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Darkest Temptations

Chapter Twenty Five: Captured Within

Elena Mikaelson

The second time the doorbell rang again, I jumped upright in bed beside a calm and overly arrogant Klaus, who seemed content to ignore it and remain as we were. I grasped the bed sheet in my hands and clutched it tightly to my chest, trying to shield my nakedness from him, even though he had already seen all there was to see. No one had come to the door the night I left six months ago. Wait,that was wrong. By this time of the night, I wasn't even home yet. I was at Caroline's house coming up with a plan with her and April. I looked over my shoulder at Klaus, who turned to look over at me.

"What do I do?" I whispered so low that no supernatural being would be able to hear it but us.

"What do you think?" Klaus replied with a sarcastic smirk.

I brought my leg down to the edge of the bed and was ready to stand up when he spoke again.

"Don't you dare."

"It could be important," I reasoned. "It could be Caroline."

"We both know it isn't; we both know who is at the door."

He was right; it was either Stefan or Damon, and it was a door into my past that I wasn't ready to open, not yet anyway. Beside me on my nightstand, my phone began to vibrate. I grabbed it and read the name, 'Damon' before I placed it back on the nightstand without answering it. I couldn't face him; whatever he'd done in Vegas was horrific, and the fact he'd done it to bring me back into his life just made it ten times worse. I'd never be able to think about my wedding without thinking of what he'd done to people that night, just hours later. I'd held out so much hope for Damon; even before I left for Utah, I thought that after I was gone that he and Stefan would finally reunite as brothers and leave Mystic Falls for good. But nothing happens the way he hoped it would be in life.

"Which one?" Klaus asked beside me.

"Damon," I answered him.

I was doing the right thing by not answering his call; I was just going to disappear from his life all over again. But if I did that, then he would never know the true consequences of his actions; he'd never know how angry I was over his actions, and I'd always second guess, not telling him how I truly felt.

I retrieved the phone from the nightstand and brought it up to my ear.

"What do you want?" I asked him knowing he would be expecting a typical cheerful Elena who didn't hold a grudge against him.

I looked over at Klaus, who wasn't looking at me; he was looking dead ahead at the wall, his rage burning in his eyes. This was the last thing he wanted right now, my life in Mystic Falls interfering with his plans. But he was my husband and not my boss.

Damon sighed "Are we really going to do this? Can't you open your mind to reality for a second and focus on the fact that I haven't seen you or heard your voice for almost seven months?"

I had to fight my instincts and keep up my performance. "There was no time jump, Damon; I've not been missing. I woke up in my bed this morning, and I'll be sleeping in it tonight." I lied.

"Do you think I'd lie to you?"

"It wouldn't be the first time."

Beside me, I felt Klaus get up from the bed. I looked over and watched as he slipped on his black boxers, covering up his rock solid ass from my sight. He never even glanced my way before reaching down to collect his pants.

"Klaus?" I called out. "Elena, you were gone; Stefan was a mess, and—"

"Damon, I don't want to hear this." My voice trembled with a mixture of defiance and heartache. The mere thought of Stefan suffering because of my actions threatened to shatter my heart anew.

"Look, if I believed you, that I had been gone, do you have any idea how angry I would be for you hurting people?" I paused, my voice barely above a whisper. "For killing them."

"That's just it," Damon replied, his voice filled with a raw intensity. "I did it for you. I did it because you meant more to me than anything else."

"Well, maybe that's the problem," I retorted, my words sharp and unyielding. "You can't see anything but what you want in life."

Damon sighed, a sound heavy with frustration and resignation. "Fine, call me selfish; call me whatever you want. But don't dare question my feelings for—"

"I don't want to hear what you feel," I interrupted him, my voice firm. "Every single time I do, I'm just reminded of what you believe is standing in your way. Even if it's me."

As I spoke, Klaus silently gathered his shirt and disappeared into the bathroom, the door closing softly behind him. I rose from my bed and wandered to my wardrobe, retrieving my robe. I had missed wearing it; it hadn't been high on the list of things to take with me to Utah.

"Damon, you're drunk, and I can't talk anymore," I said, trying to bring an end to the call. "It's late. We can talk in the morning."

"No!" he snapped, his voice a sharp echo in the night. I knew then that I wouldn't easily shake him off, not tonight. "You listen to me; I did everything for you."

