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Chapter 4: No Country for Old Men

The Middle of Nowhere

Klaus, for the first time in a long time, was speechless. Her presence brought back too many memories of his past life. A life that was seemingly innocent but shrouded in regret and sadness. She looked the same, with her blonde curls, pink cheeks and caring eyes, however the small blonde that meant the world to him as a child had grown in to a strikingly beautiful woman.

He drank in her appearance, forgetting the images of a young girl and replacing them with what he saw before him. A mass of unruly hair, lips the color of poppies and sun-kissed skin that beckoned him to touch. He met her eyes and immediately dropped her wrist and recoiled. No longer was there the familiar angelic gaze that he once knew. She was now staring at him through slanted eyes with fire and loathing.

"Klaus!" she said his name again, but this time with fury, "What in the world is going on?"

"Come now Caroline, I thought it might be nice to get reacquainted with your old friends." Kol said and reached his hand up to brush the hair away from her shoulder, a tinge of lust in his eye.

"Don't touch me!" Caroline slapped his hand away and pushed him backward. "How dare you keep up this charade! How dare you make me feel like I was in the presence of strangers when you knew me all along." She went at him again.

Klaus' jaw clenched, his protective instincts for his family boiling forward. He grabbed Caroline by the shoulders and spun her around to face him, not caring of the momentary fear he saw in her eyes. "Now you listen here, little girl," his voice low and threatening, "I would mind your tongue and your actions."

"Or what?"she spat at him, "what are you going to do?"

He pulled her in closer, tightening the grip on her shoulders. "Don't think that because we have a past, that you are in a safe place," he hissed. "People have said less to me and I have killed them on the spot."

Caroline searched his eyes for any reasoning behind his venomous words. "What happened to you?" she said and shook her head in disbelief. "How did you get like this?"

He let go of her instantly, he didn't want her looking at him like that, with pity and sadness. He spent enough of his life feeling sorry for himself and angry about the past. She had no right to make him feel that again.

"Elijah, take our guest outside. Make sure she has something to eat and a place to rest."

"Wait, I have to sleep outside?"

"Unless you would prefer to sleep next to our unfortunate friend in the other room?" He gestured toward the door he had just emerged from.

She scoffed at his attempt to frighten her. Elijah came behind her and placed a hand on her arm, she shrugged him off, turned on her heels and exited the cabin, leaving Elijah shaking his head before he sauntered off in tow of the scorned woman.

"Well, she's a feisty one, isn't she?" Kol chuckled. His laughter abruptly stopped when Klaus' fist made contact with his jaw. Kol fell in to the small table, his feet going over his head before crashing to the floor.

"You stupid son of a bitch!" He screamed and he launched toward him again. Damon and Lexi did their best to stop him, but he pushed them both off with ease. Kol scrambled to his feet and placed his hands in front of him as he cowered in the corner.

"Whoa, whoa, Brother," he said.

"Kol, what were you thinking bringing her here with you?" he grabbed the younger man by the collar and shook him.

"Listen, she was at the bank during the robbery. When I found out who she was I knew it would only be a matter of time before she went to her father. I wasn't sure if she had recognized me, and I didn't want to take any chances."

Klaus loosened his grip and backed away from Kol. "Well, she's your responsibility now! You hear me?" Kol nodded his head and scampered toward the door. "And Kol? Keep her out of the way and try to play nice. She might know something that could be of use to us." He walked to the fire and placed a hand on the mantle. "Damon. Lexi. Go take care of the body."

They all did as they were told, quick to obey his orders. He stared in to the fire, contemplating his next move, as if the amber flames held the answer. She was not part of the plan. He knew going to Mystic Haven was risky, with the history that his family had there. He would've sent Damon and Stefan alone and not Kol, but Stefan was otherwise preoccupied and Kol was the next safest bet. How was he to know, that of all the people in that town, that she would be the one to get caught in the crossfire?

