"IM JEALOUS IM OVERZEALOUS WHEN IM DOWN I GET REAL DOWN, WHEN IM HIGH I DON'T COME DOWN"
"Hmmm." Audrea mused, bringing a glass of champagne to her lips as she gazed over the crowd at the blonde who stood among all the other guests, frozen, looking back at her.
Klaus tilted his head to follow her gaze. Upon seeing Caroline, he chuckled lowly. "Really, love, you don't have to intimidate her so."
Audrea's eyes narrowed as she glanced back up at him. "Worried about her, are you?"
"Of course not. Are you jealous, love?" Klaus leaned down to press a reassuring kiss against her temple.
"Yes." Audrea stated simply. "I've been away for two hundred years and in that time, I have no idea how many women you've been with. Forgive me if I'm just a tad bit worried about this girl, who clearly, according to Rebekah, you fancied."
"Rebekah likes to make everything a hundred times more dramatic than they truly are. You shouldn't take her word for anything." Klaus muttered darkly, before clearing his throat and clarifying, "For the last time, I haven't slept with a single woman since I...daggered you. Passing fancies, I assure you. No one could compare to you."
He grimaced slightly; he had been hoping to avoid mentioning the whole daggering bit ever again. Two broken jaws and several absurdly hefty credit card bills later-the only thing he regretted about having his wife out of her coffin was her reunion with Rebekah-Klaus was quite sure he never wanted to get on Audrea's bad side ever again. The resentment she still held for him daggering her was clear in the way she had mercilessly tortured him earlier in the day by trying on the lingerie she'd bought in front of him-'looking, no touching' she had reminded him. Klaus hadn't been able to touch her for a whole day, and though he'd spent the past two centuries without her, getting to taste and touch her the night before had rapidly reminded him of the hopeless addiction he had for his wife. Klaus was at the end of his rope and thought he might go quite mad if she continued her aloof behavior towards him.
"Rebekah is the most sensible of you all, apart from perhaps Elijah." Audrea pursed her lips. "Although that whole Tatia fiasco did have me questioning his sanity."
"Rea, my darling, truly you must give me a dance." Kol stepped up next to them, eyeing the guests critically. "This bunch seem altogether too boring."
"Find your own girl." Klaus glowered, his arm wrapping around Audrea's hip, clearly annoyed by the interruption.
"I had one." Kol sniffed. "But the way she was babbling on and on-no doubt she was too entranced by my good looks to speak properly-really just made me want to snap her neck, but Elijah would murder me if I did, so here I am, off to steal your wife, Nik."
"Elijah won't have a chance to murder you because I'll shove a dagger up your-"
"Children," Audrea interrupted, sighing in exasperation. "Please, no fighting. Of course I'll dance with you, Kol-don't give me that look, Nik, he is my brother after all.
But first...why don't we make the baby vampire feel welcome, Nik? She looks far too lonely by herself."
※
"Enjoying the party?"
Caroline felt a cold chill run down her back when she turned and found herself facing Klaus...and his wife.
"I do hope you like the dress I sent you," the woman sighed, her eyes running down Caroline's body inquisitively. "Rebekah and I agreed that it suited you...perfectly. A darling little dress for a darling little vampire. Isn't she just a fetching baby vampire, Nik?"
"Mmm." Klaus only glanced at her dress noncommittally, and the amusement in his eyes sent Caroline reeling.
Caroline felt a lump rising up in her throat when the woman's lips curled mockingly. She stammered incoherently, "You...you sent me this dress?"
"Of course." Audrea smiled, but it was far from a friendly smile. Her eyes were dangerous, and they held volumes of warning in them. "Surely, you didn't expect Nik to send you anything? Sweetheart, I invited you. Tell me, were you perhaps expecting anything from my husband tonight?"
Caroline froze when the woman's hand lifted and touched her cheek. To anyone who might have glanced at them, it looked like Audrea was simply caressing her cheek, but the pressure Caroline felt on her jaw said otherwise. Pain shot through her cheekbones as the woman leaned in close, her fingers tightening around Caroline's jaw.
"I'm quite possessive, Miss Forbes. I like to think it to be one of my best qualities, in fact. I don't share. I'm sure my lovely sister Bekah has made this clear to you already? So whatever you may feel for Niklaus, whatever delusions you may have entertained...I suggest you rid yourself of any. Else you may find I can make your life extremely unpleasant."
Suddenly, the pressure on her jaw was gone and Caroline watched as Audrea was pushed backwards abruptly. The Original took a couple steps backwards but was steadied by Klaus, who wrapped an arm around her waist. Caroline took a shuddering breath and looked up at her savior.
"She bothering you, vampire Barbie?"
Caroline had never been as glad to see Damon Salvatore as she was now, but her relief was cut short when she heard a growl rip from Klaus's throat. The Original hybrid stepped forward, a dark look passing over his face.
"Touch my wife again, and you'll lose your limbs, Damon."
Damon scoffed, but his eyes were wary as they scanned Klaus's posture. Then Audrea took a step forward "how about, if you touch me again I will rip that little thing between your thys of and feed it, to you" she said with gritted teeth.
The tension between the older vampires was palpable, the moment interrupted as a loud voice rang out from the grand staircase.
"Uh, if everyone could gather, please." Elijah announced from his spot in the middle of the staircase. Caroline could see the other Mikaelson siblings, Rebekah and Kol, making their way up to join him.
She turned back to the remaining Originals in time to see Klaus shoot Damon another dark look before offering his arm for Audrea to take, the two brushing past the younger vampires to join the rest of their family.
Damon nodded to Caroline before heading off, no doubt in search of Elena.
Elijah held up his glass, spreading his arms warmly. "Welcome. Thank you for joining us. You know, whenever my family is brought together like this, it is tradition for us to commence the evening with a dance. Tonight's pick is a centuries old waltz, so if all of you could find yourselves a partner, please join us in the ballroom."
Caroline watched as Klaus turned to Audrea and held out an arm.
"Be my partner, love?" His smirk, that infernal expression that Caroline had found herself on the receiving end so many times before, was now directed at Audrea, who shot him a faux glare but took his arm anyway, a small smile lingering on her lips afterwards.
Caroline grimaced, when she saw Audrea Mikaelson turn to wink at her again. It was going to be a long night.
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