Who: Caroline, Klaus, guest appearance from Regina~ What: Klaus gives Caroline the werewolf bite and turns his switch back on, all in a day's work When: All day today Where: Regina's oh-so creepy crypt Rating/Warnings: Medium, blood and vampirism and Klaus? Status: Complete!
It had been awhile since Caroline had seen or more accurately kidnapped Klaus. It was time she went to check on him, and yes she did miss him. Even if he was being a complete ass at the moment (that was probably the biggest understatement of the century). Besides leaving him in an endless timeout with no human, or in her case vampire, contact probably wasnât going to get him to turn his humanity back on anyway.
After packing a small cooler full of blood bags Caroline headed to Reginaâs crypt. She made her way to the room Klaus was trapped in using a key Regina had given her to open the door, but Caroline made sure she didnât cross the threshold. She wasnât about to be in neck snapping vicinity. But honestly, physical pain was almost preferable to the emotional trauma he was causing her lately.
âNik?â Caroline called out setting the cooler down well beyond the ward where there was no way Klaus could reach it. She opened it up and pulled out a blood bag. âI brought you something,â she tossed him the first bag as a sort of peace offering. Might as well start this little visit off on the right foot, though she had a sinking feeling more hurtful words were in store for her.
It was particularly quiet down below, in this goddamn bloody little warded pocket of the witchâs crypt, where he usually tossed a tantrum or five. The stone walls had been clawed at, indents of rage dragged down in white streaks. Hunger hadnât particularly hit him as hard as one might think; he was a hybrid, though the craving had seeped through his veins and it was a taunting pang of bloodlust.
Still, Klaus looked well enough. Maybe a little pale, eyes sunken in some, but very much alive and mobile. It wasnât a furnished room; all he had were the floors and some of the walls, and he thought it rather rude to treat a guest with such dank accommodations to be quite frank.
The door opened, and in came a sigh heâd been tired of seeing. Really, he rolled his eyes at her entrance and didnât even look all that impressed with her âoffering.â One does not simply make a peace offering with someone who did not care whether she lived or died, it wouldnât make a difference to him.
âWhat, finally give up your silly plan of trying to starve me? Here I thought youâd last a bit longer. How terribly weak-willed of you, love,â Klaus smirked, sitting on the ground with his legs outstretched, back against the wall like heâd just been casually lazing.
Ugh. Did he really have to call her that? She didnât need to be reminded of affectionate nicknames, even if Klaus seemed to call everyone that, both here and back in Mystic Falls.
She sighed, folding her arms over her chest. He certainly didnât seem all that hungry. He was actually functioning rather well. This was not how she remembered starving vampires from her dreams. Not to mention when she went too long without feeding, well it was hard to focus on anything other than the sounds of her classmateâs or coworkerâs pulses. The hybrid thing must make it different.
Fuck. There went her plan of bribing him with blood bags.
âThe proper response is thank you,â she informed him coolly. His casual act wasnât fooling her. She could see the marks on the walls, knew perfectly well that he was suffering down in the crypt. That he wanted out. âBut if you prefer I can always go back to starving you. Donât mistake my kindness for weakness.â Sure Caroline had always been kind and compassionate, but she was also strong. This was going to be tough, but she could do it. She had to.
âKindness to a murderer makes very little sense,â he scoffed, folding his arms over his chest. Make no mistake, Klaus was hungry, the blood bag in the vicinity a tempting grab but he was also stubborn, prideful. Heâd drink it. Later, when she was gone, but for now his craving seemed satisfied by a lovely game of mindfuck.
Klaus raised his chin, watching her. âYou donât go out of your way this much for someone. Unless you love them.â
Klaus seemed harmless enough at the moment. Caroline knew it was just an act, but it didnât stop her from stepping into the room. Past the ward. If she was going to get through to him she had to show she trusted him. Right? Besides what was the worst he could do? Snap her neck again?
âIâve killed people too,â she reminded him. Granted it was mostly self defense and she actually felt guilt after. âYou were kind to me after. Even gave me this,â she held out her wrist revealing the bracelet. Not like it exactly went with her skirt and floral tank top, way too fancy for that outfit, but she was hoping it would spark some sort of feeling in him. Maybe. She had a few other items too, back with the cooler past the ward.
She chose to ignore the comment about love. She didnât want to get into all that. Not with his humanity off.
Silly thing, did she not remember that she wasnât an original? Decapitating her would do the trick, and being a bit starved didnât seem to hinder his strength much. Anger sparked adrenaline and that will to strike her dead would be enough, wouldnât it?
