Tangled: I Want You To Stay

Chapter Five

After warning Stefan that the remaining coffin contains Klaus' psychotic step-father, I spent the next few days packing for my escape to Mexico with Klaus. I wasn't sure when Klaus would be coming back, and I assumed the reason he wasn't back nightly was because he's too busy with his plan to ensure Mikael isn't re-awakened to complete his revenge. That or he's got another girl locked up somewhere as he tries to win her affections…But I kind of doubt that is the case. In my head, everything is going according to plan, whatever the plan may be, and the next time I see Klaus he'll be happily planning our departure from Georgia.

It's been three days since the night Klaus opened up to me about his past, three days since Stefan appeared looking for answers, and three days that I've been alone to contemplate my fate. I am starting to doubt that Klaus had an actual plan in the first place, or that Stefan couldn't convince Bonnie and Elena to stop attempting to open the coffin. Something must have gone wrong. What if Mikael was released and Bonnie and Elena are dead right now? What if Stefan is dead? My mom? Everybody in Mystic Falls that I ever cared for? And I'm trapped here. I can't leave, I can't make a phone call, and I am no help to anyone in this state. All I can do is wait, but I'm sick of waiting. I want out of this room!

On the fourth night, right when I can't take another second being in the dark about the situation, Klaus shows up. He always seems to do that; show up when I am two-seconds from going over the edge. Today, though, he looks like he's had it rough. His features are hard, his blue eyes steeled over, and his shoulders slumped in defeat. Something is wrong.

"Klaus!" I rush over and wrap my arms around him, despite him remaining stiff, arms hanging limply at his sides. I pull back far enough to look him in the face, my hands holding firmly to his shoulders. "What's wrong? What happened? Is it Mikael?"

Klaus' eyes seem to flash with anger at the mention of his father. "What did you do?" He demands, taking hold of my hips so tightly his fingers are pressing into the bone. Before giving me a chance to answer, even though I don't know what I'd say because his question confuses me, he is hissing harsh, hateful words in my face, "You had one simple thing to do and you couldn't do it. I trusted you; I tried to help you and your stupid friends! And this is what you do to me?!" Klaus growls as he throws me backwards and I slam into the wall before flopping down onto the bed, chunks of wall and plaster dust raining down on me.

"I'm sorry," I groan out once I regain my breath. "I was only trying to help. I told Stefan about Mikael, but I didn't tell him anything else, Klaus, I promise. I thought if I told Stefan that he could stop Elena and Bonnie." I am getting choked up, tears pricking my eyes as I think of all that could have and must have gone wrong since my last encounter with Klaus. "I just wanted to keep everybody safe. I didn't want anyone to die."

"Well someone did!" Klaus thunders out, and I cower even further into the bed at the sight of his furious glare.

He simply stands there in the middle of the room glaring daggers, his breathing heavy and erratic, until I work up the courage to ask in a quiet voice, "Who?"

Klaus closes his eyes for a long moment, and when he opens them again, he finally answers my question. "My brother…Finn."

I sit up slowly, wanting to comfort Klaus but remaining on the bed because he's too unpredictable right now. "I'm so sorry," I tell him sympathetically. "How did it happen?" I inquire as gently as possible, preparing myself mentally for him to blow up again. I can't blame him for being angry. His brother is dead. Feeling blind rage is a reasonable emotion. I just hope he doesn't take his anger out on me, killing me in the process.

"Mikael happened," Klaus spits out the words like venom on his tongue. "It seems Stefan did not relay your message, or he was too late. Your witch and her mother opened the coffin, and Mikael escaped."

"But I thought Finn was daggered?" I query, even though it might make Klaus angry at me again. I need to know what happened; I need to know everything!

"He was," Klaus sighs, his shoulders slumping further in defeat. He closes his eyes and runs a hand over them roughly. When he opens them again, the anger has left his eyes and he simply looks like a lost child. I reach out to him and he sits down on the bed so I can wrap him in my embrace. Then he explains, "Your friends awakened my siblings, hoping they would help them figure out a way to kill me. But all they did was help them to open Mikael's coffin. Mikael killed Finn, and Rebekah and Kol fled. I don't know where they are now. But Mikael is out there somewhere, and he's looking for us. He's going to hunt us down one by one and kill us all."

