What's this? An update? Magic!...I am so sorry for the long delay, writer's block and real life got to me. But I am super-excited for you all to read this (ridiculously long) chapter! I hope you enjoy it! Thank you so so much to all of you who are sticking with this story and reviewing/following/favoriting, your support is much appreciated! Anyways, happy reading!
Disclaimer: I own nothing of The Vampire Diaries (or The Originals either if you want to get technical)
Chapter Eleven
Klaus sat in the ornate armchair, deft fingers racing across the page with stunning precision. The scratching of the quill against parchment was all that could be heard in the room that doubled as his personal art gallery and work space, his refuge of solitude. All was quiet—that is, until…
"Nik?...Nik, where are you? Come on, we're waiting for you!"
"Hmmm?" Klaus looked up from his sketchbook and was greeted with the sight of an indignant Rebekah, hands on her hips and glaring.
He groaned inwardly. Trust his sister to invade his artistic space and ruin his peace.
"Something the matter, Rebekah?" he asked innocently.
"Don't give me that look, you were deliberately ignoring me!" his sister scolded, lunging toward him and flinging his book across the room, where it hit the wall with a resounding thud and fell to the floor, the quill oozing ink from where it landed on the rug.
Klaus scowled at her.
"Charming, as always, little sister. No wonder you are incapable of keeping any friends," he snarled in retaliation, coming to his feet and towering over her.
Rebekah's lip curled in disgust. "As if you have any room to talk, Nik. And if I'm not mistaken, the reason I have no friends is because every time I make one, you manage to tear them apart by dawn," she sneered, refusing to back down, her chin thrust up in defiance.
"Guilty as charged," Klaus admitted proudly, holding up his hands in mock surrender and earning a scowl from Rebekah. As his favorite sibling and the only female in the family, he liked to keep a vigilant eye on Rebekah, who too often had her heart broken by the short-lived pathetic little flings who professed their undying love to her. He figured that disposing of them before they had a chance to betray her was a rather magnanimous gesture on his part, and it had the added advantage of keeping her close where he could exercise some control over her volatile nature. All things considered, it was an arrangement that had worked well over the centuries. Certainly it was more generous than thrusting a dagger into her heart to keep her out of trouble.
Ignoring his earlier jab, Rebekah continued to glare at him, her mouth pressed in a thin line of contempt.
Knowing she wouldn't leave him alone any time soon, Klaus sighed in defeat, raising his eyes to the ceiling. "What is it you want, Rebekah?"
"I want you to get up off your lazy arse and come down to the throne room this instant for the hearings this morning. Honestly, Nik, you've been doing it every day for years, how can you have forgotten?"
Of course, the bloody hearings.
One of the royal duties, the hearings were held for a few hours every day in the throne room, with the entire Council present to listen to grievances of the inhabitants of Mystic Falls and deal out judgment. It was a tedious, but necessary, task, one that Elijah had painstakingly implemented, with strict rules. Citizens had to first send a letter detailing their specific issue to the palace, which was screened and sorted according to its urgency. The Council would then send out letters of summons with specific times for each citizen to appear in court.
Klaus rubbed his temples, cursing his duties. It was such a bore most of the time. Everyone, be it the wealthiest courtier or poorest peasant, showered him with unwanted attention and obsequious flattery, hoping to gain his favor, and it grew tiresome. It was only interesting when someone entered without a summons—a crime punishable by death or torture, depending on his mood. Only the Council members were allowed to enter the throne room as they pleased; the rest of society needed an invitation, as was tradition, whether it be a palace servant or a member of the court. The law also helped to keep the riff-raff out—otherwise there would be complete chaos and everyone would be clambering for a chance to greet the royals and saddle them with their petty problems. However, Klaus usually delighted in the occasional task of dismembering an offender; it helped take the edge off when cases were especially boring.
"I haven't forgotten anything, Rebekah," he grunted in reply. "You know how much I enjoy making a fashionably late appearance."
"Well, your fashionably late self has just missed all the fun. Marcel just ripped the arms off of one of the guards. Seems the imbecile was caught by a few of the servants stealing and peddling some of the finest mead in our cellars."
Klaus snorted, shaking his head. "The dolt should have known better than to pilfer Marcel's favorite drink. I'm surprised he didn't draw his suffering out further." His protégé had a general habit of playing with his victims, a trait they both shared. Marcel was well-known for drowning his victims in water filled with vervain or wolfs-bane, often for days at a time, before he finished them. Klaus himself favored a more hands-on approach. Etching patterns onto the blank canvas of bare skin with knives was much more appealing and satisfactory to his taste. Besides, the screams were much more audible.
Rebekah simply huffed. "You know Marcel—always looking for a chance to show off in front of a crowd."
Klaus chuckled. He had ambition, that one. Klaus admired him for it, as it was another trait they had in common. But Marcel had always tempered his aspirations for power by his unwavering loyalty to Klaus, and the combination had helped him quickly rise through the ranks and earned him a seat on the Council.
"Truer words have never been spoken, sister," he replied. "Come now. We can't let Marcel have all the fun. I might even let you help this time." He smiled wickedly, beckoning for Rebekah to follow.