âHow very sentimental of you,â he told her. Bored. His head fell to his shoulder lazily, unimpressed. âAnd what purpose are you here for, again? You either have some sort of plan youâd like to try out, or you have a death wish.â
The bracelet was a long shot. She knew that. So when it didn't work she wasn't the slightest bit disappointed. Her expectations were realistic. Okay maybe a bit hopeful because how the hell did you get someone who didn't care about anything to decide to care again? She knew it took some vampires years to turn their humanity back on. There was no way Caroline would keep at this for years. She had her own life to live. One that had been going on just fine without him.
"You won't kill me," she replied simply. "If you wanted me dead I'd be dead by now. You've had plenty of chances," she reminded him. "One day you'll turn your humanity back on. No one keeps it off forever. If you kill me, you know you'll regret it."
Really now? Something in his eyes flashed, something dangerous, and his head slowly rose with a tightened gaze. It was that eerie calm before a thunderous storm touched down, and he did quite an excellent job acting like he was much too lethargic to get up.
Until he actually did get up, anyway. A blur of speed, those eyes going from their stormy blue to that unnatural molten gold, the eyes of a wolf, and with that rage-fueled strength he grabbed a fistful of blonde hair, yanked her head to expose that neck.
And he bit her. A poisonous bite that would infect her veins, taint her blood. Klaus wasnât gentle. Wasnât going to give her that âspecial treatmentâ she so assumed sheâd get because they were previously a pair. It was a vicious sink of those weaponized teeth with a bit of a yank, a warning that he could very much rip her pretty little neck apart but -
Death. A slow death. Agonizing, hallucinatory. He wouldnât spare her with something quick.
There was a gasp that turned into a shriek. There was a sharp pain in her neck, one that was familiar thanks to the dreams, but she had never experienced it here. Never thought she would. He released her neck and she fell to the ground, weak from the sudden blood loss.
Caroline was out briefly. Just a few moments, not hours like the time he snapped her neck. When she came to it took her a minute to realize what just happened. She took in her surroundings, the empty room except for Klaus standing over her with her blood still lingering on his lips, trickling down his face. That really just happened. He bit her. It wasnât a dream.
âYou bit me,â Caroline finally said her voice shaky as she slowly sat up though her body was shaking too. She knew what this meant. He was a hybrid. His werewolf venom was in her blood now. She was going to die.
She was going to fucking die from trying to save him.
Her shock transformed to anger. Not exactly the same rage that Klaus had, but she was pissed. âYou fucking bit me,â she repeated her voice rising with her anger, the shakiness gone. She stood so she was face to face with him. Her eyes narrowed at him. âI loved you and you fucking bit me. God what is wrong with me?â she wasnât exactly talking to him as much as voicing everything that was going through her mind. She ran her hands through her hair in frustration.
âI canât believe I ever loved you,â her voice softened at that statement. A sadness resonating within her. The one guy she ever let herself care about, fall for, love, had just signed her death sentence.
âWell, of course I bit you,â Klaus stated as an obvious matter of truth. Caroline poked the beast enough with her claims of how he wouldnât kill her, she was special, and he simply had to prove her wrong, didnât he? Itâd shut her up, rid her of that illusion that Nik was still in there, somewhere. Blood trickled down his mouth, the metallic taste stained his teeth but to him it was delicious - exactly what heâd been craving for, imagine that!
His thumb swiped against his mouth, licking his fingers clean of the remnants. Poor, darling Caroline. So hurt. So angry. And so close to dying. He had listened to her words with that look of just complete and utter amusement, his smile opening like a wound. Canât forget those charming dimples either, could she?
âOnly in fairytales do declarations of love actually work, darling. You should have never tested me. And now youâve paid the price. Donât blame me for reinforcing something Iâve been telling you this entire time. You and I would have been quite alright if you hadnât been so insistent that Iâm something that needs to be fixed,â he told her, those last couple words said with a snarl. âQuite offensive. Perhaps you should run into your motherâs arms and cry about it, hm?â
Caroline stood there in silence, just staring at Klaus. Yes her eyes began to fill with tears because unlike him she still had feelings and she was about to die thanks to him. And there he was smiling with those damn dimples of his. Caroline wanted nothing more than to smack that grin right off his face.
So she did. She slapped him clear across the face, then in her own blur took off leaving him alone in the warded room of the crypt, slamming the door shut behind her.
Klaus was right about one thing. She did run to her mother, but not to cry about it. To see her one last time. Her mother deserved that. All her friends did really, but Caroline didnât have the time to see all of them and that would be too hard on her anyway. Spending the time with her mom was difficult enough.
A few hours into the visit she started to feel the effects of the bite. âCaroline, honey, are you okay? You donât look so good.â
âYeah, mom, fine,â she forced a smile. There was no way she was going to tell her mom she was dying, or let her mother watch her die. No one deserved to go through that. Well one person did and if thatâs what he wanted then fine. âJust tired. I should get home,â she gave her mother a long hug before taking off.
