Note: Decided to bring 2 characters from Being Human US into the fold. Anyway this chapter is historical fiction but based on some actual historical figures.

"In reality they all lived in a kind of hieroglyphic world, where the real thing was never said or done or thought, but only represented by a set of arbitrary signs."

"It seems stupid to have discovered America only to make it into a copy of another country."

Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence.

Chapter 10. The Age of Drugged Innocence

New York 1878

We've been in America for almost three decades. When we left England, Klaus changed his mind and decided to go to France and later to Alexandria before taking a steamboat to Boston in the 1850s. We lived in Boston and later Newport, Rhode Island during much of the Civil War. It was America's Gilded Age and like everywhere we had settled, Klaus wanted to be part of the elite. Except the problem was. Klaus did not like the American Elite. He hated their accent, their jokes, the way they think. He found New York society, in that respect, I meant the upper crust elites or the Four Hundred families as being quite a joke.

"They're trying to fashion themselves after the European aristocracy, and they're merely a poor imitation." He would laugh.

Klaus hated the country as a whole and the bourgeois industrialists or greedy Capitalists as he called them. Being a snobby blue blooded aristocrat since the eleventh century, Klaus found the idea of a system where even a blacksmith can elevate and be a rich industrialist rather repugnant. He was so old fashioned my husband, in his thinking.

"You are born into nobility, or marry into one. You don't become one by accumulating wealth like a greedy merchant."Klaus had said to me. I only ignored him in my drugged stupor.

So Klaus still kept his British dukedom and its title, now the tenth Duke of Knighton and he would still speak in his English accent refusing to adopt the American speech.

"Old Money, new money…" He complained as we went into the drawing room. "They are all the same Bourgeois to me."

Lexie laughed hearing that. "Yes but they are now your peers Klaus."

It was weird hearing Lexie calling him by his name the first time, but after a while I got used to it. Klaus sat down and lit a cigarette and he helped Lexie light hers too. He breathed in and blew out the smoke. Lexie looked beautiful in her fancy blue gown, with its full skirt and tapered top that mould around her breast. It had a modest neckline as dresses at the late Victorian period were. Her waist was small and slim. And her beautiful blonde hair the color of silken ripe corn tied up in a neat chignon.

"So how is that friend of yours Stefan Salvatore?" Klaus asked as he leaned back on the sofa. He looked at me and smiled patting the space next to his. "Come here Darling."

I walked to him and he pulled me down, straight into his arms as I cuddled close. Klaus smiled and kissed my lips softly. I felt a little dizzy and tipsy even.

"I have him off human blood for now but sometimes he falls back in…" Lexie sighed.

Stefan Salvatore was a friend of hers, she had met while she was nursing wounded soldiers in Virginia during the Civil War. He was, along with his elder brother, whose name I can't seem to remember, turned by Katerina Petrova who as Lexie had investigated further had died in a church fire in Mystic Falls. Klaus was enraged hearing the news. He wanted to kill the wench himself.

"I don't quite approve of this vegetarian lifestyle Alexia. Animal blood?" Klaus stared at Lexie. "Couldn't you just feed and not kill your victims?"

Lexie kept quiet and shrugged. "You know it's the addiction in human blood that has its kick. It's worse than opium."

"We are vampires. It is natural to feed on humans. We are sharks, predators…" Klaus spoke. "We feed, we kill. That's what we do."

"I just don't like it. It's too messy…" Lexie sighed. "And I hate to have blood on my gowns. They don't wash easily." She laughed.

"You're too soft hearted Sweetheart. That's your problem." Klaus said.

The butler came and poured Klaus a glass of brandy while both Lexie and I had some after dinner aperitif. They started talking about other things. Things I had no interest of. Of stock market and the trade of cotton and steel. Lexie was quite the business woman, except she could only go out at night, still weakened by sunlight.

"We have a problem Lex…" Klaus spoke. He sounded so serious, I wondered what was up. "The Pennsylvania Dutch happened to have a coven of vampires in upstate New York. Quite a powerful coven. They had established some form of vampire society in the East Coast, one ruled by a bunch of Old ones called The Dutch…"

"Really…" Lexie thought it funny and burst into laughter. "The Dutch? Are they really from…"

"Yes…" Klaus rolled his eyes. "Dutch Huguenots. Came from the old country in the 1700s… I think they're probably descended or sired from this banker I used to know. I promised him eternity and turned him in Rotterdam. Can't remember the details I was rather drunk."

