Hey readers! I can't believe I managed to get out an update this fast-and a long chapter at that! I am a bit anxious about this one for some reason, so I hope you enjoy it! Happy reading!

Disclaimer: As much as I wish I do so I could make a KC spin-off, I do not and will never own The Vampire Diaries or The Originals.

Chapter 13

Caroline had no idea how she made it back inside the castle and up to her room.

She was still processing what had just happened.

Klaus had kissed her.

On the cheek, true, but still…

She had never been kissed before. Thanks to one rather over-protective cousin.

She touched her cheek, still aware of the sensation of Klaus's strong, scruffy jaw gently scraping her skin before he pressed his soft lips against.

"Caroline? Where have you been?"

She jumped, whirling around to meet a concerned Bonnie walking briskly towards her down the hall.

"Hello, Bonnie, I'm sorry, I was out in the gardens—did you need something?" Caroline eyed the witch curiously.

"Yes, we have quite an amount of work to accomplish this afternoon," Bonnie replied, offering up her trademark smile. "The announcement of your engagement will be proclaimed at sunset in front of the court, followed by a dinner with the Council, both of which you will need to be present for."

Caroline groaned. An evening with the king and the rest of the Original family was bound to be disastrous. Bonnie chuckled.

"But first, Elijah is in charge of returning the rest of the candidates back to their homes. As the queen, you are welcome to choose a few ladies to stay with you here as your confidantes and ladies-in-waiting, if you so wish. But you must hurry—the carriages leave in an hour."

"Thank you, Bonnie." Caroline nodded her thanks. "I might have a few in mind already."

"Of course I'm accepting, how could I leave you in the castle all by yourself? Besides, now I don't have to pack my belongings."

Katherine threw herself at Caroline, as they both erupted into giggles.

"Have I told you lately how wonderful you are, Katherine Gilbert? Although something tells me you didn't stay for just me." Caroline raised her brow playfully.

"Caroline, you're being ridiculous. There is absolutely nothing going on between me and Elijah."

"Hmm." Caroline wasn't entirely convinced. Katherine had never actually told them what had happened on her little excursion with the older Original a few days ago. She would have to interrogate her on the subject later. "Well then, I need to go ask Elena and Lexi if they would like to stay here as well."

The two stopped by Elena's door, not bothering to knock.

"Caroline! We've been wondering where you were! Would you like some tea?" Elena asked her from her seat on the bed, Lexi at her side. A tray with a teapot and an array of pastries was beside them on the dresser, along with a few glasses of blood.

"We decided to have one last treat from the royal kitchens before we leave," Lexi added, taking a large bite out of one of the pastries. "Did you finish packing, Katherine?"

"No, because I'm staying here." Katherine grinned

"What?! Did Elijah ask you to?" Elena exclaimed, jumping up in shock.

"Why on earth is everyone bringing up Elijah today?" Katherine threw her hands out, exasperated.

Caroline chuckled. "Calm down, Elena. She's staying here because I asked her to. Apparently I'm allowed to have some ladies-in-waiting." She smiled at Elena and Lexi. "Would you both like to stay here with me as well?"

Elena stood up, coming towards Caroline with a sad smile. "You know I would love to stay and keep you company, Care…but I can't." She swallowed. "I've wanted to go home ever since we came here. There are some things that I can't leave behind," she spoke quietly.

"Stefan." Caroline whispered in understanding.

"Yes." Elena nodded. "That first day that he visited, he came to my room after he spoke with you…and he asked for permission to court me."

"He did? That rat, he never told me a thing about it!" Caroline laughed, shaking her head. "I take it you accepted?"

"Of course she did. She's been pining after him for the past year."

"Kat!" Elena exclaimed, smacking her twin playfully. "But yes, I did. And honestly, now that you are queen, I want to keep Stefan safe, in case anyone wants to exploit his connection to you."

"That is a masterful idea, Elena. I truly hadn't even thought of that before," Caroline mused, worry creasing her brow. She knew Stefan could hold his own against anyone, he was quite powerful after all, but one could never be too careful in Mystic Falls. Having a vampire around to protect him would certainly help her sleep better at night. "Although I don't plan on informing anyone that he's related to me. It's not safe."

"I agree," Lexi chimed in, standing next to Elena. "Which is why I'm going to go with Elena as well. Especially now that Katherine will be here with you, and I have really nowhere else to go." She glanced at Elena. "That is, if you want me to."

