Silk, chiffon and satin littered the floor of the bedroom as laughter abounded from inside the closet and from behind the changing wall. As carefully as possible to not ruin her hair, Caroline slid the royal blue silk dress over her body. All different shades of blue and green glinted in the soft lighting of her friend Katherine's bedroom and when she looked in the mirror, she knew her friend had been right about her dress choice. It perfectly matched the peacock feather that was clasped in her curls and seemed to make her blue eyes sparkle.
"Perfect," she announced with a wide smile, strutting out from behind the shield just as the bird she resembled would have.
Her dark-haired friend came striding from the closet, her body encased in a black and red dress, fringe swinging from the short hemline as she walked to her makeup table. "You look amazing," she gushed as she began to powder her nose.
Caroline smoothed her hands down her hips, relishing the feel of the soft fabric beneath her fingers. She'd never worn something so fancy before. "Are you sure Jenna won't mind?" she asked, a bit of self-consciousness niggling its way through her mind. She wasn't the type of person to wear such clothing, not like Katherine's bold aunt. Jenna reminded Caroline more of a fun sister than an aunt who was supposed to be raising her impressionable niece.
Katherine shut the drawer to her table with a light smack. "Of course not. It's not like anything will happen to it and we won't be out that long anyway."
Caroline took a long inhale, letting it out slowly as she admired her reflection in Katherine's ornate gold mirror. She searched her reflection, taking in the mauve lips, heavy dark eyeliner and curled blonde hair that was tucked up to resemble a short bob. She could barely see the small-town girl that hid underneath the layers of luxurious fabric and it excited her. She could be whoever she wanted to be in the beautiful dress. She started to ponder why she hadn't visited Katherine sooner in the Windy City, when Katherine spoke.
"I think we're ready," Katherine announced, buckling her shoes and grabbing a fur coat from a hanger.
When Caroline pulled on her simple tweed flogger, she started to second guess herself. She wasn't like Katherine. She didn't have money or fancy things. Where she was from, she worked as a seamstress to help her parents pay the bills and would often help in the kitchens of the mayor's home for a little extra on the side. Sometimes even being able to take home leftovers to her family. The coat reminded her to not get attached to the life she was living when visiting Katherine. Too soon she'd be on her way back to Mystic Falls and have to answer a very important question she'd run from.
They didn't have to be quiet as they left the home of Katherine's aunt, chances were that Jenna was out at the same speakeasy they were headed to. The chilled wind of the night gave Caroline goosebumps as they walked down the nearly empty streets. After a handful of minutes Katherine stopped in front of a darkened soda shop, glancing both ways down the street before grabbing Caroline's sleeve and leading her down a small flight of stone steps that were barely noticeable from the sidewalk. A solid wood door greeted them once they got to the bottom and Katherine rapped her knuckles three times, leaving a two second pause between each knock. A small piece of the door slid open, revealing a pair of amber eyes. Without preamble, Katherine lifted a playing card, the joker, she'd stashed in her small clutch purse, holding it for the eyes in the door to see. Caroline heard a grunt from the other side and the door silently opened. The short dark hallway was deathly silent as they entered with barely any room to stand as the man who guarded the door squeezed past them. For a second, she thought they must be in the wrong place. For all she'd heard of speakeasies they were loud and where they stood, one could hear a pin drop. The doorman opened another door and that was when it hit her.
Laughter, music and conversation exploded as the door swung open and they were quickly pushed inside. Her heartbeat felt like it was trying to beat in rhythm with the drums that were being beaten on the small stage of the large room. A bar with people milling around, downing drinks and sipping from straws stood to the side, out of the way of the tables and chairs that were scattered throughout the room. What stood out the most, what made the main attraction was the stage with a small dance floor in front of it. A big band played everything from a drum to a trombone as a slender woman crooned a ballad in French. People swayed on the dance floor, their eyes connected heatedly, while some drunkenly whirled to whatever melody they heard in their heads.