"Anyway…if there is any sort of vampire society…" Klaus said with such an imperious tone. "I should be leading it not some Dutchman I sired. They should pay homage to me. I am an Original."

I watched as my husband drank the potion. Klaus had gone to many witches through out the years. Each promising an elixir that could make him fertile. Klaus wanted a child. It had been eight almost nine centuries and we should be having children. Our own, from his and mine blood. After Lexie, he was not keen on taking another orphan and raised him or her as his own. He smiled at me and went to the bed. Klaus kissed me deeply and I sighed as I part my legs and let him in, I'd moan and groan and fake my own orgasm as he released himself.

While Klaus slept I would drink my laudanum syrup that I had kept under my bed. It was a strong constituency and it made me feel better during the horrible days of my melancholy. Sometimes I would smoke opium when Klaus was not around of course. The drugging qualities would take me away from whatever unhappiness I would feel. It made me sedated enough that I appeared happy. It was all a lie of course.

The opium came straight from Kael. He had controlled much of the trade and the Lycanthropes profited a lot from it, like they did with cotton and spice and other commodities that were all the rage. With Kael's men sending the opium to my house. I didn't have to pay a single cent. It was free and the supply was limitless. I would smoke in the afternoon and just lied in bed or on the chaise sofa in the drawing room. I did not want to head out in society. I shared Klaus' distaste for the New York society. I too hated the pretentiousness of the gilded butterflies, finding them even more arrogant and stuck up than the English or French aristocrats.

I knew what they called me behind my back. The Drugged Duchess… I went to the grand Astoria Hotel having tea there with a few lady friends I knew. They were like me, unhappy with their marriages to rich industrialist and hated the vipers' nest that was New York high society. There was Marie Astor, whose husband's uncle owned the hotel. Anne Van Der Burn who was just a simple girl from the Mid West and had married one of the Pittsburgh steel magnates and Cassandra Deveraux, she was the mistress of one of the Rockefellers and a stage actress.

"That husband of yours is pretty young for a Duke," Cassandra drawled in her New Orleans accent.

"His father died when he was fifteen," I lied easily.

"What does an English duke do in New York, one wonders." Marie asked and smiled at me. She was quite the intellect, educated at Vassar College. She had married into the Astor family but did not feel welcomed there thanks to the snobbery of The Mrs Astor, the formidable snob of Manhattan, Caroline Webster Astor who was her husband's aunt.

"Niklaus does what he wishes as he wishes." I sighed.

"Oh look…" Anne spoke. "The snakes are here…"

We are all turned to look and groaned. There they were, the grand dames of New York. Minions or underlings as I dubbed them of The Mrs Astor. I never liked them, dressed in the finest of French fashions, these wives of heavy weight industrialist and politicians.

"Ah Your Grace….How lovely to run into you…" One of the ladies spoke. I only gave a lazy insincere smile back. "It's nice to see you too."

"Is it true that the Duke would be building a new college?" Another asked. A beautiful redhead who I know was having an illicit affair with Klaus.

"I wouldn't know…" I sighed. "You have to ask my husband, maybe you can do it during one of your pillow talks."

She gasped and stared at me in shock. I only rolled my eyes. I stood up and smiled at my friends who were trying their best to control their laughter. "Excuse me Ladies… I need some air…all this pseudo pleasantry is making me nauseous."

I then walked away with parasol in hand. "My word! Such rudeness even for a Duchess." I heard one of them say.

"She probably took too much opium than she could handle."

I took a casual walk in Central Park and sat on a bench. I had a small piece of bread with me and started tearing off pieces and throwing it to the ground, feeding the birds. Just staring out seeing the people walking by and then someone sat next to me. I turned to look, surprised, no shocked it was Wesley. Wasn't the Duke of Wellington supposed to be dead? I just stared, my mouth open wide as I gasped.

"What in God's name…"

"It's nice to see you again Elly…" Wesley smiled. He looked almost the same as when I first saw him in Vauxhall. Like he did not age a single day.

"I must be going mad." I said and shook my head.

"No you're not my Darling…" Wesley sighed and took my hand. "I'm really here."

