A/N: There's quite a bit of Hayley and Caroline interaction in this chapter. Just thought I should warn you if you're not a fan of , there is mentions of when Damon compelled Caroline.
"I cannot believe you disposed of those vampires without me. You know how much I love to set things on fire." Rebekah complained. Klaus had taken care of the vampires from the night before.
"Was I supposed to leave them in the front yard to rot?" Klaus asked sarcastically. "Besides, they were my responsibility. They attacked the helpless pregnant girl who's carrying my child." They had also attacked Caroline but she was far from helpless in his eyes.
"Oh, I am so moved by your newfound sense of fatherly duties toward the werewolf carrying your hybrid bun in her oven." Rebekah retorted, she didn't believe that he truly cared what happens to the werewolf. If she wasn't carrying his child Rebekah was 78 percent sure that Klaus would have killed the werewolf girl by now for all the trouble she was worth.
"The werewolf would like to know what the plan is." Hayley had been in the other room, looking at one of Elijah's journals when she heard the siblings and their petty bickering.
"Well, that depends what plan you mean, love," Klaus smirked. "My plan for global domination, or Rebekah's plan to find love in a cruel, cruel world."
"She means the plan to rescue Elijah." Caroline walked into the room behind Hayley. She had come downstairs after hearing Klaus and Rebekah arguing and she wanted to know herself what the plan was. The sooner things got done and finished with Marcel the sooner she could get home.
Rebekah picked up a pencil from the desk beside her and threw it at Klaus but he caught it easily before it could strike him in the face. Caroline quirked an eyebrow at them.
"I can speak for myself." Hayley snapped at her. She didn't need anyone speaking for her. Let alone Caroline of all people. She still didn't know where Caroline got off saying the things she did to her.
"By all means, go on right ahead." Caroline gestured with her hand for her to go on. "I wasn't trying to speak for you, I just figured that was what you were getting at. "
Hayley rolled her eyes feeling annoyed with just being around Caroline unable to look at her without remembering the things the blonde had said to her.
"What's the plan to rescue Elijah?" Hayley questioned, sending Caroline another side-eye glare before focusing on Klaus. "You know, the good brother. The one who is now in the possession of your mortal enemy after you stabbed him in the back."
Klaus had been staring at Caroline from the moment she entered the room despite Rebekah throwing a projectile at his face but he finally tore his eyes from her. "In the front, if we're being specific."
Caroline gave a snort. Well, at least he wasn't denying his actions though he didn't sound the least apologetic about them either.
"You two said that you would get him back." Hayley looked from one Original to the other. "So is there a plan, or what?"
With everything that Klaus told her the night before about his history with Marcel and the fact that he was trying to gain favor with Marcel, earn his trust and lure him into a false sense of security where Klaus was concerned. So Caroline wasn't all that surprised by what he said next.
"Okay. Well, firstly, Marcel is not my mortal enemy..he's my friend, albeit one who is unaware that I'm trying to sabotage his hold over the supernatural community of the French Quarter, but a friend nonetheless." Klaus informed Hayley. "And secondly, I daggered Elijah in order to gain Marcel's trust. If I had known he would place my bother in the hands of a particularly nasty teenaged witch, I certainly would have weighed my options a bit differently." he looked to Rebekah. "And thirdly, sister, please."
"And thirdly, the plan, as you have demanded, is for Niklaus to simply ask Marcel for Elijah back," Rebekah informed Hayley not the least bit sorry for trying to stab Klaus with a pencil. He deserved it.
"That's..." Hayley frowned worriedly. "That's not the whole plan is it?"
"Of course, it isn't." Said Caroline. "Knowing Klaus he's planning something diabolical and probably has a plan A, Plan B, Plan C and so on and so on."
Rebekah raised an eyebrow at Caroline. "When exactly did you start to know my brother so well. I would think with you always trying to escape his company you wouldn't be so well versed in all things, Klaus."
"We're friends. Friends know things. " Caroline wasn't sure she wanted Rebekah to know just how well she knew Klaus now.
"Since when?" Rebekah asked, her eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Enough, Rebekah." Said Klaus, he didn't need Rebekah giving Caroline the third degree. The last thing he wanted was for Caroline to start rethinking their friendship.
Rebekah turned her suspicious gaze to Klaus. Noticing how he stepped closer to Caroline as if to shield her somehow from her questions. She also took notice that Caroline didn't seem bothered by his close proximity or the way he seemed to stand so ready to defend her.
"Can we get back to the plan to rescue Elijah discussion?" Hayley said impatiently.
Rebekah tore her suspicious gaze from Klaus and Caroline and responded to Hayley. "Caroline isn't wrong. Klaus may be a miserable excuse for a sibling but there is none more diabolical."
"And that's only the Plan A, love," Klaus told Hayley. He moved to his desk and took a seat in his chair. "There's always a Plan B."
"And what's plan B?" Asked Hayley, raising her brow questioningly.
Klaus's lips formed into a smirk. "War."
Caroline figured he had another plan and she wasn't the least bit surprised that it involved violence. After all, Klaus's specialty seemed to be tearing down anyone who stood in his way.
