Chapter 2: Sly of the Tiger
Author's note: I'm overwhelmed by the attention you've given this one-shot series so far. Thank you all for your support! In this installment, we have hybrid king Klaus searching for the mysterious boss who has been poaching his most loyal clients and stealing his territory. His search takes him to an underground fighting ring owned by the mysterious boss. He's in for a surprise when he finally meets up with this formidable and sexy foe!
Warning: Some violence. Also, sexy times ahead!
"It's the eye of the tiger
It's the thrill of the fight
Risin' up to the challenge
Of our rival."
— Eye of the Tiger by Survivor
Klaus rolled his eyes at his brother Kol's eager expression. He was slightly baffled as they stood outside a quaint little pastry shop called Sweet Caroline. "You said we were meeting this mysterious new boss that's come into our town like a thief in the night, stealing our most loyal clients out from under us. Instead, you've brought me on an errand to fetch sweets," he said derisively, eyeing the soft pink girlish letters emblazoned on the storefront.
"Not exactly," Kol mumbled, opening the door hastily without bothering turn around to see if Klaus was following him. "You see, I couldn't quite pin down the boss' name, but my contacts were able to clue me into his connection to this place. He'll be here tonight, so I'm sure with a bit of coercion, we'll muscle our way into a meeting. Apparently he runs this operation in addition to blatantly trying to steal some of our business." He shook his head laughing, "It's crazy — I've been a regular here since they opened a month ago and it never occurred to me that it was connected to this new boss." He ignored his brother's bewildered expression and walked confidently to the gleaming white counter where a lovely girl with a sleek dark bob eyed him with deep mistrust.
"Kol Mikaelson," she said in a clipped tone. Her green eyes slid to Klaus, evaluating him briefly before returning to the flirtatious Original in front of her. "I see you've brought your brother to our establishment. I trust you've explained the rules?"
Klaus cocked an inquisitive eyebrow, trying to determine when buying sweets had become so complicated. His gray eyes flicked over the chalkboard menu, noting that nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but his hybrid senses could feel the slight tingle of magic in the air. He was quite certain that Kol's pretty friend was a witch.
"Not yet," Kol muttered. "I was getting around to it." He waved off Klaus' irritated expression and leaned closer to the girl. "Bonnie, I was actually hoping to run into the delightful Davina this evening. Can you be a dear and summon her?"
"That's not happening," Bonnie's sharp voice cracked like a whip in the empty pasty shop. "I don't know what you did, but she asked the boss to put her on the other entrance for the time being. Said she didn't want to see you."
"The other entrance," Klaus interrupted, glancing around the tiny shop suspiciously, unable to detect another access point.
"Yes, it's an entrance for our out-of-town guests," Bonnie said with a secret smile, clearly enjoying a private joke. She held out her palm to Kol and demanded, "Keys."
Without hesitation, Kol handed over his car keys, slightly pouting that the witch he'd taken a liking to was still angry over a tiny misunderstanding involving tequila shots, a simpering bartender and an ill-timed wardrobe malfunction. As Bonnie began chanting over the keys, making them glow with a slight green tinge, Kol glanced back at his brother to explain, "She's temporarily placing our car on a separate plane of existence so we don't arouse suspicion. Too many cars in that little parking lot would be a bit noticeable."
Bonnie returned the keys to Kol and addressed both brothers after Kol slid his credit card to her. "Right. Rules are simple — no fighting with the other guests, place your bets with the ghouls at the stations — any side action and the boss will know about it. And touch our employees at your peril — their bite is almost as bad as the boss'." She glanced at the door that Klaus had assumed led to the kitchen, and chanted a few more words under her breath. "Enjoy your night, gentleman."
Kol excitedly tugged Klaus toward the steel door, which Klaus soon discovered did not take them into a kitchen. "What the bloody hell is this," Klaus asked in exasperation. "Out-of-town guests? A bakery that is obviously anything but, and hiding cars on separate bloody planes of existence?"
"Right, well, the other entrance is for guests that use portals to travel to our world. You know, not everyone comes from the same dimension, brother. Try not to be so closed-minded," Kol said cheekily. At his brother's murderous expression, he hastily explained, "This mysterious boss runs a fighting ring here. The bakery is a cover. Easiest way to break the law is in plain sight — you taught me that. Apparently this new boss operates under the same principle."
They take a sleek steel elevator that suddenly appeared in front of them down far too many floors to count until they arrived in a cavernous room with an enormous arena filled to the brim with shouting spectators. Kol lead him to a roped-off, elevated section near the front. "My connections in the witch community afforded me some leverage, so I used that to secure prime seating."
