A/N: It's been a while. I hope you enjoy the chapter!
Once again, I don't own TVD or TO.
Thank you for the follows, favorites and reviews!
CHAPTER X
Caroline woke up feeling enamored of the events last night. She eyed the hybrid who was holding her waist and lying beside her. His eyes were closed and his facial expression seemed like he was having a good dream. She moved into a more comfortable position as she continued to stare at him.
Her feelings for Klaus started when she noticed his advances toward her in Mystic Falls. However, she did not dare acknowledge it because she was in a relationship with Tyler and Klaus was the big bad wolf in town. Everyone hated him and wanted to kill him so she was obliged to feel the same way. She wondered why he kept her alive despite all the times she had betrayed him.
Unknown to others, Klaus kept growing in her as they exchanged small moments together. From their casual date at Miss Mystic Falls to his timely appearance on graduation day. The moments when he saved her and when he showed her a flicker of his humanity.
The night Klaus allowed her to live the life she had always imagined was a turning point for them.
He took a step back just to give her the thing that she wanted. He was willing to wait for her.
Klaus was always there, on the sidelines, prioritizing her choices despite all the awful things she said to him.
For those reasons, she started to accept her developing feelings for him.
A part of her hoped that Klaus would turn up and comfort her when everyone found out that her mother was ill. Later on, she decided against hoping for his appearance at the hospital because of the choice she made and the promise she pushed him to make.
She did, however, long for Klaus to be there for her after her mother passed away. His promise be damned. She needed his presence to reassure her that her mother's time had come and that she was strong enough to get through this phase of her life.
He did not come, though.
She never saw a single hair of him on the day of the funeral.
Truly believing that she was now utterly alone in this world, Caroline shut her humanity off.
She enjoyed having no humanity, if she was being honest. It was unlike what she had expected. She thought she would be recklessly killing people everywhere because she could not control her hunger or urges. Instead, there was nothing to worry about because she was still in control of it. She just could not feel pain, remorse, or anything at all, which was her goal for doing it in the first place.
Nevertheless, she was glad that the Original family plus Katherine saved her from losing her humanity.
Thinking about it, she still found it hard to believe that the ones who would try to retrieve her humanity were them, the known villains of her hometown.
Not once, in her entire life, did she think that she would be outside of Virginia and living with the Original family, Katherine, Enzo, and Kai. Most proclaimed bad guys but there was no bloodshed among them.
All on good terms.
What a plot twist!
"You're staring, love." Klaus teased with his eyes closed.
"Because you look adorable while sleeping," Caroline was quick to tease him back.
Klaus opened one eye to look at her, saying, "I'm a vicious hybrid, love. I can't be adorable. That's just not right."
"You're adorable to me, " Caroline cooed, jokingly scratching his chin.
Klaus smirked darkly, warning, "I'll show you what adorable is." Then he tickled her sides, making her laugh out loud. She tried to get away, demanding, "Klaus, stop." She wiped the small tears forming on her eyes, giggling. He grinned, caressing his thumb lightly on her cheek.
A loud knock disrupted their moment.
"Wake up, you silly fools! It's time for breakfast." Rebekah yelled from outside the room.
Klaus groaned, "Go away, Bekah."
"Come on, Nik. Elijah ordered me to get your ass downstairs."
"No," Klaus mumbled as he buried his face in Caroline's hair.
"Care, Elijah and Kol are cooking. Don't you want to see that?"
"We'll be down in five." Caroline replied instantly. Klaus glared at her mockingly. She lifted his arms around her and got out of bed. "I'm starving," she said while stretching her body. Then, she saw him smirking at her.
He raised an eyebrow when he caught her eye, saying, "Go on. Don't stop on my account, sweetheart."
She rolled her eyes and slapped him with a pillow, snarling, "You just like what you saw."
"I keep wondering what's beneath those clothes. Something glorious, it seems," he teased. She blushed and let out stuttered words. She flashed away towards the bathroom while he laughed at her innocent reaction.
Caroline exhaled as she looked in the mirror. Her hair was a bit messy, her eyes were blown out, and her cheeks were flushed pink. She touched her heated cheeks, mumbling, "Pervert."
"I heard that, love."
"It is true."
"It takes one to know one."
"Shut up!"
She heard his carefree laughter again and a smile slowly made its way to her mouth.
Last night, she realized she had completely fallen for the hybrid.
The fire between the two of them reignited when they went home earlier than the others. The desire reflected in their eyes and they kissed each other passionately, like their lives depended on it. When Klaus backed her up on the bedroom door with his hands under her blouse, Caroline gasped and pulled away, stopping him from moving further.
"Klaus, I…" She trailed off, not knowing how to convey what she was feeling.
Klaus took a step back and gazed at Caroline. Desire was still reflected in his irises but he was trying to tone it down. He waited to hear the reason behind her action as she continued to stutter with her words. He could see her struggle so he took the responsibility to ask the question, "Am I moving too fast?"
Caroline widened her eyes at his directness, quickly responding, "What? No! I mean yes… It's just that…" She looked down to avoid his eyes, feeling embarrassed about the situation.
"Sweetheart, tell me." He urged her.
"It's just… We both know we're not each other's first, right? I mean, god knows how many you have... for living a thousand years." She babbled, "And I too... This is not my first…"
"Caroline, love, you're rambling." He took a step towards her and cradled her face, assuring her, "It's alright. We don't have to do anything."
She held his wrist, countering, "What? No, it's…" She trailed off as she looked at his face, biting her lips in uncertainty. "Are you okay with that? Us not doing it... yet?"
He let out a smug grin to make her feel less embarrassed, saying, "I know you want me but I don't think I'm ready for that, sweetheart. You need to learn how to control yourself."
"It's you who needs to learn that." She slapped his chest in retaliation, feeling relieved that he was trying to ease down the awkward situation. She saw him look at the bed in deep thought, saying, "How about we just lie down?"
"And cuddle?" He added with a hint of timidity in his tone. It sounded like he just used a foreign word.
She chuckled, remarking, "Cuddle? You? I can't imagine that."
He shrugged indifferently at her reaction, responding seriously, "I'm sure I can handle that. Anything for you. I just want you to stay here with me."
He stared at her deeply while she stood there, feeling grateful, respected, and loved. His words and her feelings for him were starting to overwhelm her. She took his hand and squeezed it, hoping that the action helped convey at least half of what she was feeling.
Klaus took her action as consent for them to do what he suggested. They lied down on his bed and he moved his body closer to her, encircling his arms around her. "This is cuddling, right?"
Caroline giggled and faced him, answering, "Yep, you're doing it right." She poked his nose lightly as he let out a genuine smile.
Unguarded by his sudden smile, she felt her cheeks heating up so she leaned her head on his shoulder. Her nose caught his unique scent and she relaxed, murmuring, "I'm sorry. I just want ours to be special."
Klaus understood her intentions and kissed her head softly, whispering back, "You don't need to apologize, love. We'll move at your pace."
She began to believe that she already had it bad after last night, even though she did not think she could fall any further to the hybrid.
"The lovebirds finally decided to grace us with their presence.
" Katherine announced as Klaus and Caroline stepped foot inside the dining area.
"You finally got some, huh, Blondie?" Enzo teased and sipped his glass of bourbon, wiggling his brows.
Caroline glared at him, responding, "Ass."
Rebekah dragged Caroline away from Klaus' grip and made her sit down between her and Katherine. She showed the notepad on the table excitedly, shrieking, "Care, we have lots to do today. We have a ball to organize."
