Caroline was close. She could almost taste it. She had earned her sixth tail nearly a century ago and it was time for her seventh. She wasn't quite at the fully realized nine of a mature kitsune. Though, she had time.
Right now, her current trap was the best kind, helpful to those who needed it and harmful to the cruel.
Peeking from the alleyway, she watched her free, little library. If you opened the door with the intent to take a book, return a book, or add one … nothing happened. But if you opened the door with the intent to take a book and sell it, the book would poof and disappear as soon as you pulled it all the way out.
Caroline had taken years to get the intent part of the trap aligned just right. She had failed again and again. But each failure taught her something.
As a young, white woman approached, Caroline eagerly awaited the trick. Yes! The woman's hand reached out. Just a little force for her to pull it open and … No!
A man's arm landed on the door, keeping it shut and stopping the woman.
"Can I help you?" A smooth British voice asked.
"With a free, little library?" She rolled her eyes. "I think I can manage it on my own. Can you move out of the way?"
"Wrong answer." The man loomed over her threateningly. Caroline couldn't stop herself from watching. "You will forget you ever saw this library. You will walk away, and you will never again take a free resource with the intent to sell it."
To Caroline's shock, the woman did just that. Oh no. That meant …
"Where are you little kitsune?" The vampire asked, looking around.
Caroline had never been so thankful that she was using her power to hide. Maybe she could wait him out.
"I have all day my dear. What do you believe your limit is? I bet that I can last longer." He smirked, as his eyes darted around looking for her.
Caroline nearly huffed. She could probably outlast him. But vampires spelled trouble. Best to face it head-on and get it over with. Shaking her body back into visibility, Caroline adopted her signature blonde-hair, blue-eyed bombshell look.
"Can I help you?' Caroline said sarcastically. She may have been petty in waiting until he was looking in the complete opposite direction to walk up to him.
He turned around fully to take her in. He leaned against her free, little library. "You sure can." His arrogant voice annoyed her enough that she waved her hand to vanish the library. He had the annoying ability to keep his balance.
"What does a vampire want with a Kitsune?" Caroline asked.
"Rumor has it that kitsune can possess people and control their actions."
"Well, the last few moments have proven that vampires can compel people to do something. I'm not sure why you need me." Caroline flipped her hair over her shoulder. His eyes followed it closely.
"Generally? Yes, we can. However, this is a special case. The human I need has a steady supply to vervain counteracting any attempts at compulsion." He leaned into her space. "I need you to possess a girl, have her donate blood, and you're free."
"I'm free now."
"That could change at any time."
Her eyes narrowed. He changed his tract.
"Your operation is small. You're starting to read intent and infuse that ability into objects - and you're wasting it on a little library?" He raised an eyebrow at her. "Do this one favor for me and you'll have the resources of an 'Original' at your disposal."
Caroline did huff this time. She was only three centuries younger than these 'Originals' - it wasn't that impressive.
"Why not go after a nine-tailed kitsune?" It was bugging her that he was settling on a six-tail kitsune like her.
"Convenience. The more tails, the more skilled at hiding. You've mastered possession," at Caroline's nod, he continued, "then that's good enough for me."
"If I do this, will you leave? I like my little operation. You can keep your 'Original' far from me."
His eyes sparkled with amusement at her. "Leave for now? Yes. For good? I don't think I can promise that little fox. You're a little too interesting." He raised a hand to move her hair behind her ear. Whether it was flirty or an intimidation tactic, Caroline didn't react to it.
"Alright, let's get this over with. Name and location?"
"Elena Gilbert. Mystic Falls, Virginia."
"Deadline?"
His sunny disposition faltered at the question. "The sooner, the better."
"Let's go then."
"I think this may be the beginning of a beautiful relationship." He threw an arm over her shoulder.
"The phrase is friendship. The beginning of a beautiful friendship." Caroline corrected.
"All in good time. For now, let's take care of my doppelganger problem." He said.
"You might want to slow down. We haven't even exchanged names yet." Caroline scoffed.
"Oh sweetheart, we're going to have so much fun together. I'm Klaus, and you?"
"Not sweetheart and not dear, but you can call me Caroline. Got it?" She raised an eyebrow at him.
"Crystal clear." His eyes were dancing.
"Alright, how are we getting to Mystic Falls?"
Klaus held out his arm. "I thought you'd never ask."
The End.