Dark Paradise : A Vampire Diaries Kol Mikaelson Love Story

Chapter 7: The Truth Hurts

Beth's POV

   I look through my large collection of dresses and pick out a pale blue, strapless ball gown. It's beautiful and one of my favourites. I smile as I put the dress on. I look in the mirror and twirl. I look alright, so I sit at my mirror and start putting my hair up in a bun. I put one some black mascara and some white eye shadow, with nude lipstick and clear lipgloss on my lips. I walk to my jewllery box and put my locket on. I choose a pair of diamond stuf earring and a diamond bracelet and put them on.

   I walk downstairs and see Damon looking very dashing in a tuxedo. He smirks a bit at me.

   "Ooh, someone's aiming to impress." He teases and I playfully hit his shoulder. "How did you even know about this ball?"

   "You know Klaus has his creepy obsession with me? Yeah, he invited me and I thought it would be a good chance to see Kol, so I agreed." I shrug. "Is Stefan going or is it just you?"

   "Just me. I told Elena and Stefan to not bother. Then again, when do they ever do anything I say?" He rolls his eyes and shrugs. "Anyway, shall we leave, Miss Hughes?" He bows and holds his hand out. I roll my eyes and laugh.

   "Since when were you gentlemenly?" I laugh and take his hand. "But, yes, we shall we on our way." I smile and we walk to the car. Driving to the mansion, we talk about strategy and what we'll do if anything happens. Our plan of attack is to not be stupid. Well, that's Damon's plan. I was thinking of something a bit more defence-orientated, but I guess not being stupid is a start.

   We arrive at the mansion and walk inside. It's huge and very elegant-looking. I take a glass of champagne from a waitress and sip some. I pass Damon some and look around the room. I can see most of the council and a few other people. Caroline's here, so is Matt. They're talking. I hear that Caroline is trying to convince Matt to ask me out and Matt is telling her how I'm way out of this league. I don't disagree. I keep looking and I see Klaus staring at me. I whisper to Damon,

   "Help, Klaus is gawping at me."

   "Aww, he's gazing at your fair beauty, dear Elizabeth. Enjoy it." He shrugs and walks away. Great, now Damon's gone, Klaus is probably going to come here. I sigh as Klaus approaches me.

   "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life." He smiles, holding his hand out. I roll my eyes and reluctantly give him my hand. He kisses it and smiles at me.

   "Hello Klaus. It's nice to see you." I fake smile.

   "It's wonderful to see you, love. How are you?"

   "I could be better. For example, if you left me the hell alone, I'd be ecstatic." I shrug and smile. He looks hurt by this, but he deserves it after everything he's done to us. I smile as I see Kol walk over to me.

   "If you could leave me alone with the ravishing lady for one second, brother." Kol smirks, speaking to Klaus, but looking at me. Klaus growls lowly and walks away. Kol holds his hand out and I give him my hand. He kisses it and smiles. "Kol Mikaelson. It's a pleasure."

   "The pleasure is all mine." I smile and take my hand from him when he releases it.

   "So, what's a beautiful woman like you doing living with the Salvatores? You're not with one of them, are you?"

   "Oh, no. They're like brothers to me. I've lived with Damon since 1900. He's my best friend, nothing more. What about you? Do you have a special lady in your life?" I ask, sipping some champagne.

   "Only the one standing before me now." He smiles and I blush, hating myself for it. I see him smirk a bit as I blush.

   "Oh, really?" I raise my eyebrow, trying to look seductive.

   "Well, if she'll accept me." He says, pouting slightly and looking very, very hot. I wet my lips and shrug.

   "She's still making her mind up..." I smile and walk away, hoping this has made him more interested in me. Playing hard-to-get normally works for me, so it hopefully has this time. I walk over to Caroline and smile.

   "Hey, Beth." She smiles brightly.

   "Hi, Care. You look amazing."

   "Thanks. You look better, though. Why are you so damn pretty? It's not fair." Caroline laughs.

   "Good genes? I don't know. Maybe I'm just lucky." I wink.

   "Maybe... So, who are you going to dance with tonight? I asked Matt and he sa-" She starts, but I cut her off.

   "No, Caroline. I will not dance with Matt. I'll probably just dance with Kol."

   "Kol? Who's that?" She raises her eyebrow. I point at him and she nods, impressed.  "Woah, he's hot... But isn't he Klaus's brother?"

   "Yes, but Klaus has an obsession with me, so he'll probably want to dance, too. Maybe dancing with Kol could show Klaus I have absolutely no interest in him." I shrug.

   "Or make him furious with jealousy and kill Kol..." Caroline shrugs and sips some of her champagne. "Just an idea of what might happen tonight." I know she's right. This will probably just anger Klaus and make him be vengeful and cruel. Even more so than usual, I should say.

   "Hopefully I'm right." I shrug and sigh a bit, knowing I'm not. I glance over at Kol again and wave in a very flirty way when he waves at me.

   "Ooh, he likes you!" Caroline giggles.

   "When has a guy not liked me?" I raise my eyebrow and smirk. "Apart from Stefan and Damon, of course."

   "OK, you win. I think every guy I know has had a crush on you at some time or another. Even Jeremy." She shrugs.

   "Elena's little brother, Jeremy?" She nods. "Really? Well, he's cute, I guess." I shrug and Caroline rolls her eyes. "What?"

   "Why are you so picky? No guy is ever good enough for you. I know you're hot and an amazing person, but you're not above dating. You're not better than everyone else." Caroline says, folding her arms.

   "I don't think I am. I just don't have time for guys." I shrug. She rolls her eyes again.

   "You know that's not true. You just have a fear of commitment, Beth."

   "Don't start lecturing me again, Care. I'm not scheduled a lecture for at least another week."

   "Well, I'm giving you one early. Stop thinking every guy you see will hurt you. Even if he does, you need to live. You can't stop dating just because you're afraid of getting hurt. Getting hurt is a lot worse than being alone for the rest of your life, just because you prefer living on the safe side. Which, as much as you hate to admit it, you do live on. You don't have many friends, either. Just me, Stefan and Damon. And it took you about two years to befriend me and trust me. You need to try letting people in to see the real Beth, not the mask you wear to pretend you're happy all the time." Caroline says. I sigh, knowing she's right about all of that. I don't want to accept it, though, so I shrug and start walking away.

   "Whatever, Care..." I roll my eyes and walk away, she grabs my arm before I get too far.

   "Just take my words into consideration. Live for once. If you don't, you'll regret it forever and forever is an awfully long time." Caroline says, then lets go of my arm and I walk away. I walk to the bathroom and sigh, looking a myself in the mirror. I realise that I've teared up, so I blink away the tears furiously. I'm not weak. I've never been weak. I just need to learn to ignore people more, not matter how much it hurts...