwhile you can stay here and keep the Elena situation under control. That's all I can do."
Klaus was still annoyed with the witches comments but retained some restraint while talking. He had finally got them somewhat on his side and he wasn't going to blow it. "I'd like to be kept informed of any details you discover. In turn I'll update you if anything happens with Caroline."
Bonnie nodded slowly. "Fair enough."
"Very well."
Without another word, Klaus was gone.
Chicago, 1923
He spun her around the room for what seemed like hours and when he finally seemed to tire of it he brought her to the bar. The few girls that were crowding the stools moved but not before flaunting themselves towards him. Although he smiled and acknowledged them, his attention never left Caroline. She had felt his eyes roam her face when they danced and whenever her attention was caught someplace else. At first it made her feel self conscious and she nearly squirmed every time their eyes met. All she could think about was their time at the ball, how they danced and he told her he'd take her anywhere.
Paris, Rome, Tokyo….
"I hope you like a French 75 because I ordered us a whole a bottle." He murmured in her, chuckling lowly as he began pouring her a glass.
She had no idea what a French 75 was but when he popped the bottle open and the foamed seeped out from the spout she wanted to laugh. It appears some things never change.
"It's fine," she said and took the glass from his hand. "Thank you." Slowly she brought it to her lips and instantly she smelled the faintest hint of blood laced within the bubbling liquid. Her eyes widened slightly but Klaus barely noticed.
He nodded his head and sat beside her before taking a sip. "I haven't seen you around here before."
Caroline felt the anxiety bubble in her stomach because of course he wouldn't have seen her, she doesn't belong here. Their dance momentarily made her forget everything wrong about the situation. That she really belongs in 2012 back in Mystic Falls not here in a speakeasy during Prohibition.
"Uh," her eyes fluttered down as she shifted in her seat. "I'm just passing through."
He nodded though didn't seem quite convinced. "Wanted to see one of these in person?" When she expressed a confused look he elaborated. "It seems as though you've never been to one of these before. You looked rather stunned upon entering."
She felt her cheeks redden and silently cursed herself. Nevertheless she shrugged and crossed her left leg over her right. "I've been told all about them and the ones down south are nothing compared to these."
At that he smiled, something so wide and dazzling she almost fell off her seat. Klaus, back in her time, would never dare to express such happiness. At least...she's never seen him this way.
"They're amazing, aren't they? I've never experienced anything quite like it."
She nodded in agreement.
"And are you enjoying yourself, Caroline?"
It was different to hear him speak her name. It was always 'love' or 'sweetheart', a soft purr of a nickname she never consented to. But he was saying her name every minute it seemed, relishing in the way it sounded rolling off his tongue. She never thought something as simple as her name could bring such a joy to one man. For a moment she thought what went through his mind whenever she whispered his name, when it wasn't in disgust that is.
She was brought back to him when he repeated his question, laughing softly as she snapped back into reality. When she thought about it, Caroline doesn't remember the last time she had this much fun. And although it was with Klaus and she was over ninety years in the past, she couldn't think of a place she'd rather be. The atmosphere was addicting, the drinks never tasted better and the men certainly weren't half bad. She wasn't referring to Klaus though...absolutely not Klaus.
Or should she call him Nik? She didn't necessarily like the version of his name, didn't think it suited the person he was. Klaus was more vindictive, had a touch more evil to it than Nik. Nik held this innocence she didn't think he was capable of. She refused to use it.
"I'm having a great time," she finally whispered.
He nodded, flashed her that signature smiling and he was about to say something else when a man came up behind him. His hand slapped him on the shoulder as a bellowing laughter sounded. She nearly fell off her seat when she saw Stefan, hair slicked back and dressed in a black suit. He was holding a drink in his hand as his eyes scanned Caroline over. By the look he was giving her he surely wasn't disappointed.
"Klaus! I thought I lost you!"
Klaus smiled. "Can't function without me, mate?"
"I'm fine, but I don't think your sister is." His eyes shifted towards Caroline and he held out his hand. "I don't believe we've met."
Oh we've met, Caroline thought but smiled regardless. "No, we haven't. I'm Caroline."
