Beauty and the Beast

Part VI

A/N: Please excuse any mistakes and inconsistencies! I didn't have time to do a re-read through before I posted this, so I'll come back and edit asap. Enjoy!

"Hello?" tentatively called Elena into the room she'd awakened in. Thick rope bound her hands and legs together and she seemed to be sitting on a lumpy bed.

"Is anyone there?"

Dread settled in her stomach when she was met with silence. She couldn't see in the dark, couldn't hear anything, and was tied up like the various animals the hunters of the village brought in. At least she was in some kind of shelter, protected from the chilly wind.

"Oh, Damon..." she lamented. If it was dark -and she didn't know how long it had been dark- Damon would arrive at their home to find it empty. Her new husband would be worried out of his mind.

"Damon! Someone, please help me! Damon!"

"Do I have to gag you?"

Elena stiffened at the distinctly female voice. She hadn't heard anyone moving around. "Who's there? Where am I?"

A torch suddenly lit up the wooden shack and Elena found herself looking...at herself.

"Call me Auntie Kat." the strange look-alike purred, grinning cruelly with a mouth full of bloody teeth. "And you're my bait."

Bonnie was waiting for Caroline in her chambers, much to her surprise. The witch smiled politely at her when she arched her brows.

"I drew you a bath."

"You're not my servant." Caroline muttered warily, "I didn't ask you to, either."

"I know. It's simply a kind gesture… I wanted to apologize for my behavior toward you."

The blonde vampire gave her a small smile. "Oh... well, thank you."

Bonnie walked with her to the bathing chamber. "I can help you get ready for dinner." she offered quietly, "Klaus has painstakingly made sure everything would be perfect for you tonight."

"I appreciate you drawing my bath, Bonnie, but I can manage on my own." Truthfully, she was relieved Rebekah hadn't been here waiting for her. She could just imagine the older vampire trying to snap her ribs as she 'helped' tie the corset.

"It's not just that." Bonnie pressed and stepped closer, beginning to unlace the vampire's dress. Caroline huffed with resignation. "I want to see my grandmother and I know Klaus gave you that extra key I made to his private room."

Caroline unbound her hair and slipped into the steaming water with a sigh, letting her eyes close with contentment. She heard Bonnie retrieving the soap and peeked her eyes open enough to study the young witch through her lashes.

They certainly weren't friends, but Caroline had loved Grams like she was her own grandmother and she knew it would be wrong to keep them apart willfully.

"Do you know about the mirror?"

Bonnie handed Caroline the soap, nodding. "I'm the one who located it for the Beast."

"Then why don't you just use it?"

"Klaus is the only one allowed in that room -well, until you."

Caroline pursued her lips, lathering her upper body in the water. "You can't ask Klaus for permission?"

The witch's dark eyes flashed with anger. "I am bound to serve the Mikaelson's until they deem to release me...in other words, until I die or become useless to them, which is one in the same. I am paying for my mother's crime, Caroline." She began imitating the Beast's voice, "The sins of our mother's follow us to the grave, young Bennett, and you will serve me in your mother's place."

Caroline flinched at that. She knew Klaus had been speaking from experience.

"I have to meet my grandmother, not just because I need to finally meet my only remaining family, but because she can help me locate my mother so I can finally be free."

If there had been magical words to garner Caroline's help, those were it. She had learned much about imprisonment during her six weeks stay in Castle Black. She had no idea how Bonnie had lasted seventeen years.

"Fine." Caroline relented, "I will try to sneak you through the mirror as soon as possible."

"Tonight."

"That's not possible. I can't tonight."

"Please, Caroline. I'm sorry for my cold treatment of you, I had assumed you'd be just like them, but you're not. I've been watching you, you're good -through and through." Bonnie's face was miserable, her eyes pleading. "You're my only hope."

"How do you expect me to do this without Klaus knowing? If you'd only wait until he was out of the castle..."

"I can't stay here much longer. You've been her a little over a month, I've been here my whole life!" the witch cried out, pacing the small room.

"Not so loud!"

Bonnie sat on the edge of the large tub, taking Caroline's soapy hand in her own. "Listen, I do have a plan, but Klaus will know you helped me. He won't be pleased."

"I can handle Klaus." Caroline muttered, slipping her hand back into the water. A thought suddenly occurred to her, "You need to worry about Kol." She spied the telling blush on Bonnie's cheeks. "What will keep him from dragging you back here?"

