Chapter 26 is Here!
Hello Everyone,
First and foremost, I want to express my deepest gratitude to my incredible and loyal reader manolomel9 Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and excitement!
Now, onto the exciting part—Chapter 26 is finally here! I have something special in store for you all. As a little twist, I've decided to end this chapter on a tantalizing cliffhanger. Trust me, it's going to keep you on the edge of your seat, and I have a feeling you might find it hard to wait for what comes next!
I can almost hear the anticipation building up as you prepare to dive into the captivating twists and turns of this new chapter. I promise it's filled with all the drama, excitement, and surprises you've come to love—and maybe a few unexpected moments you didn't see coming.
I'm eagerly looking forward to reading your thoughts and reactions in the comments section. So don't hold back! Let me know what you think and how you feel about the cliffhanger.
Enjoy Chapter 26, everyone! Your ongoing support and engagement mean so much to me, and I can't wait to hear from all of you.
Happy reading!
Darkest Temptations
Chapter Twenty Six: Happy Wife, Happy Life
April Mikaelson
I made my way back into Caroline's kitchen while she and Elena debated Vickie's involvement in our family in the sitting room. I couldn't stand listening to anymore endless theories or directions this might lead us to take. I just wanted us to be alright; for one small moment we'd been happy together. There were so many bad days or arguments; this entire week we'd all been getting along for the first time. Klaus had taken Caroline out on another amazing date; he and Elena hadn't argued at least not in front of us, and unknown to Caroline and Elena, Klaus and I had really taken things to the next level in our bedroom. Klaus had been so patient with me; he'd kept my virginity a secret, and I appreciated that, but now I just wanted to move forward with him. But nothing was going to move forward now; this new person in our lives was going to change everything we'd held dear, and I was worried about what her presence was already doing to Klaus. When we arrived, the way he had kissed me wasn't like before; I was going to pretend I was an expert when it came to him; I was almost an armature next to Caroline. But something about him was just off; I'd never seen him worried or the slightest bit frightful; he was always so sure of himself, so put together and strong-minded.
But I was worried. I'd spent the entire journey here worrying about him. I'd turned pages in my book and pretended to be consumed by the words on the page, but I was distracted with every passing mile. I didn't know if I could help him; he didn't talk to me the way he did with Caroline, and he didn't look at me like he did Elena. I didn't have a connection with him, and I knew he'd never tell me that; he was too much of a gentleman to do it, but I knew it was true. I was never going to compare to Elena or Caroline, but now I had the threat of Vickie Donovan and her stupid games.
I made my way out of the patio doors, sliding them shut behind me while hearing Elena and Caroline still debating in the distance. I looked across the backyards at the sound of Vickie's patio doors being slid open. Klaus stepped outside, his hands sliding into the pockets of his jeans. He looked around, almost checking; no one was watching him. Did he have something in his pocket or something? Why else was he walking like that? He looked miles away; he hadn't even noticed me standing here, and I wasn't about to point out my presence.
I watched him retrieve keys from his pocket when he reached Elena's house; in he stepped and quickly shut the door behind him. I sighed. Of course he hadn't noticed me; why would he? I could be wearing a bright yellow t-shirt and a foam glove and I'd still go unnoticed; even when we were alone, it was like I was invisible at times. Not that it was his fault; he just had so much going on, and I wasn't about to trouble him by telling him how alone I sometimes felt. I mean, it was up to me to figure that out and work on it; I couldn't expect him to fix everything for me.I made my way over to the pool. I kicked off my flip-flops and sat down on it's edge before slipping my legs into the lukewarm water. I was wearing a short pair of denim shorts, so there was no chance I'd get them wet. I'd always loved this pool; Klaus cleaned it himself; he didn't want to risk bringing in a service to do it; we couldn't risk anyone discovering we were polygamists. Klaus said he didn't mind, but I knew he was frustrated at times with all the little things that escaped my notice. I wasn't an idiot; I'd just never had to look after myself before; now I did. I had to run a house, pay bills, and learn to live alone half of the week because my husband stayed at other houses.
Despite all the hardships, I wouldn't have my life any other way; I wouldn't change my marriage or my new family for anything. They had no idea how much I loved them, like most families, I suppose. My parents were never affectionate, and they'd died before they got the chance to show me love. Now I had no one; I wasn't much for grief but loneliness; that was becoming a daily aspect of my life.
I heard the patio door of Elena's house opening again. I looked over my shoulder as Klaus stepped out alone. He slid the glass door shut behind him before he began to cross over onto my backyard. Only then did he pause and see me. I smiled up at him; he took one look at me and began to make his way towards me.
"I thought you were with Caroline." He said as he stood beside me, looking out onto the pool.
"Oh yeah, I just needed some space."
"I see," he replied.
I looked up at him. "You know she doesn't blame you, right?"
Klaus turned his attention to me. "Excuse me?"
"She's not mad at you; Caroline understands why you did what you did. I know it's not my place, but... I paused, biting my lower lip. "I just want you to know that. It's the same for Elena; she gets that whatever this is, you did it because it was the only thing to do."
Klaus studied me for a moment. "And what about you?"
"What about me?" I asked
He tilted his head. "What do you think?"
"I don't count." I blurted before I could stop myself.
I looked away from him and shook my head. "I mean, I'm sure there's a lot ahead in the grand scheme of things,"
"April?" Klaus asked.
I looked up at him; he looked hurt, like I'd wounded him with my words.
"Yeah?"
"You count." He assured me.
I kicked my feet slowly under the water before looking up at him and smiling, "Yeah, I know." I lied.
He watched me for a moment. I felt my cheeks beginning to flush red when I realized how awkward I'd made this situation. Klaus bent down to my height, keeping his weight on his feet. He checked over his shoulder before he met my gaze.
