Alaric had gone mad. After his transformation, he was no longer the same man. His hatred for vampires had burned away everything else. He had caught you and tied you to a school desk in one of the empty classrooms. Vervain burned your skin and weakened your body, and he kept pouring more of it with an almost terrifying calmness. A stake rested in his hand. He wasn't shouting. He didn't have to. The rage in his eyes was enough. Every movement hurt. Your wrists burned from the restraints. Your head throbbed. When he leaned over you, hissing something about monsters and how the world would be better without your kind, you noticed a pencil lying on the floor nearby. With the last of your strength, you grabbed it and drove it into his shoulder. He screamed. You threw the remains of the vervain all over him. For a moment, he stepped back. It was enough. You broke free, but before you reached the door, a powerful blow struck the side of your head. A scream escaped your lips. The world spun. You stumbled, shoved him away desperately, and ran into the hallway. You ran. As fast as your weakened legs allowed. Your bare feet slipped against the floor. Your lungs burned. Your heart pounded wildly. Behind you, you could hear heavy footsteps and your own panicked breathing. You weren't thinking. You were running. Like an animal that knew if it stopped, it would die.

And then you felt someone beside you. So suddenly that you didn't even have time to react. A strong arm immediately wrapped around your waist and pulled you firmly against a broad chest. Another hand covered your mouth as you instinctively tried to scream. You froze in fear. Your heart nearly stopped. But then, right beside your ear, you heard a familiar low voice with that deep British accent.

“It's me, love... you are safe now.”

Klaus. Only Klaus. The scent of his coat, bourbon, and something dangerously familiar surrounded you almost instantly. You felt his hand against your cheek as he gently brushed the blood-soaked strands of hair away from your face. You were terrified, trembling so badly you could barely stand, so without a word he held you even closer. As though he intended to shield you from the entire world with his own body. And although he was Klaus Mikaelson. A monster. A murderer. A man whose name inspired fear even among vampires. In that moment, in his arms, for the first time in many minutes, you were finally able to breathe again.