Author's Note:
Welcome to my first Klaus/OC story, and first for the TO fandom (involving an OC). This story will involve my OC, momentarily known as Mal for her nickname. The story will cover the later of the 1st season and probably the 2nd if I don't decide to add it as a second story (future plans and whatnot).
For Mal's appearance, I picture her to look like the actress Rose Byrne.
"Now, I should really get going," a young, black-haired, woman repeated as she was practically dragged out of the New York club, "Your sister must be getting rather irritated with me for keeping you away from her for so long..." she began panicking at the thought of causing a sibling argument and that was definitely not what she wanted. "...Klaus, maybe we should..."
But he wagged a finger, "I do not think so. Khali, just name a place and we'll go."
She looked around, debating whether or not she should continue with it. It was getting rather late and she knew her parents would start asking about her whereabouts and she certainly did not want to tell them about the secret man she had been seeing for quite some time now. I mean, how would she explain that she had fallen in love with a complete stranger? Well, he'd be a stranger to them but certainly not for her.
"Khali..." Klaus called again, looking to the side, impatient as usual when she became indecisive, "...Shall I choose tonight?"
She rolled her eyes before grinning, "Oh go ahead, you know better places than I do. What, with all the damn traveling you do."
"That's the spirit!" He dropped a kiss on her temple and pulled her off, both laughing with excitement as they wandered where the night would lead them.
~ 0 ~
Klaus Mikaelson woke up with a loud gasp, slowly looking around and realized he had just been dreaming. As the full, complete dream returned to his mind, the only word he could think of was...
"Khalinda."
And with a quiet slump against his bed, he thought of the woman...who had died mysteriously only a couple days after that night.
~ 0 ~
Elsewhere, was a brunette woman sitting in a chair in front of a desk, a journal open in front of her and a pen in her hand. She was dressed in a sleeping gown with a robe over, the darkness outside her room not stopping her from writing down 'Khalinda Ayama' at the top of the page. She looked up with a small sigh, her brown eyes staring ahead at the window, "Khalinda," she whispered, "1926?"
~ 0 ~
Days Later...
Rebekah Mikaelson was walking down the streets of the French Quarter, basking in the celebration of the Casket Girls that took place around her. Even if the celebration had gotten a bit distorted over the years, it was still nice to see a celebration that was practically in her name. She turned on a corner, bumping a couple of drunks and rolled her eyes as she walked around them, suddenly coming to a halt. With only her eyes moving side to side, she took a good inspection of her surroundings, sensing someone was watching her in secrecy, or so they thought. Though as much as Rebekah looked, she couldn't see anyone. And, with so many people around, she couldn't exactly speed about to find the perpetrator. She decided to ignore it for the moment and continued on walking. If the person was watching her then it meant sooner or later they'd meet. She continued her walking, heading for a lovely store with casket girl costumes on a rack outside.
From another street, around a corner, hid the brunette woman who stared directly after Rebekah. She closed her eyes and put a hand on the side of her head as she saw again...
"That's not right, Rebekah," a blonde woman scolded lightly, her smile saying the complete opposite.
"I'm only having a bit of a fun," Rebekah defended, wiping the sides of her mouth that dripped with blood.
"You're going to get yourself into trouble with your parents," the blonde wagged a finger as she headed for Rebekah's door.
"Oh please, I bet you wouldn't say that to my brother," Rebekah plopped herself down on a chair with a smirk while the blonde glanced back, less than amused.
"I'd scold him if I needed to," she declared with her hands on her hips, "Not that it would make a difference. But you Rebekah-"
"Oh no, if he does what he likes, why shouldn't I?" Rebekah leaned on her chair, "Take Kol for example, he doesn't care one bit. No," she laughed and swung an arm on the back of the chair, "I'll be having fun myself."
"Rebekah," the blonde sighed with resignation and opened the door, leaving a laughing Rebekah inside.
The brunette woman had her face scrunched in pain but slowly returned to normal as the vision faded in her mind. She opened her eyes and quietly sighed, Rebekah no longer in vision. That was her alright, the same one from the visions. She was in the right place then, if Rebekah was here then her brother was most definitely here as well.
~ 0 ~
"Cami!" the same brunette woman pounded on Camille O' Connell's house door several times before finally taking out her key and opening it herself, "God, you're so rubbish at listening!"
She came to a halt when she saw her good friend (and 'cousin') wasn't alone. Cami was on the floor with a teenage girl of brown hair and green eyes standing beside her, a teenage boy behind the two. The woman was appalled to see Cami with a heavy sweat over her head and in a state of...chaos.
"What is going on here?" the woman demanded, "I'd apologize for my way of entrance but I know damn well all three of you heard me yelling."
"We sort of figured you'd go away..." the teenage boy muttered, earning a whack from the teenage girl.
"Shut up," the woman snapped before looking at Cami, "You wanna explain to me?"
"Mal? What are you doing here?" Cami asked, putting a foot on the floor to stand up.
"You called me last night and said you'd be flying with me to England."
"I did..." Cami blinked, realizing she had in fact done that the previous night, "...oh that's right," she put a hand on her head.
"You forgot?" Mal blinked, noticing how guilty Cami looked, apart from everything else.