"But you're dead. You died in 1852." I said to him.

"Actually I died even before that." He said. Wesley then stood up and took my hand. "Come on, let's take a walk. It is a beautiful day."

Wesley led the way and we walked down the park lanes. I had my parasol up. The sun was shining too brightly and my small hat was more ornamental than functional. Wesley carried a black cane with him, I saw the silver engraved on its head, an 'E'. He smiled at me and sighed.

"You still look so beautiful Elly…"

"And you looked like you didn't age a day Your Grace," I said rather snidely. But I gave him a sweet smile.

"It's complicated really." Wesley breathed. "But I am like you, I do not age or die."

"But I saw you. You were old." I said and stared at him. He was the Prime Minister of Britain in the 1830s. He led the British armies in Waterloo and defeated Napoleon. The man was a legend.

"Ah Darling. The wonders of magic," He said and touched my nose. I frowned and moved my face away. "So you're a witch?"

"No not all." Wesley smiled. "Just a different kind of creature. An immortal some sort, except I am not a Vampire or a Lycanthrope."

Wesley then stopped and we were on the bridge. I looked around seeing the ducks and swans in the pond. It was such a lovely afternoon.

"Do you wonder why Klaus never found out about me?" He asked and I only looked at him. "That your butler and household staff would forget I was ever there…"

"Magic again?' I asked and Wesley nodded. He then embraced me and I was surprised by it. I held both my hands on his chest in an attempt to push him off. He smirked and bent to capture my lips in a kiss.

"I should like to continue our arrangement." Wesley whispered when he pulled away.

"No." I told him firmly and shook my head. "I do not have the time for it. Besides you weren't such a great lover after all…"

"Surely you lie…" Wesley spoke and I felt his hand roamed up to my breast and he squeezed it lightly. I was horrified. In broad daylight! In a public place. My eyes widened as I pushed him off. "Let me go…"

"Oh Eleanna…" He said with a chuckle as he pulled away. Wesley then gave me his card. I saw his alias and his address. A mansion in Fifth Avenue. 'Wesley Arthur'. And the E that was embossed beneath. I was curious by what it meant.

"I look forward to hear from you, Your Grace…" He leaned and whispered in my ear. Wesley gave a small bow and walked away.

After supper, Klaus was smoking his cigars again. Oh how I hated the smell, Lexie sat on the piano and played Schumann's Scenes from Childhood. The music was soothing and I felt so sleepy and drugged even as I leaned on the sofa. Maybe I really did take too much opium. The butler came with a silver tray and Klaus just gave a bored look seeing the invitation card.

"The Mrs Astor is having a dinner party…" Klaus announced.

"Again?" Lexie was surprised. I kept quiet.

Of course she would invite Klaus and me. We were British nobility. Something she had probably aspired but of course was not. It was a big thing to have European aristocrats present in one's social event. It creates an air of true elitism. So there would be a Russian Count present or a German Baron or a French Comtesse in the social events and receptions of New York.

The Mrs Astor was New York society's gatekeeper. She decided who was in, and who was out. She had developed quite a distaste for the nouveau riche, which included the Commodore, Cornelius Vanderbilt and his family. So it didn't matter if you had a lot more money than the Astors did. You also need to have the right kind of pedigree. If you were not received by The Mrs Astor, you were not considered to be In Society, no matter how rich or distinguished you were.

Caroline Astor would only associate with Old Money people. People she believed were the true aristocracy of America, the highest echelon of American society since the Colonial days. I always thought it strange that some in America would fashion themselves and their society as that of the London ton. Didn't the Americans wanted their independence and to break free from Great Britain in the first place? Such Ironies never failed to amuse me.

"A dinner for her daughter's Carrie's birthday." Klaus spoke in a rather bored tone.

The Mrs Astor had taken a liking to Klaus and always seemed to want to have conversations with him. If I hadn't known any better, she was probably flirting with my husband. But she was rather matronly in bearing and in age which is why Klaus treated her with a polite indifference. He tolerated her presence and her conversations as best he could. If she was younger and more nubile, I was certain Klaus would ravish her just the same.

Klaus then looked at me. "What do you think Darling? Should we go?"

"I do not like her Niklaus. That woman is a vicious asp." I said and then let out a soft yawn.