(***)

Abilene, KS 1856

Abilene was not the most inviting city. It was stuck in the middle of a seemingly never ending feud between the states and it was the last somewhat civilized town between the east and the wild west. It was a feeding ground for the wealthy proprietors and country men alike, and every man had an agenda when setting foot there. The wealthy would stray to the dark side and mingle with the heathens. They would make deals with the devil, drink their fill of libations, and gamble their hard earned money away.

The death toll was a way of life. There were more unmarked graves outside the city limits than anywhere else in this desolate place. If you stepped foot in Abilene, it was best to keep your nose clean, stay out of the way of others and focus on your task at hand.

However, there was one place, centrally located in town, that had no bias on its clientele. However noble a man was or how dastardly of an outlaw, they could enjoy an evening of delicious entertainment at the Broken Gospel Inn. The women there were what made up a man's fantasy. A night of desire and lust with a woman that's sole purpose was to please you, and only you. For a price, of course.

The Inn was managed by a fiery red head named Sage. She kept her ladies in line, kept them clean and well fed. She was as tough as any man, but understood the importance of giving off the appearance of a lowly woman. Men in that day didn't do well with a woman in authority, so when her clients came to visit she portrayed herself as she knew they would want her to be; meek and soft and easily tamed. She encouraged her ladies to do the same. Be what they want you to be, that was their motto.

Sage sat in her room, she counted the last of the money that was stacked neatly on her desk, preparing it for safe keeping in her hidden safe. A ding at the front desk indicated that another customer was beckoning her for a night of tawdry entertainment.

"Hello sir, how can I delight you this evening?" she asked with a sultry smile.

The man removed his hat and held it nimbly between his fingers. "Is this the place that a man can...indulge himself?" he inquired. He had a look of desire on his face that Sage was all too familiar with.

"I believe I can find something that can satisfy you." She stepped around the desk and sauntered toward him.

Sage had been in the business long enough now to know what a man would prefer. She could tell by their actions, their words and even their posture what kind of lover they would be and the exact woman that could oblige him.

"You just wait right here, and I'll go find what you're looking for," she offered and held out a hand for him to take a seat.

"Actually, I was hoping I could request the company of a certain girl in your employment?"

"Oh?"

"Yes, I believe she goes by the name of the Temptress?"

"Ah," was all Sage said. Her newest girl was beginning to get a reputation it seemed. This was good for her business, but also, dangerous. When a woman becomes too much of a hot commodity, the other woman tend to suffer for it. She had lost too many good women to unnecessary jealousies. "Well, how can I refuse a man with such a handsome face? Let me see if she's available."

Sage made her way up the stairs to seek out the requested woman.

The inn was nearly full that night, and as she walked down the hallway the sounds of pleasure escaped from behind closed doors. She neared the room of the inquired woman just as the door swung open and a disheveled gentleman stumbled out. His belt was still undone and his hair was a ruffled mess.

"Hello Mayor Lockwood."

"Oh, he- hello, Ms. Sage," he said as he clumsily tucked his shirt in and fastened his pants.

"I presume you had a wonderful time with our dear-"

"Oh yes, yes...fine, fine, she's a firecracker that one!"

Sage only smiled and nodded. Mayor Lockwood was one of her best clients. He never cared much for whom he spent the night with, as long as they were young and limber. That was until the Temptress took up residence. He was smitten with her and spent almost every evening calling out her name.

He started down the hallway when Sage halted him. "Mayor Lockwood, you know the rules, the back entrance is a much safer escape." She put her hand on his shoulder and directed him toward the back stairwell. "We wouldn't want anyone to see you, now would we?"

It was the same with every man. They came in the front door and out the back. She told them it was for their safety and with the more recognizable members of the community, for their reputation, but really it was to give the illusion that the men waiting in the entry were the one and only guest her girls had in their beds. He only grumbled an "Of course, of course, thank you Sage dear," before turning and exiting.

Sage waited until he was gone before knocking on the door. She didn't wait for a response and opened the door to find her girl lounging in the window, puffing on a cigarette. "Hurry and get cleaned up, you have another guest," she said to the woman.

