XV : War of hearts

It was final.

My patience had reached its threshold of tolerance.

"Don't you dare touching me!" I barked, barely avoiding his attempt to grab my wrist before ignoring the look of dormant rage in the steel blue eyes of the hybrid."I'm not a fucking toy that you can share with your brothers!"

"You didn't seem to be complaining in my brother's arms." Replied the hybrid coldly.

"Really? I'm here because you forced me to come." I lashed, even pushing my index finger into the visibly muscular chest of the hybrid."I didn't even want to be here."

I tried to ignore the fact that I could feel his muscles under my finger before I felt my anger reaching its threshold as Klaus smiled broadly."Then you didn't have to come. I was already excited to get rid of your little friend."

I could feel a chill run down my back at his deadly serious tone before I swallowed hoping to change his mind. I knew shouting at Klaus would be pointless at this point. It would only upset him more. He was way too used to getting everything he wanted. It was sad to say but he and the majority of the vampires in this town seemed strangely to return to their period of capricious childhood once transformed.

Otherwise I wouldn't have to bargain with him.

"For God sake's if you absolutely wanted to see me here you could have just asked." I retorted, keeping my frustration under control."You don't always have to resort to murder, you know."

"Would you have come if I had asked?" Cleverly replied the hybrid.

I wrinkled my lips in a straight line knowing full well that he had pierced me before I sighed in defeat. "No. But at least I would have had a choice. And I wouldn't have had to dance with Kol."

I immediately crossed my arms on my chest giving him a condescending look at the end of my sentence before feeling again a chill run along my limbs at the sight of his gaze again clouded.

"Why not refuse then? I was about to pick you up."

This time I left an incredulous scoff at his involvement before continuing with slight condescension."And end up in a bloodbath? While I'm sure you and your brothers can act like real gentlemen, neither of you know how to deal with not getting everything you want."

"And still you find the strength to reject me." The visibly petulant hybrid replied childishly in his act of jealousy.

I rolled my eyes in annoyance."You need to learn that you can't have everything you want. At least not without asking first."

I noticed the hybrid clenching his jaw visibly frustrated with my resistance before he let out a deep sigh. He narrowed his cold blue eyes over me before speaking between his obviously frustrated teeth. "Fine. Mila Gilbert can you follow me ?"

I had to admit that I was damn surprised by his resilience nonetheless I assumed I couldn't really dismiss him now. Despite his compliance, I knew that his patience with me was getting thinner. So I just squinted my lips before taking the arm he held out to me.

Almost instantly a part of me went back in spite of myself to the dream I had earlier this morning. I couldn't deny that the feel of his firm, muscular bicep under my fingers was even better in real life.

Suddenly feeling a slight warmth settle along my cheeks I hastened to clear my throat before stupidly asking the first thing that came to my head in the hope of filling this heavy silence. "So are you enjoying the evening?"

"More so now that you're at my side." He admitted with a sidelong smile as he lead me toward a corner of the mansion.

"Why did you want me here?" I finally asked in a burst of confidence.

"Maybe I enjoy your company?"

"Is that a question?"

Klaus brow furrowed as he held open the door of his studio for me. "More like a confession."

"I am not Milana." I repeated for at least the fourth time tonight. I really didn't understand why they kept approaching me. At this point they must have easily noticed that I had absolutely nothing in common with my ancestor except our similar physique.

However Klaus gave me a small, rare, genuine smile."Did I mention Milana? I didn't buy this dress thinking of her but of you, Mila. I knew you'd look gorgeous in the dress, which you do, in case you aren't aware."

I tried again to ignore the feeling of my body reacting to his words before turning my head away from his intense gaze to swallow with determination. It was out of the question that I agreed with Milana. Niklaus was no longer the man she had known.

"It's just a loan. I will send it back to your address once it goes to the dry cleaners." I declared with a nod firm to give more credibility to my words.

Klaus snorted almost immediately in response. "What would I do with a dress?"

"I don't kno ..." I paused immediately as the hybrid turned on the lights of what appeared to be a studio. The latter was filled with paintings all more known and stunning one than the other."It is ... what's this place?"

