CHAP 31:

Finding myself waiting awkwardly for what Klaus' return might bring. Apart from food. Worried that my asking for food would result in something else dosed with Elijah's blood, I tried to reason with myself that there was no need for Klaus to do it again. We'd already done enough for tonight surely. Not to mention I'd been willing. In my mind, Klaus had got his point across. Or if I wanted to look at it pettily. He'd had a win. However twisted my mind decided to interpret it. Deciding to hurry up and dress before Klaus came back I moved toward the stash of clothes I'd chosen from this morning.

"The robe is dressing you sufficiently." Klaus' voice rang out within my head. Great. Instead I looked around and spotted a few books stashed away beneath the lounge. Sitting down on it I grabbed one of them and opened up to a random page. The paper was old, but not worn and the text appeared to be hand written in some very old grand handwriting. I found myself squinting at it in concentration as I worked to decipher the words. It made mum's handwriting look positively precise with well rounded letters by comparison. I could tell it was written much longer ago than anything the founders of Mystic Falls would ever have written. The wording was nothing like I'd ever read either. It wasn't old English per se. But there was a certain element of descriptive language that made me think of a time when aristocracy wasn't such a precious factor in society. It was of use to society and was anything but superficial. I detected genuinity, and an essence of a time that ran by a moral code. From what I could decipher the text was referring to politics of some kind. Soon becoming immersed in determining exactly what the book was about I didn't hear Klaus open the door.

"What are you doing?" Starting I jumped slightly and looked up at him.

"Reading. Am I not allowed to?"

"By all means read away." He invited as he closed the door and walked over to sit next to me with a tray he placed across his lap. Reaching out his hand he plucked the book from me, closed it and looked at the cover. "Were you able to comprehend any of this?" Klaus looked at me curiously. Read away? But I'm going to take the book from you to prevent you doing so. Contradiction much?

"No. Not really. I was just browsing, and was more interested in the way it's written rather than the subject matter."

"Hmm." When he continued to look at me I looked around the room to avoid his gaze. "So. What would you like?" Klaus volunteered and I looked back to him. "I've brought fruit. Pasta. A salad sandwich. Some biscuits." He paused before shifting his tone to tempt me with his next offering. "Freshly made coffee." A smirk crept onto his face when my eyes glued to the large mug he had gestured to with steam wafting above it. "I thought that might please you." He lifted and handed it to me handle first. Clearing my throat gently as if making sure my vocal chords would allow sound out I thanked him as I took it from his grasp. "See how well we get along when you make the effort?" I nearly choked on the sip I took from my steaming hot coffee. Mmm. Great coffee.

"Should it not be a collective effort? Instead of the onus being placed on me alone?"

"While I encourage our co-operation Elena. I am still in a position where I need to keep you in line. Your compliance is instead rewarded with niceties."

"That doesn't mean you can't be-. Try to act nice a smidgen more." I compromised my argument as I moved myself toward the opposite end of the lounge to where Klaus had sat next to me. The space I created disappeared as soon as I'd made it. He had closed in on me again so that my left and his right thigh pressed against each other. When I moved to stand up from the lounge I was of course stopped so I sighed impatiently. "I thought the point of you bringing me food was that I would eat it?"

"You can eat while I sit with you." One of his hands drew the robe off my left shoulder while another pulled the hem of the robe upwards to reveal my hip bone. I squirmed through his actions while trying to keep the hot mug steady.

"Because my stomach can handle even the most disgusting situations?" I responded harshly, losing my co-operative demeanour a little. Klaus allowed the robe to cover me again, apparently satisfied that I hadn't put any extra clothing on.

"Oh dear. And here I thought we were going to have a good night. I really shouldn't get my hopes up so soon I suppose." He said with slow deliberation that hinted at punishment, while he turned away from me and set the tray of food down on the floor.

"Wait. No-. Please don't hurt me. Look." I gestured to myself. "I'm still sitting here. I didn't struggle when you stopped me. I just sighed and got a bit snarky with you. No one saw or heard me disrespect you. We're in your room after all. I've been trying to behave this evening so you won't hurt me. I figured earlier when you mentioned that I would need to make the effort and not you that I could promote some pain relief in that way. So what that I opened my big mouth? I've said worse." Klaus chuckled in response and looked at me with darkened eyes.

"True. All of it. But when I'm on a roll with getting what I want I can't help but want that little bit more."

