Beauty and the Beast

Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Diaries or take any credit for it

1740 Paris

In Paris there lived a rich family of five who lived in the heart of the city. William was a rich Merchant whose fortune lay mainly in importing and exporting of expensive cloths. William Forbes was a rich man about the city, very well resepected and high in social circles. His family was want for nothing. For William was a man of business and a man of practicality. He had a beautiful wife called Elizabeth who was always the hub of important social circles. She looked good on his arm and she always impressed the right people, she was the perfect wife.

He had three beautiful daughters, Elena, Gabriella and Caroline. Elena had brown hair with chocolate brown eyes and olive like skin. She was the eldest daughter, she had charm, beauty and brains. Elena was the perfect match of any young bachelor. Her father had several candidates in mind for his favourite daughter. She wasn't shy either, always the centre of attention at parties. Her father often remarked that she was the bravest of all his children. Elena was 18 years old.

Gabriella had black hair and piercing blue eyes that were hooks for the soul. She wasn't as brave and confident as Elena but she had other strong qualities to recommend her. She was extremely smart and the most educated of the sisters. If she had been a boy she would excelled at only the top universities. As her father called her 'my little genius'. She spoke five languages, French, Italian, English, German and Latin. Gabriella was also famous for her wit and always shinned in debates. She was 17 years old and ready to be married after her sister.

The youngest of the sisters was Caroline. She had long blond hair that seemed to illuminate her face. She was stunning beautiful she had a pure grace about her. Caroline loved books and was often found in library, reading books of adventures she'll never have and people she'll never meet. She was a dreamer and she often wrote some of her own poetry which she never showed to people. Alas, her father had no interest in her because she wasn't as confident and as socially successful as Elena and neither was she as smart and witty as Gabriella.

Caroline was sitting at the breakfast table reading Gulliver's Travels in French. Sometimes she'd wish she was one of the characters, having amazing adventures and travelling the world. Caroline had always dreamed of going to China or maybe even America. But these were nothing but dreams and that made her sad inside. When she was of age she'd properly be married off to some merchant and live with him until the end of her days.

"Will you pass the jam?" Elena interrupted her thoughts.

Caroline looked up from her book when she realised she was being addressed. She hastily passed over the jam to her elder sister with a small smile.

"Thank you" Elena thanked.

All her family were at the table except her father. Elena was currently spreading jam on a piece of bread. Gabriella was drinking some very expensive hot chocolate and was reading a letter from a potential suitor. While her mother was eating some crumpets. It was a glorious day outside. The sun was streaming through the huge windows. Which illuminated the room and gave it a heavenly feel. It was the middle of July so the temperature in Paris was in the high twenties.

"What does Markus say?" her mother asked the middle child.

"He writes that he is looking forward to meeting me again" Gabby smiled, "Apparently he can't stop thinking about me"

Caroline couldn't help but feel a little jealous at her sister's good fortune.

"You know his brother, Gaston?" she asked Caroline.

She'd met him at a recent ball and she could tell that she'd had quite an effect on him. Gaston never left her side all evening and laughed at all her jokes. He was the son of a very wealthy merchant and he was reasonably handsome. Gaston was 20 years old with slightly tanned skin and deep brown eyes. Caroline thought him a very fine gentleman but she didn't really feel any spark with him but she imagined with time she could grow to love him.

"Yes, I remember him from the June Ball" Caroline admitted.

"Well apparently he wants to marry you" Gabby giggled.

The word 'marry' caught her mother's attention and slipped out of whatever she was thinking. She turned to the middle child was an excited expression.

"Is this true?"

"Very true" Gabby confirmed.

Caroline didn't know what to say. Did she want to marry Gaston?

"How do you feel about this Caroline?" Elena asked.

"Well obviously this is good" Caroline lied.

Elena pulled a face that showed she saw right though hers. Elena had always been slightly physic to people's true emotions. She could always tell when people lie it was like she had an unnatural power. At that moment her father came in with a horrified expression on his face. He burst in looking like he'd cried all night long.

"What is wrong papa?" Elena asked.

He didn't say anything he just sunk to the floor and stayed as still as a statue. Caroline got up and ran to her father. She tried to shake him out of it but he'd just gone catatonic. His face was frozen and it didn't move an inch. The others had got up and was crowding around him.

"William!" her mother cried as she tried to shake him awake.

But it was no use, he was gone.

"What's going on?" Gabby cried.

Suddenly a banker entered the room of the name of Mr Le Blanc. He was a gentleman of roughly thirty years of age. With short ginger hair and he carried himself in a pompous, snobbish manner. Like he thought anyone who earned a penny less then him was a peasant. He strode through the double doors like he owned the place. He looked at Mr Forbes like her no longer mattered.

"What is going on?" her mother demanded.

"Your broke" he said harshly, "Your husband you may know invested a huge fortune in Stewart enterprises a Scottish business and they went bust. He gambled all his fortunes on one venture. Now you have nothing, no money, no homes. Nothing"

Gabby fainted and had to be taken to her chair. Elena let out a hysterical gasp and sobbed heavily. Her mother just stood there completely paralysed with shock. Caroline was shocked but she saw no use crying about it. She knew she had to be strong.

"What will become of us?" Caroline asked the million dollar question.

