Hello, dear readers. I had actually written a note of about 300-400 words which explained the whole thing about Kol's magic and all that, but my great internet and deleted the whole thing.

I'm too tired to write down the whole explanation once again, so I wont.

If you have any questions, just write me a PM or leave a review.

I'll try explaining the whole thing better in the next chapter or make it a part of the story. Dunno, really.

Anyway, have a nice evening and do enjoy this chapter.


Chapter 7

Hope of Morning

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How The Wolf Found Her


"When is a monster not a monster? Oh, when you love it."

― Caitlyn Siehl


Arianna often wondered how some people could be so stupid. Oftentimes the girl even felt as if she were surrounded by idiots.

How could she not when she had gotten herself in such a peculiar situation? Sitting inside the Salvatore Boarding House and listening to the Scooby-Doo gang's scheming, while the book in her lap stayed regretfully unread.

The girl wouldn't have actually cared about the whole thing, if it weren't for her sister. Caroline somehow always managed to get herself involved in their mess. That was something she couldn't let happen. Playing with Katarina and starting a dog fight with Klaus were two entirely different things. Her sister should have never gotten involved with the first, let alone the second one.

Besides, Arianna wanted to be informed about every move Niklaus Mikaelson made.

Regrettably, the easiest way to accomplish this was through spending time with a bunch of people she just could not stand. Listening to their conversation and how easy they thought the upcoming fight would be irritated and entertained the young Forbes.

In some ways they were planing their own execution.

Whatever they came up with would be a plan Niklaus most likely already expected. They all seemed to forget that their foe wasn't a stupid teenager, but one of the oldest beings to walk the earth. He had faced greater threats than a bunch of baby vampires and their witchy sidekick.

''He could be anywhere, at any time. He compelled somebody at school.'' Well, at least one of them seemed to be following her thoughts. Stefan had always been the more realistic one. That was one characteristic Arianna actually managed to appreciate. ''This is not as safe as you guys thought, huh?''

Arianna almost applauded his genius. Maybe she would have if her history teacher did not decided to come through the door at the same moment. Her already bad mood soured.

The day just would not end well. Perhaps she should try sneaking into the cellar and freeing Elijah. He would at least know what to do with their current predicament. And even if he didn't, his anger over being daggered for a second time would certainly make their situation more interesting.

Alaric gently closed the door behind himself and started walking towards their small group. ''I'm sorry for being late.''

Damon's eyes flickered towards the older looking man. ''Hey, I need you to put me down as a chaperone at the dance tonight. Klaus made his first move.''

That was the exact moment Arianna ceased listening to their conversation. She had this unfortunate quirk because of which she just tuned out things she found too boring. It caused her some problems at school and when her mother lectured her for behaving bad.

This time around it became the cause of her fright and missed amusement. In her defense, it wasn't everyday that you saw a vampire flying through the air and crashing in some furniture.

Bonnie Bennett just got a tad bit more likeable. Arianna was sure that Kol would enjoy using the girl in the future. He always did love playing with witches.

Stefan smiled in slight satisfaction. ''Well, I was impressed.''

''That was great.'' The Forbes laughed and turned her gaze to Damon. ''Can we repeat it? I would love to make a video.''

''That sounds like a great idea.'' Just this once the younger Salvatore brother actually agreed with her.

Sadly, both of them were ignored by Bonnie, who just continued talking as if there had been no interruption. She was walking slowly across the room towards the newest doppelganger. ''It doesn't matter if he is an Original. I can take anyone down who comes at me.'' The witch grabbed Elena's hands in her own and smiled reassuringly. ''I can kill him, Elena. I know I can.''

Didn't that just sound peachy? Too peachy, in Arianna's opinion. But no one actually asked her about what she thought, so she kept her suspicions to herself.

At the end, even though Arianna Forbes was not a witch, she still held more knowledge about them than most could ever even hope to acquire. She had seen enough of Kol's memories to know that there is a price for everything.

Using enough magic to kill an Original? Well, that would certainly not end up being pleasant for any witch. Especially one as inexperienced as Bonnie was.

Long story short, Bonnie Bennett would never survive killing Niklaus Mikaelson. The question also was if she would manage such a feat before her body gave up.

What a shame it would be if she failed.

Arianna wanted to laugh. Either way it would be an amusing spectacle.

Before she actually managed to do something stupid, the youngest girl in the room packed the book from her lap into her bag and stood up from her seat in the corner. Why all the others choose to stand around for an hour she would never understand. ''I'm not sure about you, but I need to get ready for the dance. So, I thought that one of you might want to drive me home.''

It wasn't a question. Arianna had long since learned that it was easier to demand things in a way that they could be perceived as one, but could not be truly denied.

Surprisingly, Alaric was the one to speak up after taking out a couple of keys from his pocket. ''There is some business I need to take care off, so I might as well take you with me. It's on the way to your home.''