"Maybe we should go," Lexie smiled. "We'll do something outrageous and embarrass our host…"

"Fornicate right on the dinner table?" Klaus asked with a raised eyebrow. I frowned hearing that. He laughed and so did Lexie. Klaus pulled me up from the sofa as I leaned limp against him and kissed my lips. "Oh don't be such a prude Darling…"

I groaned and tried to pull away from Klaus out he only pulled me closer and kissed deeply. He lifted me up in his arms and looked at Lexie. "Well Sweetheart Goodnight. Elly and I will retire now to our little love nest and try again to conceive."

Lexie shook her head and gave a wave. "Good Luck…"

After my husband had finished his deed, trying to get me pregnant for the hundredth time maybe. I had no longer considered the act as making love. It seemed too mechanical and clinical really. Klaus would try to warm me up and then stick his organ in, rock himself inside me a few times and released his fluids. I no longer felt the passion or even lust for him. I just wanted Klaus to get it over and be done with it. Klaus breathed heavily afterwards and rolled to the side while I moved to take the bottle of laudanum.

"No Elly." Klaus said sharply and took it away from me.

"I need it. My head hurts..." I pleaded.

"Your head hurts because you drink too much of it." Klaus said. He took the bottle and I watched as he threw it into fireplace. There was a small explosion and glass burst. My face fell. I needed it. It could help me sleep and give me some peace and make my migraines go away.

"Half the time you're sedated." Klaus commented. I groaned and held my head with both hands. "You don't know what I'm going through Niklaus."

"Of course I do!" Klaus snapped and stared angrily. "Do you think I don't know what people are saying? That my wife is so unhappy she drugged herself with opium and syrups!"

"Well it is true isn't it?" I cried. "I am not happy Niklaus! That's the elephant in the room!"

Klaus growled and immediate bit his wrist. He came to me and shoved it violently in my mouth that I almost gagged and choked. After a while, I grew used to it and suckled his blood. I heard him sigh as he gently stroked my hair.

"If you have to be drugged Elly, let it be my blood…" Klaus said softly. I felt better immediately and snuggled in his arms. His blood was really the best cure to any ailments. I wondered if maybe he could have it bottled and sold to the masses. It would even beat laudanum and dominate the market.

The dinner party was held at The Astor's grand mansion right on Fifth Avenue. I wore a beautiful red gown. It had a low neckline and a full skirt as most evening dresses of the era were. Klaus loved me in red. He said it showed off my porcelain skin best and my brown hair was up in a chignon, a beautiful necklace of rubies and diamonds on my neck, and matching teardrop earrings. He wanted me to look like a goddess but I always felt like a lifeless doll. Klaus would dress me up and show me off. I was a soulless object for his own amusement.

I did not want to go to the dinner but Lexie had to be received in New York society especially by the indomitable Caroline Astor. She was Lady Alexia Smith Branson, sister of the Duke. Lexie had already adopted the American accent and we'd make some story up where she had been educated at one of the finest finishing school in New England. She was received quite well. The ladies flocked to her and talked to her. Some young men just watched her in admiration as well. I saw Marie Astor and walked up to my friend. We hugged and kissed. Marie wore a beautiful emerald gown that matched her eyes and her auburn hair was tied up.

"I'm surprised you came…" Marie said as she kissed my cheeks.

"I was forced to, my husband wanted his sister to be received well in New York…"

"Ah yes…" Marie nodded. "It is sooo very important." She sighed sarcastically and I giggled hearing it. Marie looked on seeing Lexie speaking to Caroline Astor. "She is very pretty. Your sister in law."

"She is," I smiled and looked at Lexie. What a fine, beautiful young woman Lexie had become. So strong and sweet and yet not cruel hearted. I was so proud of her.

"Now…where did he come from?" Marie spoke, almost sounded like a gasp. I turned and looked, and there he was dressed in his evening suit looking dashing and debonair. "He reminds so much of Mr Darcy," Marie whispered. Of course…

I was surprised, not pleasantly though to see Wesley in the room. He looked at me and smiled. Klaus did not recognize him at all and he was introduced to us as Wesley Arthur, a financier or something from Chicago. Wesley even had a Mid Western accent to complete the role.

"Which financial house was it?" Klaus inquired while he was conversing with Wesley and several other men.

