Eclipsed Hearts

Chapter 17: Desperate Measures

Klaus immediately knelt beside Caroline, his heart clenching painfully at the sight of her pale face and the stake protruding from her side. Her breathing was ragged, her eyes filled with pain.

“Caroline, stay with me,” he whispered urgently, his hands moving to pull the stake out as gently as he could. She winced, biting her lip to keep from crying out, and Klaus’s heart twisted with guilt. This was his fault—she was suffering because of him.

Finally, he managed to remove the stake, and without hesitation, he bit into his wrist, bringing it to her lips. “Drink,” he commanded, his voice gentle but firm.

Caroline looked at him, her eyes searching his face for reassurance. Despite the pain, she nodded and began to drink. Klaus watched as his blood healed her, the wound closing, her breathing evening out. Relief washed over him, but it was mixed with a simmering rage—Lucien had crossed a line that could never be forgiven.

After a few moments, Caroline pulled away, her strength returning. She met Klaus's eyes, her gaze full of gratitude and something else—something deeper, a connection that words couldn’t quite capture.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice hoarse.

Klaus cupped her cheek gently, his eyes softening as he looked at her. “You shouldn’t have to thank me, love. I promised to protect you, and I failed.”

“You didn’t fail,” she insisted, her voice stronger now. “You saved me, Klaus. That’s what matters.”

He shook his head, his jaw clenching. “This is far from over. Lucien will pay for what he’s done.”

Caroline could see the rage in his eyes, the darkness that threatened to consume him. She reached up, her hand resting on his chest. “We’ll deal with him together. But right now, let’s get out of here.”

Klaus nodded, helping her to her feet. He wrapped his arm around her protectively, his eyes scanning their surroundings for any sign of danger as they made their way back to the compound. He wouldn’t let her out of his sight again—not until Lucien was dealt with, once and for all.

Chapter 18: The Mikaelson's Resolve
Once they arrived back at the Mikaelson compound, Klaus wasted no time in calling a meeting. He gathered his siblings in the main hall, his eyes blazing with fury as he relayed what had happened.

Elijah listened, his expression grave. "Lucien has always been unpredictable, but this… attacking Caroline directly? He's crossed a line that we cannot ignore."

Kol leaned back against the wall, his face darkening. "He’s testing you, Nik. Trying to find out how far he can push before you break."

Rebekah's eyes narrowed, her voice dripping with anger. "He’s going to regret ever laying a finger on her. We need to find him, and we need to end this."

Freya, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. "Lucien’s strength is significant. He may not have magic, but his physical abilities are impressive. If he’s planning something, we need to be prepared."

Klaus nodded, his jaw clenched. "Then we find him. We use every resource, every ally we have. I will not rest until Lucien is gone, permanently."

Elijah placed a hand on Klaus's shoulder, a rare show of support. "We will stand by you, brother. This is not your fight alone."

Klaus looked at his siblings, the unity in their eyes giving him a sense of strength. They would deal with Lucien together, as a family. And they would make him pay for every ounce of pain he had caused.