"Allye, sweetheart. Time to wake up." I let out a groan as I felt something rubbing my back.
I cracked one eye open and saw Nik sitting on the end of my bed with different clothes on.
"I thought you said you were going to call?" I muttered tiredly and closed my eye.
"I did. Twice. You slept through both of them." I leaned up on my forearms and looked at the clock. It read 10am.
"Shit. I didn't know I was that tired. I never sleep past 8." I said as I rubbed my face.
"I didn't know such foul language came from you." Nik said playfully. I just rolled my eyes.
"I just woke up and besides, I've cursed much worse than that." I got out of bed and made my way to the bathroom. I could feel Nik's eyes on me as I walked.
"I need to tell you what happened last night." Nik said, his tone becoming serious. I turned on the shower and gestured to Nik to continue.
"Elijah planned with the Salvatores and undagger the rest of my siblings."
"You don't sound very angry about that." Nik chuckled.
"Oh it gets better. I find out that my mother that I killed a thousand years ago is alive." My jaw dropped at that.
"What? How?" I exclaimed.
"Apparently her body was preserved by witches and was on the other side for a thousand years. That's besides the point. My mother forgave me." Nik said in disbelief.
"That's good, isn't it?" I asked slowly. I opened the glass door to the shower and got in.
"It is, but it's still unreal to me. She wants us to be a family again." Nik said as he leaned against the bathroom counter.
"That's what you wanted right?" I said as I washed my hair.
"It is. I'm not complaining. I should mention my mother is throwing a ball tonight." I finished my shower and turned off the water.
"A ball as in a ball like in Cinderella?" I asked as I opened the glass door and grabbed a towel.
Nik chuckled, "Yes, love. I told my mother that you are going to be my date." I wrapped the towel around my body and grabbed the second and started drying my hair.
"Okay, one problem with that. I don't have any fancy ball gown dresses." I retorted.
Nik gave me his signature dimple smile, "I already did that for you. It's in a box on top of your dresser. It's your favorite color and I would love it if you wore your necklace I got for your birthday with it."
"I think I can manage that." I said and gave him a kiss on the lips.
"Hm, one more thing, love. My mother wants to meet you before the ball."
"Then I need to finish getting dressed." I said and took a deep breath.
"You'll be fine my love. I'll wait for you in the car." He kissed my temple and left the bathroom.
I let out a whistle as I saw the size of the house. "You really went big with building a home here, huh?"
"Well I did build it for my entire family to live here. Come on. I'll show you to mother." I walked up the steps behind Nik. He opened the door and had me walk in first.
I stopped in the entryway and just took in the massive house. It looked even bigger on the inside.
"Look what the dog dragged in." I deadpanned hearing Rebekah's voice. I looked up at the staircase to see her standing on a step.
"Rebekah, I heard you got backstabbed. Literally." I fired back at her.
"Behave, sister." Nik said warningly.
Rebekah narrowed her eyes at me for a moment, "Oh come now, Nik. I kid. Nice to see you still have that fire, Allye." Rebekah said with a smile and walked down the rest of the stairs.
"Do you have a dress for the ball tonight?" Rebekah asked me.
"Yes, Nik got me one." Rebekah looked taken aback hearing me call her brother by the nickname only family could call him by.
She regained her composure before speaking, "Good. The ball starts at 7, be here by 5. I'm having a hair stylist coming in. I'd like some girl time while we get our hair done." With that she walked off.
"That wasn't even a question, it was a demand." I said slightly bewildered.
"That's Rebekah for you. She likes you, you know." Nik stated matter of fact.
I let out a sight, "Yeah, I'm aware."
"This way, love." Nik said as he walked up the stairs.
I followed close behind. Once we were up top of the staircase. I could see people getting the house ready for the ball all ready. I followed Nik until we approached a door.
Nik knocked on the door and a man opened the said door. The man looked between me and Nik.
"Mother, Niklaus is here with the girl." So this was one of Nik's siblings.
"Thank you, Finn. You may leave." Finn nodded and left without another word. Well he's uptight. The complete opposite from my Finn back in Beacon Hills.
"Niklaus, please come in." I walked into the room and Nik closed the door behind us.
"Allye, I presume?" Nik's mother asked, walking up to me.
"Yes. Allye Hale." Out of habit, I held out my hand for a handshake.