As they settled into their seats, Klaus focused on the match in front of them. A tall, enigmatic redhead was furiously attacking a lithe, dark-haired beauty who returned every punch with equal force. Huffing in annoyance, Klaus turned to Kol and said disdainfully, "You brought me to this place to view foxy boxing?"
His younger brother burst out laughing. "Not quite, brother. Although not to discount the bevy of beauties who grace this ring, this place is considerably more than that." Suddenly, dark veins crawled across the redhead's pale complexion and she unsheathed her long fangs, burying them into the exposed throat of her opponent in a startling display of violence. "The boss apparently calls these matches Fang Fights," Kol continued, seemingly entranced by the blood being spilled before them. "The boss' girls are absolutely breathtaking as well as brutal. Usually they go on until someone gets killed, but all of the boss' girls are supernatural, so it's rarely permanent."
The excitement of the crowd seemed to energize the two vampires and their lean, muscular limbs became a blur of movement as they used their enhanced speed and strength to try to win the match. The brunette delivered a powerful uppercut and once her opponent was temporarily dazed, she leapt gracefully into the air with a perfectly executed roundhouse kick that slapped the furious redhead to the mat. In a surprise move, the redhead's arm reached out and gripped her rival's bare foot, soundly breaking the ankle with a sickening crack as the girl bellowed in rage. The brunette hooked the knee of her uninjured leg around the redhead's slender neck and with a quick snap of her toned thighs, delivered a broken neck, thus winning the fight. The loudspeakers announced, "Katerina defeats Aurora!" The brunette climbed to her feet, holding her broken ankle aloft as she waved to the adoring, noisy crowd with a triumphant smile.
"Hardcore," Kol commented, the awe apparent in his voice as he watched Katerina bend over and easily hoist her temporarily dead opponent onto her shoulder and carry her out of the ring.
Klaus was inclined to agree with his brother's assessment and he turned to ask how he managed to learn about such an intriguing place when his phone rang. He immediately recognized the number as belonging to one of their most prominent clients, so he hastily flashed to an empty corridor near the back to answer. "Jean-Luc, what a pleasant surprise," he intoned with a slight hint of impatience. "I assume you've called to renegotiate the ridiculous terms you presented? After all, no other organization can offer a higher return on your merchandise," he continued with a touch of arrogance.
His eyes flashed golden as he cut off the speaker with, "What do you mean the new boss offers a 30% cut?" He shook his head in aggravation, "At 30% there'd be no profit, no motivation for my organization to make the deal." His gray eyes nearly bulged out of his head as he gnashed his teeth angrily. "No, I can't offer free transport in addition to your ludicrous 30%! How in the hell would the new boss have access to those sorts of connections?! Bollocks, no one has a network that massive; the boss is a lying bloody bastard and you're a flaming imbecile to believe his drivel!" He threw his phone at the red brick in front of him, feeling a small sense of satisfaction as it shattered into tiny shards of metal, plastic and circuitry. He fought the urge to unleash his wolf and indulge in a violent feeding frenzy to calm his rage at the Lafitte family, loyal clients for centuries, and now unexpectedly choosing to funnel their merchandise through this mediocre upstart.
"Bad day," a musical voice commented wryly behind him.
Klaus whirled around to find a stunning blonde dressed casually in dark jeans and a navy tank top clutching a gym bag and studying him with obvious interest. "A minor disagreement between colleagues, sweetheart. Nothing I can't handle," he reassured her in a low voice dripping with innuendo. From her slow heartbeat, he surmised she was a vampire. He gestured toward her black bag and added, "I just had the pleasure of watching your coworkers fight brilliantly. Will you be sparring later tonight?"
Her blue eyes widened momentarily before she lowered her long lashes and said coyly, "I never pass up a chance to perform."
Klaus stepped confidently into her space, casually tracing his finger down her well-toned arm. "I bet you're quite the valuable asset. Tell me love, does your boss realize what a lucky bastard he is?"
She laughed softly as she watched his finger boldly draw small circles across her ivory skin. "Yeah, the boss is quite something. You'd be amazed."
"Doubtful," Klaus scoffed. "He's a wanker and I intend to dismantle his rubbish organization piece by piece."
Her red lips curled into a grin. "Really? Well, I must say, Klaus Mikaelson, it seems the boss was right about rumors of your arrogance," she said with a sly wink.
Klaus' dimples flashed as he looked down at the beautiful blonde in front of him. "Ah, so the old bastard's been telling tales, has he? Well, he's right to be worried." He cocked his head to the side, taking in the gentle swell of her breasts and murmured, "I don't believe I caught your name, love."
