A/N: Has it been like a little over a week? Wow. I must really have inspiration.
Thanks to Annie (DarkDickens) for the betaing and getting it to me so fast when I spontaneously decide to go on a writing spree lol.
Also, thanks to everyone who fave, alerted, and reviewed. Your enthusiasm really helps me write, so thanks!
Warning: this chapter involves graphic depictions of violence
Tossing and turning between her soft sheets, Caroline opened her eyes, staring at the dark, oak night stand beside her bed. Locked away in the drawer, she had stored the file she took from the nurse's office inside. Part of her wanted to burn the piece of furniture to the ground, so she wouldn't have to be haunted by remembering that she was an abomination. The other part craved to know the darkest parts of herself, despite what her mind told her.
As light seeped through the curtains in her room, she sat up, not even needing to wait for her alarm to go off since she didn't even sleep. She hopped in the shower and then got dressed, wearing her regular school uniform in her usual Carolinesque way. Adding plenty splashes of vibrant color to the mundane dark and navy uniform. Her hair framed her face, letting her elegant spiral curls cascade down her back.
Caroline turned to Elena's bed, noticing that it had already been made and that her roommate must have slipped out when she was in the shower.
She released a sigh of relief. Last night Caroline had to sneak into the room once Elena had passed out. She honestly didn't know what she would have done if Elena was still awake and ready a second round. Another reason for Caroline not being able to sleep last night was Elena. She had heard her heart beat pounding against her ears, imagining what could happen if she let Elena get the jump on her.
The blonde pulled her door open and strode down the hall, trying to beat the early morning crowd that usually occupied the halls. If she had it her way, no one would even dare to let their stare linger too long.
She started for the cafeteria in search of breakfast, until she rounded the corner, nearly colliding with the person on the other side. "Oh, my God! Sorry! It's my fault-" Caroline's eyes widened. "Elena? I didn't see you leave this morning-" As she continued to stare at Elena, noticing her dark, shiny curls and the sultry make up that painted her face, her heart slowed as she realized who she had actually run into. "You're the twin. Katherine Pierce."
"Caroline, isn't it? You're brighter than you look." Katherine folded her arms over her chest, giving Caroline a nod of approval. "Which makes me question your choice in friends. Elena Gilbert? Really?"
Caroline attempted to step to the side, but Katherine was determined to keep the human cornered. "Are you going to kill me or let me go?"
"Why does everyone always ask that?" Katherine asked, innocently.
Caroline glared at the dark-haired beauty.
Katherine smirked at the death glare Caroline directed at her. "Why can't we have a little chat? A girl can never have enough friends."
"A girl can choose her friends wisely," Caroline bit out.
"Which still doesn't explain your 'friendship' with Elena," Katherine pointed out.
"Why do you care so much about who I'm friends with?" Caroline inquired.
"I like to know about the people at my school." Katherine readjusted her position, so she stood beside Caroline. "Walk with me."
Caroline rolled her eyes and walked with Katherine in the direction of the cafeteria. "What's it like…? Knowing you betrayed your own flesh and blood."
Katherine halted, turning her head slowly, as if her body were a corpse. "Is that what sweet little Elena told you? That's rich coming for her." Caroline furrowed her brows in confusion. "If anyone was betrayed by their own flesh and blood, it's me, not her."
"What do you mean?"
"Maybe you should ask Elena that, since you guys are so close." Katherine grinned. "You know, I was like you once. I was afraid of this school when I first got here. I thought since Elena was my sister that we'd at least have each other's back, but I was wrong. The only way you survive at Castlewall Academy is to play the game. The game is survival and you don't make it to the other side the same way you came in, but you survive anyway. You leave any traces of weakness behind and you come out strong."
"You mean stronger?" Caroline raised an eyebrow.
"No, Caroline. I mean you become strong," Katherine stated.
Caroline wasn't sure whether Katherine meant that she was weak before, or she was referring to something entirely different. Either way, she pushed the thoughts out of her mind. "Did you just ambush me to badmouth Elena? Because I really do not need more people telling me how to feel."
"I'm here because you need my help."
"Funny, I don't recall asking for it," Caroline quipped.
Katherine placed a hand on Caroline's shoulder, stopping her footwork. "Believe me, Blondie. Eventually, you're gonna wish you had." Caroline gulped, sensing the threatening tone in Katherine's voice. "Elena clearly got inside your head and messed up your game, so allow me to clear the board for you."
