Darkest Temptations

Chapter Thirty Two: Beneath the Surface

Vickie Donovan

I was breathing my way through another squat as I followed the instructor's directions from my iPad docked on top of the white marble fireplace in my sitting room. Since Klaus hadn't returned, I decided to enjoy a real workout. I'd always taken fitness very seriously; it was the only good grade I got during high school. I enjoyed challenging my body, testing its limits, but at the same time, I enjoyed working to keep myself sexy; I wasn't ashamed of wanting to look good, and I wouldn't apologize for it. I had incredible stamina as a vampire, but I never used my supernatural strength to aid me in any of my workouts since I got here. I wanted it to feel natural, to feel that burn, and to work for my body to get what I wanted.

The music was turned down as the instructor told me to hold it there for twenty seconds before relaxing. I'd locked the doors to the house; despite whatever the others thought of me, I didn't marvel at the idea of Klaus seeing me during a workout like this. Sure, I was wearing a hot pink, tight-fitting sports bra with matching yoga pants that showed off all my curves, but he wasn't going to see them. When a real girl worked out, the clothes were important, but the makeup was gone; all that matters is getting yourself into that zone.

When the instructor finally finished her countdown, I moved back to the front of the fire and bent down, collecting my glass of water from the wooden floor and taking a few sips before rolling my neck. There was a knock at the door, and I froze at the sound. I'd not ordered anything, and I didn't know anyone here in Utah. Another knock quickly followed, as did a booming voice.

"UPS," the man called. "I need a signature."

I placed my glass on the floor again before cautiously heading towards the door. I kept the chain on the door but undid the bolt, pulling it open to reveal the UPS guy, or at least who I thought was the UPS guy.

He smiled at me. "Got a parcel here for," he stopped to read the address label, "Klaus Mikaelson?"

I just nodded, and he slid the signing tablet through the gap. "Sign here, please."

I did as he asked before sliding the tablet back into his hands and taking the parcel from his other. He offered me one more smile before heading back down the steps and to his truck. I closed the door and looked down at the package in my hands; it was light, and as I shook it slightly, I could discern three distinct items inside, each seemingly encased in its own small box. The mystery of its contents piqued my curiosity, and I couldn't help but wonder what surprises awaited within. Just as quickly as I closed the front door, I heard the patio door in the kitchen being unlocked.

I swiftly returned to the sitting room, grabbing my oversized white hoodie and sliding it on just as Klaus entered the room, his phone in hand.

"Where is it?" Klaus asked, his tone direct.

Assuming he was referring to the package, I handed it over without a word, my attention shifting to silencing the workout video still playing on the screen across from us. He must have received some sort of email alert that the package had arrived.

"I'm supposed to be your tenant," I reminded him. "You're playing with fire already."

Klaus looked up from the package, shooting me a look that clearly showed his disregard for his own rules. I watched as he turned back to the package, sliding his finger under the seam and ripping it open like a kid on Christmas morning.

"What's inside?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

"None of your business," he replied curtly.

"Whatever." I shrugged, trying to mask my growing interest.

My curiosity, however, was piqued when Klaus retrieved a black velvet ring box from inside the package. He stared at it for a moment before slowly opening it, his expression unreadable. It took all my self-control not to try and sneak a peek. He closed the box and pocketed it, then reached back into the package with eager anticipation, retrieving yet another velvet box. He opened this one quicker than the last, a smile gracing his lips, and then moved on to the next one.

It was only upon seeing three boxes that the realization struck me—three rings. He had three wives before the time jump, before me.

"Are those—" I began.

"Caroline, Elena, and April's engagement rings," Klaus confirmed before I could finish. "Yes."

"They had rings?" I questioned, my interest deepening.

Klaus glanced at me, as if debating whether to reveal more. "I bought them while we were in the Caribbean together, along with their wedding rings."

I stepped closer, emboldened by my curiosity. "Don't suppose I could have a peek?"

Klaus almost glared at me, and I quickly backed down. "Forget it," I said, stepping away.

"...Fine," he relented, catching me by surprise.

"Really?" I asked, disbelief in my voice.

Klaus nodded, handing the box over to me. I reached out, hesitating only briefly before taking it from his grasp.

"Go on," he encouraged.

I eagerly opened the first box. "Whose is this one?"

Klaus stepped beside me, his vanilla scent unexpectedly pleasant. "That's Caroline's," he said, his gaze fixed on the ring.

"It's huge," I remarked, glancing at him with a small smile, which he returned. I carefully placed the ring back in the box before moving on to the next one. "April's?"