"I can handle Kol." Bonnie repeated back at her, with a mischievous grin. Caroline couldn't help but giggle with the young witch when she chuckled.

Caroline knew she and Bonnie could have been friends if their lives had been different. The thought saddened her.

Bonnie seemed to have come to the same conclusion, as she solemnly told Caroline, "You're taking a big risk to help me, and I want to offer you something in return."

"Oh?" Caroline quickly finished washing her body and started on her hair, dipping it back into the cooling water.

"I can tell you how to disable the warded barrier."

The blond vampire stilled, processing this possibility. Something had become painfully clear in the weeks she'd been imprisoned in Castle Black... If Klaus would free her, she would stay.

As long as he didn't, Caroline could never let herself love him.

Being held here was the only thing keeping her from breaking Klaus' curse. If the Beast knew, he'd free his wife instantly, but it wouldn't mean the same thing -thus Caroline kept her secret hidden and anxiously awaited Klaus to let her go.

What if he never did? "I'm listening." Caroline finally replied.

"There is a crystal in my workstation, a powerful talisman called the Sun and Moon Stone. The wards are tied to it. Even a baby vampire like yourself shouldn't have any problem shattering it."

"Why haven't you left before now?"

"Have you met the Beast?"

The blonde rolled her eyes.

Bonnie continued, "I knew of no family and had nowhere to go... and Klaus would have hunted me down."

"What's to stop me from just taking your little crystal and leaving you all behind?"

"You're a good person, Caroline." Bonnie replied, smiling. "You wouldn't leave a friend to their fate if you could help them."

Caroline scoffed, internally cursing her bleeding heart. "And my friend would have devised a way to keep Klaus distracted long enough to carry out this plan."

Bonnie smirked, telling her, "I have just the idea for that..."

"I don't know if I can go through with this." Caroline told Bonnie as she carefully pinned her hair into a large bun on the crown of her head. Bonnie pulled tendrils down to frame the blonde's face, each lock drying into a loose curl.

"You must." She gave Caroline a vial of clear liquid. "Drink this."

"Is this the potion you told me about?" She glared at Bonnie, taking the sweet-smelling liquid. "The one you've been poisoning me with since you recovered from Katerina's attack?"

Bonnie nodded shamelessly. "It's made with an herb called vervain. I've been giving you small doses to build your immunity to it. It would take a very large amount to harm you and keeps you from being compelled by the Beast and his siblings." She held up a necklace from her bosom. "I wear it as well. You're welcome."

Caroline quickly drank the contents, blanching and coughing. "That tasted awful... and it burns!"

"Since the Beast is part werewolf and vampire, I added wolfsbane to the vervain. It won't affect you, but Klaus is arrogant enough to think he would never need to take precautions against these herbs. It will be his downfall tonight."

"It won't kill him, right?"

The witch pursued her lips, eyeing Caroline like she had grown a second head. "You care for him." she stated quietly, not in an accusing tone, but one of wonder.

The blush across the vampire's far cheeks was answer enough.

"Unfortunately, no. It will only knock him unconscious for a few hours, maybe less."

"Oh... Okay." Caroline muttered in a small voice, crossing her arms over her chest.

The witch rolled her eyes and went to the drawer to retrieve the dress Klaus had purchased for Caroline to wear tonight.

Caroline gaped at the dress. It was the most beautiful color gold she had ever beheld. "This is mine?" She took it from Bonnie and rubbed the impossibly soft material against her cheek. "Help me with it?"

"Of course."

Bonnie helped her in the luxurious gown and carefully laced the corset, being mindful of Caroline's ribs and waist, which she appreciated enemsley. She fluffed out the full bottom's many layers and straightened the sweetheart bodice.

The Beast had gone to great lengths to procure such a fine dress, a testament to his desire for Caroline. She almost regretted her decision to leave the baby vampire here, but she had a feeling this wasn't the last time they would see each other.

Just thinking about leaving filled her with such hope, her heart felt like it would burst. Sure, she would miss certain aspects of her life, but she would be free to roam and do as she pleased.

Bonnie pulled Caroline toward the full-length mirror. "Come, look at yourself."

Caroline smiled shyly at her reflection. She felt even more beautiful than she had on her wedding night. Her smile faltered. "I feel so badly about this Bonnie. It feels wrong to deceive Klaus, especially on a special night like this."

"Did he not deceive you on your wedding night?" Bonnie snapped, grasping her shoulders. "The Beast shall reap what he's sown.", she added gravely.

