"What the hell?"

Karina let out a moan as her eyes fluttered open, landing on a ceiling that wasn't familiar. She turned onto her side to see a glass of blood on the nightstand. Human blood, she could smell it. She reached out a hungrily gulped it down, setting it back on the nightstand as she sat up against the leather headboard.

She licked her lips of blood, suddenly noticing that she was wearing a black t-shirt that wasn't hers but it had Lucien's scent. She relaxed, no longer feeling under threat as she looked around the bedroom she was and, going by the expensive watches cluttering up the vanity table, she guessed it was Lucien's.

"There she is."

She looked up as Lucien sauntered into the room, shutting the bedroom door behind him. She arched an eyebrow, gesturing to the t-shirt she was wearing.

"Oh, yes."He chuckled, leaning against the doorframe with a shameless expression on his face."I took the liberty of changing you into one of my very expensive t-shirts since your own clothes were both bloody and torn. I sent one of my men to bring you a fresh outfit from the wardrobe of one of my witches."

She crossed her legs, locking her ankles, looking around for a clock."How long have I been out?"

"A few hours, give or take."Lucien gave a one-shouldered shrug as he gave her a worried once over."You were exhausted. You slipped in and out of it."

He straightened, making his way into the bedroom, only to stagger to the left and the only thing that stopped him from falling to the ground was the wardrobe he fell against. She sat up straight, worry flashing in her eyes and a slimmer of puzzlement.

That was when she noticed how pale he was, and he was shaking, clutching one arm.

"What's wrong?"

He straightened, hand against the side of the wardrobe to keep him up. He raised his other arm, revealing a nasty, infected, werewolf bite.

Her bite.

"When you slipped in and out of it you tried to gobble me up."He chuckled despite his obvious pain as he inhaled a sharp breath."You were defensive, hungry and fancied a bite to eat."

"How long ago was that?"

"When you fell asleep so..."He paused to think, counting the hours in his head before he answered."Seven hours ago."

Karina glared at him, shaking her head as he carried on with his casual smile."That's more than a few hours, Lucien."

Lucien looked down at the bite with a grimace."And it seems it's acting quickly."

"A hybrid bite is bad but a tribrid bite? It worked quicker and hurts like a bitch."She beckoned him over with her fingers."Come here. I'll heal you."

He frowned as he staggered over to her."You can do that? I thought only Nik could."

"You need to do your homework."She softly smiled as he sat down next to her, reaching over and grabbed the glass from the nightstand."Just a few sips of my blood and you'll be right as rain."

Karina sighed as she bit her wrist and held it over the glass, arching an eyebrow when Lucien watched her. She filled it up a quarter before passing it to him, the bite on her wrist healing a second later. Lucien swirled the blood in the glass for a moment before he drank it in one go. A moment passed, and the bite began to heal, making her him proudly.

She watched as he licked the blood from his lips before setting the glass aside and she witnessed as his eyes darkened.

"Wow..."Lucien muttered before he chuckled, an almost dreamy look on his face."I feel strangely euphoric."

Karina gave an almost impish grin."I've been known to have that affect."

"You surely do, darling."The vampire drawled, pulling down his sleeve, a flash of gratitude flickering on his face when he noticed the healed skin."Thank you for healing me."

"Of course."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out her phone, answering her question before she even voiced it."My men found it in Gaspar's back pocket. I texted your loved ones. They think you're watching reruns of Friends with Josh and I also texted Josh to say that you're all wrapped up in bed watching Thelma and Louise with your aunt and mother."

Her eyes widened at the mention of her friend, taking the phone from Lucien and placing it on the bed beside her after checking the messages

."Is J-"

"He is fine."He soothed her, setting her phone on the nightstand."I've checked."

He then looked over at her, moving closer, a questioning look in his eyes.

"Are y-"

"The world is brighter than the sun, now that you're here..."

The tribrid jumped, startled, and glanced at the phone. Dad calling...

She straightened, grabbing her phone from beside her. She stared at the screen for a few moment, inhaling sharply, knowing that if her father detected any upset in her voice, he'd be straight home with the other men in her family.

Lucien nodded to himself, patting her ankle affectionately."I'll leave you for a moment, love."

She gave a ghost of a smile at him, eyes following as the vampire stood and made his way to the door, glancing back at her before he shut the door behind him. She took a deep breath before pressing the green button, bringing the phone to her ear.

"Hi, Dad."

"Are you all right?"

She swallowed thickly, ready to tell her father what had happened but suddenly felt a rush of embarrassment.

She, not wanting to worry her father, quickly fibbed."I'm fine."

Klaus was quiet for a moment and she, thinking he hadn't bought it, opened her mouth to say something, but her father stopped her.

