Dark Matters:
Beth woke up the next morning, surprisingly well rested. She had slept without having a nightmares for the first time in weeks. She smiled knowing that Klaus put a dream in it's place. It was one of the first times that she and Kol danced, at Klaus' ball, where they had first kissed.
She scoffed. "Eavesdropping is rude, you know."
"Well, then I sincerely apologize." He told her with a small grin on his face, making her shake her head, but smiled, nonetheless. He led them into the ball room, where the other couples were, and they were right behind Damon and Elena. Beth took a deep breath, hoping that she didn't make an idiot out of herself on the floor. They were all lined up in to two lines. "Don't worry, love. I won't let you fall." He whispered into her ear.
"Thank you, Kol." He nodded at her and she gave him a small smile, as the music started and they took a few steps forward. They turned to face their opposite couple, which turned out to be Caroline and Klaus. Caroline gave her a nervous smile that she returned as they passed each other, while Klaus winked at her and threw his brother a smug look.
Kol's grip on her waist tightened slightly, but loosened as he saw Beth looking down at her feet, nervously. "You're doing spectacular, darling." He smiled down at her, making her blush as he spun her around. His eyes connected with hers, as they twirled to the music. She noticed him looking nervously over at Klaus, as though he was worried. She didn't want him to be jealous of Klaus. Spending time with Kol, she knew that she liked him, probably more than she should.
Before she knew what she was doing she leaned in and pressed her lips to his. Kol was shocked to say the least, but kissed her back with fervor. Kissing Kol was different, but in a good way. It felt as though he waited forever for this kiss and he wanted to make it last. Beth felt herself smile into the kiss, as she pulled back. She blushed looking down, realizing she did that in front of everyone, but hardly anyone noticed. Only Klaus, Caroline and Damon really were shocked. Kol grinned seeing the looks on their faces. Before he could comment, he held her out with his hands and spun her under his arm into the arms of his brother.
"Good morning, love." She looked up to see Klaus smiling down at her. She blushed realizing she was still laying on his chest. He gently brushed her hair back as she settled her head back against the pillow. "Sleep better?"
"Yes, much. Thank you for...last night." She nodded. "I don't think I've slept since that night." He kissed her head. She was grateful that he was letting her stay in his home let alone letting her spend the night in his bed. She knew he was just doing this for Kol. He owed him, and he would take care of her for him.
"You're welcome. I'm just happy that you got the rest you needed." She smiled weakly. "Let's get up. I'll make you breakfast, and don't fight me, love. You need to eat." He told her, knowing that she was going to turn it down. She sighed, but stood up just the same. He hid a smile at her progress.
An hour later, they were sitting at the table eating breakfast, when the doorbell rang. Klaus looked up confused, before rolling his eyes and getting up, much to Beth's confusion, until she heard him talking. "Caroline, to what do I owe this pleasure?" Klaus said, obviously not happy she was here, but she didn't care.
"I came by to see Beth. You should've told me that you moved her out." She told him disapprovingly. "Where is she?"
Klaus scoffed. "You seemed pretty busy dealing with the doppelganger and her troubles, not that it was any of your business what we did, concerning her well being. Besides, I do not believe Elizabeth is up for a visit from you today, it's best if you just leave." His tone suggested that it was a command, not a suggestion, but Caroline wasn't going to back down so easily, not when she had to make up for being a bad friend.
Beth hesitated before standing up and walking into the other room. Klaus wasn't as warm when dealing with Caroline, as he was with her. She appreciated that he was just trying to keep her safe though, and helping her. "It's okay, Klaus. I-I'm okay. She can come in." She told him softly.
He hesitated looking back at her. "You don't have to, love. You don't have to see anyone if you don't want." He assured her. He wasn't going to let the fact that she was too nice to Caroline, push back whatever progress he made with her, but he also knew that other than Caroline, there wasn't anyone else she would want to see. Most of her friends were involved of the killing of Kol.
"I'm sure." She smiled halfheartedly, as she let Caroline here. Her being here just cemented the fact that she wanted to make up for not being there for her in the first place. "You can come in."
The blonde smiled victoriously at Klaus before walking past him into the kitchen. Klaus kept close to Beth, not letting her out of his sight, as he watched her interact with Caroline. They weren't awkward, but it was difficult. Caroline was being careful not to say the wrong things. Klaus warned her with a look if he thought she would bring up Kol, she could barely talk about him now. "So, how's it been?" Caroline asked. "Living here, I mean."
Klaus had only left them alone for a few minutes. He knew that Caroline wasn't stupid enough to do anything while he was here, but he was still in the other room if Elizabeth did need him. "Um, g-good. Klaus has been nice. He's helping me." She nervously brushed her hair back.
"You look tired." She noticed, sadly. "Have you been getting any sleep?"
