"Drink this."
Lucien opened his mouth and downed yet another concoction Freya made. He gagged and coughed. She looked at him eagerly. "Well?"
When he faced her again, silent, Freya felt her hopes rise. Then the puppy dog eyes and giddy disposition returned.
"You're still beautiful." Lucien crooned.
Freya slammed her hands down on the table and pushed everything off of it. She let out a long stream of expletives as she hurled things around in way that reminded Lucien of his sire. Instead of commenting, he checked out her legs and ass whenever she bent over to hurl something, feeling satisfied.
"Why can't I fix this?!" Freya yelled. "All I wanted was one drama free Christmas." She held up her index finger as she looked at Lucien. "One! One where there was no bad blood, betrayals, ancient prophecy, or some old enemy my brothers made trying to destroy us! Why can't I get that one simple thing? If I'm not cleaning up a mess Hope's made, I'm playing referee for my siblings. If I'm not playing resident witch or nanny I'm cleaning up the house, trying to make sure it runs smoothly and should I dare go out bar hopping I'm always rung on the phone to do some favor. If I dare bring a man home he's swiftly scared off by my homicidal brother Niklaus or threatened to be dessert by Elijah. AM I THE ONLY SANE PERSON IN THIS FAMILY?"
"Looks like you're losing that title by the minute." Lucien mumbled. Freya glared at him and he held up his hands in surrender. "Not judging, I like a little psycho in my girls. It excites me." Lucien patted his crotch.
Freya wanted to snap his neck but didn't. Lucien had been the perfect guinea pig, downing every remedy she conjured. Freya was losing it. Vincent's deadline was swiftly approaching and she was out of options. Nothing in Cami's catalog helped, Davina hadn't come up with anything, and Marcel still wasn't answering his phone.
Freya couldn't muster up the energy to roll her eyes. She sank to the floor in defeat. Cami and Hayley were dealing with out of control vampires and she was stuck with one. The family was counting on her and she was powerless. Years with Dahlia and she never encountered mistlethyme. "What was the point of having a millennia of life ripped away if you're defeated by a plant?"
Freya's agitation was at an all time high. At sundown, Vincent would call the witch elders who would be all too eager to go after her brothers. The witches wouldn't care how they solved the problem. They had been waiting for a chance to attack the Mikaelsons.
Freya buried her head in her hands. "I'm such a failure." She couldn't help it, she started crying.
Lucien joined her on the floor and wrapped his arms around her. "There there, Frey. It'll be alright."
"No it won't! Who knows what Niklaus and Elijah are up to? I told Hayley and Cami to keep them busy, which puts them in danger. They're waiting on me to cure my brothers and I can't! I'm the oldest sibling, this family is my responsibility."
Lucien wiped away Freya's tears with his thumb. "It's not your fault, it's Hope's! I could go make her suffer for it if you wish." His facial expression made Freya laugh for the first time that day. "I'm serious."
"I know." Freya wiped her eyes, laughing. "Please don't. I want you to stay with me." She meant it. As annoying as Lucien had been, it was nice having someone with her through this. He had been her personal vampire taxi, assistant, and now her sounding board. "I still take the blame. I should have known better than to rattle off my to do list to Hope. She loves to be helpful. Then I left out the grimoir? That's a recipe for disaster. No, I need to fix this."
"You know, I admire your devotion to your family." Freya raised her eyebrows, questioning if Lucien was serious. "It's true. I was separated from my family as a child. I barely remember them. After I turned, your siblings ensured I lost a century of my life. I know that's no millennia," Freya gave him a shoulder bump, "But it's still time lost. By the time I was free and wanted to find them, they were all dead."
Freya felt sympathetic towards Lucien. "I'm sorry."
He shook his head. "Don't be, you weren't around. I'll always harbour resentment towards your siblings for that. But not you," Lucien looked at Freya, smiling. "Who knew I could become so enamored with a Mikaelson sibling?"
"You didn't like Rebekah?"
"Beautiful, but not my type." Lucien's brown eyes fell to Freya's mouth. She looked away. "When was the last time you had sex?"
Freya's smile was replaced with a frown. Just when we were having a moment. She tried to get up, but Lucien held her hand, pulling her back down.
"Wait, I'm simply curious! You seem so tense. You need some unwinding. If you ever decide to treat yourself to some loving-"
Freya bristled, "That's none of your business!"
How was she supposed to get any in when she couldn't bring a man home without them being threatened? If she stayed away too long her paranoid, overprotective brothers would start a search party. Lucien's nearness wasn't helping Freya relax. She could smell his aftershave, it was intoxicating to her senses. This wasn't the first time today she found herself attracted to the former stable boy.