"Don't take it personal," the teenage girl stepped up, "Cami's had a rough night."
"I can see that," Mal nodded, "What is going on here?"
"Nothing," Cami took a breath and turned to the teenage girl, "Are we done?"
"Do you remember?" she asked.
Cami scoffed, "Remember? Oh...I'm gonna kill him."
"Yup, you're done."
"Done with what? What's going on?" Mal was beginning to get frustrated with the lack of answers, "Cami?"
"Look, I am so sorry for bringing you here," Cami walked over to her, "Believe me, it really wasn't my choice."
And it really wasn't. It wasn't her fault a deranged hybrid had compelled her to leave. Thankfully, Davina had come in only a mere hours after Klaus had left and started the process of returning the memories Cami had lost.
"Look at you," Mal shook her head at Cami, "What did those two do to you? Shall I call the authorities?"
"No!" the two teenagers nearly shouted.
"It's fine," Cami tried assuring her friend, "Give me a moment to clean myself up and we can book you another flight."
"Book another flight? I thought we were doing it together," Mal said, sounding more disappointed than she actually was. She'd been planning on staying in the city after having more visions of the place, but when Cami had called her last night asking if she could join the flight to England, Mal had no answer but 'of course'.
"Things have changed," Cami sighed, "In the meantime, just stay in here please," she looked back at the teenagers, "Look after her please," the two nodded and so went Cami to get changed.
"Your friend is going to be just fine," the teenage girl assured as she moved up to Mal.
"Who the hell are you?"
"My name is Davina and I promise you we didn't hurt Cami," Davina raised her hands in surrender, "That's Josh," she pointed at the other teenager behind, "and we're friends."
Mal crossed her arms and looked around, "What happened in here?"
"How do you know something happened?" Josh countered, receiving a mock-glare from Mal.
"Because I'm not an idiot."
"No, sorry, you're not."
"Friends?" Davina insisted and held her hand out for Mal to shake, really needing all allies to help her get out of the city. With Klaus and Marcel searching for her she really did need all the help she could get.
Mal studied the girl heavily, already telling that something wasn't quite human with her or Josh. Still, if she was going to stay in the city she would need people that knew the place. With a sigh, she shook Davina's hand, "Friends," Davina let a small out before she suddenly gasped at the little spark she felt from Mal' hand. Mal raised an eyebrow, "Is something wrong?"
Davina swallowed, recalling the feeling from the ones she felt when she made certain drawings, "No, no...nothing."
"Are you sure?"
"Aha."
"Well," Mal looked back at the doorway where her suitcases were and walked over, "I'll just be bringing those inside until Cami can tell me what the hell is going on."
Again, Davina gasped, but this time she knew it was because of certain witches trying to find her. She turned to Josh with a scared, concerned face, "They're trying to search for me."
"We need to get you out of here, now," Josh nodded.
"Alright," Cami walked out of her bedroom, now changed into a dress and green cardigan, her face perfectly clean and no ounce of sweat on it, her hair tied back into a ponytail.
"Cami, we've gotta go," Davina quickly informed her.
"Go where?" Mal called from behind, an eyebrow raised with intrigue.
"You are going to stay right here," Cami pointed at her then glanced at Davina, "We'll get you out of here."
"N-n-n-n-no," Mal wagged a finger at Cami, "I am not your child and I do not take orders from you. If Davina needs to leave then I can help."
"You really can't," Cami sighed.
"I really can."
"Let's not waste precious time by fighting," Josh felt the need to cut in as the sun was already beginning to set down, "Davina needs to leave and if someone's offering to help then the smart thing would be to accept it."
"Hey, you do say smart things," Mal smiled at him, Josh rolling his eyes.
"Mal, you really don't have to do this," Cami insisted.
"Davina, do you need help?" Mal had turned to Davina, wearing an earnest expression.
"Honestly, yeah..." Davina nodded, "How good are you at...sneaking around?"
"Actually very good," Mal nodded.
"Davina..." Cami nearly pleaded. She didn't want her cousin stuck in the business of lunatic vampires and witches.
"I'm sorry, Cami, but there's no way to sneak me out of the Quarter. By now, everyone's looking for me – the witches, Marcel, Klaus."
Mal straightened at the last name given, "I'll help," she immediately declared.
No one even noticed the fact that Mal didn't even react to the talk of witches. It was as if the woman was in knowledge of them. But, Cami was more focused on the idea of her cousin sent out to the wrath of crazy vampires and witches. She could not have that!
"Mal, you can't do that. It's dangerous," she said.
"I can take care of myself," Mal shrugged, "Been doing so for years now."
She was not going to mention the fact she also had a desire/need to meet the man they'd named 'Klaus'. It had to be the same one of her dreams and if it was then she needed to find out and get his help.
"Alright, this is what we're going to do," Mal huddled them all together, and started talking about the plan she'd thought of.
~ 0 ~
"Remind me again why you own the same outfit a teenage girl would?" Cami asked Mal as all three women walked down the crowded streets of the French Quarter, underneath the dark night sky.
Mal smirked, "I was having a bit of a crisis."
"Well, I think it turned out great!" Davina exclaimed cheerfully, fixing her mask over her face.
