Author's babble: Hello all! Another chapter for those of you who are enjoying this story. Thank you all for the ongoing support and I hope it's still to your liking. :)
CHAP 33:
Klaus offered his hand to me for stability once the door to the van was open. I didn't need it. For the step up into the back of the vehicle wasn't that big. But I took him up on his offer anyway. It would only add to the charade I was trying to portray. Once inside I sat and Klaus joined me as the engine came to life. I made sure to cross one leg over the other to make me feel the slightest about of decency, since the coat was baring everything while I sat.
"Thank you, Elena." Klaus acknowledged immediately, to which I simply nodded in response. "You're putting on quite a performance love. It's quite enthralling. If you continue as you've begun you'll make me a very happy man."
"That's my aim." I stated boredly. Klaus rested one of his hands on my right thigh and when I couldn't pick it off I sighed. Tilting my head back against the side of the van I hoped the transit to this meeting wouldn't take long.
"You look absolutely stunning. I'm extremely pleased you went to such effort with some make up for me. You don't need it of course, but I'm not one to object upon anything that further increases a woman's beauty. Much like your current behaviour. Confident and sexy as you are, your inner fire licking your interactions. When you're personality's engaged your beauty increases tenfold."
"I'm not usually such a bitch. That's not part of my personality. Just in case you were particularly enjoying my cattiness with Sarah."
"If you're capable of it. It's part of your personality love."
"No. People can act completely out of character when stressed or provoked enough. That's the only reason I come across nasty in any way. Who wouldn't react as I have in this situation?" Klaus chuckled softly in resignation. His timbre dropping off as if something was tiring him.
"Sarah."
"She would be the exception." I agreed then fell silent. Hoping we weren't going to have to engage in any chit chat and that this whole charade wasn't going to take long. I wanted to get back to Jonas. But not before I had a chance to co-ordinate my curiosity into questions. Which I had to hold off on for now, unsure if Klaus would be happy if I became more educated on the history of his and Elijah's family. Although seriously. I was going to be around for quite a while after Klaus broke his curse. Surely I would find out a lot in that time anyway.
Ten minutes passed in silence. The only interruption in my vicinity being Klaus' hand on my thigh.
"How long is this going to take?" I finally asked.
"Mmm? The transport or my meeting?"
"Both."
"Why? Are you that eager to be clear of me?" He asked with understated shock colouring his voice, then pouted.
"What do you think?"
"You know. I really wish that while you're being so well behaved that you mightn't do so with such a grudge."
"I can only do so much." I responded bitterly. "You'll have to make-do with the barely capable acting skills that I have. While putting up with my less than happy mood at having to act a certain way for you, amongst other things, or do without."
"I love how you say that like you're doing me a favour and don't have to do as I ask, or your family gets it." Klaus spoke thoughtfully. It wasn't threatening. Just another reminder that Klaus was in control.
"Are you going to tell me how long I can expect to keep up this act, or not? At least let me know how long I'll be sitting here in silence. With your grubby hand on my thigh but otherwise ignoring you."
"If you don't want my grubby hand on your thigh I can place it elsewhere." Came his responding drawl before we became silent again. That, was a threat. So he's not going to tell me.
For something like two and a half hours we sat in silence. Klaus reading a few newspapers on the way. Probably the only good thing to happen as this often required him to use both his hands. From time to time I'd watch him out of the corner of my eye, reading what I could from the papers as well. Finally the van stopped and Klaus folded the paper he'd been reading then set it aside.
"Ready sweetheart?"
"Rearing to go." Came my sarcastic response.
"Glad to hear it." Klaus replied as if I hadn't been sarcastic in my comment at all. "Now. Keep close to me. Follow my lead and be intuitive to my actions. I'm sure you're familiar with what's on my mind when I look at you in certain ways."
"Unfortunately." I agreed solemnly.
"Any questions?"
"No."