"Esther Mikaelson. You can just call me Esther." She reached for my hand and shook it. She stopped when she saw my ring.
"That ring. Where did you get that?" She asked intrigued. She recoiled back her hand, as did I.
"I've wondered that myself since I first saw it." Nik added.
"It's a family heirloom. My brother told me it's passed down to each generation of the Alpha's children. It protects the wearer from witchcraft." I answered.
"Yes, I am aware of what the ring does. I have not seen it since the 10th century." I furrowed my eyebrows while Esther gave a smile, "You're a descendant of a very powerful Werewolf we knew back then. Her name was Astra. She was the Alpha of her pack at about the same age as you. She never did take off that ring. We thought she died when Mikael went on a rampage. However, you're living proof that she survived." I was taken aback. Talk about a small world. The Originals knowing my ancestors.
"Now, Niklaus tells me that you two have imprinted on each other." Esther stated.
"That's an old term for it, but yes." I felt Nik place his hands on either of my shoulders.
Esther looked at her son and then back at me, "My son truly cares for you and for that, I am grateful. Welcome to the Mikaelson Family, Allye Hale." With that Esther gracefully left the room. Finn had opened the door for her. So he was listening in.
"Well that wasn't awkward at all." Nik chuckled and walked in front of me.
"That was her way of giving us her blessing." He explained to me.
I gave him a puzzled look, "Is that some type of 10th century thing? Parents have to give their blessing to their child's partner?"
"Something like that. Now, how would you like a tour?"
"As much as I would love to. I'm feeling a bit suffocated after that. I'm gonna get some fresh air and something to eat. I'll see you later tonight." I kissed Nik on the cheek and made my way out of the mansion.
I walked into the Grill and scanned the bar for a spot open. I saw one and headed towards it. My eyes caught someone staring at me though. Elena and Caroline were at a table. I put on a fake smile and stopped at their table.
"Elena, thanks again for the freedom from that old cell that Stefan so rudely put me in."
"What do you want, Allye?" Caroline asked coldly. I raised an eyebrow at her tone.
"I'm here to grab some food before the ball. I don't live off of the blood of others like you, Caroline." I responded coldly.
"Of course you're going to the ball. I keep forgetting you're now Klaus' girlfriend. You chose him over all your friends, Allye."
My eyes flashed red from the surge of anger before I pushed it down. I placed my hands on the table and leaned in.
"A wolf does not choose their mate, just like how a human doesn't choose who they fall in love with. My tie to Klaus is stronger than any other bond I have. So sorry I made the selfish choice in order to save the one I love." I said in a low dangerous tone. Caroline said nothing but stared at me.
I let out a small chuckle, "Let's flip the roles here, shall we? Elena, what would you choose? Betray your friends to save Stefan...or is it Damon now? Which brother is your choice of the day, today?"
"Leave her alone, Allye." Caroline defended her friend.
"Right, my mistake. She's a bad example." I said with a tight smile, "Caroline, what would you do? In a situation that came down to save Tyler and betray your friends, OR stay loyal to your friends and see the one you love die in front of you." I waited for a response and Caroline said nothing and looked away.
"Not easy, is it? Maybe think of that next time before you judge someone, put yourselves in that person's shoes." With that I stormed out of the Grill. I just lost my appetite.
"Allye, wait." I didn't stop even after hearing Rebekah's voice. I saw her there with Matt at the same time I was talking to Elena and Caroline. She probably heard everything.
"I'm not in the mood, Rebekah." I said bluntly and kept walking at a brisk pace. Rebekah sped up her own walk and was now beside me.
"Would it make it better if I said you were right in that little debate?" She asked and followed me as I turned into an alleyway.
"I don't need to hear your two cents, Rebekah." I spat at her.
Rebekah crossed her arms and studied me, "Those two really hit a nerve. I haven't seen you this mad." I scoffed.
"Oh no, this is me upset. You haven't seen me in a full blown rage. People die when I get to that level." I responded coldly.
"It seems I need to start this girl time now." I looked at her dumbfounded.
"Where's your house? The dress Nik gave you is there, right?"
"Yeah…" I said hesitantly.
"Well? We don't have all day to get ready. Show me to your house." I let out a huff and left the alleyway and towards the woods.
"Now this is relaxing." Rebekah said. She had her head leaned back with the hair stylist washing her hair.
