Chapter 4: Mourning Moon

The day was cloudy as if even the heavens were in mourning though they refused to unburden themselves. It had been nearly a week since Jean's funeral. Sophie and her family had not been allowed to go but her father had come to the city every night to be with her mother. He could not face the ghosts of Belle Rouge and he sought solace in her mother's arms. It was times like this when Sophie could almost imagine what their lives would have been like if they were a real family. Her father returning home each evening and sitting down to dinner with them as a family.

Nicolas had been writing her every day since she'd told him about her brother's death. He wrote her love letters and she wrote back telling him to stay away even though she wanted to see him. But she felt guilty knowing how her brother had found them together. What he'd said before he rode off to his death. And there was also her grand-mére. Sophie had gone again to visit Belle Rouge in the week since her brother's passing and her grandmother had seemed even more spooked than when she'd visited before. She was raving about evil eyes and monsters. Her grandmother was convinced that an animal had not attacked Jean but instead a monster. She'd gripped Sophie's hand before she'd left and told her to keep her mind strong. "You were always the strongest Sophie," her grandmother said. "That is why the evil will come for you. It wants what it can't have."

Sophie was sitting at her bedroom window, trying to read when she saw the carriage pull up to the gate. She nearly dropped her book when she saw who it was. She hurried down the stairs and as she approached the foyer she could hear his voice echoing through the parlor.

The second after she turned the corner, she was in his arms. "Nic," she breathed into his chest. She didn't know how much she'd desperately wanted to see his face until he'd stepped out of that carriage.

Klaus pulled back and looked into her eyes. "Missed you too, love," he said with that smile that made fire trail up her spine. He turned towards her mother politely and Sophie could see his brothers standing behind him. "Like I said Madame Benoix, if my brothers and I can do anything to help. Perhaps we can take the girls out to a show tonight. Get their minds off all this death."

Sophie knew that her familiarity with Klaus had not gone unnoticed but her mother was caught between a rock and a hard place. "That would be good. And I'm sure Pierre would prefer to come back to a quiet house this evening." Elijah stepped in coolly, the master of manners as usual, taking her mother by the arm and extolling the virtues of modern day theatre. Klaus and Sophie started to head out to the garden when Kol's voice stopped him.

"And where might the lovely Corinne be this afternoon?" he asked with an impish grin. Sophie paused returning his smile.

"She went calling on a friend but I'm sure she'll be more than happy to see you tonight," Sophie said. Even though I won't, Sophie thought to herself.

Klaus took her by the arm and escorted her outside. "I'm sorry I know you asked me to stay away but I couldn't," Klaus said when they were out of earshot of the others. He hadn't actually stayed away but she didn't know that. Every night he'd stopped by her flat, watching her and her sisters mourn. He'd seen her father come and go each evening and in the early hours of the morning. But it wasn't the same as touching her, breathing her in. Just the thought of the afternoon they'd shared was torturous and when she'd rushed into his arms, he knew she'd felt the same.

"I'm glad you came," Sophie said genuinely. "It's just been so hard on my mother. And papa has been here every day. I didn't want anyone to disturb him. He's heartbroken over Jean."

"And you?" Klaus said, stopping to look straight into her eyes. "How do you feel about Jean?"

"I'm sad because my father is sad. Jean was his only heir and my sisters and I can't ever truly inherit Belle Rouge," Sophie measured her next words, afraid what he would think of her. "But I'm not sorry he's dead."

"That's a good girl," Klaus replied. "I wanted to rip his head off after the way he spoke to you." Klaus smiled at the memory. Even though he didn't get a chance to tear the man limb from limb, ripping out his throat had been prize enough. "Now let's not waste another second thinking about that boy. What are you wearing to the theater tonight?"

The night the three Benoix girls accompanied the DeMichilier brothers to the theater the streets were bustling. The sky had cleared and the night air had cooled after the humidity of the day. It was New Orleans at it's best. Music poured into the streets and people strolled along the boulevards lazily. The six of them set out walking along the bank of the river towards the theater. Genevieve was laughing politely at Elijah's jokes and acting coy, while Corinne was like a hummingbird, flitting back and forth between her sisters and stopping every so often to dote on Kol, who seemed amused by her excitement.

When they reached the theater, they were escorted up to a box and Elijah, Genevieve, Kol and Corinne sat in the first four seats while Klaus and Sophie sat behind them. At first, it was hard for Sophie to pay attention with Klaus sitting beside her. She'd worn her best red dress just for him and it showed off her neck, shoulders and décolletage. Though she tried to focus on the actors on the stage, she could feel his eyes on her and that alone made her skin heat up and her heart beat faster. As if he could hear her heart race over the voices onstage, Elijah turned around and looked at her curiously. She could see Klaus smile at him in the dark.

"Nothing to see here brother," he said. Sophie fanned herself slightly. "Come on love, let's get you something to drink." Klaus took her hand and led her from the box, while she reassured her sisters that she was just overheated. They headed down the hall, him leading the way and Sophie following. She felt giddy and flushed. Eventually Klaus pulled her into what seemed like a small closet or alcove. The space was small and dark but she could still see his blue eyes glittering in the dim light.

