Chapter 23

Forgiveness is not for sale

Zora looked at the small box on the bed. She wasn't going to open it. It was just another necklace or bracelet or something. She didn't want it. She didn't want anything from Klaus. Did he really think that giving her some jewelry would make everything alright? She wanted to see Nathan but Klaus didn't allow her to leave the villa. If she was forced to be with him she would rather be in that big house where it would be easier to avoid him. And she would have some company.

It had been four days since the ceremony and she really wanted to get out of this place. Every night she had been forced to eat dinner with Klaus but at least he hadn't tried to touch her. She answered his questions as briefly as she could but that was it. She didn't speak to him unless it was absolutely necessary. Zora could saw how much that annoyed him. Good. He had called her childish. She didn't care. She wanted him to be as miserable as she was. If he wanted to force her to play his twisted game, fine, but there was no way she would make it easy for him. Hopefully he would just get tired and be glad to see her go.

Zora tried to concentrate to her book. She had read a lot during these four days. Now she was reading Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. It was a very old copy. Probably very valuable. She couldn't help but wonder how much had Klaus paid for it. Not that it mattered to him. He thought he could just buy anything. Not this time. Zora sighed annoyed when she heard a knock from the door. What did he want now?

"Yes?" she said as icily as she could.

Door opened and she saw Elijah. He was smiling politely.

"Hello Zora."

Zora was genuinely happy to see him. She stood up and hugged him tightly. He seemed surprised and tapped her back clumsily. That made Zora smile. It had been a while since she had smiled.

"It's good to see you Elijah", she said smiling.

"You too."

Elijah cleared his throat. He seemed uncomfortable.

"How are you?" he asked.

Then Zora realized the obvious reason why he was here. Her smile vanished.

"So, Klaus sent you, huh?"

"No, he didn't send me, he asked me to come here and…"

"And what? Make me to be a good little wife?" Zora asked bitterly.

Elijah looked at her calmly.

"No. Perhaps we should sit down."

Zora didn't feel like sitting down but she didn't want to argue with him. She didn't want him to leave.

"Ok", Elijah said when they were both sitting on the bed. "Do you want to tell me what's wrong?"

Zora was quiet for a while.

"What did Klaus tell you?" she asked not wanting to look at him.

"Not much, just that there had been some kind of misunderstanding between you two…"

"Misunderstanding?" Zora repeated disbelievingly. "That's what he called it?"

"What would you call it?" Elijah asked calmly.

Zora bit her lip.

"I… I don't want to talk about it."

"That's ok, you don't have to. But I'm here for you if there's something else what you want to talk about."

"I didn't want it", Zora said quietly. "I asked him to stop but I… It wasn't…"

Elijah touched her shoulder gently. Zora buried her face in his chest and cried. She couldn't help it. It was funny that he was the person who she felt safe with. He let her cry, although she had probably ruined his shirt, and handed her a tissue when she finally raised her head.

"Now, would you like to start from beginning?"

...

Klaus was waiting impatiently. Hopefully Elijah could get through to her. He was good with all those emotional things. Klaus couldn't take her sulking any longer. He had tried everything, expensive gifts, civilized conversation, fancy dinners… What more did that bloody woman want? He had never had to placate anyone in his life and it was getting very annoying. Normally people just did what he wanted. Why couldn't she? He certainly wouldn't have tolerated this from anyone else. And he was very close to lose his patience with her as well. Klaus couldn't relax so he was walking back and forth by the pool. Finally Elijah appeared to the door.

"Well?" Klaus asked eagerly.

Elijah was looking at him coldly.

"First of all Niklaus, you are an idiot."

Klaus rolled his eyes.

"Yes, yes, just get to the point."

"No, no, I need to get things straight first. Did you or did you not had sex with that girl against her will?"

"It wasn't that simple, it's not like I… Maybe things got a little out of control but she enjoyed it."

"I see. And did you or did you not tell her to get over it already because, and I quote, "those things just happen sometimes"?"

"Ok, I admit that I shouldn't have said that but she provoked me…"

"I think I have heard enough", Elijah said icily. "Well you have certainly made a mess."

"Thank you for that information captain obvious."

Elijah raised an eyebrow.

"Captain what?"

"I've had time to read some advice columns from Internet, ok?" Klaus said annoyed.

Elijah's expression was worth seeing.

"You… have read advice columns?"

Klaus rolled his eyes.

"Yes, how the hell should I know about these… feminine mood swings?"

"This isn't some feminine mood swing. Do you even understand how much you hurt that girl?"

"Yes, I understand just fine!" Klaus shouted. He took a chair and threw it to the pool.

Elijah gave him a moment to calm down.

"How do I fix this?" Klaus asked tensely.

"Not like this, I can tell you that. You can't buy her forgiveness."

"What then? I have told her that I'm sorry. What more does she want?"

"That's something you have to figure out by yourself", Elijah said firmly.

Klaus scowled him.

"Well, thank you very much for your help brother."

Elijah almost smiled.

"You're welcome. But if you want my advice, stop reading those columns."

"Hmm. You're probably right. Those advices were terrible anyway."

Elijah went back inside and Klaus started to walk back and forth again. Why did this have to be so damn difficult? Then he thought of something. He didn't know if it would work but it was worth trying. Not like he had any better ideas. But first things first, it was time to ask captain obvious to leave. Elijah's presence was the last thing he needed if he ever wanted to make things right with his wife.