Have fun.
''Talking''
'Thinking'
Flashback, Memory, Dream
Chapter 11
Ain't Nobody
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Where She Comes Closer
"I dream my painting and I paint my dream."
― Vincent Van Gogh
Present Time
They were in a bar called 'Southern Comfort'. Apparently it was a werewolf's favorite place to spend his time at when he did not have to change into a giant dog and kill everyone who crossed his path.
Ray Sutton
Klaus had been trying to find him for more than a month. The poor man had no idea what was awaiting him that day. Especially because the Original Hybrid was in a quite bad mood.
Well, Arianna couldn't have cared less about what happened to the mutt. He only had to help them reach their final goal, the rest didn't matter.
''Aren't you a little too young to be drinking that?'' Arianna moved her head to the left and saw that the werewolf was leaning against the counter. He had a beer in his hand and was looking at her with thinly veiled interest in his eyes.
Lips raising at the corners into a slight smirk, the girl took a sip of her bourbon. ''If that were true, wouldn't you be a little too old to be talking to me in such a manner. Some people might think your intentions are impure.''
''Impure?'' He chuckled a little nervously. ''I would never. Besides, I know the bartender. He would never sell bourbon to a minor.''
Arianna almost laughed. The werewolf wasn't wrong with his assumption. She had been asked for an ID after she ordered her drink, but there wasn't anything in the world compulsion couldn't solve. ''Then I have to tell you that you have to devise new pick-up lines because that one was horrible.''
''That I do.'' The werewolf sat down on the bar stool besides her. ''I'm Ray.''
Drinking the last sip of her drink, the young Forbes smiled at the man. ''Nice to meet you, Ray. I'm Arianna.'' Her gaze turned towards her empty glass and then back to his face. ''As you can see I'm out of bourbon. Perhaps you would be willing to order me another one. I fear I might look too young, so the bartender won't be willing to give me a second drink.''
Chuckling slightly, Ray motioned to the man behind the bar with his hand. ''Another one for the young lady here.''
Leaning against the bar in a way that exposed a little of her cleavage, Arianna smiled softly. ''Thanks.''
''It's alright.'' Ray scratched his chin, his light blue eyes strayed from her face. ''So, what are you doing here in the middle of nowhere?''
''Well, I'm on a kind of road trip with two friends of mine. We're actually searching for someone, you see.'' Arianna murmured, pushing a strand of her blonde hair behind her left ear.
Curiously, Ray regarded her, never noticing how her dark eyes shined with amusement. ''Searching for someone? What's that person's name?''
''Why do you want to know?'' She scrunched up her eyebrows, completely captured by the game she had started. The youngest Forbes sister knew that what she was doing was wrong, that she shouldn't have been enjoying manipulating the werewolf as much as she did.
That did not stop her from continuing her twisted game.
''I know quite a lot people here. Maybe I can help you.'' Ray took a sip of his beer, a grin slowly forming on his face. His blue eyes were shining brightly and a small part of her actually felt truly sorry for him. The same part was soon squashed away by her amusement and its existence forced into oblivion.
A hand was put upon his larger one. ''You seem like a nice lad, Ray Sutton, but I have to inform you that there isn't anything you can do to help me.''
It took him a second to realize that Arianna had used his surname without him having ever told her his full name. He ripped his hand away from her own and narrowed his eyes in suspicion. ''How do you know my name?''
''I have already told you that we were looking for someone, haven't I, Ray? That someone just so happens to be you.'' Her dark eyes widened in amusement and a wide grin graced her lips.
''Who are you?'' His hand took a tight hold of her arm, squeezing it in a way that promised to leave blue blemishes behind.
Arianna laughed.
''I kindly advise you to let go of me. Besides, Ray Sutton, you're asking the wrong person the wrong questions. It doesn't matter who I am or why I am here, it's my friend whom you should be worried about.'' She said right before an arm was slung over his shoulders.
Startled, Ray let go of her and turned to see his assailant.
Klaus met his gaze with a smirk and eyes that promised a painful death. ''You know, Arianna is right in both respects. One should never treat a lady like that, mate, and you truly are asking the wrong questions. After all, Arianna isn't the one who wanted to find you.''
Klaus' grip on his shoulder tightened. ''I've been looking everywhere for you. We started in Florida. Pensacola. I met a young chap there who you worked with before you moved to Memphis.'' Remembering their time in Pensacola, the Original Hybrid's smirk widened. ''Now he directed me to two lovely young women. And they led me here. To you.''
Slowly, Ray lowered his beer onto the counter. ''I think I'll be going.''
He stood up from his seat and started to move pass Klaus, only to be stopped by the other man grabbing his arm. ''Not so fast, mate. You only just got here.''
Before he could start struggling, Arianna decided to interfere. ''Your type are very hard to get by. He won't just let you go and fighting him will only worsen your situation.''
With wide eyes the werewolf turned to stare at her. He had not expected her to know his secret.