"Lets go then." Klaus then stood and moved to open the door. Following suit I reached the door as he stepped out and again accepted his hand to step down onto the road. Giving him an appreciatively sexy smile before looking around. I gathered we were in a suburban location judging by the multiple houses I could see. But each one seemed to be on good sized lots, maybe the size of two football fields. So we seemed to be between true suburbia and the point where land sizes were classed as small acreage. I allowed Klaus to direct me across the tar and towards a simple looking brick house. My performance carried out with ease aside from having to seem happy about having his right hand on my coinciding bum cheek as he walked right next to me on my left. As we approached the building my heart began beating wildly in my chest.
I didn't know what this meeting would involve. As long as I was with Klaus I would be safe. But what if we were separated somehow? I knew now that I was wanted by many more than Klaus alone. Would anyone be stupid enough to snatch me from him? Stupid because Klaus is stronger in every way. He has to be. That's what I'd come to know. And what I hoped now that I was out with him. I wondered if he'd return home with blood all over his clothes again. Wait. Home? Doubt settled in my mind at whether if Klaus was ambushed by a number of weaker individuals he would still come off top dog. He would still be stronger than all of them. But concentration had to account for something didn't it? Reaching the black wooden door with tinted glass panes in the middle at the front of the house, it opened to admit us. Revealing a perfect example of tall, dark and handsome to have opened the door. Klaus ignored him completely as we stepped inside and took a few casual steps down the tiled hallway within. It seemed he knew where he was going. Klaus stopped us and finally acknowledge the man when he offered to take my coat for me.
"We'll be here a while sweetheart. Best you accept the offer." Catching Klaus' eyes for the briefest moment I knew there was no argument to be had. He looked dangerous. Nothing but what was expected of me would be tolerated. Swallowing hard I moved away from Klaus back the few steps we'd come to step up to the man while Klaus continued further down the hall. Turning my back to the unknown door man was far more difficult to do than simply offering him to remove my coat from my shoulders. But I managed to smile at him appreciatively, while maintaining my sexiness as I turned and watched Klaus move further and further away from me. My coat was removed at a labourously slow speed. The man's fingers stroking across my skin as the coat was thread off my arms caused my suspicion to take notice on the deliberate action. I couldn't help the visible shiver that ran through me from his touch, nor could I ignore the breathy chuckle from behind me when I did. The air was cool. So that fact covered some of my horror and panic as I made comment on the air temperature. My comment was met with silence.
"Thank you." I said in a soft sultry tone, turning my head to him and giving him a sexy smirk. Only, when I saw his eyes were raking my figure I lost my courage. Stepping away from him to follow Klaus I worked hard to walk as I'd been asked to. I was proud of my work after having to overcome being leered at. Just my walk actually made me feel a bit sexy, so I didn't question it. Instead trying to utilise it and let my body fluidly move myself nearer to my preferred companion. As far as I was concerned I couldn't catch up to him quick enough. The urge to race down the hall after him, especially when he turned into a doorway to the left was overwhelming. Soft footsteps accompanied the clicking of my heels in a discomforting beat slower than the one my own shoes gave out. The man from the door was right behind and obviously had a larger stride. It wasn't good news should I need to run from him. Reaching the exit Klaus had taken from the hall I let my left hand rest on the frame and swivelled myself into the doorway slowly. Wanting to give myself as much time to take in what was within, where Klaus was and how I would get to him. Dropping my left hip I leant against the frame and let my right leg rest against my left as it bore my weight. As I took in the large room within, my sultry expression would have made it look like I was perusing what was on offer to me. Though I was mainly trying to work out what was going on I made sure to take note of any other escape routes than where I stood now. Eleven others aside from Klaus and I were in the room. Just the number of people present nearly kept the presence of the door at the fair end from my attention. There were only two females, the rest were male and their faces were all impassive. Their stances made it seem so much like they were just there to create a background presence, that I wondered if they were a display to intimidate Klaus. They didn't look at anything with much interest, as if it wasn't their place to do so. But quite a few of them without turning their faces looked me up and down with their eyes. Lovely. I decided I should be worried. There was one other male in the room in addition to the statute presence.
