AN: Sorry it took so long, my job got the best of me. Hope y'all enjoy, leave a review if you're feeling generous! Much love
Antonia made it to the front door just in time to see Klaus starring down Mikael who was throwing his own death glare.
Shaking away her own fear of the man, Antonia let her mate instincts kick in, all that ran through her mind was to protect her Alpha, her mate, Klaus. Formulating a way to help Klaus kill Mikael all while keeping Klaus safe and out of harm's way.
"Hello Niklaus"
"Hello Mikael, won't you come in. Oh, that's right I forgot. You can't" Klaus almost teased as he stood only feet away from only the barrier between.
"Or you can come outside if you want" Mikael countered.
Antonia watched the exchange from the hall, it was awfully calm and civil which only made the situation only feel more dangerous making it harder for her to know what to do. Despite not knowing what to do she slowly inched closer.
"Or I can watch my Hybrids tear you limb from limb" suggested Klaus as if on cue Hybrids filled the front lawn.
Without even looking back Mikael simply said "They can't kill me"
"True but it'll make one hell of a party game. All I have to do is rub these two fingers together" Klaus said gesturing with his middle and thumb, "And they'll pounce"
"The big bad wolf" Mikael taunted, "You haven't changed. Still hiding behind your play things like a coward. You only forget, they may be sired by you but they're still part vampire and they can be compelled by me"
Suddenly Elena was pulled from the shadows by the same hybrid that had informed Klaus that Mikael was at the door. In the meantime, Antonia couldn't think of anything additional to do only look on silently praying it all ended up as planned.
And planned it was.
"Come out and face me Niklaus or she dies" Mikael threatened as Elena struggled in his grasp.
"Go ahead"
"No Klaus he'll do it!" Elena pleaded for her life, her eyes welled up with tears as her lip trembled.
"If she dies, this lot will be the last of your abominations"
"I don't need them. I just need to be rid of you" Klaus growled out his calm façade slipping away.
"To what end Niklaus?" Mikael egged him on getting louder and louder, "So you can live forever alone, with no one at your side? No one cares about your anymore boy!"
Klaus' eyes started to well up with tears brought upon by the hurtful words. "Whose loyalty do you have other than those you have forced? No one. No one!"
"I'm calling your bluff father, kill her."
"Come outside and face me you little coward and I won't have to!"
"All my while life you have underestimated me. If you kill her you lose your leverage. So, go ahead. Go on. Kill her. Come on old man! Kill her!" Klaus managed to get out as a single tear rolled down his cheek.
"Your impulse Niklaus, is the one thing that keep you from truly being great"
Elena continued to struggle and got to an angle enough to steal a glance at Antonia in the back giving her a wink which fortunately did go unnoticed, however Elena's gaze caught Mikael attention giving Antonia away.
"Perhaps I was wrong, seems you have found someone. I think I'll kill her next, leaving completely and utterly alone for good, boy" Mikael sneered, Klaus didn't even have to look back to know his father was talking about Antonia. And with that Mikael thrust the blade in his hand into Elena's back, no doubt the knife sliced into vital organs. Blood quickly spread about as Elena gasped for air.
Mikael pulled the blade from within Elena letting her topple to the floor in a heap as Klaus starred back in shock at his father who only chuckled darkly. Antonia went to move to go to Klaus but before she could a blur flashed past her beating her to him.
Her instinct was to jump back thinking the blur was a compelled Hybrid coming to snatch her away but the blur whirled Klaus around and threw him to the floor. It all happened so fast that Antonia wasn't even sure how she got to the two but next thing she knew she was pulling with all her might on Damon's arm which was pushing the white oak stake into her mate's chest.
"No! Don't!" Antonia screamed as she pulled and punched with all her might.
And with perfect timing Elena sprung up from the porch floor.
"Katherine..." Mikael stuttered out as he realized he had been played. Turning away from the bastard Katherine grabbed two wolfsbane grenades from her coat pockets. Plucking their pins, Katherine sickly sweet muttered "Kaboom" as she threw them at the compelled Hybrids.
Antonia knew Katherine was gone, it was part of the plan but she really wished she had stayed around she could have used her best friend's super vampire strength right about now.
Agonizing screams from the Hybrids filled the lawn as Damon was getting annoyed with Antonia attacking him. Her human strength proving futile against Damon's own vampire strength but after a particularly well aimed punch to his jaw he was tired of having the human "attack" him.
Deciding he needed her off of him he twisted his torso towards her and back handed her sending Antonia flopping to the floor. In the short time Damon had straightened up to hit Antonia Stefan saw his opportunity.
Stefan slammed into Damon pinning him to the floor a few feet away from Klaus, the white oak stake clattered to the floor as it flew out of Damon's hand at the impact.
