His Muse (Klaus Mikaelson/The Vampire Diaries)

Chapter Ten

Being told 'no', wasn't an answer taken lightly by Klaus Mikaelson. What he usually did to get his own way if the word was dared uttered, was to threaten or kill the nearest and dearest of the offender. But he didn't want to threaten Bethany with the death of her loved ones. So, he persuaded her to join him and Stefan on their trip by merely implying that he would cause harm. It was not a threat, Klaus was very strict with himself about that.

"You know, Caroline was going to be my vampire in the sacrifice. But I changed my mind." He said down the phone to her, the next day, "Although, I do enjoy a kill or two. I am looking at your mother now, in fact."

It had been enough to get her to come along with them, which was where Klaus found himself at the moment: walking towards her in the park. She had a small bag of belongings with her and some of her art supplies.

As Klaus approached her, he could hear her mobile starting to ring. She hadn't noticed him yet, so she looked at the caller ID before answering.

"Hey, Car-"

"-Oh my god, you will not believe what's just happened to me! You know Matt broke up with me? Well, he just said that he wants me back, and Tyler just asked me out too! Ugh, I'm in crisis mode. Which guy do I pick?"

"Caroline, I'm not going to tell you who to date."

"But you're my big sister! You're supposed to give me advice!"

"I'm not picking a boyfriend, for you."

"Come on, Beth!" Caroline exclaimed. "Just at least tell me who is better in bed: human or wolf?"

"Oh my god, Caroline!" Bethany exclaimed. Klaus could see the blush on her cheeks from where he was standing, and he just had to get a closer look.

"What? It's a perfectly valid question. You dated Mason Lockwood before and after he triggered his curse; you're the best person for me to ask this!"

Bethany sighed, "Mason was definitely better in bed after he triggered his-" She had obviously sensed a presence, and she looked up at Klaus with the most perfect blush of embarrassment. "-Oh my god, Caroline. I've got to go."

"But we're just getting to the juicy part!" Caroline whined, "This is what sisters are supposed to talk about!"

"Bye, Care."

"Don't you dare hang up on me!"

She hung up, and stuck her phone in her pocket. Klaus' grin only widened when her blush turned to a deeper shade. "So, err...any chance that you didn't hear any of that?"

"If it makes you feel better, then I heard nothing." He replied, "But we both know that I heard every word."

She avoided eye contact with him, and hitched her small bag of art supplies onto her shoulder - but Klaus grabbed her suitcase before she could.

"I'm perfectly capable of carrying that myself."

"I didn't say you weren't, sweetheart." He placed his hand on the small of her back as they walked towards his car. "Did you tell your family that you were being whisked away by a handsome man?"

"No." She replied, "I told my mum that I was going on a trip to get some inspiration for my art. Caroline, on the other hand, I'll tell her the truth once we are out of town."

"That you're being whisked away by a handsome man?"

"That our mothers life was threatened by Klaus Mikaelson, if I didn't join him and Stefan on their wolf hunting trip." She reached out to open the car door - but Klaus beat her to it. "And that the evil Hybrid wouldn't tell me why he wanted me to come."

"I've already told you, that I'll tell you once we left the town."

"Does Stefan know why?"

"No." He replied, gesturing towards the car. "Now put your things in, and we will go."

Bethany was amusingly sour for a couple of hours, but obviously it wasn't in her true nature to be that way, for she soon went back to being innocently, angelic and polite. It made Klaus feel warm, at seeing her sweet smile again.

"I've never been outside of Mystic Falls before." She said, from her spot in the backseat. She had point blank refused to ride shotgun beside the Original Hybrid, and although Klaus had forcibly made her sit as front passenger - he got annoyed with her ignoring him. He let her win her childish battle, after the first day.

He and Stefan had taken turns behind the wheel, and Bethany had slept during the nights they were on the road. Her rumbling stomach had let Klaus know when she needed to stop for refuel, and she ate her meals while he and Stefan compelled a couple of waitresses to open their veins for them.

Seeing Stefan starting to enjoy his rekindled lust for human blood had put Klaus in a good mood, and once the little artist had had enough of her pouting at being 'kidnapped', and started to be her usual sweet self, he felt satisfied.

"You've not even been on holiday?" Stefan asked, turning around in his seat to speak to the older Forbes girl.

She shook her head, "Mum was always working. And I didn't want to entertain Caroline, on my own."

Stefan hummed in agreement, and Klaus flickered his eyes up to the rear view mirror to look at the girl who hadn't seen outside of the dreary town. He opened his mouth to offer to take her somewhere: the Louvre in Paris, most definitely! But she spoke up before he could.

"Can we stop in a motel, or something? You know, so the human can sleep without getting neck and leg cramp, please? If it's not too much to ask, of course. I know I'm a hostage, but I believe I'm still entitled to a shower, right?"

Hostage? Klaus rolled his eyes. "Of course, sweetheart."

"And it's been four days, Nik. Are you ever going to tell me why you wanted me here?"

He would have to tell her at some point, but it was how he was going to word it that made him keep putting it off. Although, she had dated a werewolf before so she must've heard something about mates.

They stopped at a motel a few hours later, and Klaus asked for two rooms as Stefan got the bags and Bethany perused the room service menu. As he returned to them, and handed Stefan a key to one of the rooms, Bethany frowned when she was not handed one herself.

"Where's my key?" She asked, that endearing frown pinching her brows together.

"You're sharing with me, sweetheart."

She flushed scarlet, "Why can't I have my own room?"

"Do you want to know why you're here, or not?"

He didn't realise how that sentence had sounded until he saw a number of emotions flash across her face. Oh. Although that wasn't a terribly bad idea and did sound rather appealing, he was quick to reassure her that that was not what he had meant.

"You're not here to satisfy my needs, love. My intentions are honourable." He allowed a small smirk to appear on his lips then, "Unless you would like to, of course."

She narrowed her eyes at him, and her blush was delicious. "I will not even grace you with a response to that." Her eyes looked down to the key in his hand, and once she had taken note of the number - she turned on her heel and walked off.

Klaus turned to Stefan then, the younger Salvatore had a certain look on his face. One that Klaus did not like aimed at Bethany. "I hope I don't have to remind you, Stefan, that if you even think of taking a bite out of my guest, you will not live long enough for her blood to reach the back of your tongue."

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