"I am perfectly capable of inflicting pain on my own, thank you very much," Rebekah sneered, jabbing him slightly in the ribs.
"Well excuse me—it's not like I have any expertise in the matter."
"Such humility, Nik. I do think Elijah is beginning to rub off on you."
Klaus shuddered, coming to a halt in front of the doors to the throne room. "Have a little mercy, Rebekah, you go too far," he placed a hand over his heart in mock offence. He grabbed hold of the doorknob, the distant babble of voices drifting through the walls. Throwing one last backwards glance, he wrenched the door open.
"Time to play, little sister. Let's not keep Elijah waiting."
The sunlight shining through the window showered a welcome warmth on Caroline as she reclined in the small bathtub in her room, her head tilted back and her eyes closed. The warm rosewater felt incredibly wonderful on her muscles, and provided a much needed distraction from everything that had happened in the past day. Elena had returned from dinner with Klaus last night relatively unscathed, albeit very shaken. Katherine, who had yet to relate a single word of what had happened between herself and Elijah, had taken charge of her twin, making sure she was comfortable and that she took a much-needed rest from all the excitement. Caroline smiled at the memory. For all her brash exterior, Katherine harbored a soft spot for those she loved. The relief that two of them had survived Klaus cheered the foursome up, and they spent the remainder of the night alternating between swapping stories and interrogating Katherine about Elijah, with absolutely no success.
There was one small moment, though, that still stuck in her mind. She and Elena had been left alone while Katherine and Lexi had gone off in search of some wine to celebrate Elena's safe return.
"I hope they aren't gone too long. It's an hour or so until midnight, and I know you would like to rest," Caroline said, affectionately patting Elena's shoulder as they looked out into the moonlit sky from the window.
"We are in agreement there," Elena replied, with a little laugh. She sighed heavily, tapping her fingers against the glass window-pane.
Something in her distant and agitated demeanor made Caroline instantly on the alert.
"Elena? Is there something wrong?" she said hesitantly, her gaze taking in the brunette's tense stance. Elena's hand was now fisted in the drapes. Yes, something was clearly afoot.
"There's something I need to tell you," Elena replied in an undertone, finally turning to face her, her brown eyes wide. Caroline arched an eyebrow, silently urging her on. Elena drew in a breath. "When the king interviewed me, he asked an awful lot of questions about you."
Caroline's heart sank. Seriously?Again? What is he doing?
"What kind of questions?" she asked, trying valiantly to keep the desperate edge out of her voice.
"At first he asked how long I had known you, what sorts of things we did when we were together…and what your favorite dessert is," she finished, her mouth twitching up slightly.
Caroline snorted. "Of course he did." The sneaky bastard.
"I did my best to cover for you about the more personal topics—I made sure to avoid Stefan's name and obviously the fact that you're a witch, but when he asked about your family I…I told him about the house fire and your parents."
Caroline tensed. That was a subject she did not wish to breach, not with anyone. Even after all these years, her parents' early demise still stung as if it had happened yesterday. Anger and hurt boiled inside of her at Klaus's intrusiveness. She didn't want him to know of that particular part of her life. He would only laugh at her pain. He was most likely doing it right now, reveling in her sorrow as she was certain he had done with countless others over the centuries of his immortal existence. She balled her fists, silently vowing to give him a piece of her mind when she saw him next—if she ever saw him again. Should that happen, it would be entirely too soon for her taste.
"I'm so sorry, Care…" Elena trailed off, sensing her change of mood.
"It wasn't your fault, Elena, please, don't apologize," Caroline replied forcefully. She knew Elena would stew in guilt when she had done nothing wrong if she didn't say something now; the younger Gilbert was too compassionate for her own good. "You were under duress, and he would have found out eventually."
Elena sighed in relief, hugging the blonde in affection. "I am glad you aren't angry with me."
Caroline laughed then, shaking her head. "Elena Gilbert! I could never be angry with you!"
"Really?" Elena said, a mischievous grin stealing across her face. "What if I told you that I told a certain someone about you little horse-trough escapade?"
Caroline gasped. "You did not."
"Oh, but I did. I remember it so well…" Elena smirked in triumph.
"You…you traitor!" Elena squealed as she shoved to the bed, rolling over to avoid the pillow aimed at her face. "I take my forgiveness back! How could you reveal that secret…and to the king, no less! I might have to kill you!" Caroline cried, her face turning crimson with embarrassment.
The 'horse-trough escapade' was one of her less-than-stellar moments that Elena and Katherine liked to tease her about the most. She had been fifteen at the time, still blissfully naïve and unaware of her magical powers thanks to Stefan. There was a boy named Jesse for whom she had nursed a secret infatuation—always waiting by the window at precisely the right moment when Jesse would walk by selling his assortment of fruits, stopping by his stall at the small market down the street and flirting rather than actually buying anything. Elena had accompanied her down the market one day to run some errands, and while they were admiring a few of the beautiful horses tied to the post at the edge of the market square, Jesse had trundled past them, his cart in tow and giving Caroline a friendly salute. She had been so flattered that in her excitement of waving back, she had taken a step backward and fell right into the horses' water trough, making a spectacular splash and upsetting the beasts. Jesse had laughed at her then, and from that moment on all thoughts of Jesse were banished forever, and Elena had never let her live it down since then.