"I found them eventually." Lucien's voice broke Freya out of her thoughts. "My family, that is. Their descendants anyway. i'm a generous financial benefactor who remains anonymous."
Freya knew they needed to get back to finding the cure but she was intrigued by Lucien's story. "Why are you telling me this? So I won't see you as a monster?"
"So you won't look on me with pity." Lucien's gaze was steady.
Freya fought the heat rising in her cheeks. "I would never."
Lucien chuckled. "Good. The only relatively pitiful thing about me is longing for the affections of a woman who hates me."
"I don't hate you." Freya sighed.
Lucien smiled. "Progress. I don't hate you either." He squeezed her hand.
"Thank you, Lu. For sticking with me today. I know you're under a spell but you still helped." Freya looked at him. Lucien looked delighted and pushed her hair behind her ear. Freya looked at his lips. What the hell, he probably won't remember this anyway.
Lucien's smile widened as Freya leaned forward, placing a kiss on his lips. He opened his mouth, deepening the kiss. Freya heard herself groan. She was surprised at how good of a kisser he was. When was the last time she'd been kissed like this? Freya placed one small, chaste kiss on Lucien's lips before moving her face back.
Freya stood. "We've wasted enough time." She faced the table, ready to try again. "Okay, I have an hour until Vincent's deadline. There has to be something we haven't thought of..."
"What the bloody hell is going on?" Freya turned around to find Lucien rubbing the back of his head. "What am I still doing here? I left hours ago." Lucien's eyes flitted across the room, settling on Freya. "I trust you have an explanation."
Freya was shocked. She ran over to Lucien and grabbed his face. "Lucien, tell me the last thing you remember."
"Leaving the compound." He frowned. "I was right behind Nik and...that's it."
Freya nearly kissed him again. Instead, she released him and let out a squeal. A kiss breaks the spell! She felt idiotic for not thinking of it before.
"Freya," Lucien was still puzzled. "What's going on?" He licked his lips. "Why do my lips taste like strawberries?"
Freya was already grabbing her phone and dialing Hayley. "I'll explain later." She promised. Well, maybe not the second question.
Imagine a teenage boy. Imagine he has enhanced strength, hearing, and speed. Now imagine his naturally high level of horniness infinitely magnified. For the moment, you are the object of his affection and his desire is unrelenting. That's what Cami was dealing with; Except Klaus was a grown man, although she couldn't tell at the moment.
After whisking her away from the mall, Klaus brought them to a nice hotel suite. Cami wished she had time to take in the expensive room and the view but Klaus walked them over to the bed, laying her on it. He stood over her, taking off his jacked and shoes, then climbed onto the bed, tugging at her clothes.
"Wait, wait." Cami said, sitting up. A look of impatience crossed the hybrid's face but he listened. "I need to get reoriented."
"Are you oriented yet?" The look on Klaus' face scared Cami. He looked ready to devour her. It was thrilling and terrifying. Klaus took off his shirt and licked his lips. Cami felt her panties dampen. Crap, how could her body betray her?
Klaus smiled. "I can smell you're ready for me."
That damn vampire nose. Cami swore she'd appreciate normal Klaus as soon as he was back. An idea came to her.
"That's the problem." Cami said, getting up waling away from the bed, formulating a plan as she moved.
Klaus sat up, watching her. "What's wrong, love?"
"This!" Cami pointed to him and then to herself. "You just want me for sex. I'm sorry, but that's not all I want from this relationship."Cami felt deja vu. She gave the same speech to her high school boyfriend who kept pressuring her.
"Of course that's not all I want from you." Klaus said. "Why do you think I spent ours in the mall shopping with you?"
Cami put her hands on her hips. "So you think I can be bought with clothes and jewelry?"
Klaus looked so hurt Cami almost felt bad. "No! No! Of course I don't, I only meant-"
"I'm sorry." Cami turned on the dramatics. "That's just how I feel, and it hurts." Klaus opened his mouth but Cami cut him off. "I don't understand what else you can want from me. You're an immortal hybrid and I'm some regular human. What could you possibly see in me? How do I know you won't move onto some other human that tickles your fancy? What if it doesn't work out between us? Will we still be friends or will you shut me out? I want to feel secure with you and I don't."
Klaus walked over and hugged her. Cami started sniffling, praying she wasn't laying it on too thick. That speech wasn't a complete act. She inserted some of her real doubts about being with him. It felt good to let her insecurities out, even if it was to "not all there" Klaus.
