A/N: Thanks so much for all of the reviews, faves, follows. I'm glad people are enjoying this story.
Just a head's up that I may not update as regularly until June. End of the school year so I've got papers to grade and all of that fun stuff but summer is almost here and I'll get tons of writing done then.
And on with the story :)
Something was wrong; Caroline knew it as soon as she had begun to wake. The covers weren't right, the fabric different than she was used to, and she couldn't pinpoint her mother's heartbeat, hearing too many other ones nearby instead. It took her a moment to realize what all had happened, that she wasn't back in her bedroom, that she wasn't even close to Mystic Falls anymore.
No, she was in a hotel room, one with sheets with a thread count higher than she'd ever felt before. In a city she'd never even thought of visiting except maybe in her wilder dreams, when the sky was the limit and she didn't have to worry about anyone else. Her hand moved to rub at where the bite mark had been, feeling only her smooth skin, and she could still taste Klaus' blood in her mouth and swallowed hard, wanting it out, forcing her facial features not to alter, willing her fangs to remain where they needed to be.
"I wondered how long you would be out," Klaus murmured and Caroline bolted upright in the bed. She'd felt his presence, could sense that he was nearby, but she'd assumed he was in the next room. Not in the bedroom that was clearly marked as hers.
But there he was, sitting on an overstuffed chair, sketchbook propped up on his knee and pencil darting about on the paper. He wasn't even looking at her, his focus on whatever he was creating. It was almost normal, almost something Caroline could swear she'd seen a thousand times over on television or in the movies. But this wasn't a romantic comedy. He wasn't the charming hero and she wasn't the beautiful girl being wooed. If anything this was a horror movie, or a tragedy. Maybe both. She thought it might be both.
She glanced over at the clock on the bedside table, unable to look at him any longer, and noted the time. "Not as long as I was the first time I was bit." The harshness in her voice there to be a reminder that she hadn't forgotten or forgiven that moment. Maybe Tyler had been the one to do it but there was no mistaking that the idea had come from the monster sitting so calmly in front of her. "I was given your blood a lot quicker though."
Maybe that made the difference. She didn't know. It wasn't like she was going to do any personal research to find out. Two werewolf bites in one lifetime was more than enough for her. "Why are you in here anyway?"
Klaus finally looked up, arching a brow at her. "This is our hotel room, Caroline. I wasn't aware that I needed permission to enter certain parts of it."
"Well, you do. I'm like your guest. You should ask permission," she pointed out, not liking when he set the sketchbook down and rose.
"Not quite. We made a deal that has you with me for a year," Klaus reminded, and for her credit she didn't slink back in the bed when he approached her. He might have oozed power by just being him, had an air of importance and danger that always seemed to surround him, but she wasn't frightened. She also strongly believed that he wouldn't ever force himself on her, nor did she think he'd use compulsion. If he was going to do either thing, Caroline figured he would have done it by then.
"Traveling with you," she corrected, displeased with how he'd tried to make it sound. "And yeah, I know."
Whatever Klaus had been ready to say or do was interrupted by the sounds in the next room, and Caroline watched the smile blossom on the Hybrid's face. The elation she saw there worried her. Someone groaning in pain and confusion shouldn't cause that kind of happiness in anyone. She followed him out into the living area, stopping in the threshold when she saw one of the wolves from last night on the couch, clawing at his face.
"What did you do to me?" the boy cried, body shaking and she was instantly reminded of that night in the school, of Tyler's transformation into a hybrid.
"I'm giving you an opportunity to garner some forgiveness from me. To become something far greater than you already are," Klaus informed him, walking over to the boy and pushing him back onto the chair. "Caroline, love, put some of the blood in this." He held out the small vial for her, didn't bother to look back at her as he did so.
She didn't want to take it, wanted to tell him to go to hell and that he could do his little hybrid mission all on his own. She wasn't coming up with any reason not to do that either, confident that annoying Klaus didn't equal a death sentence for her. "Get it yourself."
