Disclaimer: I do not own TVD or any of its characters.

A/N: Thank you all so much for giving this story a chance and adding it to your story alerts! Also, a BIG thank you to those of you who reviewed it! It really means a lot! Thank you for reading and I really hope you enjoy this next chapter!

-xxx-

Caroline took her time showering, hoping that the more she stalled, the more time it will give Bonnie to realize she was missing, although she knew it was a very slim chance that any of her friends would notice her absence until the next day.

She took her time when she got out of the shower as well. She hadn't washed her face, so she still had makeup on, although it was a little smudged. Oh, well. It was better than going out in public completely bare. She slipped her clothes back on, silently praying that they would go shopping soon so she could get out of them.

She made her way to the kitchen, her hair still dripping wet. She rummaged through the fridge, surprised to find a stash of blood bags in it. Klaus must've stocked up while she was in the shower, which was kind of...nice of him.

Caroline grabbed one and started sipping it, relishing the feel of the red liquid coating her parched throat. She sighed in contentment.

The slamming of the glass door of the balcony made her jump, and she watched Klaus hesitantly as he walked towards her. He stood beside her, leaning on the counter while she turned to face him. "I see you've found the blood bags," he observed.

"Yes... Thank you," Caroline replied.

"As soon as you're ready, we'll leave to go talk to that witch I was telling you about," he informed her.

"And then we'll go shopping?" Caroline asked excitedly. Way too excitedly for a girl who just got kidnapped by the Original psycho.

The corners of Klaus's lips turned up into a smirk. "Then we'll go shopping," he confirmed.

"What do they have around here? Do you think they'll have a Sephora?" Caroline inquired, forgetting for a moment with whom she was speaking with.

"I guess we'll find out," Klaus responded disinterestedly.

There was a pause while Caroline shifted uncomfortably, her gaze on the granite countertop in front of her. "What are we gonna do while we're here?"

"Kill time. Maybe look for some werewolves," he answered. "We could go sightseeing," he added sarcastically, smirking again.

Caroline scoffed. "Well, I'm certainly not going with you when you go hunting down werewolves. It would be a suicide mission for me."

"I wasn't planning on taking you, but even if I was, I do happen to know of a cure for a werewolf bite," he joked.

"How can you guarantee I won't run away as soon as you leave me alone?" Caroline challenged as she finished up her drink and set it aside.

To answer her question, Klaus placed his hands on her shoulders, locking her gaze in his as he lowered his voice and his pupils dilated. "You will not leave this room unless I take you with me. Do you understand?"

"I understand," she answered, under the trance of compulsion.

He pulled away as she blinked, grimacing. "Did that answer your question, love?" Klaus asked in amusement.

Caroline didn't respond. Instead, she stormed away from him, heading towards the balcony. Her hair was halfway dry now. She wished she had her curling iron with her to perfect her soft curls, but she supposed that her natural curls weren't so bad. Still, she'd have to add it to her growing shopping list.

She stared out over the balcony, watching the people on the streets who looked so tiny from where she was standing seventeen stories up.

This whole thing was just insane. Last year, she would've never considered leaving Mystic Falls. She would've lived there her whole life, raising her kids and reminiscing about her glory days as the queen bee and captain of the cheerleading squad. Now, she was in London with an Original hybrid and her life hanging in the balance. She would never have children. She would have to move around her whole life so no one would grow suspicious of her everlasting youth. She wouldn't get the life she'd always planned.

Caroline found herself wishing for her friends to screw up and make Klaus kill her. That way she would be free from all of this. She didn't want to spend every day burdened with the guilt that she killed someone. She didn't want to live her life as a monster. She didn't want to outlive all her friends and family. She didn't want any of this.

Caroline didn't even notice she wasn't alone on the balcony until she felt his hand gently touch her arm. She didn't pull away.

"Caroline? Are you alright?" Klaus asked, concern coloring his voice.

Caroline wiped away a tear she hadn't realized was there. Great. Now she looked vulnerable and weak. In front of her enemy, no less! "I'm fine," she replied somberly, moving her arm out from under his grasp. "Let's just go talk to that witch of yours," she suggested, not wanting to hear his fake concern for her wellbeing. No one really cared how she felt. It was Elena who really mattered, not her.

Stop thinking like that! It's not all Elena's fault, she scolded herself internally.

Caroline's blonde hair had dried completely in soft waves that she seemed satisfied with. She followed Klaus out of the hotel, trying to ignore his curious glances in her direction. He didn't hold her in place this time in the elevator, which she was grateful for. He did, however, gently pull on her arm when they started walking on the crowded streets.

"So where exactly is the witch?" Caroline asked, sounding more like herself.

"She works at a small pub along the way," he answered, his tone back to its usual smugness.