Caroline sat at the island kitchen, her laptop opened in front of her. She was bored and was scrolling through the web but it didn't do anything to alleviate her boredness. Being stuck in this house no matter how large or nice it was had quickly become tiresome and frustrating. She was no homebody. She didn't know how some people were able to sit around and do nothing when it was driving her crazy.
Letting out a long sigh she shut the computer closed and made her way to Klaus's study, she was reaching for the handle when it was pulled open.
"Caroline, sweetheart, what can I do for you?" Klaus eyed her curiously.
"I was hoping to browse through your extensive book collection." Reading a book at this point sounded good to her with how bored she was.
Klaus smiled, stepping aside. "By all means help yourself. Your welcome to read whatever you like."
Caroline entered the study, her arm brushing against his as she brushed past him and she ignored the shiver that went down her spine at the light contact. "Thank you." She walked to the shelf of books and began browsing the titles, running her fingers along the edges and lettering. "I'm so bored I think I'd be happy with just organizing this bookshelf if it wasn't already organized."
"Unfortunately that shelf is already organized. You'll have to make do with reading instead."
Caroline could hear the amusement in his tone and rolled her eyes. "Laugh all you want but you try being cooped up and let's see how long it takes you before you go stir crazy with boredom." She tilted her head at him, noticing he had on his jacket. "Going somewhere?"
"I have to go into the Quarter, try and get Elijah back."
"Good luck. Something tells me Marcel isn't just going to hand him over." Caroline commented. She didn't think Marcel could be that reasonable of a vampire not with the lengths Klaus seemed to be willing to go to get back at him and throw him out of power.
"Let me worry about Marcel and getting Elijah back." He turned to leave but stopped in the doorway. "And do try and stay out of trouble while I'm gone and stay out of the French Quarter."
Caroline quickly turned a glare on him, scowling. "I hate being told what to do." It made her want to do the exact opposite of what she was told even though she knew that was childish of her. She hated that he thought he could tell her what to do and that she would just listen like some obedient lapdog. No one was the boss of her but herself. No one had control over what she did but her.
"I'm just trying to protect you." Klaus stepped toward her drawing closer until he was in her personal space, his hand landing on her forearm and turning her body fully toward him. "This isn't about telling you what to do or controlling you. You're one of the only people I don't want to control."
Caroline hated that he could read her so well. That he knew what was bothering her without her having to come out and say it. She hated it because it spoke of a deeper connection than she wanted to acknowledge existed between them. But still, she felt her glare lessening being drawn in by his words. "Than what's it about?"
"It's about needing you safe." Klaus stared at her intensely, needing her to understand that he didn't just want her to be safe but needing her to stay safe for his sanity's sake.
"I can protect myself," Caroline said, meeting his intense gaze with a determined one of her own even if his words caused a warm feeling in her stomach and the way he was looking at her made her feel like every nerve ending in her body was about to come alive.
"I don't doubt that you can protect yourself, Caroline. You're strong, I know that but the vampires and witches of New Orleans are a whole different ball game than what you're used to in Mystic Falls."
Caroline frowned if that were the case why not train her to be better, faster, stronger, where she would be able to handle her own against the supernatural of New Orleans. "Then train me to take them on."
"No." Klaus's response was immediate. "I won't put you in harm's way."
Caroline glared at him. "These arguments won't always work," she warned.
"When this is all over and I have control of the French Quarter you can go wherever you like whenever you please. You'll be free to do as you wish as long as it doesn't jeopardize your safety." He hoped when this was over she would want to stay here in New Orleans.
While Caroline appreciated he wanted her safe kind of like how Stefan was always trying to keep Elena safe but that didn't mean she had to like it. "I'm not a damsel, Klaus. I can handle myself."
"I know but your safety is my priority right now."
Caroline opened her mouth to respond but snapped it shut as he leaned in, her breath caught in the back of her throat at his very near proximity. His lips were just inches away from her own.
Klaus watched her closely before leaning forward the rest of the way and brushing his lips against her cheek and pulling back slowly, watching as her eyes fluttered. It was a relief to him that he seemed to have somewhat an effect on her. Sometimes it was hard to tell with how she constantly brushed aside their connection in the past.
Klaus knew she was aware of the effect she had on him but he didn't believe she was fully aware of just how strong of an effect she did have. If she was anyone else he would worry she would use that to her advantage but Caroline wasn't like that. Not really. Well besides the times she played the blonde distraction but other than that she wasn't one for duplicity. Something he was increasingly grateful for as his feelings for her only intensified with time.
"I'll be back." he placed his hand against her neck, the pad of his thumb, caressing over her pulse point. "Remember what I said. I need you to remain safe." He dropped his hand and strode out of the study.
Caroline watched him go, the skin of her cheek tingling where his lips had met, her neck warm from his touch. She took a slow breath, trying to regain control of her reactions. She shook her head trying to remember when she had started responding to him in such a way. When did he start to have an effect on her with something as simple as his words or a simple touch?
Marcel stood in a suit, getting fitted for a suit for the party he was throwing. He was accompanied by Thierry one of his most trusted daylighters.