The ladies ducked their heads together as they wrote and checked on the notepad, not minding their surroundings.
Klaus let out a sigh at his sister's antics and headed towards his brothers, who were wearing ridiculous aprons on their bodies.
"I can't believe you agree with that stupid idea, Nik." Kol grumbled as he pointed the spatula at Klaus. The older one slapped the spatula away and retorted, "Weren't you in favor of having a victory party?"
"I was hoping for a house party like what we had when Caro just showed up in the city. I didn't want a bloody ball." Kol groaned.
"Stop whining, Kol. You should have already expected it to happen since Caroline got our brother wrapped around her little finger." Elijah stated casually as he cooked the omelettes.
Klaus crossed his arms and glared at his older brother. "I am not."
Elijah hummed, giving him a chopping board and vegetables. "Help us prepare breakfast, Niklaus."
Klaus rolled his eyes and grabbed a knife, saying, "Why are we doing this anyway? We have maids. All you have to do is just call them and order them these chores."
Kol snickered while giving Elijah another bowl of ingredients to cook, quipping, "It's because our dear older brother is trying to impress a vampire doppelganger who is too preoccupied with Caro's best friend."
"And he's dragging us with this childish plan of his?" Klaus snorted while slicing the vegetables into thin strips. Kol raised his shoulders and made a helpless expression.
Their conversation was interrupted when Kai asked loudly, "Since there's a ball happening, does that mean the guys have to wear formal suits?"
"Of course," the ladies responded quickly.
"But I don't have any suits." Kai said and turned to Enzo, suggesting, "Should we go to the mall and compel the people working there?"
"Sounds good to me," Enzo agreed as he finished his second glass of bourbon.
"Honey, that's unnecessary. Both of you are guests of the Mikaelsons. They can buy or lend you a suit, right, Elijah?" Katherine interrupted and raised an eyebrow at Elijah.
Everyone looked at said vampire. He opened his mouth to protest but then decided against it. Instead he replied, "Of course, Katerina."
"If you ask me, Elijah is also wrapped in a certain lady's little finger." Kol whispered to Klaus, and they chuckled while they washed the dishes.
"Enough," Elijah chastised his brothers and gave each of them plates with cooked meals. "Place it on the table." The younger ones exchanged smirks and flashed away to the table in his order.
"What's the agenda today, gorgeous?" Enzo asked while Klaus scowled at the endearment he just used.
The ladies looked at each other, grinning ear to ear.
"Planning and preparing for the upcoming ball. You guys are helping." Caroline answered.
"Actually, there are other witches who wanted to talk with us today, Niklaus," Elijah informed as he finally sat down with them.
"What for?" Rebekah inquired, eating the omelet that Elijah had cooked earlier.
"They want to talk with Niklaus about living in peace in the city. They were the ones who surrendered," Elijah explained, unfolding the napkin on his lap.
Kol snorted in disgust, "They still have a lot of nerve to ask for that after what they've done."
Katherine moved her utensils in agreement, saying, "Injecting werewolf bite on Care? Not cool."
Klaus noticed Caroline touching the body where she was injected and tightened his jaw. "Young, old, dead, or alive. Witches are pain in the ass."
The others chuckled at his comment.
"I want to tag along. I want to see this ancestral magic they were proud of." Kai said.
"You should. If it gets bloody, you can always siphon their magic." Kol grinned.
Kai grinned back and moaned in delight, pointing at the food, "This is delicious."
Elijah wiped his mouth and raised his chin proudly, "Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it." He glanced at Katherine and saw her raise a glass full of blood to her mouth, looking the other way.
"What about you, Enzo?" Rebekah smirked. "What are you going to do?"
Enzo winced at the idea of being left behind with the ladies and answered. "I think I should just stick with the guys. They might need more backup."
Klaus appeared pleased with his answer while Caroline was about to protest. He held her hand and said, "It's alright, love. I'm sure Enzo will be more comfortable with our company than your planning committee."
"But we need man's labor. What if we need to move things or some furniture?" Caroline pouted.
"Darling, you're a vampire. Nothing's heavy with our strength." Kol rolled his eyes.
"I don't have time to use my strength. I'll be busy checking on things. Rebekah and Katherine will be too snooty to even lift a finger." Caroline argued, and the other two ladies agreed with her.
Klaus sighed and held out a card, offering, "Buy the things you need using this, and once you need assistance, call me. I'll send some guys."
Before Caroline could react, Rebekah snatched the card. "That's generous of you, Nik. We'll make sure to enjoy spending your money."
"Don't buy everything in the store, Bekah." Klaus warned.
"We'll make sure to buy Caroline a beautiful gown, Klaus." Katherine smirked, "A gown fit for a princess."
Klaus shook his head and corrected her. "Queen."
Caroline rolled her eyes and diverted the topic: "Since all of you are going to be busy dealing with the witches, we'll be the ones buying your suits then."
The men agreed with her suggestion without any complaints.
"So, after breakfast, we'll be taking your measurements. You can't leave if you're not yet done, got it?" Caroline ordered while eyeing each man in the room.
"Got it," they chorused and Caroline was pleased with their response.
"Man, your best friend has one heck of a stare. She's giving me chills." Kai mumbled to Enzo, shaking his hands for dramatics.
Enzo, who already got used to how she was, just chuckled in return.
"Do you really need to make it into a fancy ball?"
Enzo asked while standing still on a podium to have his measurements taken.
Rebekah raised an eyebrow while smiling sassily, "It seems that you don't get the true implication of this ball but don't worry, you'll understand it soon, unlike Kol."
"You wound me, sister. I have you know that I'm perfectly aware of the real reason. I just don't like the idea of wearing something that Elijah likes." Kol retorted and sucked blood out from the wrist of the compelled human. He signaled for Enzo to take the other wrist, who gladly obliged.
"My turn," Kai announced and stood at the podium, warning the compelled seamstress. "Make sure to take the exact measurements or I will kill you. I don't like wearing baggy suits." Her eyes widened and her hands shook in fear.
"Urgh," Katherine reacted in distaste when she saw Kol and Enzo sucking the human. "What's that? Threesome?"
"Apparently, the two like sharing their human." Rebekah answered nonchalantly. "Where's Care?"
"Here," Caroline piped in as she, Klaus, and Elijah entered the room. "We're off to the mall now."
Kol perked up from sucking and ordered, "Make sure mine's Brioni Vanquish II. I won't wear anything besides that, ladies."
"Then prepare yourself to wear your best underwear for the ball, idiot." Rebekah snapped.
"I could but I don't think you'll like me ruining the ball, sister." Kol quipped mischievously and quickly caught the ballpen that Rebekah threw at him.
"Enough." Elijah scolded. "No one will be wearing their underwear to the ball."
Klaus just blankly watched his siblings and turned to Caroline, saying, "We're off to see the witches, then."
Caroline nodded her head.
"Are you sure you don't want my minions following you?"
"Nope, I don't like having bodyguards around me."
"I'll make sure that you won't feel their presence at all."
"No minions, Klaus."
Klaus sighed and said in a serious manner, "Text me your location every now and then so I'll be updated. If anything happens, call me immediately."
"Oh, come on, Nik. She's with us. No harm will come to her." Rebekah interrupted in rage.
"Are you underestimating us?" Katherine crossed her arms.
Klaus just rolled his eyes at their reactions and kissed Caroline's forehead, murmuring, "Do take care of yourself, love."
