Late into the night after the families with children had left the celebration, the lull of the ale begin to reap its wrath as the men grew loud and lecherous. A drunken man smacked a wench's behind causing her to behave even rowdier. Defiance shook her head with a scolding manner, "We should leave before it grows worse."
Acting naive, Rebekah agreed. "Where do you live? I can walk you home."
"That is very kind of you Rebekah, but it is too far. I live in the forest, and I am used to walking it alone. I will be fine."
"At least allow me to walk you to the edge of town."
"That would be delightful", Defiance beamed like a child.
Rebekah felt her gut clench. She had unintentionally grown fond of Defiance. She had never had a close friend, but had dreamed upon it many of times. And Defiance revealed all the girly qualities of Rebekah's dream friend. Loneliness had always been Rebekah's worst enemy.
On the dark road leading toward the forest, Rebekah asked "Why do you reside in the forest?"
"My family are woodsmen."
"I thought you said your family was dead?"
"My real family is. Do you remember Emily from the celebration? She is the sister of my heart. Her family took me in a few years ago."
"A few years? Who cared for you after the death of your family?"
"People who met the same cruel fate as my family." Painful memories plagued Defiance's mind.
"Then you are cursed?"
Defiance shook her head sadly, "More like blessed…"
"You call being a witch blessed?" Kol growled as he emerged from behind a huge, eery oak tree. He was garbed in a hooded cloak, the color of midnight. He walked toward Defiance with an arrogant stride; his shoulders straight, head high.
"You!" Defiance hissed, a frightening glint filling her pretty eyes.
"They burn witches you know."
"I am no witch!" Defiance rebelled.
Kol's flesh blanched, the veins beneath his eyes evident.
Rebekah knew what would follow. "Stop it Kol!"
Bewildered, Defiance glanced at her new friend questioning. "You know him?"
Rebekah suddenly felt ashamed of Kol, she faltered and Kol took this opportune moment to answered for his sister.
"I am her brother." He gloated.
Defiance stepped away from Rebekah as if betrayed. "You are a noble?"
"I am." Rebekah replied, her heart sulking. If Kol attacked Defiance, she had to stop him. Niklaus wanted Defiance alive.
"Yes, we are nobles and something else…And you are a witch!" Kol implied.
"I am not!" Defiance raised her voice stepping back into flesh. She squealed, spinning to see who was behind her. She found herself glaring up into the face of a tall, sultry stranger, with an evil smile, overflowing with the immortal flames of vitality. He wore a black hood over his head, a few curls with a tint of sunlight was evident. He glared at her with bloodthirsty malice. Her heart heaved. Whoever this man was, he was powerful; powerful and deadly.
"Are you a witch" Niklaus asked trying to compel Defiance.
"No! Who are you and what makes you believe I am a witch?" She replied trying to back away as if stepping out of the path of danger.
"You see, Niklaus!" Kol said, growing impatient. Kol's veins glowed scarlett, his eyes literally blazed with savage fire as he glared at Defiance.
Rebekah thought that at any second Kol would pounce on Defiance. For his sake, she hoped not because Niklaus was not very forgiving when one of his siblings went against his rule. The only one brave enough to defy Niklaus was Elijah and that was because he was the only one among the family who did not fear Niklaus' wrath.
Niklaus remained stony as he studied the beautiful maiden. He was not sure what to make of her; whether she was as innocent as she appeared or just a good actress masking dark powers. A gentle breeze from the north carried the scent of her, a soft vanilla fragrance mixed with soap. Niklaus inhaled deeply, relishing her human scent deep into his gut. She was terrified of him. Niklaus could see it in her reflection. She faced him boldly trying to conceal her terror and for that, she had earn a bit of respect on his part. He was less likely to kill a brave-hearted mortal, it was the ones who begged for mercy that disgusted him. Kol on the hand was just the opposite. He bore an infatuation for those who pleaded and cried. It made him feel superior.
"Are you trying to read my soul?" Defiance asked.
Surprised by her audacious question, Niklaus shook his head. "No, not me. I am not the soul reader of my family."
"That would be me, Elijah", Elijah said emerging into the moonlight.
Defiance turned her attention to the beautiful stranger. He was tall, well posture, and wore a flawless face. He was also wearing a black cloak, but his hood was lowered allowing his wind-rippled lengthy dark curls to soak up the moonbeams. Like his brother Niklaus, he was impressive but with a dangerous allure.