"What's wrong, baby?"
We'd been together for almost seven months, and I was the only wife he ever referred to as 'baby'. I loved it; it made me feel special and important. But he only ever said it when we were alone or when he knew I wasn't standing in the sunlight where he wanted me. I was an original vampire like him, but I was nowhere near as strong as him or even Elena and Caroline, for that matter. I didn't have the confidence they did; I was still learning to be myself.
"Nothing's wrong." I told him.
"April,." He said, "I know you well enough to know when something's wrong."
"Maybe you're just lucky?" I smiled and shrugged.
"Well, I'm not feeling that right now, so talk to me."
I looked over at him, pressing my lips together and fighting back my words. He nodded at me encouragingly.
"It's just-"
The sound of a sliding glass door caught both our attention. I looked over at Vickie's house and saw her coming out onto the patio; she had her hands on her hips and was staring at Klaus as though she expected him to come to her.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding." Klaus muttered under his breath before rising to his feet.
He turned to me with a smile. "We'll talk about this later, okay?"
I nodded before he gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze as he passed me to head over to Caroline's house, ignoring Vickie completely.
I looked over at Vickie; she glared at me. I felt my stomach twist into knots, and I wanted to throw up; something about her was so wrong. She made me uneasy and uncomfortable; it wasn't just that she was dead either. There was something else, something dark and sinister in her eyes, like she was planning something, like she'd been plotting something for months.
She kept her eyes on me as she turned back around to head into her house.
That was a message; she'd seen Klaus talking to me, and she wanted to tell me he was hers now. I knew that's what that look was; she was telling me to back off. Was I the first person she had chosen to target?
Caroline Mikaelson
When I heard the kitchen door open, Elena and I both made our way into the kitchen together to find it wasn't April returning but indeed Klaus. He sat his keys down on the kitchen island as I made my way towards him. He kissed my cheek before I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and embraced him tightly. I pulled away, and while Elena and I stayed on one side of the kitchen island, he took the other. I looked over at Elena to find her eyes were fixed on Klaus.
"Is she in that house?" I asked Klaus
"Yes."
"Why is she here, Klaus?" Elena asked him.
Instead of answering her, Klaus shifted his gaze to the window, and I followed it to find he was looking out over at the pool in April's backyard.
"What are you looking at?" I asked
Klaus let out a sigh. "Nothing."
I glanced at Elena, who shrugged at me before I turned my attention back to him.
"Klaus, just tell us what she said to you because we've spent hours on the road worrying."
"Until I have everything straightened out, I'm not going to address this subject any further."
"Are you telling us to drop it?" Elena asked, stepping forward, her arms clasped tight.
"I'm telling you that there are many things to consider here, and until I can sort it out, there's nothing I can say to make any of this any easier."
"She can't be part of our lives; you never met her."
"You told me about her."
"Yeah, but there's a huge difference between knowing and living with someone. And may I remind you she was dead days ago?"
"Days ago, I had three furnished homes and a business about to go into development," he reminded us, his tone emphasizing the gravity of his current predicament. "This is a temporary setback, and I can assure you that it will be dealt with accordingly."
Elena, however, was not easily placated. Her response was sharp, almost cutting through the tension like a knife. "She wants to be your fourth wife," she said, her eyes fixed on Klaus. "This is hardly a simple favor; this is a lifetime commitment."
Klaus returned her gaze, unfazed and unwavering. "You made it easily enough," he retorted, looking her dead in the eye.
In that instant, the atmosphere between them was electric, charged with unspoken words and emotions. Elena's reaction was swift; she turned on her heel and exited the kitchen in a flurry, her footsteps echoing as she vanished through the backdoor. Klaus's gaze lingered on her retreating figure, following her every movement until she was no longer in sight.
Silence settled over the room, a silence so profound it seemed to press against the walls, until Klaus finally broke it.
"Aren't you going to ask what's going on?" His voice, low yet probing, sliced through the quiet.
I shook my head slowly, maintaining my composure. "No," I said, meeting his gaze with a steady resolve. "That's not my marriage."
Klaus's brows drew together in a subtle frown, his head tilting as if trying to decipher my meaning. "What do you mean?"
"Now that we're back," I began, each word deliberate and measured, "I think it's time we started setting boundaries." My eyes never left his, unwavering in their intensity. "And I don't think I'm the only one thinking it."
Klaus nodded, a slow acknowledgment of the truth hanging between us. "I agree," he said, his voice carrying an unexpected weight.
"Really?" My surprise slipped into my tone, a crack in my calm facade.
He stepped forward, closing the distance between us. His hand found the cool surface of the counter, anchoring him as he spoke. "I did miss you."
A smile broke through my stern exterior as I placed my hand over his. "I missed you too."
"How much?" Klaus's fingers traced a gentle path over my wrist, igniting a familiar warmth.
"So much," I confessed, but then pulled back, retreating a step. "But I can wait, until tonight." My words faltered when I noticed his eyes had drifted to the floor, avoiding mine.
"What? It would have been my night with you on the schedule," I reminded him, a hint of desperation creeping in.
He raised his brows, meeting my gaze once more. "Right, of course," he replied, but there was a hollowness to his words that set my senses on edge.
A chill ran down my spine, a premonition of truths unspoken. "You're not staying here tonight, are you?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Klaus reached out, attempting to grasp my wrist, but I retreated further, out of his reach.
"Caroline—"
"It's her, isn't it?" I demanded, my voice gaining strength. "You're staying at her house?"
"This isn't what you think," he began, his voice pleading.
"Was it her idea or yours?" I interrupted, each word a challenge, a demand for the truth that lay beneath the surface.
"If you would just—" he tried again, but the space between us was now a chasm, filled with unspoken doubts and lingering questions.