"You will be forced into works due to your reputation in Paris you will most likely work in rich households. Your father will go to a debtors prison and your mother will be forced into works too"

Caroline felt fear well up in her soul but she kept it down. She looked at her family who looked hysterical. Caroline sighed deeply, she'd have to be the strong one. She wasn't scared of the future and she'd never seen the point in crying and moaning about your problems. Caroline was more of a doer then a talker.

She would take this adventure. Wherever it may lead her.

...

A few miles from Paris was a huge mansion in the middle of nowhere. Around it for miles was nothing but forest and lonely roads for nobody ever came this way. They were all too frightened of who lived in the mansion. The mansion itself was straight out of a horror movie it's mere presence oozed threatening and foreboding. It was huge but very lonely for only one man who lived there. The vampire Klaus Mikelson who lived an lonely life. There was no servants who lived there so it was very dusty and stale. But Klaus did not care for her cared for nothing.

Klaus was not exactly a people person. His heart was made of ice if his heart even existed at all. For he was cruel and evil a man with no weakness, a man with no bounds. Love was weakness. That was Klaus' motto, that was the cold code he lived by and it had served him well. After 800 years he was still alive which he owed to his motto. Klaus had seen many fools who fall in love or have a family member who just drag them down and eventually lead to they're demise. So he was quite proud of himself for his smarts and wit.

On a late July mourning he was reading a newspaper in his large and empty breakfast hall. In the newspaper it had advertisements for people who want a job. Bored, he cast his eyes over the parchment and read them in his ancient mind:

Bonnie Bennett, a herbalist is looking for some work. To contact please send a letter to us at the address at the bottom. Bonnie says that she is skilled at her craft and is willing to work at any hour.

The Salvatore Brothers! The best music act in Paris ready to make your latest dinner party a success. Stefan and Damon Salvatore have taken Paris by storm with they're God given voices and good looks! To contact please send a letter to us at the address at the bottom.

All are welcome at Alaric Saltzman brewery! From the King of France to the Beggers of Paris. Everyone is welcome. To contact please send a letter to us at the address at the bottom.

Caroline Forbes is a highly skilled worker who is ready to work in houses. As a Nurse to children, a librarian, a maid or a cook. She is that talented! So if you want the best worker in Paris to come to your home. Please send a letter to us at the address at the bottom.

The last advertisement drew his attention. He'd wanted someone to take care of his library for ages. The rest of the house he didn't mind but his library was close to his undead heart. But could he stand another person in the mansion? Well it was easy, he'd just keep her in another part of the mansion. She doesn't have to bother him just look after his books. She was properly just a plain old thing. That afternoon he sent a letter to the newspaper to hire the Forbes lady. Her name did sound familiar but he didn't know where from.

...

Caroline sat in the middle of her room looking out of the window. The entire room was bare as was the house. It was today that she'd be moving out of her childhood home. It was today, the beginning of the rest of her life. She was poor and disgraced but she wouldn't let anyone know it. She'll put a brave face on everything. Her mother was working in a large house in the south of France because she said it'd be too humiliating to serve someone she used to know as a friend. While her father was rotting away in a debtors prison, still catatonic. Elena had been given a position with a Duchess in a very grand home as a high ranking servant. Gabby's so called love left her as soon as he got word of her misfortunes. So she's got a position in London to a rich merchant.

A few days ago Caroline had secured a place with a complete unknown. His name was Klaus Mikelson and he lived somewhere in the middle of nowhere. A carriage would be coming in an hour to take her to her new home. She hoped her master would be kind to her but she'd heard stories about male employers. It made her shiver just to think about it. Suddenly it started to rain outside. The weather reflecting her mood. All her books were gone and her clothes. All she had were a few dresses left.

She thought about her childhood there and how she grew up. The three Forbes sisters were inseparable. Sisters and friends forever now it looked doubtful that she'd ever see them again and that made her heart ache. Elena was always the bravest and the most determined. Gabby was always the smartest, she used to play her violin to guests at dinner parties and amaze everyone. Caroline adored her sisters even though she felt overshadowed by they're accomplishments.

When they were little they'd always play in the garden. They'd play pirates which was unusual for girls but these were extraordinary sisters. Elena was always the Captain, Gabby the treasurer and Caroline was always the prisoner. She softly chuckled at the games they used to play, those long carefree days were over. Then a lonesome tear ran crazily down her cheek. Now that part of her life was over she couldn't help but feel angry at her father's stupidity.

The hour of her departure came all too soon. She took hold of her one bag and walked out of her family home for the last time. The carriage was already waiting for her. Caroline look a deep breath and entered the carriage. A few minutes later the carriage made it's move and started upon it's journey. Caroline kept her eyes on her home for as long as she could. Until it was swept from her view. The loss wounded her heart like she'd lost a person instead of a house.

The journey was long and hard especially along the off-the-beaten-track roads. The whole thing took six hours. When they finally arrived it had stopped raining and the sun had come out. Caroline thanked the driver and gathered up her bag- her only belongings. A man was waiting for her at the entrance...

...Her new master.

Please review!

A/N

I loved doing this chapter. I felt like doing something different then my usual Vampire Diaries stories. I hoped you liked it and I would really appreciate reviews!