Hey everyone! Sorry for the lack of update. Took me a while, but its finished and it's long. Hope you all like the chapter. Review and tell me what you think! Also, I know that Marcel's story might not line up with the TV show's actual time line, but I like to make up my own :) sorry for any grammar mistakes! -Cheers!
"Marcel is dead?" Elijah gasps. "You're certain?"
"Well, we watched Klaus rip his heart out of his chest right in front of us," Damon's voice is dripping with contempt, "So yeah, pretty damn positive."
"Wait, when was this?" Bonnie enters the house, closing the door behind her. Their voices travel upstairs easily, breaking this peaceful cocoon of love and lovemaking we've created, tearing it in two. Klaus is across the room, doing up his belt on his dark washed jeans that hang perfectly on his hips. He glances up at me as the familiar voices fill the down stairs living room.
"Noooo..." I moan. Rolling over and burying my face in the feather duvet as I listen to my friends filter into the Michaelson house, rehashing the events of last night. Something Klaus and I had been able to put out of our minds for the remainder of the morning.
It's now noon, and I'm feeling exhausted and satisfied.
"Make them go away," I mumble into my pillow, pulling the quilt over my head, burying deep into the comfortable bed.
"I've lived in this town nearly three years Love, and I've never been able to do that. Despite my greatest efforts." Normally, a comment like this would earn him a pillow thrown at his head, or on a good day, a smile. But I can hardly attempt a half-hearted glare.
I peek out from the quilt in time to catch a quick glimpse of his glorious body before he pulls a black t-shirt over his head. I lift my head from the bed; admiring how he musses a hand through his hair, letting it stand up all crazy. Tugging at the neck of his shirt, I catch a peek of his ever present cross necklace, tangled with the long beaded one that falls into his shirt, across his chest.
And I watch while he searches for his shoes, sitting up a little so I can follow him with my eyes.
It should be illegal for someone to look this good in the morning.
And if I hadn't seen him undressed, I'm sure I would've sworn this is the most gorgeous he's ever looked.
"What?" Klaus stares back at me, amusement dancing in his eyes.
I shake my head, and shrug the best I can whilst propped up on my elbows.
"Nothing. You're just really hot." I sigh.
His eyebrows shoot up in surprise, and my hopes of holding back a smile are dashed. The look on his face is priceless.
He's by my side in half of a second, leaning down, he captivates my mouth with his. Bracing himself on the bed with his hands, he deepens the kiss, bringing himself to my level.
Good!
Earlier was torture. I'd never had to fight Klaus on the subject of sex. The uncertainty was brutal, and infuriating. I realise this is what it must have been like for him over the last few years. His attempts to seduce me, to love me, and my constant rejection.
I almost feel guilty...
Granting him access, his tongue explores mine, causing my head to spin with excitement. The guilt is quickly drowned by exhilaration.
"We buried the body, but who wants to bet he's not the only one that came to town." Stefan's words from downstairs slice through the moment like a hot knife.
Klaus's mouth breaks away from mine, leaving me with short breaths and a flushed chest. Quirking an eyebrow at me, he looks like a smug teenager.
"Now as much as I would like to stay in this bed, take advantage of your young, unrelenting, vampire sex drive—" I swat his arm and glare, but this only causes him to smile more, "There's a houseful of vampires who can hear us as easily as we can hear them..." he whispers the last few words.
Grabbing a fistful of his hair, I pull him down again, molding my mouth to his, arching into him.
"Mmmh...Who cares?" I murmurs against his mouth. He allows me control for just one more second.
"You will once you come to your senses." He says against my lips, slipping his hands around my waist; he pushes me into the bed, putting space between us.
I roll my eyes and he smirks.
Grabbing his jacket from where it was ditched on the floor last night, he exits the room, looking cool and collected. It's exasperating.
"He lives." I hear Damon grumble as Klaus enters the living room.
"What a pleasant surprise." Klaus shoots back dryly. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this unsolicited invasion?"
"Well your brother here heard through the grape-vine that you killed a good friend of yours last night." Damon continues. "In fact I think we'd all like a little run down of what happened last night."
Flipping the covers off my legs and go to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face, erasing any reminisce of yesterdays neglected make up from around my eyes, and patting my face and neck dry with a soft towel.
Grabbing my comfortable zip up hoodie, I slip into jeans and a tank top, pulling my arms through the too long sleeves of the sweater before slipping out of the room padding down the hall, the cool wood pricking my warm feet.
I cover a yawn with the back of my hand, and run my fingers through my tangled hair.
"Nice sex hair."
I groan.
"Good morning Rebekah."
"Good afternoon Caroline."
Sighing I drop my hands to my sides, and roll my eyes, before catching sight of her feet.
"I like your boots." I mumble, squinting at the expensive brown leather. Her eyes brighten slightly at this, and she looks down at her feet.