Elena squealed, launching herself at the blonde vampire. "I would love for you to stay with me!"

Katherine nodded gravely. "I'll be honest, I will feel much better knowing that you two and Stefan will be together to keep each other safe. Although I expect you all to visit us often," she threatened, wagging her finger at them.

Elena scoffed. "Of course we will. I know Stefan will want to ensure you are well, Caroline."

"He always was very protective of me. I doubt he'll be able to stay away for more than a few hours at a time," Caroline remarked dryly.

A loud knock interrupted their conversation. "Excuse me, miss, but the carriages are waiting." The servant's voice sounded muffled from outside the door.

"We shall be ready in a moment!" Lexi called out.

The four girls just stared at each other for a second, none of them wanting to make the first move.

"Well, I suppose this is farewell, for now at least," Caroline ventured, tearing up at the realization. "Oh, how I shall miss you both!"

"Yes, it is. But don't worry, we shall be back before you know it," Elena replied, eyes shining with unshed tears.

Caroline hugged each of them in turn. "Take good care of yourselves, and Stefan, please." She addressed Lexi, giving Elena and Katherine some space to say their own farewells.

Lexi nodded. "We will. You take care of yourself, too, Caroline. For the short time that I've known you, I sense your strength. You will be alright."

Caroline smiled back. "I surely hope you are right."

Bonnie had practically taken Caroline hostage as soon as Elena and Lexi had left the castle, informing her that she would now be living in her new chambers in the west wing of the castle, where the rest of the Original family lived. Katherine would be living in the same wing but a floor above Caroline, where court members stayed. It was a relief that Katherine would only be a short walk away—the closer their rooms were, the better.

They dropped Katherine off in her rooms to give her time to settle in before Bonnie whisked her away again. Fortunately, Caroline had only her small satchel to move from her old room, and soon enough Bonnie was leading her down to the marble staircase to the second floor, where they crossed over to the west wing. Recalling her encounter with Kol, Caroline glanced about the hallways somewhat nervously—after all, the vampire had attacked her once, however harmless he seemed. They met no one on their journey, however, and Bonnie soon stopped at a large set of double doors decorated with wrought gold filigree.

"Welcome to your new home, Caroline," Bonnie smiled as she produced a golden key and unlocked the doors. She threw them open, gesturing for Caroline to come inside.

"There are four rooms in all. The king took special care in arranging them for you," Bonnie stated, amused at the sight of Caroline with jaw dropped in wonder.

She could not have imagined more perfect chambers suited to her tastes and wildest fantasies. Chaises and sofas filled the enormous drawing room, with windows stretching to the ceiling, bookshelves filled with novels, and lovely paintings of green fields and crystalline lakes decorated the walls. Caroline even spied a magnificent harp in the corner. Silently, she moved on to the dressing room, where an intricately carved wardrobe stood against the far wall, flanked by a matching vanity and a huge full-length mirror. A beautiful blue chaise lounge was placed in the center of the room.

The adjoining washroom housed an immense clawfoot tub made of porcelain. An array of scented soaps, perfumed oils, and other cosmetics lined the shelves on the wall nearest the tub, along with a lovely blue silk robe hanging on a hook.

Caroline's eyes widened more if possible when she at last reached her new bedroom. The afternoon sunlight shone through the windows, beautifully enhancing the soft yellows and ivories of the silky sheets and drapes of the gilded four poster bed. A matching gilded desk sat in the corner with a cream-colored armchair, and two small bedside dressers flanked the bed. Above the hearth directly opposite the bed, Caroline caught sight of a painting. On closer inspection, she realized with no small surprise that it was the very painting of the stream on the grounds that had previously hung in the library—the one painted by none other than the king himself, which they had discussed when he had found her there the other day.

"Are your rooms to your liking?"

Stunned, Caroline wheeled around at the familiar accented voice.

There stood Klaus, handsome as ever, eyeing her with genuine curiosity. Bonnie was nowhere in sight, most likely having left without her knowledge.

She inwardly cursed her bad luck before pasting a small smile on her face.

"They are quite beautiful, your majesty. Thank you," she answered softly, walking over to the bed to run her hands along the gauzy silk sheets before turning to face him once more. "May I ask what you are doing here?"

"May a king not see his bride-to-be simply to gaze upon her beauty?" he smiled, his eyes wandering slowly up her form, taking in her modest pale yellow dress. She blended in perfectly with the colors of the room, the airy, glowing atmosphere making her appear almost angelic. Full of light.

