Chapter 11: A False Memory

His eyes grew wide, apparently surprised at her request. "You wish to forget…everything?"

"Yes," she nodded vehemently, "Please, Klaus. Maybe you can go on with your life like nothing has changed, but I can't. I opened my heart to you and just knowing that I confessed my love for you and that you will never be able to reciprocate those feelings is…just too much for me to bear. I will never be enough for you and it would be much easier for me to accept if I didn't remember any of these feelings."

Stung by her words, Klaus flinched. "Do you wish you had never known me, then?"

Shaking her head, she replied quickly, "No, that's not it. You are an important part of my life. You opened my eyes. I don't want you to take the knowledge of this incredible supernatural world away from me. I am a part of it now and I still want to be your ally, and your friend. Do you understand?"

His eyes searched her face in a curious manner. "I have never seen you in such a distraught manner. What is even worse is the knowledge that I was the cause. However, there is one more matter that must be addressed before I make you forget anything."

Confused, she replied, "Do I really want to know?"

"You made a deal with my aunt. We must find a way to sever your promise to her, or find a way to ensure that she can never collect on your little deal."

"Won't she just find a way to curse you again?"

"Now that I am back to normal, she has no power over me as long as I don't touch that wretched artifact."

"So, what is it that she wants from you, anyway?"

"I don't know, Love. What do any of my insane family members want from me?"

She shrugged. "Is it even possible that she just wants to be a part of your family?"

Klaus laughed. "Oh, Sweetheart, you have such a sense of humor. But, I do need you to take me to your Uncle's apartment so that I can communicate with her."

Cami nodded.

As they approached the apartment door, Klaus stopped her mid-stride. "Before we go in, I want you to be prepared. I must make my aunt think I care nothing for you. Otherwise, she will make you hold up your end of the bargain. Do you understand?"

She agreed, taking a deep breath as the two carefully entered the secret room and she hooked up the communication device, as she did before. The witch's voice filled the small room with a laugh. "So, Niklaus, you wish to release your beloved from her promise to help me, is that it?"

"Well, hello, my dearest long-lost auntie! I'm afraid you are mistaken. The only beloved in my life was my daughter, but, as you probably know, she is no longer of this world. Camille was merely a means to an end. She has served her purpose."

"Oh, how unfortunate for both of you. Dearest Cami, it seems that your efforts were wasted on a man that seems to care nothing for you."

Swallowing hard before speaking, Cami replied, "Yes, it was a complete waste of time. I have never met such an arrogant, pig-headed, stubborn jerk in my whole life."

He shot her a 'did you really just say that' look. She couldn't help but smirk back at him.

"Ah, well, c'est la vie. Shall I just go ahead and make arrangements to collect on our bargain now, Camille, before he does something drastic to you?"

Klaus interjected, "Unfortunately for Camille, I have taken control of her Uncle's stash of dark objects, so, if you are looking for something in particular, you will have to ask me."

"Oh, I see. You're just as determined to gain power as I am, at any cost. You are definitely my blood."

"Obviously, I will not be handing over any of my secret weapons to you, but surely there is something you want that I can provide for you that doesn't involve any supernatural weapons of mass destruction, as a token of my thanks for helping me overcome your awful curse." His words were laced with sarcasm.

"Oh, Niklaus. What else is family for? There is something you can acquire for me that I have lost. I gave your mother a bracelet when we were children. I want it back. Do you know what I speak of?"

"I do," he replied sardonically. "She was buried with it, I believe. It will take some doing to get it for you, but you are worth it."

"Good. We will have to make arrangements to meet in person. I want to meet the rest of the family."

"Not too soon, I hope. The weather can be unpredictable this time of year."

"Well, Camille, it was a pleasure speaking with you, dear."

"Likewise." She gave Klaus an incredulous look as she disconnected the device. "Okay, what kind of code speak was that?"

"Don't worry, Love. It doesn't concern you."

"What if she was lying?"

"Oh, then I'll just have to destroy her."

"I should have known you would say that."

They went back to Cami's apartment and sat down on the sofa. "Are you certain you wish to do this?" He asked, a hint of sorrow in his voice.

"Yeah. Just take away everything that's happened since the first wolf attack." She couldn't help but feel nervous.

He smiled in a caring manner, then nodded. "Alright, Love. Look into my eyes and I will tell you what you will remember." He held her face in his hands, gently moving her hair back.

She grabbed his wrists and swallowed before speaking. "Wait. Would you kiss me once more before you do it?"