I immediately turned to the hybrid visibly fascinated by the sight in front of me. I was so fascinated that I even forgot who I was with. The artist in me could barely contain her excitement. I could even feel the tips of my fingers itching to reproduce some of the sketches visibly charged with emotion and history.

At first Klaus found himself wondering if it was a good idea to show her his studio. She hadn't really been very compliant with him tonight. Plus when he had shown Caroline it had been because he had been trying to impress her, trying to drive wedge between her and his first hybrid.

Mila, on the other, he had no reason to try and impress her. His relationship with her was very difficult to handle. Part of him thought it had to do with the fact that she looked like the woman he once loved. But another, darker one knew that her opinion mattered, it just did. Hence the reason why he wanted to keep her around. It was why he always threatened to harm people she cared about.

But there was much more to everything than he wanted to admit. It was enough for him to look at her look of admiration as she looked at the paintings around to know that he found himself somewhat in her.

Milana was not an art lover like him or even as stubborn as Mila was. Certainly, she had her own character but nothing related to that of Mila. It was almost disturbing to see how different they were despite the similar body they shared.

"Wait ... it's that ..." I paused, frowning as I pointed at the freshly painted canvas before showing it, turning to Klaus in uncertainty."It's the clearing."

I could feel my throat getting drier at the sight of the still so recent place in my head before meeting Klaus' eyes again just to see that my recognition had caught him off guard.

I assumed he probably hadn't imagined that Milana would show me such intimate memories.

Klaus released a breath before straightening up with a smirk and slight curiosity. "Milana showed you her memories of the clearing?"

"Some, yes. "I admitted despite the slight embarrassment invading me before giving in to my passion for art again. "Are you the one who painted it?"

"Yes, uh, there is even one of my landscape paintings at the Ermitage. But nothing very remarkable." Humbly revealed the hybrid, leaving me speechless in the face of this new discovery of his multifaceted character."Do you know this museum?"

It was a discussion he had previously had with Caroline. The blonde vampire didn't seem to know this museum. He assumed Mila was the same.

At least that was before he saw the surge of disbelief and shock written on her face."You have one of your paintings hanging in the largest museum of the world? It houses the world's largest collection of paintings."

"So you know this museum." Grinned Klaus visibly proud for some reason before approaching me with that famous smirk, again."Have you ever been there?"

My fascination diminished somewhat to this sudden question as I swallowed before nodding my head, avoiding his gaze with slight emotion as a souvenir." Once. I begged my parents to take me there. My father promised to take me back ... "

"I'm sorry for what happened to your parents, Mila." Apologized Klaus again sounding sincere.

I sniffled while swallowing before puckering my lips with slight acrimony in my tone."Well, they didn't die from a stake in the heart so ..."

In his defense, Klaus had at least the decency to look somewhat ashamed at the reminder of the fate he had reserved for Jenna. I shook my head as I could again feel Milana's emotions obscuring mine before clearing my throat as I turned to the hybrid."Anyway, Milana never told me that you liked art."

"You seem surprised to learn something new about me."

"Not really. I knew you weren't the same man Milana knew. I think she still attaches herself to the man in this clearing."

The hybrid slowly joined my side before crossing his hands behind his back as he looked at the painting. "It was her favorite place. She has never been more beautiful to me than surrounded by wildflowers. She was free."

"This is what she has always aspired to." I agreed with a small smile as I could feel her inside of me before I glanced sideways at Klaus to see him looking at me with slight perplexity."Be free."

"To be free from demons." He agreed in turn with a certain passion. "Free from the chains she was forced to wear. Free from my mother."

My eyes met his, wide with fear. The mere mention of Esther was enough to remind me of the ball still in progress and the plausible threat of death hanging over our heads."Do you think she's sincere?"

"No. My mother hates what I am. She bound me and Milana with the curse when my nature was discovered. She rigged the curse so that if I ever did manage to break it, I couldn't create more of my kind. Then, when I did break free, she tried to stop me twice from making more hybrids once it was revealed the doppelganger was alive. From the other side, no less. I'm certain she's plotting something against me but I don't know what."