Caroline hummed in agreement and tried her best not to turn pink because of his sudden display of gentleness. Kol and Rebekah made a vomit gesture at the sight of the two.
"I think I'm going to be sick." Kol stated, moving away from the human. Elijah gave him a handkerchief to wipe the blood on his mouth, which he begrudgingly accepted.
"I thought we were going to the cemetery. What are we doing in this abandoned church?"
Kai asked when he saw the signage at the entrance.
"They requested to meet with us on neutral ground." Elijah explained.
Kol clucked his tongue in annoyance, saying, "They have a lot of requests, don't they?"
"They probably don't want us spoiling their sacred ground. We should've done it when we had the chance." Enzo said.
"We should have." Kol agreed and knowingly eyed Elijah, who just ignored his gaze.
Klaus slammed the doors open to make a dramatic entrance. He saw a group of witches waiting for them at the center of the building. He let out a sinister smile, proclaiming, "I hear that you wanted to live peacefully in this city. What made you think that I will let you, hmm?"
The group of witches huddled closer to each other as they watched Klaus walk up to the front with his hand on his back. He stood firm with an intent gaze, exuding authority to his stance.
"We don't want to fight anymore. You won." One of the elder witches spoke.
"And you expect me to accept your surrender just like that?" Klaus raised an eyebrow.
"What do you want us to do? We already lost a lot of people for that nonsense war. Our coven should have not been involved to begin with." A warlock responded.
"You're right. The French Quarter was the only coven involved in the war. What made you join in the midst of it, then?"
"We thought you were the ones disrupting the power of our ancestors. We didn't know it was Sabine's doing all along. She was the one who convinced us to join."
"Ah, Celeste Dubois. She really did a number on your covens, didn't she?" Klaus laughed in amusement. "For her own personal vendetta, she used you to make herself more powerful in order to destroy my family."
Kai whistled, "That's pretty much taboo behavior in every coven." He turned to the warlock with the friendliest smile plastered on his face, reaching his hand "Anyway, can I touch you?"
The horde immediately backed away from him while Kai blinked, feeling offended. "I'm not a virus."
Kol chuckled and placed an arm on his shoulder, saying, "You're really pretty handy, my friend."
Klaus observed the witches and realized most of their faces were unfamiliar. He noticed the warlock who spoke earlier. He was one of the few who looked confident so he pointed at him, asking, "Which coven are you from?"
"Treme. I'm Vincent Griffin."
"Ah, the coven who attacked my nightwalkers. Did you assume the role of being the coven leader? I remember stabbing the heart of the previous one." Klaus chuckled. "I would apologize but he pretty much deserves it after killing a third of my people."
Enzo noticed Vincent's jaw tightened. It was obvious the warlock did not have any ounce of fondness for Klaus but he was smart to not retaliate what was said and just nod his head. He would be dead if he did before he could utter a single curse.
Klaus liked the coven leader's submission, so he tapped his shoulder and taunted him a little. "I am sure you will become a much better leader." He smirked arrogantly when the warlock held his temper. He moved on to the other coven leaders to detect the personalities each one has.
Kol and Kai followed Klaus in taunting the others, while Elijah and Enzo just stood and watched.
"Is this all he is planning to do to them? Goading and mocking them all day." Enzo mumbled to Elijah. "Wouldn't that just be a waste of time?"
"On the contrary, it's not, Lorenzo." Elijah answered. "My brother is examining which covens are most likely to revolt in the future. He wants to be well prepared when the time comes."
Enzo opened his mouth to respond when he noticed the two brothers exchanged discreet nods. Elijah smoothed his coat and grabbed everyone's attention. "Alright, we'll hear it. What are your terms for this peace treaty?"
There was a noticeable change from the wary expression that the witches wore earlier to a relief that Elijah opened the topic for discussion.
"There's going to be a civil war among the covens soon."
Kol said after the meeting, his hands on the back of his head.
"What made you say that?" Enzo asked in curiosity. He had been to war before but it was human war. He never had the chance to witness a supernatural war prior to coming to New Orleans.
"That is typically what occurs on the side of the defeated." Klaus answered knowingly.
"And the terms discussed earlier summed up that we should not interfere with the witch politics." Elijah informed.
"Huh, luckily my family's coven is the only one in Portland." Kai realized, smirking. "Not that they don't have troubles of their own."
"Which coven are you from?" Kol asked.
"Gemini Coven."
"No wonder you were able to destroy the cloaking spell from before." Kol hummed in delight. "So, does your family still do the ritual? The Merge, was it?"
Kai looked at him with a raised eyebrow, saying, "You seemed to know a lot about magic."
"I've lived with a coven of witches centuries ago. I was bored and decided to tag along with them while they were seeking and exploring other covens." Kol shrugged.
"So, your coven still implements the ritual?" Elijah inquired, going back to the main topic.
"Yes, of course. We just had it months ago. You're talking with the current leader of the Gemini coven." Kai smirked proudly.
"Wicked." Kol grinned, "What about your members? Shouldn't they be closeby protecting you?"
"I'm the only survivor."
"What happened?"
"He killed them." Enzo quipped, then all eyes turned to Kai. "I was there. I saw it."
"They don't really like me that much." Kai explained nonchalantly. "They tried to kill me so I massacred them."
Klaus' mouth twitched in amusement and tapped Kai's shoulder, saying, "I'm liking you more and more, mate."
Caroline just finished applying makeup when there was a knock on her door. "It's open," she called out.
Enzo peeked inside and went in the room, greeting, "Hello, gorgeous."
"Enzo," Caroline greeted back happily. She was selecting which jewelry to wear, asking, "What are you doing here?"
"Just checking on you." He shrugged indifferently and looked himself in the mirror. He was already wearing his suit for the ball. She looked at his outfit and nodded in satisfaction before giving him a knowing look, demanding, "What is it?"
She sat on one of the chairs and gestured for him to sit across her. He followed and smiled, "You look beautiful."
She faked a scoff in his attempt to distract her, retorting, "I'm not even wearing my gown yet."
"Even in your casual clothes, you are beautiful."
Caroline laughed at his compliment, saying, "Fine, I'll start. How was your travel?"
"It was kind of boring traveling alone." Enzo sighed dramatically.
"Did you find anything about Maggie?"
"Nothing."
"Your family?"
He shook his head.
She held his hand and comforted, "Don't worry, you'll find them. I'll help you."
He let out a small smile due to her kindness, then finally decided to ask the question that had been bothering him for days.
"Why didn't you tell me about your mom?"
"I..." she stuttered and avoided his eyes. "I didn't know where you were. You could've been miles away from the town."
"You could've called me."
"I didn't want to trouble you and the others were there to help me -"
Enzo interrupted her with his snort, reacting in annoyance, "You mean the ones who ignored you because they were focused on Elena?"
"Enzo," Caroline tried to stop him.
"Don't try to make excuses for them, gorgeous. The human boy already told me everything." He snapped.
"You could've called me, Caroline. Aren't I your friend too? I thought we bonded enough to be friends before I left to find traces of Maggie and my family." A hint of disappointment was visible in his eyes.
"I didn't want you to worry about me while you were trying to track them down." She explained softly.
"Of course I should worry about you, blondie. Aren't friends supposed to worry about each other or am I doing this wrong?"
"I'm sorry, Enzo. I didn't think you would take my action in this kind of way. I just didn't want to disrupt you from your mission." She felt guilty about how she acted. "You're my best friend and I should have told you."