"Well, it's fortunate that I am immortal, then," Elena shot back, shaking with laughter and effectively dodging a poorly-aimed pillow that flew past her head. "Missed me!"
"I won't miss you when I pour water all over your sleeping face during the night!" Caroline hissed, already reaching for another pillow and desperately trying to keep from laughing.
"We come bearing gifts!" The door burst open, with Katherine and Lexi stumbling through holding several bottles of wine.
Caroline pointed a finger at Elena, eyes narrowed in challenge. "This isn't over yet, Gilbert. I'll get you eventually."
Elena wiggled her eyebrows. "I'll be waiting with baited breath, Forbes."
Caroline sighed then, sitting up and running some water through her long curls. It had been such a merry evening. She should have known it was all too good to last.
She thought back to this morning. Even now, Bonnie's clear voice declaring her name as the next candidate to meet with Klaus still rang in her head, disturbing her relaxed state. She could still see the incredulous looks of her friends as yet another of their little group would be put to the test.
Tonight she would face Klaus.
In hindsight, she should not have been surprised—she even suspected Klaus had planned it so. It would be better this way and get it over with sooner rather than later—at least then she could stop worrying about it, and more importantly, him. In all honesty, she was intrigued to see how he would behave with her. Would he be the suave, charming royal who danced with such agility and gallantry? Or the hot-tempered, rampaging hybrid who had inflicted pain on more people than there were stars in the sky? She would have to wait and see.
In any case, she was more concerned on sticking to her cover story, especially since he had been sniffing around her already what with his interrogations of both Lexi and Elena. No doubt he would have plenty of questions to pose to her in person, and she could only pray that she didn't slip up.
After a final rinse to ensure all of the grime was erased from her body, she stood up, shivering in the cool air, and wrapping the fluffy towel around her body. She methodically rubbed down her wet skin before using it to pat down her drenched hair. Satisfied with her routine, she approached her drawers. Crouching down, Caroline rummaged through them hastily, throwing articles of clothing onto the bed as she went. She had absolutely no idea what she was going to wear to her evening with Klaus tonight. Her dresses she had brought from home seemed laughably shabby compared to the gown she had worn to the ball, and she didn't even own that one. Briefly, she considered asking Bonnie if she could select another gown from the castle's collection. It would certainly make her feel less like a simple peasant in Klaus's presence…No, she scolded herself firmly, her stubbornness rising in full force. She was not about to prance around in fancy borrowed clothes to cater to Klaus of all people. Why should she care about her appearance? She owed him nothing, especially not after all of the trouble he had caused her what with threatening her and her friends every other minute.
Her mind made up, Caroline chose her least appealing gown of simple brown linen. She had just managed to pull it on when a gentle rap on the door interrupted her. She opened the door, and was intrigued to see Bonnie's smiling face greeting her.
"Hello, Bonnie. What brings you here? It's only three o'clock, and I thought I still had another hour or so—" Caroline rambled, afraid she had mixed up the time when Bonnie was to escort her to the king.
Bonnie laughed. "No, no, Caroline, you still have time left. I am actually here to bring you something you will need for this afternoon." It was then that Caroline noticed the witch's hands were full of what looked like men's clothing. "Do you mind if I come in?"
Wordlessly, Caroline stepped back, closing the door behind Bonnie and watching curiously as the brunette laid the garments on the chair.
"What exactly are those for?" Caroline inquired, tilting her head as she took in the black pants, leather boots, and dark blue tunic.
"The king has requested that you wear this to your interview."
Caroline stared. "Whatever for? I can't just walk around the castle in men's clothes—what on earth is he playing at?" she hissed, more to herself than Bonnie. She could just picture Klaus's smug face at her ridiculous attire, and the image only infuriated her more.
Bonnie laid a hand on her arm. "Relax, Caroline. Honestly, stranger things have happened than a woman dressing as a man around here." She cocked her head toward the door and listened for a second, then looked back a Caroline with a knowing smile dancing in her green eyes. "I shouldn't be saying this, but I gather he has quite the interesting evening planned for tonight, hence the strange attire," she glanced at the clothes. "I know you're upset with him, but please wear them? It will do no good to antagonize him," Bonnie coaxed, her eyes pleading.
Caroline debated for a moment, desiring nothing more than to wear her humble dress simply to defy the hybrid his wish. But eventually, she heaved a long-suffering sigh. "I suppose I shall put up with it, just this once," she agreed reluctantly.
Bonnie's tense expression relaxed. "Thank you, Caroline." She dropped her hand from where it had rested on Caroline's arm. "Now that it is quite settled, I shall let you get dressed. I will return at a quarter to four." At Caroline's nod of understanding, the pretty witch disappeared out of the room.
Releasing an exasperated huff at the recent events, Caroline pulled her dress off and stuffed it back in its place in the dresser drawer. She eyed the garments on her chair, their presence silently mocking her. Steeling herself, she resigned herself to her fate, her hand grabbing the deep blue tunic and shimmying into it. Her senses were promptly assaulted with an overwhelming, masculine scent that reminded her of…Klaus. She breathed in deeply, the smell surprisingly comforting. Tugging the shirt in place, she threw her head back with a groan. She was going to spend the evening with Klaus, and wearing his clothes. How mortifying! She wished that the floor would simply open up and swallow her whole so she could avoid the embarrassment.