She raised a challenging brow at him.

He shook his head in defeat. "I wanted to ensure that you feel comfortable here in your rooms—although I confess I am impatient for the day when you no longer need them as you will be warming my bed at night." Caroline opened her mouth, affronted, but he ignored her, smug grin still in place. "And I need to discuss a few things with you—alone."

Caroline nodded at him, still irritated at his earlier remark. If he thought that she would even consider joining him in his bed, he was sorely mistaken.

Klaus offered her his arm and after a brief hesitation, she took it. He led her back out into her drawing room, seating them both on one of the chaises.

"I see you haven't put on the bracelet I gave you," he remarked as he let go of her arm.

"As I might remind you, I cannot be bought," Caroline scolded, shifting further away from him on the chaise.

Klaus sighed. "What a shame. It was first worn by a princess almost as beautiful as you."

Caroline scoffed. "Is that so? Did you steal it from her after you drained her dry and ripped out her heart?" She knew she was provoking him, but she couldn't help herself. His presence was starting to grate on her nerves.

He merely chuckled. "Yes, actually. It belonged to Tatia—one of her family heirlooms, I believe. I pulled it off of her right after I killed her—it seemed such a waste to burn it along with her remains."

A wave of nausea swept through Caroline's stomach.

Of course. He had murdered his first wife in cold blood. What was worse was that he acted so...casual about it. It unnerved her.

She swallowed, not entirely sure how to proceed with this particular topic of conversation.

Klaus seemed to pick up on her discomfort, however, as he cleared his throat and abruptly changed the subject. "Now, back to business. I'm sure Bonnie has told you of the announcement of our engagement to the royal court tonight?" At Caroline's nod, he continued. "Good. There is one thing that you must do for me, however."

"Yes?" Caroline prompted.

He moved closer to her, capturing her cornflower blue eyes with his own. "You must not, under any circumstance, reveal your identity as a witch to anyone at court—including the Council and my siblings. The reaction would be…unpleasant, for all parties involved, were anyone to get wind of a witch on the throne. Do you understand me, Caroline?" he grasped her hand firmly, narrowing his gaze at her.

"I am not a dimwit, Klaus. I never had any intention on telling anyone—other than Bonnie and my friend Katherine, both of whom already know," she replied coolly, pulling her arm away.

"Fantastic." Klaus smirked at her. "Oh, and I have also arranged for Bonnie to tutor you in your magic in secret, in her rooms."

"Oh? And why would you want me to hone my skills? Isn't there a risk I might become powerful enough to put you in your place for good?"

It was the wrong thing to say.

Before she could even blink, Klaus was towering over her as he leaned down into her personal space, both hands on either side of her, trapping her against the sofa.

She gulped.

"Of course there's a risk, love," he said silkily, his breath fanning her cheek. "But far be it from me to suppress another's natural instincts and passions." One long finger reached out and stroked her cheek, caressing her jawline. "And I rather think it will be me putting you in your place if you don't watch that delightfully sharp tongue of yours. Are we clear?"

"Perfectly, my lord," she sneered, staring right back at him.

"Well then, my lady, if all is settled, I must go," he replied, planting a small kiss on her knuckles as straightened. "I'll see you later, sweetheart." He strode out of the room, the doors booming shut behind him.

Caroline slouched back into the chaise. The next time she saw him, it would be too soon.

To say that Caroline was nervous would be a gross understatement.

She swallowed nervously as she waited with Bonnie outside the entrance to the throne room.

The buzz of a myriad of voices emanated from inside the huge hall, which did nothing to calm the sickening feeling in her stomach.

In a few minutes, she would walk into that crowd of court members and high-born citizens to be presented as the future queen of Mystic Falls.

Klaus and the rest of the Council had already taken their places inside at the far end of the throne room, where they sat in seats of silver, flanking the two large thrones of gold and red velvet reserved for the king and queen. While she had changed into the beautiful blue dress she had worn to the ball—Bonnie had insisted she wear it, as there was a chance that more people would recognize her—the witch explained to her that Elijah would make some opening remarks before he would call her forth to present her to the court.

"It looks as though Elijah is finished welcoming everyone." Bonnie's low whisper brought Caroline back to the present. "Now you need to wait for him to say your name."

Caroline nodded, absently stroking her mother's necklace, and concentrated on Elijah's speech.