"I did not mean that you were obligated to tell me." Enzo sighed in defeat. "I just did not want you to feel neglected and alone during those crucial moments."
"I wasn't completely alone. Matt was there and sometimes Tyler and Damon." Caroline reassured him.
"Don't get me started with that bastard. I heard she blamed you for quickening your mother's disease. That piece of shit." He seethed in fury. "I actually tracked him down before I left town. He was with that Benette witch, your former best friend, and Elena. They were trying to get a hold of her but I intervened and criticized them for being such horrid friends. I warned them to never go near you ever again."
She gasped, moving her hand on her mouth.
"Those nitwits don't deserve you, gorgeous."
"Funny how the people living under this roof say the same thing."
"We're the smart bunch but I doubt Kai has any opinion about this matter."
"Hey, you have a friend other than me! You have Kai."
"I don't know. The guy gives me chills sometimes."
"Ass."
Caroline rolled her eyes while Enzo laughed. He then became serious and looked at her.
"Gorgeous, I'm not good at making friends, you know that. Damon was the first friend I made when we were trapped in that blasted school but then you know what happened to us."
She nodded her head.
"What I'm trying to say here is that I value the friendship we have. I will always have your back, no matter what. I'm not like Stefan; you can depend on me."
"I know you're not him. You're a much better best friend than he ever was so stop comparing yourself to him." Caroline squeezed his hand, grateful tears forming into her eyes. The fact that he went to New Orleans just to check on her proved that.
"Can't promise that. Especially now that I know that I'm the better one." Enzo joked, grinning proudly, and Caroline giggled at his childish behavior.
"Thank you for coming here, Enzo." She gave him a sincere smile, in which he returned while squeezing her hand back.
Caroline heard another knock on her door a few moments after Enzo left her room.
"Sweetheart, are you ready?"
She heard Klaus' voice from the other side of the door.
"Give me a minute," she called out.
"Can I come in?"
"Door's open."
Klaus slowly opened the door and peeked inside before entering. He heard movements from the bathroom and deduced that Caroline was in there. He took a seat on her bed and said, "The guests are starting to arrive and Elijah's greeting them. Rebekah's also looking for you."
"I know. I got held up a bit. I just talked to Enzo a while ago." She answered while wearing her gown and smoothening the cloth in their proper places.
He nodded his head despite knowing she couldn't see him, mumbling in displeasure, "I saw him leaving your room."
Caroline heard his mumble and stared at her reflection in the mirror, biting her lip. "Is that jealousy I hear?"
Klaus scoffed, contradicting, "Of course not. I don't know how to be jealous."
"Says the man who tried to break Tyler and I apart while in Mystic Falls."
"That's because you don't just deserve a small town boy, love. You deserve someone intelligent, stronger, and braver than he ever will be."
"Someone like you?"
"Well, I wasn't really pointing at anyone, but thank you for considering me." He grinned mischievously.
"Hmm, I suppose Enzo could be the one as well." She teased, biting her lip harder to refrain herself from giggling.
Klaus rolled his eyes, his jaw hardening. He knew that she was just teasing him but he did not like hearing those words from her mouth. When he saw Enzo leaving from her room earlier, he did feel jealous. He did not like the idea of Enzo being the first one to see her wearing her gown. It should have been him.
"Your best friend seemed to be different than your pals in Mystic Falls."
"He was a soldier once during the war in Eastern Europe, then he was captured and trapped by the Augustine society for years."
"Ahh, quite a sad story."
"He became cellmates with Damon and devised a plan to break out, but Damon betrayed him, and he remained trapped until recently."
Klaus' lips twitched in amusement at the older Salvatore's action.
"I was correct in claiming that calling him Satan is an insult to Satan." Caroline muttered and unlocked the bathroom door, saying, "Can you help me with the zipper, please?"
He stood up and walked inside the bathroom. She had her back facing him as she clutched the front of her gown. Reaching out for the zipper, he asked with his brows furrowed. "You weren't wearing your gown when you talked with Enzo earlier?"
"I was still wearing my casual clothes." She answered while shifting her blonde hair to the side to make it easier for him.
The sight of her bare back made him swallow. He moved closer, his finger lightly brushing her skin as he slowly zipped her up. Her scent was so alluring to him that he strongly resisted the urge to spin her around and kiss her passionately.
The heavy expression on his face in the mirror made her bite her lip and take a deep breath. He saw her staring and returned the gaze. He showed his desire in his hooded eyes.
"It's done." She felt a chill run down her spine as a husky voice slipped into her ears.
"Thank you," she replied hoarsely and turned around to face him. "You understand that Enzo and I are just friends, right?"
He nodded, and her lips curved up slightly.
"There's no reason for you to be jealous."
She stepped out of the bathroom and examined herself in the full-length mirror, twisting her body to inspect the condition of her gown. He followed her out and patiently waited for her to look at him in the mirror. As soon as she did, he told her, "You look stunning, love."
She turned and placed her arms on his chest, smiling while fixing his tie, "And you look dashing."
Klaus wore a tuxedo that was sharply cut and paired with a tie that matched the color of her gown. His slicked-back hair gave him a more aristocratic appearance.
Caroline was dressed in a gown with a sweetheart neckline and blue tones. Long sleeves of chiffon fabric covered the upper body. The waist and neck were embellished with small intricate diamonds that sparkled occasionally. She was the epitome of grace and sophistication.
"It looks like you are missing something," he said with a sly smile as he gave her another once-over.
"What?" She quickly looked in the mirror, disliking the idea that she lacked something. Suddenly, she felt his hand on her and spun around to face him again. She squinted her eyes at something glittering, and then her wrist felt cold.
She let out a gasp when she realized what it was.
"I do hope you won't throw it again, sweetheart."
She beamed at him as she touched the diamond bracelet. The last time she saw it was during the Mikaelson ball. "You still have it."
"It is my very first present to you."
"I am going to wear this every day."
Klaus smiled at her and raised her wrist closer to his mouth. While gazing intently in her eyes, he placed a soft kiss on her inner wrist where the vein straight to the heart was located.
As Caroline watched his intimate action, her body tingled with sensation, causing her breath to hitch.
He placed her hand on his shoulder and held the other, stepping closer towards her as they swayed into a quiet, slow dance. He hummed a rhythm as he bore his eyes into hers.
The vibration from his chest and the little caress from his fingertips on her waist made her incredibly nervous and her heart started to race. With a breathy voice, she uttered, "Klaus,"
"You should start calling me Nik, love." he interrupted her gently. She blinked in surprise, tilting her head to make sure she heard him right. He potrudded his chin, encouraging her, "Go on."
"Nik." She moved her mouth cautiously as she pronounced his name. She watched as his eyes lit up and a lopsided grin formed on his face. He pulled her closer and his mouth closed to her ear, purring, "It sounds arousing coming from you, Caroline."
She quickly backed away when she noticed the playful tone in his voice, exclaiming and slapping his arm, "My god, Klaus!"
She blushed in embarrassment while he laughed in satisfaction.
"You stupid hybrid."
"Well, we can't get you all worked up when you're just about to officially meet my people. I can't let them see you in that state or else there will be a massacre tonight."
"Stop." She warned him firmly as she composed herself. "You will not be ruining the party I just organized just to prove your Alpha male tendencies."
He chuckled at her reaction and held out his arm. "Then, shall we grace them with our presence now?"