Her cheeks flaming and cursing her misfortune, she tugged the pants up her legs with ferocity. She stood up, glancing at her reflection in the vanity mirror. Although the garments were rather baggy on her slim frame, she begrudgingly acknowledged that they were extremely comfortable, the softness of the fabric warming her skin.
After donning the leather boots, she spent some time taming her curls that had finally dried from her bath, coaxing them into a long braid down her back. Satisfied with her appearance (for the most part), she flopped back onto her bed, staring at the ceiling and preparing herself for the evening ahead. She wondered what Klaus had in store for her.
Yawning and figuring she may as well rest for a short while before Lexi, Katherine, and Elena came to see her off, she closed her eyes, and drifted into an uneasy doze.
Caroline stood outside the imposing door made of black walnut wood and wrought iron, her hand poised to knock. Bonnie had left a mere second ago, instructing her to knock on the door three times. The other witch had been very secretive, leading her into unfamiliar parts of the castle that she had never seen before. She was fairly certain she was somewhere in the western wing of the castle where the Original family had their chambers, judging by the increasing opulence in the décor as they walked. The corridors were lined with exquisite tapestries, stone busts set on columns of marble, brightly polished suits of armor…it was a splendid sight.
The flames shining from the brass wall sconces mingled with the fading light from the windows and flickered over Caroline, holding her head high as she steeled herself to knock.
Before she had even moved, however, she felt a rush of air behind her, followed by a cheeky voice.
"Sneaking around the castle, are we? The west wing is off-limits, or didn't you know?" Caroline whirled around, coming face to face with Kol. She stiffened, recalling all the stories she had heard about the prince and his rakish ways. He leaned against the wall casually, regarding her with an expectant yet mocking gaze, arms folded across his chest.
Caroline recovered quickly. "I was summoned here, my lord," she said bravely, curtseying. "Bonnie brought me just a moment ago."
"Ah, so you're one of the candidates!" Kol exclaimed, giving her an appreciative once-over. Caroline crossed her arms, uncomfortable with his ogling. "I thought you looked familiar. Weren't you the girl who danced with Nik at the ball?"
Caroline nodded brusquely. "Yes, I am." Uneasy in his presence and itching to be rid of him, she turned back towards the door. "Now if you don't mind, my lord, I need to—"
She got no further as Kol grabbed her arm and pulled her closer. She stiffened as he brought his lips to her ear.
"It's rude to turn your back on an Original, darling…what was your name?"
"Caroline," she bit out, already trying to pull away from him. "And it's rude to assault a woman, my lord." The words tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop herself.
Kol merely laughed. The next moment, Caroline's breath was knocked out of her as her back crashed into the hard stone wall, pinned between it and Kol, who had a wicked smile plastered to his handsome face. "I like pretty little things with sharp tongues." He leaned closer, both hands resting on either side of her head. "I don't think Nik would mind if I whisked you off for a bit, you look like a tasty little thing—"
Suddenly, Kol let out a sharp cry as he was thrown off of her and into the opposite wall. Caroline gasped as she beheld none other than Klaus, pure rage emanating from him, choking Kol with both hands as he shoved him against the wall.
"Say another word to her and I'll tear out your liver," the hybrid snarled at the younger Original.
Kol kicked him in the shins, clawing at the hands currently crushing his windpipe. Klaus loosened his hold enough for him to choke out, "Come on, Nik! It was only a joke!"
"Really? I should think the bruises on Miss Forbes's arm say otherwise," Klaus spat, shaking him soundly.
"Klaus, let him go," Caroline stepped closer, not enjoying the scene. She knew Kol deserved it, but the pained whimpers escaping his lips softened her anger—not to mention that Klaus inflicting pain made her heart clench painfully.
Klaus' head turned slightly to the side, aware of her presence, but he did not release Kol, whose struggles had slowed as air was sucked from his lungs.
Realizing he needed more persuasion, she hesitantly placed her hand on his shoulder, pressing into it gently but firmly. "Please," she whispered.
He faced her fully then, his clenched jaw relaxing the smallest bit as he locked gazes with her. Slowly, Klaus turned back to Kol, releasing his hold on him and dropping him to the floor, the air filled with Kol's loud wheezes.
Caroline pulled her hand away from him and avoided his eyes, looking at Kol instead and offering him her hand. Klaus made an irritated noise at the gesture, which she stubbornly ignored. "Need a hand?"
Kol grinned at her, taking her proffered hand and coming to his feet, rubbing his neck. He turned to Klaus. "I like her, brother. She has spirit." He winked at Caroline, who slowly smiled back at his compliment.
"Get out, Kol, before I set Bonnie upon you," Klaus bit out, stepping in between her and Kol, invading his younger brother's personal space.
The younger Original looked positively horrified at the threat.
"Now, now, Nik, there's really no reason to drag Bonnie into this—"
"On the contrary, Kol, I believe Bonnie would enjoy giving you a taste of your own medicine, it's been far too long since she last set you on fire—"
Kol raised his palms in surrender. "Bloody hell, Nik, alright, I give in! There's only so much violence I can take!" he replied quickly, already backing down the hall. "It was lovely to meet you, sweet Caroline!" he yelled, disappearing around a corner before Klaus could do more than growl at him. They were left in a heavy silence.