Caroline scoffed. "How can you talk about our situation like it's some stupid board game? This is life and death."
"Life is a game, Caroline," Katherine told her. "There are only two kinds of people here: pawns and royalty. You just have to choose which one you wanna be."
With that, Katherine sauntered into the cafeteria, smirking as the student body paused to watch her grace them with her presence. Caroline watched in awe, her heart clenching when she saw Katherine take her seat at the table in the center, in front of the stunning fountain.
Rebekah dragged her eyes back and forth between the blonde standing in the hall and the brunette making her way to the table. "What were you doing with Caroline Forbes?"
Klaus's ears twitched at the familiar name, and his head snapped up to face the two girls.
Katherine slid into the table beside Rebekah, a cherubic smile on her red lips. "I was introducing myself to the new girl. She thought I was Elena." She grimaced at the thought.
"You seemed a tad too friendly, don't you think?" Rebekah asked.
"I think the hottie's got fire in her, and you know how I love to play with fire." Katherine smiled devilishly. "Klaus, what do you think?"
Klaus's eyes flicked over to the tantalizing blonde who had chosen an empty table to eat her breakfast. His face hardened at the sight. Someone as divine as Caroline deserved to have people surrounding her, worshiping her existence. This wasn't her, having to isolate herself from the rest of civilization, he could feel it from the moment he'd set his eyes on her.
He was pulled out of his stupor at the feeling of Rebekah tugging on his blazer. He opened his mouth to scold his sister when his eyes landed on a less than appealing face. He had previously compelled some of the humans that would follow them around to bring him a boy named Jared. At the party last night, an intoxicated Jared thought it would be hilarious if he stole Klaus's solid gold necklace and take a video and then send it to Klaus.
Well, at least someone would get a laugh out of what was about to happen...
Klaus jumped out of the enclosed space between Kol and Rebekah, making his way to the other side of the table. He sat on top of the table, and watched his boys drop Jared at his feet, still in a mildly, groggy state. "Morning, Jared."
"Klaus... I'm sorry," Jared stammered.
"No, you're not... but you will be." Klaus flashed him a demented grin. He gestured for the boys to pin Jared down against the table, restraining all his limbs against the smooth marble table. Jared cried out, begging for mercy, but it only caused the crowd's excitement to increase. "Jared, have you ever heard of Hammurabi's code? An eye for an eye... brilliant man, by the way."
Klaus reached his hand out to his brother, Kol, who jovially placed two sharp butcher's knives in it. He stood over Jared's body, scraping the lethal edges against one another to sharpen them, with mirth in his eyes. Jared whimpered; Klaus grinded the knives against each other so hard, Jared swore he saw sparks pass through objects. "I'm not going to kill you, Jared, because I consider you a mate, but you stole from me, so I'm going to have to take your hand now."
Jared violently thrashed as Klaus set one knife on the marble table and used his other hand to expertly twirl the other one in his hand. Klaus's eyes rested on Jared's right hand, raising the knife high. "Put on a good show, mate. The crowd loves a screamer."
Klaus threw the knife down.
"Stop!"
Jared moaned when he felt the blade slice through his skin, blood dripping down his wrist. Klaus paused his motions just before he broke through Jared's bone.
Klaus knew that voice, and when he turned to see the enraged blonde standing in front of him, he was still stunned. "Caroline. What can I do for you?"
She couldn't believe that he had nerve to make pleasantries at a time like this. She had to give him credit though; he may be insane but at least he had manners. "What the hell? I get that you're a mass murderer and you own it, but come on, this is extreme, even for you. I mean, Hammurabi's code? What is this? 2300 B.C?"
"Actually, love, Hammurabi's code began 2400 B.C," Klaus smirked.
Caroline narrowed her eyes at his smug face, going toe to toe with him. "Let him go."
"I'm afraid I don't take orders from anyone, love. Unlike some people..." There was something about Caroline that just made his blood pump harder and his body burn hotter. Every little thing she did made his heart pound, and every piece of venom she spit out thrilled him.
Caroline felt her face turning a scorching red. She could feel her control slipping away as she stared back into his blithe expression. All she could think about was pouncing on him like a caged beast being freed after six years of imprisonment.
No one tries to humiliate her, especially not him.
