Crumbling Hearts and Shattered Minds

Chapter 28: More Agendas And Long Grocery Lists

Damon POV.

The cab pulled up to the side of the road at Klaus' word.

The hybrid paid the driver a generous amount of money and thanked him before climbing out. I followed soon after and shut the door so the cabby could be on his way.

I turned to face the building we had stopped in front of and saw a sign with very fancy swirly writing hanging above the brown oak door.

"Why are we here?" I asked in an exasperated voice.

"I told you." Klaus said simply before walking towards the entrance to the building that was connected to a row of others.

"No. You said we were going to see one of your old debts. Not that we were going to a damn mystics shop." I said while gesturing towards the sign that read "madame clara's mystic shoppe" Moving swiftly in front of him, I stopping his walking with a hand on his chest.

"Well, I need a certain spell to be done. And this mystics shop happens to be owned by one of the most powerful witches I know." He said, clearly aggravated and trying to push through me to get to the shop door. I stopped him again.

"Not good enough. What spell? I'm not helping you if this is another one of your all powerful hybrid in control plans." I said while glaring at him. He sighed and shook his head.

"You need not concern yourself with my plans to take out your friends. For there are none. This spell is to help one of my... Colleges." Klaus said while rolling his eyes.

The older vampire then grabbed my wrist and forcibly removed it from his chest. He let my hand drop before striding towards the door.

I wrapped my other hand around my now aching wrist and followed him.

Who the hell was Klaus trying to help? I didn't voice the question out of not wanting to be thrown onto the busy street.

Being hit by one car was one thing. Being in the middle of a 20 car pile up was a completely different form of pain.

I walked in the door Klaus had disappeared in moments before and a bell hanging above my head gave a little ding. I glanced up at it before looking around the shop.

It looked very stereotypical and had a lot of purple. I discretely rolled my eyes before moving my gaze over to the check out counter that sat at the back of the tiny store.

Klaus stood there leaning over the counter with his head resting on his hand and being supported by his elbows. There was a women that looked vaguely like Emily but more modern standing behind the counter wearing normal clothes and her curly hair pulled back in a head band.

She and Klaus were looking at me as though I was an unannounced guest that had just interrupted their conversation.

I shifted a bit uncomfortably before looking at the ground and walking over to stand next to Klaus.

Once I was a his side, I stared at the counter and shoved my hands in my pockets. I really didn't enjoy interacting with random people when I'm not at a party or working a scheme.

I heard Klaus huff out a breath of laughter from next to me and the woman, who I guessed was Clara, laughed.

"Your boyfriend is adorable, Nicklaus." She practically purred.

My head snapped up to look at her and I couldn't seem to form words.

"I know." Klaus said while slinging his arm around my shoulders. He moved his mouth close to my ear and whispered "play along." Soft enough so the shop keeper didn't hear.

I decided he must have a hell of a good reason so I figured I'd go along with it. If he didn't have a good reason, I'd have to come up with some new torture methods.

I smiled at the woman and leaned into Klaus a bit more. Hey, if we were playing at something, I was going to go all out.

"I'm sorry, but what was your name?" I asked while squinting, holding the smile and tilting my head a little.

"Clara." She said with a warm smile and held out her had. I shook it and her smile widened.

"Okay Clara, you said there was a list of ingredients needed?" Klaus asked in a deceivingly kind tone.

"Yes. Here." She said while rummaging through a pile of papers on the corner of the counter and pulling out a small pink note. I had to repress the urge to roll my eyes. Klaus smiled and took it.

"We'll just go out and get those for you. See you at 8." Klaus said sweetly before steering me towards the door with his arm still wrapped around me.

As soon as we were outside and the door swung shut, I threw his arm of and turned to face him.

"What the hell was that all about?!" I asked while gesturing towards the closed door. Klaus sighed.

"Clara wouldn't agree to do the spell if it was about something petty. So. I had to make her think it was for the man I loved." Klaus said the last part in a teasingly dreamy voice. I rolled my eyes.

"Why did she give us a list of stuff she needs? She has a fucking mystic shop!" I asked incredulously.

"Some of her ingredients were out of stock and we need to go find them." Klaus answered as we still stood on the empty side walk.

"What happens when she does the spell on me and not the person it's really meant for?" I asked while crossing my arms.

Klaus paused for a moment before letting out a long breath.

"The spell is intended for you Damon." He said while his gaze remained focused on the ground.

"What?" I asked softly and letting my arms drop.

"The spell. It helps the mentally unhealthy remain sane after they are better. It's a sort of insurance that you won't go completely crazy again." Klaus said while finally looking up to meet my confused gaze.

"Why would you want that?" I asked with my brow furrowed, unwilling to accept that Klaus might actually care.

"Because, Damon, I have brought up many times before that we are much alike. You'd make a great ally. But only if you're sane." He said, punctuating each word to make it sink in.

It took a moment but I nodded.

I didn't want to relive that hell.

Not ever again.

"Good. Now, the sooner we have everything, the sooner the spell gets done." He said while turning on his heel.

"Wait. If the spell gets done that quickly, why did you say this could take a few months?" I asked while walking swiftly to catch up to the hybrid.

"Who said this was the whole agenda?" Klaus asked without otherwise acknowledging me.

I couldn't help but think that these next few months were going to be like these last few days.

Crazy and unpredictable.

But I guess that's just Klaus for you.