"Damn, I do look good in a suit." Marcel boasted, pleased with his appearance.
Thierry chuckled but turned to the television that was running a news segment, photos of Tina Mcgreevy and Joshua Rosza were being shown. "My guy at the docks is gonna come forward as an eyewitness, saying he saw those two drunkenly fall into the Mississipi." He informed Marcel. "They'll be dredging for weeks. No one will come looking around here."
"That's good, considering one's dead in a dumpster behind the county morgue and the other one is a vampire now. Anything else?"
"Ow!" The tailor fitting his suit pricked her finger with a pin accidentally.
"Allow me, darling." Marcel crouched down and took her finger into his mouth, cleaning the blood off, tasting it on his tongue before releasing her and straightening back up.
"One thing." Answered Thierry. "I sent 4 nightwalkers to look into a werewolf sighting in the Quarter. I haven't heard from them since."
"That makes 10 dead nightwalkers in the last week." Marcel frowned, his nightwalkers seemed to be dropping like flies. "You think the werewolves are back in town trying to start some trouble?"
"Look, I know you and Klaus are friends but the fact is since the Originals showed up-"
"Oh, come now, Thierry." Klaus had arrived just moments before at the Abattoire and had overheard the pair's topic of discussion. "You're not still upset about that little, toxic werewolf bite I gave you, are you? I thought we were at bygones."
Thierry ignored Klaus looking to Marcel. "I see you've given him free rein of your compound now." He made no move to hide his disapproval or distrust of Klaus.
Klaus's eyes narrowed. He didn't need free rein of the compound because as it was it belonged to him before it belonged to Marcel. He advanced toward Thierry. "Yes. Well, seeing as my family and I lived here, built the place, in fact-"
"All right. Come on." Said Marcel, getting in between them, he didn't need Thierry challenging Klaus of all people. You don't go around challenging an Original without there being dire consequences to pay. "You both know the drill. Thierry's my guy, inner circle. Klaus is my old-time friend and sire." He focused on Thierry. "He's also a guest here. Peace, all right?" He looked between both of them. "All right."
Thierry conceded, taking a step back.
Marcel turned to Klaus now that it seemed a fight wouldn't break out between the two and focused on his sire. "What do you need, my brother?"
"I'm afraid my sister Rebekah is insisting I demand Elijah's return. She's quite worked up about it."
"I'll say." Responded Marcel.
"We're not gonna have 3 Originals walking around town, are we?" Thierry said in protest. "Half our guys think the sister killed the nightwalkers."
The planes of Klaus's face hardened. "Is that an accusation against an Original?"
"Eh."
Klaus advanced quickly on Thierry, eyes hard and angry. Thierry, however, this time wasn't backing down, looking ready for a confrontation.
Marcel quickly interceded before things could get out of hand. "What did I say about peace?" He asked before addressing Klaus. "Come on. Walk with me."
Klaus shot a smug look at Thierry as Marcel steered him out of the room with Thierry glaring after them.
"Your inner circle man lacks a sense of humor," Klaus stated as they walked out along the balcony of the building.
"He's a little overprotective but loyal to a fault." Said Marcel. He had a lot of guys but Thierry was one of the ones in his inner circle that he trusted most. "I saved his life back in the forties, found him dying of a war wound outside a VA hospital. He'd kill for me and die for me. Plus, that boy can play the trumpet like you would not believe. Maybe I'll see if he can play a little tonight at the party. You're coming, right?"
"How can I miss my chance to meet the city councilman as he accepts your gigantic charitable donation?" Klaus wasn't too keen on the way that Marcel handles the head figures of the city by playing by their ball game, he much preferred instilling fear and intimidation to get what he wanted.
"Oh, he's a schmuck but he lets us do our thing in exchange for certain community services, like keepin' our fangs out of the locals." Said Marcel, sensing Klaus didn't particularly understand why he bothered with the councilman. "Listen, about your brother... I would love to help you out but Thierry is right. My guys are on edge. They see the Original family moving in, vampires dying, it makes them nervous. If I hand Elijah back now, it might give the wrong impression about who's really in charge here. You know what I mean?"
Klaus didn't care what kind of impression it gave. It was only a matter of time before they knew just who was in charge now that he had returned to New Orleans but still he pretended to be civil about the matter, keeping Marcel in the dark of his real intentions. "You understand I had to ask."
It looked like War was the plan he would be going with to get Elijah back. The option he much preferred.
Caroline had ended up settling on a book of poetry from the shelf but instead of leaving Klaus's study she settled on the couch, paging through the book with a glass of blood.
Now, normally she wasn't one for poetry books. Not really but it was that or biographies and she rather take her chances with poetry than that.
She skimmed through the poems for twenty minutes before tossing the book beside her, taking a decent swallow of her glass of blood before setting it on the table, running her tongue along the seam of her lips for any drop of blood that might have stained them while looking around the room, she stood and walked over to the window behind his desk.
She had to admit that the plantation home was rather beautiful with its large field and rich green grass and apple trees. She turned away from the window and moved toward his desk running her hands over the wood absentmindedly, the papers on top catching her eye.