Elijah approached Defiance as a wildcat would stalk his pray. Defiance felt Niklaus move closer to her backside. His warm breath evoked chills upon her neck flesh. If she were to run, he would stop her. She stood her ground. Elijah smiled, he admired her bravery.
Elijah loomed a little over a foot above her with his muscular figure shadowing her petite form. He could crush her and she knew he knew it. Still, she would not reveal fear. Elijah ran his finger down her cheek bone admiring her flawless flesh. With gentle force, he titled her chin so that her eyes would be forced to peer into his fathomless ovals. Defiance obeyed, allowing him to search her soul. Their eyes locked and for a second, she thought their souls had touched. She had felt within him honor, loyalty, chivalry, a vigorous passion, and a hint of darkness.
Trying to conceal what she had felt, she asked in a stern voice, "Well Elijah, were you able to interpret my soul?"
Emotionless, he replied, "Yes."
"And what did you see?" Niklaus asked from behind Defiance.
"Purity." Elijah replied, speaking to Niklaus with his eyes glued to Defiance. A hue of divinity seem to cling to her. She was not a witch. She was something that he had never met, something he could not understand.
"Vervain! I knew it!" Rebekah blurted out.
"There is only one way to be sure." Kol slithered knowing his siblings would agree. It was the only way to be sure that she was not a trap sent by the king, or worse, their father.
Defiance knees suddenly grew weak. She was not sure what Kol was implying, but whatever it was she knew to fear it. These people were going to harm her. She had to at least try to flee. Mind whirling, her heart slamming against her chest wall, she was about to dart as Niklaus reached from behind, pulling her warm body into the cove of his. He wrapped his arm around the front of her chest gripping his fingers into the flesh of her throat. He tilted his head to her ear, "I can hear your heart beat." With that said, her heart sank and her breathing increased. He was no human.
Elijah remained captivated with Defiance. She had yet to cry out. He admire her self control.
"No, let me!" Kol demanded in a voice pouting of envy.
"Not a chance, little brother. You do not have the will power to stop yourself." Niklaus snapped back.
"Neither do you." Elijah said flatly. Niklaus was just as rash as Kol, no self discipline what so ever.
Niklaus' grip around her throat tighten with Elijah's words. Defiance felt tears blooming. She was terrified. There was an underlying competition between the brothers and she was to be their sport.
Finally Niklaus' hold relaxed somewhat. "You are probably right, Elijah. Do the honor." Elijah smiled with victory as Niklaus forced Defiance to tilt her neck so that her flesh was unprotected.
Rebekah interrupted with a voice on edge. "Elijah, do not hurt her!"
Elijah ignored his sister. He pressed his body into Defiance sandwiching her tightly between him and Niklaus. During their first years as vampires, they had shared women in the same way, sexually and for dinner. With time's aid, Elijah learned to control the vampire in him where Niklaus still lavished debauchery. Only on rare occasions did Elijah yearn for that way of life again, and with the warm impression from Defiance's siren body against his, this was one of those moments. His loins ached from her touch, her savory scent. It would be easy. Niklaus was always ready for Elijah to come back down to his level. Although tempting, Elijah would refrain. The regret the next day would be too much for him to bear.
As Elijah lowered his mouth to her ungraded flesh, Defiance cried out. "Shh.." He whispered almost seductively. With a sudden motion, he sank his teeth into Defiance's flesh sipping her blood. A split second later, he withdrew.
"She is pristine." Elijah said, trying hard to mask the primitive urge to drink the young maiden dry. It has been decades since he wanted a victim this strongly.
Tears cascaded down Defiance's cheeks. She now fully understood what these people were. They were blood-suckers; vampires from the dark world.
Kol shoved Elijah away, backhanding Defiance. "Tell me what you are bitch! Are you a sorceress or a witch? How can you defy our powers?"
Elijah regained his balance as Niklaus dropped Defiance to the ground to attack Kol. As the three brothers wrestled, Defiance took this opportunity to escape.
She fled into the forest with branches and weeds slapping at her face as she raced blindly into the dark. She did not care, with her adrenal so high, she could not even feel the pain. The thick oaks concealed the light of the moon. She only hoped that vampires could not see in the dark. She strained her ears trying to hear if they were behind her, but her heart was pounding too loud to hear anything above it.