"I know, but-"

"He'll forgive you, Caroline. He must to make amends for how he treated you." Bonnie picked up the matching white gloves with gold trim and pulled Caroline toward the door. "Now, remember our plan."

Caroline once again, had to fight down the dreadful foreboding she felt.

"Damon!" Stefan Salvatore shouted as he ran through the village, carrying a limp body he'd found in the woods. "Brother!" He turned a corner and almost ran into his older brother.

"Stefan!" Damon was breathing heavily, "Did you find her?"

Stefan presented the woman in his arms. It was Elizabeth Forbes. Damon's face fell back into the grief he'd worn since discovering his wife was missing.

"We can question her." Stefan told him. "She may know what happened to Elena."

"Good idea, brother."

Bonnie shoved Caroline into the main foyer of the castle and slammed the door behind her. Caroline opened her mouth to protest to the rough treatment, but caught sight of Klaus across the staircase.

A huge smile split her face, just as a sudden bashfulness overcame her. She lowered her gaze, but couldn't stop herself from looking at him through her lashes.

The Beast's smile matched her own as he began descending the steps to the lower set of stairs. Caroline hurriedly met him with a shy grin.

"Klaus." she greeted with a curtsy. He was gorgeous in his finery; his waistcoat and breeches were the same deep blue as his eyes and trimmed in gold, with a white linen shirt and gold cravat.

His eyes traveled over her form, and Caroline heard a low growl in this throat. "Caroline, you couldn't be lovelier."

Caroline smiled at the compliment before she remembered her manners. "Thank you for my dress. I adore it."

"I wasn't speaking of the dress," Klaus offered his arm with a wolfish smirk. "My wife is beautiful in nothing. Gowns are no matter."

"Oh!" she breathed, swatting him before taking his arm. "Can't you behave for one night?"

In all seriousness, Klaus replied, "No."

Caroline grinned despite his brazenness, and gasped when he presented her with a single, red rose in full bloom. "Oh, Klaus. It's beautiful." She brought the flower up to her nose and inhaled its sultry scent.

"Yes, you are."

Trying to shake off this sudden shyness, Caroline pressed her lips to Klaus' stubble covered cheek and descended the rest of the staircase with her husband. They walked the rest of the way to the dining room arm in arm, a companionable silence between them.

Klaus pulled out her chair beside his own and kissed her gloved hand as she sat. A lightning rod of arousal shot through her and she slanted her eyes at him, wondering if he'd noticed.

Klaus gingerly picked up his blood mead, tensing as his nose flared. "Caroline," he rasped, "I've planned a wonderful evening for us, but I'll skip to the best part if you need me to."

His raspy voice and darkened eyes called to her. She was almost tempted to take him up on his offer. After all, they hadn't blood-shared or coupled since he saved her from the werewolves.

Her vampiric body hungered, and not just for blood.

She cleared her throat, primly telling him. "You promised me my favorite meal."

"That I did, sweetheart." Just as he replied, two women entered with covered serving plates, sitting steaming bowls of her village's traditional stew and a long loaf of baked bread in front of her and Klaus.

It was customarily made with whatever game meat was available and any vegetables the preparer had on hand, but the base of the stew was always an earthy, almost sweet-tasting ground wheat from the northern fields - a special staple her village was known for.

Caroline was practically drooling. She adored eating and had been good-naturedly teased for her healthy appetite when she was human, so she had been overjoyed when Klaus had told her she could still consume human food if she kept a healthy diet of blood.

"How did I do?" Klaus questioned, looking at her knew very well how good he'd done.

"You did..." Caroline tore off a chunk of bread, smiling at him. "Perfect."

The rewarding smile on her husband's face struck her still for a moment, emotions welling in her throat. His eyes were alight with mirth and those dimples left her breathless. Her heart thumped painfully in her chest just as she realized how much trouble she was in.

If she wasn't careful, the Beast would finish stealing her heart -whether she let him or not.

"When you wake, you will only remember inviting Elena to come to your home. When she finally came, someone had followed her and attacked you both. You fought him off, but he took Elena, so you ran after him, hoping to save your daughter's best friend. In the woods you saw the attacker clearly... it was the Beast from Castle Black, taking another young village girl like your precious Caroline. You tried your best to save her, but the Beast struck you down...and then, nothing."