I shook my head "You know if we were more centered about this, more whatever you want to call it," I shrugged. "Old world? Then, you wouldn't even go near her until she was your wife."
"Well, love, if you want to get technical, then right now none of you are my wiv-"
As my hand arced upwards, my palm connected with his cheek in sheer fury. Despite the force I poured into that moment of fury, he remained immovable, his face a stone wall against my tempestuous strike. I was no match for his strength, and we both knew it. Klaus immediately pivoted and made his way to the backdoor.
"You're not staying in this house tonight," I called out to him.
"Clearly!" he replied, without missing a beat.
"Fine!" I shouted after him as the door slammed shut, his footsteps fading as he retreated.
I pressed my lips together, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall.
Klaus Mikaelson
I stopped abruptly as I reached the backyard, a wave of introspection washing over me. Turning around, I gazed back at the homes, each holding a chapter of my complicated life. There was the home with Caroline, then April's, followed by Elena's, and finally, the last house—the one I couldn't bring myself to acknowledge as belonging to her. Despite owning all these houses, each inhabited by a woman significant to me, I felt an overwhelming reluctance to return to any of them.
Caroline was furious, demanding answers that I struggled to provide. Elena had taken a phone call from Damon just moments after I had finally declared her mine. April remained upset, withholding the reasons for her distress. And now, there was Vickie—Vickie Donovan, who stood on the brink of becoming my fourth wife. Each woman, each house, represented a piece of my life, yet I felt disconnected from them all. The weight of their expectations pressed upon me, and I was left pondering my next move.
I couldn't remain here another second. I needed to distance myself from the problem, and I needed to do it now before I said or did something I might regret later. With urgency, I cut through the narrow path between Caroline and April's houses, crossing the empty front yard of my home with Caroline. I made my way to the driveway, where I retrieved the binder from the passenger seat of my car. It contained all their new IDs, credit cards, and records.
Instead of leaving it at Caroline's door, I decided to place it at April's. I positioned it where she would easily notice it, rang the doorbell, and began to walk away. I hadn't even reached my car when I heard April's voice call out to me.
"Klaus? Where are you going?" she asked.
I didn't answer her. I couldn't even bring myself to look at her. There was something about her innocence that stirred my human side, a side I couldn't afford to reveal, not even to her.
"Klaus?" she called again, watching me get into my car.
I switched on the engine and pulled out of the driveway, heading down the road I had arrived on just minutes ago. I didn't know where I was going, but I knew I needed space. I needed to breathe. I needed to figure out what I was going to do about Vickie Donovan.
Caroline Mikaelson
April, Elena, and I were standing around my kitchen island, looking down at the binder Klaus had left at April's doorstep before he took off.
"Did you guys have a fight?" Elena was quick to ask.
"Did you?" I fired right back.
"Guys," April said.
"Is he mad at you?" I asked Elena
"Maybe it's just all the stress he's under right now?" April suggested.
"It's not my fault she's here; she's his problem, not mine."
"Well, Klaus is a big boy; he can handle his own messes."
"Guys," April repeated.
"What?" Elena and I snapped at the same time.
"What are we going to do about all of this? We can't just ignore her forever."
"Well, Klaus said he's probably staying at her house tonight." I revealed.
"Since when?" Elena asked.
"He didn't mention anything to me." April said.
"Well, he clearly has his own problems to worry about." I retorted.
"Okay, let's just calm down." April said
"I'm calm." I said
"Caroline, clearly you two had a fight after I left."
"After you stormed out, you mean?" I interrupted
"Well, he was being an ass, and I didn't want to stick around and listen to it."
"So you walked out?" I asked
"Maybe we shouldn't talk about this now." I thought I heard April say then.
"There's nothing going on between me and Klaus!" Elena snapped; she was getting defensive.
"Obviously not," Vickie said, announcing her presence. "That would be completely inappropriate, wouldn't it?"
"What are you doing in my house?" I questioned.
Vickie had taken advantage of the patio door being open; otherwise, we wouldn't have heard her arrive. She was leaning against the open door frame, her arms crossed and her hair tossed onto one shoulder, a slow, arrogant smirk forming on her lips.
"If I'm not mistaken, it's also my fiancée's house too, isn't it?"
"No, it's not!" Elena argued, "Klaus is not marrying you."
Vickie tilted her head as she looked at Elena. I could see the cogs turning in her mind; she was planning something.
"Well, I don't think I'm the only one in the running for that position. None of you are married to him."
"Caroline is." April said quietly, catching Vickie's attention.
I smiled, remembering then that I was indeed married to Klaus. I opened up the binder on the kitchen island and began to sieve through the documents he had purchased again for us. There between my new medical records and my bank details was my legal marriage certificate, which I held up for Vickie's attention.
"How did he get that so fast?" She questioned.
"Clearly," I said, running my hands over the edges of the binder before looking over at her. "You don't know my husband very well, do you?"
Vickie straightened herself up from the doorframe; she looked at me with a fire burning in her eyes as she made her way towards the kitchen island and snatched the document from my hands, which Elena snatched back from her and handed right back to me.
I began to sort through the envelopes within the binder, handing over Elena's first, then April's, and then finally an envelope marked for the attention of 'HER'.
I pushed it towards her with one finger and rolled my eyes. "This one's for you." I said.
Vickie quickly picked it up and began to look through the records. "What is all of this?"
"Your brand new life," Elena sighed. "Klaus has connections, so he's given you what you need a ticket out of here. Why not take it?"
I smiled at Elena's confidence, but Vickie sneered at her.
Vickie shifted her attention to me, and I sighed before I explained it to her.
