Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Diaries, but I do own my OC, Robyn, and any other original characters that will eventually make their way into this story.
Robyn's POV
Emily's mouth opened and closed like a fish's and I was sure her eyes would pop out of their sockets if they gotten any wider.
"Em?" I asked cautiously. "Are you alright?" She looked down at the floor momentarily and then back up at me with a deadly calm expression; her gaze darted over to Klaus, then back at me before she replied.
"Fine," she choked out. "Just fine."
"Alright," I nodded slowly. I felt a gentle touch on my arm and I turned my head to face Klaus, who was trying to stifle a smile.
"Perhaps it's best if I go now," he whispered. I looked back at Emily, suddenly feeling quite afraid.
"Yeah..." I agreed. "I think that would be...yeah."
"See you at Gloria's," he said with an amused smirk. He hesitated for a second and then placed a chaste kiss on my lips before stalking off towards the stairs, carefully sidestepping my sister as he went. I could feel my face burn as he disappeared, leaving me alone with Emily.
"Em, I—" I began, but was immediately silenced as my sister raised a single finger. Everything was silent until we heard the faint sound of the door closing and a car starting outside. Emily sighed and walked to the apartment door, unlocking it to let herself in.
I quickly picked up my momentarily forgotten keys and clutch and followed her into our apartment, carefully shutting the door behind me when I spotted her pacing in the living room.
"I...I am very disappointed in you, Robyn," she said, wringing her hands together as she paced. "You should know better than to kiss a stranger in such a public place."
"A stranger?" I frowned. "Emily, he's not—"
"This is the sort of thing that mother was afraid of when we convinced her to let you move in with me," she continued, ignoring me entirely.
"Mother worries too much, Emily."
"First it was Gloria's," she sighed. "I should've put a stop to it when I had a chance. And now it's getting worse."
"Emily!" I exclaimed, grabbing her arms to stop her from pacing a hole in the floor. "Take a breath and think for a second; nothing is getting worse. And Niklaus isn't a stranger."
"Oh?" Emily asked, raising an eyebrow. "Who is he, then?"
"He's..." I paused. I very well couldn't say he was a centuries old vampire who harassed me just so he could drink my blood. But don't worry now because he hasn't done anything like that since he attacked me at the library. "He's…a friend."
"A friend?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Where did you meet?"
"Uh...at Gloria's," I replied sheepishly.
"Ah-ha! You see?" she exclaimed, pushing me out of her way so she could continue pacing. "I told you that you would get into trouble if you participated in illegal activities!"
"Illegal activities?" I frowned. "Em, you're making it sound like I joined a lynch mob and have been murdering people in the middle of the street."
"Perhaps that's next," she huffed. My jaw dropped in shock; I never thought my sister, my best friend, would say such things, but she did and, oh, they stung. I took a breath and willed the tears back.
"I...I'm an adult, Emily," I told her. "And fully capable of making decisions on my own; I didn't need your permission to work at the library, so why did it seem like I needed your permission to work at Gloria's?" Emily seemed momentarily caught off guard.
"Y-you—"
"And I don't think that who I kiss or where I kiss them is any of your business either!"
"I-it isn't, but Robyn—"
"I didn't have a problem when you moved into the city, Emily," I began. "I didn't have a problem when you started spending all of your time with Greg and rarely came to visit. And then I got the position at the library...and you insisted that moving in with you would be wonderful. Our last adventure before you get married. But you just said that to be nice...to make your kid sister happy?"
"Oh, no, of course—"
"You're worried that I'm changing too much?" I asked. "Well, take a look at yourself. My sister, my Emily, who used to check under my bed for monsters and cook up schemes to get cookies before dinner, would've never said the things you just did. She would be proud that I was grown up and living a life of my own...instead of being pushed down a path mother chose for me."
I turned on my heel and walked to my bedroom, scowling at Emily's calls of protest, slammed the door behind me. Once it was closed, I couldn't help but release the floodgates and let the tears fall freely.
Emily's POV
July 1, 1920
I shouldn't have been so hard on her. As soon as Robyn walked away and slammed her bedroom door shut behind her, a deep pang of guilt erupted in my stomach and I felt awful. I, having a rebellious streak when I was younger, had done much worse than kiss someone in a hallway, and thinking back on it now, I feel much worse about yelling at my sister.
To make things even worse, she hasn't talked to me for a week. At first, I thought she would simmer down and understand why I reacted the way I did, but she didn't. She stays in her room most of the time, except in the mornings to get ready for the library, or at night when she comes home. I wait up for her every night, to see if she would let me apologize, but she doesn't even look at me when she gets home; she walks into her room and locks the door behind her.