Stefan patted Elizabeth's Forbes face with a cloth he dipped in some cool well water, wishing she would rouse and hopefully give them some answers.

The older woman's brows twitched after a few long moments. He called out for his brother, "Damon! She's waking!"

Damon and more concerned villagers gathered around, each just as anxious to hear what Liz had to say.

"Wh-where am I?", she breathed shakily, grimacing as she slowly opened her eyes.

"Liz, I found you in the woods. Was Elena with you?"

A dawning horror widened Liz's eyes. "Elena! Oh, gods!" She tried to stand, but slumped back to the ground.

Damon grabbed her upper arms, demanding, "What happened to my wife?!"

"Damon!" Stefan took the shaken woman from his brother's desperate grip. "Let me talk to her." The older Salvatore looked like he might fight his brother on it, but finally nodded, stepping away.

"Where's Elena?" Stefan tried again, with strained calmness he didn't feel.

"The Beast!" she wailed pitifully, "He attacked us and took her!"

The crowd gasped, murmuring throughout. A woman from the crowd shouted for someone to bring the village elders.

Jeremy made his way to the Salvatore brothers and Elizabeth Forbes, calling out, "How did you know it was the Beast? No one has ever seen him."

Liz's brow furrowed. "I... I... I know it was him." Even with her muddled mind, she knew not to tell of her daughter's visit with the Beast. "He was so strong and fast, not like a human at all!" She began quietly weeping into her palms as the crowd began to question her story.

"Wait!"

The crowd parted for Alaric Saltzman. He panted, trying to catch his breath. When he could finally speak and listen, Damon explained what had happened.

Alaric crouched in front of Liz and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Tell me exactly what you saw."

"He had glowing yellow eyes and a mouth full of sharp teeth." she whispered, "I was so afraid, but I tried to save her! I didn't want another mother to suffer as I have to."

Alaric nodded and stood, turning toward the crowd. "She's right." he announced, "The Beast took Elena."

The swell of villagers erupted in cries of distress.

"The Beast comes for all our daughters!"

"My gods, no!"

"What will we do?"

"How do you know it was the Beast?" Stefan asked Alaric. Him, Damon and Jeremy gathered around, talking over the hysteria.

"I'd like to know, too, Ric." Damon quipped, crossing his arms.

"There are accounts of the family residing in Castle Black, including the Beast." he explained, "It was written when we made the agreement for their protection. The Beast is the only one with yellow eyes."

Jeremy demanded, "Why would he steal my sister?"

Alaric shrugged, at a loss as of what to say. It was Stefan who chimed in. "She's the right age and easily one of the most beautiful young women in the village. He probably killed Caroline and decided he didn't want to wait for another bride."

Damon paled considerably. "She's... she's pregnant." Jeremy, Stefan, and Alaric all glanced at him sharply. He continued, "She just told me a fortnight ago. We were going to tell everyone tomorrow."

Jeremy's fists clenched until his knuckles were white, his expression turning murderous. "We have to take her back."

"How?" Alaric bit out, "No one has ever been inside Castle Black."

"I'll figure it out when the time comes." Jeremy grabbed Damon's shoulders, "What will you do to get your wife; my sister, back?"

Damon mentally shook off his initial shock. He looked his brother-in-law directly in the eyes, resolutely shouting, "Kill the Beast!"

"I don't know how to dance." Caroline blurted as Klaus led her into the magnificent and ornate ballroom.

"I'll let you in on a little secret about dancing." Klaus responded, "You only need a partner who knows what they're doing." Caroline appeared like she still didn't believe him, so he bowed before her and offered his hand. "You only need to follow my lead."

She curtsied, laying her hand in his palm, trusting in him to instruct her once again. "You must grow tired of teaching me."

"Never." he reassured her, "Place your other hand on my shoulder." When she had done that, he cupped her waist with his free hand and began moving about the ballroom. "Besides, you've taught me much as well."

"I doubt that." She murmured, stepping on his boot. "Oh, I'm sorry."

"Relax, love." He told her, sweeping them in a circle. Music began to play, delighting Caroline. "That's it, love, just listen to the music and follow my lead."

They danced with smooth fluidity, Caroline's gown flowing around Klaus' legs with every turn and his eyes never leaving her face.

The golden gown highlighted her golden head of hair and helped the clear blue of her eyes stand out, spellbinding him like a love charm.

When the music finally ended, Caroline beamed at him. "That was wonderful, Klaus. Shall we dance again?"