"I don't take orders from anyone," Caroline assured him. "I was open to suggestions before, but that's over now. From the second I got here, people have been whispering in my ears, pressuring me, manipulating me with their stories about who the good guys and the bad guys are, and I'm sick of it! Everyone wants me to choose a side, but I'm not gonna play your game. I'm playing my own. I choose to rise up and be on my own side."
Everyone in the room stared in awe, taken completely off guard at Caroline's daring announcement.
Klaus felt a mixture of anger and admiration. He'd known there was something about her since the day they met, and here she was proving him right. There was no doubt she was born to rule; she had everyone in sight under her spell and she was a mere human, which fascinated him even more. However, her little stunt was simultaneously defying his authority to punish Jared, and he would not have that. "I have no doubt you'll succeed."
Rebekah's eyes widened at her brother. She had expected him to slap the little strumpet or at the very least laugh, but he looked at her with approval like he was ready to carry her to her throne.
"Jared stays with me, Caroline," Klaus declared. "Despite what you say, he won't be free from me until I have his hand."
"Why do you always have to prove that you're a monster? It's like the daily beatings and the blood soaked walls aren't enough for you to convince people to fear you," Caroline snapped. "What more do you want, Klaus? Do you want us to get on our knees and kiss your feet? Will it be enough then?"
Klaus growled. "At least I embrace who I am. I like who I am, Caroline, and I get the feeling that you do too, but the morality that's been instilled in you has you frightened of who you are. You have power, but you refuse to use it. You have urges, but you ignore them. You have choices, but you take the safe route."
Caroline glared at him, clenching her fists tighter with every word that escaped his lips. She loathed that it felt like he was reading her like a book. "You're right. I have all those things."
She abruptly yanked Jared's body away from the boys that had him pinned against the table. The guys were shocked by her sudden actions as they lost their grip on the boy.
Jared accidentally stumbled against Caroline as he was pulled forward. One hand held onto her shoulder for balance while the other slid down her slim back until his large hand gripped her firm bum. He pressed his groin against her, leaning in for a wet kiss.
Caroline's anger flared intensely, and punched Jared in the nose, hearing a crack at the contact. Before Jared could bring his hands up to his face to stop the blood from flowing out, Caroline instinctively reached for the second butcher's knife that Klaus had left on the table. She pressed the hand that had grabbed her ass against the table, and struck his wrist until the table was splattered with crimson and Jared's right hand laid an inch away from where his arm ended.
Jared fell to his knees, sobbing as he cradled his bleeding wrist to his chest.
Caroline let the knife slip through her fingers back onto the table. Her hand began to tremble as drops of warm blood coated her ivory fingers. She looked from the dead hand, to Jared, to Klaus.
Klaus had a nefarious smirk placed on his face as he watched Caroline. That wasn't remorse on her face, but fear, fear of herself. The facade that she put on was crumbling and it terrified her. "If you had wanted to do it yourself, you should have said that from the start, love."
Caroline's eyes blazed blue flames that would be found in the deepest bowels of hell. She probably would've tried to stab Klaus as well if she wasn't so emotionally drained. Her head was in fifty different places, and she couldn't deal with this.
She stormed out of there like a tornado on a war path, pushing past any piece of matter that stood in her way.
She didn't have the time to think about what other people must think.
She needed air.
Caroline burst through the polished, midnight bathroom door. She heaved, her darkened blue eyes glowered at the crowd of girls blocking the mirrors and occupying the stalls.
With her hands dripping in red fluid and her eyes turning icy blue, the female students went rigid at her lethal appearance.
"Get the fuck out, bitches!" Caroline stabbed her bloodied finger in the direction of the primary exit.
Typically, the girls wouldn't have heeded any attention to the naïve blonde pacifist, as she was known to most of the students. Although, they weren't complete twits. They had noticed the change in her aura from the moment she threw the bathroom door open. Something had changed and they had learned their place. They rushed out of the loo like a stampede, ensuring they did not even risk touching the blazing beauty.
Caroline watched a pale, raven-haired girl hesitantly approach her as the rest of the girls fled the bathroom. Caroline's crimson hand latched onto the petite girl's throat, shoving her hard against the navy, tiled walls. "Unless you want your head decapitated, I suggest you get away from me!"
The other girl nodded as she strained to breath under Caroline's death grip.
Caroline shoved the girl toward the door as she released her. "Get out of my sight."