Klaus tensed and Caroline knew he hadn't appreciated that response, that she probably wouldn't like his reaction. "Either you get it for me, Caroline, or poor—what was your name again? I don't think I asked. Doesn't really matter anyway," Klaus continued, glancing back at her, and while he smiled it was anything but pleasant, sending shivers down her spine. "I'll let him loose. He won't transition to a hybrid and he'll end up dying, but all of the rest of those on this floor will suffer the consequences because of your stubbornness."
Just beyond the doorway Caroline could hear a family heading toward the elevator, could hear the sound of children's voices. "I wonder if he'll have the parents watch their children die or have the children see their parent's demise?" Klaus mused, and Caroline snatched the vial from his hand, glaring at him before she moved to fill it. "That's my girl."
She handed off the vial of blood, so close to smashing into his hand, but she didn't want to risk the family's life, or any of the others because she couldn't control her emotions. She turned on her heel as soon as she'd given it up though and headed back into the bedroom, slamming the door behind her and headed to the bathroom, needing to drown out what was about to happen, to wash away the day, to try and gain back control over her own emotions.
Klaus grinned as she stomped away. He enjoyed her impassioned response, the fire that seemed to glide through her veins, making her even more divine when the monster was just beneath the surface, dying to come out and play. He always saw it clearer when she was angry, like that night at the ball when she'd thrown the bracelet in his face. He couldn't wait until he got it to truly come out and play with him.
"Now, here's the plan, mate. You can either die or you can drink this and live. It's up to you really. I don't care one way or the other too much." Klaus shrugged, holding the vial of liquid just out of the boy's reach. "I'd prefer one outcome but if not you then it'll be someone else. And you'll be but a blip in time, forgotten in seconds. Or you could dink and live, and perhaps become something great. Powerful without being beholden to the moon."
He could see the fear in the boy's eyes, could smell it coming off of him in waves, coupled along with desperation and mingling with Caroline's anger. It was a wonderful scent, one that Klaus enjoyed greatly, and he held the vial closer to the boy, seeing the acceptance in his eyes, right before he took it. "Fantastic," Klaus murmured, clapping him on the shoulder as he downed the blood.
He stepped back as the boy lurched forward in pain, bones shifting as he transitioned, no longer simply a werewolf and not quite just a vampire. A hybrid. Another to add to his collection. "Now, I need you to tell me all that you can about your pack," Klaus told the boy, feeling the sire bond begin, urging the boy to do as he asked, to please him.
Once that was done he ordered him to draw out for him on paper where the others could be located and headed back into the bedroom, grinning at the sight of Caroline exiting the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her body. "Seriously!?" she demanded, tightening the towel around her body which only made her curves stand out that much better.
It was a delectable sight. "We'll be leaving to locate his pack as soon as you're dressed," Klaus informed her, not surprised when she scoffed at him.
"I am so not traipsing through the unknown into a place where everyone's bite can freaking kill me," she told him, shaking her head at the idea of it. "You go and I'll stay here and take in the sights."
"Our time in this hotel has come to an end and we'll need to be gone before the maids' finish their shift." He knew they still had a few hours before the bodies down the hallway were found.
She froze, hands gripping the sides of the suitcase she'd been looking through as she glanced back at him. "What did you…?" her voice trailed off and he watched her sniff the air, no doubt locating the distinct smell of death a few doors down.
"As I said, we're leaving," Klaus replied, shrugging at what he'd done. He was a vampire. He fed and people died. That was how it was and how it would always be and the sooner she realized that the better. "And don't worry. I'll be more than happy to share a little blood with you whenever you want." If looks could kill he'd be dead a thousand times over because of her glare but all it did was egg him on, have him walking closer to her, reaching out to draw his fingers up her arm and watching the way she shivered at his touch, eyes narrowing just that bit more at the gesture. "Did the Salvatore boys ever tell you about drinking from another vampire? About what it means? About how it's a rather intimate act between two vampires."