Beth shrugged. "Not much, I finally got some sleep last night. Usually, the nightmares keep me up." She twiddled her fingers nervously. Caroline felt guilty for her friend's pain. She wish that she could help her in some way. "It's fine though, j-just have to try. Klaus said that's...that's what he'd want."
She smiled weakly. "He would. Hey, you've been in this house for a while. Do you want to go out? Maybe just to my house or to the grill?" She offered. She knew that being stuck inside all day wouldn't help her any, but Klaus wasn't having that.
When he heard her that he zipped downstairs. "Love, it's a bit chilly. Why don't you go get a jacket on." He smiled down at her. She hesitated seeing he was tense before nodding and going upstairs, but stopping to hear them. "What exactly do you think you're doing?"
"She needs to get out. She can't stay here all day by herself." She insisted.
"She has me." Klaus growled at her. She didn't have any right to come here and tell him what was good for Elizabeth. "And I don't see any of her other so called friends calling to check on her. Oh, that's because they bloody killed Kol. I'm not letting anyone hurt her."
Caroline flinched at his harsh tones, but knew he only did it because he was worried about her. "Klaus, I'm not talking about her seeing them. I just mean out of this house. She needs to get out, this is where Kol was. She can't be here all the time. She needs this, just for a walk, alone with me. She just needs to breathe."
Klaus hesitated. He didn't want Beth to be cooped up inside, but he just got her out of the bedroom. He wasn't sure if she could handle it. "Fine, but no more than a half an hour, if she agrees. And know that if Elizabeth isn't in the condition that she is now, you will be the one to blame." He warned her.
Beth decided this was a good time to interrupt and came downstairs, after quickly grabbing her jacket. 'Hey, Klaus. It's okay. I-It'll be fun." She tried convincing him, but he knew her better than that and could see right through her fake smile.
"I'm a call away, love. I will come to get you, I promise." He assured her. She smiled weakly, kissing his cheek before leaving the room with Caroline. Klaus looked on nervously as she left, hoping that this would be good for her.
xxxxx
"So how are you doing really?" Caroline asked while they were out of the distance that Klaus could overhear. She had already caught her up on what had happened, and knew that Jeremy was dead and Katherine had the cure. She wasn't exactly sad to hear that, for all she cared, Elena could die too. 'I know you said he was helping, but are you really okay, Beth?"
Beth sighed. She knew that her friend was just worried about her, and she didn't blame her. Klaus wasn't known to be that friendly to any of them, but she knew that he wouldn't her. "He's really been nice. Um, he's helping me, he really is. I don't know what I'd do without him." It was true. With Kol gone, she would've been alone and probably wouldn't leave the room without Klaus. She stared off into the woods, remembering the first time she came close to these parts for their date and he promisd to give up being immortal for her.
"Where are we going, Kol? You being secretive doesn't suit you." She teased him as he continued to walk through the woods. It seemed like they were getting deeper in, but she trusted him. He lived in Mystic Falls a long time ago too. After riding on the horses for a while she helped him get lunch together and he was taking her on a picnic.
"Darling, you could ask me a thousand times, but that doesn't mean I'm going to tell you." He told her pulling her along besides him. It was important to him that she actually had fun. He knew that he had no reason to be jealous of his brother, but he wasn't going to stand by anymore while Klaus continued to get close to her. "We're almost there, anyways. Anyone ever tell you that you are impatient?"
"Well, patience isn't exactly your strong suit either, Kol." She stuck her tongue out at him stubbornly as he laughed at her. Soon, they came across a lake, it was close to the falls, but not that far in. It was big and the water was crystal blue. She smiled at him as she tugged him closer. It was like the lake in England. It felt comforting to have something so familiar close by. "It's great, Kol."
"I was hoping you'd like it." He told her truthfully as he laid down the blanket and she helped him get the food out. She sat next to him as he looked at her, pulling her closer as she laid down on his chest. "You know when we first lived here, I loved his lake. I loved the water period. It always seemed to just be calming and soothing to me. I always came here."
She smiled as she played with his finger, just listening to him talk. It was nice when it was just the two of them. Most times he seemed to be on guard, making sure no one saw his vulnerable side. "It was really magnificent before things started getting built and than nature just had to become compact. It's a shame really. Some humans just don't know when to leave well enough alone."
"Well, you know us humans. The world is so big, we just have to make ourselves seem a little bigger or we'll feel alone." He kissed her knuckles tightening his grip around her, as though he was afraid that she would disappear.
Beth bit her lips as she hesitated to ask him what she wanted. "Kol? About this cure. I know everyone's looking for it and everything, but what about you?" He looked down at her confused, slowly stroking her arm. "I mean if you could would you take the cure and...and become human?"
He seemed taken aback by her question. He should've been expecting it, though. He knew that one day they'd have to make a choice. He was a vampire and she was human, but either way he wasn't prepared to lose her again. "I...I've never really thought about it. I've been a vampire for over a thousand years, love. It's who I am." He explained and she nodded. "But...if you wanted it, I would do it." She looked at him shocked and surprised. "I'd become human for us."
