"Here."

The dark haired bartender with a rather large chip on her shoulder slammed his drink down in front of him, effectively breaking his daze. Her dark eyes looked as though they were lined with soot, and they remained fixated on him. He was mildly unsettled by her brazenly apathetic - almost despising - demeanor. Almost like a witch, yet not. It wasn't a feeling that he'd ever gotten from anyone else. There was something about her that he couldn't quite put a finger on... he wasn't normally one to look away but the ferocity almost made him uncomfortable.

He took the old-fashioned and gave it a sip. Strong, just as he liked it. He passed his card over to her. "Thanks, love. Start me a tab?"

"I'm not 'love,'" she growled as she snatched it up from the black marble counter.

He knew she meant it, and perhaps he should heed the warning. But he gave a wolfish grin in spite of himself. He was thoroughly intrigued.

He studied her a bit more intently now that she was turned to the register, leaning forward as he tried to figure out what it was that made her different. Her darker skin practically shimmered in the lights, almost as if it glowed from embers within. And he couldn't ignore the way her posh all-black leather ensemble hugged every curve. She looked like a dominatrix, but not in a costumed way. She was the sultry living embodiment. But that still was far too simple of an explanation of her complex energy...

"There you are," called the female voice he'd been expecting, and his investigation was suspended momentarily to welcome the one who always commanded his attention. He turned in his seat and drank in the sight of her: starting at her strappy metallic stilettos, scanning up her long bare legs, over the daringly short hem of her form fitting sequin minidress, to her crown of dark waves that shone blue in the club lights.

Elena laughed, red lipstick perfectly framing her white teeth, her dark brown eyes sparkling. "Niklaus," she playfully admonished him. His brother stood behind her with a possessive hand on her waist as he surveyed the room. But Elijah didn't blink as Klaus nuzzled in to her neck, planting a soft nip underneath the long tresses that were styled to appear effortless.

"Divine," he murmured and he felt her goose flesh rise under his lips.

"Thank you," she said smokily, her eyes locked with his. He smirked as he pulled out a stool.

Elijah sat to the other side with his own faintly entertained smile. "Our beautiful Elena," he remarked in agreement. She sat down between them, preening like a peacock with her decotellage on display and Klaus enjoyed the way a faint blush settled over her skin.

The bartender was looking at them now with her own bemusement. She faintly hmmm'ed at the scene unfolding as she handed back Klaus's card. Then she smiled at Elena.

"I assume you're on his tab."

"I suppose I am, unless Elijah is paying tonight?" Elena glanced at each of the brothers from under a thick fluttery line of lashes.

"You know you never have to ask," Elijah said in a low, husky voice as his hand rested upon the bare small of her back.

"Thank you," she softly replied as she smiled at him, biting at the corner of her lip. But then politely held her hand out over the bar. "I'm Elena."

The bartender firmly gripped it with a shake. "Mazikeen."

"Oh, that's unusual... but I love it."

"Thanks," the other woman smiled back sweetly, but Klaus recognized what was barely veiled underneath that smile. He was never surprised by those who gravitated to the goddess next to him. He took a short swig of his drink, contemplating his next comment, though his thoughts were almost immediately interrupted.

"She actually goes by Maze."

The English accent belonged to a tall, impossibly handsome raven-haired man who had materialized behind the bar. He wore a perfectly tailored suit much like his brother's, though rather than being strictly contained under a tie, the first few buttons of his dress shirt were open.

His gaze was firmly fixed on Elena. Maze rolled her eyes before nudging him with her shoulder as if to push him out of her domain. But Elena was transfixed... and while Klaus felt as vexed as Elijah looked at this newfound competition, he couldn't blame her. This man was positively magnetic.

"Maze," Elena repeated the vixen's name though her eyes were ensnared by the man, her mouth hanging open for an extended moment before she cleared her throat and looked down. Her hand went to her chest as if she were composing herself. "Well, it's wonderful to meet you, Maze. This club is amazing."

"Yes, brother - well done with picking tonight's venue," Klaus remarked as he sipped his drink again.

Everything was perfectly sleek LA, from the ambience of the moody lights to the clusters of chic cushioned sofas arranged for intimate conversation, and the wall of backlit bottles behind the chrome and black marble bar that seemed infinite. The music pulsed from the illuminated dance floor in the center of the venue, recessed behind where they sat at the bar.

"Well, thank you," the man remarked with a genial smile, his eyes now fixed on Klaus as though he recognized something about him. "LUX is my pride and joy."

"Do you...?" Elena glanced at him as Maze set an orange drink in front of her. Klaus noticed the sets of eyes on Elena as she popped the cherry in her mouth.

"Yes," the man said, slightly drawing out the 's,' and Elena shifted just so in her seat. "I do own it. Why don't you let me show you around?"

He was around the bar and whisking Elena off of her stool in no time. Klaus caught Elijah's sideways glance, and he had to wonder what alternate universe they'd stepped into.

"She reminds him of someone," Maze said, looking between them both knowingly, setting down a scotch in front of Elijah. And yet his brother had never ordered. "When he gets that look..."

Klaus had noticed a similar look in Maze's eye when she regarded Elena. "And who is he, exactly?"

"Lucifer Morningstar. The owner of this place, my boss... and the biggest pain in my ass."

Before Klaus could inquire further about the theatrical moniker attached to an equally ebullient man, Maze was at the opposite end of the bar. He turned in his seat to catch a glimpse of where Elena had gone to, though it was almost impossible. There were throngs of people everywhere.

Until the spotlight shifted from the dance floor to a piano in one of the conversation coves. And it shone down on Elena draped over the piano like a chanteuse, with Lucifer sitting at the keys.