Ch 3
It is the Governor's ball. Katrina is there to accompany Klaus as his dinner date. So far, he is a no show. Katrina spends over an hour mingling with the crowd, making small talk, and dodging unwanted advances from her firm's clients. The prospects of being Klaus' date for the night makes her anxious. It's not that she's not attracted to him but her boss, Lewis Senior, made it clear that their newest client's satisfaction is her top priority. Katrina knows what that entails. She's counting on her paycheck and he's counting on her being loose.
Reapplying her lipstick in the bathroom mirror, she looks hopelessly at her reflection. She's dressed in a midnight blue cocktail dress with her hair curled and carefully put up. Never forget that you are a lady. She tells herself. She heads back to the main ballroom with her head held high and a bounce in her walk.
The governor walks into the room after a loud announcement. The crowd stops talking. Katrina notices the man walking next to him. In a fine tux, Klaus stands next to the governor. The good looks she finds in him during their first meetings are enhanced by the air of danger that surrounds the man. The governor gives his speech of the night and introduces Klaus Mikaelson as a honored guest who takes a special interest in preserving the arts in the city.
"Hello Ms. Leigh." Klaus stands behind Katrina while she orders a drink. Turning around, Katrina gives him a guarded smile. "Mr. Mikaelson." How nice of you to join me this evening. "
"Call me Klaus, and I do apologize for being late to our date." "Apology accepted."
They walk back to the ballroom together. Getting up her courage, Katrina says, "I want to thank you for the other evening at City Hall. For coming to my rescue with the city official." Klaus turns to her with a charming smile, "The pleasure was all mine." "But I must ask why. Why would you come to the aid of a woman, a widow, you don't know."
The corner of his mouth turns up. He gives her a crooked grin that almost disarms her guard, "Well that is my secret to keep." He walks in front of her, leading them into the garden. "But I am attracted to those who challenges authority and carve out their own path." The two of them starts a two hour long conversation, talking politics and the right for women to vote. Klaus finds himself not thinking about the dramas of his own world and immersed in hers. Her intelligence and wittiness make the perfect antidote for the boredom that comes with being immortal. When the party starts to thin out, he notices her uneasiness.
"I know what you are thinking. Fortunately I value our friendship too much to ruin it with you spreading beneath me on my bed. Not that I haven't thought about it when I saw you in that dress."
A flush crosses Katrina's cheeks. "Why are you being kind to me?" "Because I like you. I think we can be friends." Looking up at him, she says, "Then this is where I say my good night. I hope you have kind words to say about me when you meet my boss, Lewis Senior." She walks to the front door of the mansion with Klaus followed behind. He helps her get into a taxi and watches her take off.
Over the next three weeks, he sees her every day. Some mornings, he takes her out to breakfast before she goes into work. Other times, he visits her when its way past her bed time. She reveals her involvement with the women's rights organization that takes up almost all of her free time. Instead of making her spend time with him, he simply accompanies her to her meetings and watches over her. He hides his true identity of being the original hybrid, not wanting to see the fear and disappointment in her eyes.
One evening, Rebekah and him stays later than usual at their underground Jazz club. When he finally makes his way to her apartment, he realizes she's missing. Her purse and keys are still in the apartment. Frantically searching for her whereabouts he vamp speeds to her meeting place for the women's group. That's when he smells her perfume in the alley way behind the building. Katrina lies motionless on the ground.
Seeing red, Klaus tracks down the men who took her life. They confess to violating her but her death was by accident. She was screaming and they snuffed her. In the next few weeks, Klaus tortures the men, making them wish they would rather die.
In time, his rage fizzles and turns into heartache. He wasn't there for her when she needed him most. He will carry that guilt always.