Guilt ▻ The Originals [3]

13

A few short weeks had past and Ophelia was sitting in an armchair in the courtyard, which had been completely made over with Christmas decorations, including a huge tree in the middle of the room that was covered with white light and gold and red baubles. Cami sat beside Ophelia in her own chair, watching with equal parts curiosity, horror, and exasperation as a compelled woman drained blood from a cut on the palm of her hand into a wine glass.

Cami gave the woman a confused look, "Do they, like, pay you?" She questioned, causing Ophelia to quietly laugh.

The blood donor smiled at Cami cheerfully as Klaus waltzed into the room and answered her question, "Handsomely!" He spoke brightly, "And with a generous Christmas bonus."

Klaus looked over at the woman, who handed him the glass of her blood, "Isn't that right?" He questioned and the woman smiled weakly and nodded before she left.

Klaus smirked at Cami in amusement as he sat down on couch beside Ophelia to enjoy his morning meal. He held the glass out to Ophelia, who politely shook her head, "No thanks," She told him quietly, "Not hungry."

Klaus nodded in understanding, taking the glass of blood for himself.

Cami, who was still stumped on the matters regarding the compelled woman, "So, you just compel her to nod and agree with whatever you say?" She asked Klaus curiously.

"I compel her to feed me," Klaus responded, "And to hang the occasional Christmas ornament. She can say whatever the hell she wants." He told the two women, who found themselves laughing, which caused Klaus to smile as he took a sip of his blood, "The two of you seem better."

"Yeah. Thank you for letting me stay here the last couple of days, both of you," Cami thanked Klaus with a small smile on her face, "But why didn't you go with Elijah to help Rebekah?"

"Yes, I was wondering the same thing," Ophelia spoke up, turning to Klaus, "I hope it's not to stay and babysit us."

Klaus looked slightly ashamed for a moment as he glanced sheepishly around the room, "It's not a good idea for he and I to spend hours together in confined spaces, given that the prophecy foretells one family member felled by another."

Cami narrowed her eyes at Klaus, "You don't think he would hurt you?"

"I don't know what to think," Klaus confessed, letting out a sigh before leaning forward and setting his glass down on the table, "The damn fortune-teller's predictions continue to unfold, despite all our efforts..."

Before Cami could respond, she pulled her phone out of her pocket to find that she had a text, "It's Vincent. I have to go."

Looking nervous as Cami left, Ophelia turned to Klaus, who casually drank his glass of blood, "What?" He asked her, sounding a bit annoyed.

"Can you please go after her?" Ophelia pleaded with Klaus, giving her best puppy dogs.

"Fine," Klaus hesitantly responded as he stood up from his seat, "And don't think I'm doing it because of your horrible attempt in giving me those pleading eyes."

Ophelia smiled in satisfaction, "Thank you," She replied, sighing in relief.

"And where, pray tell, will you be while I'm following Camille?" Klaus asked Ophelia, who remained silent.

"I'm going to see Jackson," Ophelia informed Klaus, who sighed in defeat, "What, Klaus? He's my husband. I have to make amends with him. If we're getting technical, the reason this..." She paused, gesturing between the two of them, "Can't happen is because you told me to marry him. You were the only reason I even said yes."