Brighter Than Sunflowers

xXx

Paris, France, 1550

"I am sure you cannot wait for this week to end?"

"Truly I cannot."

My friend, Lucilla, was stood next to me as we sneaked through the garden, giggling at the dashing young men that were stood talking, one of them my beloved fiance, Raoul Tiroch.

I lived in a rather rich part of the city, the elegance and beauty that the place had to offer surrounding me wherever I went. My family was in favor with the King, I was engaged to be married in just three days...

Everything was good.

There was another giggle from us now, then the young men looked around and saw us spying on them, then waved for us to come over. Me and Lucilla blushed, but then I took her hand and pulled her forwards onto the lush green grass towards them.

We curtsied a little at them, then my fiance, dear Raoul, he stepped forwards and took my hand, pressing his lips to it with a smile. "Dear Antonia, why are you spying on us?"

I smiled, blushing once more as I averted his emerald green eyes. "I was merely... looking." then I looked to the man beside him who I did not recognize. "Oh? And who may this be?"

There were one other man, dressed in fine clothes. He was more younger looking than Raoul, his own long hair was of a more blonde color, his eyes a curious shade of blue.

"This is the Lord Niklaus. He is visiting from England. This is Lady Lucilla Faron, and my fiancee, Antonia D'angelo."

The man named Niklaus stepped forwards, taking my hand in his, lips pressed briefly to it while his eyes never left my own. "Enchantee to meet you Miss D'angelo."

I smiled, inclining my head as he let me go.

Lucilla spoke now. "Are you here on business?"

Niklaus chuckled, eyes still flickering to me a few times. "No, I are here mainly to relax. It has been a rather tiresome journey and, since Raoul here was so kind to put me up, I shall stay for the wedding also."

Raoul laughed now, pushing his honey blonde hair from his eyes. "Yes, we have a good few spare rooms up at the Tiroche Chateau."

Klaus spoke once more. "Thank you for your hospitality."

I saw my fiance nod, then say. "It is no problem. None at all."

I took Lucillas hand now, then smiled to the pair. "Will we see you tonight at the feast?"

Niklaus nodded. "You shall."

There was only a split seconds chance to smile as Lucilla pulled me away back towards the chateau.

Klaus watched the pair of girls run back to the building with hungry eyes- Antonia was especially interesting. Her skin a flawless pale color, hair a shimmering white gold, sapphire eyes that were filled with life and curiosity staring at him. She looked delicious. He now turned back to the young man, her fiance... Raoul...

She was going to be his for the duration of his stay, he swore it. Such an innocent little beauty before him was like waving red in front of a bull.

He wanted her, now more than ever.

Something was going to be have to done about this wedding.

-SUNFLOWERS-

It was later that night when I was lying on my wide four poster bed, Lucilla throwing a pillow at me now as she joined me, pulling the silken covers over us as she smirked. "Oh? Is the night of your wedding on your mind?"

I frowned now, not understanding for a moment, then I sighed and said. "Lucilla please! That is hardly conversation. Besides... I am worried."

Lucilla frowned now, then asked curiously. "Why are you worried about your wedding night? It is a truly amazing night. Believe me Sweetheart. I remember my own."

"But what if I am... not as he expects-?"

"Antonia-"

"What if I cannot do it right! What if he leaves me-? I can't..."

Lucilla put a hand over my mouth now, then sighed. "If he truly loves you, he will not care what you are like in the bedroom. Sex does not define a relationship, but merely helps. It may be an intense experience... but do not dwell on that thought. It is merely a show of love that you should not worry about. Do you see Raoul worrying?"

"No, but he is not a-"

"Ah-ah. No more on the matter. You shall see in three days how all your worrying is for nothing."

I sighed now and nodded worry still hovering around in my mind, but for now, I pushed it away as my maid, Willow, came into the room with my new dress for the feast, then saw Lucilla.

"Oh Lucilla dear. Fredrick was looking for you."

Fredrick was Lucillas rather rich husband whom she doted on well and truly. She let forwards and kissed each cheek of mine twice, then got up and ran out the room, leaving me with Willow who, once I stood up, removed my dress and slid on my new one, fixing the corset strings behind me, then worked on my hair, curling it a tad more.

"Thank you very much." I smiled now, then turned to her, placing a small coin in her hand- I was much more generous than most young women of twenty should be. Especially when it came to maids. I treated them well.

There was a knock on my door now, then Willow opened it and Raoul stood there, smiling a little with a vivid red rose in his hand. "Antonia, you look truly beautiful." he said, then walked forwards and took my hands in his, kissing me tenderly for a moment before offering me his arm that I took, then made our way to the dinner.

-SUNFLOWERS-

The hall was nearly full now, me and Raoul the last two to take our seats. I smiled as he pushed me under, then looked across the table and found it widening. "Oh, Niklaus! We meet again."

He smiled now. "Do call me Klaus, Miss Antonia. Niklaus sounds so very... formal."

I giggled, then nodded. "Of course. And... do call me Antonia then."

Klaus inclined his head. "Antonia." then asked. "Would you care for some wine?" I nodded as he said to Raoul. "Your lady is quite the beauty, is she not?"

I blushed now.

Raoul put a hand on mine under the table and nodded. "Yes, she is very beautiful. The fairest young woman I have ever laid eyes upon."

"You are embarrassing me here now my love!"

"No, no-" Klaus laughed, sipping his deep red wine. "I find it rather a compliment. You are very lucky, Antonia."

I smiled, still feeling embarrassed.

Klaus was incredibly charming. Hard to resist to be honest. If I had not been engaged, I would have let the man pursue me. But no, I was faithful to my fiance.

When the meal ended, the dance began.

I was dancing with Raoul now, laughing as I did so- he was such a very funny and charming man. He stopped us as the dance ended, pressing his lips to my hand, then moved off, leaving me stood there.

But then my empty hand was taken, another on my waist and a charming smile on the face of Klaus, the newcomer to town. "May I have this dance?"

I glanced to Raoul, hoping he wouldn't see this in an adulterous way, then nodded. "Yes, you may."

He moved us around the floor now, and I was pleasantly surprised by how good a dancer he was, his stride flawless. We were silent the entire time, and when the dance ended, his lips lingered on my hand a tad longer than was necessary, making me feel a little nervous. This was a very wrong feeling deep inside my chest.

"Sweet dreams." he said now, almost with a kind of smirk as he left me to my fiance, who asked if he was a good dancer. I nodded. "He is rather good."

But who exactly was he? He had just appeared out of nowhere...

A dashing young man with an intriguing air such as his own? Strange, very strange...

-SUNFLOWERS-

It was later that night that I had a dream...

Or should that be a nightmare-?

I was laid out on my bed, eyes closed. But then arms crept around my waist, lips on my neck. I smiled, eyes closed. "Raoul, are you trying to get into trouble? Both of us?"

The lips went to my own now, making me chuckle a little as he kissed me softly, then words. "You truly are beautiful, are you not?"

My eyes snapped open, then I saw that it wasn't Raoul, but him. Klaus.

He cocked his head a little at me now, eyes like a demon, then raised a hand to my cheek and smirked, but then made me scream as he bit into my neck, pinning me down, a snarl reverberating through his chest as he bit once more into my skin, then pulled away with a crunch, making me wake up with a start, body almost shaking as a hand went to my neck, feeling a soreness there, but the skin was smooth, untouched...

Had that dream been a dream or reality-?

The start of a new and rather sexier and bloodier story;D Klaus for now, but Elijah will be in here soon enough:) I'll continue if people are interested enough, so reviews are much loved! x Nicola