A/N: Thanks for all of the reviews, follows, and favorites, everyone. Hope you enjoy this next chapter.
Dinner was turning out to be a silent battle between the two of them. For every move her presented she tried to counter it, but as time passed she was realizing that Klaus enjoyed that. The fact that she didn't simply give into his whims something that seemed to intrigue him. Caroline wasn't sure how to counter that. Giving in wasn't something she could do, not with him, never with him, but the intricate chess game that they seemed to have going on between them only seemed to be entertaining him.
She would not admit that she was almost enjoying it as well. Or, maybe she'd admit it a tiny bit to herself, but it was only because she liked challenges. Nothing more than that. That was probably also why the Hybrid across from her was enjoying the evening; it was obvious to her that he seemed to enjoy challenges as well.
"I take it that you enjoyed the steak? So much better when it's rare, don't you think?" Klaus asked, having traded their champagne in for wine. She didn't know the kind aside from it was red, but considering how their waitress's eyes had widened when he ordered it, Caroline figured it had been expensive.
"I still think I would have preferred the shrimp." Not that she had been able to order her own food. Not with Mr. Stuck in the Past sitting across from her ordering everything they had.
"I doubt it would have satisfied your needs quite the same," Klaus replied, arching a brow and she really didn't like the way he said any of those words or the rather intimate tone he used.
"I can satisfy my own needs just fine, thanks," she bit out, picking up the dessert menu. She glimpsed his grin then, not liking the mischievous glint to it, and she replayed her words in her head, realizing how they could have been taken. Thank god she couldn't blush anymore. "I'm ordering dessert."
"By all means, sweetheart, I'm quite interested in seeing how well you can predict my particular desires," Klaus told her and it took a lot of effort not to throw her drink at him.
Caroline didn't even need to look up to know he was watching her with that damn smug expression, no doubt leaning back in the chair as if he owned the damn place. She kept her focus on the menu, wondering if she should mess up on purpose; go as far from what she thought he might like just to screw up whatever little fantasy was running through his head. Her pride wouldn't let her do it though and she waited for the waitress to return, pointing to the menu as she made sure to keep it out of Klaus' sight, ordering two of them.
There was no reason to keep the menu up any longer and she put it back in its place, a tad bit annoyed that she had lost her perfect shield. She didn't like the way she caught him looking at her. It wasn't like she wasn't used to being looked over by guys every so often, she'd been dealing with that since middle school, but there was something about the way that Klaus did it that was different. She couldn't quite pinpoint what it was exactly, but she did know that it was like he was seeing into the very heart of her sometimes, peeling back layers she had worked very hard to etch into place and didn't want anyone dissecting, least of all him.
"So what's the plan exactly?" she asked, needing to break up the silence because it wasn't uncomfortable and it seriously was supposed to be. "Dinner, sleep, get the passports and then get out of this country?"
Klaus nodded, picking up his wine glass as he replied. "I have no intention in sticking around with Alaric still on the loose. I doubt he's caught wind of where we have headed quite yet, but there's little doubt in my mind that he would figure it out quick enough if we stuck to this continent."
Did vampires get panic attacks? Was that a thing? She had gotten one once when she was human, in the middle of finals week sophomore year after the whole cheerleading debacle and the spring fling and a million other little things piling up that had finally come crashing down on her, too much to handle for some time. It felt like that time a little right then, the weight of the fact they would be leaving the country finally collapsing on top of her. She was going to be at least an entire ocean away from everyone she knew, from everyone she knew. Probably in a place where she didn't know the language, where only he knew the language and she didn't like how vulnerable that could make her, how it could tie her so irrevocably to him that getting any time to herself might be almost impossible.
"Caroline." His voice calling her name broke her out of her own messy onslaught of thoughts, blinking rapidly for a moment when she realized he had reached across the table and was touching her hand. "Perhaps we should take dessert to go."
She looked down at their hands, noting that she had nearly snapped the knife in half and wrenched her hand back, smelling the blood before she even noticed that she had cut herself on the blade. He picked the knife up from the table and she wanted to wipe that insufferable look right off his face as he twisted the utensil back into its correct form.
