The Damphyr

Chapter 2

I wake up in a strange place and I can hear voices arguing in the next room. Getting to my feet, room spinning I make my way to the door, voices getting louder.

"You should have called me first! I could have stopped this before it got out of hand!" Klaus shouts at Cami who is standing in front of him, arms crossed in front of her.

"Why? So you could tell me it was none of my business and stay out of it?" She retorts, throwing her hands up in frustration.

"Exactly! We should never have gotten involved. She's none of your concern Camille! You don't even know. . ." He stops upon seeing me enter the room and rolls his eyes. Cami runs over to me, helping me sit down as the rooms spins wildly.

"You should be in bed." She says gently. I look up to see Klaus sulking on the other side of the room, looking at me intently. I shake my head. . This is impossible. He hasn't aged a day . . .

"You'll pay for this!" The man screams at me, holding his neck where I had just scratched him. He turns to go get the old man.

"No! Please don't. He'll kill me!" I plead, but it's too late. . . . I hear the old man screaming from the next room "You little brat!" Looking frantically around the room I see my only option is the window. Quickly I open the window and squeeze out of it, taking off across open field behind the house. I can hear the old man chasing after me, screaming as I run as fast I can. I run into the woods, branches scratching my arms and I trip over a tree root. I try to catch myself and I fall over a steep embankment. Down below I see a river and I brace myself for the fall; but I don't fall. Instead a hand grabs my waist, pulling me to safety. It was a man . . . blond hair blue eyes. . .

"Don't worry little one. I've got you." He looks up as he hears the old man getting closer.

"Please . . . help me!" I plead, grabbing his arm. He looks at me with compassion and hesitates for a moment.

"I will make them forget . . . but that is all I can do little one. I'll come back for you one day. . . I promise. Your plea will not be in vain." He kisses my forehead and, in a flash, he is gone. . . .

Klaus smiles, almost as if he's reading my mind.

"So you're the little girl from the woods I rescued all those years ago? My how you've grown." Cami looks at us in confusion.

"Ya'll know each other?" I nod and Klaus chuckles.

"My name's Lillian. . . "

"I saved this girls, Lillian's, life," he pauses, looking at me, "when she was just a wee lass. Poor thing almost ran right off a cliff. Would have been a shame." Cami smiles.

"Who would have thought Klaus? Maybe there's hope for you yet."

"Ah my dear Camille don't get your hopes up. That was a long time and many betrayals ago." He smirks. He still hasn't taken his eyes off me. I turn to Camille.

"W . . . wh. . .What h . . . happened?" She looks at Klaus and he responds, without even a pause.

"Well apparently I just saved your life, again," He chuckles, "We've got to stop meeting like this." I try to repress my smile but he's so witty and charming I don't succeed.

"Klaus took care of things, you're safe now. He can't hurt you anymore." Cami says reassuringly, "You're going to stay with me for little while ok? Do you have any more family we can call?" I shake my head. Klaus and Camille exchange looks as she gets up, walking to him on the other side of the room.

"Klaus, is it me or is there something not quite right here. How did she end up with that man?" Camille whispers, not knowing that I have exceptional hearing.

"It does seem quite odd indeed Cami. When I rescued her on that cliff the poor dear was scared to death. I had to stop that old man. Compelled him to forget that he was going to kill her that night." Cami gasps.

"Why didn't you do something? She's had to live with that man for god knows how long." Klaus turns to Cami with a pained looked on his face.

"And what would I have done? Where would I have taken her? I have many enemies Camille and taking her would have only put her at even greater a risk." She sighs, turning back to me. I look away, not wanting them to know that I was listening.

"I know. She's here now and that's all that matters." She walks back towards me and I can feel Klaus looking at me . . . why he is looking at me that way. . . .

I told you I'd come back for you . . . looks like you found me instead. Don't worry, you're safe now. I won't leave you again.

Klaus's voice rings through my head as we look at each other. He smiles, and walks out the door. Leaving me wondering what was going to happen to me, who he was and how he hasn't changed a bit in 12 years