AN: I feel a Klaus/Claws bromance brewing.
Chapter 37: Payback's A Bitch
(Friday the 18th of December 2009)
Caroline woke to a sunny, winter day, immediately remembering last night and feeling embarrased. Not about the kisses, no, but about not being the one, who had put an end to it.
It had been him, who had finally pushed her away, gently but insistantly, as she dsperately tried to hold on to him. Quite frankly, she had been ready to go all the way if he had wanted to take it that far.
But he hadn't.
And it wasn't because he didn't want her, she knew that for a fact. She could feel it in his touch, see it in his eyes that he wanted her just as much as she wanted him. It was something else that had made him hold back. And she wasn't quite sure what that was.
Maybe it was respect, maybe her young age.
Maybe the fact that if something were to happen between them now and he subsequently did something to horrify or disgust her then that would be the end of it.
'Maybe he's right, 'she thought, biting her lower lip. 'Maybe he isn't good enough for me quite yet.'
She sighed, got out of bed and dressed in a pink tracksuit, lost in thought. Her feet moved on their own accord, bringing her down into the kitchen.
Klaus was sitting at the kitchen island, but she just gave him a quick glance. The strange magnetic power he'd had last night, was definitely gone.
'For the most part, anyway, 'she thought ruefully, as her insides started to quiver. She took a bloodbag from the fridge, poured the contents into a cup and heated it in the microwave, before turning back to the kitchen island, and then her mouth dropped open in surprise.
Klaus was eating cereal, which in itself was a very strange sight, but to make it even stranger, Claws was standing on the island beside the bowl, drinking milk from it while Klaus ate.
'Should I comment or not?' she thought doubfully.
She decided against it, taking a seat across from Klaus and slowly drinking her warmed blood.
He did nothing to acknowledge her presence. Not even when he finally put the spoon down. He just grabbed Claws in one hand and went into the living room, leaving the bowl to Mrs. Atwood.
He never cleaned up after himself.
Caroline put her cup in the zink, following him into the living room, where he was sitting in his usual chair with Claws in his lap, already drawing in his scetch book. She took a look at it over his shoulder, seeing that he was drawing a young man she did not recognize.
"Who is that?" she asked, not really interested, but wanting to know if he was talking to her today.
"That's Kol, "he answered, his voice just as friendly as usual.
She sighed in relief, knowing that if he had been mad at her, he wouldn't be one to hide it. Maybe this was just him once again giving her some space?
She sat down on one of the white couches, trying to think of a way to initiate the conversation she'd been wanting to have with him for awhile.
Finally, she took a deep breath, realizing she might as well just get it over with. "Klaus, I want to talk to you about Elena."
"Yes?" He put the scetch book on the coffee table, giving her an inquiring look.
"I want you to reconsider. Let her live, don't do this."
His eyes scanned her face for a couple of seconds, pressing his indexfinger against his lips, and the gesture sent a jolt through her body as memories of last night came flooding back.
Then he shrugged. "I'd do many things for you, Love. But that is not one of them."
She leaned forward, as if that might help her get through to him."Please, there must be another way!"
Klaus sighed, dropping his gaze to Claws in his lap. He stroked the kittens fur. "I'll give her my blood before I kill her. That's the most I will do."
She shook her head. "But Elena doesn't want to be a vampire."
"Quite frankly, I don't care what she wants."
"Please, don't do this!" Caroline felt frustrated tears welling up in her eyes. "I know, you are better than that."
"I told you that you should never forget, who I am and what I will do to get the things I want, "he stood, holding Claws in one hand, pressed against his chest. "If you cannot accept that, then maybe you should've left, when you had the chance."
"You knew about that?" She felt a single tear rolling down her cheek and wiped it away agrily.
"Of course I did, "his voice had not changed during their conversation, except becoming more insistent. "Since your friends succeeded in freeing my siblings, I've been a lot more careful."
She lowered her head, fighting back the rest of the tears.
"Turning Elena is my only offer, "he told her calmly. "Think about it."
Then he left, leaving her alone with her anguish.
When she heard footstep nearing minutes later, she look up hopefully, but it turned out to be Rebekah. She looked around. "Have you seen Claws?"
Caroline swallowed. "He's with Klaus."
"Really?" Rebekah frowned. "He's been hogging him for days." She picked up the scetch book, looking briefly at the drawing of Kol, before putting it back down. "Yuck!"
Then she finally noticed Caroline's tearful expression. "Oh no. What did my stupid brother do now?"
"Nothing new." Caroline felt the tears returning, hiding her face in her hands. "I should've known better."