"Why haven't you been answering your phone?"Klaus asked, though he let out a relieved breath after hearing her voice."Has something happened? I'll be on the first plane out-"

"No, no! It's all good. I'm fine."She quickly said, toying with the hem of the t-shirt she had on."I'm sorry, but it's been a long day. Josh insisted on taking me out for a drink after my lunch with 'Bekah and Mom."

She heard him mutter something, most likely to Elijah, before he asked."So how was your non-birthday, love?"

"Boring, actually. There was no bickering over who got the first bite of the maid, and you know that I like the bickering."

Klaus chuckled, pleased with her response."That's my girl."

"You know me; i'll always be a daddy's girl."

The two laughed though Karina was still fighting a rush of emotions.

"I know, love. It's getting late, so i'll let you go."

"Okay, Dad. Goodnight...i love you."

"Night, love, I love you, too."

She set the phone down on the nightstand when her father hung up, releasing a long breath.

The tribrid sat on the comfy bed for a long moment before she swung her legs to the side of the bed and stood, pulling down the shirt. She let out a moan as she stretched as she made her way over to the door, opening it up a second later.

The tribrid made her way down the steps that led to the large circle that held the lounge of the penthouse. Lucien sat on the comfy-looking chair, sipping on a drink, tablet resting on his leg as he read over something, probably something to do with his business. Soft music played in the background as he enjoyed his drink before pouring himself another one.

He sat up straight when he noticed her standing near the chair.

"How did it go?"

"Fine."She quickly replied, forcing a quick smile.

"Did he suspect anything?"Lucien asked as he set aside his tablet, tone laced with jest, but she could see the seriousness in his eyes."Should I be expecting a visit from the Mikaelson men for not taking better care of their princess?"

"No, no! He knows i'm in good hands."The tribrid said, brushing the hair from her eyes when he smiled at her words. The two stared at each-other for a long moment before she asked."Is it all right if I take a shower?"

"Of course, love, be my guest."Lucien gestured to a door near the bedroom."It's in there. Take all the time you need. There's a shelf with my witch's clothes and such on the left side of the room."

"Thank you."

Another smile graced his face as he met her eyes."Anything for you."

She nodded, sending him a thankful smile before she turned and headed toward the bathroom. She shut the door behind her, looking around with wide eyes. It was massive and looked like something out of a magazine. The tribrid walked toward the shower, opening the glass door before she turned on the shower.

Karina sighed as she spun around and faced the large mirror behind her. The tribrid placed her hands on each side of the marble sink before she raised her head and met her own gaze in the mirror. Her own ocean blue eyes stared back at her and, for the first time in her entire life, she didn't smile back at her own reflection.

"Mik-ael-son."She slowly whispered, running a hand over her face."You are a Mikaelson. Strong, beautiful and powerful. Always and forever. Don't you forget that over one bloody mistake. A mistake, Karina Grace, that will never happen again."

She forced herself to smile before Karina turned around, pulling off the black shirt and her underwear, placing them in the laundry basket before she stepped into the shower. She let out a long breath, one of content, as the hot water met her skin.

It felt good on her sore muscles.

Karina, eyes running over the shampoo bottles, picked up the one that she guessed was the witch's. She squeezed some onto her hand and ran it through her hair, massaging it into her long locks as she shut her eyes.

Karina then stepped underneath the water again, letting it free her hair of the shampoo that made her smile when the scent of strawberries hit her nose.

"The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamt I held you in my arms. When I awoke, dear, I was mistaken, so I hung my head, and I cried..."

She softly sang as she raised her head, letting the water hit her face before she reached out and grabbed the soap."You are my sunshine, my only sunshine; you make me happy when skies are grey. You never know, dear, how much I love you, please don't take my sunshine away..."

She lathered herself up with soap, rubbing harshly, as if trying to rid of invisible proof that she had been beaten. The tribrid set the soap aside and brushed her fingers through her hair, opening her eyes as she wiped a hand down her face. And as her vision settled, she suddenly found herself back in the French Quarter, mouth filled with blood as Gaspar pulled on her ankles.

She reached up to try and cast another spell but, before she could, his hand raised, and he punched into her chest.

Karina choked as she began to choke on blood, her hands coming to her chest to stop him but she couldn't. Her eyes widened as he smiled down at her and for the first time in her life, she felt fear, something she'd never felt.

Gaspar, noticing her eyes glassed over, taunted."Little girl wants her daddy, doesn't she?"

Karina blinked, finding herself back in the shower and she inhaled and exhaled quickly. Despite the hot water spraying on her, she was cold and she hated it.