Caroline wrenched herself back as if she'd been bit. "Guess it's a good thing you're not simply a vampire then," she hissed, and he knew she meant it as an insult, as a way to cut him down, to lash out with words as he did with teeth and hands when he was angry.
"Perhaps," Klaus murmured, taking a step back toward the door. "Or maybe my unique nature makes it even more of an intimate act. Especially when my blood has lifesaving properties."
"Yeah, cause you really need another reason for getting an even bigger ego," Caroline replied and he didn't even have to see her to know that she was rolling her eyes.
"Get dressed. We're leaving in ten," Klaus told her, heading to leave.
"I can't be ready in ten minutes!" Caroline protested. "I have to do my hair or it'll become a total mess."
Klaus didn't answer, heading out into the living area, thoroughly amused at her muttered curses. He headed over to the new hybrid and picked up the map of where they would be headed. Excellent. The list of who was a werewolf on the side an added bonus. Perhaps this one would be even more useful than he'd first thought. "Now…what is your name?"
It'd probably be beneficial to know that.
"Samael. Or Sam. I go by Sam," the boy replied quickly, fingers tapping nervously against the table he'd been working at. "But whatever you want to call me is fine…sir."
"One more task for you, Sam," Klaus told him, rolling up the paper. Sire bond would probably ensure what he wanted to happen next but Tyler had already shown that it could be broken, and Mikael had shown that compulsion could override it, so a little added compulsion of his own for the next part would be a nice bonus to ensure his will was followed.
"That little spitfire in the next room is Caroline. She's a vampire and you will make certain that no harm comes to her. You will not let another bite her, claw her, or hurt her in any way. You will do whatever you need in order to ensure her survival." He certainly couldn't get what he wanted from Caroline if she was dead and while Klaus had every intention of protecting her when they went into the wolves' area, he knew he couldn't be in every place at once and some added protection would be beneficial. "Understood?"
Klaus smiled as Sam repeated the words, glancing back toward the bedroom door where he could still hear Caroline muttering under her breath some nonsense about time and hair. He'd add another branch to his growing army of hybrids and then get Caroline out of the country and show her somewhere a bit more exotic, somewhere where he could truly work on getting those walls she had to crumble and fall so that they could engage in far more enjoyable pursuits. And then perhaps he'd answer Rebekah's messages and be ready to rejoin his family wherever they had finally decided to call home for a bit.
Caroline had no idea where they were, somewhere outside of Edinburgh, a little town that almost reminded her of Mystic Falls. It had seemed so peaceful when they'd driven into the town, even if she'd been fascinated at first by the fact that they were driving on the other side of the road, that everything in the car was that way as well. She wasn't sure how she hadn't noticed that in the cab the day before but it didn't matter in the end.
All of the tranquility of the town was destroyed in a matter of minutes once they'd gotten to the local pub that the werewolf population seemed to call their own. Caroline expected blood and carnage to ensue, for Klaus to force his blood down throats and take what he wanted from those in the bar. Wasn't it what he had done to Tyler and to Sam? She didn't know how he'd gotten the rest of his hybrids but that's what she figured must have happened.
Except he was buying them drinks and showing that charming, schmoozing side that she'd seen out before when he deemed it useful. Drawing them in like a spider to a fly and she couldn't help but remember that old tale and wonder how none of them realized they were about to be eaten.
It took her a few moments to realize that some of those who'd been in the bar had left, mostly the older ones, only those that were closer to her in age hanging around. Maybe the older ones had been triggered longer, had come to terms with the pain that happened one night a month, but the younger ones seemed to be looking for a way out. Caroline remembered how painful it had been for her to watch Tyler transition let alone the pain he had experienced, remembered how he'd been grateful to not have to do it any longer. The drawback being he was forced to do Klaus' bidding.