He flashed his sexy smirk at her once more. "I thought you would never ask." He brought her closer and kissed her passionately, setting her heart on fire for the last time. Once he released her, the tears rolled down her cheeks and she nodded for him to proceed.

"Camille, listen carefully. This is what you will remember. After you picked up your package, a werewolf attacked you, but it was not me that saved you. It was another man. A human. His name was Nick. You spent the weekend taking care of him, as he was bitten by the werewolf. You both developed feelings for one another. Once he was cured, he had to leave you, but he promised to return someday." She watched tears well up in his eyes as he continued. "You will have no memory of your current feelings for me, only of your feelings for him. But what you will not realize is that I will carry it with me. I, alone, will bear the burden of having experienced the taste of your sweet lips. Your genuine kindness. Your love for someone as undeserving as me." He paused, wiping away a single tear that fell down his cheek. "You were wrong, Camille. You did make a difference. You proved to me that I can trust you. I can put my life in your hands and I know you would never betray me. A gift such as yours to see past all my mistakes, all my faults, is far too precious for me to simply throw away. 'Who is this whose glance is like the dawn? She is beautiful and bright, as dazzling as the sun or the moon.'(1)"

"When the time is right, and I have vanquished all my enemies that would stand in the way of my happiness, I will call upon you to be my queen. You, Camille, are my future. I will protect you from afar, eliminating any threat to your existence until it is time for you to be with me. When that day arrives, I will ask you to recall this time we spent together and you will remember everything. 'I am trembling; you have made me as eager for love as a chariot driver is for battle.'(2) If what I feel for you is what you would call love, then, so be it. Until then, I will let you live your life as you see fit, completely unaware that I have staked my claim on you." Collecting himself one last time, Klaus announced with grandeur and utter confidence, smirking as usual, "You will continue to chide me for my transgressions, as you normally do as my therapist, and I will graciously attempt to sidestep all of your advice, as I normally do as your patient. Do you understand?"

She nodded, in a trance.

"Good. Now, you will remain unaware of my presence here until I leave. Farewell, my beautiful Camille. Until we meet again." He kissed her forehead, then quickly left the room.

His words were clear to her, and just as her heart was breaking, everything seemed to immediately vanish as if in a fog inside her mind. It was as if someone important was still present in her apartment, but a voice inside her head was telling her to go back to her studies. After some time had passed, she wasn't sure how much, she got up to get a drink. The kitchen seemed a lot cleaner than she remembered. She felt the need to look around her apartment, confused as to why it seemed like she had someone with her. Then she remembered Nick. He had rescued her from the werewolf and she took care of his wounds. She looked at the sofa and saw a few specks of blood on her ivory throw blanket. She wished he was still here. Although he was only with her for a short while, his presence was already missed. She couldn't remember if he left her his contact information, so she got her phone and began scrolling. No messages and no profile on him. Now, she was really confused, kicking herself for not getting at least his phone number. She walked into her bedroom and found a fresh bouquet of flowers sitting on her dresser. The aroma of the fresh magnolias was so fragrant that she instantly felt uplifted as she eagerly read the card.

Dearest Cami,

Thank you for taking care of me. You are a beautiful, amazing woman. I apologize for having to leave so abruptly, but I will return someday. I promise. I must ask you to keep our meeting a secret, as I have a rather difficult past and I do not wish for any harm to come to you as a result of it. Until then, be happy and be safe.

Yours,

Nick

"Another bad boy. Don't I know how to pick 'em," she muttered to herself. Her smile began to dissipate as she looked at the wolf's bane that lay on the other end of the dresser. The Guerrera werewolf problem still existed and was getting worse. She knew they were behind Nick's attack and she could not let them get away with it. She knew she had to go to the one person that could help: Klaus Mikaelson.

(1) Reference: Song of Solomon 6:10

(2) Reference: Song of Solomon 6:12

Author's Note (May 21, 2015): Thank you for reading my story! I can't tell you how much I love Klaus and Cami. I think the writers do a fantastic job of creating so many beautiful moments between these two and I appreciate the way they are making their relationship a "slow burn" instead of rushing things. When I was writing this, I wanted to make this story seem plausible, as if it could have happened between Seasons 1 and 2. If you watch the scene in The Originals 2x1, when Cami is walking through the compound looking for Klaus, the way he looks at her and the way she reacts thinking that he was near…just makes me imagine that this story could have happened. Anyways, glad you enjoyed it!