Victor paused in the act of raising his fork to his mouth. The mouthwatering delicacy that was the specialty here was suspended in midair. His attention was caught by a commotion near the entrance of the very exclusive nightclub that frequently enjoyed his patronage. Atarah looked sharply at his arrested expression and then transferred her attention to the same spot. The others joining them at their table were slower to react to his distraction. Conversation gradually ceased as they caught Victor's increasingly concerned visage.
The people on the crowded dance floor cleared a path, and there in the center, like Moses parting the Red Sea, was Klaus. His gait was unhurried, his demeanor lordly. He approached the table, head held high, shoulders back, his fluid stride reminiscent of a male lion confidently surveying his domain. His face was neutral. No anger was evident, but neither was there any geniality.
Damon and Elena, trailing in his wake, were virtually invisible as all eyes focused on Klaus.
Victor laid down his utensils and calmly waited, his face giving away nothing of his true feelings. Atarah followed suit, eyes narrowed watchfully. The others appeared confused except for one who whooshed out of the room.
Klaus paid no attention to the one who fled. He appeared indifferent to the cautious and sometime fearful faces of those gathered around the table. Several looked nervously to Victor searching for clues on how to react. Klaus stopped several feet away from the table and waited.
Victor nodded courteously, but did not rise. Damon felt like the temperature in the room dropped several degrees. Klaus did not nod in return nor did he smile; if anything his expression hardened, and his eyes grew colder as he stared without blinking at the large man.
Victor met his gaze and Damon swore that though no conversation was exchanged there was some type of dialogue.
Victor apparently lost the battle of wills because he pushed back his chair and rose. "My Lord Niklaus," he uttered ceremoniously and bowed. Atarah mimicked him; both never taking their eyes off the hybrid. The other members of their entourage followed their example.
They straightened up and the big man's sheer physical presence should have dwarfed Klaus, but somehow did not. The force of Klaus's presence rendered the inequality in their size insignificant.
The greeting seemed to satisfy Klaus because he finally nodded back. "Victor." "Atarah." His voice was polite, but chilly. "I would talk with you," the hybrid continued.
"You are most welcome here, my Lord." Victor's tone was not as welcoming as his words, and he shot a vicious glance at Damon, acknowledging his presence for the first time.
Klaus, catching the look, didn't comment on it or allow his face to betray his amusement. One regal glance and a chair was immediately vacated, the former occupant politely offering it to him. He sat confidently, completely at ease. "It's been awhile, my brother's first born. Have you seen him lately?"
Victor sat back down and played with his drink. He jerked his head at one of the vampires dancing attendance on him. "Please get my Lord NIklaus a – ah, whiskey?" He raised an eyebrow at Klaus seeking approval.
"That will be fine." Klaus leaned back, smiling slightly now that his dominance had been acknowledged.
"I did see Kol about two years ago," Victor admitted. "Very briefly."
Klaus looked inquiringly. "Did he say where he was going?"
Atarah had also sat. She smiled as she sipped her martini. As she frequently did, she answered for her mate. "He didn't say, my Lord, but I somehow – ah – how shall I say it – I got the impression it was someplace where you would not be. No offense taken, I hope?"
Klaus's mouth twisted slightly. "None taken. Kol has always had the sense not to cross someone stronger than himself."
"Point taken." She knew she was being given a veiled warning that could easily turn to a threat. "We have never crossed you, My Lord."
Klaus smiled with his mouth only. The smile never reached his eyes. "Not openly at least."
Neither Victor nor Atarah responded to the comment. Victor paused before speaking, carefully choosing his words, as if the two men were duelists en garde. "To what do we owe the honor of a visit from you? You normally do not seek out your brother's kin."
"You have something that belongs to me." Klaus held up a whiskey that was placed in front of him. He tilted it to admire the deep amber color and then drank, rolling it around his mouth. "Excellent."
Victor and Atarah both stiffened. This time it was Atarah that shot a deadly glare at Damon and Elena. So lethal was the look that Damon felt Elena's hand tremble in his. He squeezed it reassuringly even though he wasn't feeling very secure at the moment. If Klaus wasn't here he knew they would both be dead, and if Klaus didn't continue to champion them it was still a very real possibility.
Damon silently prayed. Please Lord, let him really have the hots for Blondie or we're dead meat.
Atarah objected vehemently. "He's ours!"
Victor slid a hand under the cover of the table lightly squeezing her arm, warning her to be careful. "What she means is that we have nurtured the boy, made him part of our family. You have never shown any interest in a ripper. You would have our unending gratitude if you left him with us. Naturally we would bring him to you whenever you wanted him. Careful handling is required, or he could succumb to the urge to kill himself."
Klaus looked at him over his whiskey glass. "Are you saying you won't give me what I ask for?" He made his words a challenge.
Victor was too seasoned a warrior to blatantly defy him. "I only ask that you consider granting us this favor. And consider what is best for Stefan." He glowered at Damon. "Some of his former companions did him more harm than good."
Damon defiantly returned the look.
"I do not have to justify myself to you," Klaus said softly, eyes gleaming. He allowed them to go yellow, a not so subtle reminder of his power.
Victor knew this display was done to demonstrate beyond a shadow of a doubt that Klaus had broken the curse and was even more powerful than before. He also knew he was treading into dangerous territory by continuing to thwart him. Victor had never cared for the Original, and it galled him that he had to give way to him, but Klaus could and would kill him if he didn't hand over Stefan. He thought briefly and then abandoned the idea of running. One thing was certain - Klaus never forgave and never forgot. He would ultimately extract vengeance.
Atarah seemed to know what her mate was thinking because now it was her turn to unobtrusively reach a hand over and gently squeeze his thigh, while saying, "We will of course do whatever you ask, My Lord."
Klaus gave them a happy smile, showing his dimples. "Well, I'll give you some time to pack him up."
He looked over his shoulder at Damon and Elena. "Tickets home are waiting at the airport for you. Go now."
He turned a sharp gaze on Victor. "Is it necessary for me to say I won't tolerate any harm being done to these two?"
Victor looked unhappy, but resigned. "Of course."
Damon wanted to object – wanted to wait for his brother. His lips had barely parted when he remembered a conversation they had when they met Klaus at the airport. Klaus had stressed that Victor was a power in his own right. They needed to show a united front, and if Damon in any way contradicted him or attempted to argue with him in front of the Vegas vampires his defiance would be punished.
"Argue with me Damon – cross me in any way – and I will leave Elena with them." Damon, despite himself, was convinced by the matter-of-fact tone Klaus used. He would have felt more confident if Klaus had blustered or shouted. It was the total lack of feeling in his voice that made Damon believe he would do it.
Damon pressed his lips together, nodded, and quickly shepherded Elena out of the room. Besides, he was not eager to be anywhere near Victor or Atarah when Klaus wasn't around to shield them. He wouldn't be showing his face in Vegas for the next couple of hundred years at a minimum.
When the two had left Klaus pushed back his chair and stood. "Atarah my luv. Let's dance. I haven't had a really good partner since I lost my favorite witch."