Hi guys, an inexcusable long time in continuing this story, all I can beg is personal problems!
I have done the unthinkable, and done a time gap, because to be honest I couldn't quite imagine continuing right after when I've not written in so long. But the blanks will be filled in shortly through flashbacks.
Anyway, (Is anyone even reading this anymore!) enjoy and let me know what you think.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Vampire Diaries or it's characters, evidenced by the lack of Klaroline in Season 4 so far.
He glanced up as the door to the bar swung open again, spilling orange street light into the dim interior of the crowded room. The glowing head he was looking for still hadn't appeared. He turned his attention back to his glass, swirling the amber liquid around. Waiting. The people who'd come in were stamping snow off their boots, their faces flushing with the sudden warmth, unwinding long scarves and shedding hats. The music on the duke box seemed to be getting louder, as people's voices rose to compensate. The whole bar was a swirling mass of humanity. Bone-crushingly busy, hot, sweaty and loud. Yet it didn't come near him, couldn't touch him. His was the only back undisturbed. He felt his phone vibrate in his pocket and answered, seeing Bonnie's number flashing on the screen.
"Checking in on me?" he said sardonically, his eyes swinging round as the the door once again blew a gust of cold New York winter in.
"Anything?" Bonnie asked anxiously.
"Not yet" he said, listening to the witch's long sigh.
"I was sure this time..." she trailed off, upset, despondent.
"Well, don't be disappointed love. I'm not getting any older." he said wryly.
"Yeah I guess... I just don't know anymore. She really doesn't want to be found. Maybe we should just leave her alone..." Bonnie's voice trembled as she spoke.
The bell above the door jangled again and he glanced up.
"Bonnie... I have to go. I'll call you soon." he said and hung up. His attention had been caught by a small redhead that had just come in, shaking the snow off her long hair, letting it melt on her creamy pale skin. Her eyes immediately met his over the crowd. She moved toward him.
"Katya. Please tell me you have some news." his impatience flashed in his eyes. The hybrid grimaced and reached out to stop him from ordering her a drink.
"Wait, I think once I tell you what I've found, you're not going to want to waste a minute."
The streets were full of college kids, drunk and reckless. It would be easy for her to blend in here. Katya and Klaus moved through the streets with purpose, his heart starting to beat faster with each step toward the closest lead they'd had in 6 months. When Bonnie had tried a locator spell on her it hadn't seemed like the most promising lead, but here he was, striding through a snowy downtown Manhattan with a feeling that was dangerously close to hope. Katya went ahead of him toward the doorway of a dive bar, dodging the drunken students effortlessly. He hung back, taking a call on his cell. Elijah, calling from California. His voice was even and emotionless, as usual, but Klaus knew how he blamed himself.
Katya appeared in the doorway, her eyes wide, Klaus felt his heart start to slam it beat out. She found him with her eyes, and slowly nodded. He felt then as if the snow slowed in it's fall, the drunken student's voices disappeared. The taxis rushed by in slow motion, as he started toward the door. Climbing the stairs, he felt every one of his years pressing down on him. He had never felt so weary before, so entirely spent. A 1000 years and more, and the last 6 months had been the longest of his life.
He hesitated on the step and followed Katya's hand, which seemed to take hours to point in a direction, turning toward it, he stepped into the shadows of the corner, slowly, took a deep breath and looked up. There was some modern song on the bar's speakers at a deafening pitch. Something by that band Coldplay, about losing something you can't replace. The irony was not lost on him as his eyes started to search the crowd. The entire floor seemed to be moving, people laughing, joking, drinking, kissing, everything seemed draped in black. They were all just he saw it, shining as brightly as if there was a spotlight on it. Long tumbling curls, pale as gold, they swung and shook as the head they belonged to turned toward someone beside her. Caroline. It was her, without a doubt.
Relief flooded him, relief that she was still alive, unhurt. He started forward, his hands clenched at his sides, he wanted to flash over to her, to grab her and disappear. As he started through the crowd, his eyes never left her. He watched her smile at someone, shrug slightly. Suddenly he saw the tall man she'd been speaking to put his arm around her neck. He stopped in his tracks, as fast as his heart had been beating, now it's stillness was painful. The tall man, a vampire Klaus could tell, leaned down to kiss her. She moved her head to the side, presenting him with her forehead. The vampire laughed, and tightened his grip round her neck, pulling her close in an embrace and for the first time, Klaus saw her face full on. The smiling expression from earlier was gone, and a terrible blankness had replaced it.