Antonia was still reeling from Damon's blow but she managed to scurry on her hands and knees to the white oak stake that was still in rolling away after being dropped. A few feet away Klaus was trying to catch his breath as his wound from where the stake had started to pierce his flesh.
Just when Klaus was starting to sit up Antonia was at his side with the stake, offering it to him. Their eyes met for half of a second before Klaus flashed up. Letting out a battle cry as he went over the threshold, and outside onto the porch with perfect timing he plunged the white oak stake into Mikael's heart. Stumbling back, falling Mikael burst into flames as the stake was firmly impaled his heart.
Antonia got up as fast as she could just able to catch the last glimpse of fear on Mikael's face as he went down in flames. Backing up a few steps Klaus stood there looking down on his burning father. The flames got higher and quite as a mouse in heels Antonia came down the front stairs making her way to Klaus.
She didn't have to see Klaus' face to know he wasn't wiping away sweat but tears. Trying to comfort him without being too much Antonia slid a single hand on Klaus' back. It took a moment for Klaus to really notice she was there but when he did he brushed her cheek with his hand, the same cheek Damon back handed less than a minute ago. His touch soothed the red angry skin.
"Are you alright?"
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" Antonia asked softly as reached up wiping away the remanence of tears from his own cheek. She could see the internal battle to either let his emotions come storming out or put on his game face and deal with the Salvatore situation.
And the decision was made for him when suddenly Damon's voice was heard. "What the hell was that!" The pair made their way back to the house leaving the burning corpse behind for the moment.
"What the hell did you do!" Damon yelled at his brother atop him again as they reached the door.
"He's earned his freedom" Klaus said walking in, the brothers still tangled up on the floor. Stefan got up from his brother to look at Klaus, clearly taken back by the statement. He came to stand in front of Klaus, and the two looked whole heartily at each other.
"Thank you, my friend" Klaus said holding eye contact he undid his compulsion. "You no longer have to do what I say. You are free"
The younger Salvatore's eyes teared up as he gained his freewill back, no doubt expecting a horrible reaction from his brother Stefan looked to where seconds before his brother lay pinned to the floor. But Damon was gone, making it the smartest move he made all night. Following suit Stefan flashed out of the house leaving Klaus and Antonia alone.
"Do you need to talk about it?" Antonia peeped shifting on her feet in nervousness and pain from wearing heels all night.
"Thank you" Klaus nearly whispered as he looked down at her.
"What?" Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"For doing more than just planning this party" Antonia looked away, his tone suddenly making it very unclear how he felt. His comment came across insincere.
"Are you? Thankful?"
"I thought I was one step ahead, turns out I wasn't. But you were" Shrugging Antonia scratched the back of her neck. "Despite its success it was extremely idiotic"
"Pardon?" Now she was super confused, her hand fell from her neck coming to fiddle with the hem of her dress.
"I told you to stay put, you could have gotten hurt! Or worse!"
"I'm sorry, are you mad at me because I could have gotten hurt? I basically saved your precious doppelgänger, not to mention you!"
"I should have been included in the plans!"
"I knew you wouldn't go through with them if they involved 'Rin. Besides it's not like I can actually die, Mikael is gone for good that's all that matters!" Antonia said raising her voice, pointing to the burnt corpse outside.
"No that's not all that matters! Bloody hell I don't know what would have happened if something happened to you, what would happen to me."
"Happen to you?"
"Never mind, let's go" Klaus' face dropped at his misstep in words and he moved to led her out by her arm but Antonia yanked it away.
"No, not until you tell me what you just said means!"
"The mate bond" Klaus breathed out as he got closer. No more than a foot between them. "I wanted to check if one mate died if the other would feel any residual effects if they had yet to be bonded."
"What?" Antonia's voice was small as she spoke quickly falling into panic and distress backing away. So much so that her back came against the hard wall. The cool wall against her skin sent goose bumps across her skin.
"I know Antonia! I'm the bloody fucking Original Hybrid who the hell wouldn't I know, or at least figure it out?" His hands flying into the air with exasperation.
"I don't know! I was planning on telling you after Mikael"
"Is that so?" He took a step to her.
Pushing her back further into the wall behind her Antonia's mind was reeling, trying to grasp what he was telling her.
"How?"
"I had my own suspicions, but it wasn't until Gloria that I was sure."
"I was going to tell you!"
"Were you!?" He bellowed, his voice echoing throughout the empty house. Silently she was glad that he knew but this wasn't how she had wanted it to go down. Not at all.
"I wasn't sure you'd believe me, hell I wasn't sure I'd even like you" Klaus threw her a look, "I know I know, mates are made for each other but mostly I wasn't sure you'd even want me... I mean you know you are the Original Hybrid, why would you ever want me!" Antonia babbled off nervously under the constant glare of Klaus.