She felt Rebekah sitting down beside her and putting a comforting arm around her shoulders. "We've all been there, hoping he might change, and then ending up disappointed one time after the other, "she said sympathetically. "But this time, I swear that he actually is."
Caroline wiped her eyes, giving Rebekah a surprised look. "Really?"
Rebekah smiled. "Yes. Slowly, but definitely."
(Break)
"Good morning, little brother!"
Darwin groaned, hiding his face in the pillow. "Go away, Kol! You have your own room now."
"Oh, but I miss our quality time." Kol stepped onto the bed and started jumping slightly.
Darwin turned his head, giving his legs an annoyed look. "We're together practically non-stop!"
"There are always others around."
"Kol, stop it." Elijah sounded slightly annoyed for once, as he stepped around the bed and sat down in the chair by the window.
"Right, "Kol lay down, turning the tv on. "Look! Teletubbies!"
"Oh, dear Lord!" Darwin grabbed his pillow hard enough to rip it apart.
"How are you feeling?" Elijah asked.
Darwin took a deep breath. "Fine. But tired."
"The doctor will be here in a couple of hours."
"Oh, good, "Darwin said sarcastically. "Will he be dissecting me this morning?"
"Of course not."
"Too bad, "Darwin sighed irritably. "I was looking forward to spending the rest of eternity in an alcohol container in his office."
Kol snickered. "Maybe we can get a bit of you for the mantelpiece?"
"Kol, just go away!"
Kol changed the channel. "I know you don't mean that."
"Yes, I do!"
"Well, I'm here to stay, "he changed the channel again, settling for a high speed police chase. "We all are, until Elena dies in a couple of centuries."
"Humans do not live that long, "Elijah remarked.
"Really?" Kol ran a hand through his hair. "How long then?"
"Maybe eighty years."
"Oh my God, that's moments away!" Kol jumped out on the floor. "Then what are they doing here?! They should do something!"
"Shut up!" Darwin lifted his head, sending him an angry glare.
Kol grabbed his head, yelling desperately. "Humans! Run for your lives!"
"Kol ..., "Darwin began, but halted when a stunned expression crossed Kol's face. He put a hand to his chest and then crumbled to the floor with a dagger protruding from his back.
Jeremy was standing right behind him with a wry smile on his face.
Darwin shook off his surprise. "Thank you!" he and Elijah said simultaneously.
(Break)
An hour later, Darwin sat on his bed, graciously allowing the doctor to examine him; look into his ears, down his throat, and prod his stomach. Then the doctor pulled a stethoscope out of his bag and listened to Darwin's breathing.
"Could you turn on your heartbeat?" then doctor asked, suddenly.
Darwin sighed. "Sure."
It took him a minute, then he grimaced as he could suddenly feel how cold the stethoscope was where it was pressed against his back. It wasn't a feeling he was used to, anymore.
"Amazing, "the doctor mumbled. "It's much slower than a humans."
"My resting heart rate is about 20, "Darwin told him.
The doctor put the stethoscope away. "Do you mind, if I take a blood sample?" he asked.
Darwin's eyes narrowed. "Oh, now it matters what I think?"
The doctor laughed. "It's quite ok if you say no."
Darwin looked at him for a while, searching for any sign of ulterior motives, but the doctor seemed as good-natured as ever.
"Fine, "he finally said. Then added: "But I swear; if you give me another lollipop, I will kill you."
(Break)
It was early afternoon and Hanna was packing her bags, chewing on her lower lip; a nervous gesture her son had picked up from her. Her plane was leaving in less than two hours, and she was quite looking forward to returning to her life in Sweden.
She had thought about calling Thorstar or maybe stopping by the Boarding House to say goodbye, but she had quickly discarded the idea. Their last meeting had been ... nice. And she had even had a civil conversation with Elijah over the phone. She didn't want to ruin the progress by making more unwanted appearances.
She sighed, setting the last bag on the floor. Then she went to the mirror, checking her make-up and braiding her hair.
A sudden movement in the mirror made her turn around, ready to fight, but expecting to see Arnora.
She did not expect to see a man, especially this man, standing in the doorway to her bedroom. She immediately lost her fighting stance. She couldn't talk, could only gasp his name: "Niklaus!"
"Long time no see, Olufsdaughter, "he said, sending her a measuring look.
She stepped back, backing up against the wall. "What do you want?"
"Well, "he casually straightened a painting, she had decided to leave behind. "I've got the moonstone, I got my werewolf and soon also the Doppelgänger. All I need is a vampire."