They didn't seem all that important, some appeared to be documents, there were a few books, she moved things around just to be doing something but when she moved a book aside she revealed a sketchbook.
She paused looking up half-expecting someone to come in and catch her snooping but she knew that wouldn't be the case both Rebekah and Klaus had left. The only other person there was Hayley and they were avoiding each other since last night.
She ran her hand over the sketchpad hesitating. She knew it was wrong but she couldn't help but be curious about what Klaus spent his time sketching. Did he sketch landscapes? Or people? Or abstracts? She started to withdraw her hand away but her curiosity got the best of her and she picked up the sketchpad and flipped it open. The first was of a dark forest, and it seemed to be winding at the end of a road where a ray of light shone, she turned the page and the next sketch was of a figure standing in a dark area, his hand reaching out to a ray of light, she flipped again, and there was a sketch of a lone wolf underneath the light of the full moon.
They were beautiful sketches if not a little dark but she rather thought the one with the lone figure reaching for the light was in between. Like being stuck in the darkness trying to reach out for the light. For hope. Or maybe that was just her interpretation. All the sketches were really well done not that she was surprised, she still had the one he drew of her back home in her dresser.
She didn't know why she kept it. She just couldn't bring herself to get rid of it for some reason.
All his sketches seemed to be good but it was the next sketch that had her breath catching in her throat.
It was of her, she was standing in front of a window, the light catching her face, her blonde hair curling around her shoulders, with loose strands framing her face and she didn't know how since it was only a sketch of her but there seemed to be a glow to her skin, like the air around her was filled with warmth. There was just something so genuine about it.
She turned the page again and there was another sketch, this one she was, sitting at a table, twirling a fork and was mid-laugh. She remembered this as one of the dinners he took her to when he was teaching her how to block her mind off from the invasion of other vampires.
She turned the page again and again and again and each time it was to another sketch of her. Each one detailed and carefully etched, not a single of her features wrong. It was more like he magnified them.
Caroline knew she was beautiful but the girl in the sketches seemed not to have a single flaw, etched to look angelic always in the light. Was this really how Klaus saw her?
"What are you doing?"
Caroline startled, shutting the sketchbook with a snap and dropping it to the table, looking over at Hayley with wide eyes. "Nothing."
"It's a good thing you don't make lying a habit. You suck at it."
"Thanks." Caroline snarked.
"What are you doing in here?"
"I was reading a book," Caroline answered, though she wasn't sure why Hayley was even talking to her since they had been avoiding each other.
"Oh, is that what you were doing?" Asked Hayley doubtfully. "'Cause it look to me like you were snooping."
"I was not snooping." Caroline protested even though that was exactly what she had been doing, her curiosity had gotten the better of her. "I don't know what business it is of yours what I do."
Hayley's eyes lit up. "So you don't like when people pry into your business but you have no problem doing so to others?"
"I don't pry into other peoples business."
"Oh, so you just pry into mine then?"
Caroline glared. "If You have something to say to me the-"
"I definitely have something to say." Hayley cut her off abruptly.
"Then just say it." Caroline hadn't taken Hayley for one to beat around the bush.
"Where the hell do you get off trying to make my decision for me to have this baby?"
"I wasn't trying to make that decision for -"
"Yes, you were." Hayley snapped. "Who do you think you are to try and take that decision away from me. It's my body being used like a damn incubator, not yours. And it's my choice. You should be ashamed of yourself for trying to take that from me. How would you feel if our roles were reversed? If I tried to take that decision from you? How would you feel if you were forced into a situation to have the child of a psychopath who cares absolutely nothing for you whose more than likely going to kill you as soon as you're no longer pregnant? Tell me, Caroline, what would you do then?"
Caroline opened and closed her mouth to say something but stopped because she didn't know what she would do if she was in Hayley's shoes.
Hayley nodded. "That's what I thought so next time you want to run your mouth off about things you don't understand, do us both a favor and don't."
Caroline watched as she turned and left the doorway, her words running through Caroline's head.
She never meant to try and make any kind of choice for Hayley. At least she didn't think she did, did she?
Rebekah held her cell to her ear as she walked through the Quarter her patience wearing thin. "Niklaus, for the love of Mary Magdalene, how long does it take to ask a simple question?"
"Much longer than you'd think, considering the answer was as expected, 'no'." Klaus had returned to the mansion earlier and had headed straight for the cellar where the new transitioned tourist was being kept. "Marcel's man, Thierry, is suspicious. He thinks you killed 10 nightwalkers."
"Well, that's a lie. I only killed 8." she said flippantly. "Should I make Thierry the ninth?"
"Marcel is playing friendly. We can't kill the favorite son or he'll catch onto us." Klaus rationalized as much as he would love to rip the disrespectful bastards head off, it would ruin his plans.
"So, war it is, then." Replied Rebekah.
"Indeed." Agreed Klaus. "Do you know what to do with the witch?"
"I believe I do." Said Rebekah.
"Good. You manage Sophie Deveraux. I'll take care of the next step." He hung up his phone and turned to the vampire Joshua who has been minding the vampire Klaus had taken hostage the night before. One of Marcel's many nightwalkers. "I ordered you to drain him of blood. What's taking so long?"