"It is with great joy that I present to you standing here today the candidate who will soon be crowned queen of Mystic Falls," Elijah's calm voice began. "My brother has vouched for her as a woman possessing not only a lovely countenance, but a generous heart and a loyal spirit. I am sure that she will uphold the statutes upon which our beloved city is founded and rule by my brother's side with integrity." He paused for dramatic effect. Caroline held her breath. "I now call forth the Lady Caroline Forbes, your queen-to-be, to be presented to the court."

With a small nudge and a "Good luck!" from Bonnie, the guards drew open the oaken doors, and Caroline came face to face with hundreds of curious eyes peering up at her.

Composing her racing heart and pasting a bright smile on her face, she stepped forward, hesitantly at first, and then more confidently as she made her way down the scarlet carpet that lead straight to the dais. She was vaguely aware of the increase murmurings around her as she walked with her head held high, but she could scarcely focus on anything other than the dimpled grin and blue eyes twinkling down at her from his seat on the throne.

In a roomful of strangers, his smile put her at ease.

Gradually, her fake smile melted into a much more genuine expression.

As she reached the throne, she recalled her instructions to curtsy before ascending the stairs to the throne. However, she had not even bent her knees an inch before Klaus was suddenly standing right in front of her, gently tugging both of her hands up to his lips, where he placed a soft kiss, his dark blond hair glinting from the candlelight of the crystal chandeliers.

Warmth rushed through her at his public display of respect. Not to be outdone, she finished sinking into her deep curtsy, tilting her head downward, before Klaus once again tugged her hands upward, placing her left arm in his and leading her up the stairs. They turned around to face the crowd, and Caroline's awestruck mind could faintly make out Elijah's cry of "Lady Caroline Forbes!" before the hall erupted into thunderous applause, whistles and cries of her name ringing out from the many cheering faces before her, a melodious blare of trumpets piercing through the noise from the heralds at either side of the dais.

She trembled. Her doubts nagged at her mind, her insecurities about leading all of these people—soon to be her people—flooding back. I don't think I can do this.

She felt a warm pressure on her hand, followed by calloused fingers slipping their way and interlocking with her own. Glancing surreptitiously to her left, she caught Klaus's eye. She barely caught his wink before he turned back towards the crowd, his grip never ceasing as they continued to stare out over the crowd.

Unconsciously, she shifted closer to him, drawing strength from the seemingly endless aura of confidence and power he exuded. Eventually, she found herself tightening her fingers around his in return, her natural tenacity returning.

Where there's a will, there's a way.

Caroline had hardly recovered from the announcement of her coronation before it the court had dispersed and Klaus had spirited her away to her first dinner with the Council.

Her anxiety ratcheted up again when she remembered the rumors surrounding members of the Council and tales of their horrific deeds that spread down in the city, Rebekah's cruel jabs at her from the ball coming to the forefront of her memory. She wished rather than believed that the rest of the Council would be polite and respectful.

There was only one way to find out.

"I must say Nik, your taste in women has increased tremendously since Tatia. Caroline, darling, you look simply ravishing."

"Leave it, Kol," came Klaus's hissed threat. Caroline giggled as a slightly inebriated Kol bowed dramatically before her, swaying dangerously. He smelled strongly of ale.

"It's a pleasure to see you again, my lord Kol," she answered politely.

"Now, now, Caroline, you must call me simply 'Kol' from now on—we are to be family soon enough! Although I do apologize that you are most unfortunately not betrothed to the most handsome Mikaelson," he smirked at her, dark eyes crinkling with mischief.

Noticing Klaus's continuous glare, Caroline smothered her laughter. "We shall have to agree to disagree in that particular belief, Kol," she answered with a straight face, noticing the flash of surprise on Klaus's face that quickly melted into smug satisfaction.

"You wound me, Caroline," Kol stated indignantly. "I have never met a lady who thought Nik more good looking than I—why even our sister—Rebekah!" he shouted, catching sight of the blonde vampire sauntering into the family dining room where they stood. He made a show of smoothing his hair, flashing her a bright, feral smile. "Tell me how handsome I am."

"Oh Kol, you know I can't be compelled," she sneered in return, brushing past him to her seat.

Kol wrinkled his nose at her amid Klaus's bark of laughter and Caroline's thinly-veiled snorts.

"Be warned, Bekah, you shall pay for that," he threatened, throwing himself carelessly into his own chair.