After a moment Sage directed the young man in the waiting room to her door. He swallowed, looking so nervous and naive, it was refreshing. "Enjoy yourself," she said to him.

"Thank you, ma...ma'am."

The room was dimly lit but he could make out a perfectly made bed and a small night stand. The room smelled of cigarettes and perfume, a smell that brought memories of sweet surrender flooding to his mind. He turned his head and saw her. She stood there in only a white satin robe that clung neatly to her body. Her stalkings were peeking through, teasing him to come and take a better look. Her hair was thick with curls, playfully caressing her neck and framing the most gorgeous face.

He only smiled at her, it was all he could do, before she moved swiftly toward him and he was blinded by a kiss. She tasted as sweet as she smelled and just as he remembered.

She pulled away slightly, her blue eyes sparkling at him. "Hello Stefan," she purred.

"Hello Rebekah, how's our favorite informant?"

She placed a finger on his lips to quiet him. "Shh, pleasure first. Business later."

(***)

Caroline stormed out of the cabin, her hands in fists at her side as she stomped across the open terrain. It was dark now, just a glimmer of the sunset left peeking over the horizon. She embraced the cool air that nipped at her cheeks and held back the tears that were begging to be released.

It wasn't her intention to run away but her feet wouldn't stop moving. She continued her pursuit to safety, needing to distance herself as much as possible from the boy that had become a monster.

"Caroline," a voice rang out after her. "Caroline if you do not stop I will shoot you," it said calmly.

Her hands relaxed and she turned around to face the threat. The Gentleman, or Elijah (of course it was Elijah), was holding his six shooter at her. "Shoot me!" she yelled at him. "I'd rather die than be in the company of you people."

"Now, you know I can't do that, but it would be best if you came back to the cabin with me. There are a lot worse things in the desert at night besides my pistol."

He was right, of course, she wouldn't last the night by herself. She inhaled sharply and started back with Elijah.

He held out his hand back toward safety. "There's a nice fire going in the back of the cabin. As well as some beans cooking and some blankets," he said.

She could see the faint glow of the fire, its warm flames enticing her when the chill of the night finally set in. As she moved past Elijah, he casually placed his jacket around her shoulders. It was a kind gesture, which she would've shrugged off, but the immediate warmth it brought had her wrapping it closer to her body.

"Thank you," she said, not forgetting her manners.

"You're very welcome," he responded.

Caroline was confused by Elijah. She always knew he was kind, she remembered that much of him, but to be so completely different from his brothers was hard for her to understand. Where they were coarse and demeaning, he seemed gentile and forgiving.

"'The Gentleman', suits you," she half smiled.

He only lightly chuckled, "Yes, I wouldn't have chosen that name, but I suppose there are far worse names that one could be stuck with."

"Like the Tailor?" She jeered, thinking of Kol's sickening alter ego.

"Hmm, yes, I'm afraid my little brother came up with that one himself. However gruesome it is, it's appropriate. He delights in the torture of others."

"And you?"

"I would rather use words, but am not afraid to get my hands dirty if needed."

Caroline thought of his Wanted poster and the heavy reward that was on his head. She was sure it wasn't there because he used forceful words, but thought it best to not inquire at the moment.

They walked behind the cabin and found a small camp site set up. Kol stepped away from the fire and toward them, he immediately put a hand in the air in surrender and handed her a small bowl. "Don't shoot! I come in peace," he laughed. She eyed him warily before accepting the bowl, her hunger overcoming her anger.

She sat down on a log near the fire and ate in silence. She pondered the events of the day, from her morning with her mother, to the bank robbery and the long trek that brought her here. She glanced down at the silver bracelet on her wrist, reflecting the fire and bringing his sad, blue eyes to the forefront of her mind. She was so relieved to see him; a familiar face and safety. But it didn't last. He wasn't the same person anymore, he was ruthless and uncaring; so distant from the little boy that she once cared so deeply for. The tears began to swarm, as her heart began to break for him.

Today was just the beginning, she thought. Tomorrow she would get to the bottom of her kidnapping, and piece together the complicated puzzle of Klaus Mikaelson.

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