They'd been able to give Davina a mask to wear in order to navigate through the city without being caught. Mal, apparently, happened to own an exact replica of the clothes Davina wore, confusing Cami and amusing Davina at the same time.
"Well, it's a long shot though," Cami crossed her arms.
"The only thing differentiating us our length of hair," Davina gestured to Mal' brown hair, "But from afar you could pass off as me."
Mal giggled, "Glad I could help," she stopped walking and turned to the two, "I'll keep going ahead."
"I don't have a clue as to who you are, but thank you," Davina gave her a hug.
Mal smiled, "Friends."
Mal did feel slightly guilty for using the girl like this but it needed to be done for a greater good. Her cause. She'd later apologize to Davina if needed bu first she needed to do this.
Cami happened to look around and saw Klaus walking ahead of the trio, searching for that specific witch, "Uh oh, Davina we have to go."
"Huh?" Davina gazed in the direction Cami was looking at, her eyes widenining, not that it could be seen with her mask, "Okay! Off we go!"
Cami felt so guilty for leaving Mal at the wrath of an angry hybrid, but she also thought that maybe she'd be passed off as just someone Davina tricked. This was all her fault...she called Mal last night, telling her she'd be leaving with her to England. And Mal, happening to be in the next city, happily agreed to have her cousin with her for a while. But as Cami got to think even more, she realized it wasn't her fault, it was Klaus's fault. He compelled her. It was because of him that she had phoned Mal. And if he hurt Mal in any way...
~ 0 ~
Mal happily walked down the streets of the French Quarter, taking in all the familiar shops and even a few people. She looked around with discreetness as she tried confirming her knowledge of locations where she, apparently, used to visit as a child with Cami. Sure enough, she saw several shops and restaurants that fit with the image and location she had already known. She could feel it starting again...now if she only knew what was starting again, then it would really be helpful.
She suddenly stopped on a corner of a street as she noticed a tall man with light brown hair heading towards her, more like storming towards her. He had a look of fury that probably left people running away from him...but not Mal. She stood quite calm and still when Klaus Mikaelson stopped and practically snatched off her mask from her face.
He blinked when he saw, not a teenage girl, but an older woman with short, wavy, brown hair with chocolate-brown eyes, "What the hell is this?" he demanded.
"Excuse you, but you're the one that's got some answering to do," Mal reached for her mask, only to have him hold it up so she wouldn't be able to reach, "Now, now, you best give that back. You know, it's really not nice to take things that don't belong to you."
Klaus was not in the mood for this playtime, "Who the hell are you?"
"Not Davina as you can see," she gestured to her face, "Also, it's not really normal for a grown man to be hunting a teenage girl."
"What I do is none of your business now if you value your life I suggest you give me the whereabouts of Davina."
"I don't know where she is," Mal shrugged.
He clasped a hand around her neck and gave a squeeze, making her gasp with struggle for air, "Let me repeat myself, and fair warning I do not like repeating myself..."
"Yeah, sort of got the message..." Mal clasped her own hands over his one on her neck. It amazed her the man was willing to kill her in the middle of an extremely crowded street, not that the people were very caring as they partied on around them.
"Niklaus, set the woman down," another voice ordered but Klaus simply squeezed again.
"I can't talk..." Mal glared at Klaus, unable to finish her words with no air.
"Niklaus," Elijah Mikaelson ordered once more as he joined his younger brother.
A blonde woman was working on levitating a couple of leaves around her when she felt a poke on her head, snapping her out of her concentration and letting all the leaves drop back on the ground.
A laughing Rebekah and Elijah came from around her, unaware of the glare the blond was sending their way.
"Which one of you did it?" she demanded with her hands on her hips.
"Him," Rebekah pointed to Elijah who nodded in confirmation.
"I was working on concentration," the blonde thrust her hand forwards and sent a wind that nearly knocked the man down.
"I think you have it down," Rebekah remarked as she watched her brother gather his balance again.
"Oh shush," the blonde lightly scolded, "Concentration is key. Your mother always tells me that. So, if you children would let me..." she gestured to her leaves on the ground, the two siblings simply chuckling again.
Mal forgot the choking she was enduring when the small pain started on the side of her head after the vision.
"She knows where Davina is," Klaus swayed his head as he explained, acting so casually and unperturbed with the dying woman in his hand, not even noticing she had stopped struggling, "Soon as she says where Davina is, I'll let go."
"Yes, but she can't actually talk with you stealing her air," Elijah pointed out.
"Why are we wasting time, here?" Marcel Gerard came towards them, "Leave the woman alone, Klaus. We've got a bigger problem."
Frustrated, Klaus finally let go of Mal who then coughed for her air with her own hand rubbing her neck, the pain in her head slowly fading, "You're a rude prick," she spat and earned an intimidating glare back.
"Wait a minute, who are you?" Marcel took a moment and looked over the woman, realizing she was entirely new, "You're not local."
"What was your first clue? The English accent or the color of my eyes?" she sarcastically snapped.
"Can we please get back to the point, here?" Elijah reminded the others and so proceeded to direct himself to Mal, "We're looking for a girl. She's..." he looked her over, "...dressed exactly like you," he gave her a curious look.