"I will die before I come with you!" she hissed. As much as she feared him, she hated him even more.
He shrugged. "It's up to you, "he said calmly. "If I have to kill you, I will take your son instead."
She knew how strong, he was. Even stronger than Elijah. And still, the mere thought of him hurting Thorstar, made her rush at him.
She actually succeeded in taking him by surprise, grabbing him by the shoulders and throwing him back into the living room. She attacked him again, but he was already back on his feet and ready for her.
He caught her around the throat and slammed her down on the floor. She felt her spine snap, but she hardly felt any pain. She couldn't move her legs, until her spine had healed, which would take too long. Instead she growled, aiming a punch at his face.
And her fist actually hit its mark, forcing him backwards and drawing blood. She rolled over on her stomach, snarling at him like a wounded animal.
He touched a hand to his eyebrow, then looked at the blood on his fingers.
"You are strong, Hanna, "he said, shaking his head, as he got back on his feet. "Unfortunately, not strong enough."
He calmly stepped on her right arm, pushing down until the bones broke. "There. Now, that won't happen again."
She moaned, her anger releasing her long enough for the pain to register. "You will pay for this, Niklaus, "she hissed. "Somehow, you will pay."
"Well, you have Darwin to thank for this, "he said.
Then his boot connected with her temple and everything went black.
(Break)
(Five days later, Wednesday the 23rd of December 2009)
They undaggered Kol in the morning, deciding it would be in accordance with the Christmas spirit. He sulked for ten minutes, but not really being one to hold a grudge (or a thought) for very long, he soon threw himself into Darwin and Stefan's festivities.
Darwin had been able to finish his paper and send it to the University during his break from Kol and was in an excellent mood, which as always rubbed off on Stefan. They decked the entire house in tinsel, hearts and lights, inside and out. It lifted everyone's mood, even Alaric helped baking new gingerbread rhunes and Elijah sorted out light chains.
Everyone, except for Damon, who had a constant look of pain on his face as if everything around him hurt.
He went into a rage, when he found a wreath on the door to his room, and Finn had to restrain him from ripping his brother apart. In the end he settled for ripping the wreath apart instead.
"What the Hell is his problem?" Jeremy asked, looking at the sad remnants.
Stefan shrugged indifferently. "Damon and jolly are just not two things that go well together."
"Maybe he needs to meet someone new under the mistletoe?" Kol mused.
"I've already told you!" Darwin said exasperatedly. "We are not getting you a stripper for Christmas!"
Kol blinked at him. "Not even if she's dressed as Santa?"
"Not even if it was Santa himself!"
That finally made Elijah leave the parlour, unable to handle the mental image. He went into the Library, running his fingers over the rows of books. He had already read most of them. Hell, he'd read most of them more than once. That was one of the ... call it side-affects of living forever.
Luckily, new books were written every day.
His cell phone started ringing and he answered, feeling distracted. "Yes?"
"This is Dr. Stern."
Elijah sighed: "You have anything new to tell me?"
The doctor's voice was pleasant as always. "Yes. I've finished the DNA analysis. Or I sent the blood sample to a certified lab that specialises in Vampire DNA. I received the results today."
"Yes?"
"Normally, a vampire has an extra string on his DNA, "the doctor explained. "It grows onto the DNA as the turn completes and it adds an extra chromosome that we usually call V. This chromosome carries all the vampire abilities."
"And?"
"Darwin has this string, too. But it's an integrated part of his DNA, not a growth. And he doesn't have the V chromosome."
Elijah turned away from the bookcase, suddenly interested in the call. "And why is that?"
"My guess is that he was born this way."
Elijah frowned, lowering his voice, even though it wasn't very likely the others were listening to the conversation. "That he was born as a vampire?"
"Yes, with human traits. I'm guessing that Kol's blood didn't turn him. It aws already in his blood to come back, when he died. His vampire side simply needed to be triggered. That's probably why he was weak as a human. He was never meant to simply be human."
"How is that possible?"
The doctor paused for a moment, considering. "Well, my theory is that he was conceived while you were in transition, "he finally said. "After you had died, but before you completed the turn."
"And what exactly does that mean?"
"I will have to run some more test and observe him to know for sure, "the doctor admitted, reluctantly. "But I'm guessing that he lacks certain vampire abilities and may have some that other vampires don't have."
Elijah nodded to himself. "He projects emotions. And he is able to feel other people's presence."
"Yes, but I think there may be more to it than that, "he could hear the doctor typing something on a computer. "Much more."
"Do you think there may be others like him?"
"It's possible, "Dr. Stern conceded. "Very possible."