A.N.- I'm sorry for not updating last week. On a sidenote, I'm going to New York City this week on a school trip and I'm so excited! Next week is my Fall Break, so I'll definitely update then. Thanks again for the support. Please review and enjoy :)
Song: Bastille - Bad Blood
Belle moved the paint roller up the wall, changing its original bone white color to a deep burgundy. She had already finished three walls of her bedroom and was applying the finishing touches to the last one. The furniture was pushed in by one or two feet and newspapers scattered the wood floor.
It was approaching noon. She had woken up hours before in the mood to do some redecorating. After the events of the previous night, she needed something to keep herself busy.
She heard the front door open and immediately knew it was Max trying to sneak back in after being gone all night. She set down the roller, climbed off the stepladder, and poked her head out the open door. "Nice to see you, slut." Her lips twisted into a smirk.
Seconds later, he came into her line of vision. His hair was disheveled. His jacket rested on his arm. His bow tie was undone and hung loosely around his neck. He groaned. "God, Belle. Don't start with me." He brought a hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose as he shook his head at her.
She laughed and shook her head right back at him. "So, how was your night?" She stepped forward to stand in the doorway and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Fine." He walked forward to stand in front of his bedroom door, peering behind Belle into her chaotic room, noticing the strong stench of fresh paint in the air. "What the hell are you doing?" He eyes her work with curiosity and skepticism, wrinkling his nose at the pungent scent of paint.
She shrugged. "I wanted to repaint. We need some life in this shit hole you call an acceptable place to live."
He rolled his eyes. "I'm sorry, your majesty. This was the only decent place up for rent in the Quarter. So, what exactly happened last night?"
She played coy. "What do you mean? You got laid. I sat at home with a bottle of whiskey. That's how it is almost every night."
He narrowed his eyes. "You know what I mean. What happened between you and Klaus?"
She averted his eyes. "Nothing that concerns you."
He rolled his eyes. "Fine. Don't tell me." He turned around and went into his room to change clothes and shower.
She wiped the paint on her hands on her already stained t-shirt and sighed deeply.
To say the least, she was surprised that her anger toward Klaus hadn't dissipated overnight; that's what usually happened after the fought. Some would say they were like an old married couple. They would fight one day and be perfectly fine the next. But this time was different.
They were both temperamental, pig-headed, sometimes borderline psychotic, but that's one of the reasons they got along so well. Sometimes however, their personalities worked against them. She was determined to keep him in the dark and he was determined to uncover the truth.
Deep down, she wanted to be honest with him, but she knew that right now she couldn't risk him ruining everything.
Her phone buzzed from across the room. She spun on her heel and walked over to check who was calling. It was Klaus. She visibly cringed before answering. "What do you want?"
He scoffed. "Well, I can tell that you're in an excellent mood."
"Sarcasm. How mature of you." She narrowed her eyes.
He chuckled and exhaled. "Belle, would you be willing to meet up with me and talk? There are a few things I'd like to discuss face-to-face." His voice was relaxed. She didn't trust it, not for a second.
"Bullshit. You act like I don't know you at all. Do you really expect me to believe that you've had some revelation overnight and are now ready to actually listen? I don't buy it."
Suddenly a knock echoed from the front door. "I knew you'd say that." She could hear his voice coming from the phone as well as behind the door. She hung up the phone and tossed it on her bed, stomping to the front door. She was more than ready for an argument with him. Her anger continued to bubble under the surface, ready to explode.
She flung open the door and glared at Klaus. "Go away Niklaus." She attempted to slam the door in his face, but he caught it easily.
"Tell me the truth, Belinda." Patience had never been his strong suit.
"I did last night. I didn't kill anyone," she insisted.
His eyes narrowed. "So, you're telling me that you had absolutely nothing to do with the murders? I have resources that would say otherwise."
She wanted to roll her eyes. "Are you really that paranoid?"
"My paranoia has nothing to do with it love. The odds are stacked against you. Now answer the question." He inched closer to her, never breaking his eyes away from hers.
She stared back at him, moving forward so they were only a breath apart. In any other circumstances, their proximity would have led to an awkward moment when they would almost kiss, but move away at the last second. But not this time. She had learned many tricks from Klaus and intimidation was one of them.
"I've already told you. I didn't kill anyone. Now drop it." She was now shaking with anger, clenching her fist so tightly her knuckles turned white.
He backed off a little. "That wasn't the question. I know you have something to do with what's been going on and I want to know what that something is. Now answer me!" He was nearly yelling by this point. Fury burned brightly in the back of eyes, but behind that was another emotion she recognized. Hurt. He knew that she was lying to him, something she had never done in all the years they had known one another, and he felt betrayed. That hint of emotion alone made her want to give in.
All she said was, "I'm not killing anyone, but I can assure you that what I am doing is none of your business." She didn't mean for it to come off as rude and insolent; she was just telling him the truth. But in his state of mind it did.
He smirked and chuckled in a way that made her blood run cold. Abruptly, he grabbed her and forced her against a wall the hallway, pinning her by her arms.
Before he could speak, she interjected. "I haven't taken my vervain today. Maybe you can just compel an answer out of me. That is what you want, right?" She forced him off her with a violent shove. "Oh wait, you can't because you promised me that you would never compel me. Remember that?" She scoffed.
"And you promised that you would always tell me the truth," he shot back.
She flinched. "I'm sorry, Klaus. I really am, but I can't tell you. Not now. Why can't you just trust me?" There was a twinge of pleading in her voice. She rarely pleaded for anything, but she needed this. She needed him to understand that this was her cross to bear.
Blinded by anger, he ignored her wide, desirous eyes. "I suppose you leave me no choice." He grabbed her by her shoulders and forced her to look him in the eyes.
"Klaus, please. Don't." She struggled in his grasp as she tried to break free. "Nik."
For a slip-second she thought her would let her go, but that hope was lost as soon as his lips parted and he spoke the six simple, yet detrimental, words she feared. "What are you hiding from me?"
Unable to hold her tongue, she answered him. "I'm still looking for Charlotte. I tortured anyone who had information about her." Her voice was monotonous, almost robotic.
"Why did they turn up dead if you didn't kill them?"
Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, but she blinked them away before answering. "She did it, Charlotte. I think she's trying to frame me."
Satisfied, yet seemingly full of regret, he relinquished his hold on her. "I'm sorry I had to do that." His voice was deep and she could hear the anguish in it.
"Don't apologize. I don't want to hear it. Just get away from me." A few silent tears slipped down her cheeks, clinging to her chin before falling onto her shirt, forming small puddles on the fabric.
He reached out to her, but she quickly pulled away. Without another word, he turned around and was gone in the blink of an eye.
Feeling powerless and betrayed, she crumbled to the floor, leaning against the wall as she silently sobbed. She wasn't just upset that Klaus had compelled her, or that he didn't trust her as she trusted him. What bothered her more than anything was the thought that her life's work was now possibly ruined.
One of the only things she had wanted for her entire immortal life was to kill Charlotte, the vampire who had singlehandedly destroyed her life. Belle had tried for years to find her and kill her, but something always got in the way. That something being Klaus.
A.N.- I'm sorry for leaving off here, but I'll be doing a pretty lengthy flashback to continue and I decided that it would be best if I put it with the next chapter. If anyone has any suggestions please PM me or post a review! I'm struggling a little with how to include everything that still needs to be said. I hope you guys like flashbacks ;)