Timeless

Chapter 17

"Die?" Caroline said gaping at her.

Gretchen nodded. "Die."

Caroline's hands fell to her sides. "You mean death is the only way out? I either exist here or not at all?"

"No no dear girl," the witch said, guiding her to sit down on the bed, "in death you will be transported back to your own time. The witches believe that there is a destiny factor to the magic that protects you should you die. Since you aren't meant to expire in the past, it will simply correct itself and send you back home again."

"Sounds complicated. And a little sketchy."

"It is," Gretchen admitted, "the only proof we have is in old grimoires. As I said, those can always be fabricated."

"Well I suppose I can't really try out the theory now," Caroline said, not that she was in a rush to do so, "I need to fix the future before I can go back."

"Very true," Gretchen said, "anything I might be able to help you with?"

"I don't think so," Caroline replied, "I know what it might have to do with, but I'm not sure what I need to do to fix it."

Caroline had been thinking about the subject a lot since yesterday morning. She knew it had to do with Katherine not being sacrificed and Klaus succeeding in breaking the hybrid curse. She needed to figure out how Katherine had managed to escape him originally. Perhaps it fell on her to help Katherine escape? Gretchen was always going on about how she was meant to accomplish something while she was here, perhaps she was the one who helped Katherine escape? The implications of that thought made her shudder.

"You know the thing I don't get is why was my vampire-status is the only thing that changed? I can think of a billion other things that should have changed as well," Caroline asked.

"Time isn't a finite thing. It exists in many places. Although, perhaps other things will change as we continue to move forward. So you'll pardon me when I say, time is especially of the essence."

Caroline managed a small smile at Gretchen's little joke, accompanied by a long sigh. As usual, with more answer, came infinitely more questions.

Klaus had just finished changing his clothes when he heard a knock on the bedroom door. He smiled. Perhaps Caroline was finally awake and seeking out his company. He couldn't deny that the idea pleased him, but he was also a little wary of her now. The night before had been difficult to say the least. He couldn't control himself around her. In fact, he had spent the entire morning hunting, just to sate his bloodlust. Caroline's now human blood had been calling to him, like a siren to a sailor, and it took every bit of willpower he had not to surge forward and devour her. Of course she was no help either, urging him on with her body and words.

Now that he was filled with blood, he felt slightly more in control and comfortable. He strode over to his door and opened it. But it was Katerina standing there, not Caroline. Klaus tried not to scowl as he met Katerina's hopeful eyes.

"Good morrow my lord," she greeted him, "where have you been hiding all morning?"

"Just taking care of a few small matters," Klaus returned vaguely.

Katerina nodded. "Well my lord, I wanted to seek you out to thank you for your kind hospitality," she said, "but I'm afraid I cannot intrude upon you any longer. I've written letters to a few acquaintances I know who reside further south."

"You are no intruder," he replied, feeling quite the opposite.

"You are kind my lord, but—"

Klaus cut her off and took her by the shoulders. He pupils dilated and she stood there, still and silent. He could compel her to stay, to fall in love with him and therefore not want to leave his home. But at the same time, it felt wrong to compel the love of a woman. It always had. He had thought about trying it many times, but it was something he could never bring himself to do. Even the thought of it had always left him feeling empty.