The dark haired girl rubbed her sore neck as she attempted to speak. "I just want you to know that people will side with you." Caroline's fierce blue eyes snapped to the injured girl. "We're all criminals and murderers here. We have no moral code. We've all done different horrors, but we all respect those who scratch and claw their way to get to the top. Those who have to fight for what they want, and those who are willing to take a bullet for their cause. Of course, everyone will listen to the Mikaelsons because their beauty has been gifted from Aphrodite herself, their wrath is drawn from Hades, and they have an alliance that even Ares could not defeat.
"However, some days, the price is just too much to pay… there is no one here to judge you, or condemn you for embracing who you are. Here, you are free, from the pressures of society. There is nothing wrong with us, Caroline. We are simply hedonists, and we should not be ashamed."
Caroline exhaled deeply. "Who are you?"
"Some people call me minion number fourteen, but, I, personally, prefer, Taylor." She turned on her heel and swung the door open on her way out.
Caroline leaned over the smooth, granite sink, each hand on both sides of the sleek surface. She lifted her eyes to stare back at her reflection in the mirror, pondering Taylor's words.
Everyone here was just like her.
She didn't have to hide.
She didn't have to run anymore.
All those moments back at her old school when she stopped to wonder how her 'friends' would react if they found out the truth about her. Would they run and scream, or would they stand her by side?
This was her chance to have the school right under her thumb, and hers alone.
She didn't know how much she wanted it, lusted for it, until now.
She wanted to be the Queen.
The next morning, before Caroline even had a sip of her latte, she talked to a few people, squeezed in a bit of exercise, and ended up with four committees under her belt and a cheer leading uniform hanging in her wardrobe.
Taylor was at her heels as Caroline recited the schedule for practice, forcing Taylor to memorize it, or else she was off the team.
Entering the main hallway, the student body froze when they caught sight of her, similar to the way Caroline saw them react when Katherine strutted into the cafeteria. A wide smirk crept onto her face as she felt power surge through her.
She had almost forgotten what that feeling felt like, but this way different. Everyone was watching her, giving respect to her, and no one else.
She could definitely get used to this.
With a flip of her blonde curls, she sashayed down the long hall with an authoritative demeanor. She held her head up even higher when the students parted to make a pathway for her straight to the tables outside.
Klaus was so bored that he resorted to pretending to chew as an excuse to not participate in the conversation one of Rebekah's 'friends' were so desperately trying to have with him. He just stared at her face, seeing her mouth move so fast it was a mystery as to how she was creating coherent words. Although, he would argue that her sentences weren't producing much logic.
He wondered on a scale of 1-10 how angry Rebekah would be if he ripped out her jugular right now. She didn't need her voice to help Rebekah with homecoming, did she?
"You're such a good listener." The girl blushed.
"Shut up, please." Klaus compelled her.
Rebekah rolled her eyes. "Why are you in such a foul mood? I'm the one who has harlots crawling up my ass, thinking they can steal my place at this school." She sharply turned her head to glare at Katherine. "No thanks to you."
"What?" Katherine shrugged. "I didn't tell her to raise seven armies and throw the Forbes rebellion."
"No, but you had no qualms about putting ideas in her miniscule brain about not being like the rest of those savages, isn't that right?" Rebekah countered.
"Relax, Rebekah," Klaus chastised. "No one would ever think to replace the ice queen."
Rebekah's eyes turned a dark red color as she met his gaze.
"I'd call her queen all night long." Kol smirked to the table across from them.
The entire Mikaelson table's eyes followed Kol's, landing on a fair haired goddess, sitting at the center of a table with several cheerleaders and jocks surrounding her. With their supernatural hearing, they could hear Caroline barking orders at each one of them, informing them that she had taken charge of homecoming committee.
Rebekah fumed, her own nails digging into her palms as she clenched her fists. The other Mikaelsons just stared, their tongues nearly falling out of their mouths. Power exuded from Caroline; it was so raw and natural that it astounded them.
"Bloody twit." Rebekah began to rise, until Klaus pulled her back down by the arm.
"What do you think you're doing?" Klaus question.
"What does it bloody look like I'm doing? I was trying to rip her head off until you rudely interrupted."
"If you rip her head off now, this is bound to happen again. The only way to gain their loyalty is to beat her fair and square," Klaus informed her.
Rebekah ruminated over what he said. "Are you manipulating me?"
"What reason do I have to manipulate you?" Klaus displayed a stoic countenance.