"Nic, wha –?" Before she could finish he was on her. He was kissing her and his hands seemed to move with a speed she couldn't fathom.

"You … look … ravishing," he said as he kissed down her neck. If Sophie thought she felt overheated before, now she felt like she was standing on the surface of the sun. Klaus reached under her skirt and felt the smoothness of her thighs. He fingered the silk of her garters and Sophie felt her breath catch.

His fingers were poised at her entrance and even though Sophie's body was wet and ready, her brain was telling her to slow down. She grabbed his face forcing him to look up at her. "Nic," she said. He looked at her with lust filled eyes and for a second she was frightened. But then he breathed and got a hold of himself. She kissed his forehead as he steadied himself. She couldn't ignore the bulge in his pants but she tried not to encourage him anymore. "Not here. Not now."

He groaned, pulling her close. "When, darling?" He moved his hips seductively against her and she was tempted to stop fighting him. "Where?"

"Tonight. Meet me in the quarters behind my house." Sophie slowly extricated herself from his arms. "Tonight," she said with promise. The two of them slipped into the box behind their siblings and Sophie tried to ignore Genevieve's knowing look.

As they exited the theater, Klaus took her hand gently rubbing his thumb against her palm. Even that was enough to make her sigh and she laid her head on his shoulder. "Look, Sophie, it's a full moon!" Corinne's excitement had not abated even after the show

"Nik has a particular fondness for the moon," Kol said with a knowing smile. "It really brings out the animal in him." Klaus frowned at his brother while Sophie blushed assuming Kol was talking about their earlier indiscretion.

"Colin," Elijah warned. Corinne, blessedly innocent, grabbed Kol's hand and pulled him down the street.

"Come, Colin. I want to show you my favorite cafe. It has the best food in the world!"

"I'm sure London would beg to differ, Corinne," Kol said but he allowed himself to be pulled along.

As the two of them took off down the street, Sophie turned to Klaus and asked him what his brother meant. Klaus knitted his brows and gazed after his brother. "Colin speaks before he thinks," he said with narrowed eyes. Then his attitude changed on a dime. "Besides he's jealous cause I get you all to myself, sweetheart."

"The devil always wants what he can't have," Sophie murmured.

"What's that, darling?"

"Just something ma grand-mere says."

Klaus kissed her neck and pulled her close. "What time should I show up for our date?"

"After midnight. Everyone will be asleep."

When Klaus showed up at the Benoix house that night, he was freshly fed but there was a bigger hunger he'd come to fill. With vampiric speed and agility, he made his way to the back of the property where he found a small cottage. He could see the flicker of candlelight from the windows.

He knocked on the door and walked in at Sophie's invitation. If he'd had any breath left in his body she would have taken it away. Her head was bent almost reverently as she lit the last of the candles surrounding the bed. She was in her nightgown, which was long and silky, trailing the ground behind her. Her hair fell in soft waves around her face. She'd never looked more beautiful.

Klaus walked over to her, unbuttoning his sleeves and shirt as he went. He watched as she blew out the match she was holding. Her hands were shaking slightly and when he reached her he took her hands in his.

"Are you sure Sophie?" he asked.

She smiled. "You never call me Sophie." She reached up and kissed him softly and Klaus whispered her name again and again. What have I done to deserve this? he thought. For the first time in years, there was a full moon and he wasn't lamenting how Katerina had eluded him or cursing his father and mother for placing him in this impossible situation.

Klaus fingered the silk of Sophie's nightgown trying hard not to just rip it off. With certain hands, Sophie finished unbuttoning his shirt and pushed it off his shoulders. She marveled at his broad chest and, as if compelled, she kissed her way down his body, her nimble fingers undoing his pants as well. Klaus hissed as she caught his nipple between her teeth, biting softly, and he growled deep in his chest. Sophie nearly laughed at his response. He pulled her closer, his lips crashing down on hers, tasting her sweetness until Sophie was breathless. She could feel his erection pressing against her hips and the feel of him made her wetter. He slid the sleeves of her nightgown off her shoulders and the material fell away pooling on the ground beneath her.

Klaus gazed in awe at her body. She was young and firm with soft curves. Her skin looked like melted caramel in the firelight. He gathered her in his arms and placed her gently on the bed, kissing and caressing every inch of her until she was desperate with desire. "Please," she moaned and that was all the urging he needed. He quit holding back entering her swiftly. She grabbed him, her nails scratching his back as he thrust in and out of her, finding a rhythm that built and built until they were both cresting over into ecstasy.

When they were spent, Klaus held her in his arms and they watched the flicker of the candlelight. Sophie kissed his chest and sighed. "So this is what it feels like," Sophie said.

"What what feels like?" Klaus asked.

"To give something and want nothing in return."

A/N: This bit was longer because I want to end the story by the next chapter. Sorry it took a while.

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