"Join me out on the balcony." He drew her arm into his and lead her own into the cool night air. They stood in silence for a few moments, taking in the beautiful landscape surrounding Castle Black.

"Something the matter?" Caroline touched his shoulder hesitantly.

Klaus took her hand and kissed it. "It's been so long since I danced... I'd almost forgotten the feeling of it." He paused, Caroline was still smiling at him. It gave him the courage to say what he'd wanted to all evening.

"I suppose..." he began slowly, almost tentatively, "it's foolish for a creature like me to ever hope to earn your affection."

Caroline's eyes widened. "I… don't know." she finally replied, just as quietly.

Klaus' brows raised. "Really?" He grappled with his surprise, trying not to seem so desperate for his wife's heart. "Could you finally be happy here?"

Caroline could see the hope blooming in her husband's face and chose her next words carefully. "Can someone truly be happy if they aren't free?"

The Beast's mouth thinned, but he said nothing. Both refused to look away from the other; a silent challenge.

With her eyes, Caroline pleaded that he let her go. Please, Klaus, please release me so we can finally be together.

Klaus' eyes seemed to be saying, I can't lose you, not when I've just found you.

He exhaled, breaking their gaze, and peering out into the landscape. Caroline bit her lip, her hope plummeting. The Beast would never relinquish his bride.

"I've always been a selfish man, love." His eyes were closed tight as he spoke. "So, you can understand how baffling it is to one as old as I to find a baby-vampire's happiness means more to me than my own."

Caroline's heart began quickly beating in her chest.

"I only want you to be happy, Caroline... even if it's without me. You're free."

"Thank you, Klaus!" Caroline breathed sincerely. "You have no idea how happy that makes me!" She threw her arms around his neck, squealing with excitement. Klaus was stiff in her embrace, face hard and unreadable.

The blonde, baby vampire nuzzled his chest until he grasped her waist and set her away. "Love, I-" He abruptly groaned when Caroline bit into his wrist. She gave him no choice and thrust her own dainty wrist in front of his sharpening fangs.

It was useless to fight her, for it seemed he could deny her nothing.

Her warn flesh gave away easily to his double fangs and her sweet blood flowed thickly into his mouth. Caroline moaned against his wrist, her eyes heavy lidded and sparkling with emotion.

He inhaled sharply when their connection hit him. Before it was like a gentle caress, now it was sure and undeniable, loud in his head like thunder.

The contentment, happiness, and devotion flowing from her matched his, almost as if she returned his feelings.

He broke away, sucking in heavy breaths, and staring heatedly at his wife.

Caroline was grinning at him, eyes flashing and lips reddened from their blood-sharing. The sultry scent of her own arousal beckoned him.

"I'm ravenous, husband." she whispered, reaching out for him.

He'd snatched her flush against him the blink of an eye and ground his hardness into her supple body. "As you wish, wife."

Caroline wondered if she'd made a mistake when the Beast had flashed them to their chambers and ripped her dress completely off her in a single swoop. His eyes were almost black with his frenzy and Caroline knew his control was slipping.

"Klaus, easy." she bade him, laying a hand on his heaving chest. It was warm and firm under her palm. He'd since rid the world of her gloves too. His eyes had dared her to protest of his abuse on her new garment.

"I want you so much." he rasped, completely ignoring her and cupping her breast through her sheer underclothes. "I need to posse this body. My instinct can no longer be denied."

"I want you, too." she murmured back, beginning to feel mindless in her own desire. "I have to kiss you."

She kissed him with all the emotion she'd been swimming through since she'd been brought into his life. It wasn't gentle or chaste, but rough and all consuming. She practically moaned when he began lapping at her tongue and clutched his body closer to hers.

She gasped for air only for a second and resumed her exploration of her husband's mouth. Klaus eagerly met her, stroke for stroke, growling low in his throat with appreciation. When she sucked his tongue greedily, he forced himself apart from her.

She danced away from him when he made to rip her underclothes from her too. She used her vampire speed to rid herself of her remaining clothes, smirking when Klaus scrubbed a hand over his mouth.

"Your turn!" she sang merrily, slipping his jacket from his shoulders and ripping away the white linen shirt. "Oops. Now we're even."

Klaus stepped out of his pants and advanced on her until her legs hit the bed. "We'll be even when you're out of your mind with desire for me -until it consumes every thought in that pretty head."