A pull on her sleeve again had her following Katherine toward the bar, her friend shedding her coat as she walked. Her walk eventually became a sashay as they neared the bar and Caroline intuitively knew her friend was on the prowl. People moved out of her way as she passed, men staring at her with hunger while most of the women stared with either envy or irritation. But that was Katherine. She could command a room with a single glance or smile. All the men wanted her while all the women wished they could be her. Her self-confidence wafted from her like the sweetest of perfumes and Caroline often found herself the victim of envy as well. Caroline wasn't shy, but when she was out of her element, she found herself wanting to escape into a dark corner where no one would notice her. She craved that corner as they sidled up to the crowded bar, wishing she'd had a second to observe the activities of the room.
"One sidecar," Katherine quickly ordered and turned to Caroline.
Nervously licking her lips, Caroline searched her brain for a name of a drink. She didn't know many since her town had always been dry, but as she opened her mouth a deep voice answered from her side. "I thought champagne was your drink of choice."
Katherine's mouth slowly lifted into a seductive smile as her eyes roved over the man in the nice charcoal suit that stood to their side. Caroline felt like a voyeur from the looks they were sending each other.
"Elijah," she acknowledged with a small tilt of her head in greeting, her lashes fluttering coquettishly.
Caroline could barely get a sense of the gentleman's mood or tell what he was thinking as he stared at Katherine with no hint of expression.
"Perhaps you'll join me for a drink later?" he finally asked and the bubble he and Katherine had erected started to close in. The air between the two was heavier than the stuffy cigarette-tinged air of the speakeasy, and the way their eyes never strayed from each other made it seem like they were the only two in the room.
"Perhaps," she answered and Elijah gave a small hint if a smile.
"I look forward to it." With nothing else, the bubble popped and he was swallowed by the crowd.
Katherine was left looking after the dark-haired man who, in Caroline's mind, didn't fit in with the illegal setting of consuming alcohol. He seemed like he'd be more at home running a bank rather than hobnobbing with Chicago's underbelly.
"That man," she heard Katherine say before the brunette turned back to the bartender. "Three side cars and put it on Mr. Mikelson's tab."
Caroline thought the bartender would scoff, but instead he nodded his head and scurried off to make the cocktails.
"Who was that?" Caroline asked, finally able to shed the coat she'd been wearing.
A smile crept up Katherine's face. "The elusive Elijah Mikelson, one of the owners of this joint and my future husband." She grinned. "I'm wearing him down."
"Katherine," Caroline admonished with a laugh as the bartender returned with their cocktails.
Caroline sipped it tentatively, feeling the warmth of the brandy spread throughout her chest as she swallowed, hiding a little cough behind her hand. Katherine, on the other hand, practically downed the other two in one gulp each. "Let's dance!" she yelled, pulling Caroline toward the dance floor where people had been dancing excitedly. Women were being twirled every which way as the music continued to thrum. Katherine joined right in while Caroline hugged her glass of liquid courage to her chest and awkwardly swayed to the fast music. Her friend was busy laughing and stealing someone's dance partner when Caroline decided to act out of character and gulped down the last of her drink, holding her breath so not to taste it and followed Katherine's lead.
The music felt like it was in her soul as she danced by herself. The energy all around her was exciting and lit her up like a live wire. She felt free and liberated as her arms lifted toward the ceiling and she swayed her hips. She wasn't a boring small-town woman in a big city, she was vivacious and confident. Before she knew what was happening, she could feel a change in her. Something shifted and she was no longer who she was when she'd arrived. The feeling of independence rushed through her. She didn't have any worries while she was dancing. She didn't have parents to look after, she didn't need to worry about money to pay bills and she didn't have to think about the marriage proposal waiting for her at home. For one night she could be someone else entirely.