"Fine," I took a deep breath. "If you're staying here and that's a big if, your story is simple: you aren't married to Klaus, you're not sleeping with him, you're a tenant of his, he's your landlord, and nothing more. Got it?"
Vickie smirked and looked between Elena and April back and forth. "So that's how you're getting away with him being seen at both your houses?"
I shook my head. "It seems Esther didn't tell you much about our setup at all, did she?"
"I know enough; let that be enough to keep you right where I want you," Vickie said before meeting my gaze. "Right on the edge."
I shook my head. "I'm not going anywhere, Vickie."
"None of us are." Elena added.
Vickie turned through the pages in her hands. "I assume the money is fake too."
"No," I huffed. "That's real; whatever he's given you in that account is for your house."
Vickie continued to read, "There's a direct debit set up here; what's that?"
I looked over to Elena and April, who shifted uncomfortably and remained silent, leaving me to be the one to answer her.
"Klaus gives each of us money every single month for household bills and expenses."
Vickie's forehead creased into a frown. "So you don't work?"
I straightened up; I would not allow her to insult me in my own kitchen.
"We'd only been here a few months, and-"
"Oh my god, you guys are actually laughable." She sniggered, "You're gold-digging sluts, and you think you can talk down to me."
I felt a heat rush over my face; I could feel my cheeks flushing red with anger.
"I'm not a gold digging anything," Elena said, stepping forward. "I worked hard to get where I was before we came here."
"Sure you did," Vickie rolled her eyes. "How did you meet Klaus?"
"That's none of your business."
"And what about your boyfriend? That new guy at school, Stefan. I thought he was your everything."
"Yet another thing that is none of your concern."
Vickie shook her head at her. "I can't believe you talk down to me, and yet you really don't see how deeply screwed up your life is; the good and pure Elena Gilbert is now a gold-digging whore."
"Get out of my house," I demanded.
Vickie shifted her attention to me and smirked. "Gladly," she said before taking her documents and leaving.
As soon as she was gone, Elena, April, and I exchanged glances with one another.
"Is anyone else worried?" Elena asked, "Like seriously worried that she is about to destroy our lives before we even get them started?"
I didn't know what to say as I looked over at April.
"Hey, are you okay?" I asked her, noticing her silence.
April seemed to muster up her smile before she nodded in response.
Elena huffed "Let's go to the megastore outside of Sandy, the same one as we did before. Klaus will know where to find us there."
"Are you sure? You really want to go furniture shopping today?"
"It's what we did that first day."
I sighed "Someone go and tell Vickie to get ready."
Klaus Mikaelson
I knew I couldn't go back without an idea of where we were heading. I had been the one to make this decision for us; it hadn't been the first decision, and it certainly wouldn't be the last, but there was a possibility it was my worst. But how could I possibly tell them the truth? If Vickie did not become my fourth wife, then my mother would reach her frail, bony fingers out from her grave and prevent my wife from having children. We had never discussed it between us, not even Caroline and me. The only time the topic had come up had been the night we left Mystic Falls. I never doubted I could get my wife pregnant; I doubted my ability to be what a child needed from a parent. I wouldn't take away their chances to become mothers; that would be the cruelest act possible, and I was already responsible for a great many in life. But the three of them deserved better than to come against my mother's wrath, and I was going to do everything to ensure my mother stayed on her side and I remained fixed in mine. Things would be different now; until I figured out how to go forward, I had to find a way to get us through first. Which meant ensuring our safety above all else. I had connections everywhere, witches at my disposal with a single phone call. That's why my first task in leaving Mystic Falls was to ensure I secured a new phone, untraceable and ready to go.
I wasn't sure how their journey to Utah had been this time, but mine had certainly been eventful. After I secured the deeds on all four houses, I immediately went to work on what came next. Endless nerve-ending hours of driving while making phone call after phone call to get things set into place.
I had secured new IDs and passports for each of my wives before I moved onto securing the documents for Vickie too, even with everything else I had to do. When I arrived in Sandy, besides grabbing a shower at a gym and a change of clothes, I had done nothing else; I hadn't slept. By the time they pulled up beside me on the driveway, I was beyond exhausted, but they couldn't know that.
By the way, Caroline and April had practically run into my arms. I knew the journey had been as difficult as I suspected it would be. They had plenty to deal with and no idea as to what I had done for them already. But that was what I'd agreed to do—to protect them against any threat that crossed our paths. Primarily, I'd had other intensions, or much rather, the hybrid within me had other intensions for the three of them. I knew I loved Caroline, and I'm sure she suspected my feelings long before we were together. My attraction for Elena had begun the night I met her; I'd not say otherwise even if I were asked by any of my wives. As for April, her innocence and her gentle nature were something so raw that I could barely handle sheltering them. She was so naive to life, so different from the countless other women I'd surrounded myself with throughout the centuries. Yet I couldn't imagine being here without her; she was a rare woman, and her virginity was not my responsibility but my treasure.
Beside me on the passenger seat, my phone screen lit up for a second before my car's Bluetooth activated and Elena's name appeared on the center console screen.
"You incessant woman." I rolled my eyes before selecting the necessary button on my steering wheel. "What?" I answered, not masking my annoyance.
After a beat, she replied, for voice ever hesitating, "Klaus? I'm sorry."
"No, you're not," I cut her off. "What do you want?"
I heard her sigh from the other end of the call, causing me to immediately end the call and continue on my journey. I didn't have time for whatever it was she wanted. She would have to wait; I had more important things to deal with. But my beautiful, stubborn second wife never did take kindly to being told no.
Again, my phone began to ring without so much as missing a beat. This time I let it ring before answering it.
"Really?" I questioned when she said nothing. "Elena, what is it?"
"Caroline told us about Vickie."
"I see," I replied. "And?"
"So the schedule for this week is just changed?"
