CHAPTER II

It All Comes Together

"Everything you can imagine is real."

New York City, it was perhaps hundreds of years since I had been here. Other than other vampires I was accustomed to, I liked big cities; in fact I thrived in them. In the past few months my duties had been saving poor young Hayley and extinguishing that dirty little pest, Marcel. He was the ever thorn in my side as I arrived in New Orleans, the town I had once ruled and once again taken over.

Elijah and I had taken Marcel down from the inside; surely he knew what I was capable of, him and his talk of being a king. I was the true king, and I had proved it to him, I had him on his knees in the town square before me, begging for his life just as he had when I had found him all those years ago, but alas I was in New York now, and there was a bigger duty I had to fulfil here.

One person I knew better than myself was Stella Salvatore, the girl who had recently deserted her family in search for her lost cause of a brother, Stefan. Of course one look at him would tell you, he was not Stefan, but of course everyone loved him. According to all the sheep, he had only now come to terms with the break-up of him and Elena. Any fool would know that Stefan was Elena's one true love, and she was a fool to break it off with him in the first place. She chose Damon, because he was fun and spontaneous, and that attracted her to him, but that was not love, not in the least.

People may say that I am a bastard, and I would agree with them, but if they said I didn't know love, I would shut them down and by that I do mean eternally. I'd like to believe that Stella was my one true love, but yes of course she loved that little scum bag, Sage too but that was the least of my concern. I sincerely hoped, actually prayed that the little twerp was off performing his destiny or whatever he called the guardian thing he did. He himself said he was a master at protecting the people he loved, but I had news for him. I was the master at destroying the lives of people I hated along with those I loved, so it was no sweat for me if he ever crossed my path.

During my absent-minded thinking I hadn't realised what the strokes upon the canvas made by my paintbrush had begun to resemble. The long and languid black strokes of paint had begun to transform into something beautiful, none other than the woman of my dreams, Stella. I worked delicately on the soul of the woman before me, her eyes. It was a colour in-between moss green and forest green, but I knew it had to be the perfect hue, as my work was nothing shy of perfection.

After my eyes had begun to cross from the details of the painting, I had decided it was time for a walk around the city of New York, and besides I was hungry. I was sure there would be plenty for me to snack on in a place like this. I turned the corner into the main street, plenty of people walking around, hailing for taxis. My eyes roamed the streets, in search of a suitable woman, that's when my eyes caught sight of a woman sporting light-brown hair, and there was a hitch in my breathing as I pondered whether it was Stella or not.

I knew thanks to my many sources that New York was the very city Stella would be, and that was the exact reason why I was here in the first place, besides my need to be in a big city in which I thrived beyond compare. Stella was a typical Virginian woman, just like her brothers who longed to stay in small towns. They always left their hometown when they felt the need to expand their wings, but no matter what they always returned.

If you took Damon and Stefan for example, that was the exact thing they had done for about two centuries, and I had no doubt Stella would do the same, but I also knew that now she was here I would use that to my advantage and gain her trust once again as I had planned to do.

And suddenly the feeling was there, I felt the pull, the long and I knew Stella was close by. As I turned on the spot, she nearly crashed into me.

"You" she breathed breathlessly as if she had just run a marathon. "What are you doing here?" regaining her composure quickly. She had known the pulling feeling but she had hoped it would've been false. "I thought you're in New Orleans."

"Stella, fancy meeting you here. I was in New Orleans, but sadly my work there is done. I'm onto bigger and better things now, love."

Taking a step back she narrowed her eyes. "Bigger and better things? And what would that be?"

I laughed in amusement as Stella took a step back, her eyes wide in what seemed to be shock. "Oh you know, this is New York. The ambience, the food, and you of course."

"I knew you were looking for me. A witch told me already" she crossed her arms but stayed where she was. "What do you want? It's been a long time, Klaus."

"So you do keep tabs on me then?" I smiled and took a step towards her. "Years can pass, but memories never fade."

At his words flashes of memories seem to pass before her eyes, memories of good times with Klaus, of them living together, kissing, having fun. She realised what was happening. Pushing him out of her mind she growled but swayed as she realised how exceptionally strong he was. As if she had forgotten it. "Stop invading my mind."

I grinned, flashing Stella my most brilliant smile. "Oh come on, love. You're like an open book," I said and placed a firm yet gentle hand upon Stella's shoulder.

She violently started shaking under his touch even though she herself didn't know if it was out of anger, fear or because of the surges of power he was sending out. As it got more difficult to resist for her, she realised she hadn't fed today. "Stop it Klaus" it was surprising even for her that her voice sounded that weak.

"Stella... fine," I said removing my hand from her shoulder and sighing dramatically. "Well atleast tell me where you're living so I may walk you home."