He sat in a similar arm chair to Klaus' leather one directly across from him. I couldn't see his face from where I stood, and as Klaus had his back turned to me, I wasn't privy to their correspondence. But they were speaking in very soft tones. An incredible warmth became present against my back for a mere moment before Klaus turned his head to beckon me over to him. Gracefully pushing myself off the frame I smirked at the man from the door who'd come to stand behind me, before setting off towards Klaus.
"Thank You." I thought, despite knowing Klaus didn't call me away from the door man for my own sake. This was all for show. But I suddenly didn't care, I just wanted to be close to Klaus. Since entering this house, I had only felt the slightest measure of safety whenwith Klaus. Moving with slow but sure steps that swung my hips, I perched myself on the left arm of Klaus' chair. Swivelling my waist so that my torso faced forward, I tipped my chin down and to the right to look at Klaus from beneath my lashes. Extending my right hand across I trailed my thumb down his carotid artery, before palming his shoulder beneath my hand. Then slowly travelling my hand down his chest I was fully aware of the toned muscle beneath his shirt. Klaus' left hand rested on my knee before it travelled slowly up to my crotch. There his fingers stroked the skin at the highest point of my left thigh. He looked up at me with an almost tender expression matched with lustful eyes which I returned as best I could. It would have been much easier to ignore his touch and how I felt he wasn't putting on a show like I was having to. That I was actually turning him on. Since this had to be real and I was approaching some difficulty in my acting. I made myself relax a bit more to help me look as if I were enjoying his touches.
"As you can see, Phillip." Klaus began, to the man sat across from us while still stroking my flesh. "I do indeed have the doppleganger." Finding Klaus appealing was proving harder than I'd hoped. I didn't find sexual exhibitionism pleasant in any way and my very soul was adamant that I did not like Klaus' touches. It wouldn't let me act as though I did, freely.
Finally. Instead of trying to act a a certain way and feel another. I allowed myself to feel his touches, be pleasured by the soft movements the pads of his fingers were making, so close and yet, a comforting distance from the most private area on my body that he'd claimed for himself. My face flushed in embarrassment as I began to let go and allow myself to enjoy it. But I supposed it would all add to my performance. My reddening cheeks could be viewed as a sexual flush. I finally looked with interest at Phillip as he began speaking. I took in his fair complexion, golden brown eyes and sandy hair. Judging by the youthful look of his face and hands I estimated him to be in his early thirties. Wondering why we'd come to see someone who seemed so much like an everyman, I noticed he sat in his chair stiffly as opposed to Klaus' relaxed posture. It seemed obvious to me that Phillip was a little tightly wound, perhaps a little unsure. With all the others in the room he hardly needed to be worried by my reckoning. I assumed he was someone important, but in no way did he give off any aura of power or masculinity like Klaus. Leaders in society didn't need these aspects. But I had assumed other parties caught up in all this doppleganger business would have the same carnal fierceness as Klaus, and even Elijah when he chose to exhibit it. I mean, vampires, werewolves and witches all had strengths. Superhuman strengths that would override some of the other qualities people required in social situations. I didn't know exactly what everyone bar Klaus and I were yet. But their leader wasn't what I expected regardless.
"There have been many dopplegangers Klaus. The last one being Katerina. Who could very well be whom you've brought to me today, except instead of stinking of vampire she smells human. Isn't this illusion a waste of your witches?" Katerina? Curiously I watched out of the corner of my eye as Klaus turned his head to regard the man sat across from him and began chuckling.
"You really think, that Katerina would be capable of being in my presence? She's only still running around this planet because she's so afraid of me. And because I have other things to focus on rather than hunting her down." Klaus chuckled. "Do you wish to examine her more closely?" He offered removing his hand from me. "Go on love. Sit on Phillip's lap for a bit."
"Are you serious?" I panicked within my head while standing.
"Deadly." He responded non-verbally then chuckled.
"NOT funny." His mind chuckle continued as I walked toward Phillip and daintily turned a little so when lowered, I sat sideways on his lap.