"I was having a bad day," Mal huffed and crossed her arms.
"Right, yes, would you happen to know where she is?"
"No, what I told him," Mal pointed at Klaus, "is true. I don't know where Davina is. Now if you'll excuse me," she finally snatched back her mask from Klaus and gave him a glare, "I've got a city to see, hm," she pushed past them and put back her mask.
Behind her mask was a frown yet a slip of a small smile as she replayed the events that had just happened. She'd just met the two of the brothers and she knew it was them, no doubt. She now knew Klaus was here and perhaps if she caught him in a better mood they could actually sit down and talk. There were a lot of questions she had and she knew that only he would be able to answer and help.
~ 0 ~
Only an hour had passed since Mal had left the scene with the three vampires. Just when she thought Davina was far away, she received a call from Josh, telling her the two women were in St. Ann's. With a disappointed sigh, she headed for the familiar church, stopping at the sight of an unconscious Cami on the floor near the altar.
"What the hell happened!?" she rushed down the aisle, "Cami?!"
Cami slowly opened her eyes and looked around, no longer seeing Davina around which could only mean one thing, "Oh, crap!" she nearly knocked Mal as she jumped to her feet, "Where's Davina!?"
"I don't know, she was gone when I got here," Mal tried explaining, though she was so confused she didn't really have words to say, "Mind telling me what happened here?"
Cami shook her head when she remembered the witches who'd knocked her out, "Um, drunks. Happens all the time with these festivals."
But Mal knew better than that, as she looked around. Supernatural beings, what else? In fact, this entire city was crawling with them. She'd only discovered that right before receiving that call from Cami last night. And yet, it didn't scare her or bother her, it only meant that New Orleans was the place she needed to be in to figure out all the crazy mess her life was.
~ 0 ~
Davina walked into the compound, the first thing hearing was Tim's voice from above, calling for her, "You got me here, now let him down," she ordered, Klaus only smirking in response, "I mean it!"
"Well, first, we have to have a little chat about you returning to the fold."
"What did I say, Klaus?" Marcel glanced at him before walking up to Davina, much calmer than the hybrid, "D, what happened? Why'd you run? Talk to me. Hey, I can make it right."
But Davina was far from sure anymore, "How? By threatening my friend?"
"Actually, that was my idea," Klaus stepped up, "Apologies. I've been known to go too far to make a point, But I do always get results."
"You pretend to be so confident, but I know the truth. You're afraid everyone can see what you really are- an animal," Davina began torturing him, incapacitating him, "A beast. Why don't you show us your real face? That's enough of you."
"Davina, you don't have to do this," Elijah tried to stop the her but he too came under the wrath of the teenage girl.
"You- You looked me in the eyes and lied to my face, pretended you wanted to HELP me!" she shouted.
"Listen to me..."
"You call yourself the noble one, but you're a killer just like your brother. For 1,000 years, you've fed on innocent blood. Why don't you choke on it?" and the vampire began to couch, feeling the blood overtaking his throat. Davina then turned to Marcel, "And you- I trusted you. I loved you, but you were just using me to stay in power. You don't care about me."
"You're wrong," Marcel said.
"When you lost to Klaus, you handed me over like some trophy. Maybe I should boil you in bronze."
" I care. I took you in like you were my own blood," Marcel said, and that was the last thing before being stabbed through the chest by Rebekah Mikaelson.
The blonde smiled at Davina, "Come on now, love. Don't tell me you were falling for that. Isn't it time for us girls to have a chat? Now, that is impressive, and well-deserved, in my opinion. Now, before you turn on me, I have a surprise for you."
Josh entered the courtyard, making Davina's eyes widen with panic, "Josh, what are you doing? Get out of here."
Rebekah grabbed Josh by throat, "What are you doing?" the poor boy asked.
Rebekah only smirked, "Now, if I were Klaus, I would rip Josh's head from his neck, feed it to a nightwalker, and that would be the end of your friend But hurting people is such a boyish thing to do, like how Klaus compelled your fiddler on the roof, and, while I am many things, I'm certainly not my brother. It's ok, Timothy. You can come down. No one is gonna hurt you."
"He told me I couldn't climb down off this beam," Tim said, his voice barely a whisper with such fright.
Rebekah rolled her eyes, "Then don't climb, silly. Am I the only smart one in the room? Jump."
Tim jumped down and was caught by the blonde. She let him go and he quickly ran to Davina,"Davina, how did you do all that? How did I even get here?"
"I'll explain everything, I promise," she assured and glanced at Rebekah, "Why are you doing this?"
"Seems to me that you're the one holding all the cards, but you don't know who to trust. I've just proven that you can trust me. Now I'd like to show you one more thing. Won't take long. You can bring your friends," she gestured for them to follow her, which they did.
~ 0 ~
"Kieran!" Mal greeted excitedly, hugging the stunned priest, "It's so good to see you again!"
"You're...you're here," Kieran blinked, making Mal chuckle.
"Yeah, she's here," Cami crossed her arms, Kieran picking up on the tense attitude of his niece towards the surprise visit of his other niece, "Can I talk to you for a moment? ...alone?"
