NEWS

(1492 - England)

A/N: Sorry for the wait but I hope that it will be worth it. Will try my best to make sure that you don't have to wait that long. Anyway, I shall finish with Enjoy...

Each heated breath that passed through my chattering teeth, hit the glass and blurred the sight of London's streets. The frosty air chilled the window pane and a draft seeped through the walls, making me shiver once again.

This new life frightened me but Katerina saw it as an adventure – a chance to be a respected noblewoman and possibly find love on the way.

It was because of her fired determination that we had found a roof over our heads and clothes on our back.

After fleeing Bulgaria, Katerina appeased my worries by showing me the coins that she had stolen from papa. This had helped us travel across the seas and finally make our way to England.

I would have been content with staying close to our home but my sister seemed desperate to leave it all behind and start anew.

This I would give her.

However, I hated that she left me here; hated that ever since we had met Trevor, she would only speak with me privately or before we got into bed.

I missed Bulgaria.

I missed mama's voice lulling me to sleep. I miss her berating how I would kneed the dough and then gently push me out of the way to amend my mistakes. I miss walking with her through the fields. I miss laying on the grass under the sun as she braided my hair.

I simply miss her...

"Come by the fire Isabella. You shall get ill" the motherly voice that scolded me belonged to Maggie.

Even as I missed my mama and knew she would always hold that place in my heart, I had grown accustomed to Maggie's love.

Do not let her gentle looks or the aged face fool you. Maggie held a fiery tongue and a thick accent that I came to learn was because she was from Ireland. She cursed, she yelled, she was crude and vulgar and I loved her.

We had bonded over our shared love of food. At first, she had chased me away from the kitchen but my stubbornness made her give in to me. Now, we simply shared the work as I would prepare the desserts while she made the meals.

"Did you not hear me child?" she called again and I turned to her with a small smile. "Do not make me come there and drag you down" she warned and began to straighten from her seat. "You know that I will"

And I did.

"Alright, alright"

I rose from the chair with my hands help up defensively. In content with my compliance, she nodded and moved back down to the armchair, her attention falling back onto her tapestry.

Being away from the window made me realise just how cold I was as another tremble shook my form.

I ignored her victorious smile as I knelt by the fire with my hands outstretched before me, marvelling at how the bright flames licked at the wood, instantly revelling in the warmth that blanketed my shivering form.

"Better, eh?" she smiled again, this time with warmth in her green eyes.

I nodded and softly sighed, "Yes"

She set aside her work and looked down at me. I felt like a child once again when crossing my legs to prepare myself for whatever story she would tell me. "London gets real cold at this time of year. Gon' get worse n' the chills gon' be coming for a little un's like you"

"I am not that little"

"Yous as white as ash n you ain't even stepped outside" she laughed boisterously when I grumpily crossed my arms. Just to appease me, she tapped my knee with her foot gently and then fell back on her chair. Wise eyes dulled as memories drifted her mind away. "Back in Ireland, I had a daughter. Her beauty was of no mystery but got her father's nose" she released a breathy laughter and darkened once again when staring out the window. "Used to rock her to sleep, never wanted her to leave me sight nor me arms..." her spirit seemed to diminish as the fires did.

"Why is she not here with you?" I wondered aloud, though dreading what would leave her lips.

Her head was now bowed and a distressed look overcame her once brightened features as she whispered, "Winter night took her"

"Oh Maggie, I am so very sorry" I rushed to her side and laid my head into her lap, holding one of her hands dearly in my own.

She was undeserving of such a tragedy; to have lost her newborn child. I could not even imagine what she must have been feeling when she found...I simply could not.

It explained why she was so harsh with me sitting so close to the window and why I always woke up with another blanket layered over the covers.

Her fingers brushed through my hair and then bent down to whisper in my ear, "You remind me of her"

I lifted my head to look up at her, expecting tears but only found the constant love that she adorned.

She was strong.

That was undeniable.

"You are a wonderful person Maggie. I thank the heavens that I am honoured to have met such a kindred spirit like you" I exclaimed, tears brimming in my eyes as I wrapped my arms around her.

"No tears to dampen my clothes" she scolded me but returned the smile. She then parted her lips but whatever she was to say was interrupted with the sound of the door opening, followed by the recognisable giggles of my sister.

Their footsteps now approached the room and this was enough to have Maggie standing up. "Master" she bowed and I followed after, holding my skirt as I curtsied.