The tall vampire whispered in her ear and she nodded, pulling away from him, wrapped her arms around herself, and against the forced smile appeared. Klaus withdrew to the wall again, conscious that he didn't want to startle her and lose her again. Suddenly she started toward him, pushing herself into the hot and sweaty dance area before him, he ducked behind a couple kissing against a wall and watched her carefully. She slowly surveyed the people dancing, with her dead eyes, he saw her settle on a guy, dancing alone, and she began to move in time to the music.
Closing her eyes, she threw her head back and started to undulate to the music. The guy noticed immediately. Klaus recognised the behaviour for what it was... she was hunting. The guy moved closer to her, disbelieving his good luck that this gorgeous creature was alone and dancing beside him. Drunken braveness propelled him to touch her, a hesitant hand on her hip. Opening her eyes again, she slanted a look back at him and smiled. Klaus fought the urge to ripe the loser's arm off and kept to the shadows. He watched her, moving to the music, eyes closed, head back, she didn't even seem to notice the guy's hands running over her body.
Turning she faced her victim, dancing, unaware of anything other than the music. Klaus's blood was singing in his ears, and he chanced moving toward her through the crowd, keeping behind her, he slowly moved closer and closer still, his own hunting instincts awakened. The lights slid over her shining head and luminous skin and he longed to reach out and run his hand down her perfect arm, so close now. He stopped just behind her, her smell reaching him through the mass of sweaty dancers.
She smelt so achingly familiar, yet so different at the same time. He was a patient man and 6 months of searching was nothing for him, but he had put off thinking about the damage that he might find. A girl who didn't want to be found, a girl who had had enough of feeling everything, or losing everything and had chosen to turn it all off... his girl. Now, standing so close to his goal, he considered her curiously... she was Caroline, but she wasn't at the same time.
The music changed pace and the drunken guy she'd been dancing with twirled her around, and suddenly there she was, in front of him, looking at him.
Their eyes met, and it was like lightening had struck the bar. Everything heightened for an exquisite moment. For a second, her emotions were laid bare, and she had never looked more alone and lost. His heart clenched for her, for all she'd lost, for that little girl in the diner who didn't have anyone to go home to anymore.
Then, he saw the shield come back up, and her expression hardened. Holding eye contact with him, she dipped low in front of the drunk guy and drew his arms around her from behind. Anger surged through him, followed by curiosity. She was playing with him. The guy looked like he had just won the lottery. Seeing the guys hands start to drop too low Klaus stepped forward, relaxing into a sardonic smile glanced at the guy,
"Do you mind if I cut in mate?" followed up a warning glare as the guy took his time to stumble off. Caroline stood watching him, making no move to run, with her head to the side, her arms crossed in front of her. He slowly raised his hand to her, and smiled again,
"May I?" he asked softly and watched as she seemed to battle her inner emotions, and finally forced a carefree smile and reach out to grasp his hand. Her touch shot through him as he pulled her closer and started to dance, holding her close, his face breathing in the golden cloud of her hair.
"This is so not how you're supposed to dance to this kind of music... be careful... you're showing your age" she teased with a laugh in her voice, the light tone belying the increase in her heartbeat he felt.
"Oh I don't know love, some things never go out of style." he said with a smile, twirling her away from his body, his eyes took the chance to devour her face as they came together slowly.
"So..." he prompted as silence feel between them and Caroline's eyes had dropped his and fixed on the floor.
"So... what are you in New York for?" she asked in a non-committal tone. He didn't quite know what to make of her. She didn't seem surprised to see him, and he couldn't tell if it was an act or not. Did she really not know they'd been searching for her?
"Well, you know... business..the usual. It's not cheap to keep my sister in the luxury she prefers." he said dryly and spoke again when it seemed clear Caroline wasn't going to speak.
"She asks after you, you know... Rebekah. You were the best friend she's ever had." he felt her hand tighten at Rebekah's name and Caroline pull a little further away.
"They all do... Bonnie...Elena..." he finished softly, watching her head dip lower, her back trembling under his fingers. Suddenly, she pulled away from him completely, and faced him, he could see her eyes were dry, her chin set and expression resolved.
"Well, as you can see... I'm fine." she said crossing her arms over her chest.
"Are you?" Klaus asked as he moved closer to her again, and watched her sway back, keeping out his reach.
"Whether I am or not... it doesn't matter. That part of my life... is over" she said defiantly. her eyes gaining their blank look she stared through him. He circled around her a little, hands clasped behind his back, watching her.