Mal also picked up on the tension and immediately excused herself out of the church for a moment. Though, secretly to the two, she was right by the room beside the altar. She knew it was wrong to eavesdrop but she knew something was deeply wrong and it affected the people she apparently loved.
"Cami, are you alright?" Kieran asked after Mal had left, "I notice you're a bit..."
"Frantic? Tense? Yeah, I sort of am," Cami nodded, rolling her eyes, "Hey! Do you happen to know where Davina is? Or does your friend Marcel know she's here?"
Kieran blinked, immediately understanding the problem, "Cami, I can explain."
"Vampires? Witches? My brother, your nephew, hexed by a witch. How could you not tell me!?"
Mal blinked and pressed herself to the wall, had she heard right? From what she remembered, Cami's twin brother went insane and massacred numerous people. To everyone else, it just looked like a kid who'd gone mad and killed for no reason. But to those who knew about the supernatural beings in the city the incident was clearly that of another supernatural attack.
"It's complicated. There's a lot you don't understand," Kieran tried to explain himself but Cami wouldn't hear it.
"You hid the truth from me. You let me believe that Sean was crazy, that I was crazy, instead of telling me the truth."
"I was protecting you. You saw what happened to Sean. Cami, please-"
"Get the hell away from me," Cami snapped, backing away from her uncle, "You are every bit as bad as the other monsters in this city. And for Mal' sake, you better tell her she needs to leave. I don't want a person like her getting mixed up in Klaus' doings just like I am now!"
"Okay, you are not-"
"Don't you dare correct me," she warned, pointing at him, "She was already set up and like the worst person alive I had to leave her to the vampire's wrath. I had to hope that Klaus wouldn't kill her. She can't stay! You need to tell her to leave!"
"Why don't you accompany her then? Both of you to England?" Kieran suggested, "Wouldn't that sound nice? Away from all this? Talk to new people?"
"The only person I wanna talk to, and say some not-so-nice words is Klaus. He has a lot to hear from me!" Cami exclaimed, storming out of the church.
Mal leaned against the door, frowning at Cami's words. Did she really want her to leave? And what did she mean she was 'set up' once already? She knew that to find out all of that, she'd just have to follow Cami to where she would be saying her 'not-so-nice words' to this Klaus and she'd know exactly what was going on...
~ 0 ~
Davina laid in the bed fast asleep, Marcel and Elijah on the side. Marcel sighed and shook his head, he did not want to know how Davina would react when she woke up, "She'll never trust me again," he said quietly.
"Perhaps. You must never surrender the fight to reclaim that trust," Elijah said, walking over to a table with Davina's drawings, "What are these?"
"She drew those the whole time she was in the attic, said they're different than what she draws when she senses magic," Marcel explained, "These ones," he went over and picked up a couple of large papers with sketches, "she called them evil."
"And these?" Elijah picked up another pile of significantly smaller-sized papers, "Why are these different than the rest?"
"She said it was neutral magic."
"What does that mean?"
"Complicated," Marcel shrugged, "Davina said, and I quote, 'It's magic that's there but isn't there. It's magic that's owned yet at the same time not owned."
Elijah reconsidered the words but for the moment he couldn't find a better explanation of the drawings. But he knew if they didn't find the answer for it, it'd return to harm them soon. It usually did.
~ 0 ~
Cami was storming down the street, Mal right on her track and well hidden behind walls. Cami entered the compound, Mal staying right at the corner and peering inside, watching her go up to Klaus.
"Surprised to see me? After all, you did compel me to leave town," Cami spat her first words.
Klaus was completely shocked to see the blonde standing in front of him, and much more by her words, "You remember..."
"Chalk one up for decompulsion. Hurts like hell, but it's worth it. Made me realize exactly why I want to stick around. Oh, and Klaus, if you hurt Davina or Josh in any way, I'll expose you to the world, and then you can kiss the French Quarter good-bye, forever. Have a nice night."
And with that, the blonde turned on her heels and hurried out of the place, Mal moving farther away as she emerged. She wondered what the hell could be causing such anger in her cousin. She took a few steps after her, though stopped at the sight of the compound. She didn't have much time to think when she found herself pushed up to the wall, receiving the same menacing look from earlier.
"Can you explain what the hell you're doing at my home?" Klaus demanded, this time finding no excuse not to end her.
Mal definitely felt the change as this time she could barely breathe with his hand on her neck, "What...do you think? Cami!"
"You know her?"
"Yes," she tried prying off his hand but to no avail, "She's...my cousin."
"I don't believe you, you're part of Davina's tricks," he accused harshly.
"What...trick!?"
"Who the hell are you!?"
"...work for my name," she managed to smirk a little, trying to gasp for air a moment after, "...I can't...breathe!"
Klaus smirked, "Sort of the idea, love."
"Let me...go," she tried ordering though by this point, her voice was barely a whisper, "...why are you...doing this?"
"Niklaus, what did I say about harassing the poor woman?" Elijah walked down and easily removed his brother's hand.
"She was eavesdropping in my house," Klaus explained.
"Was not," Mal said then sighed and nodded, "Okay fine, I was. But it was only because Cami was very upset with some guy and apparently that happens to be you," she pointed at Klaus, "What the hell did you do to her?"
