“So, how’s Klaus?” Rhea asked Morticia as they spent time together.
“I…” Morticia sighed, taking a deep breath. “I don’t know.”
“What do you mean?” Rhea asked.
“We haven’t talked,” Morticia replied. It had been more than a week since Josephine’s death, and the last time she saw Klaus was at the funeral. He left before the ceremony was over.
She had searched for him at his apartment the next day, but found no sign of him either. The only place remaining was Mr. Finn’s mansion, here in Washington.
Rhea sighed. “I hope he’s okay then. What about your mother?”
“She’s watching movies more than she can handle. She’s trying to distract herself. My brother is taking care of her,” Morticia croaked. Everything felt as though it was falling apart since Josephine’s death.
Rhea reached out to hold her hand, giving her an assuring squeeze.
“Everything will be fine, okay? Perhaps he’s just trying to get himself together and doesn’t want to hurt you,” Rhea said.
“That’s what Vincent said. He said he’ll reach out eventually,” Morticia sighed. She was obviously tired of the waiting.
Morticia’s phone suddenly rang. She broke eye contact with Rhea and was shocked by the caller ID.
“Oh my God, he’s calling,” Morticia gasped. She picked up immediately. “Hello… Klaus?”
“Hey, Bunnie. I’m at the beach, can you please come over?” his voice sounded on the other side.
Within twenty minutes, Morticia arrived at the beach, her heart racing as her eyes settled on his familiar figure standing by the shoreline, watching the waves.
As she walked closer, he turned to face her slowly.
“Hey,” she greeted nervously.
“Come here,” he demanded with a small smile. Immediately, Morticia ran to give him a tight hug.
“I’m so sorry, Klaus,” Morticia whispered against his chest. His body seemed to stiffen for a fleeting moment before he hugged her closer.
“Thanks for coming,” he muttered.
Soon, they were both seated on the sand, Morticia’s head resting on his shoulder as they watched the sun slowly set. It was a beautiful sight, one that wouldn’t get tiring to see.
Klaus let out a long breath, his gaze fixed on the horizon where the sun dipped low, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink.
“It doesn’t feel real, you know?” he finally said, his voice heavy with emotion. “One moment she was there, and then… just gone. Like a part of me disappeared with her.”
Morticia tilted her head to look up at him. “I know it’s hard, Klaus. It feels like the world doesn’t make sense anymore, like it’s spinning too fast and standing still all at once.”
He turned to meet her eyes, a faint smirk breaking through his somber expression. “When did you get so wise, Bunnie?”
“Excuse me, Mr. Barnard, I feel a little bit offended,” Morticia teased, and Klaus’s smirk turned into a smile.
Oh, she missed that smile.
“I love you,” he said, taking her face in his hands and capturing her lips with his. The kiss was slow, gentle, and filled with warmth.
He grabbed her thigh and pulled her on top of him, his fingers entangling in her hair as they lay on the sand.
They broke the kiss after a while, gazes locked.
Morticia blushed under his intense gaze. “Why did you call me here?” she couldn’t help but ask.
“I missed you. Sorry, I shut myself out for a while. I can’t stop thinking about you and how worried you must have been,” he confessed. His hand reached for her hair, tucking it behind her ear.
Morticia bit her lip. “Do you have something to tell me?”
Klaus stayed quiet for a while. “Yeah. I might be really busy, and… I just want you to know that I’ll always be there for you, no matter what happens.”
She frowned, her voice low. “Why do you sound like you’re about to go somewhere?”
“Not like that… I promise,” Klaus said, and her racing heart calmed.
She wouldn’t be able to bear it if Klaus decided to do something like taking a break.
“If you’re going anywhere, take me with you,” she said, watching his eyes glint with a bit of relief.
“I will… You’ll always be by my side, Bunnie,” he whispered, and a bright smile graced her lips. She brought his hand to her lips and kissed it.
After spending hours with Morticia by the beach, Klaus couldn’t help but feel the dead part of him slowly coming alive again.
He had avoided her, knowing he might hurt her feelings, and that would only worsen his pain. He had buried himself in the preparations of becoming the new president of his parents’ empire.
It was a promise he made to Josephine before she died.
After delving into the company’s records, there were a lot of things he needed to change.