I smirked, "I don't handle the schedule." I reminded her.
"Oh, of course. That's Caroline's job."
I clenched my teeth together and rolled my neck before asking her "What do you want now?"
"We're going furniture shopping."
My brow furrowed into a frown. "And?" I questioned.
"Well, shouldn't you be here?"
"Last I checked, you knew how to shop," I said.
Surprisingly, Elena had been the one spending the most of the three of them—nothing that had made me raise any concern over. Just as she began to settle, her expenses took a small hike. Her clothes and her accessories had all increased in price. But now that all of that was gone, she'd have to do it all over again, as would the rest of us. I rolled my eyes over the idea of shopping to stock three closets—scratch that—four closets of four different houses.
"You can't stay mad at me forever."
"Oh, I'm sure I will find something to occupy my time."
"Like your fiancé?"
I shook my head. "Don't do that." I warned her, "Don't make this about something it isn't."
"What is it then?"
"None of your business, like I said before."
I could hear her huff on the other end of the line, "Are you going to join us at the store?"
I paused to look over at the consol to her name before I began to drum my finger tips on the steering wheel while stationed at a light.
"Klaus?" Elena repeated.
I let out a long, slow breath. "Yes, Elena." I said as I selected the green button and made my way to the next street.
"Thank you."
Instead of answering, I ended the call with a soft push of the button. I rolled down the windows of the car and rested my arm on the sill of the door. The cool air was refreshing, but I had to pull in and get some coffee before I went to meet them.
Caroline Mikaelson
"So we just scan whatever we want?" Vickie said as she studied the hand scanner at the megastore outside of Sandy.
I nodded as I handed one of them to April, who knew how to set hers up already, of course.
I didn't have the strength for anymore sarcasm; I just wanted to get this out of the way right now so I could quickly disappear into the store and wander around without interruptions. I needed to clear my mind after my fight with Klaus and our journey to Utah. I didn't have the strength to deal with Vickie right now; none of us did, and just like us, she had work to do.
"Everything you need for," I paused. "Your house."
Vickie shrugged, "Alright, but where is he anyway?"
Elena was the first to reply, "Like we said, he'll be here soon."
I decided to be the mature one yet again.
"Vickie, we all need to get everything we need for each house," I told her despite her dead eyes looking back at me in boredom. "Which means everything from candlestick holders to fridges and beds," I took another beat. "When Klaus gets here, he'll spend the next few hours going around each of us, since technically."
"Yeah, I get it; he lives in all the houses; believe it or not, I'm not an idiot."
I let out a long sigh. "Whatever, let's just get on with this."
"Why do you all hate me so much anyway?"
Elena shook her head at her. "You'll never understand," she said before heading off to look at the bedding.
April, who I was sure hadn't said a word to Vickie, began to head in a completely different direction from Elena, and I, not wanting to be followed, took off downstairs where I knew I'd be alone.
I began to walk around, scanning the necessary items, only this time not doing as I had before. When I saw something I knew I needed, something I wanted, and that would match not only my style but also Klaus's, I just scanned it. No price tags. Klaus was right; last time I'd gotten everything we needed, but I hadn't bought anything with a brand; I'd been so careful about spending his money. But now that I was settling into our lives, I knew what our home needed; I knew what I deserved, and that was what Klaus wanted to see within me too. I stopped in the middle of the kitchen section. We had an amazing kitchen. I loved the black marble tops and backsplash, so I didn't want to change a thing about what we were already working with. I did, however, choose a better refrigerator, one that came with more storage and was less energy-consuming than the old one, which I scanned. I selected the same silver set as before, for it was still my favorite—nothing compared to the one Elena had bought, but I liked the floral design of mine against her rather classic American style.
I was scanning the barcode on a new dryer when I felt a large, warm hand cross over the small of my back before resting on my hip.
"Hello wife." Klaus greeted me as he whispered into my ear, his delicate lips kissing the edge of my cheek.
"Hi." I said, turning to face him, his arm not moving from my body.
Klaus moved his free hand up to caress my cheek, his thumb gently rubbing over the apple of my cheek as he looked me dead in the eyes.
"I'm sorry," I said, shaking my head as he held my face. "I just-"
He quickly brought his thumb over my lips to silence me before pulling my head to his chest and wrapping his other arm around me, his fingers massaging the back of my neck as he rested his chin on the top of my head.
"I know," he assured. "I'm sorry too."
"You're sorry? I don't think I've ever heard—"
Klaus brought his lips to mine in a deep kiss, his fingers moving from the back of my neck into my hair as he pulled me closer to him. I dropped the scanner onto the top of the dryer and wrapped my arms around his waist, my fingers holding onto his back as if I were afraid to let go.
When we parted, I looked up at him. He brushed my hair behind my ears with his fingers before cupping my face in both of his hands. He smiled at me with affection before taking my lips again in a short but sweet kiss.
"It's going to be okay." He assured.
"Really?"
He nodded. "It has to be."
I bit down on my bottom lip before I took a deep breath.
"You know I have to ask."
"I can't-"
"Not that," I stopped him before meeting his gaze. I raised my brows. "Just answer me this: is she staying?"
He sighed "I don't know."
I closed my eyes, my head shaking in his hands. "That's not good enough. Don't make me ask again." I said, keeping my arms around his waist as I did.
Klaus began to nod his head.
"Okay," I sighed, dropping my head to his chest. "Okay." I repeated breathing in his familiar warm scent, my heart feeling like it would burst with sorrow for not just myself but for him and what this meant for his life now.
Klaus brought his lips to the top of my head. "You know I love you," he said as he held me close.
I nodded. "I love you too." I replied before tilting my head back to meet his gaze, "But I hate you so much right now."