"The same reason you're itching to get into her knickers," Rebekah snapped.
Klaus sneered at her. "You can heed my warnings or not, little sister. The choice is yours."
Rebekah's eyes darted back over to the table everyone was watching. Envy oozed from her throat.
She hated the blonde bitch, but she couldn't deny that Nik was right.
During Mr. Collins's History class, he thought it was a brilliant idea to open up a discussion concerning the U.S. and Britain alliance against the Axis powers in World War II. Unfortunately, for the rest of the class, Klaus and Caroline were delighted to take the floor.
"Americans were and are nothing but glorified wankers." Klaus laughed while the rest of the students joined him.
Caroline's hand shot out. "Well, actually, Churchill reached out to those glorified wankers you speak of because Britain was getting their arse killed."
"Well, someone had to take the brunt since your twits we're too busy hiding beneath those thirteen stripes and fifty stars you lot cherish so much."
"Majority ruled that it was best not to entangle in foreign affairs. We couldn't risk even more damage to the nation so soon after World War I," Caroline explained.
"Of course. It's not as if you had lost the title of being the number one World power… oh wait, that was Britain, yet we continued to fight," Klaus quipped. "And that's right… democracy. You so called 'patriots' committed treason against your own government so you could create your own."
"Parliament took away our freedom, Klaus. We couldn't take a piss without Parliament breathing down our necks," Caroline retorted.
"Ironic, considering that your people still enforced that slavery was legal in the colonies."
"We didn't have a choice then. We were nowhere near ready for egalitarianism."
"Yet you still called your soil the land of the free." Klaus grinned.
Caroline groaned, shooting daggers at him through her eyes.
"Alright!" Mr. Collins clapped his hands. "I think that's been enough discussion for today. Not that I don't enjoy when things start to get ugly, but I think my definition differs much differently than yours." He quickly glanced up at the clock to see that they didn't have much time before the bell rang. "We have just enough time for me to assign you your next project and partners."
The entire class groaned at the thought of more work.
"Yeah. Yeah. I know. Life sucks," he mocked. "'I was supposed to go to prison, but instead I have to do a history project. Life is so unfair.' Get over it." The teacher began typing on his computer and picked up a stack of paper off his desk, passing the packets down each row. "Pick an event from European history. Preferably a relevant event. If you pick a relevant event, your chances of getting a good grade increase significantly, and I might even give you a sticker."
Collins returned to his desk and picked up a wooden clipboard, reading names off of the paper attached. "Marget and Tim, congrats, you're partners. Sarah and Tiffany, partners… Kol and Rebekah, partners-"
"Why do I have to be with that imbecile?" Rebekah pointed to a grimacing Kol.
"Do you remember what happened the last time you worked with someone who wasn't Kol?" Collins reminded her.
"You should've picked someone brighter." Rebekah smiled.
"I just did," Mr. Collins remarked. "Todd and Garett… Klaus and Caroline… Grace and Ben-"
"Whoa! Whoa!" Caroline yelled. "I can't work with Klaus. I might strangle him in the middle of the presentation."
"You say that like I would allow you to, sweetheart." Klaus flashed her a cocky grin.
Caroline leered at him.
Mr. Collins cleared his throat. "Did I mention that whoever has the best project gets a generous extra credit boost to their grade?" Every student's ears perked up at Collins's announcement. "Besides, it doesn't have to be a presentation, Caroline, and from what I saw today, you and Klaus sure do know you're history and not just what the textbooks want you to know. If you just gave it chance, I have no doubt you guys could be a real powerhouse.
"Anyways, all partnerships are final. You guys are all homicidal teenagers which means that any rights you previously had were given up a long time ago, so don't try to give me attitude about natural born rights." Collins chuckled.
As the bell rang, the students picked up their bags and rushed out the front door. Collins shoved his way through the sea of students, not giving a damn if he trampled over a few children.
When everyone cleared out of the room, Caroline's eyes were still burning as she tried to sear the smug grin off Klaus's face with her stare. He was so irritating that she could use that gorgeous body of his as a punching bag.
"Meet me in my room tonight, love?"
So I guess they'll be seeing more of each other...
Also, my knowledge on US and British involvement during WWII is pretty rusty, so I apologize for any inaccuracies.
And before a couple people had some concerns that Caroline was kinda acting like a whimp. I did that on purpose because it would lead up to the transition she just went through.
Anyways, let me know what you guys think?
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