Greg told me it was best if I just left her alone, and I'm finding it harder to do that the longer I wait. I want my sister back.
Robyn's POV
"Thank God, you're alive!" Rebekah exclaimed cheerfully as I squeezed beside her at the crowded bar. "Every time I got sight of you tonight, it looked like you're about to be devoured by a mob of humans."
Gloria's had been busy all week, thanks to the speakeasy a few blocks away that had been raided a few nights ago, and customers had been flooding in faster than bottles of liquor could be opened and glasses cleaned. Since I had confided in Gloria about my argument with Emily, she figured that I would find a good distraction at the club and convinced me to come in every night so far this week. She was right, it was a good distraction: I didn't think of Emily at all as I struggled to move through the sea of bodies, arms flailing out at me with money for cigarettes, chocolates and roses, all while the band played live, upbeat tunes that inspired dancing left and right.
"I'm sure that it looked better than it was. I got pinched twice," I said as I tried to get the bartender's attention.
"What?" Rebekah choked on her champagne in disbelief.
"It was an accident," I shrugged. "Besides, Gloria is reveling in the boost in business, so I can't really complain."
"Of course you can Robby," Rebekah protested with a look of disgust. "You should've just beat the living hell out of whoever touched you."
"I can't do that!" I exclaimed.
"Just point them out then," she scoffed, gesturing to the rest of the club. "I'll do it. I don't care."
"Oh, please don't," I laughed and she rolled her eyes.
"With you and Nik around, I never get any fun," she sighed.
The bartender finally noticed me and walked over to take the money I had collected so far so he could put it in the cash register. I thanked him and bid a quick goodbye to Rebekah and made for the curtain cloaking the back hallway.
I walked into the storeroom at the end of the hall and unstrapped my tray, looking around the dozens of boxes stacked against the walls to find the one marked "cigarettes."
"For God's sake, Gloria," I sighed. "You need to get organized."
"It would seem so," a smooth voice came from behind me. The door to the stockroom shut with a resounding bang, and I jumped and quickly turned around, only to have lips crash into my own and two hands slide over the silky waistband of my skirt, squeezing my waist slightly. I pushed myself away from my assailant for a brief moment and barely caught sight of dark blond hair and familiar grey-blue eyes before his lips captured mine again.
My hands pressed against Niklaus' chest as he pulled me against him; my heart beat loudly in my ears along with the sound of the band faintly heard from the club. I felt Klaus smirk against my lips and I rolled my eyes, figuring that he could hear my rapid heartbeat. He lifted a hand from my waist and brought it up to cup my cheek, caressing my skin gently with his thumb.
Klaus' POV
"You're getting better at that sweetheart," I said with a smirk as Robyn pushed me away, hungrily inhaling as much air as she could. Her cheeks flushed and she hid her face in my chest bashfully. "We're going to need to practice more though; much more."
"You're terrible," she muttered.
"That I am, but you've been avoiding me," I replied. "So I figured I'd take matters into my own hands."
"Have you seen the crowd out there?" Robyn asked, looking up at me. "I've been busy."
I silently recalled the past week; it was true, Gloria's had become much busier, but I had been impatient these few days since I had taken Robyn home from the baseball game and kissed her. I would watch her talking with a group of people across the club and occasionally, she would look over and smile.
Rebekah had mocked me on more than one occasion about how she was worried, by the look in my eye, that I would steal her away and have my way with her. I had just scoffed, but the idea had crossed my mind at least once; I craved her. Her attention, her company, her kiss…her blood. And the more I had to wait, the more I craved her. So when I saw her disappear behind the thick curtain alone tonight, I couldn't wait any longer.
"You have time to talk to Bekah," I pointed out.
"Not really," Robyn replied. "She talks to me while I try to work; it's really quite distracting."
"She can't help it; she's like a lost puppy," I shrugged. "Just ignore her and she'll leave you alone."
"That's mean," she said, stifling a giggle.
"She's my little sister; I have to be a little mean." Robyn froze and looked down at the floor. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," she said quickly. "I just need to get back out there before Gloria gets mad." Robyn backed out of my arms but I pulled her back.
"It's late," I pointed out. "The club won't be open for much longer; I doubt if Gloria minds if you take a break."
"Well unlike you, I try to be responsible." She carefully removed my arms from her waist and turned towards the door, but I grabbed her hand and spun her to face me.
"You're too responsible."
"I am not!"
"Have a little fun, Robby."
"Nik, I'm serious," she laughed. "Now will you let me go?"
