Blood, Death, and Tears

The Broken Painter

I've been here a week, it's all been the same. Klaus stayed shut up in this room I wasn't allowed into and Elijah was always leaving and coming back. Tonight I was in the living room with one of the books I bought from my now regular place to visit the bookstore and cafe. This week's book was Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, most people wrote papers about this but I had never read it only heard about it. Mid-way through my page the book was ripped from me and my eyes met Klaus' as he eyed the book curiously "Ray Bradbury interesting choice for you" I frowned and snatched the book back "It's too much of a commentary for you I'm sure, could never take your eyes off what's best for Klaus to realize what was going on to the weaker men around him" he raised an eyebrow at me but said nothing else.

"Enjoy the book Elena" he said before leaving me to my thoughts, this was certainly not the man that I knew. The one who didn't hesitate to pull out a smart remark, the man who just left could barely bring himself to care enough to retort. After a while of sitting and thinking about what I was about to do. After trying so hard to convince myself not to I got up and walked up the stairs and to the right. My steps were silent and slow yet purposeful I knew what I wanted to do, the door was slightly cracked I was silently thanking Klaus' for being so absentminded and slipped in. It was dark I held my arms out hoping that I didn't trip over anything, spoke too soon, my foot knocked into something and I fumbled to straighten the stand I had almost knocked over.

When I fixed it I realized that there was a painting sitting on it, all I could see in the dark were the paint strokes strewn across the white canvas. It was then I wished the light was on so I could see what the man had been in here doing all this time. The painting I stood in front of wasn't the only thing he had done in the past few days he had done tons the room cluttered with the works from his troubled mind. I reached out to lightly touch the canvas but before my fingers even grazed it I heard "You shouldn't be here" come from behind me. Klaus stood over me his eyes dark the veins spreading from the corners "I thought Elijah told you not to come in here" I was too distracted by the blood running down the side of his face to answer. He had just eaten of course I would choose a time like this to barge in on him. When I didn't answer he looked bored and rolled his eyes walking away from me and pouring himself what looked like bourbon or whiskey.

"Leave Elena" he spoke plainly almost in a tired one like he had been arguing with me for hours "I wanted to know what you were doing in here" he held up his glass and swirled the strong liquid around "Drinking. Satisfied now?" he said taking a long swig then slamming it on the table not even waiting for me to answer before saying"Now leave" and turning to me with those same dark and monstrous eyes. Any other time I'd be afraid of him but right now I saw through him, it was the first time I ever saw Stefan in him. I understood now why he wanted them to be friends, he saw himself in Stefan saw through his demeanor so easily because it was similar to the one he put up himself. Now that I thought about it, Stefan when he was off the rails could be just as bad if not worse than Klaus.

"I know what you're trying to do. I'm not afraid of you anymore Klaus" he sped so he was right in front of me hand clasped around my throat "I didn't ask you that did I sweetheart?" I hated when he said those pet names like that, so degrading they sounded more like taunts than terms of endearment. I clenched my jaw and breathed out a slow shaky breath "I'm not leaving I'm not afraid of you, you need me" he rolled his eyes and let me go "I could give rat's ass about the cure or your blood. Hybrids mean nothing to me anymore" I frowned, silence fell upon the room I was just staring at his back "What did you see Klaus" I whispered wondering what had him so scarred so damaged it would change him that drastically.

"I'm not your pet Salvatores I don't need you to save or change me. What I need is for you to LEAVE" he roared making me flinch slightly but only slightly when he finished I breathed in again and my head "You don't have to hold your pain in. When my parents died, when Jenna died, when the people in the church died, when I died both times I felt like everything was hurting all at once like all my pain would come together and weigh on me like cinder blocks tied to my back. I couldn't have pushed through any of that on my own I needed someone to talk, to lean on. Without that I would've gone insane" he laughed dryly "Your brother died not long ago right? You seem peachy to me, or are you telling me your brother's death doesn't hurt as much? I don't need a therapist I tried it it's not for me. If you're looking for someone to save try my brother" he turned his back on me once again and took another large swig from his cup.

"So many people have died, I killed so many people with my own hands, at this point my soul has been ripped out and put back so many times it's hard to separate my new pain from my old pain, my new losses from the ones I was still suffering. I thought if anyone would understand that it'd be you but you're right you don't need me and quite frankly after all you've done you don't deserve me" I said strongly turning my back on him not looking back before I slammed the door and stomped into my own room. He was beyond frustrating and beyond all help, he wanted suffer, fine, I would let him suffer and I hope his pain was all consuming. He deserves to feel a fraction of the pain he's caused. A fraction of the loss he's been responsible for. So many families torn apart by him and his selfish wants. He deserves this.

"I'm sorry about him" Elijah said from my doorway hand in his pocket as usual "You don't have to apologize for him. He's a monster and what he does isn't your fault" he looked off for a moment before meeting my eyes again "Yes Elena it is. You'd give you very last breath for your brother and I would and have given mine for him. He wasn't always like this our family made him this and only I am left to watch over as the rest have turned their backs on him. Before you condemn my brother for a lifetime try to understand that your tragic life is a glimpse into the lifetimes of disappointments and tragedies" he said quietly before he walked out and closed the door behind him. I felt guilty for what I'd said to him, Klaus was just so good at pushing my buttons. He pulled anger out of me I didn't even know I was capable of. I'd never wanted to kill someone as bad I wanted to kill Klaus.

"Elena" I heard from behind me making me gasp and clutch my chest "Jesus. Klaus could you knock maybe?" he raised an eyebrow at the door and then back at me "This is my house. And due to that fact I believe I can walk in unannounced if so pleased" I rolled my eyes turning away from him grabbing a book "I thought you were alive around the middle ages you should have better hosting manners" he chuckled "You read too much I think you're starting to think you know the era better than you actually do" I gave him a look and plopped on my bed opening the book to the bookmarked page "Why are you here Klaus? Didn't you just kick me out" he cleared his throat awkwardly shifting his weight from foot to foot "Ah yes about that... I um, why don't you take a walk with me love" I spared him a glance "Do I  have a choice" he thought about it "No" I rolled my eyes and crossed my legs a gesture to show I wasn't getting up. He waited a moment to see if I was truly just going to sit there then he sighed "Fine. Will you please come on a walk with me Ms. Gilbert" he said with a accent I could only assume he picked up from the era we were just talking about. And even though I knew he was mocking me I got up and went with him.