Still chortling, Klaus took Caroline's arm and led her towards the head of the table, pulling out a chair to the right of his own seat. She muttered her thanks as she settled in, her bright blue eyes absorbing the sheer opulence of the room and the feast artfully arranged on the table before her. Her mouth watered at the array of edible delicacies, the smell of roast chicken tickling her nostrils.

A clamor of voices from the doorway, followed by their owners, soon wrested her attention away from the food.

A woman with striking green eyes and red hair that shone like copper entered first, on the arm of a tall, grey-eyed man with dark hair similar to Kol and Elijah. Prince Finn and his wife Sage, she assumed. Elijah entered with his usual air of quiet power, and she caught the familiar smirk of Damon, who was conversing with a stranger.

Her interest was piqued. She had never seen him around the castle before. He had dark skin, an easy smile, and prowled with a feline grace.

She was suddenly reminded of Klaus—the same charming demeanor, the same aura of raw power exuded from both of them.

"Ah, brothers, Sage! Come to meet the lovely Caroline, have you?" Kol exclaimed, giving a sly wink in her direction. Her lips twitched in amusement. One thing she had learned about Kol—there was never a dull moment around him.

"I'm afraid I already beat you to it, Kol," Elijah replied as he smiled graciously at Caroline, raising her knuckles to his lips once he reached her.

"We, however, have not yet had the pleasure," the red-headed woman smiled. Not wanting to appear rude, Caroline hastily stood and sank into a respectful curtsy.

"Caroline, this is my brother Finn and his wife Sage," Klaus's voice suddenly sounded from her side, his hand gently caressing the small of her back, urging her to rise. The gesture was not unwelcome, as it inexplicably soothed Caroline's nerves for the moment.

"It's an honor to meet you," Caroline spoke up quietly.

"The pleasure is all ours," Sage returned kindly. Finn nodded his agreement, looking at her with an expression of polite interest before they moved aside.

Damon met her next, smirking at her. "My lady Caroline." He bowed. "I do hope you are strong enough to stomach the inevitable chaos and general pettiness surrounding the Mikaelson family. Quite a demanding bunch, they are."

Klaus chuckled, although Caroline felt him pull her more securely into his side, his hand settled firmly on her hip.

"I believe I will rise to the occasion, my lord," she replied sweetly.

"I expect nothing less." Still smirking, Damon spun on his heel towards his place.

"Well, well. You've certainly picked a beauty, Klaus." A suave voice rumbled. Caroline's gaze snapped up, meeting the face of the stranger, his white teeth glimmering in a smile.

"Marcel," Klaus acknowledged, clapping a hand onto the man's shoulder. He turned back to her. "Caroline, meet Marcel—captain of the guard."

"A pleasure, my lady," Marcel bowed gracefully, his dark brown eyes alight with mirth. "Klaus is a lucky man indeed to have caught the likes of you." His gaze swept over her. Caroline felt a cold shiver pass through her. Did she imagine it, or was there something oddly sinister about him?

Recovering herself, she forced a smile, but remained silent. Fortunately, Marcel had already turned his back on her before she could think of a coherent reply.

Dinner finally began after they had settled around the table. Still rather overwhelmed at the wide selection of food, some of which she had never seen before, Caroline piled a little bit of each dish on her plate and tucked in.

It wasn't long before the questioning began.

"So, Caroline, where are you from?" Damon asked her, lips quirked into a curious half-smile.

"I am a native of Mystic Falls. The southern half." She knew she would have to choose her answers cautiously. Unconsciously, she fingered her mother's necklace.

"What a beautiful necklace," Sage commented, noticing her fidgeting. "Where did you get it?"

As she couldn't very well give a truthful answer, Caroline wracked her brains frantically for a second. "Thank you; it's actually my daylight talisman," she lied easily. "I procured it from a witch."

Marcel whistled. "You must have paid a pretty price for a spell of that caliber. Witches can be very stingy when it comes to daylight rings and the like." He leered at her. "Unless you used more violent methods to obtain it."

Caroline shrugged, internally furious at his jab towards her people. "I didn't steal it, if that's what you're implying," she responded simply.

Beside her, Klaus was smirking, no doubt entertained at her web of deceit. She deliberately ignored him, popping a plump raspberry into her mouth.

Elijah took the ensuing pause to change the subject. "Niklaus, have you had a chance to inform Caroline of the wedding arrangements?"

"I fear it may have slipped my mind, brother," Klaus drawled. She raised an inquiring brow at him. He elaborated. "The wedding and coronation are set for a week from today."

She nearly dropped her fork, gaping at him. "A week? So soon?"