I swallowed hard, my resolve hardening as I disconnected the call and quickly turned off my phone. I should never have answered. Klaus was right.

I moved toward the bathroom door, pushing it open only to find the room empty and the other door leading to the hallway ajar. A pang of worry shot through me.

"Klaus?" I called out, my voice laced with concern.

I made my way downstairs in search of him.

Klaus was gone.

Caroline Mikaelson

Strangely, Vickie had somehow managed to mind her own business during my reunion with my mom. She'd remained out of sight in the kitchen while I sat down with my mom, who had no idea the time jump had happened. She, like everyone else save Tyler and Damon, had no memory of the past seven months; she had no idea she'd been gone from Mystic Falls. She'd been living in Maine and living the retired life I'd always envisioned for her; I was going to send her right back there tonight.

Klaus was right; we needed to stay on the same timeline, which meant I had to have my mom packed and ready to leave within the hour. I had compelled her into believing the same story as before. We sent an email from her laptop to inform her superiors of her immediate retirement while we packed her room together. The difference this time was that I was ensuring she took everything she had left behind before. This time, the photo albums, her mother's wedding ring, and my father's urn would accompany her to Maine.

I didn't care how cramped the station wagon looked or how the extra weight would affect our journey. Klaus had said we were never coming back, and I believed him. Tonight, Elena, April, and I were taking what mattered most to us and our families.

Saying goodbye to my mom was heartbreaking. She cried, and I cried even harder. But we managed to pull through it together. Unlike our previous farewell, this time I promised her that I would see her again. Someday, knowing what I know now, I wanted her to know the truth. I imagined visiting her in Maine years from now, telling her all about the life I had chosen for myself. I wasn't sure how she'd react to my life as a polygamist or a first wife, but that didn't really matter. What mattered was that she would see me living a life free from the supernatural elements she had always feared for me. Someday, I hoped she might even find peace with my choices. I hoped she would embrace any children Klaus and I might have together and that she would see any children from Klaus and April's marriage as her grandchildren too.

After we packed up her car and we said our goodbyes, I'd watched her leave from the sitting room window just like before. However, this time, there was no room for breaking down; I had too much to do. Vickie lay sprawled out in front of the television, seemingly oblivious to the whirlwind around her, while I busied myself with the daunting task of packing up my life.

My entire bedroom, along with a portion of the hallway, was swallowed by an eclectic sea of suitcases and duffel bags in every conceivable size, shape, and color. I was determined not to leave any clothes behind. April and Elena were taking everything with them this time—a decision made to save time on laundry and cleaning. We planned to gradually replenish our wardrobes once settled in Utah. Despite the rush, I couldn't resist meticulously folding each article of clothing before packing it away. Even in chaos, I refused to succumb to disorder.

I organized my clothes into distinct categories: winter, summer, and everything else. Beyond clothing, I was bringing along cherished mementos that held pieces of my heart. My family photo albums, my grandmother's necklace, my favorite books, my Miss Mystic Falls crown and sash, my baby album, my mom's police badge, my old diaries, and most importantly, the bracelet, drawing, and dress that Klaus had gifted me. Each item was carefully wrapped in bubble wrap and handled with the utmost care, despite the ticking clock.

As I flitted in and out of the sitting room, attending to my packing, Vickie remained ensconced in her own world, contentedly sipping the wine she had helped herself to. Her silence was unsettling; she hadn't asked about Utah or my marriage, and the absence of her curiosity weighed heavily on my mind. When I'd finished packing, I'd moved everything next to the front door so it would be ready to go when the time came to leave. The next task, of course, was the cleaning. I was running half an hour behind where I had been this night six months ago, but this time I was using my vampire speed to give myself the advantage I needed.

Every countertop, floor, door handle, floorboard, rug, table surface, ornament, light shade, curtain rod, and shelf was scrubbed meticulously with hot soapy water, bleach, and disinfectant. I was determined to ensure that every trace of my scent was erased. Just like before, I prepared the chicken, allowing it to cook and rest before transforming it into sandwiches for our journey. This time, I made enough for four people; I wanted to avoid any conflict during the long stretch of over a thousand miles we had to cover. Alongside the sandwiches, I prepared soup, snacks, drinks, and all the other road essentials we would need.