"Then we're already even." she clipped, hopping on the edge of the mattress and opening her legs. Klaus growled, sliding his hands along her long legs until he was flush against her.

He could feel her silky wetness where his hardness prodded her directly at her core. Her heavy-lidded gaze, erratic breaths, and hands clutching him even closer were shredding his control.

Posse. Claim. Connect.

Already, he ached to hold her down, shove himself deep inside and rut upon her while he drank from her neck. His instincts rode him hard, but he gritted his teeth and began palming her breasts, intent to give her just as much pleasure.

"Oh, yes." she purred, arching her back to give him full access to her breasts. She knew she was being selfish, wanting her pleasure while she plotted to mislead him. She needed him to take her neck and drink more of her poisoned blood.

Their blood-sharing may have been enough to knock him out, but she needed him to take more so she would have ample time to get Bonnie away from the Castle.

When Klaus moved to take her nipple in his mouth, she rocked her hips into his hardness. Klaus stilled immediately and growled in warning. His control was slipping further and further away with every moan and movement.

Caroline whimpered as she forced herself not to grind against him again. There was no way she could control the situation if she couldn't even control herself. She sucked in a breath and froze when Klaus dropped to his knees and planted his face in the place she ached the most. "Ah! Oh, gods!"

Her husband showed her no mercy. He swiped his tongue against her sensitive bud, then pushed it deep inside her silken folds. He repeated the mind numbing movement over and over again as Caroline clutched his curls in a desperate attempt to get him closer and keep him there.

She squealed when she felt the flash of a fang against her sensitive skin, and a wicked idea suddenly occurred to her. The Beast began to growl during his ministrations, the sound vibrating against her swollen flesh and causing her to grow wetter in a rush. She gritted her teeth, teetering on the edge of her orgasm.

She thought about blood, particularly her husband's blood, and how thick, and hot it was as she would feed from him. Her fangs immediately elongated in her mouth and she felt the veins under her eyes swell and color the sclera of her eyes red.

Caroline jerked his face up to meet her eyes. "Bite me." she commanded, baring her fangs and daring him to deny her. Klaus' own eyes began to glow with his own golden hue as he turned and sank his double fangs into her thigh.

He took long, greedy withdrawals. The most he'd ever taken from her. Caroline began to panic amidst her aroused state. Would too much kill him? "Stop." she breathed, barely above a whisper.

When he took another extended drink, Caroline hissed, "Stop! You have to stop!" She grabbed his face and ripped it from her skin, grimacing at the torn flesh and searched his eyes.

The Beast blinked slowly, and tried to find her face. "Caroline?" His voice was slurred and his eyes keep drifting in and out of focus. Even his grip on her hips fell slack.

"Oh, gods, I'm so sorry, Klaus! I didn't mean to give you too much!"

"Too much?"

Caroline's eyes widened as she slapped her hands over her mouth. She retreated away from him, scooting back deeper into the bed. Klaus shook his head aggressively and tried to stand, but stumbled back down. Pure devastation shone on his face as he looked up at his wife. "Y-you?"

Caroline understood the accusation and felt tears well up in her eyes. She sat frozen in her shame, unable to deny what he asked. Klaus began to pant heavily as he struggled to deduce her betrayal. "Le...leave me?!" He surged to his feet in a fit of rage and adrenaline. "NO!" Klaus roared, leaping toward her.

He landed just before her, completely unconscious. She grabbed his outstretched hand and waited to feel his heartbeat. Torturous seconds until it finally pulsed against her finger.

Caroline dropped his arm and choked back a sob, roughly pressing her fist against her mouth. Her stomach was rolling, threatening to eject itself from her body. She'd been so blasé about Klaus' anger when her and Bonnie had planned her escape… oh, if she'd only known!

She'd clearly seen the heartbreak on her husband's face as he'd succumbed to her treachery and knew it would haunt her nightmares for the rest of her life.

If the Beast didn't kill her as soon as he woke, that is.

Caroline took a deep breath, blinking her eyes rapidly to dispel the tears gathered there. She forced herself not to glance at Klaus' unconscious form -else guilt would threaten to consume her. She had promised Bonnie she would help her, and she couldn't go back on her friend now, no matter how torn she was about deceiving the Beast.

She dressed in pants and a shirt, and flashed out of the room, speeding through the Castle as fast as she could. Bonnie met her in the Library, sharing a troubled smile, and together, they walked silently to Klaus' trophy room.

