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The dark-haired beauty let her bare toes sink into the sand, eyeing the water that washed against the land merely meters away from where she stood. She tied her hair up into a bun, tugging off the button-up shirt she wore and pulled down her jeans until she stood only in her underwear.
Without even thinking, she walked closer and closer to the water, until it was wrapping around her feet, warm and cold at the same time. The smell of salt burned her nostrils, drawing her in further.
She walked deeper into the depths, until the water was up to her shoulders and played with strands of her hair. It wrapped around her body, the current and waves pushed her frame back and forth, and before Talia could think, a sudden current grabbed her leg, pulling her out and under.
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The Companion gasped awake, her hand slapping against her throat as the feeling of choking on ocean water left her mind. She pushed her body into more of a sitting position, taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly.
Finally, her senses regained themselves, letting her remember that she was in the car and Klaus was driving. He eyed her quietly, not asking what had taunted her in her dreams, knowing that it didn't affect him.
The Hybrid, for once, stayed silent, letting Talia choose if she wanted to tell him about the nightmare, but she didn't and kept her mouth shut. His usual cocky and taunting personality was muted for the moment, and she was glad. She didn't need his pestering.
The car slowly pulled to a stop, engine slowing from a purr to silence as they parked. "Where are we?" The words escaped her tired lips, coming out into a clumsy, drawling fumble.
Klaus didn't bother answering, ever since her question about love, the two hadn't spoken and neither had tried to create any conversation. Not even a telepathic one.
He just grabbed her suitcase from the trunk and walked up to the large building that Talia recognized as a airport. "What about your hybrids?"
"They're heading to Mystic Falls to begin construction on my new home. We're heading to Montana, hurry up, Talia, it may be my jet, but that doesn't mean it won't leave without you." His voice was sharp and commanding, holding a tone often used to control her in the past.
She sighed and padded along behind, yawning tiredly and licking her lips like a cat after a good meal.
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"Bernardo, how are you?" Talia kissed the captain on both cheeks, squeezing his hands and smiling at him.
He hugged her and let go, eyes roaming over Talia's face. "Ms. Talia, not a day older than 52, you look beautiful as always. Mr. Klaus, how are you, sir?" Bernardo was an older gentleman, gray hair and wrinkles didn't stop him from flying Klaus's plane, he was a loyal employee and never questioned the two not aging.
"Oh, Bernardo, you old dog," Talia laughed, walking to the back of the plane.
The captain smiled warmly in her direction, but kept his eyes on Klaus. Talia knew her best friend enjoyed the man's kindness and loyalty. He was also paid quite finely. "I'm quite well, Bernardo. I hope you're not getting too old to be my pilot anymore, I don't know what I'd do without you."
Bernardo laughed and pat Klaus's shoulder, turning to shuffle back to the dash. "I'm just dandy, Mr. Klaus, you won't be getting rid of me for another thirty years, trust me on that. Ms. Bernardo might not be so happy, though."
They all laughed and Klaus took the seat opposing Talia, pulling out a book and blatantly ignoring her. She frowned and slipped her phone from her pocket, beginning to sort through her contacts and fix spelling errors before doing the same in her notes app. She even re-organized Klaus's old schedule by color and alphabetized names.
But, she still grew bored and found herself looking out the window. Feeling a stare on her, the brunette turned her attention on the Hybrid who was watching her. "Why did you ask that?"
"Because I was curious. We've been together so long, Nik, I wanted to know. But I got my answer, and it answered another question. All those times you threatened to leave me, those were lies. You'd never leave me, I'm a weakness. Instead, you would lock me in a box like your siblings and I would be carted around, nothing more than an old jewel that doesn't bring much joy." She spat out the words, turning her head to look out the window.
Klaus's eyes remained on hers, he didn't bother arguing the fact but he did say one last thing. "Perhaps back then, but I let you go, Talia. I do care for you, and will let you sate the occasional independent craving."
She was in so much shock and rage by his words, the girl was unable to even reply. Sate the occasional independent craving? As if she was a child with a fantasy of freedom and he was the mother letting her ride her bike down the block? Was his ego truly that large?
Without thinking, her hand lifted and she slapped him across the face, watching his head snap to the side and the red mark appearing on his cheek. He wouldn't heal from it like he would if anyone else had hit him, her mark would last longer. It would also appear on herself. "How dare you? I am not an animal that you let into the yard once in a while, I am a human being. I have rights and freedom. How dare you take that from me?" Her voice was ice cold, filled with rage and betrayal and above all, pain. "You're no better than the slaveowners, no better than the man in the street, than any of them. I am not your toy, nor am I something you can control. Trust me, Klaus, you'll be regretting ever trying to control me." She spat out the words before standing and moving to a different seat.
In a flash, Klaus's hand was around her throat, holding her against the side of the plane. They were already flying, turbulence would have made his feet unsteady if he wasn't so perfectly balanced. "Never speak to me like that again, Talia. Show a little respect. I should ruin you for your little petty act of 'independence'." Talia watched as the red mark on his cheek was matched with one around his throat. She had no doubt it would bruise.
He finally released his hold, taking to stalking back to his seat and falling into it, leaving the rest of the plane ride silent in their misery. "I hate you." They were words she would never imagine herself saying to him, and yet here she was, and she meant them, too.
She watched his shoulders cave in, a pained sigh leaving his lips. He didn't bother looking at her, didn't bother trying to fix their failed relationship. He just nodded and kept reading. "Hate me, I don't care."
In that moment, Talia watched their friendship fall completely apart, heaving itself off the plane into the oblivion. She suffered the rest of the flight in silence.

YOU ARE READING
Simple Secrets || N. Mikaelson
FanfictionHe was a King without a Queen. She was a Queen without her crown. Two halves of the same soul, destined to be together forever. ~.~.~ Talia Monroe lived a life of segregation and loneliness. She was born in 1948, left at an orphanage mere hours af...