Klaus looked at me with interest. "How could you tell?"

I decided to be honest. "She's got three diamonds. Guessing she was team sister wives from the start."

Klaus softly confirmed, "Yes, she was."

I felt a pang of something—jealousy?—but quickly shook it off. Finally, I examined Elena's ring, certain I had held thousands of dollars' worth of jewelry without hesitation. "A halo ring, huh? Guess they all got something different."

I handed the rings back to him, watching as he returned them to their velvet boxes and slid them back into the package.

"So why were you there, anyway? Business? Something to do with that megastore you never talk about?" I teased.

Klaus raised an eyebrow. "Honeymoon, actually."

I crossed my arms defensively. "So, you guys all went on your honeymoon together?"

"Yes."

"And that's not weird at all?" I pressed.

"Excuse me?" Klaus replied, his tone tinged with incredulity.

"Oh come on, you're telling me there wasn't tension?" I asked. "And no one was like, 'I'm tired of sharing my husband'?"

"Pathetic," he muttered.

"What?" I asked, baffled by his response, "Oh, I get it; just because I have a difference of opinion, I must be pathetic."

"You assume my wives are childish, that they are consumed by nothing more than jealousy."

"I'm saying that I have a voice," I declared, meeting his eyes with unwavering resolve. "I speak my mind, and yes, it surprises me that someone on their honeymoon, even a polygamist, wouldn't feel a hint of jealousy," I continued, maintaining our locked gaze. "I'm not pathetic; I'm honest."

Klaus listened intently, a subtle flicker of surprise momentarily flashing in his eyes, though his expression remained composed and self-assured. His confidence, bordering on arrogance, acted as a shield, preventing any hint of admiration from reaching the surface. He remained silent, the corners of his mouth curving into an enigmatic smile as if her words were entertaining but not enough to disturb his carefully crafted facade.

"Okay," I said, breaking the silence. "Well, it's been fun. And by that, I mean not at all. So, I'm going to go shower."

With that, I turned and headed toward the staircase, leaving Klaus alone with his thoughts.

As I ascended the stairs, I couldn't help but wonder what was going on in that head of his. I knew that no matter how hard I tried, I'd never be able to penetrate the impenetrable Klaus Mikaelson.

When I reached my bedroom, I shut the door and leaned against it, letting out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. What the hell had gotten into me? My conversation with Klaus had been a roller coaster ride, full of twists and turns that had left me in complete disarray.

I needed to get out of here—I needed a drink.

Caroline Mikaelson

Klaus was seated across from me in our dining room as we went over the money for the month ahead. He always had everything organized in advance, but there were times such as these when I'd have to inform him of bills he might not have been made aware of or repairs that required his attention in any one of the houses.

"The plumber said she must have dropped a fork down the disposal," I said, sliding over the bill containing April's expenses. "Don't shoot the messenger."

Klaus sighed, placing the paper back down on the table. "Fine," he almost growled. "What else?"

"Elena needs a new phone; she was going to buy one herself, but I figured you'd want to make sure it wasn't traceable, so—"

Klaus just drummed his fingers against his temple as he made notes along the way.

"You know, you're really uptight." I told him.

He looked up at me as I continued, "Your bill is in for the car; why did you spend so much to get it washed?"

Klaus smirked, causing me to smile back and shake my head. "You have to wash it yourself; be a regular Joe every once in a while."

Klaus looked across from his notes and ran his finger down another one of the many pages in front of him. "April mentioned something about her garage door."

"Yeah, it's sticking. I had a look at it the other day. I don't think it needs to be repaired right away. She doesn't have a car, and your car is always here, so—"

"I'll put it down for next month."

"Okay, so that just leaves households." I said.

Klaus retrieved four black envelopes from the leather binder across from us, sliding them over to me.

My eyes narrowed at the sight. "Why are our names on them this time?" I asked before looking over at him, "We all get the same amount, so why—"

Klaus looked over at me. "Boundaries, love."

"What?" I said, causing him to smirk. "Oh no, no," I said, leaning forward. "There is a difference between marriage boundaries and the finances."

"Like I said, boundaries, and this is now one of mine."

I crossed my arms, my eyes never leaving his. "If you think I'm about to become jealous that—"

"That I might be giving more money to one of you than another?" He asked.

"You're twisting my words."

"We're done." Klaus said, closing the binder and sliding it over to the side as he stood "We can discuss more next month."

I huffed, sinking into the chair, leaning my head back as he left the room.