By the time she returned to the crypt Caroline was covered in sweat, and her skin was beyond pale, not just the usual vampire pale. She was also weak, she could barely get the door to his room open, but she somehow managed. âYou want me dead? Fine,â she may have been dying but she there was still a sharpness in her tone. âYou can watch me die then.â
Not that Regina suspected much - sheâd been out while the entire thing went down, and sheâd also been more than happy to mostly neglect the supernatural abomination that was trapped underground. Of course sheâd make sure the wards still held - who knows what to expect from someone like him - and Caroline had been given the key because somehow, someway, the girl was determined to flip that âswitchâ of his back on, return him back to the world of feelings. How quaint.
Of course, thatâd be a little hard with his heart out. But having that specific organ locked up gave her the edge she needed. He had speed, he had strength - she had magic, and that was key.
And when sheâd gone down for her nightly round, the sight to behold confused her a little. Sickly Caroline, with a hybrid that looked like he was about to rip her head off any minute. Good thing Regina was always prepared, holding his heart in a wooden box and read to squeeze into black dust should he try something.
Klaus sensed her arrival too, by the sound of those click-clack heels hitting the cement, the thumping sound of his heartbeat somehow still functioning outside his body. Some kind of bullshit magic. âYouâve joined the show, witch. Welcome.â
âAnd what the hellâs going on here?â Red flags were up and she was on the alert, lioness eyes glowering, and her gaze shifted to Caroline cautiously.
Caroline needed to sit. Or lay down. Standing was no longer an option, she was getting weaker by the second. She leaned against the wall near the door, keeping her distance from Klaus. She slowly slid down the wall, glancing over at Regina. âHe bit me,â her voice was weak, there was a pause between each word she spoke. âWerewolf bites kill vampires,â she wasnât sure if Regina knew that. âI figured if he wants me dead so badly Iâd let him watch,â she attempted a smile but instead a few tears slid down her cheeks.
Her eyes fell on the box in Reginaâs hands. The one with his heart. âDonât,â she could only assume Regina was thinking of crushing his heart. âDonât kill him,â even if she was going to die she didnât want him dead. Plus that would probably mean Damon would die too if the whole sire line thing carried over and even if the guy got on her nerves sometimes she didnât want him dead either.
âPlease.â See Klaus? She did still have her manners.
âAnd you just expect me to stand here and let you die?â was Reginaâs murderous outrage, wooden box flipped open and tossed to the side - splintering and breaking - while her fingers gripped his beating heart. Tight enough to make him feel that pang of pain against his chest and Klaus visibly scowled, hand going over that empty cavity that held it once, and that bewildered stare switched between the two of them. âNo man is worth your life, Caroline, and certainly not this one!â
âWatch your tongue, witch,â he hissed with grit teeth, but he hadnât been as impulsively hostile as heâd been before. Because before heâd lash out despite the wards, would battle against the invisible force field that kept him trapped even though his attempts were more or less futile. âAnd do something about her.â
Oh, like the term witch was supposed to be insulting. Really? Why, donât mind that tad extra pressure she added to the speckled black organ in her grip, must be a trick of your imagination. âI will, actually. Like finding a cure for her and knocking some sense into her - and if that doesnât work, Iâll kill you myself. I give options because Iâm polite.â
âThe cureâs my blood,â he wheezed, yet there still wasnât a moment where Klaus lashed out. No signs of violence. âI doubt youâll come up with something this short notice. Sheâll be dead within the hour.â
There was something different about Klaus, even with Reginaâs presence and hasty treatment of his heart he wasnât rebelling quite as much as he had before. The violence he had shown her hours ago was gone. It gave Caroline the tiniest bit of hope. Even if it was too late for her, maybe, just maybe his humanity was coming back.
âStop!â she yelled as loudly as she could, which honestly wasnât that loud, but it was forceful. She used every ounce of strength she had left to stand back up. âJust stop,â her voice grew quieter again, but she managed to step away from the wall.
She spoke to Regina first. âI knew what I was was getting myself into. When I fell for him, when he turned, when I decided to do whatever I could to turn his humanity back on. I knew,â again each word she spoke came out slowly like it was a struggle to speak, which it was, but she had to say this. She was determined to. âI didnât think it would go this far, but it has. Killing him wonât change anything.â
She looked away from Regina focussing her gaze on Klaus. It would be better if maybe Regina wasnât around to hear this, but oh well sheâd be dead soon anyway. No regrets. âNik, I-â but before she could get out what she was trying to say she fell to the ground, unconscious.
Killing him would sure as hell avenge Caroline if she died, and that to Regina was still something! Though not much convincing could be made to the vampire that had just literally passed out, and she crossed the threshold line kneel down and use her free arm to scoop Caroline upright some, shaking her. âCaroline! Caroline, wake up!â
Now that his heart wasnât being so rudely manhandled, Klaus had been able to rise to his feet. Nothing said, not even a condescending comment about poor little Barbie. His venom was potent. Minutes is likely all she had now. Skin slicked with sweat, pale faced with shallow breathing - her time was coming up. Faster, as each second passed.