She hooked her arm around his and warned him one last time, "I'm serious, Nik. No funny business."
"My name sounds perfectly pleasant from your lovely mouth, love." He winked at her as they left her room and headed out to the stairs. Caroline merely glared in response.
"There you are!"
Rebekah in front of them with an exasperated tone in her voice. Her expression did not fit the sophisticated green gown she was wearing. "We have been waiting. You two are awfully slow."
Caroline let out an apologetic look and explained. "I'm sorry, your brother was being annoying that caused our delay."
"Of course you are the reason, you bloody wanker." Rebekah glared daggers at her brother. Klaus shrugged and responded in nonchalance, "Relax, sister. We are not late. The guests are simply early."
"Why do I even bother?" The female Original grumbled. "Come on then, Elijah's ready to give his toast."
They walked in the hallway and descended the stairs. Rebekah stopped a step ahead of Elijah, who was situated at the center of the stairs. Klaus prevented Caroline from going down and let her stand beside him on the top.
"What are you doing?" Caroline whispered, tugging her hand away from him. "I need to go down. Your family should be the only ones on the stairway."
"Stay. You belong here." Klaus answered, clasping their hands tighter. He spoke to her in an assertive manner that left no space for debate.
Two steps below Elijah was where Kol and Katherine stood. Hearing the low conversation between his hybrid brother and his girlfriend, Kol nudged Katherine. "You're supposed to go down."
"If Care's standing with you guys, then so am I." Katherine declared boldly. She was wearing a red-tone gown with decorative laces at the waist and bottom part.
"Caroline's with Nik. How about you?" Kol poked fun at her.
Katherine glanced at Elijah, who was busy looking at the crowd below with a glass of wine in his hand. She flipped her hair haughtily, hitting Kol in the mouth while saying, "My beauty deserves a spotlight."
Kol was irritated by her gesture and pushed her a few steps down. Katherine glared at him in return while he raised his glass to her mockingly, completely satisfied with his retaliation.
Enzo and Kai occupied the ends of the handrail, looking smart and sharp, as they observed the mingling vampires around them.
"Do you think I'm the only witch in the party?" Kai asked. He observed the other vampires' intense looks and smiled easily at them whenever their gazes locked.
"I heard they invited one more." Enzo replied, drinking his wine. "Caroline said she was a powerful one too."
"Interesting." Kai grinned and actively scanned the whole place to find the other witch.
One of the daywalkers named Thierry enjoyed himself with the drinks and food served at the victory party. Although it was the first formal event the Mikaelson family had held in their city, his fellow vampires also appeared to enjoy it. They were having a casual conversation and were thrilled to have the opportunity to relax.
He was part of Marcel's inner circle prior to the Original's family arrival and also helped Marcel challenge the family for the authority of the city, but it was obvious they were weak against them.
Marcel may have acted as the leader to them before, but he never once reigned his people like the Mikaelson did. Marcel may have turned him into a vampire, but he exaggerated his strength. He was just a normal vampire, like Thierry himself, who could be easily killed by a wooden stake or detachment of the heart, in contrast to the Original family.
The war against the witches showcased the reason the family is the most feared in the supernatural world. With their abilities and knowledge, no one could truly destroy them. The enemies could only bid their time until their ultimate death.
Thierry noticed the arrival of Klaus and Caroline at the party. It was hard not to notice them because they made a striking pair.
Caroline Forbes was introduced to them as a vampire newly turned by Kol Mikaelson during one of the Mikaelson's parties. She was hot, pretty, and made amazing drinks. Some of his friends even talked about hitting on her. When the daywalkers attempted to find her the following day, their friends on guard duty noticed her presence in the Mikaelson residence. The blonde vampire tried to get out of the abbatoir, but Klaus Mikaelson himself stopped her. Kol and Rebekah also seemed to stick around her sometimes. Her interactions with the Originals made them wary of her, and they only interacted with her at night parties and when she initiated conversation.
Thierry came to the realization that Marcel's story about Caroline was a cover-up when he witnessed her dancing with Klaus at the Rousseaus'. There was no way a newly turned vampire could make Klaus dance in a bar along with his people and it seemed that he was not alone in his realizations. Questions about her and her friend named Katherine started to pile up.
The Original family talked little about them but their actions showed how protective they all are. That was the reason the other vampires stayed clear and just observed the two ladies from afar. They began to make assumptions after seeing Klaus' terrified face and giving Caroline his blood directly from his vein. It was then confirmed by his public gesture at the Rousseaus'. Thierry realized how foolish they were all to believe that Cami was the object of the hybrid's affection. As it turned out, Cami was no longer relevant once Caroline got to the city.
"Poor human, she still thinks that Klaus cares for her," he thought to himself, shaking his head in pity.
Thierry deduced that since Caroline is close to the Originals and her friends stopped the war's leading witch, she must also be a strong vampire. Even though he does not know much about her, it was clear that she is important to the family, which implies that they should value her as well.
"Well, it's not a difficult thing to do." He shrugged at the thought, drinking his wine. "She treated us better than the vampire family does." He stopped analyzing the Mikaelson's relationship and continued to interact with his fellow vampires, opting to enjoy the party than mind the matters he has no business with.
"Everyone, may I have your attention, please?" Elijah announced, clinking his wine glass.
Everyone watched Elijah and his family on the stairs, and they all saw him smile formally.
"It is our honor to host a celebration of our recent victory. This gathering represents the vampires of this city coming together to fight for our kind and protect one another."
"My family and I appreciate your loyalty, and I hope that when a new problem arises, we will remain as strong and united as we are now. Enjoy the rest of the evening. Cheers."
Elijah raised his glass to drink and everyone followed suit, muttering agreements to his speech.
Soon after, Caroline was taken to the dance floor by Klaus. They danced to the waltz played by the string orchestra. For a few minutes, they were the only couple dancing. Then, Elijah and Rebekah, Katherine and Enzo joined them, and then the other vampire pairs.
Caroline smiled in satisfaction as her eyes scanned the venue and crowd.
"You did a great job, sweetheart." Klaus complimented.
"Courtesy to your unlimited budget."
"I could not even catch a glimpse of the daily Abbatoir."
"That is because the eerie and dim atmosphere is not appropriate for the occasion. Furthermore, it will be gone for good." She gave him a pointed look.
"I hope you do not make it appear like this is a playground for innocent children. Do not break their hearts that way." He imitated the look she gave him playfully.
She rolled her eyes at his childish act, responding, "Of course not. I would not deceive them into thinking this is a safe place to wander around. I just want to redecorate it so that it looks like someone with good morals lived here."
"That is quite high praise, love. Thank you."
"I meant me."
He chuckled and twirled her around, pulling her closer. She placed her lips near his ear, whispering slyly, "You know, if you take a closer look at the place, you might find something interesting."
His brows furrowed and his eyes scanned the area closely. The string lights, the food and drink table, the decor, random paintings.
He stiffened in realization as his eyes gazed back to one familiar painting while she giggled at his reaction.
"How did you…"
"I snuck it out of your studio. There's no point hiding it in there. You already have one of your own hanging in Hermi-" She was being cheeky, but then she saw a glimmer of insecurity about his art being displayed.
"There's nothing to worry about. Let others make their own interpretations. Your art deserves to be seen, Nik." She reassured him, her eyes softening at the slight show of his humanity. His body slowly loosened up by her words. She knows how to deal with him as well as he does with her.
He sighed in defeat and warned her. "You better make sure it won't be ruined or else."