"I've…" I hesitated, uncertain about how to continue. I hadn't felt…well, I barely felt anything remotely similar to the things I felt for Robyn since Tatia; almost a thousand years of cold disappointment and hatred. I was a vampire and emotions were the greatest weakness a vampire could have. But I was also a hybrid, technically, if I could break the damn curse; I was indestructible. Why should I fear having emotions?
"I've missed you," I whispered finally, lifting a hand to push a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
"You missed me?" Robyn raised an eyebrow.
"Yes."
"Are you sure?" she asked.
"What?" I smirked. "Is the big bad vampire not allowed to miss someone he cares about?"
"You're not that bad," she muttered.
"Oh no?" I asked. I grabbed her by the waist and rushed across the room, pinning her to the wall; I felt my face change into its vampiric form, my fangs pressing against my lips as I grinned wickedly at her. "How about now?"
The room was silent, save for sounds coming from the club and Robyn's rapid heartbeat. Her eyes were wide, and at first I thought it was because of fear, but then she tilted her head to the side, cautiously lifted a hand up, and I felt her fingers lightly brushing over the veins protruding beneath my eyes.
Robyn took a breath and was about to speak when the door to the storeroom opened with a creak.
"Robyn, I was beginning to worry—" Gloria began, freezing mid-sentence when she saw us. She placed her hands on her hips and frowned. "What's going on in here?"
Robyn's POV
"Oh God," I muttered. "Not again."
"Gloria," Niklaus greeted. "How nice of you to join us; Robyn and I were just—" He stopped short and released his hold on my waist, falling to the ground as he reached up and held his head. I went wide-eyed at the sudden change in his behavior and looked to Gloria for an answer.
"What's going on?" I asked in confusion.
"I thought I told you to leave Robyn alone," Gloria said.
"Technically, we never made that deal," Klaus replied in a mocking tone, despite the pained look on his face. He cried out in pain and I quickly knelt beside him.
"What's wrong?" I asked, stroking a hand across his forehead. He clenched his eyes shut and cried out again. I looked up at Gloria. "Are you doing this? How are you doing this?"
"She's a witch," Klaus groaned. "Some friend; didn't even tell you her secrets." A…what?
"Is this true?"
"I'm afraid so," Gloria replied.
"Then stop this, Gloria, please," I begged in fear for Klaus' well-being. Sure, he was a vampire, but…I guess witches trumped vampires when it came to abilities. "He wasn't going to hurt me; we were just talking."
"Alright," Gloria sighed after a moment or two. "I'm sorry." Klaus let go of his head and his face relaxed; he pushed himself into an upright position and glared at her.
"I'm sure you are," he snapped.
"I was worried for Robyn," she continued. "I'm sure you would've done the same thing were you in my position."
"Could you just…go back to the club, Gloria?" I asked. "We'll be out in a minute; don't worry." She watched us with worried eyes and left reluctantly, but left the door open, in case of any danger, I suppose.
"Are you alright?" I asked Klaus.
"Yeah," he huffed. "I've met many witches in my time and, as strong as they've been, I think Gloria beats them all. She really packs a punch." I sighed and sat down on the floor, facing him.
"I think I'm getting sick of the truth," I muttered. "Vampires, witches…what's next? Werewolves?" Klaus shot me an amused look and I groaned. "You can't be serious!"
"I'm afraid I am," he replied. "Besides, what's wrong with werewolves?"
"Nothing," I shrugged. "I suppose they're interesting in books, but I don't want to meet one." Klaus smirked and shook his head; he leaned close to me, our lips practically touching
"You shouldn't believe anything you read in silly storybooks," he whispered. Suddenly he was on his feet and was helping me up. "Come now; we don't want Gloria to come back and set me on fire."
"Can she do that?"
"She can do much more than just that," he laughed.
I walked into the apartment and carefully closed the door behind me; I was about to go to my room when I spotted Emily, asleep, on the sofa in the living room, her journal in one hand, clutched to her chest, and a pen on the floor, presumably where she dropped it when she fell asleep.
I frowned and placed my bag on the floor, then walked over and knelt beside her. My stomach dropped when I saw tears glistening in her eyelashes.
"Em?" I said softly, shaking her shoulder gently. "Emily wake up."
"Robby," she groaned. "Go back bed. Mother will be mad if we try to take from the cookie jar again." I stifled a giggle at her response; we had always been after cookies when we were younger and the only chance we got to get to them while our mother wasn't watching us like a hawk was in the middle of the night.
"Emily, come on," I said, shaking her a little harder. "You're dreaming. Wake up."
"Hmm?" Emily's eyelids fluttered a few times and, drowsily, she looked around the room. "Where am I? What happened?"
"You fell asleep on the couch, Em," I told her.