She shook herself one last time like a cat after being held against her will and looked into his eyes, knowing her gaze was strong enough to hold his. "You wish. As if I would ever make the mistake of letting you into my life again."

"You are sorely mistaken if you think I'm out of your life," I grinned and placed my hand at her lower back, leading her up the street. "I'm what people like to call a bad rash, I never go away, sweetheart."

Stella shrugged away from his touch but continued to walk. She felt just like a little kid again who had to be looked out for. And she hated it. She decided for the direct attack. "Are you already tired of playing little family? Is it that why you left New Orleans?"

"Family? I've been playing family for over a thousand years, love. Wouldn't you agree that I'd be tired by now?" I asked, turning my head to glance over Stella's beauty.

"I meant with your new sweetheart, Hayley. And the little bastard she gifted you with" she said with a sweet, innocent smile. He was not the only one having informations.

Raising an eyebrow at Stella, I smiled. "She was never my sweetheart, it was just one night of fun. Why are you so interested? Jealous?" I asked as I took her hand in mine. "I can give you what you want."

For a moment she was speechless, looking into his eyes. Images of her, a little girl sitting on her lap, laughing delicately up at her flashed though her mind. She knew in an instant that this time the pictures were not coming from Klaus. She shook her head once and pulled her hand away. "No. I am beyond the point of falling for your tricks, again."

I kept quiet, knowing what Stella was trying to do. She was trying to push me away, and perhaps she would accomplish that, but she had to accept one thing. I always got what I wanted, and I was in no way done with her. "Stella, I don't want to fight with you. Let me take you for a drink, as a peace offering."

Stella bit her lip. This was always how it started. With an innocent peace offering. Being away for so many years hadn't changed a thing between them. The sire bond was still present, and she knew he felt it too. She wanted to shake her head, but decided against it. At least he wouldn't know where she lived. "One drink."

"Thats my girl," I smiled and pulled her with me down the street to the bar I often visited when I was in town. "You'll love this place."

A strange feeling crept through her all of a sudden, like a bolt of energy, but it was a good feeling, familiar. She let him pull her towards the doors of the bar, it didn't really look any different than the other places in New York.

"We're in New York, don't tell me you're going to drink Bourbon," I said as I pulled a bar stool out for Stella to sit on.

"Surprise me" she smiled deliberately and sat down, turning to face the barman.

I grinned and sat down beside her, making sure my knee touched hers as I sat down. "Two martini's, Mr bartender."

She shortly glanced down at their touching knees and then up again. At that moment their drinks arrived and she was distracted. "Interesting choice. I feel like back in the twenties."

"You do have a thing for all things old, don't you?" I winked and took a small sip from the glass before me.

"Seems like it" she said and took a sip herself, turning on her bar stool to scan the bar and so their knees wouldn't touch anymore.

Watching Stella, I leaned forward slightly, moving a strand of her light brown her out of her visage, whispering softly. "A penny for your thoughts?"

Hooked into his intent gaze, she nearly melted under his touch. After all the time he was still drop-dead gorgeous and hard to look away. His crystal blue eyes were shimmering with amusement as he saw her reaction to his touch. But she wasn't planning on letting him win so easily. So she whispered huskily back, "I still think you're up to something else."

"Dont you trust me, Stella?" I pulled back and looked into her deep and intense green eyes. "I'm here to escape my life and family, just like you are."

"Oh I made the mistake of trusting you often enough. I am careful around you, Klaus." She smiled sweetly up at him, seeing his eyes darken just for the split of second.

"I know you better than you know yourself, sweetheart. What about a little fun? I can see you're in need of it."

"Depends on what kind of fun we're talking about here" she looked at him, a small smile playing on the corner of her lips. She hadn't had a carefree time for a long time indeed.

I flashed Stella a playful smile, I turned to the bartender once more. "A few shots if you will, mate."

"So this kind of fun" she smiled and clinked one of the glasses with his as the barkeeper lined the glasses in front of them. As she downed the shot a familiar nice feeling started to stretch in her gut. It was nice having carefree fun for once, even if it was with Klaus.

"This kind of fun," I repeated with a wry smiled and tossed the shot down, the liquor easing down my throat with grace. "Mm I needed that."

"I have to admit, this is kind of fun. Even with you" she added as she grabbed another shot and looked at him.

"See I told you. You didn't know what you were missing when you ran away from me, but don't fret, love just enjoy," I winked and downed another shot.

"I didn't run away from you" she snapped, before realising she was justifying herself. "I had something to do here."

"Sure and what is that exactly? Save Stefan?" I asked as I turned my head to the side to grin at Stella.

"Yes. Saving Stefan is my main goal" she said a little sore before excusing herself for the bathroom.