When Vampire Diaries fans last saw Klaus, he was booking it out of Mystic Falls at the mere mention of Mikael, Elena's blood bag in hand, destination unknown.

In an exclusive interview today, Joseph Morgan delivered some bad news: we won't see Klaus again on this Thursday's "Ghost World." But the actor followed that disappointing scoop up with this exciting one: viewers are in for Klaus aplenty on episodes eight and nine!

"Episode eight will really change the game," Morgan told me of the installment titled "Ordinary People." "We'll learn more about the Mikael/Klaus relationship, see where Klaus' fear springs from and why it's so justified."

We'll also go back in time again; way, way back. Morgan couldn't offer much detail, but he did verify that another member of the Original family will be introduced via an upcoming flashback.

Look for this glimpse into Klaus' past to reveal even more about the character, whose humanity has leaked out little by little over the course of season three. Morgan describes his ancient blood sucker as "incredibly dysfunctional."

"Deep down he just wants to be loved. Friendship and family have been lacking for him the last 1,000 years."

Hence why it took him so long to compel Stefan.

"It was really important to Klaus that Stefan come around on his own, through his own free will. He really wanted to believe they could be friends like they were in the 1920s."

But there was the slight problem of Stefan's love for Elena, of course, as well as the fact that Morgan admits his vampire doesn't really understand the concept of friendship. He says Klaus has always tried to control those close to him "through fear." Look where that has gotten him.

For Morgan, conversely, his take on Klaus as a frightening figure - quiet, playful, serene - has landed him a huge fan base. A relative unknown in America prior to landing this role, he's grown into a fan favorite by combining the writers' vision for his character with his own belief that the scariest thing "isn't when someone is shouting at you."

Take the opening scene of Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds, he says, citing Academy Award winner Christoph Waltz's work as Col. Hans Landa.

"The threat is that much more real because it means nothing to him. You know he'll just kill you and not think twice about it. I wanted to play on that sociopathic side."

And play it incredibly well he has. Klaus will next show up on November 3, while a new Vampire Diaries episode airs this Thursday.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.