Chapter 7

"Please", Elijah said when he opened the car door for Starlit.

Starlit got up and looked at him.

"I can't believe I ever listened to you", she said coldly.

Elijah put his hand to her shoulder.

"Starlit…"

"Don't touch me", Starlit snapped.

"Well, isn't she a spicy one", someone said laughing.

Starlit saw a man who was maybe in his late forties. He had blond hair and blue eyes. Next to him there was a woman who looked a little younger than he. She had dark curly hair and brown eyes. She was wearing a colorful dress and there was a scarf on her shoulders.

"Welcome back son", man said smiling.

"Father", Elijah replied quietly. "Lenore."

Woman greeted him with quick nod.

"And this must be the luxia I've heard so much", man said and looked at Starlit.

"Welcome my dear. My name is Mikael and this is my darling Lenore."

Mikael smiled warmly to Lenore. It seemed that he was attached to her.

"Hi", Starlit said cautiously.

"Good heavens, where are my manners, please come in", Mikael said cheerily.

Starlit didn't like this at all but she had no choice but to follow Mikael and Lenore inside their house. Or mansion. This place was huge. There were at least three floors and probably about twenty rooms in here. There was a massive fountain and a lot of marble statues in front of the house. Someone really had too much money to spend. Mikael lead them to some kind of library.

"Can I offer you something to drink?" he asked.

"No thank you", Starlit replied trying her best to keep her voice steady.

"Very well. Now, I would like to have a word with our guest in private so could you please excuse us Elijah?"

Starlit hadn't even realized that Elijah was standing behind her.

"I think I will stay here father, if you don't mind", Elijah replied.

Mikael smiled friendly.

"Elijah, you are my son and I forgave you for betraying me because of your worthless brother, but I would advise you not to test my patience."

Elijah didn't move. Mikael rolled his eyes.

"No harm will come to her. You have my word. Please."

Elijah looked at Starlit insecurely. Starlit didn't say anything. She didn't feel the need to make him feel better.

"This won't take long", Mikael said a little annoyed by delay. "In the meantime go and get yourself a drink."

Elijah still looked insecure but he left the room. Lenore closed a door behind him.

"Finally", Mikael said.

He didn't seem so friendly anymore. Starlit tried not to show her fear.

"You young lady had caused me a lot of trouble", Mikael said coldly.

"What do you mean?" Starlit heard herself asking.

"Your little affair with Niklaus. Seriously? You are not very smart, are you?"

It took a moment before Starlit understood who he was talking about.

"But… Klaus is your son. What ever problems you have…"

Mikael laughed.

"No, no my dear, Niklaus is not my son. He is my wife's bastard."

"Oh. But I still don't understand what kind of trouble I have caused you. I've never even met you before."

"Problem is my dear that you have been stupid enough to fall for him. And apparently, as absurd as it is, he actually cares about you."

"Even if that would be true, why would that be a problem?"

"So many questions… Oh, fine, I'll let you in on a little secret. Blood of beloved."

Starlit was confused.

"I'm sorry but I don't…"

"Our fail-safe", Mikael said annoyed. "In case Niklaus would ever manage to break the curse, which he did. My wife wanted to make sure that he couldn't make any more of those abominations."

"You mean hybrids?"

"Yes. And without you, that won't happen. So everybody wins."

"Without me? Why would I…?"

Then she realized.

"Blood of beloved… Klaus needs my blood in order to make hybrids."

"Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner!"

"No offence but that's not much of a fail-safe", Starlit said.

Mikael raised an eyebrow.

"Really? How so?"

"Well, Klaus could have cared about anyone. He could have had a wife or…"

Mikael's laugh interrupted her.

"Oh, you silly little girl! You really are not that smart. Niklaus doesn't care about anyone except himself. He never has. That's the beauty of it. His own selfish nature will prevent him for ever getting what he wants. It's kind of poetic when you think about it."

"You're wrong about him", Starlit said quietly.

"Yes, I bet. But I'm curious, how did you manage to melt that iceberg? Was it a sex thing? I bet you're a wild cat in bed."

Starlit felt herself blushing.

"Oh, how cute! She blushes like some innocent maiden. Except that you're far from innocent, are you my dear? More like a little harlot. But for some reason my son likes you so I'll let him have his fun with you."

"I rather die", Starlit said feeling completely numb.

"How dramatic. And unnecessary. It doesn't matter what you want. Or actually soon you will want to do exactly what I say. Lenore darling!"

Starlit had forgotten the woman entirely. She was sitting next to window looking bored. Before Starlit could do anything, Mikael grabbed her and hold her still. Lenore walked slowly to her and touched her face gently.

"Don't worry pretty girl; this only hurts a little bit. Soon you feel much better."

Starlit tried to scream but she couldn't make a sound.