She grinned slyly, chirping, "I promise. I already made a schedule for when to change the painting into another one."
He made a face and shifted the conversation by saying, "Focus on the dance, sweetheart."
Rebekah and Elijah, who were close by, overheard them talking and laughed softly.
"Wow!" Davina looked around the venue, her flowing gown trailing behind her as she exclaimed.
There were exquisite paintings and elaborate designs hanging in some places, and the walls were a lighter shade than usual. A majestic chandelier was situated above the middle of the dance floor. One side has three large round tables with expensive food and drinks. Cocktail tables were arranged throughout the space, and jars with fairy lights inside were set atop them. Compelled servers move through with trays in one hand to accommodate the guests.
Davina could not help but feel as though she was at a royal banquet because of the soigné atmosphere at the party.
"Awesome, right?" Josh concurred, saying in amusement, "I assisted with the preparation, and I can assure you that Caroline and Rebekah were totally in their element."
"The Mikaelsons don't do anything halfway." Marcel commented knowingly.
"And you're absolutely right about that." Kol piped in as he approached the group.
"Kol." Marcel nodded his head in greeting while Kol grinned and held Davina's hand, kissing the back of her palm. "You look lovely, lass."
Marcel stepped forward protectively, warning in his tone, "Kol."
Kol let go of her hand and raised the other with a glass in his grip, a taunting smirk on his face, "Just complimenting her, mate. No need to get your knickers in a twist."
Feeling the rising tension between the older vampires, Josh decided to intervene. "So, awesome party, huh?"
"The ladies did well organizing this one. Rebekah started the idea of making it a fancy victory ball." Kol shrugged nonchalantly.
"And an introduction." Marcel continued. His face conveyed that he understood the situation completely.
Kol raised his glass once more in a smirking gesture that seemed to commend him. "Full marks to you, Marcel. You saw right through it."
"Introduction to what?" Davina interrupted, her eyes full of curiosity.
"Don't you think word will spread out after this evening?" Marcel ignored her question, still focusing on his conversation with Kol. "Some might come after her."
"And we will protect her at all costs." Kol narrowed his eyes in warning and the others felt chills running through their spines when they saw his dark expression.
"Are you sure that this is the right time? After all, Klaus went to great lengths to conceal her identity, even using someone else to do so." Marcel emphasized, subtly hinting about what Klaus did to Cami.
"Klaus already exposed her during the last battle with the witches and it was made clear at Rousseau's. This is just a formal introduction, Marcellus." Kol arched an eyebrow, enunciating the actual name that Klaus had given to the younger vampire. "We're imposing a warning to those who planned to harm our dearest. They should expect the Mikaelsons' wrath."
Marcel tightened his jaw as he tried to control his expression when Kol used his name. He started to dislike it as he grew older and got rid of it when he started to rule the New Orleans vampires prior to the family's return. Kol intentionally brought it up, most likely to get him upset or just insult him.
Davina and Josh witnessed the change of Marcel's expression and grew concerned that something might happen between the two and ruin the party.
Kol smiled apathetically and exchanged his wine glass for another from the waiter's tray, saying, "Do you not feel happy that we are doing this at last? Nobody will ever mistake your precious Camille for someone else again."
"She should not have been mistaken for someone else in the first place." Marcel hissed but after seeing Kol's indifference, he covered his lips with his hand. He wanted to hide and control his emotions in front of the Original. He should not get riled up with his taunts. He saw a glimpse of Elijah, Klaus, and Caroline talking to the guests and nodded his head to them, stating to Kol, "You all care for her."
Kol's expression stayed neutral, only raising an eyebrow in reply.
"Okay, what is going on here?" Davina interrupted sternly. Even though she had no idea what they were discussing, she was beginning to worry when Cami's name was mentioned. The tension made her worry that her friend will be in danger again.
"Uh-oh," Josh chorused, drawing their attention towards him. "Those three together smell trouble." His gaze was fixed on the three women on the other side of the room.
"Well, well. Looks like your friend really loves to make a scene. If you excuse me, I'd like to join the fun." Kol smirked and gave his glass to Marcel, patting his back as he walked away excitedly.
Davina was about to follow him when Marcel blocked her path, advising reluctantly, "Don't, D."
"They might harm Cami." She argued, gripping his arm in protest.
He observed the room carefully before answering, "I don't think they will, not unless Cami does anything rash."
"That's the thing, Marcel. We don't even know what Cami will do now. She began to strike me as an obsessed woman." Josh piped in, his eyes darting back and forth in panic.
"Why did you bring her here, then?"
"She forced me to bring her. I did not have the heart to say no after what she had gone through."
"She's jealous, Marcel." Davina sighed in exhaustion. "She doesn't like the fact that Klaus is with another woman."
"Then she should be prepared to be disappointed when she learns the whole truth." Marcel muttered and eyed the group in the corner. "Don't worry. I'll watch over her. Go and enjoy yourselves." He nodded at Josh to usher Davina away from the scene while he stealthily moved closer towards the group.
"Look who has daggers in her eyes, Bekah." Katherine mocked as she took a step beside Camille.
Rebekah hummed as she also took a step on the other side of Camille, "Disappointed that you're not the one who's holding my brother's arm, dear?"
Camille eyed the two vampires and held her head high, declaring, "That should be me in her place right now."
Katherine and Rebekah exchanged looks before bursting out in giggles. Camille was annoyed by their reactions and snapped, "Did you think that I was kidding?"
"Oh honey, I thought Klaus made it clear to you already." Katherine replied, wiping the tears formed during her giggle.
"I thought you were a smart one, Camille." Rebekah grinned slyly. "You should be able to take a hint by now."
"Ladies," Kol butted in as he approached the group with a crafty smile on his face, whispering, "Why don't we take this elsewhere so that sweet Caroline won't ruin our fun, hmm?"
The three exchanged knowing looks and dragged Camille to the most secluded part of the house.
"Who invited you here?" Rebekah demanded, "I was the one who created the guest list. I'm quite sure you're not in there."
"I convinced Josh to bring me." Camille responded with a proud smirk on her face.
"What are you trying to achieve tonight?" Katherine sneered, wanting to wipe off the smirk on the human's face.
"I have every right to be here." Camille argued, "I've been held captive twice during the war, almost losing my life in the process."
"And if Marcel and Caroline had not bothered to save you, you would have been just collateral damage." Kol countered frankly.
Camille nearly gasped at how casually they talked about her almost dying. Their impassive expressions revealed that they had no concern for her well-being at all.
"How dare—I'm Klaus' object of affections." Camille snarled at them.
Kol snorted, "You're delusional, lady. Nik already made it clear that he doesn't like you."
"He's just confused." Camille insisted, "Let me talk to him and you'll see. He will leave that Caroline for me."
The three vampires exchanged looks of incredulity. Rebekah moved and fixed the messy strands from Camille's hair, faking a pity look. "You poor thing. Are you really that blind?"
"I brought out Klaus' humanity!" Camille claimed fiercely.
"Klaus' humanity was already brought out long before he met you." Katherine pointed out.
"That's impossible."
"But it's true, darling." Kol started with a sly smirk on his face. "Before we came back to Big Easy, our family reunited at Mystic Falls. We met our dear Caroline there and my brother was smitten, however," He paused for a dramatic effect. "She was already spoken for at that time. Still, that didn't stop my dear hybrid brother from pursuing her." He wiggled his brows and continued, "So tell me, Camille, had my brother ever pursued you despite knowing you are single and ready to mingle?"