"That's what I feared." I admitted, nodding my head sincerely."It was partly why I didn't want to come. I promised myself to stay as far away from your mother as possible."

"Oh ? So it wasn't because you didn't want to see me?" He grinned as he interlaced suddenly our fingers."I definitely feel better."

Surprisingly I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing."You have to believe that not everything revolves around you. Sorry to hurt your misplaced pride."

"You never run out of witty comeback." The hybrid said, giving me that famous dimple smile."You're full of light, strong and you never cease to amaze me. I fancy you, Mila."

Again, I felt my cheeks warm under the weight of his compliments. I could literally feel my heart racing along my chest. It was both frustrating and fun. Unfortunately, I couldn't help but feel the alarm bells in the back of my head again.

"Thank you for the invitation and the dress but I can't do this." I excused myself, swiftly walking towards the door.

I didn't really know where I was going at this point but all I knew was that I had to get away from the hybrid as soon as possible. Maybe changing allies was not the best time. Especially not when I was visibly emotionally unstable. Much to my relief, I soon joined the huge hall in which Elijah and his family had welcomed us earlier.

Unfortunately it seemed that when I was far enough away from one brother, another was still there waiting for me. I had barely advanced into the hall when a firm callused but still pleasant to the touch, hand grabbed my wrist."There you are my darling, I've been looking for you everywhere."

"Not now, Kol." I objected immediately, tearing my wrist from his hand.

I immediately turned on my heels just to take another break at the sight of Niklaus standing not far from us. He seemed to focus his hateful gaze again on his brother who was undoubtedly behind me.

Leaving to choose between plague and cholera, I definitely preferred to manage with my feelings towards Kol at the moment. They had absolutely nothing to do with those I felt for Klaus. Hence the reason why I turned again on my heels before accepting the glass of champagne that Kol had just recovered from one of the trays of a waiter passing by us.

"Thank you." I said despite the fact that I could still feel Niklaus' intense gaze on my profile.

Folding my lips in hesitation I turned my head in his direction just to find myself frowning slightly as he was joined by Caroline.

Unfortunately, my observation was short lived as Esther suddenly entered from the top of the stairs.

"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 with no greater joy then to see my family back together as one. I'd like to thank you all for being part of this spectacular evening. Cheers!" Esther said in a joyful manner as she raised her glass and everyone else did the same.

"Cheers!" Everyone else replied as they took a sip of their drinks but I just watched the sparkling liquid in my flute. I didn't know why, but the memory of Esther drugging Milana to get her when the curse was launched seemed to keep me from drinking.

"Why aren't you drinking?" Kol asked after he finished draining his own flute of champagne.

"I don't know." I replied clearly taken aback before bringing the glass to my lips anyway.

I wasted no time making eye contact with the witch on the stairs letting me take my sip before raising my glass in her direction. Esther did the same, letting me again feel this deep bad feeling along my spine.

"If you will excuse me sweet Mila, I have to take care of something." Kol suddenly announced in a slightly conspiratorial tone, letting me look after him in apprehension.

I didn't know what he was plotting but it could only end badly. It was probably the best time to leave this never-ending party. I immediately set out to find Félix. Once I have found Félix I could finally remove this damn dress before trying to forget this hellish evening.

As I made my way back to the halfway I saw Stefan ran out outside the front door and sensing something was seriously wrong I followed him which was a good thing as when I got outside I saw Damon beating up Kol before finally get bored and finally snapping Kol's neck. I immediately widened my eyes as I could feel Milana reacting to the sight.

"Damon are you crazy?" Asked Stefan as Elena along the rest of the Mikaelson's came outside to see what had happened.

"Maybe a little. Far be it for me to cause a problem…" Damon said looking at Elena directly for the last part of the statement already leaving me to imagine why he suddenly started killing people. Again.

Obviously it had to do with Elena. Whenever he got stuck at one point or trapped in the ropes, Damon always ended up killing people. It was just who he was. He did not make the expectations. He managed his emotions even less well. It was one of the many reasons why I had always been reluctant to admit my feelings for him.