Chapter 9
France, 15 months later
Niklaus stared at the body of a man he had just drained. It didn't matter how many times he have done it, it didn't get any easier. Quickly he looked around, making sure that Mag wasn't here. He didn't want her to see him like this. Not that it really mattered. She didn't want him anywhere near her; she had made that very clear. She didn't want to share her grief with him.
Perhaps he should have tried harder; he just hadn't known how to comfort her. They had both lost a child, but she had also lost everything else. And now she was stuck with the monsters her husband and his siblings had become. Niklaus startled as he suddenly felt someone touching his shoulder. Kol. He had blood all over his face and he was smiling.
"Who's ready for the next course?" he asked cheerfully.
"You're all filthy gluttons," Finn snorted.
Niklaus pressed his lips together; he hated his brother's judgmental attitude. Almost as much as he hated his own weakness and Finn's attempts to "protect" Mag from the rest of them.
"And you remain ever the dullard," Kol retorted.
Rebekah was looking at the beautiful woman who was lying on the ground. She and four men had been traveling in the carriage they had attacked.
"Such pretty clothes," Rebekah sighed. "What a shame they'll go to waste."
"Rebekah, we have discussed this endless…" Elijah started.
"No, you have discussed this," Rebekah cut in sharply. "None of us had any say in the matter."
Elijah sighed and rolled his eyes. Niklaus couldn't remember the last time he would have seen Elijah smiling. They had all lost so much and it was clear how messed up they all were. Henrik, Tatia, Esther, their home, their lives, their humanity… Soren. His son. An innocent little boy who had died in Mag's arms. Niklaus hadn't been there. That was something he would never be able to forgive himself.
"This lot were traveling somewhere," Rebekah continued stubbornly. "Their cart is full of silks and finery. Wherever they were off to, why can we not simply go in their stead?"
"Masquerade as nobles from a land we do not know and whose customs we cannot begin to understand. Ridiculous," Elijah replied firmly.
"You saw the castle down the road, it was practically a gala," Rebekah argued. "This bunch were headed there, they…" Rebekah paused and sighed. "Think about it, Elijah, we could live as they do, at least for a time. We could sleep in a bed and take a bath…"
"Silence," Elijah cut in, he had just heard something. All his siblings were immediately vigilant. Niklaus heard it too. A heartbeat. It was coming from the carriage. All his siblings followed Elijah as he walked over to the carriage and yanked away a blanket. There was a young man hiding under it, he seemed to be in panic. He got up as quickly as he could and tried desperately to run. Rebekah was in front of him immediately.
"Well, aren't you a handsome one," she hummed smiling.
The man was terrified; he tried to look for a way to escape.
"He looks like dessert to me," Kol stated as he appeared next to Rebekah.
"Wait, wait, wait!" the man pleaded. "I can help you. I…I am the personal servant to the Count de Martel. Of the very estate you just mentioned. I was sent to escort these guests to his home for a lengthy stay. I know their customs as well as the Count's habits. If you mean to pose as the family you have slaughtered here, then you'll need my help to carry out your ruse."
Niklaus and his siblings stared at the man for a moment before Rebekah looked at Elijah.
"Please can we keep him?"
"Rebekah, no," Elijah snorted. "What is our most important rule?"
Rebekah sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Never leave alive someone who has…"
"… seen what we are," they all finished.
"Thank you very much. A practice that has served us very well indeed," Elijah stated and took a step towards the man.
"She has a point," Finn argued, putting his hand on Elijah's shoulder. "He may be of use."
"Ah, a proper family squabble," Kol said cheerfully.
"Perhaps we should put it to a vote," Niklaus stated. "All those in favor of letting him live?"
Rebekah and Finn raised their hand.
"Those inclined to gut him?" Kol asked, raising his hand. Elijah did the same.
"Well, Nik," Kol hummed. "What shall it be?"
The young man looked at him pleadingly. Niklaus didn't have time to say anything when he heard Mag's voice.
"Stop it," she said quietly. "Have there not been enough death for one day?"
"I am sorry, Mag, but you don't have a vote here," Elijah stated.
She crossed her arms and looked at Niklaus. He understood immediately when she wanted and of course he would give it to her.
"But I do," he said. "And I say he lives."
The young man looked beyond relieved.
"Thank you, my lord, thank you."
Elijah pressed his lips together, he was pleased at all. Kol on the other hand wiped the blood from his face. Perhaps he was a monster now, but he tried to behave when Mag was present. Not that any of them ever fed in front of her. There was no expression on her face as she gave Niklaus a brief nod. He smiled at her before looking at the young man.
"So, what is your name?" he asked.
"Lucien, my lord," he replied and bowed.
"I am Niklaus, these are my brothers Elijah, Finn and Kol, my sister Rebekah and my wife Mag."
Lucien looked somewhat surprised when he heard that Mag was Niklaus' wife, but he got over that quickly and bowed again.
"Honor to meet you all."
Kol wanted clearly to say something, but he stayed quiet, probably because of Mag. Niklaus noticed that she looked tired and he doubted that she had eaten enough. A night in a bed would be just what she needed. Assuming this would actually work.
"Did you hear?" Rebekah asked smiling. "We are going to that fancy castle."
Mag looked confused.
"What?"
"Yes," Rebekah continued and tapped Lucien's shoulder. "He will teach us how to be nobles."
Mag glanced at Lucien before looking at Niklaus.
"I think we should try this," he said.
She nodded carelessly.
"Alright, if you say so."
Niklaus wanted to wrap his arms around her, but he doubted that she would let him do that. There had been no closeness between them after Soren's death; Mag didn't let Niklaus to touch her. Niklaus hated the whole situation, but he didn't know how to fix things. His wife seemed to be completely broken.
