Prologue
A/N: In this story, I'm imagining a world where Klaus was lucky enough to break his curse earlier after finding Katherine in Mystic Falls with Salvatore brothers. As a result, he had no real reason to return back to Mystic Falls in the present and never met Bonnie or her friends. The power he attained early on made him a different sort of person so expect some OOC-ness although he definitely won't deviate much from the dangerous hybrid we all know and love but he will be something…more. I've also tweaked his origins and age just a little bit. He also treated Marcel and Rebekah much differently. Bonnie is also a little different because leaving MF and having the opportunity to grow into her powers gives her a different sort of edge. All I can say is Klonnie will be BAMF and hot.
He arrived on the eve of a full moon. How fitting.
The familiar hum of power slithering from the base of his head to his spine was a welcome sensation. Klaus inhaled needlessly. The draw to this city had always been irresistible, right from the beginning when he and his siblings first arrived. The energy from the ley lines filled the city to the brim, coating the worthy residents who could tap into it with its power. He was one of those lucky few.
The Abattoir or the compound as it was fondly called by its residents former and current.
He had not set eyes on it for a hundred years, yet very little had changed. The time passed felt like nothing but the blink of an eye yet the tiny cracks and rusted metal spoke differently.
The vampires flanking the entrance eyed him uneasily. No doubt Marcel had told them of his arrival but there was no face to the name. Still, they could sense the power emanating from him. His aura was a unique swirl of grey and black signaling the duality of his being. The most brutal parts of both beings wrapped in one dangerous package.
"Is your master in?" He asked no one in particular.
The vampires looked at each other. A brave dark-haired one spoke up, "He is. Who are you?" they were young things. The oldest of them was just ten years. Still riding on the high that becoming a vampire gave. The strength, the power and the foolishness of youth.
Klaus smiled. His fangs popped for a second and his eyes flashed gold. They all scampered back at the sight. They might not have known his face but enough stories had spread for the signs not to be obvious. There was no need to even say a name. The addition might have been made the poor baby vamps desiccate on the spot.
He walked past them without another word feeling their trepidation turn to relief with each step away.
That was always a treat.
Being feared.
The house was as grand as he'd remembered. There were some adjustments here and there; some new paintings, a Michelangelo sculpture near the large staircase and a grand piano in the foyer. New rugs and curtains, repainted columns, minute details as such. The vampires inside were more respectful and could easily sense his power even if they still did not know who he was. Little wonder they were allowed inside.
Marcel was waiting in the foyer. Klaus took a moment to admire his favorite progeny. Rippling muscles and skinned tanned from the Louisianan sun, deceptively charming smile that many had surely underestimated as harmless. Not much had changed physically with him as expected but his eyes held the true secret of his age. He was a big boy now.
Long ago he'd left his son to watch over the city for him while he found a way to break his curse. It had paid off and Marcel did not disappoint.
"Marcellus," Klaus called out, doing very little to hide the delight in his voice.
Marcel grinned, taking in the sight of his sire after so long away. He got on one knee as a show of respect and extreme loyalty. Klaus clasped his forearm pulling him up. The vampires who saw the exchange were awed and confused but hid it well. Their king knelt for no one. They had witnessed him tear out the hearts of enemies perceived to be older and stronger than him. The wolves and witches feared and respected him in equal measure. Yet here he was, happily kneeling to another.
"Niklaus. You're a sight for sore eyes," He declared standing up.
"Understandable, considering the goons you keep outside," Klaus critiqued. He had been tempted to rip out one of their hearts, just to stave off any further thoughts disrespect but now was not the time to make any unnecessary messes.
Marcel laughed, "They're just fresh meat. Still learning and trying to earn their day rings. The rest of my men are nothing short of impressive."
"I would expect so," Klaus crossed his hands behind his back. There would be plenty of time for a more intimate reunion but he wanted to know what had been so urgent that his progeny had summoned him. In the years after he had broken his curse, Klaus stayed away from the city opting to give room for his progeny to grow. It hadn't been his plan from the beginning as voluntarily ceding power to another went against his very nature but something had changed his sights right after he'd attained his status as a hybrid.