With no success in waking her, Regina whipped her head at his direction, raven hair sharply moving from enraged eyes. âShe dies, you die. Take your pick, hybrid.â
How quaint, but the threat didnât do much for him. Not that Klaus fancied the concept of dying either. Heâd done enough to survive, both here and there. And even there, heâd chosen Caroline over the odds.
Then his wrist went to his mouth. Fangs popped, veins bulging, eyes changing, he sunk his teeth into the main vein and ripped it. Regina almost tapped into that telekinetic reserve to fling him across the room, until he decidedly scooped up Caroline into his lap and held the bleeding wrist to her mouth, helping her lips part so the first couple drops could hit her tongue.
And, yes, Regina was still holding onto his fucking heart should he try something else, thank you.
Caroline slowly came to, her own fangs popping out, vampire features appearing on her face, as she eagerly drank from Klaus, like her life depended on it. And well it did. Being on the brink of death, it took a few minutes before she felt better. Still weak, but she knew she was cured. Caroline released his wrist her features returning to normal.
Once again Caroline slowly stood up, getting off of his lap. Sure she loved him, and he may have just saved her, but he was also the one who had almost killed her. Now that she was no longer dying she didnât exactly want to be around him anymore. âWell, guess Iâm not dying,â she attempted a smile, but it was difficult for her to be optimistic and look on the bright side given everything that had just happened.
Caroline had no clue what happened when she was out, but she looked from Regina to Klaus and she just had a feeling. Regina may still have his heart, but it had been his choice. He wanted to save her.
âI think itâs time we gave him back his heart,â she didnât sound completely confident, but they couldnât hold onto his heart forever. He needed it back. Caroline didnât know much about having a heart outside of a body but she was fairly certain his humanity wouldnât be completely restored with it outside his chest.
Maybe being so close to the brink of death made Caroline officially lose it, so that slanted look deathly close to a glare was now directed at her. He may have saved her, sure, but she also did give him an ultimatum - one that he didnât seem so torn up about. So he could have just wanted to save himself from getting his heart crushed into black powder. Regina wouldnât give him the benefit of the doubt. Not yet.
âIâm not so terribly convinced,â she seethed, though that anger had been controlled. Mostly. Minutes later and she could have had a dead vampire on her ground, all thanks to this fanged monster. Sheâd been the villain before, she had played this game, and she wouldnât quite think everything was hunky-dory just because he showed one glimpse of humanity.
Whatever seemed to have happened, it made Klaus look like he was currently enduring the migraine of the century. All those beastly features vanished, leaving him looking fairly human. Less murderous, more pained, and he pinched the bridge of his nose. Just like the night he had transitioned, it all came down crashing like a tsunami. Backed up feelings of what heâd done, what he almost--
âSheâs right,â he then agreed. When he got up, he went to the opposite side of the room, back turned to them. It was the farthest he could get. âJust...take her. Sheâll need to rest.â
Because he didnât know how much longer he could actually contain everything. He needed them out. He needed them to leave him alone.
Rest. Rest sounded good. She could worry about Klaus later. When her brain was functioning properly and she could fully process everything that had just happened. Right now her emotions were all over today. She was going from angry, to hurt, to grateful. She just didnât know how to feel, what to feel.
âI know youâve done a lot,â she said to Regina. âBut do you think I could stay here for the night?â she had no clue what time it was actually but she assumed late considering when she had gone back to the crypt it had been getting dark out. âI donât want anyone to see me like this. They shouldnât have to worry,â she looked at her hopefully as she slowly backed out of the warded room. Not even acknowledging Klaus anymore, she couldnât really deal with him right now either.
Oh, look, someone was being sensible. Still, Regina scoffed and helped Caroline out the room as much as she could with her hand carrying precious cargo, and with a flick of her fingers, the door behind them closed on its own.
That was strange.
âYou can stay in one of the guestrooms,â she agreed, now without the presence of the murderous boyfriend (or ex-boyfriend), her tone lowered to almost being tender. âItâs got a whirlpool tub that works wonders - Iâll fetch you something to get some of your strength back. Something of the magical nature, not...blood. Unless you do need a bloodbag?â
Considering she was almost at deathâs doorstep, if Regina had to get her a blood bag, sheâd at least do that.
After she found a new box for Klausâ heart.
âThank you,â Caroline definitely owed Regina. She would have to think of a way to repay her. Though it seemed Regina was powerful enough on her own, Caroline wasnât sure any of her vampire skills would be of use to her, but she would offer, when she was feeling better.
âI brought some blood for Klaus, it should still be down there,â now that Regina mentioned it Caroline was starving. Klaus probably was too, but she deserved the blood a hell of a lot more than he did.