"Fine by me." Not that she really wanted to back to that hotel room with one freaking bed. Who the hell got a room like that? Like there weren't rooms with two beds. She'd sleep in the damn bathtub if she needed to. There was no way she was sharing a bed with him.
Ten minutes later and they were leaving the restaurant, Klaus carrying the bag with their boxed up dessert. The concierge nodded to the, clearly wanting to know what they had thought. Klaus simply nodded back and Caroline hoped that meant he wasn't going to go and find the guy later that night.
Klaus led her up to the room, doing that annoying hand on her back move again, but stopped when they got to the room, his phone ringing. He handed her the bag and she walked into the room, putting the dessert in the mini-fridge, trying not to look at the bags of Elena's blood already stored inside. Caroline glanced around, trying to figure out what to do, wondering if it was time to get ready for bed. Not that she really even wanted to sleep. Not after having been tortured.
The last two times she had endured pain at the hands of another she'd been unable to sleep for a few weeks, nightmares waking her constantly. Lovely little reminders of all she had been through. She really didn't want to have one of those around Klaus. Like he even knew the meaning of comfort.
"Seems I have a few things to take care of," Klaus informed her as he stepped back inside, his features hard. "Do not leave this room."
"What about if the place catches on fire?" Okay, not all that likely, but it could happen!
She shrugged at his pointed look. "I already told you that I have no desire to use compulsion, Caroline, but I will if I see that it necessary," he warned, and she sat down on the bed, sighing heavily. "Let's consider this a little test. We both know I'll find you if you do leave and I'm sure you remember the consequences if you break our deal."
She scowled at that. "I'm not going anywhere. If the place catches on fire I'll meet you at the nearest Starbucks."
His lips twitched at that, but she couldn't determine if it was from annoyance or amusement. "I'll return as soon as possible."
"Can I call my mom?"
"You're the one who disposed of your phone, Caroline. Not I. You're free to call who you wish," Klaus told her and left before she could reply.
She stared at the space he had been and then looked at the phone, willing herself to pick it up and dial her mother's number. She couldn't seem to do it though, not sure how to explain her choice to her mother, to make sure her mom didn't trace the call and come to Boston with her gun cocked and ready to take on the Original. That would definitely mess up the deal she had made with Klaus. The one that was keeping Elena safe and the others safe. At least for a year. What exactly would happen after that year was up was anyone's guess, but so much could change in a year, maybe they would find another way to stop Klaus in a year. She had to hold out hope that things would work out. Wallowing in what-if scenarios was not what she was going to do.
She slipped into her pajamas—simple pink cotton pants and matching tank top—and got out her dessert before settling into the bed to watch whatever she could find that was at least somewhat entertaining on the television. Hours passed and she tried not to wonder about where Klaus was, what he was doing, silently berating herself for not listening in on his phone conversation. Eventually though the events of the last day caught up with her, zapping her energy and she fell asleep on the bed, half-eaten dessert discarded on the bedside table.
Four hours later and Klaus was back in the hotel, his expression tight as he barely held in the annoyance that had only grew since he had received that phone call. He'd had plans on what was to happen once he and Caroline got back into that hotel room, plans that had been needlessly altered because of two inept hybrids. Two hybrids that were now without their hearts and left to rot in an alley in Boston. At least he'd gotten the passports from them before learning of what they had done, his anger at the two of them increasing with each word that had left their mouth.
Alaric now knew where he and Caroline were located. All because the two idiots had thought it a good idea to talk so freely about it over the phone with the one hybrid left in town that was to be leaving that night. And now he was down three hybrids, one courtesy of the nuisance his mother had created.
It wasn't as though his hybrids were so easily obtained and while he did have a healthy dose of doppelganger blood at the moment, he had little idea for how long it would last or when he'd be able to get more. It wasn't as though he would be stepping foot again in that sad little town anytime soon, nor would he be able to whisk the Gilbert girl out of it. His current deal with the baby vampire forbid such behavior and Klaus was currently more intrigued by that deal than the rest of it. There was enough blood to create a number of more hybrids to make up for the ones he had just killed as well as the rest that had died because of the bloody Mystic Falls gang.
