"The studio was filled with the rich odor of roses," he began.
I recognized Dorian Gray immediately because it was my favorite. However I shushed him before he was even able to finish the first page. "Marcel? Was that Klaus?" I asked, still surprised that I was able to hear him without effort.
"Yes. Hang in there. He's promised to get us out," he responded.
I whimpered and Kol began again: "In the centre of the room clasped to an upright easel…" It wasn't distracting enough. I hadn't yet mastered controlling my hunger.
Marcel returned and looked at me and how I was sitting on the floor, clearly in pain. "Hey, kid, it's not working." He knocked on the door and Kol stopped reading. "Come on." He took my hand and guided me back into Klaus's room.
"What's this?" I asked.
Marcel didn't answer. He wrapped his arms around me, holding me from behind and his arms placing me in a chokehold. Before I could complain or fight back, there was a sickening snap and my vision went black.
When I woke up, I was for the first time glad to be a vampire; no headache, no nausea, no hangover. I noticed I was in a bed that I most definitely did not pass out in, with my face pressed against someone's chest and a hand stroking my hair.
"Well, look who's awake," Klaus chuckled.
"Niklaus," I sighed. "What happened?"
"Marcel broke your neck. I'll admit I was unfathomably angry with him for hurting you, but he was just concerned about you controlling your hunger," he said. "How are you feeling?"
"Hungry," I whimpered like a small child.
Klaus pressed his wrist to my lips and I took a bite. "I'm sorry I haven't been around to take care of you. I know this isn't easy."
He had to pull his wrist away from me and I blushed, embarrassed that I had lost myself in his blood. I jumped off the bed when I realized bloodlust wasn't the only thing I was feeling.
Klaus was just as quick, though. He had me pinned against the wall and he was nuzzling my neck. "Why do you fight it?" he breathed, his hot breath against my neck. "I want you. You want me. What's wrong?"
I knew what was wrong. He made me feel powerless and I hated it. But before I could form an answer his lips were on mine and I was kissing back with equal vigor. I knotted my hands in his hair and he picked me up, carrying me back to the bed. He lay on top of me, hands wandering as his lips trailed my jaw and down my neck. "Wait." I pushed him away.
"What!" he growled.
"You just had a kid… with another woman."
He scoffed. "So what?"
"So?" I raised my eyebrows and sat up, away from him. "The fact that you don't think it's a problem, is the problem."
"It was one night. It didn't mean anything," he explained. "We didn't think I could get her pregnant."
"Nik," I sighed. "It was a one night stand, but it was only a year ago. You were already relentlessly flirting with me by then. How am I supposed to feel about this? I'm not here to be a temporary fix; to just fill whatever current need you have."
Klaus picked himself off the bed. "Yes, because evil Klaus uses people. He doesn't have real feelings."
"I didn't say that." I whispered.
"You didn't have to!" he snarled and ran from the room.
I groaned. "Nik!" I shouted and ran after him. When I made it to the courtyard, Elijah confirmed that Klaus had already left the premises – and he seemed pissed. "Oh, I fucked up," I whined and sank to the floor.
He frowned, looking down at me. "Niklaus has always been prone to tantrums. I wouldn't dwell on it, little one."
I shook my head and despite my best efforts, the tears began to flow. "No, Elijah, I really upset him."
His sight was clearly one of pity. "Alright little one, I will help you find him if you think that is what's best."
"Thank you, Elijah," I sniffed.
I looked up at the sign that named the bar as Rousseau's. "Are you sure he's here?"
"I'm sure." Elijah opened the door, revealing Klaus, the only patron in the bar, downing shots.
"Niklaus," I breathed and with a smile and entered.
He smiled too and I thought all was forgiven, but as quick as the smile appeared, it was gone. "So you push me way to run into the arms of my brother," he sneered.
"What? No! How much have you had to drink?" I gasped.
Klaus laughed. "We're vampires, luv. It'd take half this bar to get me drunk."
"Right…" I blushed, embarrassed. I was still learning, okay? "Well, Elijah kindly agreed to help me find you. So, can we talk?"
"Go on."
"Alone?" I hissed, my face turning even redder.
Klaus smirked. "Camille, would you mind giving us some space?"
With an exasperated sigh, she threw her hands up, dropping the bar rag. "Alright, Elijah, I guess we're going for a walk."
"I guess we are," Elijah smiled to himself.
When they had left, I planted myself on a stool next to Klaus and reached over the bar where Camille had left the bottle she had been pouring from. Then, I reached up and pulled a glass from the rack above our heads. I had yet to have a chance to drink properly since I turned and now seemed like the best possible time to imbibe. "I didn't mean to hurt you, Nik."
He scoffed. "You assumed the worst of me."
"I – I was scared of getting hurt," I mumbled.
"I would never hurt you, Anna."
I frowned. "I trust you, Nik, I do. I mean, you saved my life. But I don't actually know you that well. You come across as an incorrigible flirt, not a long-term relationship, guy. You can understand why I was being cautious. I don't want to get involved if it's not serious; if it's not long-term. I didn't mean to hurt you. I just got scared," I reiterated. "Anything I assumed about you, wasn't because you're 'Klaus the evil Hybrid Original.'
"No?" he scoffed. "Then why did you draw such conclusions about me?"
"Because you're a man," I admitted. "Because you're a man who got a girl pregnant from a hookup that happened within a year and she is still in your life!"
Klaus sighed and squeezed my hand. "It's different with you. I promise."
I nodded, slowly. "Can we make a deal?"
"Alright. What did you have in mind?"
"I'll stop assuming things about you and you stop shouting and storming off when I accidently say something wrong," I said.
"Can we go home and pick up where we left off?" he smirked.
I don' know if vampires blush; the lack of blood flow and all, but it sure felt like I was. "Yeah, yeah we can."