As Klaus rubbed her back, Cami looked over his shoulder, scanning the room for her purse. Where was it? There, on the floor by the nightstand. It had been tossed down haphazardly, leaving some contents spilled out. Her phone was among them. Had Cami heard it ring? She could feel Klaus' boner against her thigh. Any day now Freya.
When Klaus finally released her he studied Cami's face. She was sure to make it forlorn. Klaus cupped her cheek. "I never want you to feel that way with me. I want every part of you, Camille. Mind, body, and soul. Your mind, Camille, is so intriguing. You understand me like no one else has in centuries." Klaus kissed her hands. "If it doesn't work out we'll be fine, because I'll want you in my life, even if it means you aren't my lover. Most of all, I want you to feel safe with me, Camille. You'll never truly grasp how much you mean to me. I want you any way I can have you."
Cami got lost in Klaus' eyes. In her heart she believed him, and wish this was the real Klaus making this declaration to her. This isn't the real Klaus, she reminded herself. Klaus' hands ran down her arms, leaving a trial of goosebumps in their wake.
"As for the sex, I merely want to worship your body the way it deserves. It's an expression of how beautiful I find you." Klaus kissed the side of her mouth, her neck, down to the top of Cami's sweater. "Please let me show you..." he husked in between kisses. Cami hooked her fingers in Klaus' belt loops and pulled him closer as Klaus fumbled wit the bottom buttons on her sweater. Cami was putty in his hands. She couldn't resist any longer as Klaus backed them up to the bed.
"Wait." Cami commanded softly as she pushed him down.
Cami began playing with the buttons on her sweater. Klaus feasted on her with his eyes as she unbuttoned it all the way and shrugged it off, revealing a camisole. Cami took it off and tossed it behind her, leaving her torso bare except for her bright red bra. Klaus reached out and ran his hand down her smooth stomach, sending shivers all over her body. Klaus began trailing kisses up Cami's stomach. She discretely looked at the distance between her and her phone. Not close enough.
When Klaus' hand snakes around her back up to her bra, Cami stepped back and slightly to the left. "Not yet." She said in a sexy voice. Klaus obeyed, scooting over on the bed. Cami slowly brought her hands down to the top of her jeans, then smirked as she bent over to take off her shoes and socks.
"You tease." Klaus growled as he removed his own pants.
Cami moved over again, feeling her phone against her left pinky toe. As she unbuttoned her jeans, she let her toes feel around for the home button on her phone. Cami slowly peeled off her jeans, then let them drop. Her toes pressed the button and her home screen flashed. No new messages or missed calls. Now what? She was half naked in front of Klaus and all out of ideas.
Klaus' eyes were ravenous as he took her in. His mouth was slightly open, mesmerized by her beauty. Cami would be lying if she said she didn't enjoy being able to affect him so. Her little victory was over when Klaus pulled her down onto his lap. The moan Cami let out from the contact was not a part of her act.
"Finally." Klaus whispered into the space between Cami's breasts. His breath tickled her but she dare not move. Klaus ran his hands over her body like he didn't know where to start. Klaus rolled over so Cami was beneath him.
"Klaus-" Cami gasped, her brain scrambling.
"Don't worry." Klaus' eyes were everywhere at one. "I'll restrain myself, I won't hurt you."His blue eyes flashed black and yellow.
Oh my god he has no control. Then they were back to blue. Klaus began leaving long kisses on Cami's exposed chest, and one hand trailed up her thigh. Klaus pushed his hands under Cami's bra, brushing his fingertips over her nipples, making Cami moan. Her own voice was foreign to her as Klaus elicited sounds from her body. Cami was too far to turn back, and at the moment she didn't care. Cami wrapped her legs around his waist, enjoying feeling Klaus between her legs. She threw her head back as she kissed his way up her neck.
"Beautiful, beautiful, you're so beautiful." He whispered between kisses.
Klaus stopped. They looked at each other, breathing heavily. Cami never felt more safe or at home than at that moment. This was where she belonged. Cami ran her fingers through Klaus' hair and he smiled.
"You like that?" She teased softly.
"Oh yeah." Klaus pressed his pelvis into hers and they both closed their eyes at the feeling. "You like that?" he whispered. Cami found herself unable to speak. At the moment, only their underwear separated them. Cami wanted them gone.
When they both opened their eyes, understanding passed between them. This was it. They were ready, no regrets, no going back. Klaus shifted his body and leaned towards Cami's face, she closed her eyes and-
Cami's phone rang, snapping her out of the moment. Cami tried to get up but Klaus pinned her down. "No, not again. Not now."