He smirked at me before taking my lips in another kiss, this time longer than the last two. I felt Klaus take a deep breath in the middle of our kiss. I could feel his hand moving away from the back of my neck and down to the small of my back as he pressed himself closer to me.
"Caroline." He said against my lips before we parted.
"How do we do this?" I asked him.
Klaus smiled though it was forced. "We'll figure it out."
I nodded. "Yes," I agreed before stepping back. "Now, are you here to help?"
Klaus watched me pick up the scanner before he shook his head. "I can't stay."
"I knew that was coming," I said, rolling my eyes. "What do you want me to tell them?"
Klaus scanned our surroundings and said, "I'll find them."
I stepped forward, not looking at him, as I asked, "And what about the schedule?"
He brought his lips against my temple and whispered, "She gets tonight, but after that, I leave it in your capable hands."
He kissed me once more before leaving my side.
Elena Mikaelson
The store seemed even bigger this time; we'd never been back here since that first day; it felt so long ago now, and yet only six months had passed. I'd scanned everything I needed for the master bedroom already, only this time I hadn't opted for the king-size bed to distance myself from Klaus; instead, I'd selected a classic Queen-size four poster with a wooden frame, which would look perfect in our bedroom and would separate our style completely from his with Caroline and April. When I found myself alone in one of the bedroom displays, I reached into the back pocket of my jeans to retrieve my phone. Like before, along with our documents, Klaus had gotten us new phones with all our new numbers listed. I was about to select his name when I stopped myself and sighed.
"I'm right here." Klaus said from behind me, causing me to jump and quickly turn around.
"You scared me," I admitted, my voice tinged with a blend of exasperation and relief. "What are you doing here?"
Klaus's expression remained unreadable as he took a step towards me. "Where's April?"
"Klaus, we should talk about what happened."
"What happened or what you did?" He asked as he continued to move closer to me.
I crossed my arms over my chest and took a step back.
"I did what I thought was best; I did what I had to do to protect us."
Klaus brought his lips to my ear. "You took a phone call from him mere seconds after I was inside of you," he hissed. "Why?" he demanded.
I closed my eyes, feeling my cheeks flush red with embarrassment and shame.
"It was a mistake, and-"
"And what? What?" Klaus questioned.
I stared at him. "You have to get over it."
Klaus took a step back, his eyes never leaving mine. He turned his back on me for a moment before facing me again, his jaw clenching as he took another step towards me, his finger tips brushing over my forearm, causing me to shiver before he cupped my face in both of his hands.
"Elena," he began, "I don't understand you; you're a contradiction to yourself."
My brow furrowed in confusion at his words.
"You don't know how to be happy." Klaus said, causing tears to immediately prick my eyes.
He turned and walked away from me, leaving me alone and completely destroyed by his words.
April Mikaelson
I'd barely seen any of my family since we arrived. I'd wandered around the store scanning what I knew I needed for my room, the living room, bathroom, and kitchen, but then I got lost. I didn't mind it though; I enjoyed being alone with my thoughts; it had been a long trip home, and I was still playing catch-up. So I was pleased to be alone, especially when I came across an empty corner of the gardening section at the furthest possible end of the store. There was a padded white porch swing display set up. I smiled as I sunk down into it. The back wall of the store was covered with green plants of all different sizes and fairy lights for the night effect. I could even hear water trickling somewhere nearby. I rested my head against the back of the seat and closed my eyes for a moment.
I'd only been sitting for a couple of minutes when I felt someone sit down beside me. I opened my eyes and turned to look at who it was. I was surprised to see it was Klaus.
"Oh," I murmured, attempting to sit up straighter, my surprise poorly masked.
"No," he whispered gently, his hand resting possessively on my thigh, anchoring me in place.
I shook my head, trying to brush off his hand with urgency. "You can't do this, not here. Someone might see us," I pleaded, a familiar fear lacing my words. My constant anxiety revolved around the possibility of us being discovered, our clandestine relationship exposed to a judgmental world. Being polygamists was illegal, after all.
Reluctantly, Klaus removed his hand, yet he didn't distance himself. Instead, he draped his arm around the back of the bench, his head resting comfortably. I bit my lip, my eyes darting around as I strained my neck, ensuring our privacy remained intact.
"Sweetheart—"
"No, someone might see," I interrupted, my voice barely a whisper.
Klaus sighed, pulling me closer, my head finding solace in his chest. His arms encircled me, and he planted a tender kiss atop my head.
"Klaus, stop. We can't do this, not here."
"Hush," he murmured, his lips grazing my forehead, a gesture both soothing and unsettling.
I straightened, meeting his gaze, his arms still a protective cocoon around me. "You don't understand," I began, my voice trembling. "People might think you're—"
"It's okay," Klaus reassured, his voice a soothing balm. "Just relax."
Our eyes locked, his piercing blue eyes searching mine, his brows knitting together in concern. "Unless you can't," he said, his tone shifting from gentle to stern. "April—"
He paused, inching closer, and instinctively, I drew back.
"What did I do?" he asked, his voice tinged with confusion.
"Nothing, I just—" I scanned our surroundings once more, the weight of potential discovery heavy on my shoulders. "I can't be the reason we get caught."
Klaus shook his head, cupping my face with a tenderness that melted my defenses. "Hey, hey, no no, look at me," he coaxed as I fought against the tears threatening to spill. "What's going on? Where are you?"
I shook my head, my eyes once again finding his as I squeezed his wrists, drawing strength from his presence. "I'm fine," I assured him, though my voice betrayed me with a tremor.
Klaus stood, pulling me gently to my feet, his hand intertwined with mine as we made our way towards the park's exit. I let my hair cascade around my face, a makeshift shield against prying eyes.
"Where are we going?" I whispered as the sunshine greeted us outside.