We had grabbed the dress and the necklace and were now back at the mansion. Both of us were currently in white robes as a team of hair stylists, make-up artists, and nail techs were working on us. My hair was in a towel drying and I currently had one nail tech working on my manicure and another one doing a pedicure.
"I haven't done this since my sister died." I admitted.
"From the way you talk about her, she sounds like she was a really good sister." Rebekah said quietly.
A sad smile adorned my face, "Yeah, she really was. She practically dragged me to my first spa day. I thought it was way too feminine for my taste. That thought went out the window the moment the massage started." I said laughing a little at the end.
"I've never been able to do this with another girl. Nik and Elijah wouldn't dare do something like this with me. It's nice to hang out with another girl." The hair stylist finished washing her hair and was drying it off and wrapping it in a towel.
Rebekah stood up and walked to the chair to get started on her own manicure and pedicure. The hair stylist then moved to me and removed the towel and grabbed the nearby blow dryer.
"If you'd like Rebekah," She turned her head to me hearing her name, "I could do this more often with you, that's if you don't mind?" She gave me a puzzled look.
"You sure I wouldn't be stepping on your toes? This was something you did with your sister." Rebekah asked.
"Well apparently your mother welcomed me to the family in some sort of blessing matter. That means, we're technically sisters now, right?"
Rebekah gave me the first genuine smile I've seen, "I suppose you're right."
We settled into a comfortable silence. The only sound was the relaxing waterfall and windchimes audio that was playing over the speakers. Our relaxing mood was interrupted when the door to the room swung open.
"Sister, I hear our brother's guest is with you." A man walked in with brown hair and brown eyes.
"Kol, get out of here." Rebekah threatened.
Kol ignored Rebekah and made eye contact with me. A coy smirk formed on his face.
"So you're the woman that has my brother so smitten. Kol Mikaelson." Kol introduced.
"Allye Hale," I gave him a tight smile, "We've met, now you can leave." Kol got a glint in his eyes that I didn't like.
"Yes, what she said. Leave. Now, Kol." Rebekah reinforced.
Kol narrowed his eyes at his sister. He opened his mouth to speak but got interrupted when a hand fell on his shoulder.
"I believe they asked you to leave, Kol." Elijah stood behind his brother. Kol glanced back at his brother and then left without another word.
"Thank you, Elijah." Rebekah thanked and leaned back to relax.
Elijah nodded, "I'll see both of you at the ball." With that he turned around and closed the door behind him.
"I do not like him. That look in his eyes was not good." I stated.
"Kol's a loon. He enjoys being a Vampire the most out of all of us. He's gotten daggered more than any of us due to his constant rampages. He led Mikael to us on more than one occasion with his body count." Great. He sounds more implustic than Damon.
I looked in the mirror as I stared at my reflection. My hair was pinned up in the back with a decorative hair clip that had silver flowers on it with fake jewels. My bangs were left out of the clip and were tightly curled. I had natural make-up on with eyeshadow that made my emerald green eyes stand out. I had put on the blue dress Nik had picked out for me. White gloves that ended near my elbow were on and silver shoes with 2 inch heels completed the look. I picked up the silver necklace with a crescent moon and an alexandrite gem in the middle. It put the necklace around my neck and clasped it together.
"I hear guests arriving." Rebekah said, as her heels clicked against the hardwood floor. She stopped in front of the mirror and put in her earrings that were in her hands.
She stood up straight and looked at both of us in the mirror. "We look stunning. Now, why don't we make a few men's jaws drop?" Rebekah said playfully.
"After you, Bekah." I ushered. Rebekah left the room first with me behind her. The chatter in the room filled my ears. It only got louder as we descended down the staircase.
"If you would excuse me, Allye. I need to find my date." I raised an eyebrow at that.
"So you did invite Matt. That's why you were at the Grill." I said, smirking.
Rebekah rolled her eyes, "We were supposed to go to Homecoming together but that didn't happen. I get a do over." With that Rebekah walked off.
I chuckled and shook my head. I look around the foyer, just observing everything. Every important person of Mystic Falls is here.
"Allye." I was snapped out of my thoughts when I heard my name. I turned around to see Elijah in his tux.
"You look stunning this evening." He complimented with a smile.
"Thank you. You clean up nice yourself." He went to say something but stopped himself. He looked over my shoulder then back at me.