"How did this happen?" I ask disbelievingly. "Stefan was supposed to stop them. He was-"

"He was too late," Klaus interjects gruffly.

"I really am sorry that I told Stefan," I say, not needing to explain further what I'm talking about because Klaus knows I'm referring to him sharing his personal secrets with me, and me blabbing them to Stefan the first chance I got. It is exactly what Klaus thought I'd do and exactly what I promised I wouldn't. I lied, and technically he should be furious with me. "I wouldn't have said anything if I didn't think it was going to be helpful. Stefan said that Bonnie's mom and her were combining their magic to try and open the coffin, and I remembered what you said about the spell needing two witches from the same blood-line. I thought I was helping, Klaus." When he doesn't say anything, I continue, "I only told him who Mikael is, and that if he kills you we'll all die. I swear that is all I said."

"Why do you think I told you, Caroline?"

Klaus' question catches me off guard. I frown, studying his face for any unspoken explanations. Why do I think he told me? Uh…because he was finally opening up to me? Because he trusts me? Because he cares…?

He answers his own question, "I knew Stefan would come back, and I knew you'd tell him everything if I told you not to. You did not fail me there, Caroline."

"But I-"

Klaus doesn't let me finish, "I should have known it'd be Stefan who'd blow it all for us. He's too in love with that Doppelganger. He's willing to get us all killed to give her a normal life."

What's he saying? Stefan let Bonnie and her mom open the coffin and release Mikael because he wants the Originals dead? But he knows that if the Originals are killed all vampires will follow. Stefan wouldn't actually get us all killed simply to give Elena a normal, vampire-free life…would he?

"No, you're wrong," I insist, "Stefan wouldn't do that. There has to be a mistake. He said their phones were off. He must not have made it back to them in time."

"Do you really believe that?" Klaus asks, laughing bitterly. "Is it because you think Stefan cares enough about you to save you? Do you really think he values your life more than his precious Elena's? That's what it all comes down to, love, and we both know that Stefan loves Elena."

"Yes, and Elena loves Stefan too much to let him get killed just to save her from you." I argue, determined to make Klaus believe that Stefan wouldn't do that to us. "Elena would rather die than have her friends die for her. She's lost enough people in her life…"

"With Mikael around, she's not safe!" Klaus points out, "Mikael will do anything to make me less powerful. He'll do anything to get to me, so that he can attempt to kill me. He'll kill Elena as soon as he get the chance, and he'll kill Stefan and Damon to get to her. Then he'll kill all my hybrids. Are you getting the picture?"

I can feel a worry of knot forming in my stomach. "What are we going to do? I thought you had a plan to stop him? Isn't there anything we can do to kill him?"

"He's an immortal, love," Klaus explains, "He can be killed the same way I can be killed, but believe me when I tell you it sounds a lot more simple than it is. You know that when a vampire is created all their human traits are magnified in death, right? Well, in life, Mikael was a violently disciplined man. He was controlling and impatient and cruel. In death, he is all of those things, but much, much worse. He is a monster in every sense of the word." After explaining this, he admits, "My plan was for you to tell Stefan. Do you think I didn't know he was coming here to see you after I left? That I did not see the dents in the wall from when you two scuffled? I am smarter than you apparently think I am, Caroline."

"So…you knew I'd tell Stefan?" I wonder, "You were that sure that I'd tell him?" Klaus nods in confirmation. "But…but if that was your plan, then…you really don't have one now? You don't have a witch who can do a spell or something and re-seal Mikael within his coffin?" I am growing more and more anxious with every question as this situation seems to get worse and worse with each reveal. "There must be something we can do. We're all going to die, Klaus!"

"He was never supposed to be let out of that coffin in the first place!" Klaus roars, his frustration and anger returning, most likely caused by my overwhelming worry for my friends and my own ass. "I have kept him in that box for a thousand years, and it took that Bennett witch and the Doppelganger less than two weeks to figure out how to get it open. I never had a back-up plan, Caroline. I never expected for someone to be so stupid as to unleash a vampire who hunts vampires into the world. So yes, Caroline, if he's not stopped we are all going to die."

"So that's it," I say blankly, shrugging my shoulder lazily. "You're just giving up? One thing doesn't go your way and you're done? How did you manage to live for a thousand years with an attitude like that? I'm surprised."

"What do you want me to do?" Klaus asks, his words serious instead of defensive and angry, like I expected.