As the clock ticked down to just half an hour before Elena and April were scheduled to arrive, I discarded my phone and set out to collect the station wagon. Exhaustion was setting in by the time I finished cleaning the interior of the car. I had forgotten just how much dust had accumulated. But, just like last time, I committed the same effort to clean out the car, wiping everything down, replacing the air fresheners, and rolling down the windows to air out the stale smell. When the car was parked outside my house once more, I brought out the familiar blankets, pillows, and hot water bottles, adding an extra set for Vickie.

I placed the bag of food in the backseat, nestled securely between the chairs, before packing my own luggage into the trunk. With ten minutes to spare, I dashed inside, confident that the car was ready for the trip. In my room, I gathered my change of clothes, all black and identical to before. Beside my set, I collected an additional outfit for Vickie: black jeans, ankle boots, a black jumper, and a black cap. I brought these into the sitting room, where Vickie sat comfortably.

"Here," I said, tossing the clothes onto her lap. "Get changed."

Vickie looked over the clothes with curiosity. "What's with all the black?"

"Just hurry up," I replied, keeping my tone steady before leaving the room.

In the bathroom, I took a quick shower—there was no time for a bath—just enough to wash and shampoo my hair. I clipped it up with a clasp and dressed in the clothes I had prepared. When I returned to the sitting room, I found Vickie waiting, fully dressed. I gathered the clothes she had been wearing from the couch and hurried them into the utility room. There, I dumped them into the washing machine, pouring in as much bleach as possible before switching it on. Within five minutes, they would be ruined and smell only of bleach.

I slid on my hat, cranked the air conditioning to its fullest, and, with a gloved hand, began switching off all the lights. The house plunged into darkness, save for the dim glow of the moon filtering through the windows.

"Let's go," I whispered to Vickie as I made my way down the hallway. She stood at the front door, arms crossed, her posture radiating readiness and a touch of impatience.

We stepped out onto the porch, the night air crisp and biting. I glanced over my shoulder and felt a jolt of urgency. Two dark figures emerged at the bottom of the street, each one wheeling and carrying multiple pieces of luggage. My heart raced as I turned back, locking the front door with fingers that trembled from both the cold and anxiety.

"Get into the backseat," I whispered to Vickie as we walked briskly down the pathway away from my house.

"Yeah, I don't think so. I'll be in the front," Vickie retorted, striding ahead of me with determination. "Don't think you'll be telling me what to do because you won't."

I hurried behind her, watching as she claimed the seat that had once belonged to Elena. I shook off the uneasy feeling and opened the trunk just in time for Elena and April to reach the car, their pace quick and urgent.

"Hurry, let's go," Elena whispered, her voice barely audible over the rustling of bags as we loaded up the trunk together.

"Let's get out of this place," April agreed, tossing her bags inside and squeezing a few into the backseat before climbing in herself.

Elena rushed to the passenger side, only to halt abruptly, her eyes narrowing as she saw Vickie in her seat.

"What the hell is she doing there?" Elena snapped, her gaze darting to me for an explanation.

"We gotta go," I replied, closing the trunk that was nearly overflowing with our belongings.

Elena nodded, urgency overriding her frustration, and slid into the backseat behind Vickie. I took the driver's side, shutting the door beside me with a resolute thud before starting up the car. The engine roared to life, a comforting sound amidst the tension, as we prepared to leave everything behind again.

"Which road did I take the last time?"

"You took Robertson to Eagle's Creek Drive." April replied.

"Right," I remembered, "I'll take the same road out of town, but I'm not driving through the town square this time; we'll save a few minutes if I go north onto Eagle's Creek Drive."

"Ok," Elena replied as she slid on her seatbelt.

I slowly pulled out onto the road and set off down the street; silence fell immediately in the car. None of us wanted Vickie here, and she already seemed to delight in it; we hadn't even reached the end of the street, and she was seated comfortably next to me reading a magazine seemingly without a care.

"He'll tell us what you said." Elena said, breaking the silence.

I glanced over my shoulder to see her glaring at Vickie. Vickie smirked beside me.

"Is that right?" She replied amused. "But which one of you will he tell?"

Vickie looked over at us from her magazine. "I mean, let's face it, none of you will ever know which of you he loves the most or who he trusts the most." She paused for effect. "But I'll know. I'll have you all figured out soon enough."

"And then?" I asked her not to look her in the eye as I did so.

Vickie smirked, "Why would I tell you that?"

"Because you love the power of knowledge, you like to boast." Elena said.

"You can't imagine you can have any kind of life with him; he doesn't even know you." April said.