"Good evening Maggie" Trevor grinned as if he had a secret and when glancing at my sister, she shared the same expression. Her eyes, for once had left Trevors and were now gleaming as they stared back at me. "Good evening to you Isabella" he nodded curtly towards my direction.

"Sir Trevor"

Maggie then turned to my sister and bowed again. "Lady Katherine"

"Margaret" Katerina gritted through her teeth forcibly and I sent a sharp glare towards her direction, which she ignored.

"Would you like me to prepare the evening meal?" Maggie inquired and I prepared myself for the answer so I could follow suit.

Surprisingly Sir. Trevor shook his head and lifted one hand. "There is no need for that because we have news"

"Very good news" Katerina clapped excitedly.

I liked to see her this happy.

"Well then" he wrapped one arm around my sister and pulled her close with an agreement. "...very good news" he amended.

Their shared excitement did not seem to circulate through me. All I felt was dread as I thought of all the different things that it could be.

Maybe she was with child again? Maybe because of this, Sir Trevor had taken her hand in marriage? Would they discard me so they could go along with their lives?

No - Katerina would never do that to me.

My sister had noticed my terror and assured me with a step towards me, wounding her arm around mine and leaded me down the narrow hallway. "Wonderful news" she tried to get me excited again but I could only give her a weakened smile.

We walked into the bedroom, Sir Trevor closely behind us. "Now sister, I know I have been neglecting you" she held my shoulders and led me into her bedroom, closing the door so that Sir Trevor would not think to follow after us. "I know that you must be dying of boredom, with you being locked up here and I apologise"

I was touched by her apology and felt the peace finally tranquillise my rapidly beating heart. "It is alright" I covered her hand with my own, "Do not worry yourself, I have been with Maggie. She h-"

"Oh do not remind me" she disrupted me with a wave of her hand. I did not understand her animosity towards Maggie and neither did Maggie when I asked her.

Katherine then led me towards her bed and took hold of both my hands, the anticipation lit her up once again. "Anyway, as penance, you and I will be attending a ball tonight"

Her words both shocked and left me relieved.

"A ball? tonight?" I gasped, bewildered by the suddenness of the moment.

She squealed again in happiness and dropped my arms to start twirling around the floor before us. "A Mikaelson ball" she sighed dreamily.

"Mikaelson, that sounds familiar" I frowned, trying to figure out where I had heard it.

"The two wealthy noble brothers that live in the north" she reminded me and I nodded remembering how they usually trailed through the town's gossip. Though, I never did listen to any of the gossip. "Trevor has told me that they have called for us"

"Called for us?" I frowned at the thought. We were supposed to be under different names so how could they know about us. More importantly, why did they want to see us? They had never met us...

"Yes, look" Katherine skipped back to me and handed me the piece of paper with a neat script written in a black ink.

Trevor,

I have been informed that you have the Pierce sisters residing with you.

You should bring them along to my Ball. Both of them.

Klaus

There was something so cold and detached from this letter. Rather than an invitation, it felt like a warning, something to warn us away.

"What does this mean? Why would they ask for us? We have never met them?" I rambled, worried about the way my stomach churned at the thought of the ball.

Katerina frowned at my lack of happiness and took the letter from me. "Why are you questioning such luck?" she scolded me.

"Luck?" I arched an eyebrow at her and crossed my arms, not liking this at all.

She rose from the bed and began to spin around with a gleeful laughs "The Mikaleson brothers are known for their wealth and success and their..." She paused and whipped around to look at me with a secretive flutter of her eyelashes, "devilishly handsome looks" she giggled and I could only manage a small sigh. "They say that the younger one, Klaus is known for his luck with the women" she seemed to fall in a trance like state when falling down the bed beside me. "And the other one is named as Elijah, he is two years older and is the one with the charm" she winked at me and then rolled over to look up. "I have a good feeling about this"

I did not.

A/N: Who's ready for some originals?

Love for Maggie? She is the only thing that I can take credit for. Everyone else belongs to L.J Smith and Twilight.

Again, I thank you for the reviews and hope to hear more from you.

While you wait for me to cook the next chapter up, why not check out the 100 Theme Fanfic Challenge. Posted my first few one-shots, EdwardxKatherine, StefanxBella, KlausxBella, JeremyxBella, TylerxBella and MasonxBella...

Till next time duckies :D