"Goldman Sachs," Wesley smiled. "It's poised to be one of the finest financial houses in the East Coast and if not the country."

"I did some speculation myself before," Klaus remarked rather dryly. "Lost quite a tidy fortune…I'm just sticking to bonds and gold for now." He then sighed and shook his head. "This speculation thing seems more like reckless gambling."

"Gambling for the moneyed elite…" William Astor said with a laugh and they all laughed too.

The butler rang his bell and everyone went to the grand dining hall. Klaus took my arm but my eyes were locked on Wesley who had given me a rather charming, seductive smile. One which Klaus had seen. My husband was not pleased by it. I saw the frown on his face but I did not care.

The dining table was long and it was quite a feast. As always The Mrs Astor just had to show everyone up and showed off her fine china, crystal glasses and gold plated silver ware. There was a huge floral centerpiece. The guests took their seats. My husband sat next to our hostess of course. I knew she wanted Klaus close while I, in the most serendipitous of situations, found myself seated right next to Wesley.

Wesley looked at me and smiled and we sat down. The dishes were served. I didn't know how many courses. Starters, appetizers, hors d'oeuvres, soups, fish and meat and I don't know what else. I didn't really touch my food much. I felt something on my thigh and I was surprised that it was Wesley's hand just touching it. Caressing it. I looked at him, shocked by his brazenness but he only gave a cool look of indifference back, as if nothing had happened. I look at Klaus busy talking to one of the Astors and maybe a Waldorf even.

I tried to push Wesley's hand away but instead he held it in his grip and I realized it was best to remain calm. Dessert came and Wesley made conversation with me. "So Your Grace, it's nice to see that you're adapting well in New York."

It was so weird hearing him speak in an American, Mid Western accent. I smiled at him. "Oh I've been here quite a while Mr Arthur…"

"Please call me Wes…" He smiled.

Everyone retired to the grand drawing room. The men smoked cigars and have discussion about their wealth and industries and how to make more money. Klaus looked bored and I saw my husband walking towards me. He pulled my hand and I wondered what he wanted.

"What is it Darling?" I asked him.

"I need you Elly.." Klaus whispered. He moved closer and took my hand and held right above his burgeoning erection. I gasped.

"Niklaus…" I whispered. "This is not the time or place."

"Can't take it Darling. You look so delectable in your dress. I've been watching you all night…" He said, his eyes were full of lust.

Klaus then turned around. "My wife is not feeling well…" He announced and everyone turned to look. "We are very sorry but I have to bring her home immediately…"

"Oh Goodness…" The Mrs Astor said and stood up. "If you must your Grace," She said and gave a worried look.

"It was a lovely dinner Caroline," Klaus smiled and hugged her and kissed her cheeks. She blushed when he pulled away. "As always you are the most gracious, most beautiful hostess in the side of the Atlantic…or maybe on both sides" Klaus added with a flirty wink.

Ah…How charming of Klaus to say that. I wanted to grit my teeth. He took her hand and kissed it fervently. I swore I heard The Mrs Astor swooned,

"Do you want me to leave with you?" Lexie asked as she walked to us. Klaus wasn't so sure. "If any of you gentlemen would be kind enough to send my sister home…"

"Oh Sure…" The men stumbled and stood up, some coming forward. Lexie had no shortage of admirers everywhere she went.

Klaus smiled and took my hand. We walked down the steps and on the carriage, He told the driver to take a ride around the city. Klaus could not wait till we get home, he pulled on top of him and hiked up my skirt. He freed his manhood and have me sit on him as he entered me. The carriage ran across a few pot holes and I felt myself rocking against him. Klaus groaned and buried his head in my breasts as he kissed them.

He nipped his wrist and fed me his blood knowing it would arouse me further and it did. I moaned as I moved up and down his length and when I got tired Klaus rocked me forward and backward while I rode him. I don't know how long we were fucking but when we finally came together I was exhausted. I managed to attain my orgasm but I still did not feel fulfilled. I kept thinking of Wesley, his dark good looks and how different yet pleasing his Midwestern accent was. Klaus had no idea when I lied in his arms that night I had wished I was with another man.