Unable to control herself, Caroline giggled, immediately pressing her lips together and looking at Klaus out of the corner of her eye. He lifted an eyebrow at her in response.
"I believe that was the first time I ever saw an Original truly frightened before," she giggled some more, unable to wipe the smile off of her face.
Klaus looked at her for a moment, the fiery anger in his eyes slowly giving way to amusement. He let out a chuckle and shook his head. "Bonnie has him on a tight leash. Kol is a nuisance, but she has a measure of control over him that the rest of us have yet to attain. It can be very convenient at times, I can assure you."
Caroline laughed outright. "I'm sure she is." Her amusement was cut short by the little hiss of pain that escaped her lips as soon as she moved her arm. Kol might be a nuisance, but he had a grip of iron.
Klaus's expression darkened, his brow furrowing. "Give me your arm."
He reached out, bringing her arm that Kol had injured up close for his inspection. There were faint fingermarks on her skin, already turning a shade of brown. He gritted his teeth at Kol's behavior, silently vowing to have a little chat with his brother later. Preferably with some vervain-soaked knives.
"It's fine, I'll be alright," Caroline said.
She sensed that the mood had shifted by the way Klaus cradled her arm and the intense stare he directed at her. Unable to look away from those piercing blue eyes, she jumped when the felt him press a few light, tender kisses against the bruises Kol had left.
Before she could even blink, he had released her arm and taken a step away from her.
She swallowed and shifted on her feet, unsure of how to respond.
Thankfully, Klaus seemingly regained his composure, clearing his throat and jerking his head towards the end of the hall. She took the hint and followed slightly behind him. Every so often, she caught him giving her sideways glances before he would hastily turn away again. Once, he opened his mouth, as if to strike up a conversation, but promptly shut it. It was rather amusing—the villainous hybrid trying to pluck up the nerve to speak to her of all people. There was something else, though—a small twinge of power, knowing that she affected him in some small manner. She felt an immense satisfaction at the knowledge; and besides, it was only fair, especially since deep down she knew he had an effect on her as well that was slowly infiltrating her defenses. At least we are on somewhat of an even footing.
They had reached a set of doors that led out into a part of the grounds that Caroline had never seen before. Klaus led her through an expanse of trees, the trail winding past shrubs and plants in full bloom, a warm breeze whispering through the woods. They walked on, still maintaining a safe, comfortable silence, when Klaus stopped them.
They had cleared the woods and stood on the edge of an enormous field, the sun still radiating its final late afternoon rays before dusk, covering the field in a blaze of orange light. Caroline noticed with some perplexity that the field was fenced in all around. About a stone's throw away to the left stood a large barn, the whinnying of horses audible on the evening breeze. Her surprised expression gave way to awe as Klaus nudged her to the right. She caught her breath. Tethered to one of the fence posts was a beautiful black horse, snorting and stamping the grass impatiently. Caroline forgot all about Klaus standing next to her as she instinctively inched closer to the magnificent creature.
"His name is Stian," she heard Klaus murmur in her ear as he stood behind her.
"Is he yours?" she whispered.
"Yes."
She smiled, not taking her eyes from the horse that was now tossing his head stubbornly at the newcomers. She chuckled inwardly. Apparently, horse and rider had much in common.
"He's beautiful." She reached out, extending her hand towards Stian, who stilled, eyeing her curiously. He sniffed at her hand, and to her utter surprise, nuzzled into her hand. Her fear at being bitten subsiding, she brought her other hand up to touch the impossibly silky mane dangling down his forehead. A laugh escaped her as Stian leaned over the fence and into her touch.
Klaus remained rooted to the spot in astonishment. "He likes you."
Caroline turned around at his incredulous tone. She raised her eyebrows in question.
"Stian usually shies away from strangers, or bites them. He can be a little mood," he elaborated.
Caroline snorted. "Like rider, like horse, I suppose."
Klaus rolled his eyes, but smiled at her.
"Have you ever ridden before, Caroline?" he asked casually.
Caroline looked away from him then. "No, I have not," she breathed. She had only ever seen the beautiful creatures when they made the occasional appearance on the streets near her home. To be able to ride one… "But it's always been something I have wished to experience," she blurted out without thinking.
She cringed, mentally smacking herself for her slip-up. She hated feeling so incompetent and inexperienced in front of him. The ancient hybrid who had probably experienced everything that this world had to offer and more. What had happened to ignoring his attempts at charming her? She couldn't let him know that he had made a crack in her resolve with this.
Judging from the pleased expression on his face, he already knew. Damn him.
"It would be my greatest pleasure to fulfill this wish." He offered her his arm. "Shall we?"
Hesitantly, Caroline moved closer and took it. His smile widening, they started towards the barn.
Klaus proved to be an exemplary rider. At her request, he first put Stian through his paces around the enclosure while Caroline watched from the sides, spurring Stian on so fast that horse and rider became a blur of black flying around the field. Klaus looked so…carefree. She could see him smiling and laughing as he spoke to Stian, the horse answering his every command. It was difficult reconciling the image of this genuine, almost human Klaus with the mask of indifference and cruelty he assumed so frequently.