Cami cupped his face. "Please? I promise after this I'm all yours." She placed his hand over her heart, which she knew was unnecessary but his palm felt so good on her clothed breast. "I promise." Cami said, looking into his eyes." Klaus cupped the unexposed breast in his hand, running a thumb over it. Cami trembled. She grabbed her phone and sat on the edge of the bed. This better be Freya.
It was. Yes! Cami cheered, although parts of her complained. "Freya tell me you found the cure."
"I did?"
"Great! Should I meet you?" Klaus sat behind Cami, planting lingering kisses on her back. Cami's eyes shut, she didn't hear Freya's next words. "I'm sorry could you say that again?" Klaus moved a bra strap off her shoulder and placed kisses there.
"You're the cure Cami! A kiss from the person they desire breaks the spell!"
"Mhmmmmm."
"Cami?"
"I'm still listening." Klaus cupped Cami's breasts and massaged them. Her breath hitched.
Freya's voice was skeptical. "What are you doing?!"
"Huh? Uhhh nothing!' Cami tried to control her breathing. She put her free hand over Klaus' to stop him but he didn't. "Have you told Hayley?"
"She's not answering me. I'm worried Cami. Once you break the spell, catch Niklaus up. We may need him to stop Elijah if Hayley's in danger."
That snapped Cami out of her spell. After Freya hung up, Cami looked over her shoulder at Klaus.
He grinned wolfishly. "Are you ready to continue?"
"You never stopped." Cami tried to sound angry but failed.
The lustful gaze in Klaus' eye helped Cami stop. This was over before it began, which was a good thing Cami wanted Klaus, but she wanted normal Klaus. This wasn't him.
Cami leaned over and kissed him, holding his face in her hands. Klaus responded, coaxing her mouth open. As their tongues danced, Cami felt herself moving. Her back was on the mattress again. She kissed Klaus with every fiber of her being, knowing she'd never get the chance again. Cami tried to take in and enjoy every moment of the kiss, putting her hands everywhere she could. Cami committed everything to memory. The way Klaus pulled her against him, how good it felt when their skin touched, the places he put his hands. Cami counted to ten then forced herself to break the kiss.
Cami slowly let her head fall back onto the pillow. Her breathing was heavy as she studied Klaus hovering above her. His eyes were closed. Moments later when he opened them he grinned at her, running a hand along her jawline. Cami was worried the the kiss didn't work until she saw something click in Klaus' mind. Confusion took over his features.
"Camille?"
Cami blushed and shrugged. "Hi."
Klaus looked down, realizing the position they were in. "This...isn't a dream?"
"Afraid not." Cami held back a smile, enjoying his flustered state.
Klaus quickly climbed off of Cami, starting several sentences but finishing none. "How? Wha-? Why?"
His eyes settled on her disheveled state. Cami tried to tame her hair while Klaus looked at his own appearance, taking in their lack of clothes. Cami got up and pulled on her pants, surprising herself at her lack of self consciousness. Klaus swallowed as he watched her. "What's happening?"
"Long story." Cami tossed Klaus his pants, and tried to hide her blushing face. "We need to get dressed." As they did she explained, "There was a spell that took over your mind. Elijah's under it too. We need to help find him before he hurts someone."
Klaus pulled his shirt over his head. "What exactly are the effects of this spell?" He cast a glance at the messed up bed. His eyes fell to Cami's swollen lips, and he touched his own, almost smiling.
"It doesn't matter." Cami turned away from the gleam in his eye. "Right now we need to find Elijah and Hayley." Klaus looked ready to argue but didn't.
They left, but not before Klaus assured Cami with his gaze that the subject wasn't dropped.
As an original vampire, Elijah was the perfect predator. His preference was to sneak up on his prey and watch as fear and the inevitability of death came over them, but today he opted for another tactic. He never liked wolves.
"Wolves, you ugly overgrown dogs." Elijah called out as he strolled through their territory. "Show your faces. You're all well past your extermination date. The noble species." Elijah's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Nothing more than swamp trash. Pathetic."
Elijah heard the sound of arrows whizzing through the air. He caught every one meant for his body. "How cute." Elijah snapped them in half. "Sneak attacks? Come out and face me like a warrior."
Jackson surfaced from behind a tree, bow and arrow in his hands. "I've been told you're not in your right mind. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't going to enjoy this."
"Are you aware your voice sounds like you have a mouth full of cotton balls?" Elijah drawled.
"I'm sorry, Elijah. Maybe if I shove a stick far enough up my ass I'll sound like you." Jackson notched an arrow. "Where's Hayley?"