ooOoo
He watched her from his leather covered booth in the darkest corner of the speakeasy, wondering who this new woman was with Elijah's dame. The blonde was a conundrum. One moment she looked like she wanted to shrink away and the next she was dancing with her eyes closed, as if she were alone and not in the middle of a sea of people. He noticed her the moment she'd walked through the door, amused by her wide-eyed innocence as she took in her surroundings. He had guessed she'd been from out of town and had been determined not to think about her for one more second, but his imprudent brain didn't listen as his eyes had followed her throughout the throng of people. Watching her dance gave him the urge to sidle up behind her and sway to the music with her, but every man who asked her to take a turn she rejected. Not that he would have asked anyway, he was the big bad of the speakeasy, the one in charge of the place and he couldn't afford to be undermined in times such as these. Tensions were running high in Chicago, enough to set his teeth on edge. There were some hostilities brewing again between O'Banion and Capone, probably something with their casino, hell he'd even spotted Dillinger uptown one night last week. He was lucky his club was neutral territory, but he wondered how long it could stay that way.
An old fashioned was placed in front of him, his eyes shifting from the mesmerizing blonde to a plain brunette. "Thanks, Doll," he acknowledged and waved her away before she could say anything that may spoil his good mood.
"I thought we were taught better manners than that," his brother's voice came from behind him, before the man himself sat in the U-shaped booth across from him, obscuring his line of vision from his current fascination.
"What do you want, Elijah? I thought I saw Katherine here tonight. Shouldn't you be following her around like a lost little puppy?"
His brother paid him no mind. "Klaus, we have to talk about Gloria. She has some concerns."
He quickly glanced back to the dance floor before giving his attention to Elijah. "What concerns?"
"She told me one of the band members grabbed her in such a manner that was unbefitting of a gentleman."
Klaus sat back, taking a slow sip of the too sweet drink. He'd have to talk to the bartender about it, he thought. His club wasn't going to be known for the worst old fashions. "Have Bruno talk to him."
"I did that last time. I think something else needs to be done."
"Then tell Bruno to take care of it outside of the club," he offered flippantly.
Elijah sighed. "We can't have him killed."
"Why not? This is Chicago, 1923, mate. We can do anything we want. We're kings."
"I'm glad you think so highly of us," he deadpanned, "I have a reputation to uphold, even if you don't care about your own."
Klaus shrugged. "Take care of it your way then. I honestly don't know why you ask me."
"Because you're my business partner."
"Yes, but when we split this business, you took to running the day to day as I was tasked dealing with all the scary things you don't like to hear about. Perhaps you're afraid of getting a wrinkle on your suit."
"Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit."
Klaus sneered before setting his sights back on the dance floor, anything to help his blood pressure from rising any more. His brother always knew where to hit him, but that was family. Family always knew what buttons to push. From his seat he could see Katherine and her friend leaving the dance floor and head for the bar again. "You do know your lovely Katherine is stealing our booze, don't you?"
Elijah's head whipped to the side, his eyes scanning the crowd. "She seems to be getting a drink for herself and her friend."
"And she's been putting it on your tab since she got here. It would be rude of her not to come and join us for at least one drink."
Elijah sighed again before getting up and walking toward the women and Klaus hid a smile at how gullible his brother was to believe he'd want to sit and listen to Katherine prattle on. Elijah hung onto her every word, but Klaus knew a viper when he saw one. As the saying went, it took one to know one.
"Ladies," Elijah announced and Klaus's half lidded gaze settled on the two beautiful women before him. "This is Klaus, my business partner and brother."
Unfolding himself from his seat, he picked up the blonde's hand with a small smile and placed a tender kiss on her knuckles, never ceasing to break eye contact. "It's a pleasure," he greeted. The blush that spread across her cheeks was enticing and gave him a little thrill.
"It's nice to meet you," she answered, gently pulling her hand from him.
"Hello, Klaus," he heard Katherine say and his eyes momentarily slid to her, but he ignored her, his eyes sliding back to the blonde like a magnet.
"Won't you ladies join us?" He waved his hand, gesturing to the large booth. His blonde looked nervous, but Katherine took the lead, shoving her friend onto the bench seat and taking a seat beside her. Klaus grinned and slid gracefully into the booth, scooching closer to the middle to allow Elijah to take a seat and closer to the blonde. "And what is your name, my dear?"