Camille cleared her throat as she processed the new information. She noticed Katherine and Rebekah's malicious looks so she acted confident in answering, "He always comes to talk to me. He told me your family stories-"
"Well, duh, he thought of you as his therapist. He wanted you to justify his nefarious actions over the last thousand years." Rebekah cut her off.
"He also thought of you as his stenographer for her memoirs." Kol quipped. "Didn't he give you a typewriter for that?"
Their statements made Camille shut her mouth. She realized that they were slowly invalidating the reasons she believed that Klaus likes her. They wanted her to think that Klaus' interactions with her were nothing more.
"Have you seen Cinderella, Cami?" Katherine crossed her arms. She was starting to get bored.
Cami looked confused at her question but still answered, "Yes."
"I heard Klaus became a fairy godmother for Caroline. Like giving her jewels and dresses. He might even have magicked a carriage for her if he had the ability to." Katherine listed it out and caught Kol's eyes, and then they burst out laughing because of the idea.
Camille looked at them in aghast. Rebekah rolled her eyes at the childishness of the two and focused her attention on the other blonde in the room. "He did various unexpected things, even sparing the life of the person who plotted against him, for her sake."
Camille's eyes widened in disbelief.
Kol's grin broadened. "Seeing your reaction, you must've known that Nik's not the type to spare a life, especially to the people who wronged him."
"Even getting a pardon from him took me more than 500 years." Katherine uttered indifferently, groaning, "Let's get this over with already. It's getting boring."
"It is, isn't it?" Rebekah agreed, making a dissatisfied face.
Camille stepped away from them and became more vigilant. "You can't hurt me. Not here, not today. You'll ruin the party if you do."
"You're right. We can't ruin the party." Katherine replied and narrowed her eyes, adding, "But we do have to put you in your place."
Rebekah nodded her head and moved closer to Camille, emphasizing, "Niklaus was never confused to begin with. You were nothing but a substitute."
"Just an idle distraction during the waiting game, really." Kol quipped, shrugging his shoulders.
Katherine also moved closer to the human and warned, "So if you ever try to do something to ruin Caroline and Klaus, start counting your days." She flicked the blonde's dangling earrings lightly and continued, "We love getting even."
Camille took a deep breath, beginning to feel frightened by the intensity in their eyes. She was gradually losing her air of confidence as her human instincts began to urge her to flee from the predators in front of her.
"Hey, what are you doing here?"
All turned around and saw Kai sauntering towards them with a mischievous glint in his eyes. He quickly grabbed Camille's hand and then frowned in disappointment, letting her go. "Dang, you're a human. I thought this was a vampire party plus two witches."
Fear visible in her eyes, Camille took a sidestep to get away from the crowd. She remembered the moment at the cemetery when the strong witch was strangled by the man.
Kai glanced at her movement and asked the vampires indifferently. "Food?"
"Camille here sneaked in without invitation. I don't know if it was a brave or stupid move on her part." Rebekah crossed her arms, smirking.
"An enemy?" Kai reacted with excitement in his tone.
Katherine scoffed. "As if she's qualified to be one. Just like you said, she's a mere human. Nothing special."
Camille clenched her fists and furrowed her brows. Anger gradually replaced her fear. She was infuriated by the brunette's response. They seemed to underestimate her just because she is human.
"How dare you say that in my face? I made Klaus see the goodness in him." She glared at them, fuming. "I made him realize that he is still capable of human emotions. I am the person whom he consulted with about his worries. So, why are you all siding with that whore instead of me?"
There was a serious shift in the atmosphere that was not present even before. She saw the vampires straighten up, their eyes swirling with disgust and hatred. Chills seeped through her spine and sweat slowly formed on her hairline as all their attention focused on her. Her instincts demanded that she run and her feet unconsciously moved to follow; however, Kol blocked her path with a venomous smile plastered on his face. "We're not yet finished here, lass."
"Uh-oh," Kai chimed playfully, enjoying the tension in the room.
"You never understand, do you?" Rebekah seethed. "There were never sides to choose from. It has always been Caroline for my brother."
"And Caroline is way above being a whore. You don't have the right to insult her in our faces and then leave." Katherine growled.
"We were not pleased at the scene you made at the Rousseau's but we let it go because Care didn't want any more trouble with the war going on." Rebekah warned with narrowed eyes, "Don't think we'll let it pass when you make another."
"Do you want to know a fun fact, Camille?" Kol inquired using a tone that a teacher normally used. He moved closer to her ear and whispered, "Nik made you as a cover-up for Caroline's existence."
The human let out a heavy breath when Kol moved away from her. Her eyes darted among the vampires in confusion, asking, "What do you mean?"
"Nik was not inclined to the thought of people realizing dear Caroline's identity, especially when he's not with her."
"That's the whole reason you still exist, lass."
"You were just a diversion to get all the threats up on your head rather than on our sweet Caroline, whom Nik promised to let enjoy her life without dealing with his enemies."
"You have served your purpose well, if you think about it."
Camille inhaled sharply after taking in what they were all saying. She could not believe that Klaus did that to her. Her experiences being a hostage were just a pre-planned war strategy that could also easily become collateral damage.
She shook her head in denial. "That couldn't be…"
"Have you seen yourself? You're like Care's carbon copy."
"Except for the fact that you're older and a human."
Camille felt her heart burn in pain as she stepped away from them, croaking. "No, no."
She bumped into a lean chest and looked up, only to see the vampire who also rescued her from the witches and saw him kill in front of her eyes. She recalled the blood spouting from the witch's body after he sliced her neck.
"Hello there." Enzo smiled maliciously, intentionally showing his fangs and veins under his eyes. "You know what you were risking after insulting my best friend, right?"
Camille gasped in fright as she quickly backed away from him.
"Camille, was it? You should run along now because these people are a vile species." Kai was done acting as an audience and pointed at the vampires, faking a worry. "I'm also not a safe person to be with. With my two fingers, I can easily inflict pain on you."
He quickly reached out his fist in front of her and opened it while saying, "Poof!"
She shivered in surprise at his action, almost letting out a shriek.
The vampires chuckled at his behavior while Camille tried to compose herself and sneered in disgust at them. She turned to make a hasty exit from the group yet she still heard the final warning. "If I were you, Camille, I would try to avoid doing anything stupid—like anything at all. Compulsion is the kindest punishment but we are not kind."
Josh and Davina breathed in relief when they saw Camille heading towards them. "Hey, I'm happy you've survived." Josh tried to lift up her mood but the human blonde only snorted in disgust.
"Did they hurt you?" Davina asked and nodded her head when she saw Marcel join them.
"Physically, no. They just wanted to parade their superiority." Camille huffed.
"Look, Cami, I know I said certain things that might have caused you some misunderstanding." Marcel started, holding her hand. "I was wrong about it. I'm sorry."
Camille gazed back at him, but the view at his back caught her attention instead. She watched as Klaus sauntered his way into the room with his arm interlocked with Caroline's. He was completely unaware and unconcerned about the situation she was just in. His focus was solely on the blonde vampire.
The others followed her gaze and also watched the scene before them.
"Isn't this quite a sight? I never saw Klaus this happy before." Davina commented amusedly, sipping at her drink. Josh nudged her and tilted his head towards their friend.
"I'm going home." Camille declared and walked away without saying anything else. Josh and Davina exchanged awkward looks while Marcel followed Camille outside the compound.
