Chapter 4
A few hours after Klaus explained their plan to Caroline, they were already on a train heading to London. The hybrid had persuaded the other passengers to reschedule their trips that day, so the first-class carriage was completely at their disposal.
Caroline stood by the window, admiring the green and lavender landscapes of France stretching out for miles. How many amazing places she hadn't had a chance to see…
Dark thoughts had been filling her mind more and more lately. Maybe it was the curse, maybe it was Klaus; she wasn't sure.
- Tell me, did you think of me all these years? - the Original broke the silence with an awkward question and looked at the blonde, but she only rolled her eyes and smirked.
- I'm serious, - he added.
- Maybe, at times. I think I thought of you no more than you thought of me.
Klaus poured himself some wine and said:
- You know, I kept my promise and stayed out of your life… I didn't come back to Mystic Falls. But I thought of you. I couldn't stop thinking about you.
- I think what was between us was some sort of rebellion. I always see the good…
- Even in creatures as dark as me. You hate yourself for that? - the hybrid interrupted her.
After these words, Caroline tore her gaze from the landscapes outside the window and sat down across from the hybrid.
- It was hard for me. My loved ones, my friends pressured me. My feelings for you were like forbidden fruit, something impossible and wrong. I blamed myself for it, but when you left, I let go of it.
- And forgot about me?
Caroline had never forgotten about him, but she couldn't just admit that.
- I couldn't live under the weight of guilt. You killed Jenna… You killed Tyler's mom! - the girl began to get genuinely angry and raised her voice.
- Easy, love. You're very weak right now, don't waste your energy. - the hybrid sometimes regretted the actions that kept his dreams of a happy relationship with her as mere dreams.
- You brought it up. Do you think it was easy for me to bear those judgmental looks? Do you think I enjoyed always being the "bait" distracting the big bad wolf while the Scooby-Doo team saved everyone? - Caroline jumped up and leaned over him. - You have no idea how hard it was to stop thinking about you and to reject that forbidden connection. It was expected of me!
The hybrid couldn't hold back and started to get worked up as well.
He stood up and matched her stance.
And their eyes were now level with each other.
- Caroline, I broke countless principles because of you. And you know it. I gave up revenge for you. I changed because of you. Stop blaming me for the fact that your feelings for me are mutual.
Caroline could no longer contain herself, the mask of anger and hatred was slipping away, and he was standing right there, his lips mere inches from hers…
She longed for a passionate kiss.
She tried to suppress these desires but lost.
Her lips reached for his, and hands playfully ran through his hair.
But then a new wave of excruciating pain pierced her body. She fell into the hybrid's arms.
A scream echoed through the carriage.
Klaus immediately bit his wrist, gently laid her down, and gave her his blood to drink.
The agony lasted a few more minutes, and the vampire's thoughts became completely jumbled; she was losing the line between reality and pain.
When the pain subsided, she quickly fell asleep, and that's how the rest of the journey passed.
--
The hybrid was completely lost in his thoughts, not noticing how quickly the scenery outside the window changed.
Only when the windows started to be dotted with small drops of rain did Klaus realize Britain welcomes us with familiar weather.
When the train stopped at the cloudy London station, a black Rolls-Royce was already waiting at the exit.
Klaus's estate. London suburb.
The foggy silence of the London morning was broken by Freya's call.
- Hello, Nik. We've come up with something. Alisha will be with you in half an hour.
- Who's Alisha? Did you and Elijah find a way to break the curse?
- Unfortunately, it's very ancient magic, and to break such spells, you need to be nearby. And to answer your question, Alisha is someone who can help you while you're in London. So Caroline can at least make it to New Orleans.
- Understood, I'll be waiting. - Klaus hung up.
Caroline entered the room and sat next to the hybrid.
- Any news?
- How are you feeling, love? You look wonderful. - Klaus gave her a gentle smile.
- I think I'm better. - she lied, and the Original knew it. He had heard her groaning a few hours earlier, drinking the blood he had left by her bed at a feverish pace.
Klaus gestured for Caroline to sit at the kitchen table, where breakfast was already waiting for them.
- You know, I thought your home would look more like Dracula's castle. With coffins, crosses, and all that. But this is more like a mansion from Pride and Prejudice. - the blonde giggled.
The hybrid couldn't suppress a genuine smile and replied - Hmm, so Elizabeth visits Mr. Darcy.
- I don't think I'm Elizabeth. I think Elena fits that role more. - Caroline said this and casually scooped a spoonful of strawberry yogurt.
- Oh, yes, of course, you're never the "main character" in the story. - Klaus said this with a chill.
- Hey, what are you talking about? - Caroline leaned back in her chair and huffed in confusion, genuinely not understanding what was wrong with him.
- Name me one time in your life when you chose yourself, love. Not your friends, not your family. Not what Elena, Damon, or Stefan needed. But what you needed.
Caroline genuinely thought about it, only recalling that passionate encounter in the woods when she acted on her long-held desire.
But she said nothing.
- I know you're a good person and a wonderful friend. But you should come first. Always, you. - Klaus said this with seriousness and warmth in his voice.
--
An hour later, when breakfast was over, the doorbell rang. It was Alisha, a middle-aged witch with a large chest in hand.
The Original opened the door.
- Hello, Klaus, I presume? - the woman carefully looked over the hybrid. - I've heard about you.
- All witches have heard about me, that's nothing new. Come in. - Klaus let Alisha into the house without a hint of courtesy.
Alisha examined Caroline's tattoo and said,
- This is a very ancient pentagram. Where did you get it?
- Let's get to the point, and then we can discuss the details. - Klaus didn't want to wait or make small talk, and naturally, he didn't trust this woman.
- Klaus, could you be a bit more polite to someone who came here to help me? - Caroline said in a threatening tone. - This tattoo appeared on me a few days ago. A sorcerer left it. Xander, I think. When the curse takes effect, it's like… like I'm dying… It hurts a lot, and I start to see something very strange.
- Tell me more about what you see when the curse takes effect.
- It's like shadows are coming toward me, four dark shadows, then I feel like I'm falling into an abyss and hear screams. - Caroline felt sick just remembering it, and she began massaging her temples.
- Do you mind if I examine the tattoo more closely? Using magic. - Alisha said this and reached for the blonde's hand.
- Yes, of course.
Alisha gently took the girl's hand, spoke a few words in Latin, and placed her palm on the pentagram.
In a second, blood started streaming from Alisha's nose, and she staggered back. She quickly moved away from the girl.
With eyes full of fear, the witch said,
- I've only seen magic like this once before. It's the curse of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.