"Sorry." Said Joshua looking uncomfortable with the situation. "I'm not, like, medieval torture expert guy."
Klaus snatched the pitchfork Joshua had in his hands and stabbed it into the vampire, impaling him harshly with it. He didn't have time for a baby vamps hesitant approach to torture. He needed things to get done.
Joshua cringed at the brutal action. "What did he do to you, anyway?"
"It's not about what he did. It's about what's he going to do when we're done here, which is whatever I want him to, just like you." He yanked on the pitchfork ripping it out of the vampire's flesh. "For example, drive this through his torso." He compelled handing him the pitchfork.
And Joshua immediately obeyed even though he didn't want to, stabbing the sharp weapon into the vampire's torso. "That is crazy. I didn't want to do it, but I did it anyway."
"It's called mind compulsion. Vampires can compel humans. Originals, like my siblings and I, can also compel vampires, and no one can compel Originals. You following?" Joshua nodded at Klaus's explanation. "Good. That is how a brand-new nightwalker such as yourself is here doing my bidding with no one the wiser."
Joshua's face scrunched up in confusion. "But I never had my guts drained out of me."
"Yes. That young, Joshua, is because I got to you before you had even a drop of herbal vervain in your system." Said Klaus before going on to explain. "You see, it prevents compulsion. Marcel has had his whole crew taking it since I returned to town and that is why our friend here needs to be bled dry of it, so I can compel him to follow my every command. And with my brother currently in captivity awaiting rescue, we can't afford to be gentle about it, can we?" Klaus took the pitchfork back and rammed it into the vampire, giving it a violent twist.
Joshua couldn't help but cringe in sympathy for the other vampire.
Rebekah waited outside the shop where Hayley had gone to the other day, she turned to greet Sophie as she approached her on the sidewalk. "Oh, so glad you could make it. Elijah only lies daggered and rotting whilst you dilly-dally."
"You're lucky I came at all," Sophie responded disgruntled. "What do you want?"
"Hayley was attacked last night by Marcel's crew last night because somebody told him there was a werewolf in the Quarter." Whoever it was was going to regret it. "She only made one stop. Whoever saw her here ratted her out. Watch and learn." Rebekah turned on her heel and strode into the shop, Sophie following her inside.
"Hey, Soph." Said Katie, the young woman, when she noticed her after emerging from the back room of the store.
"Hey, Katie." Sophie returned.
Rebekah moved around the store touching things here and there. Katie noticed the blonde but made no sign of recognizing her. "That's filled with marigold - great for attracting the opposite sex," Kaite said, noticing Rebekah touching a necklace hanging from the shop. "It would look awesome on you."
"I very seriously doubt that." Rebekah dismissed, focusing on the witch. "Do you have any others, one with, say - I don't know - wolfsbane, perhaps?"
"Wolfsbane?" Katie repeated, going rigid as alarms started to go off in her head. It couldn't be a coincidence after that pregnant wolf girl yesterday. "Why would you want that?"
Rebekah vamp rushed her, her hands wrapped around her throat, lifting her into the air. "Please do not play dumb with me." She slammed her down onto a table.
"Rebekah!" Sophie exclaimed, worried for Katie.
"I just sold a werewolf some herbs. That's all." Katie confessed when confronted with Rebekah's ire.
"Are you lying to me, Katie?" Rebekah tightened her hand around Katie's throat threateningly. "I suggest you answer my question honestly."
Katie started to choke in earnest. "Sophie-"
"Just answer the question, Katie, please." Sophie pleaded, not wanting to watch Rebekah kill her, there wouldn't be much she could do to stop it from happening.
"Yes. I told someone, but you don't understand." Katie pleaded. "I - I love him."
Rebekah lifted Katie from the table and threw her to the floor violently, placing the heel of her stiletto directly over Katie's throat, her threat clear. "And tell me, who is this vampire Romeo of yours?" Katie clamped her mouth shut, not wanting to say anything. "Shall I count to 3?" Said Rebekah warningly.
Klaus's phone buzzed as he pulled the pitchfork from the nightwalkers body, handing it to Joshua. "Be quick about it. I have an army to build and one compelled minion does not an army make."
He pulled out his phone, swiping his thumb over the screen and placing it to his ear. "Well?" He asked expectantly.
"You were right about the traitor," Rebekah informed him. "Luckily, she's just a kid and she doesn't know anything about us and what we're up to. Do you want to hear the part that's gonna please you the most?"
"Oh, do tell." He did love being right.
"She's in love with someone in Marcel's inner circle. Guess who it is?"
"Right-hand-man type, favors silly caps?" He guessed.
"Two points for you." Rebekah quipped. "Thierry is fraternizing with the enemy."
"Well, that means he just unwittingly became the key to our entire plan." Klaus rather like the turn of events. He had wanted to kill Thierry earlier but this? This might be better.
"I told you you'd be pleased."
And Klaus didn't have to see her to know she was smirking. "Oh, to be young and in love in a city where witches and vampires are at war." His signature smirk sliding into place. "How very tragic."