"It is really my fault, Caroline," Finn interjected, sipping at his goblet of wine. "There have been rumors of unrest among the vampire community in the south of France. It seems there have been a few werewolf attacks, possibly by an entire pack. As an ambassador of sorts for the Council, I must leave here as soon as possible with Sage to investigate."

"And we wouldn't miss the wedding for the world, so we decided to postpone our journey by a few days and hold the wedding sooner," Sage finished, rather apologetically.

"Besides, I'm sure between yourself and Rebekah the planning won't take very long," Klaus added smoothly, glancing over at his sister, who had yet to participate in the conversation. Rebekah simply shrugged carelessly, but Caroline noted the venomous glare the other blonde directed at her. She swallowed nervously. "I wasn't aware that I would be helping to plan the ceremony."

"Oh, there's no need. It might be too overwhelming a task for you, and we wouldn't want you to overexert yourself, now, would we?" Rebekah said sweetly, poison lacing her tone. "I can handle the work by myself."

Caroline felt her stubbornness rear its head at the veiled challenge. If Rebekah doubted her capabilities, well, she had another thing coming.

"Actually, I would be very happy to help out with planning the wedding. But thank you, Rebekah, for your kind consideration," She replied cheerfully. "I'm sure we will have a wonderful time getting to know one another."

She felt a twinge of fierce triumph at Rebekah's sour expression. She sensed that trading insults with the Original sister would be her favorite form of entertainment in her new home. Serves her right, for all the humiliation she caused me at the ball.

The rest of the dinner proceeded in much the same manner, talk of the upcoming wedding and coronation interspersed with witty remarks made by an intoxicated Kol. Throughout the chatter, Caroline began to notice more and more that both Damon and Marcel had their eyes set on her—the former with a curious, almost knowing expression, the latter with intense interest. It bothered her to no end, and she made a point to avoid the two vampires as much as possible.

Caroline had just laid down her fork after having satisfied her hunger, when Klaus addressed the others from his place beside her, still sipping on his wine.

"Is everyone ready for dessert? I'm in need of a much more potent drink."

He snapped his fingers lazily. Immediately, nine servants walked into the room, their eyes glassy and unfocused.

She froze. They've been compelled.

Before her horrified mind could process what was happening, it was too late. The human servants took up a position next to those seated, and with a mechanically synchronized motion, slit their wrists over the empty crystal goblets, the blood oozing from their wounds.

But it didn't end there.

The sickening sound of torn human flesh and the scent of fresh blood assaulted her sense, her whole body tensing at the sight of the entire Council feeding straight from the servants' wounded wrists. It was eerily quiet, the faces of the humans contorted in fear, some with mouths open in a silent scream, and yet they could not struggle.

She felt her stomach churning violently.

"Are you quite alright, Caroline? Is she not to your taste?" Elijah's voice sounded very distant.

"N-no, my lord," she stuttered, abruptly jumping to her feet. "I fear I am terribly exhausted from the day's events," she explained hurriedly, faltering when she caught sight of the king beside her. Veins sprouted around his glittering golden eyes, double fangs exposed in all their bone-white, feral glory. Unlike the others, he had pulled his serving girl into his lap, his hands tilted her neck to the side, his lips hovering over her neck.

The sight was terrifying, but she couldn't quite tear her gaze away, mesmerized. Unbidden, a jolt of heat ripped through her.

His predatory gaze never straying from hers, all of a sudden he sank his teeth into the girl's neck, a few stray drops of blood escaping, staining his lips.

Instantly, she snapped out of her daze, only one idea ringing through her.

Run.

"Please excuse me, I need to rest," she managed to choke out in what she hoped was a neutral tone, before she spun on her heel and left, praying that she had raised no suspicions. The tears stung at her eyes and burned down her cheeks. Those poor, innocent people, treated as if they were nothing, no better than cattle led to the slaughter. Her fingers twitched, fairly itching to turn right back around and stop the utter cruelty with a few well-chosen spells. She bit back a scream of frustration, knowing that she was helpless. It would do no good to expose herself to the Council. She would be dead before she could even blink. Still, it might be worth it just to give them a taste of the pain they were currently inflicting on others.

"Caroline."

That damnable, lilting voice.

She kept on walking. "Leave me be. I need to rest," she repeated, ignoring him.

"Caroline, listen to me—"

"No, you listen to me!" She cried out, turning to face him. "I wish to make one thing perfectly clear. I may have agreed to marry you, but I will never see you as anything other than a monster who terrorizes the innocent and causes destruction."