"Really? I was thinking of changing them."
I shake my head and turn to the staircase on my left.
"Don't change them, they're nice." I say, pausing for a second on the third stair. "And that's coming from me." I roll my eyes again, and look over my shoulder just in time to catch the smallest of smiles on her lips.
I continue down the stairs, tuning into the conversation.
"I don't know how you could be so reckless Niklaus. You seem to care for these people, yet incapable of keeping them from the crossfire's of your irresponsibility." Elijah sounds frustrated.
"You know for what it's worth. I hope my brother doesn't screw up things with you too quickly." Rebekah is next to me on the bottom stair now as I listen in on the conversation in the next room.
I look at her now; I feel my eyes grow wide with shock.
She scoffs, "I mean, as much as I hate you, it is nice having another girl around in the mornings."
Having another girl around in the mornings...
The conversation in the living room quiets down slightly as these words leaver her mouth.
I blink at her brazenness, she doesn't seem to register that what she has just said has any influence what-so-ever. Though it's not a secret Klaus and I are involved, it has never been put so plainly before. It feels almost... Normal?
Uncomfortably so.
I give her a quick, tight smile, before taking the last step, and entering the living room.
All eyes on me as I enter the room, having just rolled out of Klaus's bed, I feel weird having them all here like this. Like suddenly they're the guests, and I'm just... Not.
"Caroline," Elena is the first one to say anything. Standing from her seat next to the big windows, she crosses the room with urgency, and embraces me without hesitation.
"Hey," I sigh, feeling more at ease than I did a moment ago as I return her hug.
After a minute, she pulls away, holding me at arm's length, pinning me with a stern look.
"You scared the crap out of me," She sounds angry and worried and relived all at the same time. "Last night was just... Out of control." She shakes her head, pulling me into another crushing hug.
I lift my hands, and pat her shoulder soothingly, looking over her shoulder, I catch a look in Klaus's eyes that I recognize from last night. He looks tortured. He looks away, wandering over to the bar at the window, and pouring himself a mid-day drink.
"I'm fine," I assure her, pulling away, and taking another glance at Klaus, as he brings the liquor to his lips.
Shit.
"Caroline," His voice pulls my eyes away from his brother; Elena takes a step to the side so I look at him straight on. Elijah's eyes piercing mine with his intensity as he takes a few steps forward; hands behind his back.
I don't say anything. I'm not sure what it is I should say.
"I am relieved to hear the events of last night were not more severe," I nod once, seeing Klaus shoot a brief look over his shoulder at his brother from the corner of my eye. "From the few things my brother tells me, it seems a miracle you're here with us." His voice is calming, the way he talks about my near death experience, while also making me feel at ease is a talent I will never quite understand.
I nod again, still without words.
"Can someone please explain why this happened in the first place?" Damon sounds frustrated, standing from his place on the large sofa; he looks from Elijah, to me, to Klaus.
There's a long drawn out silence.
"Marcel was a young. A poor boy with very little to live for, and when he asked me to turn him, I refused." Klaus is looking at the drink in his hand as he speaks, his back turned to the room. Even with his guarded stance, each of us hangs on his every word.
"It seemed like too much to give. I was reluctant to show favor to any one person in the town, and the fact the change would bring him so much joy, made it all the more satisfying to say no. The knowledge of having that kind of leverage over another being was thrilling."
I blink at his back, this story bending my mind around each word and concept. Hearing about Klaus being so power hungry and cold... It's almost unbelievable.
But at the same time, not at all.
"It wasn't until the later 1940's that I granted his wish. He was grateful. He became a close ally, but a fierce enemy to whoever crossed him. It was a fascinating transformation to watch." Emptying the contents of his glass, he places it on the bar, moving it in small circles mindlessly.
"When I returned to New Orleans not long ago, I found him power hungry. He had found a way to manipulate the minds of each living person around him. The humans were obsolete, the witches powers muted... He was the ruler of the imprisoned world. He despised my influence in his town... It was quite satisfying really. Watching him squirm in my presence. Like old times...
"And then you, Elijah," There's a humorless chuckle in his voice that chills the air. "Come to me, and tell me he wants my return?" Turning now, his eyes burn into his brothers. "I knew this wasn't going to be a visit to talk about the good old days."
Elijah nods once, looking down to the floor as Klaus turns back to the bar, moving the glass again in small circles against the polished wood.
"His craving for the power he lacked grew when he learned of the Hybrids." He stops moving the glass, his entire body becomes still. "It was comical, his change of attitude towards the situation. His eagerness to return to the way things used to be was evident. He pleaded with me to stay, become a part of the city once again, and show him the way of creating sired hybrids at will."
We all remain still as we wait for more of the story, but when he doesn't continue, the silence becomes weighted and dark.
"I had the upper hand when I was once again allowed to refuse him something he wanted to desperately..." He continues, quieter now, "Renewing my sense of power, I withheld my partnership from Marcel, ignoring his threats against myself and the people I care for."
