The More Things Change

Seventeen

Klaus was comfortable with silence. Me? Not so much.

Seated in the passenger seat of his SUV, I never-the-less kept my mouth shut and my eyes fixed on the darkness beyond the window as Klaus drove. The sounds of classical music filled the space between us. The occasional swelling of the orchestra or rapid staccato of the strings fed my anxiety, but I didn't dare ask Klaus to turn the station.

I didn't dare ask where we were going, either.

So it was a surprise when the Welcome to Mystic Falls sign was lit up by the SUV's headlights. Klaus must have felt my startled glance, because he answered my unspoken question with, "Where did you expect me to keep you?"

The sign glided behind us as I answered, "Wherever you'd been."

"It was time for a change of address." I thought of all his enemies and frowned. Instead of confirming my suspicion, Klaus said, "There would be more questions if I moved you out of your hometown. For now."

"Not my hometown," I muttered.

"Elena's, then. Elena." Klaus had an amused smirk on his face. One that made me think he was humoring me. "Where to?"

A chill of dread spread across my skin. "Like, a motel?"

"No." There was a whole world of derision in that short answer. "Where you've been staying."

"Why?"

"Because I asked." His voice was soft.

The hair along my arms stood on end. "Keep going to Grotto Avenue." I whispered.

"Good girl," he murmured. The song flooded the cab as it crested its crescendo.

It was almost midnight by the time he pulled up the driveway. Staring at the front door, I realized I'd been gone for two days. Jenna was not going to be happy. I braced myself as I grabbed the handle. "Thanks for the ride."

Klaus turned off the engine and smiled. Dread coiled my gut into knots as he pushed open the door and stepped out.

Panic seized my lungs before my heart kicked them back into gear. I shoved the door open and hurried out behind him, so intent on catching up I almost forgot to shut the door. I trotted as fast as the heels would allow to catch up to his strides. "What are you doing?" I whisper-hissed.

He didn't bother answering. He didn't even look at me. He continued up the sidewalk and the porch to the front door before pressing the doorbell.

I gaped. "Do you know what time it is?" I asked as I jogged awkwardly up the steps.

Klaus shrugged. Before I could say anything else, the door swung open. My heart leapt in fear as Jenna appeared on the other side, oblivious to her would-be murderer standing before her.

"Elena?" She pulled the door all the way open. "What are you doing out this late?" Her questioning gaze shifted to Klaus.

"Jenna," I answered weakly. "I can explain."

"Perhaps we can take this inside?" Klaus tried for innocent, but the aura that surrounded him kept him from pulling it off. He exuded a quiet menace, like the feel of electricity gathering in the air just before a lightning strike.

I was swift to interject. "No, we don't have to do that." At Jenna's questioning glance, I forced a smile. "It's nice out."

Going by the look she gave me, Jenna questioned whether I had any sense. "It's midnight, Elena." My chest tingled and my fingers grew cold as she said, "Come in before we wake the neighbors."