When Given Freely
A/N: So this is AU cause it imagines what led to Klaus daggering Kol and why Klaus feels the way he does about love. Eventually it will wind it's way back to today.
Chapter 1: The Ball
Sophie watched as the other girls turned round and round the ballroom. The chandeliers flickered with candlelight casting shadows across the room. She peeked out from behind the tapestry, hoping no one would spy her hiding place. Her sister, Genevieve, was garnering the attention of every eligible bachelor in the room, as usual. Unlike her mother and her sisters who were blessed with light, café au lait faces, Sophie's skin was a caramel tone. Though her parentage was the same as the rest, she stood out amongst the other quadroons and octoroons at the ball and it was much easier to hang back and watch as the young plantation owners choose their mistresses from the elegant, educated, coloured girls.
This was only her second ball. Her sister, Genevieve had attended many more, but since she was in such high demand, her mother refused to have her settle for less than the finest young man. Renée Benoix hoped to earn her oldest daughter the best suitor so that she would be taken care of her whole life. Sophie's youngest sister, Corinne, would begin attending the balls next season after her 15th birthday, but for now it was just Sophie and Genevieve.
Tonight, the young women were all in a tizzy because of three young men who had shown up from out of town, Elijah, Colin and Nicolas DeMichelier. The three brothers were very handsome and clearly wealthy, so the women fluttered around them like hummingbirds drawn to sweet water. Genevieve was playing it coy though Sophie could tell that she was annoyed that Elijah had not come over to make her acquaintance. Sophie could always tell when her sister was annoyed because her smile was a little too bright.
Sophie started to fall back into the shadows when she felt a hand on the small of her back. "Why are you hiding in the corner, love?" The voice tickled her ear and she felt fingers trail down the small of her back. Sophie closed her eyes briefly, and her stomach fluttered at the young man's touch. His voice was playful and seductive. His lilting English different from the creole-tinged French of her native New Orleans "You're far too beautiful to be hiding in the shadows." Sophie could feel him pulling her deeper into the alcove his fingertips brushing her collarbone. Then she remembered her propriety. "You're right Monsieur. We should return to the dance floor." She started to leave but he grabbed her arm and tilted her head up looking her directly in the eye.
"I don't think you want to go," he whispered seductively. His voice was hypnotic and as Sophie watched his eyes seemed to grow wide filling her vision but she blinked and pulled away.
"Excusez-moi, monsieur but I really should be getting back," she said as she slipped away.
"How are you faring brother?" Kol asked when Klaus returned to the dance floor.
"Quite fine," Klaus said absently. He always answered Kol with half-truths, his manipulative little brother had a tendency to exploit anything else. "And you?"
"These New Orleans creoles are positively amusing. It's like choosing a pet at a kennel."
"A bit easier than that," Klaus replied. He looked across the room at Elijah who was dancing a young woman who seemed to have the attention of the entire room.
"Ahh, the Benoix girl," Kol said following his eyes. "Or one of them. From what I understand there's another. Apparently, Elijah's gotten the pick of the litter." As Klaus watched, Elijah spun the girl around the dance floor. She was very beautiful and she obviously knew it. When the music stopped, Elijah steered her towards the refreshments, his hands lingering at the girl's back. Klaus loved and hated the fashion of these times. While the necklines afforded him a welcome view, they also ensured that taking a bite without cleaning up after yourself would have the locals screaming about vampires. New Orleans was a town steeped in superstition and lore and the idea of vampires wouldn't be laughed away. As Klaus watched the girl he'd talked to in the alcove walked over. Standing side by side, Klaus could see the two girls were sisters. They had the same features even if the other girl's skin was a few shades lighter. He caught Elijah's eye, beckoning him over but his brother took his time. Elijah was playing the gentleman as usual, taking his time with pleasantries as he extricated himself. It was a role that he favored. After he'd eventually made his way across the room, Elijah was clipped. "Yes, brother?"
"Tell me about those girls," Klaus said without preamble.
Elijah raised an eyebrow. "The Benoix girls? The older one is Genevieve, the younger Sophie."
"Sophie," Klaus repeated, savoring the word. He stared at her from across the room and she glanced away after meeting his gaze.
"They're nothing more than social climbers," Elijah continued.
"I don't know," Kol said. "Could be a tasty meal."
"There's something about the younger one," Klaus trailed off. He didn't want to tell his brothers about his failed attempt at compulsion. Kol would view it as a challenge and Elijah would be intrigued. He himself was frustrated that this Sophie seemed to resist him. It had never happened before. She wasn't a witch or anything else he'd encountered. He wanted to figure this out on his own.
"Maman you must!" Genevieve was all but stomping her foot. She was horrid if she didn't get her way, mostly because she wasn't used to not getting her way. And right now she wanted her mother to invite the DeMichelier brothers to dinner.
"Genevieve!" her mother admonished. She made many allowances for her eldest daughter but bad manners were never tolerated. "I will invite them over but remember we know nothing about these men. You have the most eligible and notable men of New Orleans pining after you. I will not let you make a mistake for some nouveau riche strangers."
"Oui, maman," Genevieve said acting suitably chastened but Sophie knew the only reason her sister stopped throwing her tantrum was because she'd gotten her way. She looked over at the brothers and saw the blonde one staring at her again. Sophie remembered how his eyes had looked when they were alone. There was something slightly menacing and seductive in his gaze now and it sent a shiver up her spine. She remembered what his fingers had felt like on her back. Light yet insistent. He was very handsome. His blonde curls were pulled back with a black, silk ribbon, she could tell he was fit and his clothes were well cut and tailored. But there was something dangerous about him and his brothers. Her sister may have been excited to invite these men into their home but she was anything but.