"I expect you to stay and fight for your life, for your family! You can't just run away. Don't you want your family to be reunited? Don't you want the threat of your father to finally be in the past?" I demand, knowing that I am right. I saw it in his eyes the night he spoke of his childhood and his family. He wants nothing more than to live peacefully with his siblings, but with Mikael out there that is not possible. He has to be stopped. He has to be killed, for good this time. "I thought you were Klaus Mikaelson: the Original Vampire Hybrid, the most powerful and dangerous creature alive? At least, that's what I was told. I guess…I guess that was not true."

As expected, Klaus' inner Alpha is not too happy with me talking down about him. "I am the most dangerous creature alive."

"Prove it," I command in a daring tone. "Go back to Mystic Falls. Get your siblings on your side. And find Mikael. You can kill him if you all work together, I know you can. I believe in you, Klaus." I don't know where all of this motivation speaker crap is coming from, but I really think its working. I mean, I guess a real motivational speaker wouldn't talk to its audience this way, but Klaus is an exception to the rule. He needs to know I think he can do this, and I do, but he also needs to want to prove himself, and I've given him that as well. I just hope it's enough…

Klaus' eyes fill with lust and he captures my lips with his own. I blink in surprise before kissing him back. This is not what I was expecting him to do. I thought after I finished talking he'd be ready to get back in his car and return to Virginia. Instead, my words made him…horny? I mean, really? I guess I can accept why he might be turned on, but can't he see this is the wrong place and time to be doing this?

"Klaus, I-"

"Shh…" Klaus silences me by placing his lips on the sensitive part of my neck and sucking lightly. I inhale a breath and hold it, refusing to let a moan slip past my lips. I will not be so easily seduced by Klaus Mikaelson.

But is it really so easily seduced? I mean, I've been locked in this motel room close to three months now, and Klaus hasn't made any moves up until a few weeks ago. I haven't exactly refused him, either, so I can't begin to pretend this is all his fault. Sometimes, I get so caught up in the moment I forget where I am and who I'm with. Right now, I know exactly what I'm doing. I'm kissing Klaus, and I want more. He lost his brother, he's hurt and scared, and even though he's supposed to be this hardened hybrid warrior, he needs time to heal. I can understand that. I don't have to be the one that heals him, but I want to be.

Taking the initiative, I flip Klaus so he's on his back, and I climb up so I'm straddling his hips. I kiss him skillfully, somewhat thrilled to feel him harden up against me. I haven't had sex in so long, and being a vampire has made me really horny all the time, so having Klaus rubbing up against me like this is kind of driving me crazy. I don't have the upper-hand for long; Klaus soon turns me over so he's on top, whispering in my ear that he likes to be in control. Two months ago, I would have been turned off by that statement, but for some reason I want him even more. Klaus slowly rolls up my shirt from the bottom, revealing my pink and white striped bra, and pulls it over my head before tossing it to the floor. His eyes rake over my bare skin, and instead of being embarrassed, I yank his shirt off too so I can see some of his skin. His lips are on mine again, and he twirls his tongue around inside my mouth while I writhe against him, wrapping my legs so tightly around his hips so I can hold him against me.

"You're driving me mad," Klaus murmurs against my lips, his breath ticking me and causing a shiver to pass through my whole body, "If we don't stop now, I won't be able to."

Cheekily, I reply, "I don't want you to stop."

Klaus kisses me with renewed vigor, all it took was six little encouraging words. Somewhere between him removing the remainder of my clothes and his, I realize I'm actually about to have sex with Niklaus Mikaelson. I'll admit, I had a moment of insecurity where I almost changed my mind and asked him to stop, but I didn't. I don't want to say that I do it out of pity, both for the loss of his brother and the potential loss of the rest of his family, or the fact that we both may die soon if Mikael finds and kills Klaus, but those reasons definitely factor in. The main reason I do want this, and allow it to happen, is because Klaus wants me and no one else; he's been trying to gain my trust and affections for months and I've finally given in. It is nice to be wanted, and to be treated special, and I deserve that.

It's too bad I wish this love and affection were coming from a different vampire...

.

Afterwards, I expect Klaus to get dressed and tell me he's heading back to Mystic Falls, but he doesn't. He gets out of bed and wanders around the room, ignoring my curious questionings about what he's doing. He fills the cooler with half the supply of blood bags from the mini-fridge, and I start to get nervous. Then he tells me exactly what I was hoping he wouldn't; that he's not going back to Mystic Falls. He's getting away, going somewhere Mikael will never find him, and he wants her to come, too.