Shortly after talking with Hayley Caroline had left Klaus's study returning to her room. Hayley's words had run on an endless loop in her head and she couldn't stop going over it in her head.
She had thought back to her argument with her about her decision to get rid of the baby and the more she thought about it the more she realized Hayley was right.
Who was she to try and make that decision for Hayley? She had let her anger get the better of her and acted like a judgmental bitch. God, she was horrible with the things she said. She thought back to everything she said and she had practically bullied Hayley about her choice. A choice that was Hayley's choice to make and hers alone.
Caroline wasn't sure what was worse the things she had said or the fact that she had wanted to hit Hayley knowing she was pregnant. She was a terrible person. She wanted to apologize but she didn't know how. How did one go about apologizing for something like this? Hell, if she was Hayley, she wouldn't want no damn apology. She didn't believe Hayley would want one either.
One of the worse things was that Caroline knew her reaction had nothing to do with Hayley's choice but more about her. Everything she said had come from a selfish place.
And she hated that she was that girl. The one who was judgmental and righteous and thought she was so much better than everyone. She did not want to be that girl.
And she knew part of her reaction had to do with Klaus. They were growing closer and despite who he was she was becoming more protective of him. But friends were protective of each other and they were getting back to being friends like before. And okay, admittedly there might be something there between her and Klaus that she just wasn't ready to explore. Maybe a part of her reaction had to deal with a bit of jealousy not that she would admit that to anyone but herself.
Speaking of Klaus he had heard him return earlier and she could now hear Rebekah as well and there was the voice of Sophie Deveraux. God, she hated that witch. She was the reason she was still in New Orleans in the first place.
Caroline followed the sound of the voices but stopped when she saw Hayley just outside the door, listening in on the conversation taking place behind closed doors.
Hayley turned her head to look at her as she walked to stand just a few inches to her left. Her eyes instantly hardening into a glare not that Caroline could blame her.
Caroline said nothing but instead started to listen to what was being said, curious to what was being discussed between the three in the room.
"Are you out of your mind? No way." Sophie protested.
"It's very simple. We need you to perform a teeny, tiny locator spell to help us find our brother." Rebekah told her not seeing what the big deal was about her doing a simple Locator spell. Witches used the spell all the time.
"Witches who practice magic in this town get caught and they get killed." Sophie was not risking her life so they could get their brother back when they were the ones to hand him over in the first place.
"Yes, about that. It seems you left out a crucial detail when we made our deal. Marcel's secret weapon, the way he knows when a witch is using magic." Klaus leveled her with a look. It was pretty convenient that she just happened to failed to mention that bit of useful information.
Sophie stared back blankly as if she didn't have a clue about what he was talking about.
"Girl about yay high," Rebekah raised her hand to a certain point indicating the girl's height. "Cute as a button, anger issues."
Sophie's eyes widened, they couldn't mean who she thought, could they? "Davina? Where have you seen her?"
"I don't know," Rebekah stated. "The little brat erased my memory right after she threw me out a window with her bloody mind."
"Let me cut to the chase." Klaus did not have the patience currently to beat around the bush. "Divina has Elijah. You witches, I assume want to get Davina away from Marcel. We don't know where she is. Ergo, we need magic."
"Divina would sense it," Sophie claimed if she even attempted to do a spell Marcel would know.
"Unless, of course, another witch - say, a traitor to the cause, Katie for example - was to perform much more powerful magic at the same time," Rebekah suggested leadingly. "That would create a smokescreen, concealing your very small spell from Davina."
"Katie doesn't deserve to die." Sophie protested. Could she really sentence her friend to death? Did they actually think she could do that to her?
Klaus felt his anger rise to the surface with the witch, slamming his hands angrily on the table and standing up from his seat. "Sophie Deveraux. You're in no position to be so principled. You can't win a war without a few strategic losses, no matter how regrettable they may be. How many times have the vampires been one step ahead, knowing something they shouldn't? Your sister, executed in the public square for practicing magic, who knew she'd be caught? Did she even attempt to flee?"
Sophie didn't appreciate her late sister, Jane-Anne, being brought into this. "She was caught hiding in a cargo hold of a freighter before it set sail down the Mississippi."
"And who, pray tell, of Marcel's valued inner circle manages his business at the docks?" Klaus asked her pointedly.
"Katie's boyfriend, Thierry."
Caroline had listened to every word that was exchanged. The plan to use Katie and this Thierry in their plot despite that it was morally questionable sounded like a good one none the less.
Caroline glanced briefly at Hayley trying to gauge her reaction to the plan but she didn't appear all that bothered by it. In fact, she seemed rather invested in getting Elijah back which Caroline wasn't sure she understood. She didn't think the two knew each other all that well before this.
Hayley noticing Caroline watching her sent the blonde a glare. If Caroline had something to say to her she should just say it instead of watching her.
Caroline shook her head, practically seeing the challenge in Hayley's eyes, she didn't feel like getting into yet another argument with her. She was still trying to figure out a way to apologize for saying the things she did that she had no right butting her nose into like it was her business. She didn't need to add more things to the list of things she needed to apologize to her for. And she undoubtedly would because lately, Hayley seemed to bring out the worse in her.