"Cami, wait." Marcel grabbed her arm to stop her from walking further.
"What is it, Marcel?" Camille snapped. Tears formed in her eyes as her emotions had finally gotten out of her control. She was furious and frustrated because of the information she had found out tonight.
He let out a rueful look. When she was being confronted, he stood outside and vamp-listened to their conversation. He did not bother to interrupt and save his friend. He believed that she would be better off hearing the truth directly from the older vampires than from him.
"Did you know?" She demanded fiercely. "Did you know that they were just using me to protect their precious Caroline?"
He looked away, feeling slightly guilty of his actions.
She covered her mouth in shock, betrayal reflected in her eyes. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"How? When we tried to tell you to stop pining over Klaus, you brushed us off. You insisted that Klaus values you more. That he cares for you the most." He responded bitterly. "You didn't even bother to listen to us when we told you about Caroline."
"Well, I'm listening now." She crossed her arms in anger.
"Stop your obsession. It will do you no good. You've already got your warning."
"What's the point? I've already got threats above my head for being a cover-up."
He shook his head. "You're not a cover-up anymore. This ball saved you from their enemies."
"Are you saying that I have to thank them for this?" Camille shrieked. "They're the reason I am in this predicament in the first place!"
"They enjoy toying me around, don't they?" She started pacing back and forth, muttering. "Just because I'm a human, they think they have the right to do this to me?"
"Cami-"
"They underestimate me, Marcel!"
"Cami!" Marcel gripped her arms, trying his best to capture her attention. He was able to because she looked him in the eye yet she continued, "Just because I'm only a human, they think lowly of me."
Out of instinct, he started dilating his eyes while commanding, "Calm down."
"How dare you?" She reacted in fury and pushed him away with much force. "Did you really think I would go to a vampire party without consuming vervain?"
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I'm just worried about you…" He quickly apologized, coaxing his stubborn friend. "I needed you to calm down. You don't want to make a scene right now. Not after your confrontation with them."
She was gradually calmed by his concern. "Do you want to elaborate on why I am caught in this kind of situation?" she asked with a disgruntled huff. "I'm done walking into a position where my eyes are half close."
Marcel saw Cami waiting for his answer with a stern expression on his face. He glanced back at the party and then gazed back at her, letting out a sigh. "I'll tell you what I only know. I don't know if it's the entire situation or not."
She nodded her head in agreement and without looking back, they walked away from the party.
Elijah stood and watched the lively bustle of the night streets from the balcony. Street vendors were closing down their shops and calling it a night. There were groups of excited young people going in and out of the pubs and there were also couples holding hands and strolling with sweet smiles on their faces.
His mind was buzzing with thoughts about his family, his life, and the future when he decided to step out of the ball happening downstairs for a while and enjoy a moment alone.
"Elijah?"
He turned around and let out a small smile, greeting, "Caroline."
Caroline approached him and sat on the bench, returning a smile. "What are you doing here?"
He raised his glass of wine, smirking, "Just trying to get some fresh air."
"I thought you were someone who doesn't want to leave their guests unattended." Caroline giggled.
His smirk broadened and he responded, "Normally, I wouldn't but Niklaus seems to be in a mood to entertain so I sneaked out. Just for a while, though." He unbuttoned his black coat and sat down beside her. "I had matters to think about."
"Matters?" She echoed and quirked an eyebrow. "Matters involving Katherine?"
He let out a slight chuckle and sipped his wine, opting not to answer her question.
"When she said that she wants to prove her feelings for you, she was being honest." She told him softly.
He nodded curtly, mumbling, "I know."
Katherine was known as a compulsive liar but whenever he looked into her eyes recently, he could see her sincerity. He saw a glimpse of Katerina, whom he thought was gone after all these years.
"Forgive my nosiness but why are you being hesitant towards her?"
"Too many things happened between us, Caroline. Too many betrayals, manipulations, and scars."
She hummed thoughtfully and comfortable silence wrapped the two of them.
"Nik and I have those too, you know. Probably not as many as you and Katherine have." A soft smile crept across Caroline's lips as she broke the silence. "When he and my friends were busy tormenting each other back and forth, I was the mandated blonde distraction for him."
Elijah snickered, "Ah yes, Niklaus grasped every chance of you giving him even a little bit of your attention despite knowing that it was an attempt of distraction."
"I was quite obvious, wasn't I?" She laughed, recalling the moments while he just gave her a knowing look.
"We were from each end of that altercation yet I'm still here, with your brother." She stated contentedly as she leaned her back on the bench. "I do understand your hesitation, though."
"How did you manage it?" He uttered in a low tone.
"Looking back, I realized that both of us made choices for the thought of doing the right thing. The one that was beneficial for us." She let out a deep sigh.
"The world isn't exactly black and white. Both of us were at fault in some decisions, yes, but that just supported the notion that we aren't perfect beings, right?" She sent him an encouraging smile. "We make mistakes, suffer the consequences, and learn from them. There's no harm in trying to make things right or make an effort to do better."
Elijah hummed thoughtfully, taking another sip of his wine.
"I think in her Katherine-fashion way, that's what she aimed to do." She added in a humorous way, winking.
He let out an amused chuckle at her action. "Do you want to know something?"
"What is it?
"Every time Katherine tried to make a bargain with Niklaus in the past, I always hoped it would finally be great enough to gain her freedom. She had been through so much that I don't even know if she even had the chance to live her life. I would have gladly taken the part of being her messenger if only my brother would not see it as a betrayal on my end."
"But you did negotiate to spare her, didn't you?"
His eyebrow raised in question.
"He told me."
"I failed. She put her trust in me and I failed her." He lowered his head down in regret, muttering. "I'm not entirely convinced that she truly forgave me for that."
She was about to respond when he straightened up, asking, "Where's Niklaus?"
Noticing his attempt to divert the topic, she decided to oblige with his intention. It was obvious that he did not like to discuss the matter further.
"Nik was busy entertaining his vampires with his tales about the past. I just sneaked out to breathe a bit as well."
"So, it's Nik now, huh?" Elijah teased her.
Feeling her cheeks heating up, she mumbled shyly, "He told me to call him that from now on."
"I did wonder when he'll tell you to start using that name. Only the closest to him were allowed to use it."
She quirked an eyebrow.
"Probably just the family." He chuckled lightly and with a gentle voice, he continued. "Thank you for giving Nik a chance, Caroline. I'm forever grateful."
She shook her head, responding softly, "Don't be. Don't make it sound like you owe me anything, Elijah. I love where I am right now. It feels like I'm home."
Her genuineness made the side of his mouth upturn. He was delighted that his brother had found someone sincere.
"It's nice to watch someone else handling Niklaus' mood swings. I am elated to finally have someone to share my burden with."
She sighed in exhaustion. "I wonder how you served a thousand years with that. He even beats women during their periods."
They exchanged small laughs at her joke.
Caroline stood up and fixed her dress, smiling playfully, "I must go back inside before your brother turns into a three-year-old throwing tantrums."
Elijah snickered and stood up, buttoning his coat. "You probably should or else this ball will turn into a bloodbath."
She was almost out of the balcony when she looked back, advising softly, "It's not a crime to lower your guards down and let other people in, Elijah. Nik did." She sent him a final supportive smile and walked away.
Unconsciously, a smile crept across his face as he turned around and looked out again at the busy streets of the night.
"Yes, perhaps it is time for me to do that as well."
A/N:I truly hope you enjoyed the chapter!
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