"Come on, love," Klaus commands, "Get dressed and let's go. We have to get as far away from Virginia as possible. He'll be following my trail."

"Klaus, what do you mean?" I ask, sitting up in bed finally, wrapping the white motel sheet around my chest. "I thought you were going to go back? Get Elijah and Kol and Rebekah on your side, and end this? We can't just run away!"

"Yes, yes we can, Caroline," Klaus argues, "And we have to if you want to live out your immortality." He's shoving items into a bag now, and I am pulling on my clothes as quickly as possible. "We can't beat Mikael. His hatred is too strong. The best thing we can do is disappear. That's all we can do."

I can't believe my ears. What is he saying? What is he doing? This was not supposed to be the result of my stripping down and getting it on with the hybrid jackass. He was supposed to do what I said, not change the plan last minute and run and hide like a pair of cowards. I won't leave my friends high and dry back home. I have to get back there and fight with them. I have to try and do something! Caroline Forbes does not run away and hide...

"I can't do that, Klaus," I tell him firmly, blocking the door to the motel before he can try and leave.

"What do you mean you can't do that?" Klaus asks incredulously.

"I won't run away with you and leave my friends to die," I repeat.

Klaus shakes his head at me, disbelieving that I'm really refusing his request to run away, especially after what just occurred between us. He seems internally conflicted at first, but he recovers quickly. "Fine. Don't come with me then, Caroline. Stay here in your cozy little motel room. In fact, you're probably safer here than you would be with me because Mikael doesn't know where you are." He flashes around me and swings open the motel door. He steps outside and turns back, his expression unreadable. "Last chance," He tempts, "Come with me."

"Take me back to Mystic Falls," I try and reason with him, "I'll go with you there. I'll fight Mikael with you. I'll do whatever you want."

"I want you to live!" Klaus screams, and then he's gone.

"Klaus!" I yell, pushing forward and slamming against the invisible wall created by his compulsion. "Klaus! Come back! Klaus!"

I must shriek his name over and over again at least fifty times before I come to the conclusion that he really left me. Then I spend the next hour, or more, who knows? I'm not sure how long because I was stuck in a moment of extreme panic and rage. I destroy the entire motel room, strangled animalistic noises coming out of my throat as I rip to shreds everything in sight. I tear apart the mattress until it is nothing but chunks of foam and bits of sheets and blankets. I rip apart the pillows until there are goose feathers littering the entire room. I smash all the chairs and the wooden table. I shatter the television screen. I rip the cheap maroon colored curtains from the windows and tear those to shreds as well. I don't stop until something makes me stop.

Actually, someone.

"Hey, hey, what the hell do you think you're doing?!"

Mr. Richie, the motel owner. He's standing in the doorway, his thick-moustache covered mouth hanging open in shock. He pushes open the broken door so he can step inside the room, his small beady eyes taking in the mangled mess that was once his 'nicest' room at the motel. He's clearly angry, and it's causing his blood to rush faster through his veins, the sound awakening a hunger inside of me.

"Mr. Richie," I gasp guiltily, "I'm sorry. I can-I can fix it. Please, don't come closer. You need to go. You have to get out of here, okay?" I'm not close enough to compel him, and I don't think I could focus my emotions enough to actually make it stick anyways. I'm too full of anger. I'm so full of anger I can't feel anything but the need to destroy, and now that Richie is here, the hunger for blood.

"You think you can fix this? How are you gonna fix this? This is a fuckin' mess! No I will not leave my own motel room. This is my building, you get that missy? You're gonna pay for every last penny's worth of damages. Do you understand?"

Suddenly, I lunge. My fangs descend and sink into his neck before the sweet taste of blood fills my mouth. I only want him to be quiet. I just want him to stop talking, stop telling me what to do, stop...breathing!

When I realize that I'm killing him, he's already slipping away. He's too far gone for me to even bite into my wrist and offer him blood. I pull back and watch him take his last, shuddery breath, a sight that will stay with me for months to come, maybe even years.

He's dead.

I shove his body away from me and back into the wall, slapping my hand over my mouth. I pull it away and see Mr. Richie's blood covering my palm. I did that? I just...I killed someone.

