Part 5
"That feels very nice, sweetheart," Klaus hummed.
He was naked in the bathtub; Dafne was washing his back. She had been heading to her room after waking up in Elijah's chamber when Klaus had caught her. He had said that he needed her assistance immediately. Obviously he had his own servants, many of them, but just like many times before, he wanted Dafne to assist him.
Elijah had been gone when Dafne had woken up; she didn't know where he was. Perhaps he had gone riding; he often did that when he wanted to clear his thoughts. She had fallen asleep on his lap and he had carried her to his bed. That hadn't been the first time, but she hadn't been afraid. He had never wanted to use her body and his touch was never intrusive. He was a very kind man.
Sure he had a dark side, he had talked about it many times, and he did feed from her, but she considered herself lucky for having a master like him. She only hoped that his brothers would finally get bored with their game. It seemed that they thought they were missing out something. What that something was, she really wasn't sure. She had served Elijah just like any servant would, why did they envy that when they themselves had plenty of servants?
"I have been thinking, sweetheart… Perhaps I should give Elijah a new servant," Klaus stated after a moment of silence. "What would you think about that?"
"I think you are very generous, master Klaus."
"Yes… Of course that would mean he wouldn't need you anymore. But it would be a shame to sell you."
Dafne didn't say anything; she concentrated on washing his back. He stopped her by turning around to face her.
"Would you like to stay here?" he asked.
"Yes, master Klaus, if that is what my master wishes."
He smiled and touched her wrist with his thumb.
"No need to worry, sweetheart. You can serve me; I shall be a good master. Would you like that?"
"Of course, master Klaus."
"Hmm…"
He stroked her wrist and brought it to his lips. She held still as he fed. Thankfully he only took a small taste; the whole thing was over quickly. She kept her eyes on the floor when he stood up.
"Shy little thing," he hummed, clearly amused. "I like that."
She picked up his bathrobe and helped him to wear it. Slowly he made his way to the wooden chest next to his bed and opened it.
"I have a little something for you," he stated as he took something from the chest. It was a silver pendant.
"That is very kind of you, master Klaus, but…"
"Take it. As a small token of my good will."
She curtsied as she accepted the pendant.
"Thank you very much, master Klaus."
He smiled.
"As I said, sweetheart, I shall be a good master."
Dafne headed to her room as soon as he allowed her to leave. Would Elijah really replace her? She wanted to believe that he wouldn't, but she couldn't be completely sure. Perhaps it was arrogant of her to think that she meant something to him. He had never said anything like that. The truth was that she didn't really know what she was to him.
6 months later
Elijah sat on the riverbank and looked at Dafne. She was swimming; he could see how much she was enjoying herself. Her happiness made him smile. She was a very modest girl; she found joy in simple things. She had brought the joy back to his life. After Niklaus had decided to leave Finn daggered, Elijah had been struggling with his guilt. He had done many things he wasn't proud of.
What he had done to Niklaus was one of the worst of those things. He felt that he had turned his brother into a monster by compelling Aurora. Not to mention he had turned Tristan just to use him, Lucien and Aurora as a distraction. He certainly wasn't proud of that either. He had taken lives, caused suffering and left his own brother daggered. Finn had called him a hypocrite that night before the hunters had attacked them.
Elijah has had his differences with him, but the truth was that he had envied his big brother. Kol had often mocked Finn, called him a dullard, but there was no doubt that Finn was the most moral one of them all. He had never given in to the bloodlust, no matter how hard the struggle had been for him. He had wanted to hold on to his humanity. His moral. His soul. That was more than what Elijah could say about himself.
He had done terrible things. Perhaps not same kinds of things than Niklaus and Kol, but that didn't remove his guilt. Dafne had managed to help him and that was something he wouldn't forget. Somehow she could soothe him without much effort. Her company soothed him. He didn't know what would have happened if he wouldn't have met her. She was his very own angel.
Yet she was still his servant and she addressed him as master. For some reason he hadn't managed to bring himself to change that. Of course he had made sure that she had everything what she needed and she didn't have to work much, but… He couldn't lose her, he just couldn't. He couldn't give her freedom and take the risk that she would want to leave. Maybe she wouldn't leave, she really didn't have any place to go, but he simply couldn't take that risk. That was another thing he felt guilty about, but he was willing to deal with his guilt. She needed to stay with him.
"How is the water?" he asked.
"It's very warm, master," she replied. "Shall I come and serve you the wine?"
He smiled.
"No need, I can pour it myself. Swim as long as you wish, we are in no hurry."
"Thank you, master."
He poured himself some wine and leaned back on the blanket. Dafne's dress was lying on the ground next to him; she was only wearing her undergarment. He closed his eyes and heard her diving. The day was beautiful, warm and sunny. It took a moment before he realized that he couldn't hear anything. He couldn't hear Dafne. His eyes flew open and he was immediately on his feet. He couldn't see her.
"Dafne!"
He dived into the water immediately and started desperately to search for her. No, no, no, this couldn't be happening… Finally he found her. Her leg had got caught in something, she wasn't moving. Or breathing. He freed her as fast as he could. Her heart wasn't beating. No! As they reached the surface, it was clear to him that she was dead. No, no, no!
"Dafne!"