"Of course. You're greedy. Who'd have thought?" I spat at him without thinking through my panic. You idiot. Gulping I kept myself really still and watched him with wide eyes. "S-sorry." I offered in a whimper as I clutched my coffee.

"Mmm. That will be evident." He spoke gravelly before forcing me down to my knees on the hard floor and whipping the robe off me to land on the bed.

Klaus then somewhat squatted next to me and tugged my hair so I was bent backwards over one of his folded legs. Other instances of him yanking on my hair didn't compare to how forceful he was this time. It took my breath away and I swear it nearly blinded me. Although that probably had more to do with the location than it's intensity. I didn't even wonder where my coffee went until my chest ignited in scalding pain as liquid splashed down onto it. The sensitive skin of my breasts burning. I gasped and screamed. Trying to move from beneath it's fall I found I couldn't do so. The continuing flow of the liquid aggravating my burnt skin more and more. It wasn't one long stream of coffee but small sloshes from the mug causing sporadic bursts of pain. The fall of the liquid eventually ceased but the cool air that replaced it wasn't exactly a reprieve. What happened next was completely unexpected and something I could further have done without. My skin felt as though it was stretching before it seemed to burst. Tearing open before becoming so incredibly itchy. Nothing I'd ever known came close to how maddening this itch was. My screams sounded more like a wail at this point and as the pitch rose higher, I was left open mouthed but silent as the sensations subsided. Breathing heavily as Klaus used his robe to wipe at the moisture my tears had left on my face. I focused my gaze on his face. He wore a frown and looked apologetically down at me. Bastard.

"Not the most pleasant way to heal is it?" My hair was released but I remained arched backward over his leg. "Up you get. You have to sleep sometime tonight and you'll want to eat before then." Klaus helped me gently to my feet, then drew my robe back up my arms and pulled the front shut. Finally he directed my hand to close over the drawn material and told me to go rinse my chest. "You have a little coffee there." Was how he'd led in to the command. As if I had a bit of food stuck in my teeth and he was doing me a courtesy. When I'd covered most of the distance between his room and the bathroom I rolled my eyes when I heard him call out: "Clean up in doppleganger suite!". He's not capable of cleaning up some spilt coffee?

In the bathroom I surveyed my chest. The skin was perfectly fine. No redness at all. It wasn't surprising, I had vampire blood in my system. But what I'd felt after Klaus stopped tipping the coffee was beyond me. Klaus' comment about it not being the most pleasant way to heal echoed in my mind. But why should it hurt? Human's healed without pain all the time. There are times when the first part of recovery from trauma involves pain, because bones have to be reset for instance. When Elijah's legs had to move back into position last night, that's exactly like what doctors do. But anything else didn't make sense. Elijah. I wonder what he's doing? When I re-entered Klaus' room he was sat where he had moved close to me. Moving directly to the tray of food first I picked up the sandwich and also sat where I had been earlier. Klaus' hands immediately found my body and he lazily caressed while I ate and mulled over what had just happened.

"Want me to feed your curiosity?" He asked after a while.

"Not really."

"Liar. You'd like very much to know what just happened."

"You need to explain that you just inflicted pain on me for no reason ? I was there. I already know." I responded simply but finished cheerily and with a beaming smile as if I was proud of the fact. The words weren't meant to be respectful. But he couldn't say my tone wasn't posititve.

"You are most peculiar." He mused before going silent again until I was finished. "Eating anything else?"

"No. I'm finished." I wasn't about to overload my stomach after being so violently ill earlier today.

"Very well. I'll take the extra back out to the kitchen."

"Can the biscuits stay? In case I'm after more later?" He answered by placing the small plate of biscuits with his alcohol store before leaving the room.

Feeling a chill and wanting to draw this evenings events to a close, I grabbed the book Klaus had taken from me and hopped beneath the covers of the bed. Using the headboard as a backrest I opened the book at the beginning and made an earnest effort to read it. Hoping to distract myself from what I'd done as well as convey an uninterested attitude to Klaus upon his return. Once my sandwich had settled I intended to go straight to sleep. Escape him the only way I knew possible at the moment. The bed shifting beneath another weight upon it told me of his presence. Keeping my eyes on the page I was slowly deciphering I worked hard to ignore him. It proved difficult as he worked a hand beneath my robe to take hold of my waist before roughly pulling me toward him. Twisting me in the process so that while he was positioned as I had been. I was now sat across his lap with my knees bending my legs back toward him as he held me against his chest. Regardless of his actions I held onto the book and continued to read. Or, kept up the illusion of reading.