He made good on his promise to fulfill her wish of riding, although he wouldn't hear of allowing her to attempt to ride by herself as it was her first time. Instead, he pulled her up in front of him, her back pressing into his front.
"Now I understand the choice in clothes," she commented, grateful that she didn't have to worry about becoming entangled in her skirts. "I suppose I should be thanking you."
Klaus chuckled behind her. "No need for that, love...I've already received my reward," he hummed suggestively in her ear. "You look stunning."
Caroline froze as he brought his arms around her, hands brushing lightly against her thighs. She swallowed, acutely aware of how his extremely close proximity, the way he was cradling her against himself. She closed her eyes, her mind growing cloudier by the second, his touch causing an involuntary shiver all over her body.
A whicker from Stian, however, broke the spell, and Klaus's hands moved to grip the reins.
"Are you ready, sweetheart?" he asked softly, holding the reins with one hand and moving the other tightly around her waist, pulling her to him.
Caroline nodded, ignoring the thrilling feeling of his body surrounding her, and grabbed hold of his arm with both hands.
"Hold on." With a low command to Stian, they were off, trotting around the field.
Caroline held onto Klaus's arm like a vise, the unfamiliar rocking motion increasing her fear of falling. Her body tensed.
"Don't be afraid, Caroline. I won't let you fall." Klaus encouraged her, sensing her trepidation. "Just breathe and try to relax."
She obeyed, willing herself to calm down. After a few minutes, she felt much better, and her fear eventually melted away as Klaus dug his heels in Stian's sides, urging him to greater speeds.
The world spun around them in a whirlwind of colors as Stian cantered on, the wind whipping around them. Caroline let out a whoop of laughter at the sudden intoxicating feeling of freedom, of weightlessness, the adrenaline pumping through her as they sped on.
If only she could see the dimpled smile of contentment gracing the face of the rider behind her.
Much later, Stian was spent and Klaus had settled him back into his stall for a well-earned rest. Caroline had never felt more alive: her hair tousled, eyes bright, and complexion flushed after the afternoon's activities. It had been a perfect afternoon.
As they ambled back to the castle, however, her conscience began to take over.
She had just spent what felt like some of the best moments of her life in the company of the most notoriously ruthless man in Mystic Falls, and what was worse, she found that she had actually…enjoyed it. This side of Klaus was new and intriguing. She had seen flashes of humanity in him before, but it all paled in comparison to his behavior this afternoon. She found herself wishing to know more of this gentler side of the Original hybrid, and wondering how he could be like this one minute and severing heads the next.
Speaking of severing heads…
Memories of his threats towards her and her friends, his ill-treatment of Elena and Lexi—the entire situation—flooded into her brain all at once. She cursed herself for letting her guard down. How could she have forgotten who she was currently walking next to? This was Klaus. He killed off his former queen just because they had a disagreement. He also was one who never did anything without an angle, some benefit for himself. What if this whole show of generosity was a pretense, a way to play with her before he dug his claws into her and ripped her to shreds? She wouldn't put it past him; charming his victims seemed to be his style.
Well, she wasn't going to be a gentle little lamb led to the slaughter—not without a fight, at least.
"Klaus, wait." She stopped walking, nervously fidgeting with her hands. She knew what would happen when they retired to the castle, and although his questioning of her was inevitable, she couldn't stand to put it off any longer. She wanted it over and done with here and now.
"Yes, love? What is it?" Klaus followed her example and paused. They were still in the middle of the woods, out of sight of the castle or any prying eyes.
Biting her lip, she straightened up and looked him square in the face. "I am waiting for your interrogation to begin. That is the entire purpose for me being with you, and I would rather you do it now than put it off any longer."
Klaus's eyes narrowed, holding her firm gaze. "Would you indeed?"
"Yes, I would," she stated bravely. "And if this whole outing was your way of luring me into a false sense of security, then it hasn't worked," she added, in what she hoped was a convincing tone, her anger rising every second.
His blue eyes turned to ice in an instant. They bored into hers for a moment, before he finally straightened and gave her a curt nod. "As the lady wishes."
She stared back at him coolly, arms crossed in defiance.
He began to circle her, his featured hardened into a menacing glare. "I believe the best course of action to save precious time would be for me to lay all of my cards on the table, Caroline. Would that be agreeable to you?" he mocked her, all vestiges of humanity closed off.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Caroline answered with false sweetness. Klaus narrowed his eyes at her impudence.
"Very well." He stood right in front of her, his face so close that she could feel their breaths mingling together. "I want you, Caroline Forbes, to be my queen."
Time ground to a halt as the words reverberated loudly in her brain as a soft gasp escaped her lips. "What?"
"You heard me." Klaus picked up her hands hanging limply at her side and enfolded them with his own. "I want to you to stand by my side, as my queen, my wife…and my lover. I want you to wake every morning in my bed, flushed from a night of passion. I want you to learn how to ride a horse all by yourself, and even learn to paint under my guidance. I want to take you to see the world outside of this city—places of adventure and genuine beauty. I want you to entrance the whole of Mystic Falls with your charm and beauty and grace, so that you are well-loved by all, but every single man in the entire supernatural realm will know that you belong to me alone."