"She's safe, don't worry." Elijah circled Jackson, who never lowered his bow. "I'll be sure to comfort her after you're gone."
"No matter what happens to me nothing will change the fact that she's my wife, and I'm her husband. That's one title the high and mighty Elijah Mikaelson can't claim."
"Not yet. I'm so happy you're the first mutt I encountered." Elijah smiled coldly. "You'll be the first to die."
Jackson shot the arrow but Elijah dodged it. He wrenched the bow out of Jackson's hand and struck him in the face with it, sending the alpha reeling.
"That's right Jackson, on the ground where filth belongs."
Jackson attacked Elijah and they wrestled. Elijah tossed Jackson into a tree, but not before Jackson sank his fangs into Elijah's arm. He wiped the blood from his mouth.
Elijah looked at the werewolf bite, the disgust on his face was plain. "Enough of this." He put his foot on Jackson's throat. The alpha choked. "Would you rather your heart ripped out or decapitation?" Elijah increased the pressure of his foot, causing Jackson to make strangled noises. He cupped a hand around his ear. "I'm sorry Jackson, what was that? I couldn't hear you." More strangled sounds. Elijah grinned. "Decapitation it is."
Elijah cried out when he felt a wooden stake pierce his torso from behind.
"Doesn't feel good does it?" Hayley asked before putting another stake through his shin and driving it into the ground. "I'm sorry, Elijah, I can't let you kill him."
Hayley ran to her husband. "Are you okay, Jack?" He grunted. "What are you doing out here?"
"Freya called and told me what was going on. I was worried when you didn't pick up your phone."
"Elijah broke it." Hayley tried to get Jackson to stand and he cried out.
"I may have a few broken ribs."
Hayley heard a whistle through the air. "Jackson!" She barely pushed him out of the way in time. Where Jackson was before, a stake impaled a tree. Hayley looked back at Elijah, who pulled the other stake out of his leg.
Hayley struggled to pull the embedded stake from the tree. Once she freed it, Hayley hurled it at Elijah. He evaded it easily .
"Elijah I am begging you!"
Elijah broke the stake in half. One he threw at Hayley, who barely dodged it, and the other at Jackson's head. Before it hit its mark a pale hand caught it. Hayley had never been so happy to see Klaus in her life.
"Easy, brother." Klaus' tone was light going but his eyes were not. "I don't fancy him either, but we can't kill him."
"Get out of my way, Niklaus." Elijah growled.
"Hayley!" Freya ran into the clearing, taking in the sight. She ran to Jackson, muttering a spell to ease his pain. "Jackson, we need to get you out of here."
"Not without Hayley." He gritted out. His wife was at his side, trying to lift him once again.
"She's mine." Elijah declared, and attacked. Klaus intercepted him and they fought.
Freya looked at Hayley. "A kiss breaks the spell."
"He kissed me already, nothing happened." Hayley watched on, unable to take her eyes from the fight.
"He kissed you?" Jackson's face was furious.
"Not now, Jack."
The sounds of the originals fighting intensified. The werewolf bite was starting to affect Elijah. He wavered but still fought on, evenly matching his younger brother.
"You have to initiate it." Freya insisted. "It worked with Lucien and Niklaus."
Klaus struggled against his brother but finally got him in a headlock, yelling, "Kiss him now, Hayley!"
Elijah got free and elbowed Klaus in the face, sending his head back. Everyone heard the snap before Klaus fell to the ground, unconscious.
"No!" Freya said. She held out her free hand, muttering ancient words and Elijah stumbled back, holding his head. "Now Hayley, while he's weak."
Hayley set Jackson down on the ground before rushing over to Elijah. He was on his back, holding his head.
"Hayley." Elijah spoke through gritted teeth. "You said you loved me."
She knelt over him. "Always and forever."
Hayley captured his mouth with hers. Elijah grabbed the back of her head, keeping her there. Their mouths moved in unison. Little moans escaped Hayley. Elijah kept kissing her and running his fingers through her hair. Suddenly he stopped.
Elijah looked at Hayley, his fallen brother, and the forest around them. "What transpired here?" He looked perplexed and Hayley hugged him, relieved it was all over. He patted her back in confusion.
Freya slumped against a tree, letting out a sigh. "We did it! It's over." She whipped out her phone and called Vincent as the sun was setting.
Hayley finally let Elijah go as she remembered something. She punched his chest and glared. Elijah, in turn looked at her, confused. Hayley's nostrils flared. "You owe me a new phone."