Elena's living room felt unnaturally quiet. Bonnie's spell was flawless. An invisible barrier stretched between the walls, keeping Klaus trapped inside the house. He could walk around the living room, sit by the fireplace, browse through the Gilberts' books, but every step toward the exit ended with him colliding against an unseen wall of magic. For anyone else, it would have been humiliating. He behaved as though the entire house belonged to him. When you and Tyler walked inside, he was sitting comfortably in an armchair with a book resting against his knee. He looked more bored than imprisoned. Only his slightly paler complexion and the way his gaze lingered on your neck for a little too long betrayed that he hadn't fed in quite some time. Tyler glanced at you briefly.

"Don't move. I'll be right back."

Without another word, he disappeared upstairs. Silence settled over the room once again. Klaus turned one more page before letting out a theatrical sigh and closing the book.

"The Gilberts have a truly dreadful taste in literature. So many books... and not a single one worth reading."

He placed it on the coffee table and only then looked up. For several seconds, he simply watched you. Then he stood and strolled toward the barrier without the slightest hurry. He stopped just in front of it, slipping his hands into the pockets of his coat.

"You actually came here with Tyler Lockwood?" One eyebrow lifted with the faintest hint of amusement. "I must admit, love... I expected you to keep better company."

You didn't answer. Instead, you turned away from him and walked into the kitchen. You reached for a glass, filled it with water, and leaned lightly against the dining table. Only after taking your first sip and setting the glass back down did you feel his eyes on you. He hadn't looked away once. Slowly, his gaze traveled over your figure until it stopped at the torn fabric on your side. A dark stain of dried blood had already soaked through your shirt.

For a brief moment, he said nothing.

"It would seem your pet isn't doing a particularly good job of keeping you safe."

That calm, self-assured smile returned to his face. There was no panic. No sympathy. Only something far more characteristic of Klaus—the quiet certainty that things would have turned out very differently had you been with him instead.

"Come here, love."

You remained silent.

He let out a theatrical sigh of impatience before sitting sideways on the sofa. Resting one arm along the backrest, he lightly patted his lap a few times.

"Are you truly going to pretend everything is perfectly fine? That looks considerably worse than you're trying to convince me it is."

You still didn't move.

The corner of his mouth lifted just a little higher.

"Come now... don't make me pretend to be patient. Come here before Lockwood returns and convinces himself he's more capable of helping you than I am."