He spoke in a low, seductive whisper, thumbs absently tracing patterns on her hands. "And one day, when you are ready, I want to ensure you will never leave my side for the rest of eternity." He shot her a meaningful look.
Caroline could barely breathe, caught up in his honeyed words. He wanted her to be queen. His queen. The queen of Mystic Falls. He even wanted to change her into a vampire, if she understood him rightly. She would have laughed out loud at the sheer insanity of it all if it wasn't such a serious situation. She could only imagine the look of Stefan's face if he could see her now.
"Well, sweetheart? What say you?" Klaus smirked at her, clearly pleased at having her so flummoxed.
His question was like a spark, kindling her simmering fury into a white-hot blaze.
"What say I?" she mocked, pulling her hands firmly from his grasp. "I say, no."
Her muscles clenched with real fear when she saw his expression turn black.
"No?" he repeated softly, his hands balling into fists. She took a step back.
"I thank you for the honor, Your Majesty, but I must decline your offer."
"Why?" He stood rigidly, shoulders tense, brow furrowed, eyes flickering with rage.
"Why?!" Caroline threw her hands out incredulously. "Because I do not trust you, I don't even like you! I have been forced to stay here against my will, all so that you may pick out whatever girl you wish to toy with, only to kill her the moment she stands up to you when you killed her family!"
"Do not dare to speak to me about Tatia," he seethed. "That is no business of yours."
"Very well, then let's talk about how you treated my friends with contempt and used them to gather information on me!" she retaliated, victory flashing through her as Klaus tensed. "You threatened their lives when you could have simply asked me myself! But instead you reverted to cowardice and manipulation. It must be nice to just snap your fingers and get whatever you want at the expense of others."
"Enough! I will not be spoken to in this manner!" Klaus bellowed, towering over her. "For your information, I spoke to your friends first for the sole reason that you have lied to me about yourself before, love." He lowered his voice to a hiss. "I wonder what your poor, deceased mother would say about your deceitful behavior."
That was the straw that broke the camel's back.
Caroline exploded.
Her mother, whom he damn well knew was dead—the woman who had been torn from her when she was small, the pain of her loss now fresh in her mind, the wounds ripping open to choke her with sorrow once again.
Her eyes burned with wrath, her entire being focused on her anger towards Klaus. The next second, he fell to the ground with a grunt of pain, clutching his head.
"What the…Caroline?" his voice rang out with another moan of agony as she focused on him, so wrapped up in her emotional turmoil that she barely knew what was happening. All she could see was red.
"Don't you dare bring my mother into this, you bastard!" she shrieked in fury, her hands shaking.
The air began swirling around them, branches from trees cracked and fell with loud crashes, the magic within her finally free of the tight seal she kept on her emotions. She closed her eyes, shocked at the power coursing through her. It felt...amazing...like she could do anything.
A sharp cry from Klaus, however, broke her from her almost trance-like state. She blinked, shaking her head, and noticed Klaus on the ground. She gasped; she had never done anything like that before. I did that to him…oh no…
She fell to the ground, panting heavily, trying to get a grip on the magic. No, no, no, no, no! He can't find out!
"Caroline! Stop!" she heard Klaus bark out next to her, still reeling from the migraine she had inflicted on him.
"I'm trying!" She screamed in response, curling up into a ball and focusing on taking deep, relaxing breaths. She could almost hear Stefan in her ear, soothing her with comforting words.
You're going to be fine, dear one. Just relax.
Gradually, the wind died down as she recovered her control, the tension in her muscles loosening with each breath she took. Finally, she opened her eyes and sat up, shaking slightly. "Klaus?"
"You're a witch." A low, calm voice rang out from behind her. She hurriedly stood, turning towards where Klaus now leaned against a tree, his face impassive, but his eyes regarded her with a mixture of shock and chagrin.
There was no chance she could talk herself out of this. She was caught.
"Yes." Her shoulders slumped in defeat as she looked at the ground, completely exposed to him.
Before he could open his mouth to speak, she cut him off, her voice quiet but firm. "And if you have any respect left for me, you would never speak about my mother like that again."
She watched him cautiously, catching a flicker of guilt flit across his handsome face. It vanished as quickly as it had come, his face returning to its previous impassivity.
"You lied to me."
Her head snapped up, opening her mouth to protest. "Don't deny it, love," he cut her off, coming towards her exactly like a predator closing in for the kill, that hint of gold surfacing in his blue eyes. "And just when I thought we were in the business of being honest with each other..."
"I did it to protect myself!" she exclaimed, not caring that she was practically poking the beast.
"Ah, yes, because your access to magic renders you so weak and defenseless. What was it you said earlier about cowardice, hmm?" he spat sardonically, running his hands through his curls, snarling at her. "Why did you lie to me, Caroline?"
"Because…because…I didn't want you to take advantage of me! It was bad enough that you discovered I wasn't a vampire, but I knew you would have murdered me without a second thought if you knew I was a witch," she explained furiously, shaking her head at him. "We're not exactly the most respected beings in Mystic Falls, as you well know." She rubbed her temples in frustration. "And really, can you blame me for withholding the truth from you? Vampires like you think witches like me are the scum of the earth. How else was I supposed to survive in a den of vampires who would either drain me dry or manipulate my powers to their advantage?"
