The More Things Change

Eighteen

Katherine's house was a modern-style two-story with way too much square footage. I wouldn't have been surprised to learn the Lockwood mansion was somewhere nearby judging by the rest of the houses and their impeccably landscaped lawns. Katherine's sat in the middle of a veritable football field surrounded by tall hedges. The house was almost abstract in appearance. It looked made of squares, insets and corners galore with floor to ceiling windows. A second story patio overlooked a huge swimming pool. I couldn't even imagine what all was going on inside. It was like something out of the Sims.

I wondered who she killed to get it. Because she had to have killed someone since Klaus walked right on in.

He turned on the entryway chandelier that looked like a hundred tiny mirrors hung high overhead. If I had to pick a single word to describe the place, it would've been open. Everything seemed exposed, as if the architect had forgotten to put in walls and settled for dark wooden columns, instead. The carpet was all white where there was carpet. And where there wasn't, there was marble.

Going with the minimal theme was the sharp lines and monochrome theme of the furniture. Everything looked less than a year old.

Our footsteps echoed as Klaus led me further inside until we passed the marble lining the entryway. He gazed around and 'hmmed' before motioning to the stairs. "Feel free to take Katerina's room." He leaned to the side to gaze down what served as a hallway between the columns, all the way to a grand game room featuring a pool table that led into the backyard. "I have a feeling you'll find more use for the items in her closet than I, and I've some things to take care of, yet."

I recognized the dismissal and nodded. As soon as his hand fell away from my arm, I walked as fast as I could without outright sprinting for the large staircase dominating the center of the otherwise open house.

Here was where the walls were at. I slipped quietly towards the back of the hall, figuring that was where the master bedroom would be, and where else would Katherine sleep? Opening the door at the very end, I discovered I was right.

This was the room with the huge glass windows overlooking the pool and the rest of the yard. A white king-sized bed dominated its center, a sitting area and a huge television to one side, and several doors off to what I was sure would be a bathroom and closet to the other. A quick glance revealed I was right. The closet could have doubled as a room all its own.

I stepped back into the bedroom, passing by the couch and chairs. Slipping off my shoes, I climbed onto the bed.

I spent the rest of the night in the same spot, knees hiked up, alternating between staring at the television with the sound muted and closing my eyes until the sun began to rise. I rushed through my shower, unsure what the day would bring. Hopefully, a few witches. Anything to make the latest version of my nightmare worth it.

Katherine's dressing room slash closet was myriad of choices. I finally found a pair of slacks and a simple knee-length shirt to wear after twenty minutes of searching through a plethora of dresses, skirts, and dress pants. Dressed and hair dried, I opened the door.

And found an Original blocking the doorway. Klaus had one hand pressed against each side of the frame. He was out of the fancier designer clothes he'd worn the night before and was dressed as I remembered from the show. Long sleeve tan shirt and dark jeans, beaded necklace clasped around his neck.

He was smirking. I was beginning to realize it was his default expression. "Sleep well?"

I glared for an instant before I remembered who I was giving attitude to. Self-preservation dictated that it was an excellent time to examine the room's plush carpeting. A passing thought found it odd that a vampire would pick white for her floor. I was surprised there weren't dozens of blood stains everywhere.