Vickie looked her way. "Well, I'll be sure to make a very promising and lasting impression on him," she said before flicking her tongue against her teeth.

I looked in the rear mirror as April looked away from her.

This was going to be the most horrific journey, and we weren't even a mile in.

The journey was trying on all of us, myself included; what Damon and Tyler had done to us could never be forgiven. Their actions against us would forever darken the months, if not the years, ahead for us as we rebuilt our lives in Utah. I'd not really had a chance to properly digest what they had done to us; I'd been so fixated on ensuring we made it out of Mystic Falls that their actions had taken second place in my mind. But now, as we edged closer to the Utah state line, I began to take in the last twenty-four hours. I'd not seen Tyler or heard anything from him while we were there. I'd expected him to appear, especially after I had returned home and was trying to escape. But he hadn't appeared, leaving me to wonder now why exactly he hadn't. He'd worked so hard to get me back, and yet he hadn't shown up like Damon had for Elena.

When we reached the state line for Utah, I had gotten rid of the car's license plates and tossed them into the same waste line along the strip of highway as before. We hadn't stopped once along the way but to refill the gas and go to the bathroom when it was needed. I'd brought my iPod for music to distract me as I drove. Elena and April kept busy with books while Vickie had read and re-read every magazine I'd brought for the ride. She hadn't tormented us the way I thought she would. Apart from when we were just leaving Mystic Falls, she'd been rather silent, the occasional sigh and eye roll, but not much else.

But as we got closer to home, I found myself unable to hold it together. I had to know what Vickie had in store for her life now that she had returned and why she was here with us now and hadn't remained in Mystic Falls with her brother.

"So what did Esther tell you about our lives here?" I asked.

In the corner of my eye, Vickie smirked before tossing her magazine down. "Worried she told me something? Well, don't be; she didn't tell me anything."

"She told you enough for you to want to be a part of our lives." April pointed out.

"True." Vickie replied. "Not that she had to tell me much; anything is better than the other side. Even," Vickie looked around as we made our way into Sandy. "Utah."

"So you think you can just become part of our lives?" Elena asked.

"When I marry Klaus Mikaelson, my relationship and whatever he and I do to each other," She paused to tuck her hair behind her ear. "Will be none of your concern."

I felt my anger begin to grow, but I was determined to hold my temper and not allow her to get to me.

"He's not going to touch you." April said that though her tone didn't match her words, it was clear she was afraid of Vickie now that she was here in our sacred place.

"Does that mean you're the one he's sleeping with?" Vickie challenged her. "That's cute."

I saw Elena shake her head. "You know nothing about Klaus; he may be willing to marry you, but you're never going to get what you want from him."

"You think he won't sleep with me because he'll be faithful to you three?" Vickie asked, a mocking tone to her voice.

"No," Elena replied. "Klaus wouldn't waste his time on someone like you."

"Someone like me?" Vickie repeated.

"Yes, someone like you." I checked in. "He's going to figure you out, and then he'll dispose of you."

Vickie let out an amused laugh. "You sound so sure."

"We are," April replied.

"Well," Vickie said. "I guess we'll see about that."

April leaned forward in her chair. "You'll see, you'll see, and when he does, you'll regret ever being here."

"Yeah, I'm not scared of any of you. Especially you, whoever you are." Vickie replied.

I knew she'd already figured out who April was, but she was going to make this difficult.

"I'm April, Klaus' third wife." April replied.

"And what makes you think I'm going to listen to you?" Vickie asked.

"Last time I checked, third will always beat fourth."

Vickie spun around in April's direction at vampire speed, frightening her in the process. Elena was quick to push April back against the backrest and place herself between her and Vickie.

Vickie turned back around and rolled down her window. "So it is true; Elena Gilbert really is a vampire," she said.

"It's Mikaelson now." Elena corrected her as I came to a stop at a set of traffic lights.

"Get your facts right, Elena; until he marries you again, well, he marries all of you again. You're not Mikaelson's."

Her words cut deep into all of us, and the silence that followed quickly proved that to her.

She took great delight in that silence before breaking it again. "Oh, did I hit a nerve?"

I watched her turn back to face forward, leaning back comfortably in her seat. I gripped the steering wheel tightly, my anger growing with every passing moment.

"You know." She began. "This is really great; we're all going to be such good friends."

Elena rolled her eyes. "We'll see who gets the last laugh."