Klaus and Lexie left for Albany one afternoon and they would be in upstate New York for a week. Going to Niagara and to Buffalo even. I didn't really care. I smoked some opium and then I left, heading the mansion along Fifth Avenue, the same street where the Astors lived. I knocked on the heavy door and a butler opened it and greeted me. He led me to the study where I would wait. Wesley came shortly and he was pleased to see me. He immediately pulled me in his arms and kissed me passionately. I had never felt such passion in a long time. We made love right there on his large desk and again on the carpet and later Wesley had some hemp which had rolled in filter paper and burnt.

I was lying naked there right on the carpet, uncovered, resting my self on top of a man not my husband, the former Duke of Wellington, who turned out wasn't dead as everyone had assumed and had some form of secret double immortal identity. Wesley smoked the hemp cigarettes and then passed it to me. I sighed, taking in the smoke and smiled at him. "It's different from opium..."

Wesley gave a seductive smile. "Opium is not good for you Darling..." He said softly before he moved to kiss me.

"I do a lot of things which are not good for me..." I said. "You for example Mr Wesley Arthur...You are not good for me."

"Ah..." Wesley smiled. "A little liaison doesn't hurt anyone."

"My husband will kill you." I told him. Wesley shook his head. "He won't. Klaus won't even know."

"He will find out." I told Wesley.

"I'm much more powerful than Klaus or any supernatural..." Wesley said rather confidently. "He can't harm me."

"What are you really?" I asked Wesley. I was curious. I saw the E on his signet ring. He only gave a shrug. "I'm like a fallen angel..."

"I thought angels are supposed to be virtuous..." I frowned.

"Fallen..." Wesley said with sexy raised brow. "Big difference Sweetheart."

He pulled me in his arms and kissed me again. I spent the entire afternoon in Wesley's house before he had a carriage to drive me home. When I reached home I smoked the opium again, smiling happily to myself. Klaus was not around and I had my old lover back. Life was good. It seemed peaceful, I was happy, in my own deluded, and drugged state of mind. I smiled seeing my sister as she sat next to me on the chintz chaise lounge. "Oh Elly...You poor thing," Karina said as she sighed sadly

When Klaus and Lexie got back from Albany they brought with them several vampires. A tall blonde man with pale blue eyes. He looked to be his mid thirties. He was probably from Norway or one of the Scandinavian countries. A sly vampire who seemed like he could not be trusted the first time I met him. His name was Bishop and he was turned during the seventh century. A Viking of a man and strange enough it was Roxana, Klaus' sister who had turned him. Bishop was one of Roxana's many lovers. Bishop brought along his vampire Childe, a young man in his twenties named Aidan who was turned during the War of Independence in 1777. Aidan was handsome but very pale.

Bishop was responsible for the treaty between Klaus and The Dutch. The Dutch consisted of three so called godfathers of the vampire society in the East Coast had agreed to serve Klaus. They did indeed came from the Netherlands. The Dutch would be at his beck and call. Klaus was after all an Original and they were merely vampires. Klaus liked Bishop and trusted him enough so he made Bishop to take charge of whatever businesses The Dutch had run in their establishment.

Bishop had briefed Klaus on vampire establishment in the East Coast. It was pretty much exclusive to the Pennsylvania Dutch who preferred a rural existence in Amish towns. The Penn Dutch vampires as Klaus dubbed them were mostly German immigrants. They were still very religious, choosing not to be like their indulgent Vampire predecessors. They wore modest Amish clothes and adhered to strict codes of conducts. The Penn Dutch vampires led a rural simple existence and mostly conversed in German.

Bishop said that it would be easier to control then. Although there were still vagrants and vagabonds of vampires scattered across the country, most of the vampires in the Northeast belonged the same coven.

"No balls at all…no jewels and luxuries…all forbidden by The Dutch," Bishop spoke after dinner one day. He had a glass of brandy in his hand. Klaus shook his head.

"Ridiculous. Where are the pleasures then? Seemed like some colonial village of the damned." Klaus commented.

"That's how most were controlled. Anyone who broke the rules, were meted with cruel punishment." Aidan spoke.

"The Dutch are very traditional and rather religious…" Bishop said with a smile and drank his brandy, one that had blood in it. "They'd crucify the poor things, let them bleed and starve for days. Feeding them vervain and watch as they burn when the sun raises."

"They still go to church?" Klaus asked. Bishop nodded. "Every Sabbath."