She looked forward and knocked on the closed door.
Hayley's eyes widened and she quickly backed up from the door just as the door opened.
Caroline looked away just as Klaus pulled the door opened, his face drawn down into a frown when he pulled it open, looking like he was ready to snap at whoever dared knocked when they were busy plotting but when he saw it was her the muscles of his body relaxed. "Caroline."
"Is this a closed meeting or-" she trailed off as Klaus grasped her arm and gave her arm a tug before she could finish asking, pulling her into the room.
"You don't need to ask," Klaus told her, ushering her into the room.
"Nik, we don't have time for this." Rebekah frowned at Caroline. "Can't you see we're in the middle of something."
"Yes because I was listening in," Caroline responded candidly. "So are you going with the plan to set Katie and Thierry up?"
"Let me guess, you have a problem with my plan?" Asked Rebekah.
If they were in Mystic Falls she probably would have but that had more to do with what her friends would think of her going along with a plan like this than anything else. She felt a little bad about setting a somewhat innocent girl up but said girl had also sold a pregnant girl out so then again she didn't feel all that bad. Who sells out a pregnant girl, werewolf or not.
"Actually, it sounds like a pretty good one." She told Rebekah and watched as her brows arch in surprise. "But how sure are you that this plan will work?"
"There's no guarantee in a plan like this." Said Sophie. "It's gonna be a gamble."
Caroline, for the most part, had been ignoring the witch's presence. "I wasn't asking you." she glared, just seeing Sophie made her angry for keeping her here through her stupid linking spell.
"If the plan goes the way we want, love, you have nothing to be concerned about," Klaus said as he led her to his previous seat and motioned for her to take the seat.
Caroline sat down and looked from Rebekah to Klaus. "So how are you going to go about it?"
Klaus and Rebekah shared a look. "I've got that handled." Said Klaus.
Rebekah was a little surprised that Caroline didn't seem to object more to her plan. It seemed being away from Mystic Falls was making her less of a goody-goody. And Rebekah thought it was making her a bit more tolerable than before not having to deal with her judgments.
Perhaps Caroline was finally breaking free of the chains that kept her from being what she wanted to be without thinking about other peoples opinions or judgments.
Klaus stood with Marcel at the Abattoire watching as Thierry played the trumpet in the courtyard.
"You're right. He's good." Klaus admitted which was a shame since Thierry was destined to be nothing but a pawn for tonight's plan.
"Right?" Asked Marcel in response. "Music Man, I call him. Ladies love him but he's spoken for. He knocks around with this pretty little witch, says he loves her but I don't know."
"Your brightest soldier is fraternizing with your enemy and you don't care." Klaus found that a little hard to believe.
"Well, of course, I care but Thierry is a grown man. He makes his own choices and I get some good intel." Marcel admitted. "Besides, he's not gonna do anything to jeopardize what we're doing here. I mean, check this out - a vampire hosting a ritzy charity event. We have a community here. No one's gonna mess that up."
"Still... You don't want the witches to get too bold, given that a witch's tip about a werewolf in town led to the disappearance of your nightwalkers." Klaus said leadingly. "I'm sure you've considered the possibility that it could've been a trap."
Marcel thought his words over. "Well, maybe I'll send a little message." He decided. "Thierry!" He called down to the man. "Take a team of nightwalkers to the Cauldron tonight, do a little rousting... Oh, and Thierry? Make it nasty."
Klaus's eyes lit up with triumph but he refrained from outright smirking that Marcel was doing what he wanted.
Theirry looked conflicted at the order and glared distrustingly at Klaus but knew he would do as Marcel wanted regardless.
Klaus sat at his desk perusing through some papers when his phone started buzzing. He picked it up. "Little sister."
"Well, brother, I believe I've made certain Marcel will be properly distracted tonight."
"Dare I ask?"
"Let's just say his attention will not be on us." Rebekah couldn't see what Marcel saw in the bartender Cami, she didn't seem anything special, just another human. "I did my bit. What are you doing to ensure Elijah's safe return?"
"Currently, I'm preparing insurance against the tender-hearted."
"Meaning?" Rebekah asked.
"We need proper motivation for Katie to cast a powerful spell tonight. I'm creating that motivation. Marcel has ordered a rousting of the witches." It hadn't been difficult at all to manipulate Marcel to give the order. "And I, in turn. have arranged for things to go tragically wrong."
Klaus stood in front of his nightwalker hostage with Joshua closeby in the cellar. "You understand what you're to do?" The nightwalker nodded. "Good."
"Marcel may not be concerned with Thierry's romantic entanglements..." He paused. "But there are other crimes which he'll be less inclined to so easily forgive..."
If Thierry and Katie truly loved one another than the rousting would take a deadly turn, playing right into his plans.
"Killing a vampire, for example. That would be unforgivable. If Katie hopes to save her one true love from Marcel's punishment, well, a rescue mission like that will require something positively magical. But then... what's worth dying for, if not love?"
