ℍ𝔸𝕌ℕ𝕋𝔼𝔻 - ᴛʜᴇ ᴍɪᴋᴀᴇʟꜱᴏɴꜱ

𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝖙𝖜𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖞

❧ the one where amalie kills jeremy—for the second time ❧

≪•◦ ❈ ◦•≫

The closet doors creaked open, revealing a cluttered row of jackets, shirts, and ties. Klaus, wearing Alaric's body, rifled through the collection with the ease of someone accustomed to searching for the finer things in life—only to find nothing of the sort.

"Oh! Who is this guy?" He mused aloud, plucking a tan button-up from the row of choices. He held it up, inspecting it with disdain. "Safari Sam?" His lips twisted in mock disgust before he turned, two shirts now in hand, and faced his unwilling audience.

Katherine sat bound to a chair in the middle of the room, her wrists raw from struggling against the ropes that pinned her in place. Her dark hair hung limp around her face, and for once, the fire in her eyes was muted—replaced by a flicker of genuine fear. She didn't even flinch as Klaus held the shirts up for her judgment, his tone as light as if they were friends sharing wardrobe advice.

"Okay," Klaus said, holding one shirt in each hand like a contestant on a game show. "Bad," he shook the tan shirt for emphasis, "or badder?" He dangled a darker one, navy and sharp against the dullness of Alaric's wardrobe.

Katherine swallowed, forcing herself to play along. She knew the game—had played it before—and survival meant giving him what he wanted. Her voice came out clipped but steady. "The dark colors suit you better."

Klaus grinned, his smile gleaming with smug satisfaction. "Oh, thank you, honey," he said, tossing the tan shirt aside. He stepped closer, his tone shifting to something silkier, more dangerous. "Now, pop quiz. The dagger and the white ash are in the Salvatores' possession, correct?"

Katherine didn't hesitate. "The dagger was used to kill Elijah. You'll find him in the basement of the Salvatore house."

Klaus' smile widened, a chilling mix of charm and malice. He nodded as if satisfied with her answer. "Ah, yes. That dagger needs to stay exactly where it is. The last thing I need is to resurrect dear old Elijah." He sighed dramatically. "That guy is such a buzzkill."

Katherine's hands clenched against the armrests, her voice tight. "Don't forget you're on the outs with your girlfriend Jenna."

"Right. Elena's aunt," Klaus/Alaric drawled, as though the reminder was a mild inconvenience. "For all the lies about Isobel. What else?"

"That's it," Katherine said quickly, her voice betraying a flicker of hope that maybe he'd stop this twisted interrogation.

Klaus tilted his head, studying her like a predator deciding whether to play with its food. His hand reached out, brushing her cheek with a softness that belied the cruelty lurking beneath. Katherine flinched instinctively, her breath catching in her throat.

"Oh, so jumpy," Klaus murmured, his tone amused as he leaned down to look her in the eye. The way he loomed over her was almost casual, but the weight of his presence was suffocating.

"Please," Katherine whispered, her voice breaking. "Just...kill me. I've told you everything I know."

Klaus placed his hands on the armrests, boxing her in, his face mere inches from hers. His expression darkened, though his lips still carried the ghost of a smile. "You see, I believe that you believe that," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "But what would you not know, Katerina? What could they be keeping from you? Hmm?"