She paused briefly as a waitress hurried to the table to take a drink order, Elijah ordering a bottle of champagne. "Caroline," she finally answered and Klaus smiled, finally knowing her name.
"Is this your first visit to our city, Caroline?" He let her name roll off his tongue like a caress, knowing it had hit its mark when she blushed again.
"How'd you know?" she asked and he inched closer.
"I'm good with faces and I'd remember seeing yours." He thought he heard Katherine snort, but ignored it.
"I'm from Virginia, actually."
"Hmm," he purred. "I'm afraid I don't know much about the state. Tell me all about it."
He definitely heard Katherine snort. "We grew up there together," Katherine stated, but he kept his eyes fixed on Caroline.
Caroline nodded to her friend and continued for her. "We're from Mystic Falls. Katherine moved after her parents had passed to live here with her aunt. I'm just visiting, no plans to move," she finished.
He grinned and moved closer again. "Perhaps we'll change your mind before the night is over." She laughed and the tinkling had a genuine smile lighting his face. The champagne arrived and he quickly poured two glasses, leaving Elijah and Katherine to help themselves. "To you, Caroline," he toasted. "Welcome to our city and I truly hope you enjoy your stay, for however long it is."
She smiled and clinked his glass, sipping it tentatively.
ooOoo
Caroline laughed for the millionth time that night as she sat next to Klaus. When you got past his well-worn charm, he was quite funny, and the English accent didn't hurt either. She took a sip of water and looked back to him, hardly knowing how they'd both moved closer, meeting in the middle of the soft leather booth. Klaus had his arm thrown behind her, absently toying with the chiffon short sleeve of her dress.
"I swear on my life," he finished and she laughed again.
"You're too much."
"And you're absolutely stunning," he answered, causing her to roll her eyes.
"I'm too smart to be seduced by you," she shot back coyly and he grinned.
Leaning in closely to whisper in her ear, "Well, that's why I like you."
Her lashes fluttered as she peeked up at him. The heat between them was undeniable and she'd forgotten they were in a busy club long ago while they talked and laughed. She'd told him all about Mystic Falls, excluding the low wage jobs she worked. Chicago was glamorous and beautiful in its own way and it was exhilarating being around the hustle and bustle, but Mystic Falls had a quiet beauty. The falls alone were magnificent, something you couldn't find in a city and was a place of solace for her.
The sound of Katherine's voice brought them back into awareness. "We should probably be going." Caroline was slow to drag her eyes from Klaus, she was absolutely captivated by him. "They're closing," Katherine mentioned, her eyebrows raised and already wearing her coat.
"Sorry," she apologized sheepishly to her friend and turned back to Klaus. "Thank you for tonight. Your club is lovely."
"Not as lovely-" She cut off his words with a slender finger to his lips.
"Don't ruin it," she laughed and he smiled, knowing she didn't want to hear his pretty words.
"May I ask how you both arrived?" Klaus asked, helping Caroline from the booth once he'd risen.
"We walked," Katherine answered. "I don't live far."
"Nonsense," Klaus was able to say before Elijah had beaten him to it. "I'll have my car take you home."
"It's not that far," Caroline reiterated, but Klaus was already instructing an employee to bring his car around. "Thank you," she exalted with a smile. "I just have to find my coat," she added, embarrassed that Klaus would see her shabby garment.
"I looked," Katherine explained sadly. "I couldn't find it."
Caroline froze, her mind running through on what to do. She could easily brave the chilly night, but what would she do for the rest of her stay in Chicago. Warm fabric covered her arms as she thought, startling her.
"Take mine," Klaus offered and Caroline was too grateful to decline his offer.
"Thank you. I'll return it."
He leaned in close so only she could hear. "It'll be a good excuse to see you again."
"Maybe I'll have someone deliver it back to you," she teased.
"I'll think of something else then," he answered, bringing her hand to his lips once more and by the appearance of his smirk he knew when he did that it made her a little weak in the knees.