"And does that apply to me too?" he asked and watched as she smiled slightly. Coming close to him away, she suddenly slipped her hands into his and smiled at him,
"Shall I show you how we dance in the 21st century?" and smiled playfully at him. Intrigued he inclined his head and watched as she stepped closer to him, really close and placed his hands on her hips. Still smiling she began swaying in his arms, her body brushing his and slid her hands up his arms.
"You're supposed to move too" she whispered in his ear, her hot breath sending goosebumps trailing down his neck. Slowly bringing her face back, she bit her lip as she suddenly spun around, bringing her whole body into contact with his. He stood unmoving, schooling himself to breath evenly, as she moved in time with the music, swaying her hips, and throwing her head back against his chest.
"Caroline" he growled in warning, as she grew more outrageous in her moves, so confident she was safe. Klaus tried to keep his cool, but after 6 months of searching, waiting for her, this was too much. Quick as a flash he had brought her against the nearest wall, and watched the laughter dancing in her eyes as he held on to her hands, pushing against her a little, to stop her from escaping.
"Caroline... don't tempt me." he warned and watch as she smiled, recklessness glittering in her eyes.
"Why, what are you going to do?" she goaded. He simply watched her, frustrated.
"You're not going to hurt me, so don't pretend you might." she said.
"Does that disappoint you?" he asked, searching her face for some small sign of what was going on in her mind.
"No" she said with a desperate laugh. "You have to feel something to be disappointed."
"Caroline, let me take you home" he whispered, searching her face for a trace of the girl he knew. Her face remained that of a stranger, and she smiled coldly.
"I have a home. It's here and it's not with you. Don't follow me." pushing herself away she started to move into the crowd.
"You don't belong here Caroline..." he called after her as she disappeared into the crowd. Shaken, he watched as she found the guy she'd been dancing with before at the bar. Leaning up she began to whisper in his ear and suddenly they were moving through the crowd, to a back door. Klaus followed, keeping his distance.
Back outside in the snow, even though he'd been only moments after them, there was no sign of them. Closing his eyes, he breathed deeply, drawing on his werewolf senses to pick up her scent. There... he could smell her, swinging his head in the direction he started after them.
The streets were still packed, and that made isolating her scent hard. He caught a glimpse of her hair under a street light and pressed on.
Several blocks away, the crowds thinned out and only a few drunken revealers were left staggering around in the cold. Suddenly the thick scent of blood filled the air, and he turned down a dark alley, following the smell.
As he drew closer he could make out a voice whispering.
"That's right. Take it all. You deserve it. It's natural, and it's what I want you to do" there was sounds of a struggle and ragged breathing.
"I told you to take it all!" the voice rang out harshly now, and Klaus turned the corner. Caroline was leaning again the wall, wiping blood of her chin, the guy lying on the ground, struggling to get up. Standing over Caroline was the tall vampire from the club. His face contorted with anger, he suddenly grabbed the bleeding guy and held him in front of Caroline, as she turned her face away.
"I told you to finish him, or I will" he threatened.
"I can't, I don't want anymore, just leave him alone." she said as she pushed him away. Without warning the tall vampire put his hands around the guys neck and snapped his neck loudly. Caroline whirled back around, her eyes wide.
"That's your fault." the tall vampire stated as he came up to Caroline.
"Why do you defy me? You know that I know what is best for you... I can take away all the pain and suffering, and I can give it back to you any time." he warned as he grabbed Caroline's chin and forced her eyes up off the dead guy on the floor to meet his. Her eyes met his and for the first time, Klaus saw the pain and fear in them.
"Please no... I'm sorry." she whispered and the vampire tightened his grip on her face, forcing it closer to his.
"Whose are you?" he asked and Klaus felt anger surge through him like liquid fire at the demeaning tone in his voice as he tried to bend Caroline to his will.
"I'm yours" she said, dropping her eyes subserviently. Klaus felt the overwhelming urge to rip the vampire's heart out, but he didn't want Caroline to know he'd seen. Withdrawing, he listening carefully to the rest of their conversation.
"So... he finally found you. Took him long enough. An original. I'm not sure what he sees in you, but maybe the centuries have made him soft in the head" the man laughed and Caroline was silent. Klaus climbed up a nearby fire escape in complete silence and watched them walking down the alley. At the male vampire's words a hint of a smile touched Caroline's lips as she passed him.
"Well, we'll be ready for him next time. And you my sweet thing are the perfect bait." chuckling to himself the vampire went up to a boarded up door in the alley. Knocking in a deliberate pattern he waited until the door opened a crack.
As he spoke to the person in the entrance, Caroline turned away and raised her face to the night. He saw her eyes gazing at the stars, breathing deeply, she closed them for a second before her companion returned for her, grabbing her hand roughly they disappeared through the door.