"Mmm." Began Phillip and he rested one hand on my right thigh and his other tucked the tendril Klaus had loosened behind my ear. Inwardly I grinned. I liked Phillip. Just because he opposed Klaus. I gave him a small smile while slowly looking his face over, then slid my legs against each other and crossed them as his hand on my thigh felt me up. He certainly didn't seem as unsure when it came to women it seemed. I hummed softly and turned my head to look at Klaus with an eyebrow raised, but lustful eyes so only he should pick up on my interest in whether I was doing a good enough job. "God you smell vile, stinking of vampire. Specifically your master." Phillip spoke again, and I was insulted for the briefest moment. But ensured my head turned back to face him slowly. "But that's no fault of your own, if you are in fact human. I bet Klaus doesn't let you out of his sight. Nor would he allow you far from his person. I know I wouldn't." Responding wordlessly to his words as though they were a compliment. I bit my bottom lip and added some cheek to my expression, as if flattered shy by how he found me desirable; while he continued. "Klaus. How far will you allow me to eliminate the possibility that this isn't Katerina, and there-for a waste of my time and compliance? Your pigheaded demands being what they are. Or have you changed tactics since we last met?" Phillip's fingers traced soft lines down my throat, over my shoulder and down my right arm to hold my wrist in the same way one would check of a pulse. What would eliminating the possibility that I am this, 'Katerina' involve? Trying not to let my mind run away with obscure possibilities I kept myself calm. I was Klaus', there-for protected. I shouldn't have anything to worry about. Strangely enough it was a nice thought. Even though I knew it mightn't necessarily be true. But I couldn't let myself return to my previous thoughts of being separated from him only minutes ago. That would distract me from my acting.
"As far as you need." Klaus obliged warmly. "Within my presence, of course." Phew. I didn't let myself get too excited in my relief, for it was such a great moment where I thought my concern might get a reprieve that I could've grinned. Which I knew wouldn't have contained the sex appeal I'd been trying to cast. Klaus' answer wasn't exactly a guideline of what I'd be subjected to. But it indicated there would probably be a limit of some kind.
"I'm not an exhibitionist."
"And I am not foolish." Replied Klaus matter-of-fact. Both males went silent and Klaus beckoned me back to him. As I moved to stand an arm secured itself around my waist. It didn't seem like it was appropriate, but I kept calm and looked into Phillip's eyes.
"Somebody doesn't want me to go Klaus." I commented in a soft purring voice before sticking my bottom lip out a little and making a sad face as I tilted my head to the left. My hands softly found the arm against my waist and I tried to coax my release. Klaus' next words were unbelievably calm. I didn't detect anything in the way he spoke. But the chilling feeling I had that perhaps Phillip's actions either weren't expected or acceptable was pretty convincing.
"You've had your time for perusal Phill. Now, hands off." I looked toward Klaus with a raised eyebrow. Chuckling deep within my throat before sighing softly with some dramatic flare, I brought my mouth to Phillip's ear.
"He's feeling a little left out. Best give the baby what he wants." I whispered, drew his arm away from my side and stood. That went well. Nearly thought there was going to be a problem. I couldn't believe how well I had handled the tension. That I could even keep my act going. Stepping back to Klaus, my way was suddenly blocked as one of the men broke away from the formation the others in the room maintained. My left arm was taken hold of by a crushing grip and I gasped loudly before I was yanked after the fast-moving male towards the far door. Loosing my footing my body met painfully with the floor. Within moments, everyone in the room was everywhere at once and I was dragged the remaining distance and from the room.
Shock paralysed me for a few moments before confusion set in. I didn't know whether to fight or not. On one hand, I might be about to die. Which wasn't a bad outlet. Klaus couldn't release his bind if these guys got rid of me altogether. Dumbly, I looked up at who had dragged me as chaotic noise erupted in the other room.
"So, Katerina. How is it that you've come to be Klaus' toy again? What could he possibly have over you, that would control your flight response after all these years of being on the run?" He spoke mockingly, as if I had something coming to me. How I heard him was anyone's guess because his voice was so soft and there was a lot of noise coming from the other room. "Well?" He pushed. His voice softening even more but an underlying tone of demand made sure that my ears yearned to hear anything he said to me. When I didn't answer him straight away, his right arm curled the connecting hand out of sight. Returning to my view with a piece of wood possessing a sharpened end. Stake. I could only assume he'd held it on his person as the only furnishing in the room was a bench along another wall, and it wasn't within reach.