‘If you’re going anywhere, take me with you.’
Klaus smiled at Morticia’s words. He’d tell her all his plans soon, perhaps make arrangements for Morticia to transfer to one of the biggest colleges in New York.
That way, they could be seeing each other without any problems.
Getting to the large mansion, Klaus stepped out, but then halted at the sight of Finn and Katie standing outside, seemingly waiting for him.
“Where were you, Klaus?” Finn asked as he reached them.
“Since when do I have to tell you where I went? Just because I’m spending time here, or working something out with you, doesn’t mean we’re any bit closer,” Klaus said curtly.
“You went to see Morticia,” Katie spoke from behind, and Klaus raised a brow at her. There was something off about her look.
Katie had been acting more like a ghost around him in the mansion. Not that he cared; he was just glad she wasn’t like some old hags trying to win him over just because they were now Stepmoms.
“Yeah. She’s more than a girlfriend to me. It doesn’t have a title, so let me put it this way… she’s my world,” Klaus gave his father a look. “Do you have a problem with me seeing my world?”
Finn exchanged a glance with Katie, which made him frown.
Finn cleared his throat. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
“Well, then spill it out,” Klaus urged.
“There’s another preparation, Klaus. Something that will really help you in the business world. Marriage,” Finn said.
“Ah,” Klaus nodded. “I don’t know if Bunnie is ready. She still has college to finish, so…”
“We’re not talking about Morticia, Klaus,” Katie cut in, her voice surprisingly sharp. “You’re to get married to the daughter of an influential man in the world. Your marriage to her…”
“Shhhhh,” Klaus raised a finger to the air, hushing her. Katie stopped talking, her head raised high. Seriously, where was this woman getting her boldness from?
“You’re just like your son. Your lips are moving, and I don’t know why,” he said coldly.
“You don’t have a choice, Klaus,” she said with a smirk. “Come on out, baby girl!” She called out.
A tall, slender figure emerged from the mansion, her curvy hips swaying as she approached them. Her long curly black hair cascaded down her shoulders, her beauty radiant.
Klaus frowned, recognizing her.
“Tasha?” He mumbled, recalling the priest’s daughter he had dumped years ago in highschool after she had confessed her love for him.
“Hello, Klaus,” Tasha’s red lips curled up as she stood beside Katie.
“What the fuck is going on, Finn?” Klaus glared at his father, who cleared his throat. For a moment, just for a moment, Klaus noticed a glint of fear and worry flashed in Finn’s eyes as he spoke.
“You’re to get married to Tasha before you become the president of the Eterna Corporation, Klaus. You need…”
“Shut the fuck up, Finn,” Klaus cut in, glaring at Tasha, who smirked at him. “Don’t waste your time. If this is some kind of shitty payback… news flash: I would never get married to you.” He faced Katie. “The one who acts so calm and nice is now showing her true colors… Fuck y’all.”
Klaus began walking away.
“The wedding preparations are all set, Klaus. It will happen in a month,” Katie said, and Klaus turned to face her.
“I said no.”
“You don’t have the right to,” she said. Swiftly, Klaus closed the distance between them and grabbed Katie by her neck.
“Watch it, woman. You haven’t seen the dark side of me, and trust me, you won’t like it one bit,” he growled and released her neck. “Stay out of my lane, or I’ll kill you.”
His words seemed to work as she shut the hell up.
His phone rang, and he reached for it. Seeing the caller ID, he stepped away from Katie and answered.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“I’ve just got information on who Void is. You won’t believe what I found out,” the voice said on the other side.
“What?”
“Void is not a man… It’s a fucking woman.”
Klaus’s eyes widened at the words, shock surging through every part of him. His face paled as realization slowly dawned on him.
With slow movements, he turned, his eyes settled on Katie, who tilted her head to the side.
“I should have asked Simon to kill you a long time ago… Sin.”
What the fuck?!
His eyes quickly went to his Finn, his head was lower, now the fear was evident in his feature. Klaus got the pieces together and that only made his breath hard for him.
“Let’s make this straight,” Katie’s voice rang out and Klaus gaze settled on her as she approached him with deliberate steps.
She got to him and threatened in a low dark voice…
“Marry Tasha…” She chuckled evily, “Or your world dies…”