"You've gone quiet again my lovely Thespian. Are you caught up in wonder and haven't the mental capacity to make conversation?"

"I'm trying to read. If you don't mind, that's taking up my concentration at the moment."

"Ah. But that is why your my Thespian. Your acting leaves a lot to be desired. You're not actually reading." He took the book from me again. "So you don't need to keep up the charade."

"Give me back the book. And if my acting is so bad then why would you want me to act like I'm compliant with you outside this room?"

"No more reading tonight." He spoke cockily apparently ignoring my comment about my acting. I fell silent. Planning to stay that way. "If you feel the need, feel free to climb all over me as you try to get it back yourself from my outstretched arm though." I looked at him to see his smirk firmly in place.

"Keep dreaming." I spat.

"Watch yourself." He warned before pausing and tucking some of my hair behind my left ear. "Now. Since you're no longer distracted. Let's spend some quality time being attentive to each other." I rolled my eyes and looked away from him to glare at the wall. "That's an unusual way to be attentive." Klaus murmured and moved my head back to face him with a hand cupping my jaw. "That's better." He kissed my lips softly to which I didn't resist, but gave him no more than what he wanted from me.

Klaus then explained by brief torture to me Why I'd felt so much pain earlier when he'd stopped tipping my coffee onto me. Despite feigning disinterest I clung to every word. Finding it extremely interesting. As it turns out. The speedy recovery that his vampire blood facilitated, caused pain due to my burns having to blister and purge so quickly in order to heal. No wonder it had felt like the skin on my chest and torn open. It would have been hardly a flesh wound but by healing me at an increased rate it essentially continued the torture Klaus had started.

"So does pain always accompany healing?" I asked him. Unable to curb my curiosity.

"Usually. Scratches less than five millimetres deep just itch. But anything more severe will often cause pain as fluids are rushed to the surface of the wound to clear it of any debris before flesh is knit back together." I frowned while thinking to movies where vampires were shot with ammunition. Specifically how their wounds healed following the bullets being pushed to the surface and exiting their bodies. "Yes. Film representations such as that are quite correct. Vampirism is very efficient."

I wasn't sure how to feel about my punishment with the coffee earlier. Had Klaus chosen that method so he wouldn't have to make as much effort, because the vampire blood would finish the job for him? He didn't seem the lazy type. But he could've done any number of things instead.

"Just because I use violence, doesn't mean I enjoy doing so Elena." Klaus' voice interrupted my thoughts.

"Could've fooled me. You seem to get rather excited about inflicting pain if you ask me."

"I wasn't asking you." Came his slightly agitated response, so I looked at him warily. "However. Perhaps you could answer a query of mine. Why is it? That while you were going through all your justifications of having willingly participated in our love-making-." I snorted in disgust to which he rose an eyebrow at me.

"Only someone as deranged as you would consider that making love." Left my mouth before I could stop it. Immediately squirming to get free Klaus drew his arms tightly around me. I stilled.

"I'll let that slide." Klaus drawled dangerously in my right ear. "Why did you not even mull over the fact that you begged me to take you? When I've had access to other's thoughts on the matter, that is the first thing they consider and cast aside. Yet you didn't even seem to consider it at all. I would be very surprised if it didn't bother you in the slightest."

"I don't even want to think about how many others you've raped in all your existence." I managed to get out through my gritted teeth.

"Tonight wasn't rape Elena." He pointed out smugly. Ignoring him I decided I wasn't going to dignify him with any form of answer. I thought I might just try going to sleep so leant against Klaus' chest and tried to relax into him. As difficult as it was. Considering it's Klaus. I kept my mind blank. Despite it wanting to ignite in a fact that Klaus had drawn my attention to. I knew why I hadn't let myself include the knowledge that I'd pleaded for him to fuck me. Out of sight, out of mind. It wouldn't be of any use to me. It was quite possible that it would fracture my thought processes with the factors I had turned over in my head. That I had wanted Klaus in that moment wasn't something I wanted to consider for too long. If at all. "I won't simply go away because you ignore me."

After the silence stretched between us for a good ten minutes I was nearly dozing off when Klaus shook me.

"You're not getting out of answering."

"Read my mind." I mumbled in response, groggy with near sleep.

"I can't. Because instead of thinking of everything and then sorting matter into what's relevant, that's not what you seemed to do. It's like you subconsciously avoided the fact in the first instance."