Klaus remained silent, guiding me towards his car with determined steps. I hesitated as he opened the passenger door, a silent plea in my eyes.
"I want to go back inside," I confessed, my voice barely audible. "Last time, I didn't get anything, and—"
Before I could finish, Klaus closed the door, rounding the car to slide into the driver's seat. His hand found its way to my knee, a familiar comfort as he started the engine.
"Talk to me, what happened?" he asked, his voice gentle yet probing.
But the words remained elusive, trapped in the confines of my heart, leaving my silence to answer in their stead.
After a few minutes of silence, I settled into my chair a bit and closed my eyes. Klaus must have activated the heated seat function because soon enough my aching back was in bliss and my shoulders had sunken down past my ears. I opened my eyes a few times but never recognized where we were, but soon enough the town was gone, as were any buildings; soon there was nothing but an endless road ahead. Soon enough, with the heat and the peace and quiet, I found myself drifting off to sleep.
I was awoken when the car came to a stop. I looked out the window and didn't need a sign to tell me where we were. I just smiled at the sight before me. I'd told Klaus on the very first week we were living in Utah how my father had told me about visiting the Colorado Plateau Desert when he was my age and how I'd always wanted to see it. But now here we were, and Klaus was staring back at me with a warm smile on his face.
"You look so tired." I said softly.
"Do you want to go for a walk?" he asked me.
I nodded my head.
He stepped out of the car before walking over to open my door for me. I smiled at him as he offered me his hand, which I took.
"Thank you for bringing me here." I whispered as he brought our entwined hands up to his lips and kissed the back of my hand.
"I said I would," he said before locking the car. "You didn't believe me, did you?"
I shook my head. "I know I'm horrible, but you proved me wrong," I said before I huffed. "That's a constant in my life these days." I mumbled before looking around again. "Look at this place, so vast, so beautiful, so quiet."
"So peaceful." Klaus added before I nodded in agreement.
I let out a long, slow breath before turning to face him. "I feel like I can breathe here."
"I'm glad." He said softly before bringing his lips to the side of my head.
I closed my eyes for a moment before opening them to meet his gaze again. "What time is it?"
He shook his head. "It doesn't matter."
"No, how long was I asleep?"
Klaus smiled "Don't think about that now; just look." He said his attention was shifting from me to the landscape.
We remained silent for a few moments as I admired the beautiful nature surrounding us. I remember my father saying how he believed God had taken his time on this one, that every rock, from the size of a nut to the size of a house, had been perfectly crafted and placed for a reason. That God had made sure every tree, every mountain was there for a reason, that this was where he envisioned people finding the beauty in his creation, not just through sight but through the scent of the air, that delicious scent of sand and trees mixed together with the earthy smell of the ground beneath us.
There were many a handful of walkers and hikers that we passed as we walked hand in hand comfortably through the trails, but I wasn't concerned about them noticing us or seeing anything between us that they shouldn't have. I'd remembered my research; we were six hours away from Sandy, which meant we were far from anyone we'd pass in town. Out here, Klaus and I were just husband and wife, exploring the beauty of God's creation together.
I glanced over at him as we walked and began to smile. "Hi," I said softly.
Klaus looked over at me and grinned. "Hi," he replied before kissing the back of my hand again.
We took a few more steps before Klaus spoke, "Are you ready?"
"To go?"
"To talk." He said it gently.
I took a deep breath as we stopped walking and looked at each other.
"I was just a little tired before, and I made a fool of myself."
He shook his head before taking a step towards me. "You could never do that."
"Yeah, I can; I broke your expensive coffee maker the first night you stayed at my place." I reminded him.
"Not your finest hour, I agree, but..."
"And I practically jump out of my skin every time you touch my thigh or—"
Klaus brought his lips to my forehead. "Just because you're afraid of getting caught doesn't mean you make a fool of yourself, April."
I took a deep breath before nodding, "I know." I said quietly.
"Are you ready to tell me what happened today?"
"It wasn't today," I said before raising my head to meet his gaze. "It was Mystic Falls," I admitted.
Klaus watched the tear escape my eye and travel down my cheek before he met my gaze.
"We traveled through time," I said and saw the realization hit him hard as I admitted my sorrow. "And you all acted like it was nothing," I sobbed, wiping away the next tear quicker than a hiccup. "I know what I signed up for; I know what I did, but I'm not okay, okay?" I told him.
Klaus placed his hand on the back of my head, bringing his lips to the top of my head as I rested my hands on his chest.
I wasn't a child; I could have been honest with Caroline and Elena about my feelings; I knew I was wrong for dumping on this on him now. But everything had just happened so quickly, and I felt like I was screaming for help every second we were back there, and no one could see me barely keeping it together. We'd gone back in time, back to the exact day I had buried my father. Yesterday I'd been wearing the dress I wore to his funeral, the same dress covered in my blood from when that hunter had attacked me that day. All I could think about was getting back here to Utah, but my house wasn't even my home; all my things were gone—well, the little things that had made up my home anyway. I didn't care that my TV sat on the floor of my living room while Elena's was wall mounted and Caroline had hers on a nice unit. What I cared about was the fact that everything was gone, including my ability to keep it together at all costs.
I stepped away from Klaus holding up my hands. "I know you don't do this," I said calmly despite the tears rolling down my face. "I know this is awful for you; I know it's not right to expect you to know what to say." I clasped my hands together and brought them to my lips, shaking my head before telling him, "I'm just a little shook up and..."
Klaus closed the distance between us, his hands on my hips as he held onto my gaze, the soft breeze brushing through his hair and the sun making his blue eyes melt my heart.
I smiled and wiped my face with both hands. "I'm sorry." I told him.
"Don't be."
"But I am."