She was in shock. "Y-You'd do that? I mean you're one of the most powerful beings on earth and you'd become human?"
Kol gazed into her eyes. "If you wanted me to, I'd do it for you. I love you, Elizabeth. I will not lose you again." He stroked her cheek. He wasn't excited about the idea of becoming human, it'd been too long since he had to live life like that, but for her, he'd do it. She smiled and leaned up to kiss him slowly, full of love.
"I love you so much. And I know it would be hard for you, so we don't decide anything now. If need be, I'll become a vampire. Anything, just to be with you." She told him honestly. She'd give up being a witch, as long as she was with him. It was part of her, yes, but so was he. He was an important part of her life, and she wanted to spend the rest of it with him. That seemed to make him smile and kissed her.
Caroline looked at her as she stared off into the distance. "Hey, I know that he'd want that for you. I know that he wouldn't want you blaming yourself. You would have to be blind to not see that he really loved you, Beth, really. The way he looked at you as though you were the light and he just needed you. "
Beth teared up slightly at her friend's words. She was happy to have at least one more ally. "Thanks, Caroline." She gave her a hug. The happiness between them was short lived as Caroline heard a noise and was immediately on guard.
Both girls were surprised to see it was Elena. Beth went rigid as she saw the girl responsible for taking Kol from her, but she could tell she was different, that this wasn't exactly her, it was something about her. "Well, if it isn't Caroline and Beth. I assumed that you would've skipped town after I killed your boyfriend." Elena shrugged as she walked closer.
Caroline took a step between them as Beth's eyes darkened. "What are you doing here, Elena? I thought you were supposed to stay with Damon?' She asked. Beth knew now what was different, she shut it off. Caroline forgot to mention that, probably because she steered clear of Elena talk.
"Leave." Beth said darkly.
"Or what?" Elena scoffed taking another step closer. "Going to get Klaus to come after me? Please, you're expendable to him, probably was to Kol too. I mean unless he really did love you, which would've been stupid of him seeing as it was you who got him killed."
"Elena stop it!" Caroline snapped.
Beth grit her teeth as tears threatened to spill. "Shut up."
Elena laughed coldly. "It is true, you know. If he hadn't come back for you, he would still be alive. And you still couldn't save him while you were here. He probably hates you now." Without a warning, Elena screamed out in pain. Caroline looked confused before looking at Beth.
It was just like that night that Kol died, she couldn't control herself. The anger was too much and she wanted her to pain. "You're lying!" She snapped through her teeth. Her eyes grew darker as she made Elena scream again as she flipped onto the floor. Her nose started bleeding.
"Stop, Beth, stop! This isn't you." Caroline told her. Beth wouldn't stop though, she just made Elena scream louder. She wanted her to pay for what she did and she'd do it. No matter what. She deserved this, she deserved to die, worst than he did. "Beth, please!" She screamed, she knew that she was angry enough to kill Elena and she'd probably do just that.
Beth didn't stop though as she made fire surround Elena, the flames getting higher and higher, licking her skin. Without warning, someone turned to make her face him. She saw it was Klaus, but all she could think about was making Elena suffer. "Look at me. Elizabeth, look at me, please. She isn't worth it. She isn't. Kol wouldn't want this. It isn't worth what you're doing to yourself." He insisted, the flames slowly started to die down, but were still there. "Listen to me, she'll pay, she's already have, but you can't do this. Please, Elizabeth."
She hesitated before her eyes, slightly lightened and the flames died down completely. Elena was still on the floor clutching her head. Beth suddenly felt weak and Klaus caught her before she could fall. He turned to Caroline. "Keep her away." He all but growled at her. She nodded as he sped away with Beth in tow.
They ended up back at the house. He quietly brought her into the living room and sat her down on the couch. "Here." He left and came back with a tissue, helping her get the blood off her face. His worry grew as she became silent again. "Elizabeth?"
She looked at him. "S-she deserved it."
He sighed. 'I know."
"S-she did." She insisted, looking down going. "She deserved that. She just wouldn't stop, she wouldn't stop, Klaus. She said it ws my fault, and it's not! It wasn't me, I didn't do anything!" She cried out, tears spilling down her face.
"I know, hey, it's okay. I know." Klaus tried to put his hands on her shoulders but she stood up. She was shaking.
"No! I hate her! I hate her, Klaus! She killed Kol! I want her dead! She should've burned! I should've killed her! I want her dead! I want her to die, Klaus! She's the one who deserves to die! HE DIDN'T! He didn't! He left! He's gone!" She screamed as she cried. "i want him back, Klaus! I want him back." He grabbed onto her arms and pulled her close as she broke down, once again in his arms. Klaus, gladly kept her there. He slowly got her to calm down, as she got tired. He kept her close trying to soothe her. As she slowly calmed down in Klaus' arms she knew one thing, that she needed Kol. If she found the right spell...she could bring him back.
