Fingers gently traced her face, running down the side and cupping her chin, lifting her face so that her pale blue eyes met his. Her lip throbbed.
"I'm sure you'll forgive my men. They can beā¦overzealous sometimes."
She tugged at her restraints, feeling the sizzle of her skin, the smell of burning flesh invading her nose. She didn't even hiss.
"Who are you?" she snarled, displeasure expressed in her words.
He smiled, not answering. Instead, he rose from his one knee, backing up so she could get a glimpse of her dark skinned companion. Purple bruises were settling.
"Kat!" she cried, struggling at the vervain soaked ropes.
More sizzling. The pain hadn't registered. Not yet at least. The man stepped back in her way.
"Now then," he began. "Naughty thing you, you never told me you had a Petrova Doppelganger with you."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Who are you?" she snarled.
He leaned close again.
"My name is Niklaus."
A smile played at his lips.
"Klaus if you please."
A hand gripped her shoulder, knocking her from her sleep. It was Kat, already dressed for the day in dark blue skinny jeans and a forest green sweater to combat the growing cold. No, not the day. The night. Her dark brown hair was curled, hanging over her shoulder as she gazed down with her green eyes.
"Thank you Kat," Jaiyana, her companion, said.
Jaiyana, Jay, leapt to her feet, effortlessly, stretching and brushing the fallen leaves off her black sweater.
"See you in a few hours," Jay said.
In a brush of leaves, she was gone, leaving Kat standing in the woods, arms crossed, a wooden stake tucked in her sleeve. Kat rolled her eyes, following the still falling leaves, stirred up by Jay's departure. They were just outside Mystic Falls.
Klaus checked his watch again, pacing. He hated this body. Hated that damn hunter. Hated his mother, his sister. Hell, he hated a lot of things at the moment, none so much as Bonnie.
"Waiting for something? If so, do it a little quieter. I need to focus," she snapped.
He refused to openly glare at her, though he wanted to. He wanted nothing more than to be in his own body but that did not seem to be happening any time soon. A shiver ran through him, touching his very core. He'd felt it only once and it brought a smile to his lips. It seemed his guests had arrived. Would they be wise enough to await him at the safe house? Or were they so unintelligent as to hunt him down and discover him in one of his most shameful moments. He'd have to kill them if that happened. What a pity that would be. Especially because he'd never heard of two dominant women who got along so well, neither showing any sign of betraying the other.
"That seat's taken," Damon announced.
"Too bad."
He glanced sideways at the girl who slid onto the stool. Her pale blue eyes popped against her tanned skin and her black hair, which curled around her face. She was in a black sweater and green camouflage pants that were tucked into black steel toes.
"Straight home from boot camp?" Damon remarked, emptying his glass.
He motioned for the bartender.
"I wish," she mumbled.
She caught the bartender's eye, a charming smile on her face.
"Scotch please," she requested.
As if in a trance, the bartender slumped away before Damon could request another drink. He glanced at the girl again but she was gone. His eyes widened in surprise before settling. Was he drunker than he thought?
Kat, meanwhile, was pacing the safe house. She was safe enough anywhere. Except when Klaus was involved. She flopped onto the couch, glancing around. The smell of blood reached her nose. She was curious. Not curios enough to risk pissing off Klaus though, in case he was one of those people who got upset when they caught people snooping. And so few people weren't. Jay was one of them. Klaus was another. And both were two people she'd never want mad. So she remained seated, under the watchful eyes of Klaus's two house pets. Jay would be here soon and then ,hopefully, Klaus. They could only wait so long. Kat glanced at on of the bodyguards. He was bulky but vampire enough. Kat wondered if he'd succumb to a werewolf bite faster or slower than Jay was. She almost asked but the door creaked open and Jay strolled in, acting as if the bite hidden by her sweater was nothing.
"Done already?" Kat asked.
"Couldn't find anyone that looked good," Jay replied.
She was lying. Already her appetite was going. Kat was regretting not dragging Jay the last few miles to this house. Klaus had offered the cure, was the only one with a solution to a werewolf's bite or so he said. How much longer could Jay hold out? And how much longer would Klaus be?