"No," Klaus said, cupping my face in both hands before leaning down until his forehead met mine. "It's okay."
I nodded my head, closing my eyes, feeling his thumbs brush over my cheeks to rid me of the tears.
"Everything is going to be okay." He assured me.
I opened my eyes and gave him a smile before nodding my head, "Okay."
That was the first time Klaus Mikaelson ever lied to me.
Caroline Mikaelson
Klaus had texted me to say he and April were going to go and pick up a few things he needed; he wanted to get work on the way for his store, which I understood. He always needed something to do, and right now we were all in the same boat; the more distractions, the better in this case. After we finished up at the megastore, I'd driven us back to Sandy and picked up some food on the way. When the delivery trucks had pulled up outside our houses, I'd stood on my front porch and watched the truck parked outside Vickie's house. I couldn't help but shake my head at some of her choices: white leather sofas, a glass dining room table that took six of the movers to bring into the house, a stainless steel refrigerator that looked more like a piece of art than a kitchen appliance. When I discovered she'd picked out a king-size bed, I stormed back into my house, slamming the door shut behind me at the sight. She hadn't gotten another mattress; she intended to sleep in the same bed with Klaus. I could barely contain my anger at that thought. The rest of the afternoon had been spent unpacking everything in my own house, setting up my bedroom, living room, kitchen, and bathroom. By the time it got dark out, I was tired to think about what might still be ahead of us. I was washing up the dishes after heating up my takeout from earlier that afternoon when I heard the garage doors opening. I continued washing when a few minutes later the door to the kitchen opened and Klaus entered.
"Hey," I said, looking over my shoulder at him.
"Hi." He replied with a small smile.
April stepped in behind him and gave me a warm smile. "Hey."
"Hi," I replied before returning my attention to the sink.
"Where's Elena?" Klaus asked after kissing my cheek.
"She's been over at her place all day, can you?"
Klaus shook his head.
"Just this once, I'm-"
"No." He said, his eyes locking with mine, before shaking his head once more.
"I could go and check on her." April offered politely.
I gave her a smile. "Thank you."
She nodded before looking over at Klaus. "Am I seeing you tonight or?"
Klaus just smiled in response, and she nodded. "I'll see you guys in the morning." She said with a smile before turning to leave.
"April," Klaus called, causing her to turn around to face him.
She smiled at him again. "Yeah?"
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight." She replied before turning and leaving us alone.
I turned off the water and dried my hands before looking his way. "Is everything okay?"
He shook his head. "Everything is fine." He assured me before kissing my temple.
"Did you tell her about—"
"No." He answered firmly.
I sighed "I was just going to say that you don't have to tell her anything that happens in that house. And don't tell me either," I said before looking his way, "Because it's none of our business."
I turned away from him and went to my purse. I pulled out my keys and threw them at him; he caught them mid-air.
"I need the station wagon put back into my name." I reminded him before I passed him and made my way towards the staircase in the dining room.
"I'll see you in the morning." I told him, but only after I was almost at the top of the stairs.
Upstairs, the hallway was gone, replaced with endless boxes on my way to our bedroom. I kept the lights off as I entered the room, walking directly over the top of our mattress on the floor, which was still wrapped in plastic, as I made my way over to the window to look out onto the backyards and waited. Klaus emerged a few minutes later from our house; he kept his hands in his front pockets as he crossed the yards, his eyes drifting over to April's house as he passed it, the lights from her house illuminating him for a moment.
I'd hoped he would check in on Elena, but he didn't; he walked right past her house on his way to Vickie's. As he edged closer to the patio doors, the lights from what I assumed to be her kitchen switched on. I held my breath as he moved forward towards the doors. I gripped the window sill when I spotted Vickie; she walked up to the patio doors, seeing Klaus approaching her house. She had her hair tied up on a high clasp, with her bangs framing her face perfectly, of course. She was wearing a towel, a white towel, and nothing else; it was so short it barely covered her ass. She brought her hand up to her hair to brush it back while opening the door with the other hand.
Despite her being dressed like this in front of him, Klaus didn't stop; he didn't slow down as he moved forward, stepping into her house for the first time. I was breathing harder, barely able to contain my anger at the sight. Vickie stood before him as he slid the door shut behind him with one hand behind his back. With him inside, Vickie smirked at him as she brought her hands up to the knot of her towel, parting it open down the center to reveal herself to him.
She dropped the towel and took a step back from him before turning around slowly to give him a full view of her body. I only saw the towel on the floor; Klaus's back was covering up her body from my view, but she was naked. Klaus reached his hand forward, and I stepped closer to the window as he did. With that, the room went into darkness.
Klaus must have switched off the lights.
What was going on?
End of Chapter 26: The Rollercoaster Unfolds
Yes! I've ended Chapter 26 on the juiciest, most dangerous, hottest, and gut-twisting note, and it's for a reason. It's time to show Katrina-H-Creates some love in the comments section. Love or hate me right now, you know you've got a lot to say!
What Happened in This Chapter?
This chapter was a whirlwind of emotions and drama. Here's a quick recap:
Epic Fights Among Couples: Tensions reached boiling points, and words were exchanged that can never be taken back. Who's side are you on?
Vickie's First Day in Utah: New beginnings are always tough, but Vickie's first day in Utah was as unpredictable as the weather. How do you think she'll cope with the changes?
April's Breakdown: We all saw it coming, but when April finally cracked, it was a moment of raw vulnerability. What are your thoughts on her journey?
Klaus's Inner Torment: Klaus is battling demons of his own, and it's starting to take a toll. Do you think he'll find peace?
The Start of Klaus and Vickie's Relationship?: Is there a new romance brewing? The sparks between Klaus and Vickie were undeniable. What do you think of this potential pairing?
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