She giggled playfully and murmured with a twinkle in her bright blue eyes, "Stay for my performance; they'll announce my name then." She looked at her silver wristwatch and frowned slightly. "Unfortunately, I'm due on stage in the next 30 minutes, so I should probably get changed."
Before she could move past him, Klaus gently tugged on her arm and seductively drawled, "Perhaps I could interest you in a warm up, love?" His eyes darkened as he took in her long legs encased in the tight denim. "Wouldn't want you to get a pesky muscle cramp."
Her lovely face remained impassive as she studied him, considering his brash offer. She finally smirked, curling a cool hand around one of his wrists as she led him toward a large dressing room at the end of the corridor. He was disappointed to see there was no nameplate on the door or personal effects inside to give him any hints regarding her identity, but as soon as the door shut, those thoughts flew out of his mind the moment she threw her bag to the ground and attacked his lips with a ferocious growl.
The wolf within him instantly responded to her dominate display, the gold flashing in his eyes as he easily wrapped her thighs around his waist, sliding his palms along her ass. She maintained a strong grip with one forearm flung behind his neck as she worked her free hand between their grinding bodies and quickly unzipped her jeans.
With a groan, Klaus watched her clever fingers slip past her pink thong, stroking her heat in dizzying circles meant to edge her closer to release. He easily balanced her writhing body against the door with one arm while unbuckling his belt and lowering his gray trousers in one swift motion. The intoxicating smell of her arousal toyed with his hybrid nature, making him ache to have her spread upon his sheets as a delectable feast. Soon, he thought to himself as he planted furious, open-mouthed kisses along the side of her neck, delighting in her moans of pleasure.
She removed her fingers, dipping them past her puckered red lips as she savored her slick desire. He tugged one of her fingers from her mouth with his teeth, wrapping his tongue around the salty-sweet essence and growling in pleasure. With a calculated tear of his claws, he shredded the denim that blocked his access and buried his throbbing cock in her dripping center.
Her muscles clenched tightly around his thrusts, and she yanked her finger free from his mouth so that she could grip his neck, forcefully biting her sharp fangs into his carotid. As the rich iron permeated the air, he felt his own fangs drop and he dug them into the soft skin of her shoulder, eagerly lapping at her tangy life force.
Klaus could feel himself nearing his release, ending each smooth stroke by grinding his pelvis into hers, eagerly anticipating her lovely skin flushed and trembling as she orgasmed. With a gasping breath, she shuddered against his tense body, squeezing his cock in the most delightful manner as she ripped his orgasm out of him, leaving him a shaking husk as he fought to regain his bearings.
With an easy grin, she unwrapped her delectable curves from around him, swiftly kissing him on the mouth as he tucked himself back into his trousers. He caught her wrist as she pulled away, turning her palm over to gently kiss the smooth flesh as he stared into her eyes. "I expect we shall continue this later, sweetheart," he smirked at her, opening the door to the dressing room as she gave him a cheeky little wave.
His mind swirled with lusty thoughts of his mystery blonde, and he eagerly anticipated they would finish their tryst once her match was over. His body burned with the numerous ways he intended to ravish her, and he couldn't wait to bring her back to his mansion and dazzle her with its luxury. He doubted her work for this pathetic boss allowed her to indulge her senses with the finer things, and he would easily enthrall her with his extravagant world.
Unable to hide the satisfied smirk upon his handsome face, he found Kol attempting to chat up a pretty brunette that seemed to be Katerina's twin. She was sweaty and bruised as she climbed out of the ring, and clearly had no interest in his brother.
"Come on, Elena, you and Katerina haven't lived until you've experience my 'toad in the hole'." Kol wiggled his eyebrows comically as she scrunched up her face in disgust.
"I will skin your slimy toad the second it hops my way," she growled, shoving past him in irritation. Tossing her long hair behind her, she yelled, "And I'm telling Davina about your toad proposition!"
Laughing as the blood drained from his brother's face at the threat, he clapped him on his back and said jovially, "Tough luck, brother. Perhaps next time you'll get lucky."
Kol eyed Klaus suspiciously. "And what, pray tell, has you in such a good mood? Did you eat some of the staff? They frown on that here, you know — boss' rules."
"No, but it's entirely possible that could be on the menu later," Klaus boasted. "I met the most brazen little minx and tonight I plan on…"
His cocky speech was cut short when the colored lights dimmed and a bright spotlight illuminated the center of the stage where his mystery blonde vixen suddenly appeared, wearing a sexy halter dress that matched the bold red of her lips. The loudspeaker boomed as it announced to the cheering crowd, "Welcome to Fang Fights, brought to you by the boss, Caroline Forbes!"
Her blue eyes twinkled in delight as she steadily met Klaus' shocked gaze, tossing him a saucy wink.