Not that it helped reel in his annoyance or lessened his ever growing foul mood as he stepped into the elevator, ignoring the concierge. That man was becoming a nuisance as well, someone that Klaus found to be highly irritating, and he never did do well with handling irritation in a healthy manner. He hoped that Caroline was still in the room, that she had passed this small test and hadn't tried to leave. Not that he truly expected that she would go anywhere, not with her friend's lives at stake.
Klaus was barely off the elevator when he smelled the fear emanating down the hallway, pinpointing it to his room. He could hear the tiny whimpers of pain, the pleas for Alaric to stop and flashed down the hallway. Were the hybrids misinformed? Had Alaric already gotten to the state? Was he in there, torturing Caroline?
He could turn around and run now, let Alaric have the blonde and make his own getaway. But the blood was in there. Blood that he needed. And if he was honest, Klaus knew he didn't want to leave her to Alaric's whims, eyes narrowing as her whimpers grew louder. Though they weren't loud enough to echo in the hallways yet, only truly audible from his current distance because of his remarkable hearing.
If he broke down the door would that cause the hunter to simply drive a stake through Caroline's heart before he could do anything to save her? Would it be better to use the keycard to open the door and try for a bit of surprise? Klaus was unsure. All he knew was he couldn't leave her and the blood bags in there at that madman's mercy.
He slid the keycard in, pushing the door open and ready to throw the hunter away from the baby vampire, hybrid features already on display as adrenaline pumped through his veins. But there was no one in the room except Caroline who was curled up on her side, caught in the torture of her own nightmare. Klaus narrowed his eyes as he closed the door, stalking over to her.
He was so close to grabbing her by the shoulders and shaking her awake, intent on screaming at her for allowing such a weakness, for causing the reaction she had in him. But he stopped halfway to the bed, watching as she twisted on the bed, her face showing so much fear even with her eyes closed. He remembered that look from when he'd grabbed her in the hallway, trying to make sure she was alright, that Alaric hadn't done any permanent damage.
Her two little words echoed in his mind. That simple phrase that held so much meaning and hadn't been said to him with the sincerity she had doled out in…well, he couldn't even remember the least time he had heard anyone truly thank him.
Klaus stared down at her, knowing that he needed to get her to calm down, that her cries were only getting louder and would eventually draw attention to them. Something he wasn't in the mood to handle. He pushed into her mind, easily heading into her dream, and was unsurprised to find her in a classroom, Alaric standing behind her and securing a rag around her mouth. It wasn't until she screamed; trying not to inhale that Klaus realized the man had used vervain while torturing her. No doubt this had all played out less than twenty-four hours ago for her.
Manipulating the landscape was child's play to him and he erased Alaric from the picture, got rid of the rags and pencils, as well as removed the pain that Caroline had been reliving. Klaus then focused on changing the scenery, pushing back to a better memory, one that he had enjoyed, even with her harsh words and while she may not have enjoyed his presence, he knew she had enjoyed the animal's that was now standing in front of her.
Klaus could sense her surprise at the changes but she stepped toward the horse anyway, reaching out to stroke his main, not caring that her shawl dipped a little. He chose not to allow his dream self to head out to the area yet, allowing Caroline to spend time with the horse, feeling her relax, and knew that the alterations were helping.
He pulled out then, scowling at the girl who was now resting peacefully on the bed. He should be feeling pleased with himself, a whole array of satisfaction should be enveloping him, but his anger was rising again. Why had he cared about lessening her pain? Why should that have even mattered? Everyone in life was dealt some. It helped strengthen everyone into what they should be. Those who couldn't handle a little pain in their lives hardly deserved to continue on living.
But her cries had elicited something deep within inside that Klaus dared not give name to. Something that he hadn't felt in far too long, could almost not quite remember what it was and he hated her for it, wanted to lash out at the sleeping blonde and prove to her that she could not manipulate him. Surely that was what she had been doing. Even unconsciously she had a pull on him that he could not let continue on.