"Oh...God!" I moan, the sound ripping from my throat low and agonizingly. "I killed-I killed-I killed him. Oh God." I feel as though I can't breathe. I don't know what to do with myself. What do I do with the body? How am I going to explain away this situation? This was never, ever supposed to happen again! I tried so hard, I'm always so careful, but I...

How could Klaus do this to me?!

I drag Mr. Richie's lifeless body into the bathroom, scrub my hands and face free from his blood, and then shut the door. I pace the length of the motel room, stepping over the debris of all the broken items beneath my feet. I can't stop seeing Mr. Richie's look of horror before I killed him. He saw a monster. I was that monster. I am overwhelmed with guilt.

I'm so distracted, I don't hear the footsteps approaching. I don't hear it when the door is creaking open, or when he steps inside. I only look up when I hear his voice. "Caroline? What happened?"

My head whips around and I catch sight of him through blurry eyes. "Stefan?"

I know he's not the same Stefan that he once was, but right now it doesn't matter. I run into his arms, pressing my face into his shirt as I sob out the entire story of what has happened to me today. Stefan is quiet the entire time, and he doesn't judge me for my tragic loss of control when I killed Mr. Richie.

"It's okay, Care," Stefan soothes, sounding like my old mentor for the first time in months, "We're going to get you out of here."

"How?" I murmur, feeling hopeless. "I can't get out unless Klaus comes back, or someone just as bad as him convinces me I can trust them enough to leave. When is that ever going to happen?"

"What did you just say?" Stefan asks, his face holding an expression of hopefulness. "I thought you said Klaus compelled you to stay until you were emotionally ready to leave with him."

"His exact words were 'someone like him'," I correct, not understanding what this has to do with anything. "So?"

"So, come with me, then," Stefan urges, pulling me to my feet and tugging me towards the door. "I'm just as bad as Klaus, you said so yourself. Do you still trust me?"

I shrug, allowing him to take both my hands and lead me towards the open doorway. "I didn't mean that, Stefan. You're not like Klaus. You're completely diff-" I stop, because Stefan has moved outside the motel room, and...he pulled me out with him. My eyes widen and I spin around quickly, looking back inside the room that has been my prison for nearly three months. When I turn back to look at Stefan, he is smiling smugly. I open and close my mouth a few times before I'm able to ask, "How did you know that would work?"

"I didn't," Stefan admits with a shrug, "But it did, right? You're free. Come on, we have to get back. I only came to check on you, but things are bad back home."

"What's going on?" I demand, finally remembering that there are more important things to worry about than simply my freedom from this motel in Georgia. "Is everyone okay? Did Mikael kill anyone else? Do we know where he is?"

"I'll tell you on the way," Stefan promises, "Let's just get out of here."

"Can you..." I chew my bottom lip for a moment, "...go back in and get my suitcase? I'm too..."

Stefan actually laughs at my reaction to not wanting to re-enter the room. "Yeah, yeah, I'll grab it. Can you get in the car, though?"

"Fine," I agree, adding, "Bossy-pants."

I spot Stefan's car parked at the end of the motel building and I head for it. I hear footsteps behind mine a few seconds later and assume they belong to Stefan. As I'm reaching for the door handle of the passenger side door, I hear an unfamiliar female voice call my name.

"You forgot this." I turn around when I realize the words are directed towards me. The girl looks about my age with blue-green eyes and straight blonde hair, and her voice is accented similar to Klaus'. I narrow my eyes as I notice the evil smirk appear on her bubblegum pink lips. She pulls her hand from behind her back and stabs my neck with a small needle, injecting me with something.

Vervain.

Her smirk grows as my world turns to black...

Sorry if this chapter is a little confusing, but Caroline is finally free!

A few notes: the Klaroline relationship pretty much stops here with this chapter, Klaus ran off and he won't be reappearing for a while. So from here on, it will be only Steroline (and some mentions of Stelena). Caroline's feelings for Klaus were mostly caused by being held captive and having hope she could change him.

Next Chapter: What do you think Rebekah has planned for Caroline? Hint: Perhaps something similar to the 'After-School Special' episode...?

Please Review! I'd love to hear what you guys think and what you want to see for this story.

Also, if you are interested in more Steroline, check out my other story: The Only Exception, which I'm updating tonight also:)

-MissCarolineForbes