Bonnie let Caroline enter first, after the baby-vampire had unlocked the door and pushed it open. She took in the treasures and collected items with an arched brow, then reached into her pocket and withdrew an opal colored stone. "Here."

Caroline plucked it from her hand. "It's beautiful."she breathed, fingers roving over the smooth rock.

"It was said to be a powerful talisman that could break any curse. The Beast commanded me to locate it for him years ago."

"It didn't work, then."

"No, it was just another cruel trick designed by his mother to distract him from actually breaking the curse." Bonnie replied. She slanted her dark eyes at Caroline, "Though it does hold enough power to trap a newly turned vampire from fleeing the castle grounds."

Caroline's eyes snapped to hers and she snarled, baring her fangs as her arm transformed into a blur. The dark haired witch didn't even flinch the Sun and the Moon stone shattered from the impact against the wall.

Bonnie closed her eyes and used her magic to feel for the barriers around Castle Black. Nothing. "Your gilded cage is no more, Caroline."

Impatient to return to Klaus, Caroline gestured toward the mirror. "How well do you know Latin?"

"Caroline!" Elijah called, flashing to her. "I'm glad I finally located you."

Caroline tried to calm her racing heart. She'd attempted to sneak back through the castle to her chambers where Klaus lay unconscious, but the elder sibling had spotted her in the hall. Elijah had helped her in the past, but she wasn't completely sure he would approve of her freeing the Castle Black witch.

"Yes… ah, here I am." She noticed the worry on his face. "Is something the matter?"

He took her elbow and began steering her toward her chambers, the exact place she was going. "I'm afraid we've done something to anger the villagers. They're trying to break down the gates as we speak."

Caroline gasped, straining her ears to listen for what he claimed. True to his word, she heard shouting and banging just outside the castle. "Can they get in?"

"Unfortunately, yes." he grimaced. "I need you to stay in your room and bar the door. Have you seen Niklaus?"

"No." she murmured weakly, avoiding his gaze. They reached her chamber and Caroline awkwardly stood waiting for him to leave before she opened the door.

"Stay in your room, please." Elijah ordered sternly. "I'll find Niklaus and we'll deal with this."

"I will."

He nodded, accepting her answer, and sped away.

"Oh, gods, oh gods!" she jerked the door open and slammed it behind her. Klaus was still out cold in their bed. What if the villagers made their way up here and somehow found them? There was no way she could ever harm one of them, but they'd take one look at her vampiric face and stake both them.

And it would be her fault! Klaus could protect them all, but she'd betrayed his trust and rendered him prone at a dangerous time like this!

What had she done? What could she do to help? How would she fix this? She crumpled on the floor, imagining the bloodbath about to take place as soon as the villagers broke through. Elijah may try to restrain himself, but Kol and Rebekah tear a bloody path through the people she'd known since childhood -the people she loved and cared for!

Was her mother leading the mob? Trying to foolishly bring her daughter back? "I have to do something!" she stated resolutely, standing and preparing to flash to the foyer.

Caroline paused at the door, glancing behind her. Klaus' face was relaxed, peacefully resting on the bed. His angelic handsomeness struck a chord within her heart, but it was more than just his beauty, it was the way he'd changed for her. The Beast had fought for her affections, stumbled along the way a few times, but he still won her heart. The emotions swelling inside her felt like they were squeezing the air from her throat, and she knew she'd never be free of her husband's claws. She was as equally sure she'd wither and die if he ever released his hold.

"You're free…"

She flashed back to the bed and leaned over him. Her fingers traced his eyes, nose, and full lips, before they cupped his face. Caroline whispered against his lips, "I love you, Klaus, and I hope you will forgive me. I thought I wanted to explore the world, and I still do, but I would stay in this castle for the rest of my days as long as you'll forgive me. I just want to be with you, no matter where we are." she smiled, "When you finally wake, I'll tell you again."

She kissed his lips, nose, chin, cheeks and eyelids. "Always and forever, my love." She gave his forehead a final peck and flashed from their room.

Caroline had a mess to clean up.

Super sorry for the year plus wait for the newest chapter. It was never my intention to take that much time. As for the next chapter, I cannot give you a definite time frame, but I can tell you I will never abandon any of my fanfictions. Ever.

We are almost at the end! I am still editing BatB in my free time, so hopefully I will have everything the way I want it before the Epilogue is posted. Fingers crossed!

Always Mine will be updated after BatB is complete.

muah,
tiffywa