Alaric would be coming to Boston. It'd be easy enough to leave her there, to tell her the deal was off and let the hunter kill her. But just as before Klaus couldn't stomach the idea of anyone snuffing out the beauty that she represented to him. Her loyalty to her friends, showcased so nicely by the fact she had sacrificed a year of her life to save them, was something he wanted, something he would have and allowing Alaric to end her life would surely put a damper in that ever happening.
Klaus left the room, needing to hurt someone, needing to unleash all of the conflicted emotions boiling up inside of him on someone besides the baby vampire. The concierge was leaving the building, looping a scarf around his neck as he headed out the front door and Klaus grinned, pleased that that one would be his target. He stalked the man for half a block, not wanting to get too far from Caroline, before easily grabbing the pitiful being by the scarf and dragging him toward the nearest alley.
It happened faster than the human eye could see, Klaus' fangs tearing into the man's throat before he could protest, before he could make so much as a squeak. The life drained out of him and Klaus dropped him, letting his lifeless body fall to the ground. He reached down, picking up the scarf to wipe at his face, not wanting anyone in the hotel to wonder why he had blood on his face as he headed back to it. His anger was at least a little abated.
Klaus headed directly to the room, finding Caroline curled up on her side again, though this time with a smile instead of whimpering. The light of the TV shown across her features, highlighting them in the darkened room, and Klaus wondered what she would look like as the sun rose, morning sunshine streaking in through the window to dance across her skin. It might be a good idea to get a sketchbook when they landed. Or perhaps he'd find a decent one at the airport that he could use for the lengthy flight.
But enough sleeping, it was time to get the hell out of the United States, to get as far away from that annoying hunter and begin his plan of wooing the pretty little baby vampire. Not to mention locating a few of the older werewolf packs across the Atlantic to pull into his blooming hybrid army. "Time to get up, sweetheart," Klaus stated, not surprised that all it took was touching her arm for Caroline to bolt upright.
She looked confused for a moment, unsure of where she was and what was happening. Klaus watched the emotions play across her face as it all came crashing back in, as she remembered her deal and the circumstances that had brought her there. He expected her to glare at him, to showcase her irritation at the matter, but when she looked at him there was more confusion and then a realization mixed with something he couldn't quite name but was infinitely gentler than he thought he'd receive.
"I need to change," she murmured and Klaus didn't like the softness there, once again remembering that damn thank you from hours before.
"By all means. I think I'd rather enjoy that little show." He grinned at her, letting his gaze travel over her curves.
She scoffed at that, the moment clearly broken and Klaus was grateful for that, needing that fine balance of scorn back in her presence as she grabbed her suitcase and headed to the bathroom. He pulled out a new shirt from his suitcase, smelling the flecks of blood on the one he was currently wearing. After changing into that he got the cooler ready for the blood bags, fastening on the biohazard stickers and making sure he had the appropriate paperwork in his pocket. At least the two hybrids had secured that along with the passports that were needed.
Fifteen minutes later and Caroline emerged from the bathroom, her hair swept up into a ponytail and wearing a dress and boots, makeup done as well. She took one look at the cooler he held and grimaced. It was a stark reminder of why she was with him and all that had been happening and was still likely to happen again at some point.
"Shall we?" Klaus extended his arm for her to exit the room first, chuckling as she rolled her eyes.
"Like I really have a choice," she muttered and he headed out after her, closing the door behind them.
"You have plenty of choices, Caroline. You simply don't always like the ones presented to you even if they might enrich your life a great deal," Klaus replied, as he headed toward the elevator. "But you always have a choice."
He quite liked her answering glare, enjoyed all that passion that wrapped itself so tightly around her, engulfing her in its waves. He couldn't wait to bring more of it out of her and to see more intimate sides to it; confident he'd chip away at her resolve and break down all of those walls that kept him from getting what he craved from her. He had a year to do so but Klaus doubted that he would need that long, not with the Mystic Falls gang so far away, unable to remind her how she needed to be the 'good little vampire' of their motley crew. He would show her all that could be hers, what it truly meant to be a good vampire, and unleash that passion in ways that would benefit him to the fullest.
It was going to be quite the journey and he honestly couldn't wait to begin it.