"My name's not Katerina." I finally decided to say. In no way did I say so defiantly or with fear. I merely stated the fact while raising my back from the floor, and easing my weigh back against my cornered elbows on the floor.
"I wonder how long it took you to change your speaking pattern." He mused before he was standing over me. His feet planted either side of my legs, the stake in his hand grasped tightly, and the expression on his face determined. This is going to hurt. "Stupid of you really, to think us mangy mutts would believe you weren't a vampire just because you smell human." I realised as he dropped to his knees and sat on me that we'd come to see werewolves. His left hand met with my collar bone and pushed me back down to lie against the floor and held me there. "Goodbye, Katerina." He said simply with a hint of remorse in his eyes. I saw his right arm begin it's movement upwards with stake in hand until the movement blurred. Closing my eyes and cringing, I awaited death. It didn't come. Instead my ears heard heavy breathing over the scuffling still going on in the next room. So I opened my left eye to see the stake hovering pointed end down, on the upper left side of my chest. The man's eyes were wide and unsure as I felt his fingers move up to my neck to feel the pulse there, then trail down and to the side so that he could place his palm over my chest. Right over my erratically beating heart. "Good Lord." He whispered and placed the stake down on the floor to the soft clunk of wood. What now? Just get it over with. "It's not possible." What isn't? At that moment the door was broken from it's hinges from the impact of a body flying through it.
A large chunk of debris flew over my assailant's shoulder.
"Get up." He directed as he stood off me then hissed "now." When I wasn't moving quickly enough he grabbed my left wrist and pulled me to my feet, pushed me further from the door and into a corner of the room with an empty fireplace. "Get in." He ordered and gave me a shove into the opening. Crouching down I did so and scrambled in until I could stand. I was followed in by the assumed werewolf who then looked up at the opening of the chimney. My own eyes looked to where his were. I could only assume he intended for me to climb up there. Since he'd reneged on killing me and his whole demeanour had changed I supposed he was in snatching mode, now that he knew I was of value. The top of the chimney was no narrower than where we now stood but there was a grate close to the top of the channel. Without a word I found myself lifted from underneath my bum, the man having spun me and ducked his head between my legs. I had only a moment to decipher that I now sat on his shoulders before he jumped us with force nearly halfway up the chimney while I gave a little squeal in shock. My shoulders grazed against the brick but I ignored the sting and tried not to breath in the soot that our passage was disturbing. Clinging to the sides of the chimney with his hands and feet spread out to brace against each side he spoke again and I listened keenly. "The grate above you will push upward on one side while the other is hinged. Meet it with your hands." He jumped as soon as he said this and I managed to raise my hands and shove at the grate as we passed through and out of the chimney. I whimpered in pain when the metal impacted my hands. Shooting blinding pain through my hands and straining my wrists with it's weight in addition to the sheer force the man used. I was immediately grateful for not having to hit the metal with my head. Still sat atop the man; almost confirmed werewolf's shoulders, I was sure the sight would have been quite funny. If only I could have appreciated how we probably looked atop the chimney for a moment. Dropped to my feet when the man squatted he ordered me to hop on his back and hold on. I slung my arms over his shoulders and locked my wrists against each other as best I could since my hands were too painful to move. The next moment we were three house roofs away bounding from each one to the next. Oh my god. My eyes scrunched shut I held on tighter with each leap. His arms around my legs gave no indication of letting go, so I opened my eyes and began paying attention to the surroundings. I was curious to know where we were and there might be something iconic around to give me a hint even if I couldn't find a road sign. Each bound was graceful despite all the power and none of the roofs suffered damage. It was beautiful really. Despite being caught up in god knows what now, I felt the most free I had in days. I didn't care if it was just due to the momentary feeling as though we were flying with each leap. All I knew was that I was away from Klaus and wasn't yet to die and that it was a beautiful day. Not to mention that in the hands of others Klaus may never become the ultimate monster he so wished to be.