"…no painful transitions on the full moon unless you want," Klaus continued, leaning back against the booth they were in, those around him seemingly transfixed by his speech, all buying the spiel. "Immortality at your fingertips and never growing old."
"Just a little blood lust and an annoying sire bond to contend with," Caroline piped in with a mocking grin, not surprised at all when the arm he has slipped around her shoulders tightened, nails digging into her shoulder. What? Was she not supposed to say anything? Guess he should have let her sightsee.
"As I was saying," Klaus continued before biting into his wrist. "All it takes is a little blood now and later and you'll be invincible." His hand slipped down her arm, settling on her waist and she knew he'd done it on purpose, distracting her from responding to what he was saying. It was hard to focus on his words when she was trying to move the hand that was toying with the ends of her shirt, moving it so he could touch her skin, fingers brushing along the top of her pants.
She watched as the seven wolves picked up their glasses, downing the drinks laced with his blood, also noticed that the rest of the bar had been cleared out and that Sam was locking the door. And then watched as Klaus and he moved quicker than the others could react, snapping their necks and letting them fall to the ground.
"Another round?" the bartender called over to them, and Caroline saw the glossy look in his eyes that let her know he was compelled. Of course.
"Anything in particular you want?" Klaus asked and it took her a moment to realize that he was speaking to her.
"So what now? You get more for your army? Why are you even building an army?" she couldn't help but ask it, didn't understand the need for them. "You're like the most powerful being in the world. What's the point of making them? Like, okay, before, it was cause of Mikael, right? But he's like gone. And Esther is gone. So what are you afraid of?" Why else did anyone build an army?
He was leaning dangerously close to her, obviously wanting whatever he said to be between only the two of them. "I suggest you keep your little observations and questions to yourself, Caroline," Klaus replied, and she couldn't read his expression, though it reminded her a bit of that night at the ball when she'd said her few choice words to him.
Except she was Caroline Forbes and she never really did know when to shut her mouth. "Is it cause of Alaric?" Was he that afraid of her former history teacher turned immortal vampire?
"I think I've been fairly reasonable with you, but you are skirting a very fine line," Klaus warned and she saw the yellow in his eyes, felt his fingers digging into her arms.
She knew that provoking him further wouldn't help any and she had no intention of dying because she'd pushed him too far. "What happens after they transition? Are we staying here to help them out or are they coming with us or what?" Caroline asked, knowing her other line of questioning wasn't going to be answered.
"Don't worry. I'll be back to devoting all of my time to showing you the world and your own worth in a few days," Klaus told her, curling a strand of her hair around his finger. "I have some others coming to work with these ones. We'll stay for a bit, ensure they're not massacring the town and then be on our way."
The ones who'd died were beginning to stir and Klaus pulled back, motioning for Sam to come forward. "Remember what I told you," Klaus stated to the boy and Caroline wondered what had been said as the others came back to life, confused for a moment, before the urge for blood kicked in.
Klaus held out new glasses for them, handing off ounces of her best friend's blood and Caroline watched as more hybrids were created. She didn't know what to do, how to react to what was happening around her. All of her emotions were on overdrive and she didn't want to let any of them out, afraid of what might happen if she did. So instead she picked at the basket of chips in front of her and stared off into space.
It was their choice. It was a bad one, at least in her opinion, but at least it had been their choice. That was more than most of them got, more than she'd gotten when she'd turned, and while she wouldn't change what she'd become, she still wished sometimes that she'd been given a choice.
She didn't like those thoughts though, didn't like that she wasn't railing against what was happening. Wasn't that what she should have done? Not even a week with Klaus and she was turning the other eye to hybrid making? That really wouldn't do. She didn't know how to fix it, how to help these wolves who'd just had their lives altered forever in ways they couldn't even fathom yet, but she would figure one out. Because she knew this wouldn't be the last time Klaus found a pack with wolves to turn. Caroline knew it would happen again, but next time she'd be ready. To do what exactly she didn't know, but she sure as hell meant to figure it out before the next time.