"I think it's clear I want you"
"I know I want you too but no, I mean yes, it was kind of abrupt! I'm not just another girl, do you even know what it would do to me, to you, if we completed the mate bond and didn't stay together? Let alone if I was to turn and not complete-" Tears threatened to flow at the terrible thoughts that ran through her mind but her voice was strong, she wasn't sure Klaus knew exactly what the effects would be if he had wanted to go to a witch to find out.
"Antonia-"
"What!" Judging by Klaus' reaction he wasn't expecting Antonia to actually let him speak since his mouth just hung a gap.
"Forgive me for me not going from meeting you to spilling the biggest secret of my life to you, a secret that could damn well kill me!" Antonia said standing up from the floor meeting his stare.
"I know! That's why I wanted to go to my damn witch, incase Mikael killed me! I was thinking of you, I wanted to protect you!"
Now it was Antonia's turn to be lost for words. Looking down she slid back down the wall to the floor. Klaus huffed, and the floor creaked when he walked to sit down beside Antonia.
Their knees knocked as Klaus started, "What happened in the car was impulsive and selfish on my part, I wanted a moment to hold onto if Mikael killed me or bloody hell you. I wanted to know what it felt like to hold you even if it was just for a moment. That wasn't fair. But I know exactly what we would be getting into, Antonia. I know what I want, the question is do you?"
Looking up from her knees Antonia toyed with her hands in her lap, "I'm just scared"
"Of me?"
"No, I mean yes, no, no. What I mean is that I'm scared of you because you could very well break my heart. I'm scared because I may know more than you about mate bonds but that doesn't mean I don't know shit because I don't."
Klaus' hand slipped over hers, settling itself between hers which clutched onto him. Antonia's heart beat was about to break through her chest as Klaus spoke, "We'll figure all of this out together"
They sat in silence, hands intertwined for a while until Antonia's eyes started to get droopy.
Antonia's head on his shoulder Klaus glanced down and noticed her sleepy state.
"Come let's go home"
"Okay." Slowly they got up and started to walk out the house, "What about Mikael?"
"His body?" Antonia nodded, "I'll call the Hybrids to take care of it" nodding again she let him call them in private so she went to his SUV parked in the front past the corpse.
Realizing the car wasn't unlocked she just leaned against its side closing her eyes, waiting. It wasn't that long until Klaus was in front of her. "In you go" He said opening the door for her. Getting in himself Klaus drove them home in somber silence, his right hand resting in hers.
It was late in the day when Antonia woke next. The other side of the big bed Klaus and she had fallen into holding tight onto each other was left empty.
Stepping over her discarded red dress from the night before Antonia hopped into the shower and got dressed in a simple navy-blue lacey dress. Tossing her hair up into a messy bun Antonia strolled out of the bedroom to find Klaus.
Following the sounds of life in the house Antonia came into the studio, Klaus in front an aisle. With his back to the door Antonia slipped in, "Morning"
Pivoting to face the black-haired girl Klaus smiled, "Good morning, love" There was paint on his cheek and hands, he truly looked like an artist amidst creating a gem.
"Sleep well?" Antonia asked pushing off the wall to come sit on the table closer to the action. Klaus nodded as he came placing his hands on either side of her thighs.
"How are you doing with everything, want to talk about last night?"
"You ask a lot of questions for someone who just woke up" Klaus teased putting a baby curl behind her ear.
"I just want to be here for you with all of this"
"I appreciate it I really do, love. But I don't want to talk about him. It's over, done, dead." Looking away Klaus closed his eyes for a moment before going back to hers. With a tilted head Antonia's eyes showed the compassion and caring that she held for him.
"I'd rather talk about us" At that Antonia's eyebrows shot up, "I was thinking we could go to my witch today and dig more into this"
Pacing back in fourth in front of the bay window Antonia was trying to be calmed down by Klaus. "I don't see what the big deal is, I'll be right there with you. Antonia we'd be doing this together"
"You know I don't like witches Klaus!"
"Yes, I do! But it's not like we have a whole lot of options to learn more about us, what we are, what we will be"
"What if I already know everything there is to know, then there's no use!"
"You said so yourself you know shit about mate bonds"
"I know things! Can we just talk about what I know already and maybe between the two of us we already know everything there is to know!" She reasoned as she stopped pacing throwing her hands out and about.
"Fine" Klaus relented.
"Really?"
"Yes, now come sit Antonia" Patting the leather couch next to him.
Walking over to sit down Antonia realized something, "Do you mind if this waits actually?"
"What, why?" Klaus asked standing up, running his hands up then down Antonia's shoulders catching her hands in his.
"I haven't had anything to eat since yesterday before the party, I'm starving!"
"Well that's unacceptable, let's go get some food into you right now!" Klaus smiled pressing a kiss to her hair as he led the way out of the studio to the kitchen.