Caroline sat at the grand piano, her hands drifting over the keys. She glanced up at her computer that she had on top of the surface, watching the tutorial video of how to learn to play the piano.
She made a face when she hit the wrong key. Playing the piano was a lot harder than it looked.
"I wasn't aware playing the piano was one of your talents."
Caroline looked up and her eyes widened at the sight of Klaus in a black suit, holding a black devil masquerade mask in his hand. She had forgotten how close to perfect he looked in formal wear. "Are you heading out?"
"Yeah, Rebekah and I are attending Marcel's charity ball." He paused. "Did I forget to mention that?"
"You might have a but you've been busy planning the set up of Terry?"
"Thierry." Klaus corrected with a smirk. "You know, I thought you would have problems with this plan."
"The last time I butted into something that wasn't my business I ended up digging myself a very deep hole of being a horrible person."
"You could never be a horrible person, Caroline." Klaus didn't know why Caroline would think she was a horrible person and he didn't need to because there was nothing that would make him think she was a horrible person.
Caroline pursed her lips at that in disagreement. He clearly had her on some kind of pedestal or something. She looked away from him.
"So how do I look?"
Caroline looked back at him. "Annoyingly perfect."
Klaus gave a laugh remembering the last time she said those words to him. "Does that mean you can't even look at me?"
"Yes." Caroline nodded, fighting back a smile. "So much so that you should just be on your way now."
Klaus gave a laugh, walking over to her, leaning down without hesitation, and brushing a kiss against her cheek. "Have fun with teaching yourself to play piano, Love."
Caroline watched him, turn and disappear out the doorway, she looked back to the piano. "Easier said than done." She muttered.
She tried to focus on her task, pressing the keys but she couldn't focus and they were out of tune. She had been trying to think of a way to apologize to Hayley and show that she truly meant it but couldn't come up with anything to make her believe she was sincere but finding out Rebekah and Klaus would be out for the night an idea was forming in her head.
The sound of heels clicking on the floor sounded and she looked up to see Rebekah in the doorway dressed in a gorgeous black dress. "You can really pull black off." She complimented without meaning to.
Rebekah paused, raising her right brow in surprise. "Thank you but I look good in anything I choose to wear." She nodded her head at the piano. "You don't play very well."
"I was attempting to self-teach myself to play, it's not going so well." She frowned. "The downsides to being stuck inside is boredom."
"I think you can find better use of your time than this." Rebekah walked further into the room."If you don't want to be stuck here than don't be. Unless you don't have a problem with following orders from my brother like a good little pet."
Caroline bristled. "I'm no one's pet and I don't follow anyone's orders."
"Could've fooled me," Rebekah smirked. "Staying locked away here like a little damsel."
Caroline stood, glaring. "You don't know what you're talking about. That's not me. I'm not some scared little girl. I'm not that person anymore and I haven't been since I became a vampire."
"Prove it then." Said Rebekah. "You can either help us when it is needed or you can hide away here like some weak baby vampire. It's your choice, Caroline."
Caroline watched her turn and leave with those parting words. Caroline shutdown her laptop, Rebekah's words running through her mind. She hated hiding away here and she knew that if Klaus thought he could get away with it he would probably lock her in a padded room with guards while saying it was all to keep her safe. Rebekah was right she was being hidden away like a damsel and that wasn't who she was and wasn't who she wanted to be. So the only question was what was she willing to do about it?
Caroline waited a good twenty minutes after Klaus and Rebekah left before heading up the stairs, she walked past her room and stopped at the next door, grasping the handle. Did she really want to do this? She wanted to do something to make up for the things she said to Hayley and she felt this was the only way. And with that thought she tightened her hand on the doorknob, turning it and pushing the door open.
She stepped into the room, pausing in the middle of the room, glancing around, she didn't know what she expected Klaus's room to look like. It wasn't like this was the first time she ever been in his bedroom before well she hadn't been in this one but it was different from the one she been in of the MIkaelson mansion of Mystic Falls.
She moved forward, her eyes skimming over the furniture and walls, past the bed. She had no idea where to look for what she was looking for hoping Klaus hadn't had time to get rid of it, her eyes slide to the dresser, trying to figure out where to start looking.
Her eyes widened when the object she came to find was on his dresser in the open, she walked forward, eyes on the small vial. She grasped at the vial not about to question her fortunate luck assuming Klaus had planned to get rid of it which is why it was out in the open but hadn't found the time to do so with all that was going on.
She glanced around Klaus's room and then back at the vial in her hand. She knew Klaus would see this as an act of betrayal or taking advantage of his trust in her when she was probably the only person he trusted to be honest with him since he rarely trusted anyone but she couldn't let that stop her.
Hayley had the right to make the choice for herself what she wanted without the threat of Klaus. Without her misplaced judgment. This was Hayley's life and she had every right to make the choice for herself if she wanted to have the baby or not and no one else's.
So with that thought in mind, she pocketed the small vial of wolfsbane into her jean pocket and slipped out of the room.
A/N: So I hope this clears up some of Caroline's reaction to Hayley trying to end the pregnancy.
I hope you at least liked the chapter. Review if you feel like it.