She shut her eyes, returning to singing the song her mother used to sing her."You are my sunshine, my only sunshine; you make me happy when skies are grey. You never know, dear, how much I love you, please don't take my sunshine away..."

The tribrid opened her eyes as she tried to control her breathing, stepping out of the spray of the shower. Karina's back met the cold tile of the shower wall and, all of a sudden, she found her lower lip quivering.

Then her vision became watery and, before she knew it, she was sobbing. Karina slid down the tile wall, her entire body shaking because of the loud sobs that were spilling from her lips. They echoed throughout the large bathroom, as she pulled her legs to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, burying her face into her legs.

She was weak.

The tribrid suddenly jumped when she felt a hand on her face and a towel being wrapped around her.

"Love?"

She looked up to see Lucien, fully clothed, kneeling in front of her. He didn't seem to be bothered as the water rained over him, soaking him.

"I can't stop. Something's wrong with me."

"Oh, darling, there's nothing's wrong with you."Lucien whispered to her, showing her a side of him that only she saw."Just tell me."

Her watery eyes met his hazel ones."Tell you what?"

"What is going through that pretty head of yours?"

"Pissed. Demeaned."She looked away, another tear running down her cheek and she wiped it away sheepishly."I'm the most powerful creature on this planet, yet some fool strolls into the city the one time my family isn't there and beats me without even trying."

"Being powerful and being able to defend yourself are two different things, darling."Lucien said to her, fingers crawling up her bare arm."I didn't learn to defend myself properly until I was taught by the best. Even your father had to learn to defend himself and i'm sure it took him some time. You grew up being sheltered by those who weren't sheltered. Your family spent so much time protecting you themselves they didn't properly teach you how to act when you're stood alone."

She chewed on her bottom lip, looking down at her hands."So i'm an easy target when they're not around?"

"No, but there are some devils who will come out from their crevices to attack you in order to get to those close to you."Lucien whispered, fingertip brushing underneath her chin, lifting her head."You can fight but the issue is keeping up that fight. It'll take time but, love, remember that whenever you stumble, someone will be there to catch you when you fall."

"You are not weak. Smug? Mesmerizing? Loyal? Yes."He emphatically said, nose brushing hers as he cupped her cheek."You are many things, my darling, but weak is not one of them."

A doleful but an appreciative smile appeared on her face as another tear dropped from her eye.

"Why are you so benevolent with me?"

"Because when I first saw you, darling, you did something nobody has ever managed to do to me."

She tilted her head, interested."And what's that?"

"You made my heart skip a beat, and nothing's been the same since. I find that the longer I try to stay away from you, the more I covet you."He stated, looking anywhere but here as he dropped his guard for a moment."You...You tend to to take my breath away whether you're at your worst or you're at your best. I want to be there for it all."

He met her eyes before a chuckle left him as he held up his wrist, showing her his watch that had stopped."Why else would I be sitting in the shower soaking and possibly breaking a very expensive watch?"

Karina let out a sad giggle, hugging herself, noticing that the towel Lucien wrapped around her was also soaked. Her free hand came up and her fingers swept aside wet locks from his forehead before she cupped his cheek. He smiled at her, water dripping from his face as her fingertips traced invisible patterns on his skin.

"Can I stay tonight?"

The male vampire reached up and grabbed her hand, holding it in his larger one."You're always welcome here, love."

The two smiled at one another before the male vampire stood, holding out his hand toward her. She, keeping the wet towel against her body, accepted his outstretched hand and allowed him to pull her to her feet. But, as he moved to step out of the shower, she tugged him back, hand squeezing his.

Lucien turned around, a look of worry on his face, brow furrowed.

His free hand settled on her shoulder as he looked her over, searching for anything wrong.

"What is it, love? Did you hurt-"

She cut him off by leaning up and pressing her lips against his. Karina let out a sigh of content at the feel of his lips against hers and, like each time before, she felt butterflies fluttering in her stomach. Lucien hummed against her lips, fingers brushing underneath her jawline before he grasped her chin.

The two broke away a moment later, Lucien's eyes opening a second later, Karina copying him.

Lucien tilted his head, question in his eyes."What was that for?"

"Do I need a reason?"She shrugged, reaching out and grabbing clothes from the shelf."Can we rest now?"

"Of course."He smiled at her before holding out his hand."May I?"

She went to accept his hand but, all of a sudden, Lucien turned into a blur. He moved quickly, flashing behind her, arm winding underneath her thighs, his other arm curling around her waist.

He scooped her up into his arms without a care in the world, as if she were as light as a feather.

"You can't say that i'm not a gentleman, my darling."

She, for the first time that night, found herself smiling as he spun around in a small circle with her in his arms before he led her to his bedroom.