"Kept her safe," he snapped, "And I suggest if you want that as well you should get going."
"Apologies from my brother," Elijah said, gesturing the woman to the street, "He's had a complicated day."
"I'll say, what were you two doing looking for Davina?"
"Nothing important, she's safe now."
"How do you know?" Mal turned around and looked at the building. "Is she here? What did you do!?"
"She is sleeping and so will you be for a very long time if you don't stop your shouting," Klaus snapped.
"Your brother isn't exactly the people person, is he?" Mal turned around and glared at him, certainly not the man she kept dreaming about, "I'm only trying to help a friend. Is that so wrong? I mean, in retrospect, it's you two that were wrong to be after a teenager."
"We did not have bad intentions, I assure you," Elijah said, hoping the woman would just desist and leave.
"Then what did you need her for?"
"Business," Klaus answered, moving up and pushing her down the street, "Now, how's about you leave?"
"How's about you get better manners?" Mal snapped, pushing his hands away from her, "God, what is it? Do you own any kindness? It's like, you may have kindness but you don't own it. It's there, but it's not there. It's hidden!" she couldn't believe that was the man she kept seeing in her dreams. In those he was a completely different person, definitely not the rude and cold version she had in front of her now.
Elijah tilted his head, remembering the familiarity of those words, only with the word 'magic' in there. Meanwhile, Klaus was just looking at the woman with anger and frustration.
"I get it, I get it," Mal raised her hands, "I'm done. Goodnight," she turned on her heels and walked away. She'd have to figure out another way to get help because apparently Klaus wasn't the type to just help those in need.
"Finally," Klaus sighed and moved back for the compound.
"Niklaus, what do we know about this woman?" Elijah called, watching Mal walk off.
"She's Camille's cousin, apparently, but that's all I know," Klaus rolled his eyes, "and hopefully it stays that way."
"Go after her."
The hybrid froze and turned around, "Excuse me?"
"There is a pile of incoherent pictures of Davina's, one with a quote that sounds awfully similar to the one she just said. Follow her and get her name."
"If you care so much then you go," he gestured the way for Elijah.
"Think about it this way," Elijah called him back to the street, "If that woman turns out to be what I think she may be, then she's just another asset you can use."
"Helping me use humans, now, brother?" Klaus raised an eyebrow, a bit amused, "I'm surprised..."
"Yes, yes, now go," Elijah pushed his brother forwards and returned to the compound.
Magic owned but not owned, what the hell did that mean?
~ 0 ~
Mal was currently grumbling under her breath as she walked the night streets. Clearly, it was not going to be easy to get on the good side of Klaus and that alone was a huge problem. She couldn't do much if he wouldn't answer her questions nor actually want her alive. She'd have to come up with something else. Perhaps get through by the sister? She did seem different from Klaus, but would it be enough?
Suddenly, she heard a strange noise from an alleyway she had just walked past. Slowly, she backtracked and faced the alley, "Hello?" she called, "Anyone hurt?"
In a one-two she found herself flung against the alley's wall and dropped on her side on the ground. Two people, a young man and woman, emerged from the darkness of the alley with smirks on their faces.
"Mm, I think we found dinner," the young woman announced with her fangs ready to go.
"What hell just happened?" Mal was barely coming around as she stood up, her body already aching from the crash on the wall. She looked up and saw the two attackers with their fangs, "Oh shit..." she backed away and hit the wall again.
"Tourists," the woman rolled her eyes.
"Haven't you heard of us, darling?" the man stepped forwards, his eyes becoming completely black.
"Demons? Yeah, in stories," Mal said, her breathing shaky.
"Vampires, honey," the woman smirked, "God, humans are idiots."
"I know what you are, it's pretty clear," Mal gestured to their mouths, "Doesn't take rocket scientists to figure it out."
Both vampires had a good laugh while Mal looked around, wondering when it'd be best to escape.
She figured it was...now.
She dashed for the sidewalk, where she hoped that someone would see her and call the police. Though when she thought harder, it would be a bit too late seeing as these damn creatures were so bloody fast!
"Ah-ah-ah," the man sped up in front of her, giving Mal only a second to process that speed before she was back against the wall, "Where do you think you're going?"
"Home...?" she tried.
"Funny," the man nodded, "I like funny."
"Dinner," the woman reminded him, "I'm starving Chris. Hurry up!"
"N-n-n-no, don't do that!" Mal exclaimed, "You can't!"
But the man's fangs showed once again and moved to sink them on Mal's neck, making her scream. However, the man's hands were removed from her body in a flash, followed by the scream of the other woman. Mal kept her eyes shut as the rustling noise continued, but when it continued for several minutes, she cracked open an eye to see just what was happening.
"Now then, I do believe the rules are no locals," Klaus stood not too far from her, staring down at the fallen vampires on the ground.
Mal frowned, coming off the wall and taking a look at the pair. It appeared they had gotten in the midst of the trash at the end of the alley and were tattered like they had been battling for hours. But what really got her was the fact that the man who had wanted to kill her not too long ago, and not once but twice, was now...saving her?
"She's new!" the woman exclaimed, gesturing to Mal, "She's a tourist!"