Klaus shot her a strange look, a mixture of irritation and desire. Her breathing stilled as she was swept up in his gaze.
"You are not the scum of the earth, Caroline. I would have protected you."
She froze in place, mouth agape, staring at his blunt answer. She could feel her pulse racing as she beheld a hint of vulnerability in him, in his confession.
Regaining her composure, she cleared her throat nervously, wringing her hands. "You didn't even know me. Why on earth would you protect me? Don't you hate witches?"
Klaus shrugged. "In general, yes. They can be very stubborn and judgmental—no offense, love," he added at her noise of protest. He paused then, catching her eyes with his own. "But I fancy you."
Caroline blinked, certain she had misheard him. Surely, he was joking. "You…fancy me?" she scoffed slightly, although her heart was fluttering madly.
"Is that so hard to believe?"
"Yes!"
"Why?" He questioned her. "You're beautiful, you're strong, full of light…I enjoy you." He lowered his lashes, exhaling a huff of air before he added softly, "And I am sorry about your mother."
Speechless, Caroline stood there, bewildered. At length, she recovered her voice. "I accept your apology, but-I do not want to be queen. I do not want that power—I have never wanted it. Please, just choose someone else and let me go home, where I can live in peace," she pleaded, the exhaustion from the magic she had accidentally performed combined with the evening's events finally taking their toll on her.
Before she could so much as blink, Klaus moved impossibly closer, their noses almost touching. She stopped breathing altogether.
"Be that as it may, I choose you, and only you, Caroline."
She looked up, his features so full of determination, that handsome, stubbled jaw set.
It was too much—far too much to absorb in a single evening. She warred against herself, her heart whispering that Klaus felt something for her, that he had thought her worthy of the title, just as Stefan and Bonnie did, and it was a chance for her to make a difference in the lives of the witches as well as a chance for herself to spread her wings and drink in the world around her, as Klaus had promised her so temptingly—but her mind screamed at her to run, to return to her comfortable and safe existence with Stefan and Katherine and Elena and leave the queenship for another to bear, to escape from the hybrid king who had so quickly wormed his way into her soul and who was bound to destroy her, by death or by ensnaring her with a feeling that she dared not name, a feeling she feared she already harbored for him in the deepest recesses of her self.
She chose the latter.
Without a word, she turned on her heel and ran from him, pumping her arms and legs to move faster through the woods, but knowing that there was no escape.
He appeared in front of her just as she reached the edge of the flower gardens. She ran into his hard chest and toppled backwards, thrown off balance. He swiftly caught her in his arms and pulled her into his chest, his red lips brushing her ear.
"I'm afraid you have no choice, Caroline. You will be mine."
She shuddered at his closeness, the way her body molded to his so perfectly…and she hated him for it, the way he made her feel, like she was everything...
No.
She pushed away from him forcefully. "You would force me to stay? You would keep me here, locked in a cage, as your trophy?" Her voice shook with barely suppressed anger.
Klaus thrust his face into hers, startling her. "Yes."
She stamped her foot, screaming in protest. "You cannot make me!" She lowered her voice, eyes flashing. "I will hate you for the rest of eternity if you do."
"Eternity is a very long time, sweetheart," he chuckled hollowly. "And there's a very thin line between hate and love." His blue eyes darkened with desire, as he brought his hands up to cup her face gently.
She could lose herself in those eyes, so mesmerizing were their depths, just waiting to be explored by her...
No.
Caroline breathed in sharply.
"I won't stay here," she stated resolutely.
Suddenly, Klaus snapped. He picked her up roughly, ignoring her loud protests, flashing them inside the castle. The next minute, she was sitting on her bed in her room, disoriented and dizzy from the supernatural speed.
Klaus stood by the door, the picture of cool indifference; but Caroline could see his mouth pressed into a thin line.
"You have no choice but to remain at my side, Caroline," he spoke in a low voice. "I am the king, and you will obey me." She opened her mouth, but he cut her off. "And if I catch you so much as thinking about a glorious escape, your friends' lives will be forfeit."
Without another word, he was gone, the door slamming shut behind him.
Tears sprang into her eyes. Caroline collapsed back on the soft sheets, her body wracked with incessant sobs. The horse ride, their argument, his decision, his stubborn selfishness in taking away her freedom...it was too much to bear...she could never be queen, no matter what they all told her...
A knock sounded at the door. "Caroline?"
It burst open to reveal Katherine, Elena, and Lexi, all of whom stopped short at the sight of her tear-stained face.
She hid her face in her hands, ashamed that they had witnessed her distress.
"Oh, Caroline…" Elena whispered.
The compassion in her friend's eyes only made her cry all the more.
The three of them crawled onto the bed with her. She turned her face into the pillows, faintly comforted by Elena's hands rubbing soothing patterns on her back.
The quiet murmuring of Katherine's voice bidding her to sleep was the last thing she heard before the darkness took over.
...How was it? Is everyone still alive?! P.S. the name Stian means "swift" in Norwegian (or so the internet tells me...)