I took the next left, and after another half a mile, I looked in the rear view mirror at Elena and April as I pulled the car onto Spooner Street.

"Home sweet home," I announced.

Everything was as it was six months ago; the houses that lined the street were all still vacant; only a few featured a lawn here and there, but most were untouched, nothing but sandy dirt grounds for lawns.

"So this is my new street," Vickie said beside us.

What exactly had Esther told her? It seemed that Vickie didn't know about our street until I announced we were here. I watched her, how she looked around at the houses as we passed them; she had no idea as to where we had lived here; if she had, she would've known which house side of the street to look at, and right now she was looking at the opposite.

"He's here." April sighed happily as she was the first to note the silver Range Rover parked in my driveway.

I didn't hesitate this time; I immediately drove my car into the same driveway, pulling up on the left-hand side where I had always kept my car, with Klaus's car always being on the right and nearest to our house. I held my breath as I watched the driver's side door open. Out,Klaus stepped, his expression hard to read. I hadn't seen him in over twenty-four hours, and now here he was, my heart fluttered and my stomach churned. I was suddenly nervous. I'd spent so much time planning my escape from Mystic Falls that I'd not considered how I was going to react when I saw Klaus again.

I unbuckled my seatbelt and reached for the handle without a word to the others. Klaus had made his way around to the front of our house just like he had all those months ago; he stood in the center of what would be our front lawn. He wasn't wearing the same clothes as he had before; today it was a white polo neck with Burberry lines around the arm and collar, a pair of dark blue jeans, and a large silver-faced watch. Klaus slid off his sunglasses as I made my way towards him.

"Come here." He whispered as he opened his arms, my lips immediately meeting his.

Klaus wrapped his arms around me, holding me close against him as our lips connected. I opened my mouth, allowing his tongue to slip into my mouth. His arms held me tighter as he deepened our kiss, his lips crushing mine with an intense desire that matched my own. I never wanted him to let me go; I felt safe in his arms; nothing could touch me here, not even Vickie.

We broke away, our eyes locking. "I've missed you." I whispered.

"As I have you." Klaus replied before looking over my shoulder.

April raced into his arms the second I let him go, and Klaus kept his arms around her as he whispered something into her ear that made her nod. Klaus surprised me when he kissed April. We didn't have any neighbors yet, but we'd always been careful that he didn't show any affection with her or Elena, given that I was his only wife in the eyes of everyone else. What we did behind closed doors was our business. Elena came to my side, joining me, and I watched her looking down at her house.

"Are you okay?" I asked her.

"There's so much to do." She replied before looking over at April and Klaus, just as Klaus cupped April's cheek as he continued kissing her.

Klaus and April broke apart, and she leaned up and gave him one small peak before she stepped to his side. Beside me, I watched Elena looking over at Klaus; however, she wasn't looking at him like April and I were; Elena was studying him. What was going on now? Even on their worst days, he had always kissed her cheek in the morning and every night; it was a sign of our shared devotion. But now she wasn't moving towards him, and he wasn't even looking her way. He was watching Vickie as she came out from behind the cars to join us, crossing her arms as she looked over at my house.

"So who lives here then?" She asked.

I sighed "I assumed you'd already know." I tossed up my hands. "This is my house, I mean." I paused to glance over at Klaus. "Our house." I corrected myself.

Vickie walked towards the house, her head tilting up as she said, "And the other houses?"

"I'm next I'm," April paused. "I was the middle house, but guess not really anymore."

"The blue house next is mine." Elena said as she pointed to the house opposite April's.

"That leaves the yellow house; that's yours," I added. "I'm assuming a five-bedroom house with a hot tub and three bathrooms is big enough for your trashy." I paused when I felt Klaus's eyes on me.

"You'll want to be careful how you speak to me." Vickie replied as she continued to look over her house.

"Or what?" I snapped.

She looked at me. "Just remember, I know things too."

"Yeah, I'm starting to doubt that." I told her.

"Enough." Klaus said calmly he never did have to raise his voice; when he talked, people listened.

Klaus reached into his pocket and retrieved a set of keys, which he handed to April beside him; she knew her key had the green cap, so she handed over the others.

"Get yourselves inside and settled in; I'll be with you shortly." Klaus said.

"We've got so much to set up," I said, holding out my hand for his "Let's go."

Klaus didn't move, his eyes fixed on Vickie. "Come," he told her.