"This is what happens when a religious fanatic gets turned." Lexie said. She hated the system the coven adhered to.

"Keeps them controlled and out of trouble." Bishop sighed. "It works though."

"We should bring them to the city…" Klaus said with a big smile.

"All of them?" Aidan stared at him.

"Yes all three hundred of them…We'll have a ball…" Klaus said. He gave an evil laugh. "We'd invite all the great families of New York and have a grand feast."

Klaus looked at Bishop and Aidan and they were all smiling. Lexie frowned.

"A grand massacre you mean?" She looked at Klaus.

"Ah Sweetheart…These Penn Dutch vampires have been cooped up for far too long. Poor pathetic creatures they've been…" Klaus sighed. "We need to set them free Lexie. Be the wild beasts they truly are…"

"I will not be part of it." Lexie spoke vehemently.

"I am your Sire Alexia. Your Maker and you will follow my command." Klaus told her in a sharp tone. Lexie kept quiet. He then looked at his new deputies, Bishop and Aidan.

"Invite every one of them to the city. Prepare apartments for them, get them the finest of clothes and go to the witches to get their daylight rings. We will have a grand ball in my estate in East Hampton. I'll invite every one of the Four Hundred families…"

"This is madness Klaus." Lexie spoke. "People will know."

"They will not know. Because we will compel everyone else. Some will be compliant. I will decide who lives and who dies and then each and every vampire will assume their identities. It's time for Vampires to rule…I'm sick of the Lycanthropes and their vast empire. And quite frankly this pretentious New York society and the insipid Four Hundred are annoying me."

I was quiet the entire time. The laudanum and opium had taken its full effect on my mind. Klaus had me lying, my head resting on his lap in the sofa throughout the discussion. He bent and kissed my head while he stroked my hair as if I was his cat lying there, putty in his arms.

"What is wrong with your wife?" Bishop asked and looked at me with curiosity.

"Ah….She's just having her monthlies…" Klaus spoke. He took my wrist and bit it, sucking my blood right in front of the three vampires. Bishop only smiled that malevolent smile of his, almost as if he was turned on by it.

Ah, the great Massacre of the Long Island Elites. Something that was never mentioned in history books and why should it? It was all wiped clean and pushed under the grand Persian silk carpets of the estate. It was the event of the season. The Duke of Knighton would have his annual masque ball and instead of having it in London, for the first time ever, it would be held right across the Atlantic. Everyone was so excited. Oh… if only they knew that it was to be their last ball ever.

I stood by the window watching as the carriages arrive. The ladies in the grand gowns, the gentleman wearing their formal white and black waistcoat evening suits. Klaus invited all of them, the Cushings, Carnegies, Biltmores, Vanderbilts, the Mellons, the Rothschilds and of course the Astor clan. Cornelius Vandebilt had a cold that night and he sent his apologies as well as a huge hamper. None of his family members attended and so did the Carnegies and the Rothschilds. I had a strange feeling they were tipped off.

I was too drugged with opium that evening. Klaus knew it of course but he let me be, thinking in his mind that I would pose less trouble if I was drugged up. There was an orchestra playing and everyone danced. It was beautiful. A grand ball indeed. Even the vampires present who were at first rather awkward with their newly established lives in the city, looked to be enjoying themselves. I sat on the sofa with Lexie who looked particularly nervous.

"I do not condone this Elly." She said softly to me. "What Klaus is doing or about to commit is wrong! It's madness." She suddenly cried, weeping softly. I looked at Lexie in my dazed state and smiled. "It's not your fault Darling, what's about to happen."

"But I will just stand here and let it happen. That is wrong too…" Lexie said to me tears streaming down her beautiful, flawless face.

I sighed and looked seeing The Mrs Astor and her posse of underlings. "Maybe they deserved it Lexie."

"How can you say that?" She asked me pointedly. "No one deserves this. Nobody." Ah… She was a humanitarian, our Lexie. Beautiful, kind and softhearted. Lexie was never meant to be a vampire. It was all my doing as Klaus had said. I was responsible for her.

"What's wrong?" Aidan asked as he walked to where we were. Lexie looked away and brushed her tears with a silk hanky. Aidan breathed and smiled at us.

"Klaus wants me to bring you away from here to the guest cottage. He doesn't want you to see the massacre…" Aidan spoke. "It's not appropriate for a lady, he says."