They say it's the seven-year itch that threatens a marriage; it's the seven-month one for polygamists.

April Mikaelson

I cut across Elena's backyard, feeling the chill of the evening air as I approached Vickie's house. The sight of her enormous hot tub made me pause, feeling a pang of envy as steam lazily drifted into the night. I climbed the patio steps, hesitating for a moment before knocking softly on the door. Instead of waiting for a response, I slipped through the open patio doors, aware that tonight was her second evening with Klaus.

As I stood there, I absentmindedly drummed my fingers on the edge of the salad bowl I had washed for her, trying to shake off the nervousness. Through the glass, Vickie approached, her expression unreadable as she unlocked the door. I forced a smile, determined to be polite.

"Hey," I greeted, my voice carrying an awkward attempt at cheerfulness.

"Okay," Vickie replied, crossing her arms, her eyes fixed intently on me.

"Okay? Okay, what?" I asked, puzzled by her abruptness.

Vickie gave a nonchalant shrug. "Just okay."

I held out the bowl, offering it with a tentative smile. "I washed it for you."

Vickie took it, her eyes lingering on me as if trying to decipher something. She placed the bowl on the table by the door. "Alright."

Feeling the tension in the air, I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. "Okay, I don't handle awkward very well, so—"

"You went out with Klaus last night," she interrupted, her gaze sharp.

"Yes," I admitted, the word slipping out before I could stop it.

"And you think that—"

"I know you have every reason to be angry," I interrupted, my voice softening. "You've been here a week, and yes, okay, whatever, but still, if someone took one of my nights with him, I would—"

"You'd what?" she challenged, her eyes narrowing slightly.

I dropped my gaze to the floor, my voice barely above a whisper. "Well, nothing really. I'd just be angry."

"Uh-huh, I can totally see you as the angry type," she said with a smirk, her eyes dancing with amusement.

I crossed my arms, feeling my cheeks warm with embarrassment. "Fine, poke fun, but—"

Vickie rolled her eyes dramatically. "You must be his secret favorite wife."

"Oh, that's not cool," I replied, shaking my head. "We don't talk like that."

"Yeah, this 'we' thing is getting a bit much," she said, her tone shifting from playful to serious.

"What do you mean?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"You always say we: we don't talk to the neighbors, we don't drink, we don't go out on dates—"

"We just have our little ways," I explained, my voice tinged with defensiveness.

"So you don't drink?"

"Uh, no, I mean, I could, but I just," I sighed, feeling the weight of past mistakes. "I used to mess up just to annoy my dad, and now he's," I paused, the words catching in my throat. "Did you know that?"

Vickie studied me for a moment, her expression softening. "Yeah," she said, her voice gentler. "I didn't know him, but Matt always said he was a pretty great guy."

"Yeah, it was just the parenting that was his weakness," I admitted, a sad smile playing on my lips.

"Maybe I've got you beat on the bad parenting examples," Vickie offered, a hint of camaraderie in her voice.

"I doubt it," I replied, my tone lightening slightly.

Vickie straightened up from the doorframe, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Come out with me tonight for drinks and dancing."

I raised an eyebrow, surprised by the invitation. "That's not really—"

"Our thing or your thing?" Vickie prompted, her brow arched in challenge.

"I can decide things for myself despite whatever—"

"So decide for you," she urged, her voice filled with an unexpected warmth. "Drink for you, dance for you, and better yet, numb the rest of it."

"But it's your night with Klaus, the second night of your double; don't you want to—"

"Do you really want to even attempt to finish that sentence?"

"Not really," I said quickly.

"One-time offer," Vickie smirked. "No Klaus, no sister wives, one taxi leaving in an hour, and a guarantee of zero judgment."

I took a deep breath, realizing how badly I needed to let loose. "Fine, I'm in."

Elena Mikaelson

I'd gone out to pick up some dinner for myself. I'd borrowed Caroline's car and picked up some great noodles and grilled vegetables in town from a new place. When I got back, I wanted nothing more than to eat greasy food in my PJs, and so I ran upstairs to change while my food heated in the microwave. Only to find when I got upstairs everything about my bedroom was different, the moving boxes containing items I'd bought for our house were gone from sight, and Klaus's luggage he'd been keeping in the corner of the room by an armchair still wrapped in shrink wrap was also gone. I scanned his nightstand, finding his phone charger, tablet, and book were also gone. He'd come over while I was out and had moved all his stuff into the furthest guest bedroom from the master bedroom.