Vickie looked over at me and shrugged her shoulders, a confident smirk on her face as she strolled past me. I took hold of Klaus's arm, pulling him back. I wasn't going to let him walk away without telling me what he was up to.

"What's going on?" I asked

"Don't worry yourself with it." He replied.

I didn't want to let him go, but I also knew that he wouldn't tell me what was happening anyway. I let him go, and Elena, April, and I watched him and Vickie walk up the pavement, past the other two houses, and up the driveway towards Vickie's house. My blood ran cold when I noted he didn't use the key Vickie had been given by him; he had already gotten himself a copy of all the house keys, including one for her house. I knew what that meant; it meant he wanted to keep an eye on her, though the reason why remained unclear.

"What the hell is she up to?" I asked

"Shhh, can't she hear us?" April asked

"Not at this distance," Elena said.

"But still," April pressed.

"I don't know what she's up to, but I know she won't win." I told them.

"That's right." Elena agreed.

I looked at her. "You've been acting weird; is everything okay?"

Elena nodded "Yeah, it's just been a long day."

"It must have been difficult, seeing Stefan again and, oh my god, Jeremy as well." I remembered.

"It was, but I got through it."

"So did you send him right back to New York?"

"Yeah, I have to talk to Klaus about that. What about your mom?"

"Already on her way to Maine as we speak."

"That's good."

With that, we both turned to April, who was running her hands through her hair when she paused, "What?"

"What?" She repeated as we gave her a smile, "I'm fine; I'm just not one for grief, I guess."

I shook my head. "I know that's not true. You cry every time that funeral ad says, "

"Don't even talk about that," April snapped, her eyes filling up with tears. "It's just so sad, especially that one where the old man dies and his little dog cries on his lap."

"Let's, um, just head inside. Whose night-" Elena paused.

The realization struck all of us hard.

"We never created a schedule on the road." April said

"I thought I'd just keep things as they were, but I'd have to move everything around so we each still get two days a month with him each."

"She doesn't get two days; she's not even."

"But she will be," I reminded Elena. "Until I'm told otherwise, we have to just make peace with this."

"I'm not making peace with anything; I'm not sharing my husband," April said before rolling her eyes. "You know what I mean? I'm a polygamist, but with you two."

"Can you say that any louder?" Elena whispered.

"There's no one here."

I rolled my eyes. "Let's just go to our places, put on the air conditioning, and let's just wait for Klaus."

"Do you think she's telling him everything?" Elena asked

"I don't know." I replied, looking over my shoulder as I headed towards my door, "I really hope not."

I made my way towards my front porch as April and Elena headed into their houses alone. I unlocked the front door and stepped inside, breathing in the smell of fresh paint. My house was once again a blank canvas. I stepped into what was once my sitting room. I noted the places where I'd originally hung pictures of Klaus and me together; now all the rooms were empty again. Tyler and Damon had taken us back in time, and now we were all forced to re-start our lives, which meant we had to buy our furniture once again, paint, title the bathrooms, and get new carpets for all the bedrooms.

After an hour of making a list in my head of everything I needed from the megastore, Klaus still hadn't shown.

I made my way into the kitchen, stepping up to the window above the sink that looked out onto the adjoining backyards. Klaus had constructed a tall wooden fence during our first week here, so I hadn't really seen much of the yellow house next to Elena's, but without the wall there now I could see over to it. Vickie's house stretched out a bit further than Elena's at the end; I could see just like our three houses. Vickie's house also had sliding glass patio doors; they were right across from the large hot tub that was now also hers.

"Where are you, Klaus?" I whispered.

Vickie Donovan
I watched Klaus Mikaelson reach into his pocket and retrieve a set of keys; he hadn't said anything to me since we left the others and hadn't even looked my way, but god did he smell great, and he totally had the silent and mysterious thing going for him.

"So do you have a key to all your wives houses?" I asked

Klaus glanced behind his shoulder to the empty street. "Mind what you say when you're outside."

"But why? There's no one here."

Klaus unlocked my door and pushed it open for me to step inside.

"Aren't you the gentleman?" I said as I stepped past him into my new house.