And even though she warned him, Ray still decided to struggle. He ripped his arm out of Klaus' grip and turned around to leave.
Stefan stopped him before he could even take one step.
''I wouldn't do that.'' The youngest Salvatore pushed Ray back against the counter, his eyes narrowing in annoyance.
Pale face and eyes wide, Ray Sutton whispered one word, ''Vampires.''
''You're swifty-swift, Ray.'' The Mikaelson patted the other man's shoulder, the force used pushing the poor werewolf slightly forward. ''Yes, my friend here is a vampire. He's compelled everyone in the bar, so don't look to them for any help.''
Ray's eyes immediately looked around the bar. Seeing nothing but indifferent faces, he knew that he had walked inside a trap.
''I, however, am something else.'' The blonde girl was looking at him with a mix of amusement and a little bit of pity. She had played him from the beginning on. ''A different kind of monster. I've got some vampire. I've got some wolf.''
For a moment the man must have forgotten the situation he was in. His face contorted in disbelieve. ''You what?''
Klaus shook his head in disappointment. It reminded Arianna of a parent scolding their child. ''A hybrid, Ray. I'm both.'' Then he smiled like a madman and the blonde girl somehow knew that whatever he planned wouldn't end well for anyone involved. ''You see, I want to create more of me. Now, you being the first werewolf I've come across in many a moon.'' The Original chuckled and Arianna couldn't stop her own giggle from escaping her lips. ''Pun intended, Ray. I need you to direct me to your pack. So where can I find them, Ray?''
The wolf tried to put some distance between them, slowly inching in Arianna's direction. ''It won't work. You can't compel me.''
Wrong answer.
Stefan's gaze moved towards the bartender and after ordering a scotch on the rocks, he turned his head and smiled cruelly. ''Tell you what, Ray. We're gonna play a little drinking game.''
The smell of wolfsbane penetrated the air.
Wrong answer indeed.
Two Months Before
Five coffins.
There were exactly five coffins. Only one of them interested her.
Kol's coffin. The one he had spend almost a century in.
Arianna had never been so close to him before. She could feel the magic connecting them calling out to her, urging her to do something. To come closer.
And before she could even think about the repercussions of going against Klaus' wishes, the girl's feet were already doing the one thing they shouldn't; moving towards one of the coffins. It was made of some darker wood and had beautiful silver engravings decorating its sides.
The youngest Forbes could feel his call. Could feel their bond pulling her forward with a promise of a long awaited reunion and carnage that was to come.
She took one step and then another. A third followed afterwards. Her heart was pounding louder than ever, muffling her ears to any sound her companions made. Her eyes were focused on only one thing; the coffin that was keeping her from the one person she had wanted to meet for her whole life.
Kol.
With hastened steps Arianna managed to reach her destination within seconds. Slowly, as if afraid that it might disappear the moment she touched it, the girl's hand reached out to the wooden object.
Palm pressed to the lid. A loud exhale.
Arianna could feel it, could feel him.
Trembling hands reached out to the locks that were keeping the coffin closed. They were easy to open, showing no resistance. One after another the locks were pushed up, till the lid wasn't attached to the bottom anymore.
Carefully, the blonde girl started lifting the lid, showing her the inside after a painfully long eternity. But she couldn't do it faster, not with the fear of this being just a dream weighting her down. What if this wasn't real? What if he wasn't inside?
The young girl did not know what she would do then.
Seconds later her fears were proven unfounded. When the lid was finally lifted completely and she managed to bring herself to open her eyes—When had she closed them?—Arianna was greeted by a sight she thought would be forever out of her reach.
The dagger made him look like a desiccated vampire. Skin gray and veins protruding. Clothes from a decade that had long since passed, eyes closed as if he was just sleeping. His chocolate brown hair was, even after all that time spend inside that accursed coffin, still impeccable.
She had never seen something so tragically beautiful before.
An unbidden sob escaped her lips. And then, so suddenly that it surprised even her, tears were streaming down her cheeks and a wide smile stretched on her lips.
Hand reaching out, the girl leaned slightly over the coffin's rim. Delicately, Arianna's right hand closed around the white oak dagger's handle.
She was close, so close.
The dagger only had to be ripped out of his chest and all her pain would finally end.
She had to put her left hand on his chest for help. It was harder than she thought to pull that dagger out of his heart.
She was even closer now. The dagger moved slowly, ever so slowly, out of his body. Just a few inches were left.
A large hand took hold of Arianna's wrist in an unforgiving grip. Squeezing and squeezing till she couldn't help letting go of the silver handle, letting go of her dream.
She fought against him, against Klaus. Tried to reach out with her other hand. Kicked him with her feet and even begged him to let her go and to let his brother finally go.
He did not.
Klaus pulled her against his chest and closed the lid. When one of her hands reached out to grab the rim, he managed to pull it away in the last second. Had he not done that, all her fingers would have been undoubtedly broken.