"Caroline," Stefan smiled, obviously approving. "Beautiful name for a beautiful girl. You must be new, I'm Stefan."
Caroline rolled her eyes at his cheap line and shook his hand. Klaus took the liberty of refilling her glass and she took it greedily. But she nearly spit out it's contents when she heard the word uttered by Stefan.
"Vampire,"
Her glass dropped and shattered to the floor.
"Interesting."
Klaus' eyes darkened. "Ripper...you know how sensitive we are to that word around here."
Stefan shrugged, the smile never leaving his face. "I'm merely intrigued. I haven't been around another one since I've met you and Rebekah. This could get interesting." He raised his eyebrows slightly which only granted a growl to erupt from Klaus' throat.
"Perhaps you should go have a drink."
Caroline swallowed because she knew exactly what that meant. She tried to ignore it and bent down to pick up the shattered pieces. When Stefan left she felt a hand on the small of her back followed by a soft whisper.
"Don't fret. We'll have someone take care of that."
She smiled tentatively at him. "I didn't mean to cause trouble." Her eyes shifted around the room as she hopped off the stool. "I should be going anyway." Although she had no idea where she would go, what she would do. The only place she felt remotely okay with was here...with him. That scared her more than she'd ever let on.
"Go?" He seemed disappointed but quickly masked it. "Not without one more dance."
She was worried because time was slipping away and that rock was settling within her stomach again. But he was already taking her hand and a new song started playing, something slower than all the previous ones. Again she was brought back to that night at his mansion, when Damon and Elena were twirling beside her and Matt and Rebekah were somewhere on the other side. She remembers him saying something about how well she danced and she retorted with a comment that made him smile. It wasn't so long ago yet so much has changed. She wished things could be simple again. That none of this was ever possible and she was still that cheerleader in high school. All of that was easier than witches and vampires and werewolves and thousand year old hybrids.
She didn't realize she was shaking with beads of sweat forming on the side of her face. He noticed it though and spun her around, lowering his lips close to her ear.
"This may be overwhelming now as you're only a child in this form. But it gets easier. There's so much in this world that's worth seeing and you have the privilege of forever to discover it."
It was funny because he thought she was nervous about this life, the atmosphere that was seeming to slowly swallow her whole. She wished it was simply that. And she was struck with how familiar those words were. It made her wonder why he thought the world was such a great place to discover, why it was even worth waking up to each morning. Life has proven to her so far that there isn't much to smile about. It only makes you want to scream.
"I think I've heard that somewhere before."
"Really? Was it from someone as handsome as me?"
She laughed, something so genuine it even shocked her. "Perhaps."
He nodded his head. "I see."
The song soon finished and many people began clapping. A song of faster pace soon followed and Caroline made an exit towards the door, trying to beat the crowds running towards the floor. She couldn't shake Klaus though. He was in front of her in seconds, smirking down at her as he blocked the door.
"I said I had to go." She said, raising an eyebrow to him as his smile widened.
"Don't I deserve a farewell?"
Stubborn asshole, she thought. "I suppose so." Caroline smiled, hesitated for a moment before reaching her hand out. "Goodbye...Nik," she only called him that because it was how he introduced himself to her. "It was nice meeting you."
"No, Caroline," Klaus took her hand and brought her closer towards him. His lips were gracing her cheek before she realize it and she felt his breath blow down her neck. "The pleasure was all mine."
She was about to say something, to either fire back or melt completely when a gunshot was fired. From across the room she heard Rebekah yelling Klaus' name, the panic evident in her voice. She was on the second floor of the building, racing down the stairs as Stefan followed close behind her.
Caroline doesn't remember this part of the story. All she knew was that Stefan and Klaus had spent time in this decade together, roaming around the streets of Chicago on a blood high. No one mentioned the fear and what seemed to be...running.
Klaus gently turned Caroline's face towards him and she saw the sadness residing behind his eyes. He was breathing heavily, sweat collecting on the side of his face as their eyes connected. For a second she thought he was going to kiss her, to lean down and commit the deed that's been plaguing her mind. But what was scarier was she would have let him.
Yet...it wasn't that. He did it so quickly that Stefan and Rebekah hadn't reached them yet even after he finished.