The first thing I noticed was the light; all the walls were painted white, and the smell of the fresh paint was intoxicating. There wasn't any furniture, just a line of ceramic lining the floor in each new room I entered. The house was at least four times the size of my place back in Mystic Falls; everything was just so light and open; the windows were huge, and the daylight was welcomed. The daylight had been a problem for me before, but not anymore. It turns out if you're on the other side for long enough, you become numb to that crappy side of vampirism. I could feel the sunlight again, and it was most welcome. Klaus didn't follow me upstairs; he was too busy on his phone, something he told the girls to ditch before they left Mystic Falls. I guess he got himself a new one.

I made my way upstairs alone and looked at the empty bedrooms; the biggest one was the one right at the end of the left-hand side, and from the window you could see right out onto the backyards of the other houses. I raised a brow when I saw Elena and April coming out of the green house and walking over to Caroline's house. I saw her unlocking the patio glass doors for them and how eagerly she shut it behind her when they were inside.

I rolled my eyes at them and their pathetic shut-down natures before I made my way back downstairs and into the kitchen for the first time, finding Klaus leaning his back against the island counter.

"So when do I get to go shopping?"

"Excuse me?" He asked, not looking up from his stupid phone.

"You bought four houses this morning; I'm guessing money isn't an issue for you."

"And what do you know about me?" He challenged.

"I know more than you want me to," I said. "And that's why I'm still alive; that's how I got myself here."

"So you've said." Klaus replied as he slipped his phone into his pocket and crossed his arms over his chest, "And yet, you expect more."

"Oh, I'll get what's coming to me."

"Yes, you will."

"The only question remains is when and what positions you'll take me in." I replied, running my hands down my body before I leaned forward, giving him a glimpse of my cleavage.

Klaus laughed and shook his head. "You are mistaken if you believe that I have any interest in you."

I frowned. "Why not?"

"Why? You ask me why?" Klaus said, "I have three incredible women in my life, women who are devoted and faithful. Why would I ever be interested in you?"

I made my way towards him. "Well, you're not with any of them right now; right now it's just you and me."

"You really think you can entice me to give you what you want?" He asked.

"It's not about what I want, but rather what you need."

He raised his brows. "You believe you are capable of giving me what I need?"

"I know I am." I replied before I ran my hand up his arm, "I can give you so many things your little wives cannot."

Klaus reached for my wrist and pulled me towards him. "And what exactly are those things?"

"I'm wilder, more adventurous, and I like to please."

Klaus smiled. "Well then, perhaps I could find a use for you after all."

"A use?" I repeated, that wasn't exactly what I'd hoped for.

"Yes, a use." He said and pushed my wrist back, causing me to step away from him. "I've known women like you; I've seen the damage they can cause, and I'll not have you come here and upset the balance of my marriages."

I rolled my eyes. "Don't try and make me out to be the bad guy."

"I didn't say you were a bad person."

"No?"

"Even the bad can be repurposed for good."

"Is that what you're going to do with me?"

Klaus smirked "Caroline told me about you once, of the little sister of the young Matt Donovan who died tragically young."

I swallowed hard, recalling that stake through my heart—the pain in Jeremy Gilbert's voice as he witnessed my death.

"So what?"

"Well, you put an end to the old phrase, only the good die young."

I frowned at him. "What exactly are you saying?"

"I'm saying that you're very much alive. And if you wish to stay that way, I suggest you make this house comfortable, because you'll be the only one living here." He said, turning his back to me.

"If I'm not put on that schedule as your wives call it, I'll play my next card," I said, forcing him to look back at me. "I'm going to be your fourth wife, and tonight you will be here at this house."

Klaus smirked, "And what else do you expect? Champagne? Fireworks"

I stepped towards him, closing the small gap between us. I brushed my hand up his chest, my black nails looking great against his muscular body.

"I expect you to do exactly what you want."

"And what is that?"

"What you want to do to me is what you won't do to them," I said and brought my forehead against his. "You want to unleash that hybrid." I met his gaze and bit my lower lip as he watched "Then unleash it on me. Come over tonight, and fuck me."

He didn't say a word; he turned and stormed out the backdoor.

QUESTIONS FOR THE COMMENTS (ALONG WITH YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS CHAPTER WHICH I'M DYING TO READ ABOUT!)

1. Should Vickie become a wife and what kind of a relationship would she and Klaus have?

2. They can't go to Vegas for the weddings, where should Klaus take them?

3. When should Klaus and April take things further?

4. Klaus is so furious with Elena for taking the phone call, is he right?

5. How should Elena fix her relationship with Klaus?

6. Should Mystic Falls be part of the story and if so how?