After seeing that food was the last thing on my mind, instead I ran a hot bath and stayed under the water for almost an hour, fully immersed in thought. When I emerged from the bathroom, my hair was in a messy bun, and I was dressed in a pair of cotton pajamas and headed downstairs and crashed onto the couch, switching on the TV for some background noise. After a little while I got up, switched on a few lamps, and made myself a cup of coffee before settling back into the couch; the television was still playing, but I wasn't watching it anymore. I collected a throw from around the back of the couch and draped it over my legs.

I didn't flinch hearing my backdoor open out in the kitchen.

"Caroline?" I called out before looking across at the clock by the screen, finding it was after eleven.

Klaus appeared from the kitchen, and I almost shot upright in my seat, wishing I hadn't opted for the messy bun.

"Oh hey, what are you doing here?" I asked as he headed towards me, "Everything okay?" I asked, noting his speedy movements.

"Is April upstairs?" He asked, looking around the room.

"No," I said, sitting forward. "I haven't seen her."

He didn't say anything; instead, he hit a few buttons on his phone and held it to his ear.

Feeling something vibrate, I arched my back and slid my hand backwards and under the couch cushion, feeling something cold and buzzing. Yanking it out, I found it was April's phone; it must have fallen out of her pocket when she crashed on the couch earlier.

Klaus looked over at me, and I gave him a smile, holding up the phone.

"That bitch." Klaus hissed, taking the phone from my hand without touching me.

"Hey!" I snapped, "Don't ever talk about April—"

"I didn't mean her," Klaus said, turning to leave the room, glancing over his shoulder at me. "I mean Vickie."

He disappeared back out into the kitchen, leaving me to watch him leave.

"Klaus? Klaus? Wait, what's going on?"

April Mikaelson

The club was a kaleidoscope of pink and purple neon lights, casting surreal shadows that danced with the pulsing beat of the music. The bass thudded through the floor, resonating in my chest as I tried to focus my thoughts amidst the sea of people swaying to the rhythm.

"And that's a common mistake, because—" I stopped mid-sentence, my thoughts slipping away like grains of sand through my fingers. "What was I saying?"

Vickie leaned in closer, her face a mix of concern and amusement, her eyes narrowing slightly in the dim light. "Are you alright?"

I blinked rapidly, hoping to clear the fog in my mind. "Did I tell you that my Aunt Gloria had—"

"Nine cats in her will, yeah," Vickie interrupted, her voice carrying a note of familiarity and concern. "You've said it like seven times."

I took a long sip of my drink, the cold liquid offering a fleeting clarity. "You know what I think is really ironic?"

"You mean besides your inability to hold your liquor?" Vickie teased, a playful edge to her voice.

"Oh, don't be like that," I replied with a tipsy smile. The irony of the situation tickled me. "It's just so funny that I can't remember how I got here."

Vickie chuckled, the lights reflecting in her eyes. "Slow down a bit, okay?"

"Nine cats? I mean, how do you even go about naming nine cats?" I mused, more to myself than to anyone else.

Vickie rolled her eyes, turning back to the bar to order me another drink, her familiarity with the bartender evident in the ease of her gestures. "How many more nights do you have with Klaus this month?"

I squinted at her, trying to focus. The lights were a blur, and blinking seemed to help. "You know he," I paused, a hiccup interrupting my thoughts as I tasted the sweetness of my drink. "He says that, um... what did he say?"

Vickie nodded, humor dancing on her lips. "Totally."

"He said that? Klaus said, "Totally?" I was genuinely puzzled; the word felt out of place on Klaus's tongue. "But that's not his word."

"And you know his word?" Vickie's smirk was visible even in the shifting lights.

"It's Caroline," I blurted out, a soft smile curling my lips. "Klaus's word is Caroline."

The irony, the absurdity of it all, hung in the air as the music played on, and the night unfolded in its own chaotic, colorful way.

"Did I dance?" I shouted loud enough so she could hear me.

Vickie looked over at me. "No, not yet."

"Did you dance?"

"Yes," she nodded. "I'm going again; you want to come with?"

I looked down at my feet. "When did I lose my shoes?"

Vickie sighed heavily, her voice rising above the din of the club. "You've only had one drink since we've been here. Are you sure you're not just a lightweight?"

"I might have some gum in my bag," I offered, feeling my purse slide off my shoulder.

Vickie reached over and caught it before it fell to the ground, holding it in one hand. "Is it minty?"

I looked at her for a long moment, trying to figure out if she was joking. "No, it's lemon."