"Actually, she's staying with a local, making her a local as well, so back off," Klaus warned before moving back to Mal with a smirk, "My do you love getting yourself into trouble."
"What the hell...?" was all Mal had to say in respect to the event.
"No thank you?" Klaus feigned hurt.
"Excuse me for being a little confused," she crossed her arms and flinched as she felt the bruises already forming on her arms, "What's your problem?"
"You were just attacked and I saved you," Klaus reminded.
"Thank you," she spat, "What do you want now? Come to threaten me again? Or compel me? What ever that means anyways."
"No, I came to ask your name, actually," Klaus corrected, deciding it was best to just get to the point and move on.
"No," Mal declared and walked off, leaving him a bit surprised. No one turned him down like that and lived.
"Excuse me?" he started following.
"I said no," she walked faster, still hugging herself.
"I need it!"
"Too bad! You want it, work for it."
"I just saved your bloody life!"
She turned and looked at him, "You want my name?" he nodded, "Then you're going to have to do something for me."
"Like?"
She put a hand on her head where she could feel a small throb, "...buy me a drink, please?"
"I buy you a drink and you give me your name?"
"Sure...maybe. You want it, work for it."
Klaus considered simply compelling her to tell him her name. If she was Cami's cousin, and barely arrived in the city, then there was no way she could have vervain in her system. But for some reason, he found himself a bit...inclined, to follow her bribe. Without the shouting he could kind of get used to her. She wasn't bad looking, and her attitude, though annoying, was pretty entertaining. Plus, if Elijah was right and she could be used as an asset for his power, then it would be wiser to get on her good side should he ever need something from her. It was clear that Davina would not be an easy thing to use, so...he should have a proper backup.
~ 0 ~
Mal continuously rubbed the side of her head as the bartender handed her her newest glass of bourbon. She and Klaus were sat in a couple of stools in front of the bar counter, both with glasses in front of them. Klaus had noticed that the blonde had seemed troubled the moment they entered the bar, what with her repeatedly rubbing her head as if something was hurting. It seemed far too much to be a simple, human headache.
"You alright there?" he decided to ask when she pressed a hand to her forehead and closed her eyes.
"Yeah, yeah..." she took a breath and opened her eyes, glancing at him. As soon as she did she blinked rapidly as a round of images flashed through her head.
A young blonde woman ran through a forest, laughing joyfully as she glanced back often. She had the sides of her dress bunched up in her hands to run quicker but it seemed like she wasn't succeeding.
"There really is no point in running," a familiar voice called from behind, sounding not too far behind.
"Let me make my effort!" the blonde continued to run excitedly.
Suddenly, she was spun around and backed up against a tree, a man with dirty blonde hair and blue eyes smirking at her, "Told you," he whispered.
"Damn you, Klaus, I was trying to give you a chase," she hit his chest but continued smiling.
"I only chase my food, love," he pinned her arms to the sides as he stepped closer to her.
"And what am I to you, exactly?" she raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smirk playing at the corner of her lips.
"Oh my Maleny, you know exactly what you are," he said right before he started to kiss her.
Mal blinked with wide eyes and looked away, "Never mind," she raised her glass and drowned it all in one go, "More please!" she called. The bartender returned with the bottle which Mal just snatched from him and poured it into her glass,"I'm keeping it," she informed and waved him to leave.
The bartender gave a pointed look then glanced at Klaus who merely waved with a hand for him to leave. Klaus continued watching Mal, both with intrigue and suspicion.
"Can you please stop staring at me?" Mal requested as she set her once-again empty glass on the counter. Klaus, for once, raised his hands in defeat and looked ahead instead, a small smirk on his face as he took in his own drink, "And wipe that smirk off your face," Mal muttered and poured herself more drink.
That image...that had been her. As in, the actual her. And...she was with...him, Klaus. That...that had never happened before. She'd only being seeing herself with his siblings, but never him. This was so complicated, everything was so confusing to her...
"If you keep drinking like that you'll never find your way back home," Klaus warned, watching her drink down the glass again.
"I don't have a home here," she corrected, "I'm staying with Cami."
"Bet she won't be too happy to see you like that. Why exactly are you like that?" he pointed, not too curious in reality but it was a great way to make conversation and maybe even learn a little bit more about her.
"Why exactly are you rude?" she countered with a mock of his tone.
"Because I have a very thin line of patience that people seem to love playing with."
"And that gives you the right to kill them?"
"More or less," he shrugged.
"You're a prick, you know that?" she scowled, "Just because you're a vampire does not mean you are superior to us. It's because of us that you survive."
Klaus raised an eyebrow, one that would make Mal swallow her words, "Alright, let's see," he moved closer and looked her directly in the eye, "Do not drink until I tell you to drink," he moved back.
"What? You think by taking away my drink I'll think you're better than us?" she scoffed.
"Alright then, go ahead and try disobeying me," he smirked and drank from his glass.
Mal rolled her eyes and reached for her drink, only to have her hand jerk back the moment it touched her glass, 'What the hell?" she tried again but came up with the same results, "What? I want to drink!" she reached again, "Dammit, Klaus!" she half shouted, Klaus only laughing at her, "Fix it now!"