"Oh," she yawned. "I was waiting in my journal…writing for you to come home."
"I think you're a little confused," I laughed.
"Hmm." She rubbed her eyes and then looked at me. "Oh Robyn, you're home!" She suddenly attacked me in a hug and I got a face full, and not to mention mouthful, of her oh-so-orange hair. "Oh, I'm so sorry for acting the way I did the other day. I didn't mean to yell at you…to say that you were…I don't know how you could ever forgive me."
"Are you crying Em?" I asked, pushing her back so I could look at her. Lo and behold, tears were streaming down her cheeks.
"I just missed listening to the radio with you and going to the market with you," she sobbed. I pulled her into another hug and waited for her to stop crying.
"I'm sorry," she finally said when she was done.
"So am I," I muttered.
"For what?" she asked, pushing me away so she could look at me. "I…I'm the one who was unfair to you."
"Maybe so, but I was a little unfair to you as well," I shrugged. "Can you forgive me?"
"Can you forgive me?" she asked in reply.
"Of course," I nodded. "I kinda need my sister back."
"Oh Robby," Emily hugged me one last time. "This is wonderful. The next night you have off from Gloria's, we can sit down and you can tell me anything you don't want to keep a secret. If you want to, that is. But I definitely want to hear about that…what was it? Nikolas? Niklaus? What is he? A…gentlemen caller?"
"You're too old-fashioned Emily," I laughed, then yawned. "I'll tell you all about him tomorrow; it's late. You've already fallen asleep on the couch once and I really don't want to sleep on the floor."
"Alright then," she scoffed in mock derision. "If you want to be a princess, fine." We stared at each other and then laughed.
Almost a half hour later, I was in bed drifting to sleep as my brain filtered the last of my thoughts for the night.
I was a librarian by day, a cigarette girl by night. I had made amends with my sister. I had two good friends: Gloria, a witch, and Rebekah, a vampire. Not to mention Niklaus, who I felt so much toward that it both excited and scared me. And everything was going to be alright.
Gloria's was in full swing; the patrons were drinking and laughing, the band played some upbeat tune as the dancers did their routine. And I was amidst it all, smiling brightly as I went from table to table, trading cigarettes and other little trinkets for money.
Then…everything seemed to become sluggish and hazy around me; the music was warped and people passed me with heavy, slow steps. The world suddenly tilted and I felt myself falling, the contents of my tray spilling to the floor; I closed my eyes and waited to hit the ground, but it never came.
Arms wrapped around my waist and hauled me to my feet; my head fell back against someone's chest and a hand pushed my hair back and out of my face.
"It's alright, dear girl," a smooth, cold voice whispered in my ear. I didn't recognize the voice at all; it was dark...scary."Everything is going to be alright."
My eyes roamed over the club and I spotted two familiar faces: Emily and Greg. Why were they at Gloria's? Emily was pro-prohibition, 100%, so why was she drinking champagne and laughing? I frowned and noticed the sparkle of a bejeweled dress in one of the corner booths; Niklaus, Rebekah and Stefan Salvatore laughed joyously, raising champagne coupes filled with, what looked like, blood in a toast. Gloria's voice resonated from her position on stage, but sounded odd with the distorted music.
"You see?" the voice asked. "They'll be alright without you. You don't have to be afraid."
"Afraid of what?"
"Don't be afraid."
"Of what?" I asked again.
"Of death." My heart clutched in my chest and my shoes slipped against the floor as I tried to kick myself free, but the arms tightened around me.
"No," I protested. "No, please."
"Relax," the voice cooed. "Your time is coming to an end; it'll all be over soon."
"No."
My eyes jolted opened and I shot upright in my bed, awake, a scream ripping through my throat before I could control it.
A/N: So…I'm BACK! A few excuses; so little time. I sent out the previews late, and then some stuff got in the way of the update, so it was even later. It's up now, and I'm going to make an effort to update once every two weeks at the latest. No promises, but I'll try.
Anyways, what a chapter, eh? I'll admit that this was one of those hump chapters that takes a while to get past, but once you get it, you're on a roll again. I changed the part I sent with the preview a little because of some storyline ideas I had. It makes sense if you're in my head, which you aren't, so let's move on.
That's all I have to say. Reviews are always appreciated and will, as always, get you a preview of the next chapter. (Oh and what a chapter the next one will be!) So review. Questions, comments, concerns, crazy theories; anything? Do you like the way Robyn and Klaus' relationship is progressing? What do you think Robyn's dream meant? Did Robyn and Emily make up too quickly? Let me know what you think; I'm dying to know if this story is as good as I hope it is. REVIEWS!
Until next time!