One stack of chocolate chip pancakes and a bowl of strawberries later accompanied by a large glass of milk Antonia and Klaus were sitting in the sitting room off the kitchen. Sitting opposite sides of the couch facing each other Klaus was trying to ease Antonia into talking about all things mate.
"I really don't know much"
"That's alright love, let's just start with what we do know"
"What if everything I know isn't true?"
Scooting closer Klaus plucked the empty bowl from Antonia's hands, "Then we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. We can always double check all the lore with a witch later." Placing the bowl down on the coffee table Klaus slung his arm around the back of the couch behind Antonia.
"You're right you're right." Rubbing her hands over her face Antonia started, "I know that mates are created for each other, they complete each other."
Receiving a nod in encouragement from Klaus she continued, "Even before they trigger their werewolf gene they will be drawn to each other, have an energy between 'em. If one has triggered their gene that one will actually be able feel a physical the connection more than the other."
"That much we know." Cocking her head not following Klaus explained. "When you'd touch me, I'd feel like an electric shock."
"Oh"
"What else, love?"
"I was always told that if mates started the bond without being together after, triggered or not, they would be uncomfortable, irritable and if triggered they would be in immense pain." Antonia's heart was beating like a hummingbird. Knowing things was one thing but saying these crazy things out loud was another. It made all these side effects of the supernatural bond feel oh so real.
"When you say bond do you mean the mark?" Klaus started trailing off so Antonia could fill him in.
"Yeah, they have to mark each other while they're being um ah intimate" she rapidly said shifting her eyes all around the room not looking at Klaus. He chuckled at her, turning to face him more she brought her left leg up on the couch her back against its arm.
"What?"
"You're cute when you're all flustered" Earning him a playful slap on the chest.
"Do you want me to continue or not?"
"Hitting me or telling me about mate bonds?" His cheeky smile making it hard for Antonia to stay irritated at him for long. "Because either are fine with me, love"
Antonia's face showed just how taken back she was but it immediately turned into a smile and a giggle. "Anyways! Even before turning they have strong instincts of protection of one another but that's really it. All I know is from what my pack said centuries ago, so who knows if all of that lore is still true today. I mean I don't know what it means for us since I've been turned immortal and you're a, the Hybrid."
"That would complicate things now wouldn't it"
"I would assume so… what do you know?" Antonia asked, hopeful.
"The same as far as instincts and being drawn to each other. I guess being The Original Hybrid doesn't know much. Wasn't something I'd even thought of looking into until recently, until you." His last words breathy, Klaus leaned in his eyes searching her stoney gray ones for permission. Permission to kiss her, to get his lips on hers again.
As she leaned in Klaus brought his hand that was on the back of the couch to cradle the back of her neck drawing her forever closer. When their lips touched it both of the them could feel the fireworks that exploded between them.
Antonia swore her lips moved on their own accord, the best kind of kiss that one doesn't think about had nothing on the way Klaus' lips made her feel. Their tongues battled each other with sweet caresses. It felt like infinity until he tore his lips away to see the heat on her cheeks, the bruised look of her pink lips. Looking back at him she couldn't help poking her tongue out running it over her lip pulling it between her teeth.
Sliding his free hand up her left thigh he tugged it up towards himself, letting her body lay back as he lifted. He hovered over her as her hands came up to hold his face. As her hands moved from his face to press down his chest in a feather light touch against his Henley sending electric shocks to his skin underneath sending his body lurching into hers.
His grip tightened on her thigh keeping her from arching any more into him as he pressed open mouth kisses to her neck. Latching onto her pulse point Klaus evoked a sweet breathy moan from her, leaving him wanting to hear more sounds of pleasure fall from her lips. Oh, the things Klaus wanted to do to her.
The same hands that had started to trail over to his back pulling him closer found the curls at the base of his neck, twirling them in her nimble fingers. The cool smooth leather against the bare back of her thighs was a delicious contrast to the warm rough material of Klaus' jeans between her inner thighs as she wrapped her lower leg around his locking them together.
Lifting back just enough to see her face Klaus couldn't imagine a more beautiful sight than the beauty beneath him.
"Bloody hell you're so gorgeous" Klaus declared looking right in her eyes.
His cluster of necklaces hung out of his shirt offering themselves to Antonia as the perfect way to get his lips back on hers. Her chest heaved up and down She smiled softly then looping her index finger in the loops of the chains Antonia tugging gently as she brought her lips crashing back to his. Antonia was arching into him as Klaus' hands ran up and down her sides leaving goose bumps in their passing.
They made out for a few more minutes until suddenly the same hands pulling Klaus closer were firmly planted on his chest pushing him back.
"We should stop"
"You're right we should at least until we know more"