"Well there's your answer then smarty pants." He chuckled.

"Not good enough. If you think on a subconscious level without it gracing your mind I want to know why that is. I also intend to work out how I can penetrate your subconscious."

"You're obsessed."

"I'm driven. Now, tell me."

"What makes you think I know?"

"Because you should know yourself better than anyone. Now. Why would you not even consider certain things and leave them unthought?"

"I don't know." I replied simply. "Let me sleep." I whined and tried to appeal to him by snuggling against his chest.

"Not until you tell me." He said while shaking me roughly.

"Stop that!"

"I'm waiting."

"I told you. I don't know why I would think the way I do or do not."

"You would know. You mightn't be aware of why it is exactly. But only you have been privy to your life so far and something must have caused it. Now think."

"I can't think when I'm sleepy." He shook me again.

"Then wake up." He growled. When I didn't respond verbally or even by thinking in my mind Klaus grabbed my left ear and twisted it sharply. Screaming in response Klaus covered my mouth. "Keep it down. My ears are sensitive you know." He chuckled. "I'm still waiting. Start thinking or talking. Whichever you prefer." He let my ear go and I covered it with my right hand and curled up into the best resemblance of a ball I could in Klaus' hold on the bed, crying. It was throbbing something shocking. Even though the pain eased within half a minute my tears continued to fall.

"I'm telling the truth. I don't know. Many things go unsaid in conversations to save insult. Perhaps the same applies to my thoughts. Things I don't really want to think about get left out. Because they're offensive." I sniffed. Klaus is more than offensive.

"So you think it might be a defence mechanism? Interesting."

"Like I said. I don't know what it is."

"Don't worry. I'll take your suggestion up with my servants of nature. They might enlighten me more if they have something specific to direct their efforts to." Klaus finished warmly and kissed the top of my head. As if he was promising me a favour and it was something I desired greatly. Ha! "Thank you for contributing. Do keep wondering why it is you think so uniquely though. I'm sure there won't be a simple explanation. More of your insight may be required." He paused and shifted me so that I was more upright than in my ball again before he slowly bite the side of my neck to lazily nip and suck at the flow of blood that seeped from his wounds.

When he was finished the covers were thrown back off us and he moved me to his side. I immediately moved further away from him to the edge of the bed and lay staring at the wall waiting for sleep. After the bed shifted I knew Klaus was busying himself over at his store of alcohol upon hearing the clinking of glass.

"Night cap Elena?" He asked, walking around to my side of the bed and stopping to squat down in front of me. Bringing our faces to the same height.

"No, thank you." Came my simple reply.

"Alright. Well. I'll be ready for bed once I discard my robe. So I suggest you do the same so we can retire for the night. I want you with me tomorrow, and you'll need to be fresh." My eyes narrowed at him.

"I don't sleep naked."

"Correction. You didn't sleep naked." His eye brows waggled at me suggestively. Tears sprung to my eyes. I was tired. Exhausted despite just lying in bed all day. I'd had enough and my emotions weren't keeping up with everything. Not with Elijah leaving me. Klaus saw and ran his fingers through my still damp hair. "Sweetheart." He whispered. "I was just having a bit of fun. You're more than welcome to put clothes on now."

"Don't torment me Klaus." Standing and moving away he returned moments later with a night dress and knickers.

"See? You're free to wear them." He placed them in front of my stomach on the mattress. When I didn't move to dress, Klaus dug a hand beneath my shoulder on the mattress and sat me up. Clutching the robe tightly shut against me I avoided his eyes. Slowly Klaus' fingers drew the top of the robe down over my shoulders. Holding it shut across my chest while he removed my arms from their sleeves, I looked up at him dumbly. Will I ever understand how his mind works? Everythings a contradiction! Klauslowered the nightdress over my head and I took the initiative to direct my arms through the arm holes. Next he drew the robe lower down as the nightdress fell over my body. Once at my hips I told him I would do the rest.

Amazingly he moved back from me and dressed himself while I grabbed the knickers and covered my body with the covers before completely removing the robe beneath them and putting the underwear on. After collecting my robe Klaus put it with his own at the bottom of the bed before the lights went out and he got into bed. Just when I thought I was going to be spared for the remainder of the night. Klaus' arm came around my waist and pulled me against him so that he was spooning my body.

"Sweet dreams Elena." Was the last interruption he made before I fell asleep.