Turning now, he leans against the bar, his eyes capturing mine as he says the last words clearly. I look back, unable to pull my eyes from this intense stare. "Never taking seriously the threats of making me suffer the consequences of my selfishness." After just a moment, I'm released from this trance as he looks at Elijah.
I pull the memories from my visit to New Orleans to the front of my mind, trying hard to recall the details of the conversations I encountered in that short time...
"Your selfishness will be the death of you Klaus, I promise you."
The first words I ever heard from Marcel's mouth. Remembering how calm, and casual the two of them looked at the bar that night, seeing now how real their threats were to each other, even in such a public setting as that.
"I have some unfinished business with Niklaus."
"Seems he's perfected the art of creating hybrids, though he seems to have abandoned the art. I just... Have a few questions."
It's embarrassingly obvious. Though I don't remember being frightened of him at the time, I realise now, I had good reason to be.
"Last night was not out of character for Marcel." Elijah adds, shaking his head as he looks thoughtfully around the room. "From before he was turned, he was always brave, ruthless. Over time, this was magnified."
"He learned from the best." Rebekah spits, glancing at Klaus. Klaus only stares back, his eyes vacant and unnervingly steady.
"Okay, so how do we know that he didn't compel the entire town to come after you now?" Bonnie takes two strides towards Klaus, challenging him. "After Caroline?" She's angry.
He doesn't have an answer. No one does.
She sighs, narrowing her eyes at him, "I knew you would do this."
"Bonnie." Stefan's voice has warning in it.
"No I mean, come on!" She turns to me now, "He almost got you killed last night, are we all just going to pretend that wasn't his fault!? You heard the story, we all did. Can't you see?" Glaring over her shoulder at Klaus, "Hannah was right."
The room goes quiet.
"Hannah?" Elena questions, crossing her arms across her chest, looking between Bonnie and me.
Again, Hannah's words ring in my ears... "He will destroy you."
Bonnie just shakes her head, and with another sorrowful look my way, brushes past us. A second later, we hear her leave the house.
"Well you can't stay here." Damon interjects, breaking the fragile silence with the ever present edge in his voice.
"Why not?" I sound more defensive than I should, but I can't help it, my hands shake with nerves.
"Because if Marcel has a bunch of spiteful vampires brainwashed to kill you, you don't want to be living in a house that they can walk right into, now do you?" He shoots back.
I bite my lip, hating that he has a point.
"Well she can just go home." Elena shrugs, "None of them can get in there without being invited in."
"My mom," I shake my head, "I can't lure them to my mom's house. Even if they can't get in, is she just not supposed to leave the house ever? No. I can't lead them there."
"Well Barbie we don't have a lot of options here," Damon stands up, throwing his hands in the air. "Now's not the time to get picky."
"I can't put my mom in danger Damon, that's not an option!" I shoot back.
"Well you should've thought of that before you decided to shack up with the most hated man on the planet!"
I'm across the room, catching him so off guard it's almost easy to grab him by the neck, throwing him back against the wall. He catches himself in time that he doesn't cause damage to the house, but the look of surprise on his face shows that my defensiveness was not anticipated.
The room goes quite again, Damon staring back at me in shock.
"What about me?"
We all turn, not having heard the front door in the heated moment, the new voice surprises us all.
Matt is standing in the doorway of the living room, hands in his pockets, looking right at me.
"What?" I ask, turning to him now.
"What if you stayed with me?" Taking a few steps into the room, he shrugs, "Tyler gave me the deed to the house, its mind now. No one can get in without my OK."
I'm already shaking my head.
"Matt, no. I can't put you in that kinda of position. It would be just as dangerous for you. I could never forgive myself if something bad happened to you."
"Caroline," He takes another step towards me, putting his hands on my shoulders, and giving me his crooked grin. "I've lived in this town the past four years, and managed to stay alive this long... I think I can handle myself." He shrugs again, "Plus, it's not like I don't have backup," He nods around the room.
"Matt—"
"Caroline, it is the best option." Stefan steps in now.
I bite my lip, sighing heavily. Looking over his shoulder at Rebekah now, she has a worried look on her face. And I know it's not for me, but for Matt; it makes me feel uneasy all the same.
I sigh again, feeling ill.
"Fine." I nod, and Matt's hands drop from my shoulders.
"Then it's settled." Damon shrugs.
The tension in the room seems to dissipate as the decision is made. I turn back to an agitated looking Klaus, one hand in his pocket, the other holding the tumbler half full of the copper liquor. He's staring at me with a muted intensity that makes me feel hot all over.
I walk over to him, remove the whiskey from his hand, and drain the contents of it in one large swallow. It burns and my eyes water a little. This being the first thing I've consumed all day, it doesn't help with the nausea, but it seems to help with the nerves.