"We can reconvene later. It seems my brother is ready for his date." Elijah left and I turned back around. My eyes instantly landed on Nik who was just across the foyer. He wore a tux with a white bow tie.
I started walking over to him and he too began to walk. We stopped in front of each in the middle of the foyer.
His eyes raked up and down my figure, "You look ravishing, love."
"Why thank you, handsome." He grinned at that and held out his arm.
"Shall we?" I smiled and looped my arm under his. He led me near the center staircase and stopped.
"I see your family invited all the important figures of Mystic Falls." I commented as I looked at the crowd.
"Of course. We need to send a message." My eyes caught as Damon and Stefan walked through the front doors.
"I thought this was an invitation only party?" Nik looked at me confused.
"The Salvatore's are here." I continued. Nik lifted his head and had an impassive look on his face as Damon walked towards Carol and Stefan went off in a different direction.
"Forget them, love." I looked up at Nik in slight shock.
"You're not worried about what they're planning?" Nik looked down at me with his eyes holding a gentle stare.
"Not tonight. Tonight, you are my only concern." Nik assured me. He looked up and I followed suit. Esther was at the top of the staircase.
"I'll be right back, love." He gave me a kiss on the cheek and ascended up the stairs as his siblings followed suit.
Elijah stood on the first step and cleared his throat, "Uh, if everyone could gather, please." He announced. His voice echoed throughout the room.
"Welcome, thank you for joining us. You know, whenever my mother brings our family together like this, it's tradition for us to commence the evening with a dance." I felt eyes staring at me. I looked in the corner of my eyes and saw Damon and Stefan eyeing me. Something feels off. My instincts are going haywire at the moment.
"Tonight's pick is a centuries-old waltz, so if all of you could please find yourselves a partner, please join us in the ballroom." Elijah walked off and people paired and the chatter filled the air once again.
Nik followed his siblings down the staircase and came around to me. I looped my arm through his again as he led us to the ballroom.
We got in line with the other couples and once the music started. We all began to dance synchronized.
"Love, I don't have the same heightened sense for feeling as you do, but even I can tell how tense you are." I let out a sigh as Nik twirled me to where my back was now up against his chest.
"My instincts are going off like fireworks right now. Something doesn't feel right, Nik." I said with worry laced in my voice. He twirled me back to face him.
"Then that's for future us to worry about. Just focus on me tonight, love." He whispered and leaned his forehead against mine.
"God, you can be such a romantic when you want to be." I said, chuckling lightly.
"I've had a thousand years of practice." I couldn't help but giggle at his comment.
"There we go, that's better. Now, let's enjoy the rest of the night hm?" He asked as he made eye contact. I could only nod and rested my head on his shoulder as we swayed. I felt him kiss the top of my head and rested his cheek on my head.
I could feel eyes on me but I decided to ignore them. Nik's right. After everything we've been through. The two of us deserve a night just focusing on us. No drama. No worries.
After a few more minutes of dancing the part of the waltz of switching partners was nearing. Before that could happen, Nik led me away from the dance floor.
"Where are we going?" I asked curiously.
"I couldn't show you around earlier, so I am now." Nik led me past the foyer and towards a room.
Nik brought me to his art studio room. The room was filled with paintings on the wall, some paints still on easels, and sketches laid around.
"I've never been able to see your whole collection." I said admiring the paintings.
"You should see one of my landscapes hanging at the Hermitage, not that anyone would notice. Have you been?" Nik asked.
"I've been from coast to coast but I've never left the states." I commented.
"I could take you. Wherever you want." I faced Nik as he walked up to me and placed his hands on my waist.
"I guess I always wanted to tour Europe. Italy, France, Spain." I named off some of the countries.
"Then consider it done." I let out a chuckle.
"Slow down there. I'm not ready to do that yet."
"Then whenever you're ready, love." Nik leaned down and captured me in a kiss.
The sound of crystal ringing broke the kiss. "Sounds like my mother wants to do a toast. Best not to keep her waiting." Nik stated.
Nik led me into the foyer and stopped right in front of the staircase. A waiter walked by us and held two drinks for us to grab.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Waiters are coming around with champagne. I invite you all to join me in raising a glass. It provides me no greater joy then to see my family back together as one." My smile on my face dropped as I heard Esther's heart beat spike...she just lied. I felt my body go numb and tuned out the rest of her speech. Why did she lie? My instincts were right. Something was going on.