"But I want to…." I yawned rather sleepily.

"Don't be silly Elly." Lexie spoke harshly. I frowned and stood up, staggering in my drunken and drugged stupor. I had drunk quite a lot of champagne I supposed.

"I never get to see anything…" I whined. "It's not fair…"

I nearly slipped but Aidan caught me in his arms. "Easy…" he whispered and carried me up. "Looks like you had too much to drink Your Grace."

I smiled as I looked up at him. Aidan had such a sweet smile on his pale handsome face. He carried me to my bedroom and placed me gently on the bed. I felt drowsy once my head touched the soft down feather pillow. "It's going to be quite a mess downstairs…" I yawned.

Aidan smiled. "Don't worry about it Duchess…We'll clean it up."

"I do so like the carpets…" I frowned as I thought of the Persian carpets we had. I would not want them to be bloodied and stained "We got them shipped from Isfahan."

"They will be untouched I promise you." Aidan spoke. He gave a serious face and I laughed softly. Such a charming vampire. "I like you Aidan McCollin."

"And I like you as well Duchess…" He said with a wink.

Aidan bent and took my hand giving a gentlemanly kiss that made me blushed. I closed my eyes later when Aidan left the room. I remembered tossing and turning in bed that night trying to sleep. I heard cries and screams coming from below. I thought I saw my sister in the room. Karina was shaking her head as she looked out the window. She turned and stared at me lying in my bed. "They're all dead Elly…All of them."

True enough when I woke up two days later, my carpets were perfectly flawless. I walked down the grand staircase and it was as if nothing happened. My carpets were their perfect self, the curtains were clean and untouched but I did notice some small splatter of blood on the crystal chandeliers. I walked to the dining hall where Klaus, Lexie. Bishop and Aidan were.

"Good morning Darling," Klaus greeted me. I gave him an odd look and walked to the table. The gentlemen all rose of course and then I sat down next to Klaus. He kissed my lips softly and gently caressed my cheek. "Did you rest well?"

I only shrugged. The butler came and poured me my breakfast tea and a platter was served. I looked at Aidan and gave a smile. He smiled back.

"Price of wheat has gone up," Bishop commented as he read the Wall Street Journal. He looked at Klaus and smiled. "That means that the farms that you now own will be making quite a profit."

Klaus laughed. "You're becoming quite the Capitalist…"

Bishop shrugged. "It's the Protestant Work Ethic espoused by The Dutch when they got here. The entire country is based on that."

"I would hardly know…" Klaus sighed. He took the crucifix that I had given him and kissed it. "Orthodox and Catholic to the bone."

Aidan saw that and laughed. "Is it even possible to be both? You know people used to believe that such crosses are harmful to us."

"That and garlic and silver…" Bishop said lazily. "Humans…Such naïve, silly creatures…"

"I'm returning to San Francisco next week." Lexie suddenly announced. Everyone looked at her. I glanced at Lexie and she seemed rather tense.

"Very well…" Klaus said rather curtly. I looked at both of them and they didn't seem to be very agreeable with each other. Klaus looked at Aidan. "I want you to go with her. A lady should not be traveling alone."

"I can manage…" Lexie argued.

"It is not a request Alexia!" Klaus said, snapping at her. His eyes glared angrily. And Lexie backed down. She knew better than to anger Klaus more. Everyone at the breakfast table was quiet.

"The Astors are throwing a party," Klaus said and smiled at me.

I gave an odd look and furrowed my brows. The Astors? Wasn't everyone at the ball dead? I looked up seeing the fresh brown earth. Klaus had the bodies burned and the remains buried at the garden. They could fertile the rose bushes that he wanted to be planted. Nothing like human remains to give the roses their full bloom and sweet scent in the summer… Klaus had said.

It was only later I realized when Klaus and I went to the Astor mansion that it wasn't the same Caroline Astor or the same William Astor. A pair vampires had taken their place. The new Mrs Astor was much younger, prettier. In fact vampires had taken almost everyone's place. I was shocked that only Wesley remained the same.

"You survived." I gasped softly while Wesley and I were conversing.

"I tipped off some of the families…" Wesley said and drank his punch

"But how did you know?" I asked him, curious and surprised. Wesley gave a small shrug. "I told you Elly. I watch everything."