"You won't remember any of this. I want you to forget this place, the street you were on and forget this city. Forget Rebekah and Stefan and...forget me. You've never seen me before and if we ever meet again you won't remember my name. Get as far as from here as possible and never come back."
Caroline blinked a few times, wondering why he was compelling her and why it wasn't working. She watched as he gathered Rebekah, as the people fled from the bar and called Stefan over. Quickly he did the same thing to him while Rebekah begged him to stop, tears streaming down her face as Stefan nodded blankly towards them. Klaus wasted no time in prying her away, dragging her to the door as he hissed under his breath at her protests. But there was another crash, the door swung open with men pouring inside. analyze
That's when she felt herself fading, her body coming lighter with each passing second. The bar had been completely liquidated, music dead at the stage and not a single person with a smile on her face. Before she faded completely, before her eyes succumbed to the darkness enveloping her, she him.
Mikael.
Present
Bonnie hadn't contacted him yet and when he did call to nag her on it she told him to be patient. She surely couldn't do much with him breathing down her neck. A part of him knew she was right but the other wanted to wring her neck until all the answers came pouring out from her mouth. Though he wasn't sure how Caroline would feel about that.
Caroline.
It's almost been two days now and she still hasn't returned. He wondered where she was sent to, what she endured while she was there. He hoped to God it wasn't a thousand years ago and internally cringed at the thought. Not only was it completely dangerous but incredibly embarrassing. She'd see him as a human, a weak, fragile little human who never had the courage to stand up to his father. And after hundreds of years running he finally did it. He put the bastard down for good. But the thought of Caroline coming into contact with him made Klaus' stomach churn. It only made him want to stop this curse even more.
He paced in his mansion for a few hours and when a rut began to form in the carpet he left.
Destination: Unknown.
He walked for a while, ran through the woods and did a few loops around the town square. All the while doing a beeline for her house, never coming too close to it. He didn't want to be tempted, to torture himself with the fact that she wasn't here. But she was slowly becoming an addiction, one he'd never grow tired of.
It was mere minutes until he arrived at her home. Her mother's car was gone and all the lights in the house were off. He sighed and leaned against Caroline's car, arms folded across her chest as he stared at the house. For a moment he was brought back to the time he was given; 2009.
She was so young, even more full of light than he realized. But there was also that darkness. The pain brought him both Damon and her mother, the loneliness that crept up in the night when the house was empty with only her to fill it. He didn't understand the feelings inside of him that stirred, the pain that made his heart ache at the sight of her. But he knew he never wanted her to feel that way again and if she'd let him, he'd search the whole world for a solution. Because she didn't deserve. Some perhaps, yes, but never Caroline.
She was far too good for any of it.
He was turned to leave when he heard it. A crash sounded from the right side of the house, deep inside from where he was standing. Then a soft moan sounded along with some shuffling and a sniffle. His hands began to shake and before he knew what he was doing he was tearing through the house, flicking on light after light until he saw her.
She was pushing herself off the ground, tears stained on her cheeks. His eyes widened to her clothes because he couldn't believe it. A red flapper dress,smoke thing similar to what she wore to the silly high school dance ages ago. But this was more original, more true to what they actually looked like. He almost wanted to smile at the memories that came back to him. But he saw that she was shaking, tears slipped from her eyes as she tried to steady her shaking body. He was so overcome with relief that he almost missed her falling apart.
Slowly Caroline looked up at him, not the least bit frightened that he was there. She wiped her eyes and straightened herself up, chin high in the air.
She took a deep breath.
"We need to talk."
AHHHHH I'M BACK! Literally this chapter has given me hell but after hours of editing and fixing and beta talk it's all good.
I hope you liked it. There were a few things I wanted to change because I was so undecided about if the future was going to change or not and I think for this particular story that it won't fit as well. It's more of a curse, them experiencing their pasts and changing the future I think would complicate things. So I hope that doesn't disappoint because they're still traveling and interacting!
So tell me what you think because I'm dying to know. Thoughts, comments, concerns and always constructive (:
Thanks for reading and have a great weekend! Happy Almost Friday!