And then he proceeded to take her away...
...far from the warmth of her sun.
As expected, Ray caved in and told them the location of his pack. It was only a shame that it took him so long to do so. The young wolf could have avoided all the wolfsbane and pain if he had just told them what they wanted to know from the beginning on.
Fortunately, he did chose to tell them the truth before Klaus lost control of his temper and killed him because he was annoyed.
An unexpected problem came to light when they finally found the pack and Klaus started changing them.
None survived the transition.
In a twisted way, Arianna found herself being happy and almost laughing at his misfortune. Maybe Niklaus would have to spend another millennium searching for some secret ingredient to be able to create others of his kind.
That's what Arianna called Karma.
Luckily, she did not laugh in his face when one after another the wolves died. The girl doubted that Niklaus would have reacted well to such an action.
''Looks familiar, doesn't it?'' Klaus exclaimed once they finally entered their current destination.
A bar in Chicago.
Arianna walked to the counter and sat down on a bar stool, only halfheartedly listening to what her two companions were saying. In the last few months she had been in more bars than in her whole life together.
Stefan came up besides her and leaned against the counter. ''I can't believe this place is still here.''
Deciding that it was already late enough and acknowledging that it has become too much of a habit, Arianna took a bottle of vodka from the bar, opened it and proceeded to drink a large sip.
The alcohol burned her throat and pleasantly warmed her body.
Her head turned slowly to the right when she heard a pair of footsteps approaching them. ''You've gotta be kidding me.''
It was a chocolate skinned woman with short white hair. From the feel of her presence, Arianna knew that the woman was a witch.
''So the hybrid walks into a bar and says to the bartender...'' Klaus begun what Arianna was sure would end up being a horrible joke. He rarely did manage to say something amusing if it did not have anything to do with blood or outright carnage.
The woman raised her right hand. ''Stop.''
And Arianna immediately knew that this was a woman she would like.
''You may invincible, but that doesn't make you funny.'' Moving a few steps in their direction, her eyes landed on Stefan. ''I remember you.''
The youngest Forbes did not even bother trying to stop the laughter from escaping her lips. Rarely did someone even dare to interrupt Klaus. That woman had not just interrupted him, but also dismissed the hybrid in a manner that would have cost most their life.
Arianna really did like the witch.
''Yeah.'' Stefan nodded his head. ''You're Gloria. Shouldn't you be...?''
He did not have to finish his sentence, the woman did so for him. ''Old and dead? Now if I die, who's gonna run this place, huh?''
Klaus smirked and leaned his head towards Stefan's right ear. ''Gloria's a very powerful witch.''
''I can slow down the ageing.'' Gloria put a few papers she carried in her arms on the counter. ''Herbs and spells. But don't worry, it'll catch up to me one day.''
For a few seconds no one said anything. Silence reigned the room and the witch's gaze flitted to Arianna. Curiously, her eyes widened and she almost took a step in the young girl's direction.
Klaus stopped her from doing so. ''Stefan, why don't you go fix us up a little something from behind the bar.''
His words might have been directed at Stefan, but his gaze never left the witch.
''Yeah, sure thing.'' And just like that, the younger Salvatore brother was utterly dismissed from their upcoming conversation.
Once he was far enough for them to at least not feel as if he was listening—Not that such a thing was possible. There no privacy among vampires.—Klaus and Gloria moved to one of the unoccupied tables and sat down. ''I know why you're here. A hybrid out to make more hybrids? That kind of news travels.''
Klaus leaned backwards and smiled darkly. ''So what am I doing wrong? I broke the curse.''
''Obviously you did something wrong.'' The witch said calmly. ''Look, every spell has a loophole, but a curse that old, we'd have to contact the witch who created it.''
''Well, that would be the Original Witch.'' His eyes darkened a few shades and Arianna could see his lips curving into a minute snarl. ''She's very dead.''
''I know. And for me to contact her, I'll need help.'' Cocking her head to the side, the witch waved her hand to emphasis her next statement. ''Bring me Rebekah.''
If possible, the hybrid's expression darkened a little more. ''Rebekah is a bit preoccupied.''
''She has what I need. Bring her to me.'' It seemed as if she wanted to say something else, however, the witch was interrupted by Stefan's gasp.
Arianna's attention wandered from the conversing duo towards the young vampire. He was holding a black and white photo in his hand and looking at it as if the world was ending. ''What is this?''
Standing up from his seat, Klaus regarded the young vampire with a devious look. ''I told you, Stefan. Chicago's a magical place.''
Slowly, Arianna was starting to believe that going with Klaus might have not been such a ad idea. She was finding out new things about Saint Stefan each day, things that would certainly scare away little innocent Elena, and soon she would get to meet Rebekah Mikaelson.
And as if all that wasn't enough, things were going just like she had planned them.
Soon, no matter what she had to do for it, Kol and her would finally be united.