They reached the pub in almost no time at all, it seemed. It was definitely small, and very empty. Caroline figured Klaus had called ahead of time and the witch who worked here had closed up. As soon as they entered, a dark-skinned woman greeted them from behind the bar with a sour expression.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite Original," the witch said, her accented voice dripping with sarcasm. Caroline gathered that she wasn't too fond of Klaus, which made her smile a little. She liked this woman already.

"It's nice to see you again too, Lydia," Klaus replied politely. "I'd like you to meet Caroline." He dropped her arm and gestured toward her.

"Ah, your captive," Lydia said, giving Caroline a sympathetic look.

Klaus chuckled. "I suppose you could say that. Now, don't take too long as we have other errands we need to attend to."

Lydia glared at Klaus for a moment before signaling Caroline over and placing her hands in hers. "Don't worry, this will only take a moment," Lydia assured her before closing her eyes and whispering incantations under her breath that Caroline had no hope of ever understanding.

It was over in a flash. Lydia opened her eyes and gave Caroline's hands a reassuring squeeze before letting them drop. The witch turned her gaze to Klaus, who was leaning patiently against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest.

"It's done," she told him.

Klaus smiled. "Fantastic. Now, Caroline, we should get going." He held out his hand to her. She sighed and stepped away from Lydia, ignoring Klaus's outstretched hand. He grabbed the top of her arm anyway, giving Lydia one last nod before retreating through the door of the pub.

"Well, that was tense," Caroline commented once they had gotten back on the busy sidewalk.
"Lydia's family has always been strongly opposed to Original vampires. Even more so than the average witch," Klaus explained.

"How do you know she actually did the spell?" Caroline couldn't help but hope Lydia had tried to help her out. She had shown Caroline quite a bit of sympathy.

"Because she knows I would kill her and her entire family should she do anything to disobey me," Klaus said. Caroline knew he was answering her question, but she could sense the subtle warning that his words held. She bowed her head, all hope of being rescued gone.

-xxx-

Their next destination was a shopping mall. Caroline couldn't wait to load up on new clothes and change out of the ones she had worn for the past two days.

Caroline was extremely grateful that Klaus let go of her arm when they entered the first store. He did trail behind her the whole time she shopped, which got really annoying, really fast. It took everything in her to not turn around and tell him to back off.

She had picked out several pairs of jeans and was heading towards the dressing rooms with Klaus hot on her heels. "You aren't coming in the dressing room with me, are you?" she asked in annoyance.

"Not unless you want me to." He grinned devilishly, but Caroline knew he wasn't serious. She rolled her eyes and closed herself in one of the rooms.

The first pair fit perfectly, and since the rest of the jeans were in the same size, she figured she wouldn't waste time trying on the rest. She went to the register to purchase the merchandise before she realized she didn't have her purse, and therefore didn't have her credit card. She looked at Klaus expectantly, and he leaned forward over the counter, his voice dropping. Caroline rolled her eyes in disapproval as she saw the cashier being compelled. She really hoped the poor woman wouldn't get fired for giving away several pairs of expensive jeans for free.

At the end of their shopping excursion, Caroline reviewed her new wardrobe. She had tons of new dresses, skirts, jeans, blouses, shoes, and accessories. It turns out they didn't have a Sephora, but they had several makeup stores that sold what she needed as well as a place that sold hairstyling tools. She was bubbling over with excitement at her purchases.

At one point, while she was in a dressing room with a very large amount of clothes to try on, Klaus must've slipped out and gotten whatever he needed for their stay in London.

"Now what?" Caroline asked. If it weren't for her supernatural strength, she would be toppling over from the heavy bags she was carrying.

"Now we go back to the hotel," Klaus replied.

Caroline glanced at her new diamond-encrusted watch. It was six thirty in the evening. To her, however, it felt like one thirty. "Aren't you hungry, though?" she questioned.
"There will be plenty to eat when we get back," Klaus told her.

"Besides maid service?" Caroline quipped.

Klaus smiled. "Besides maid service," he agreed. "You can order whatever you like. Just charge it to the room."

There was a beat of silence.

"Thank you," she said suddenly, pulling Klaus up short.

"For...?"

"For not locking me in a room somewhere like a normal kidnapper would do. I had fun today," she admitted.

Klaus smiled a genuine smile at her, but her expression darkened.

"That doesn't mean I'm okay with any of this, though," she reminded him. But she had also said it to remind herself.

-xxx-

A/N: Again, thank you for the awesome feedback! The more reviews I get, the more inspired I am to update, so hopefully you guys will give me your thoughts on what you think so far! I also take constructive criticism, so fire away!

P.S. I've never been to London before, so please feel free to tell me if there are any inaccuracies!