So he became content to let Marcel rule, checking on his exploits every once in a while and beaming as a proud parent with every move that impressed him. Marcel cared deeply for his sire but also enjoyed his independence. Whatever must have happened for him to seek his help was grave.
"Now, tell me what you needed to see me so urgently for," Klaus asked.
Marcel gestured to the other vampires, "Leave us." They all dispersed immediately leaving the two vampires alone in the foyer. "I have taken a ward."
Klaus snorted, "A ward? You are more like your old man than I thought. Is that why you summoned me from 4000 miles away, to tell me I'm a grandfather?"
Marcel shook his head, "I wish it was but she's quite special and there's someone after her. It's a bit difficult to explain without meeting her first. She has magic."
"Is she a witch?"
"No she's not. Far from it in fact. But she possesses power of some kind. It's hard to explain without meeting her first," Marcel said.
"Let us meet this little wunderkind then," Klaus clasped his hands together.
He led Klaus upstairs to one of the bedrooms on the secluded second floor. No one was allowed to go there, save a few trusted members of his inner circle.
"Are Elijah and Rebekah with you?" Marcel asked.
"They're tying up some loose ends. They will arrive shortly," Klaus replied eyeing him meaningfully. Marcel betrayed nothing but his sire knew there was one Mikealson he'd been very eager to see again. He let it go.
For now.
Marcel knocked on the door of a bedroom, "Hey D, are you decent?"
"Yes. Come in," a quiet voice confirmed.
They entered the bedroom and were greeted with the sight of a dark complexioned young girl of about seven years old sitting on a queen-size canopy bed. Her wispy brown hair was pulled into a ponytail exposing her big brown doe eyes that beamed curiously at Klaus. At the sight of Marcel, she beamed brightly jumping off the bed and running into his waiting arms.
He happily squeezed the little girl, "There's my pretty lady."
She giggled with her arms around his neck, "You always say that."
He playfully bopped her on the nose, dropping her back to her feet, "That's because you're always pretty every day."
Klaus raised an eyebrow at their interaction but remained quiet. Marcel held her hand, "Now D, there's someone I'd like you to meet who's very important to me. This is Klaus. Say hi to him."
The girl turned to him, "Hello Mr. Klaus. I'm Demi. I'd like to shake your hand but I'm not ok with that yet and Marcel tells me it's ok if I don't want to. I don't have to do anything I don't want to."
"Well Demi," he crouched down to face her. His accent came out smoother, "You certainly should never let anyone make you do whatever you don't want to. And I'm no Mr. anything. Call me Klaus or you'll make me feel like an old man."
Demi giggled still clutching Marcel's hand, "But you are an old man. You're a billion years old!" she frowned scrunching up her little nose for a moment, "Well more like a thousand and twenty really. I can't count up to that much yet."
He instantly looked at Marcel who knew what he was about to ask, "I didn't tell her anything. I just said a friend was coming to visit." Ah, he wasn't exaggerating when he said she was special.
"How did you know that then little one?" He inquired of the little girl.
She shrugged, "Sometimes I just know stuff like that. Just like I know that you're something called a hybrid and it makes a lot of people very scared of you. I'm not scared of you because Marcel said you're our friend and I trust him." the girl was quite powerful then if she could easily sense who he was.
"That's very odd for a little girl not to be scared," Klaus stated. She was not a witch so he wondered how she could read him so easily. There was a strange energy around her that almost felt dark but misplaced. Like a shadow that couldn't attach itself properly to its owner. He could still feel another kind of power emanating from her. Something stronger.
"I'm only scared of the bad men and you're not one of them," Demi held Marcel's hand tighter and he patted her head in comfort. Klaus assumed that she was referring to whoever was after her. "I also heard about you from the wind."
"The wind?"
She nodded enthusiastically, "The wind speaks to me sometimes and it tells me things. It told me that you needed to come quickly, that what you needed to find was here waiting for you." That was the reason Marcel had summoned him so quickly.
"What I needed? And what is it?" Klaus asked further, intrigued. The girl must have been some kind of seer or psychic. But something told him it was more than that. None of the psychics he'd met over the centuries made any references to the wind for their power. He'd met only one seer but she'd been on the brink of death at the time and their relation did not last long.
