The Red Herring: A Mikaelson Love Story

Chapter 6: The Reputation of Klaus Mikaelson

"It's not what you think it is!" He said trying to come closer to me but I stepped away just as quickly.

"So, you aren't Klaus Mikaelson, who killed my mother, chased my friend Katherine for centuries, possessed my aunt's boyfriend, plans to sacrifice my sister and then lied to me about it?" I knew what his answer was going to be but I wished that it would be literally anything else.

"It's not as easy as that." He murmured quietly.

"I am so stupid." I said as tears started to form in my eyes. "Your name isn't Nick as in Nicholas, it's Nik as in Niklaus."

"You are not stupid."

"I fell in love with you. I thought you loved me. I let you into my home, I mean I literally just had sex with you and this whole time you were just using me to get to Elena."

"That's not true."

"How am I supposed to believe you?" I asked him with a bitter laugh. "You lied to me, all because of Elena."

"Iliana—"

"I want you to leave."

"Iliana, let me explain." He pleaded but I didn't want to hear it.

"Fine. I'll leave." I took a deep breath and headed for the door. "When I get back, I want you to be gone." I opened the door and met Elena standing there.

"Hey, I was just about to—" I clamped my hand over her mouth, not wanting Klaus to know she was here.

"Let's go to yours." She nodded and we headed for her car where we drove, for the most part, in silence. We pulled up into the driveway of her house when instead of getting out she took my hand and squeezed.

"I'm sorry about what I said the other day. I just got jealous for no reason and I took it out on you. Please say you forgive me."

"I forgive you." I replied quietly.

"Thank you." She pulled me towards her and gave me a warm hug only pulling away when she noticed the mark on my neck.

"Woah." She said a bit taken aback. "That is one wicked hickey. You and mystery man work things out?"

"We did. I told him I loved him, he said the same, I lost my V, and then I found out he'd been lying about who he was and that he was using me. So, I broke it off." I started to sob again and Elena hugged me even tighter than before, smoothing my hair down as she did.

"I'm sorry Liana." She told me.

"I just feel so stupid, you know? It was so obvious that it was all lies but I wanted it to be true so badly that I didn't even care."

"I know." She said nodding in understanding.

"But you don't know!" I told her. "Elena, it was Klaus! I fell in love with Klaus. I told him things that I hadn't told anyone but he knew what he was doing. The whole time he was pretending to get to you. I thought he loved me."

"Oh Iliana, I'm so sorry. But that's what Klaus does. He's a—"

"A monster?"

"Exactly."

"I wish I believed that." She hesitated, clearly thinking of a way to try and cheer me up before starting up again.

"Hey, why don't you come inside? We can eat ice cream and watch musicals like we used to do when you were upset!"

"Don't you have plans with Stefan?" I asked her, knowing that she and her boyfriend were basically inseparable.

"I'll cancel."