"Alright, alright, go ahead and drink again, I give you my permission," he smirked.
"I bloody hate you," she spat and snatched her glass off the counter.
"Can't hate me much if you're still sitting with me right now," he pointed out, "Why are we here, again?"
"Because you want my name for some reason and I wanted a drink."
"Right, so explain to me why I don't just use my compulsion and move on with my night?"
It was Mal' turn to smirk as she leaned forwards to him, "Because you clearly don't want to do that."
"And why?"
"Cos you find me attractive, clearly," she gestured to herself, rolling her eyes when he scoffed, "What? Human not good enough for you? Alright then, how about a human who knows about all supernatural beings in this city?" she turned serious, "How about the human who knows about the war between witches and vampires here? Hmm? Interesting enough for you?"
"Who are you?" Klaus turned on his seat and faced her, "What do you hope to gain by telling me this?"
"I know a lot about you, believe it or not. I don't even know how, but I do. I bet you want me around now."
"Because I'm going to believe you?" Klaus rolled his eyes.
"Because I need you," she declared earnestly, actually managing to garner some honest attention from the man, "I need your help."
"I don't help people, just so you know."
"But you want to help me, believe me," Mal knew this was her only chance to get the help so she had to make it convincing and interesting for him, "Because this involves you, and I know how much you love yourself. Help me, please."
"And what do I get in return?"
"What do you want?"
"Your name, your loyalty, your honesty..." Klaus swayed his head as he considered more choices.
"Do you want some shackles with that?" she blinked, "Where is your sympathy for a woman who's asking for your help?"
"I don't have any," was Klaus's simple response.
"That's not what I've seen," she mumbled to herself.
Klaus still managed to hear that and questioned her, "What have you seen, then? Hm?"
"I've seen three grown men chasing after a teenage girl," Mal spat.
"There was some unfinished business," he shrugged.
"Like what, hm? What do you want with a simple witch?"
"So you know she's a witch?"
Mal smirked, "I do now."
He frowned, not too fond that he'd been tricked so simply by a human, "And what do you intend to do with this information?"
Mal shrugged, "Nothing, except get you to tell me whatever you done with her. And why."
"Davina is a witch, simple as that. I, am not, simple as that. Power."
"But why her? I mean, you lose a witch then go get another one. This city's crawling with them."
He had to give a nod of impression at that, "You say that so easily..."
"It's strategic, so tell me why you haven't done that?" Mal raised an eyebrow.
"Mm, you're not that bad you know?"
"Thank you, I'll remember to write down the egotistical vampire said I was alright in my journal," Mal smirked and drank from her glass.
"Well then I'll write down in mine that the irritating human said I was egotistical," he countered and took the bottle beside her.
"Well at least I'm not secretly harboring my loneliness deep inside my layers of haughty, cruelness," Mal flashed a sad smile at him.
"I don't know what you mean," Klaus said and drank from his glass, trying to remain casual.
"I can tell you make yourself out to be top-knotch guy around here, the king even," Mal explained, not seeing the smirk Klaus wore, he was king now after all, "But deep inside you carry a burden that doesn't let you move on. You're in pain...an endless pain," she glanced at him, sadly smiling at his quietness, "One that everyone mistakes for cruelty. It may be cruelty, but you don't do it to be cruel...you do it because you're so alone and you don't want anyone to use it for their advantage."
Klaus set his glass down and stayed quiet for a moment, "Well, someone turned out to be psychologist," he muttered.
Mal gave him a short stare with sadness. From the images she got in her head she could see the life the man had lived, some pieces here and there, and they were never okay. They were rarely okay.
She set her glass aside and took out money from her pocket, leaving it on the counter as she stood up. She moved beside Klaus and leaned down, "Woods," she announced.
"Hmm?" he glanced at her.
She moved back a little, finding the closeness between them to be a little too much especially after the little vision she had just had about them. She smiled softly, "My name is Maleny Woods - or Mal," he raised an eyebrow, questioning the sudden revelation. Her smile only grew as she kissed his cheek, "And, believe it or not, it wasn't that bad to meet you."
She only made it a couple of feet towards the doors when she felt a wind pick up for a second and arms wrapped around her waist from behind, "I'm Klaus Mikaelson, sure you already knew that," he pressed a kiss to her neck, able to feel instantaneously the chills on her skin.
In that moment, Maleny saw the images she'd seen earlier and felt a tingle run up her back, "Can I ask one more question?" she asked, looking away as he kept his hold on her.
"Go for it."
"Are you going to help me?" she actually felt nervous of the answer, seeing especially as he took his sweet time answering.
"Stop by tomorrow at the compound and ask me again," he set her free from his grasp.
Maleny glanced back with surprise, "You...you want me to go back there?"
He nodded, "I'd assume you'd like to see Davina again, no?" she quickly nodded, "Then we await your visit, Miss Woods," he smirked and walked around her to the exit.
Maleny breathed with surprise. She...had not expected Klaus to help her so...easily. Much more, to see those images in her head. Up to now she'd only ever seen other women...not the actual her.
She supposed...she'd have to go make that visit tomorrow if she wanted to figure out the dreams - more importantly why she was no longer in her body.