"I don't know," Demi looked quite put out by the fact. Marcel crouched down to her, "Hey it's ok. Don't force it. I think it's your bedtime in a few minutes."
"No, I feel better today. It was a good day," She whined, clearly not wanting to go to sleep yet. "I promise I'm not tired."
"Alright," Marcel bargained, "If you go to bed now then I promise tomorrow you'll get some time with the horses."
"Really?" She beamed so brightly it made Klaus want to smile himself. "Even Crystal?"
"Especially Crystal," He promised, kissing her little head. "But you have to go to sleep now." Demi pouted but the allure of riding tomorrow was enough to sacrifice. "Ok I will. Goodnight Marcel."
"Goodnight sweetheart," He muttered, giving her a generous hug before tucking her into bed. Klaus stood stiffly unsure of his position in their interaction. Apart from his siblings, he'd had no real experience with small children. Marcel was already twelve when he adopted him so all the messy parts were far behind him. It was intriguing watching his progeny behave tenderly towards another.
"Goodnight Klaus," Demi called out, "It was nice to meet you."
"And equally wonderful meeting you my dear," He replied sincerely. The lights were turned off and the two left the little girl snuggled peacefully under her blanket. The men made their way to the sunroom where a wet bar was waiting enticingly. Marcel handed him a finger of bourbon which the hybrid greedily swallowed.
"Still a creature of habit," Marcel said amused.
"Some are hard to break," Klaus poured himself another one. "Is the room spelled?"
"Only by the very best," Marcel confirmed. They could speak freely. He knew his sire had a lot of questions on his mind.
"So where did you meet little Demi?" Klaus sat on a dark yellow armchair.
"About six years ago. I was informed by a witch that a group of outcast witches were performing a dark ceremony with a baby as sacrifice. No one was going to intervene so I decided to get involved. Couldn't let an innocent kid get killed," He explained.
"Did none of the elders know of this? Human sacrifice is prohibited by the witches of the Quarter last I remember," Klaus wondered.
Marcel laughed humorlessly, "The Quarter witches follow their rules when it suits them. They knew about it but didn't interfere because in their eyes the child was an abomination." He seethed when he remembered how the elder Bastianna dismissed his concerns. Klaus bristled at the word remembering the sweet-faced girl and her excitement for horses. He felt a strange kinship to the little girl. He knew what it felt like to be branded as an abomination.
"You must have felt the dark energy around her. From what I was able to gather her mother was an average witch who made a deal with a necromancer and Demi was born. The mother eventually died but her daughter was apparently fair game for anyone due to her less than desirable birth," Marcel sipped his drink, "They were siphoners who wanted to take her power. I crashed the ceremony, killed all the fuckers and recused Demi but one of them managed to place a hex on her of some sort. The darkness in her will overwhelm her unless I can find someone to take it away from her but it's been impossible."
"No witch has been able to free her?" Klaus questioned.
Marcel shook his head downcast, "I can't ask of any of the witches in the city because I don't want anyone to know she's alive. The few witches loyal to me aren't powerful enough to take off such a dark hex. She wakes up screaming and crying from the things she sees and I can tell the darkness is close to overwhelming her. I have no idea what that little girl is but I damn well know that she is not an abomination."
"So is this what you need my help with? I have some formidable witches in my circle that can help," Klaus offered. "But necromancy is troublesome and dangerous magic so I don't want to make any promises I cannot keep."
Marcel smiled, "Thank you sire." He was grateful for any help he could receive but that wasn't the only reason. "There's also the fact that she's been calling your name for days now. She doesn't remember it but she practically ordered me to summon you."
She had said what he was looking for was in the city. Whatever it was, he wanted to find out.
Who, something whispered to him.
"Well then, I guess my stay in New Orleans has become indefinite," Klaus concluded. "I will let Elijah and Rebekah know that our plans have changed."
His progeny smiled that charming smile of his, "Good to have you back."
In another part of the city, Bonnie Bennett was awoken harshly from a deep sleep with nothing but a face in her mind. She couldn't remember who it was or what they looked like. All she could remember were the eyes.
Bright and gold.
First chapters are always the hardest for me to write so kindly abate my fears and let me know if it's good or not by reviewing.