Her back hit the wall, strong hands nearly crushing her forearms. "We're vampires, sweetheart. It's how we survive—or did you conveniently forget that little detail?" he hissed harshly. "I won't change who I am for the sake of your own comfort." A trickle of blood dripped over his chin, his vampiric features still on display.

Her tears flowed more freely, fueled by her fury. "You may need blood to survive, but you could at least heal them with your blood afterwards or—something!" she retorted, defiantly.

"You know, you are quite fetching when you're angry, love." Klaus smirked at her, although his face flashed with a warning.

She did not appreciate his change in tactics.

"Do not try to change the subject! Do you really think your charm would make me forget who you really are—what you've done? You've slaughtered thousands of people, and for what? To make yourself feel more powerful? To control people's lives? You have no right to cast away people like they don't matter!" she ranted wildly, hands pushing on his chest.

His face darkened. He blurred away, returning instantly with the serving girl he had been draining. He held her in front of him, the blood still visible from the fang marks on her neck. Caroline's blood went cold.

"I have every right! I am the king!" he bellowed, his eyes as fiery as molten gold. He lowered his voice dangerously, moving his head closer to the girl's neck, until there was barely an inch of space between his fangs and her skin. "People quake with fear at the sound of my name because I have the power to make them afraid. I've wandered this cursed earth for centuries, learning all of its secrets. I have the power to raze cities to the ground and to build them back up again in my image. If there's one thing that I have learned in my existence, it is that the lives of humans are fleeting, a mere flicker of light in the fires of time. Why is one meager life so important in the grand scheme of things?" he finished in a low voice.

Caroline didn't answer at first. She averted her eyes, the labored breathing of both the girl and the enraged hybrid before her the only sound.

She raised her eyes. "Because everyone deserves the chance to experience the world and what it has to offer…and because they have people who love them."

He stepped back slightly, scoffing. "Love." He spat the word out scornfully. "Love is for fools."

She raised her chin. "Then call me foolish, you majesty, for I believe it to be the greatest power one can possess." She stepped forward, closing the distance he had just put between them. His mouth was set into a thin line, his body tense, hands still holding the servant up in front of him. In a fit of courage and honesty, she continued on. "You may attempt to charm yourself into my good graces to your black and twisted heart's content, but know this: if you persist in murdering and torturing in cold blood those who are innocent, you will never have my heart."

The hands that had set fire to her skin and held her so delicately moved with a brute force, the sickening snap of a broken neck echoing in the hall.

She gasped, stumbling towards the lifeless body spread out on the stone floor, the girl's limbs sticking out at odd angles.

"Oh god…no…no, no, no!" she whimpered, cradling the head of the poor servant in her hands.

She bowed her head, sobs wracking her body for this innocent human whom she didn't even know.

She felt the guilt coursing through her. She should have never provoked Klaus, even if what she spoke was the truth.

And now…death had struck because of it.

Someone had just lost a daughter, a sister, a friend…all because of the murderous impulse of the Original hybrid and his need to prove a point.

When she looked up at last, the corridor was empty, the torchlight casting an eerie glow over the corpse in her hands.

Her heart hardened in bitter sorrow.

I will never forgive him.

Stefan trudged the narrow streets of Mystic Falls, taking his daily route to the gates of the city as he was due to begin his night-watch shift. The rapidly fading rays of the evening sun cast a dim light on the walls as he reached his destination, touching a fellow guard on the shoulder to exchange places.

"You hear the news? Looks like the king's got himself a shiny new queen to play with. I only hope she lasts longer than the first," his comrade remarked, nodding his head at Stefan in both greeting and farewell.

Stefan hummed in agreement and watched the man disappear into the growing darkness, internally wincing at the subtle barb at Caroline.

He breathed in deeply, rubbing his temples.

It had been quite a day. The announcement of Caroline's impending coronation and marriage that had spread like wildfire throughout the city that day had put a spring in his step. A sense of peace filled his mind, as the vision he had harbored no longer weighed so heavily on his mind. Caroline would be alright.

Still, his protective instinct over his young cousin engendered constant worry in him.

If only he could manage to be reassigned to a position at the castle so he could be closer to her. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if something were to happen to her there. After all, he had had a hand in putting her at the palace in the first place.

"Brooding again? Some things never change, Stefan."

Stefan tensed, his hand instantly gripping his sword that hung from his belt.