The Forbes smiled thankfully, after all, good manners were very important. No one noticed how her eyes narrowed slightly. ''Thank you, Alaric.''


Kol taught her how to dance.

Under a starry night sky he taught her a few of his favorite dances. Six to be exact. All of them from different centuries and countries. On each of her birthdays he would teach her a new one.

They started when she had been eight years old. Back then Arianna's small feet had still been so very clumsy that she constantly managed to land on her bottom. Each time Kol helped her to stand up and then continued to patiently instruct her.

It became a tradition in the following years. He could not give her any material presents, thus he shared his knowledge. A dance, a story, a language.

Of course she did not learn all those things in one night. It took some time and a at least a dozen of meetings for her to be proficient enough.

The story was always just and entertainment factor and the language was something Kol started teaching her when she was only six years old.

Spanish. Arianna loved it and was glad that the Original vampire had been thoughtful enough to start teaching her.

Now, seven years after her first lesson, Arianna considered herself quite good in Spanish. It was only a shame that she could not actually use it in real life. There wasn't any believable lie she could have told everyone about how she knew the foreign language.

The girl doubted her mother would react well to something along the lines of 'I learned the language from my vampire soulmate, who just happens to be one of the oldest vampires to ever walk the earth'.

That certainly wouldn't be a pleasant conversation.

''You need to focus, Arianna.'' To show his point Kol lifted her smaller body into the air and spun her around in two circles. ''If you do not, you just might embarrass yourself one day.''

The blonde girl smiled happily. ''Yes, yes.''

Her feet touched the ground once again and Arianna repeated the steps Kol had shown her earlier.

She did not doubt the fact that she probably looked like a headless chicken.

Luckily, she would get better with time. Besides, the young girl loved dancing.

After what felt like an eternity, Kol grabbed her left hand and started to spin her around. She spun and spun and spun, her pretty rose colored dress fluttering around her form. Her giggles echoed around the beautiful meadow and the bright joy was clear in her eyes.

Unexpectedly, the vampire let go of her hand and Arianna let out a startled shriek. She continued to spin till her feet tangled with each other and her body started falling.

The girl collided with the soft, soft ground. It made her realize one thing.

All this wasn't real. Normally, the ground shouldn't be so soft and the shoulder she fell on was meant to hurt.

Arianna wasn't really there, neither was Kol. This left a bitter taste in her mouth.

''Now, now, darling. There is no time for moping today.'' Kol sat down next to her. ''It is your birthday. The whole world as well as you should celebrate this day.''

For thirteen years she had now walked on this earth. Many would have come to end her life, if they ever found out about her existence. The witches tried to end her before her mother even gave birth to her.

Maybe her birthday was indeed worth celebrating.

Arianna Forbes smiled a bright, albeit painful, smile.

Because while Arianna wanted to be happy, she still couldn't help but wonder how many more birthdays she would have to spend without Kol at her side.


Alaric was looking at her for almost the whole ride. His eyes flickering between her face and the road ahead of them.

It made her feel uncomfortable, almost as if the older man could see the deepest secrets of her soul. As if he knew the truth about her.

Needless to say, Arianna was more than happy to arrive in front her home.

Almost nervously, her eyes moved towards Alaric's face and met his own blue ones. Since when did Alaric have such blue eyes?

''Thank you for bringing me home, Alaric.'' Her right hand opened the car's door and she instantly started to leave the car. ''I'll be going now.''

''Wait.'' A hand grabbed Arianna's elbow. ''Are you going to the dance tonight?''

Slowly, the girl turned her head towards the teacher. A pair of brown eyes narrowed in suspicion. ''I don't know, but I think I'll pass.''

Feeling the grip loosening, Arianna thought the man might have said something along the lines of 'Good, good.'. But she wasn't sure about that. ''If that's all, I really need to go.'' She smiled a fake smile. ''Bye, Alaric.''

To close the door, Arianna had to turn towards the car once again. Her eyes met unusually blue ones. ''I wish you a pleasant evening, Arianna Forbes.''

The girl practically ran into her house. The dark gaze she had seen in his eyes had been all to familiar. It sometimes haunted her nightmares.

But it couldn't be, could it? Surely, she was just imagining things.

She had to, otherwise the girl feared what would happen next.

''You're home early.'' Caroline was standing at the top of the staircase. ''Did something happen?''

Unable to stop the grimace from appearing on her face, the younger Forbes made sure that her voice did not waver. ''No, no, I'm just not feeling so well.''

Caroline's face scrunched up, her eyes slowly roving over her sister's face. ''Does that mean that you wont be going to the dance? Do you want me to stay with you?''

Arianna opened her mouth to answer, however, she stopped herself in the last second. The situation was just too perfect. Neither Caroline or her were going to meet Niklaus Mikaelson that evening. This time the girl couldn't have cared less about how much her sister wanted to go to the dance. ''Yes, that would nice. Maybe we could have a movie night?''

And if she could, Arianna would keep her sister away from the Original for the rest of eternity.