"Lemon-flavored gum?" She asked.

I shrugged, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over me.

"What I'm saying is, all the cool cat names are taken already. I mean, think about it; there are no more names like Tom or Felix—"

"Tom and Felix are people's names?" Vickie interjected.

"Let's get a round for them."

"For who?"

"The guys with the cool names, the guys with the cats, you know." I tried to explain.

Vickie smirked. "Tom and Felix?" she asked.

"Do you think they'll card me at the bar?" I asked, trying to find my bag on the round table between she and I, which seemed to look like it was dancing along with the music.

I walked up to the bar, feeling Vickie's hands on my hips as she guided me past some very rude people who said I stood on their feet. I stopped at the bartender and gave him a smile.

"Felix, now I need to talk to you, and Tom too, because Jerry thinks you're mad at him for," I hiccupped, "for you know, dumping that iron on Tom's face and, you know, making holes in the walls of that pretty house so he could escape." I paused. "I mean, Tom and Jerry must have been friends once, right?"

I took the glass he held out and downed it as he stared at me. I looked back at Vickie. "She's with me," I pointed back at her. "She's my sister—"

Vickie's hand, though it smelled great, latched over my lips before I got to tell Jerry all about her being my future sister wife.

"Sorry," she said with an apologetic smile. "I think she needs some air."

I blinked hard as she steered me away from the bar and back towards the dance floor. "Can we go back to the restroom?" I asked, twirling around to her, "I saw a tampon on the floor beside a condom wrapper," I hiccupped. "That's either gross or weird or... are you hungry?"

Vickie rolled her eyes. "Look, maybe this was a bad idea; I should take you home."

I giggled, "I am home," I said, pointing back at the bar. "There's the bathroom, but there's no Klaus."

Vickie sighed. "Okay, yeah, we'll get you home, then."

"He said something to me tonight," I said as I stumbled alongside her through the crowd.

"Oh, good, so he talks now. I thought that was against his religion or something," Vickie muttered.

"He talks to me, cause I, um," I stopped trying to remember, "I just, I must be a really good listener."

I sat back down at our table but found there were new people sitting around me. "Hi, I'm April," I said with a smile. "I love your dress."

A woman with blonde hair smiled back and leaned over to her friend. "What's with your shoes?" she asked.

"I'm starting a trend," I told her. "Because clothes are like our enemies."

The guy next to her, who must have been really cold since he had fog coming out of his mouth, began to nod, "She's right; clothes are just another way for society to keep us down."

"Whereabouts?" I asked him, and he stared at me. "You blinked; I win."

Vickie, being so sweet, helped me up from my chair. "I'll be back." I promised all my new people.

"April, let's just go. No, not the—"

"The dance floor is made of cubes," I asked as I began bouncing on the square beneath my feet. "Is this like marshmallow?" I looked over at the bar. "Did you guys find my shoes?" I shouted.

Someone tapped me on the shoulder, and I turned to see Vickie handing me my purse.

"Listen, I really need you to focus because Klaus is going to rip my arms off if—"

"Klaus," I said.

"Yeah, Klaus."

"Is here," I pointed over at him as he made his way towards us looking very angry in a very, very sexy leather jacket. "Do you think Jerry is with him?" I asked Vickie.

Vickie was shaking her head. "He's alone."

"Hey!" I shouted when Klaus reached us.

"No, no, no, don't do that," Vickie said, pulling me back slightly. "I'm so sorry. I swear we were just having a few drinks, and then she started getting—"

Klaus held my face with both hands, and I smiled; his skin was so nice and cold.

"Klaus," I said, "Tom and Jerry, look, they had another fight, and Vickie is worried, so I think we should—"

Klaus shifted his attention to Vickie. "She's completely trashed; how could you let this happen to her?"

"I didn't mean to." Vickie tried to explain.

Klaus was moving, but I wasn't. "Klaus, wait!"

He looked back at me. "I'm right here."

"No, look at the floor; the lava is getting really intense. We should get some shoes." I pointed at Vickie. "Did you take hers too?" I asked him.

"Weeee," I said as Klaus lifted me into his arms.

"I got you." He said before whispering to Vickie, "I'll deal with you later."

"Is that a promise?"

"I just wanted to dance." I said as he carried me out of the club the cold air hitting me like I was target practise.

"Not tonight," he replied. "Stay awake, okay?"

"Klaus, I think we need to consider the possibility that Aunt Gloria has taken my shoes."

I hope you enjoyed this chapter thanks for checking out my work today.