He would know that voice anywhere.

"Damon," he acknowledged carefully, taking in the brilliant blue eyes and sweeping raven locks of the vampire before him.

Damon chuckled, coming towards him until they stood mere feet apart. "It's been a while, little brother. I haven't seen you since our little encounter in that seedy tavern a few years back." He smirked, and stepped closer. "I'm sure you've deduced why I'm here to see you."

Stefan shrugged, affecting a casual air. "Actually, I have no idea why you're here, Damon, but I'm sure you have no hesitation in enlightening me."

Damon laughed. "Playing coy, I see. Alright, brother, I'll play along." He cocked an eyebrow. "I've just come from an evening spent meeting our newest queen—a tedious ceremonial dinner with the Council, the usual. Imagine my surprise when I learn the little blonde beauty's name. Caroline Forbes—cheerful, naïve human from the southern district of Mystic Falls." He narrowed his gaze. "Quite a coincidence, a girl from our home district sharing our mother's last name."

Stefan swallowed at his brother's glare, but said nothing.

"I believe you owe me an explanation, little brother."

Stefan gazed steadily at his elder brother. Damon, his impulsively wild, estranged sibling. They only crossed paths every few years or so, neither one keen on seeing the other. Ever since Damon had run away and willing turned into a vampire to spite their father and consequently bringing shame on the Salvatore family, Stefan had been at odds with him. To break the laws of nature and turn against everything the magical community stood for was a grave offense, and Giuseppe had disowned Damon on the spot. Twenty years later and Damon had become almost unrecognizable from the caring elder brother he had grown up with and loved dearly.

It was nearly too late to repair their relationship now, no matter how much Stefan wished for his brother's redemption.

"She's our cousin, Damon," he admitted quietly, eyeing him intently for his reaction to the news. Damon had left a few years before Caroline's birth, and therefore he had never known of her existence—until now, that is.

A low whistle escaped Damon. "So Uncle William and Aunt Elizabeth's magic potions and prayers to the spirits finally worked in their favor. Took them long enough." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Stefan noted with some trepidation the mischievous glint in his soulless eyes. "I wonder what the rest of the Council would do if they knew that a witch walked among them."

"Damon, listen to me, you cannot expose Caroline, do you understand? She's our family."

Damon rolled his eyes. "Relax, Stef. I won't touch her—not that Klaus would let anyone near her, to be frank. He's not one for sharing on a good day, but he has reached a new level of possessiveness with her. I assume Klaus knows about her heritage?"

"Yes, and so does Bonnie Bennett—but no one else can know. She's so young, and you know as well as I do what would happen to her if someone like Marcel or Prince Kol found out." He stared at him for a second, making an internal decision. "Will you keep an eye on her for me? For old times's sake?" he added, hoping against hope that Damon would listen to him.

The vampire considered his request, tilting his head to the side thoughtfully. "Hmmm, a new chore for me to do. What's in it for me?"

"The satisfaction of knowing that you are doing the right thing," Stefan replied bluntly.

"Still harping on about redeeming me and wanting me to change for the better?" Damon scoffed, shaking his head. "It's too late for that, Stefan, and we both know it."

"Alright. Then I will owe you a favor of the magical variety—provided it doesn't harm or kill innocents or upset the balance of nature."

He knew he had won—even Damon couldn't pass up the opportunity of a free spell. After all, witches were scarce.

Damon let a mock gasp. "I'm shocked—Stefan Salvatore working for the dark side? What is this world coming to?"

"Do we have a deal, or not?"

Damon dropped his smile. "Fine. Deal—but don't expect me to be following her around all day like a lovesick puppy," he warned, extending his hand. Stefan grasped it firmly, shaking it twice.

"Certainly not. It might ruin your shining reputation," Stefan retorted mildly, the shadow of a smile gracing his face.

Damon barked out a laugh at that. "I like this. You and me, joining forces in a tentative alliance after all these years."
"Well we can only hope it will last," Stefan agreed. He coughed after a brief silence crept between them. "Now, did you have any spells in mind, or shall I come back later?"

A smirk spread over Damon's face. Clapping his brother on the back, he grinned. "I'm sure I can think of something."

Wow, that chapter went a bit darker than I intended...but woo-hoo Defan has finally come into play! Also Marcel! As always let me know what you think, I love reading your reviews! Until next time! (Oh and feel free to follow me on the great website of Tumblr at klarolinessecondbreakfast)