"They're not yours." Caroling snapped. "Even if they were… They aren't now."
Klaus frowned, clearly annoyed by her comment.
"Keep your secrets, if you'd like, but I know you're lying," He whispered.
Caroline clenched her jaw shut, she wasn't sure why she felt the need to antagonize Klaus when he asked her about the paternity of the twins. Her plan had been to stride in and demand his help being upfront about everything, and then she saw him and everything changed.
The Vampire call Marcel called her 'the girl' and she supposed he was right. She was the girl, the girl who was stupid enough to think that Klaus Mikaelson was worth loving when he had actively done everything in his power to prove her wrong. She was the girl who still wanted to see the good in Klaus, but she was also the girl running out of the will to care.
She said Matt was the father because he was the only human she could think of among her Mystic Falls friends. The moment she said it she knew he'd see right through the lie. She'd been foolish to think that Rebekah had severed ties with her brother after a thousand year. But now that she was caught in the lie she didn't want to admit the truth, because the truth was Klaus might be the father, but the babies weren't his to claim ownership of and she wasn't either. Not anymore and never again, she told herself, even though her heart hammered violently in her chest at his proximity.
"What are you doing here then?" Klaus breathed against her neck. "If not to deliver unto Caesar what is Caesars'?"
"I came to warn you that you're in danger," Caroline said. "We both are."
"I'm rarely in real danger," Klaus said, releasing her and returning to his painting.
"It's real this time," Caroline said, stubbornly.
"Who's the threat?" Klaus asked, picking up his paint brush.
"Your mother," Caroline said.
His paint brush halted before it touched the canvas. "My mother is dead."
"Yeah, because you Mikaelson's are so good at staying dead." She said, rolling her eyes.
Klaus smirked and the quickening of her heart that it elicited made her flush with anger, knowing that he could hear it.
"And what would she care about my connection to you."
"Former connection." Caroline corrected quickly.
He smirked again, which really riled her. He was supposed to be contrite and apologetic, especially considering how things went the last time they spoke, but instead he was practically taunting her. She wanted to storm out in a show of temper, but she couldn't do that. As much as she wanted to hate him, she knew that if she wanted to keep herself and the twins safe, she was going to need him.
"What would she care about my former connection to you," Klaus amended.
"Not everything is about you, Klaus," Caroline snapped, "She's after me. She wants to cure all vampires and bleed me dry in the process."
Klaus's infamous smirk faltered and his eyes softened with genuine concern.
"She intends to kill you?" Klaus whispered as a flicker of real emotion bled through his adopted calm. "You're acting quite cavalier, considering."
"Somebody always wants to kill me these days," Caroline said, with a weary shrug, "It's kind of my life now."
Klaus stared at her. She got the distinct feeling that he wanted to shake her, but he did nothing. She counted down the seconds until she could leave. As much as her heart burned at the sight of him, she knew he would eventually run away again and that would only bring her more pain. She needed his help to stay alive but she didn't want him back in her life, not one second longer than necessary. He was a danger to her, one she feared more than the threat of Esther.
Klaus Mikaelson had always been dangerous and he was no less dangerous to her than he was to anyone else. He was gentle with her, but she had no doubt that he was capable of killing her if he had to, but he would kill her softly. He would break her bit by bit until he'd destroyed her completely, if she let him. But she wouldn't let him. She was done giving love to people who didn't have enough left to give her anything in return.
"I should go." She said, starting toward the door.
Klaus's eyes flashed dangerously, "Go? Why would you think I'd let you go anywhere?"
"The others are waiting for me." She explained.
She saw the gears turning in Klaus's head and his jaw set.
"You mean Elijah's waiting for you." He said. His eyes flashed with rage as he realized his own brother's involvement in keeping him in the dark up until now.
She shrugged, not wanting to provoke him by tacking on another lie.
"Well, if Elijah wants you back, he's going to have to come in here and get you." Klaus said, in a low, dangerous growl.
"Klaus," Caroline said, shaking her head. She started toward the door, but he grabbed her wrist yanked her to a stop. She yelped, because it actually hurt. "Klaus, you're hurting me."
"I'm waiting, Elijah!" He shouted, knowing his brother would be listening in.
"Klaus, let go of me." Caroline snapped.
"He knew and he didn't tell me, my own brother betrayed me." He growled. "I will not let that go."
"Let her go, Niklaus." Elijah said evenly.
Caroline and Klaus looked toward the door and Klaus released her wrist and took a step toward Elijah.
"Hello brother." Klaus said, glaring darkly at his brother.
Elijah straightened the sleeve of his suit, calmly, "Caroline, would you please excuse us?"
He beckoned Caroline to come to him, but Klaus put up a hand to stop her.
"You knew." Klaus said to Elijah.
Elijah looked his half-brother over slowly, his expression unreadable.
"I did." He nodded.
"And you didn't tell me."
He raised an eyebrow, "Obviously."
"Klaus, stop this." Caroline said, "I'm the reason he didn't tell you. If you're going to be mad at anyone, be mad at me."
"Oh, love, I am." Klaus said. "But I'm quite good at multitasking when it comes to vendettas."
"Really, Niklaus," Elijah sighed. "Do try to be less dramatic."
Klaus smirked, but he sped across the room and bit Elijah on the neck. He stepped back, wiping the blood on his mouth off on his sleeve.
"Alright," He smirked, looking quite pleased with himself. "I'll try to be less dramatic."
"Klaus!" Caroline yelled at him. She stormed up to him and swung her hand to slap him, but he caught her hand easily. "Why the hell did you do that?"
Her eyes darted over to Elijah who held his bloody neck.
"He'll live," Klaus shrugged. "I thought that was rather generous, considering."
"Considering what?" Caroline snapped. "You left me, Klaus, you don't get to play the victim now just because it suits your mood."
He glared at her releasing her hand, "It would be in your best interest not to anger me, love."
"Give him your blood." Caroline demanded.
"I didn't bite him to instantly cure him." He smirked. "That defeats the purpose of retaliation."
"Caroline, I'm fine." Elijah assured her.
"No, no you're not." She glared at Klaus. "Why do you do this? Why do you always do this?"
"Do what?"
"Lash out at the people who love you." She snapped.
Klaus flinched when she said the word love. It was too much to hope she still felt that way about him after everything that had transpired between them. He saw her expression falter as she realized the implication of her own words.
"Elijah loves you." She amended, hurriedly, "He defends you even though you obviously don't deserve it."
"Funny, because what you call love looks a lot like betrayal to me." He said, his eyes drifting down to her stomach pointedly.
"God! You are so not even worth the breath I waste talking to you." Caroline turned away in frustration.
And he snapped. He'd spent too long forcing himself to stay away for her sake to take this. He couldn't take this abuse, not from her, not after all she'd put him through. He pushed her away, forgetting for a moment that she was human and weak. She slammed into the wall and crumpled to the floor. Klaus froze. All his anger dissipated instantly and in its place all he felt was a chilling fear.
"Caroline?" He rushed to her side.
"Caroline!" Elijah pushed him aside and brushed her tousled hair from her face. "Caroline, are you alright?"
She looked slightly dazed, but she nodded. Elijah shot Klaus a dark look as he gathered her up in his arms.
"You will not touch her again, Niklaus." Elijah said, the words sounding like a threat, "We will contact you when we need your help and you will do your part."
Klaus nodded, still horrified by what he could have done. He looked around and grabbed a glass. He bit into his wrist and let the blood drip.
"Take this." He said.
Elijah looked skeptical, "Why?"
"Because," Klaus said, "You're the one who'll protect her."
Sorry for the wait! I had eye surgery last week so I got a little behind on some things!
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