"Cheers!" The sound of everyone chanting snapped me out of it. I put my best fake smile on, as to not worry Nik, and clinked his glass with mine and drank from the champagne.
I then catch Elena standing by Elijah in the corner of my eyes. When did she get here? After the toast, I see Elijah depart from Elena.
"I'll be back. I need to use the restroom." I informed Nik.
"I'll wait here for you then. There's still more to show you." He said with a grin.
I walked away and looked back to make sure Nik wasn't paying attention. He was talking to Carol and some other higher ups of Mystic Falls.
I changed directions from the restroom and went in the direction Elijah went.
Elijah was mingling with some other people. I stopped and waited for Elijah to notice. He turned his head with a curious look on his face then his eyes met mine. I gestured with my head to come talk. Elijah excused himself from the group and walked over to me.
"Yes, Allye? What is so urgent?" He asked. I pulled him further into the corner of the room.
"Why were you talking to Elena?" Elijah was taken aback by the sudden question.
He regained his composure and retorted, "I do not know what you mean."
"Don't lie, Elijah. My instincts have been going off all night since I met your mother," This peaked Elijah's interest, "and I'm seeing red flags now that I know your mother lied during her speech." Elijah looked at me with concern.
"Not to mention the fact that Elena and the Salvatore brothers being here makes it all more suspicious. So I'll ask again. What is going on?" I demanded with more force in my voice.
"I'm trying to figure that out myself. Everything has seemed too good to be true. My mother asked for a private audience with Elena. That is why I talked to Elena, but she lied to me. Now that I know you heard my mother lie about my family being together. My suspicions are correct. I'll find out more." Elijah informed me.
"Keep me in the loop." Elijah shook his head.
"As much as I would wish to, I cannot. Niklaus must be kept in the dark about this for now. I need you to keep him distracted. I will handle this quietly." Elijah informed. I let out a sigh but nodded in agreement. I turned around and walked away from Elijah.
I was making my way back to Nik when I heard a crash and a thud outside. I see Stefan rush out to the front door. I followed behind just in time to see Damon snap Kol's neck.
I heard footsteps behind me as Elena and the rest of the Mikaelson's showed up.
"Damon! Are you crazy?" Stefan yelled.
Damon stood up and looked at all of us, "Maybe a little," His eyes shifted to Elena, "Far be it from me to cause a problem." Now Damon being impulsive? Something is definitely up. He turned his back to us and left.
An awkward tension filled the air after that. Stefan looked back and eyed us for a second before looking at Elena.
"I'll take you home." Stefan said and led Elena down the stairs to the parked cars.
"What happened?" We all turned around and saw Esther who looked none too pleased.
Esther saw her youngest son on the floor with his neck broken, "Finn, bring your brother inside. Elijah, dismiss our guests. The ball is over." Finn walked past me and picked up Kol and slung him over his shoulder. Elijah excused himself and went back inside. Esther then made eye contact with me.
"Niklaus, take Allye home and Rebekah," Rebekah froze and looked at her mother like a scolded puppy, "We need to talk." With that Esther returned back inside.
Rebekah followed after her mother and Nik walked to me.
"Come on then, love. Looks like the party is over." He placed his hand on my lower back and led me to his car.
"I assume your mother wanted no violence tonight?" I guessed, looking at Nik.
"Yes, and leave it to my little brother to be the one to cause a scene." I remembered back to earlier today with him walking in on Rebekah and I getting ready. That glint in his eyes just spelled out trouble.
"I met him briefly when Rebekah and I were getting ready. Didn't like him very much." Nik chuckled at that.
I was in the bathroom now in pajamas and in the process of removing the make-up. I still couldn't shake the bad feeling. Hopefully, Elijah will discover something soon.
Just as I finished removing the make-up, I heard my phone's text notification go off. I threw away the make-up wipe and turned out the bathroom light as I walked to my nightstand.
I picked up the phone and checked the message. I couldn't help but smile as I read the text.
'I had fun tonight. I'll see you tomorrow, love.' -Nik
I sent back a reply.
'I had fun too. Night, Nik.' -Allye
I have a bad feeling that this peace won't last for long.
Allye has now met Klaus' entire family. She even got Esther's blessing to be with her son. Though that's not going to change Esther's plans in the slightest. Allye knows something is up and the temporary peace Mystic Falls has is not going last.