Warning: I definitely went back and reviewed this chapter. I see I was to haste to publish my 30th Chapter causing a lot of misunderstand and spelling errors. Please forgive me and I hope you love the new and clearer version of Whiskey After Wine.

As always thank you for reading – Romanian person.

Chapter 30: Whiskey After Wine

Her body lay stiff, knotted, as if Kristina had stood seamlessly still all night. Her muscles operated like rock and her mind remained fuzzy, faded. The surprising aftertaste of blood, floating in her mouth, made her gag slight. The weary human tried to swallow it down but to her distaste, it only added to her discomfort as it sent a new, profound beating against her temples.

Even with Kristina's eyes sealed shut, she still felt something prominent aside from the physical discomfort. The impression of eyes on her form made her shiver involuntarily. It created an overwhelming sensation of anxiety that could swallow her whole.

Finally mustering the courage to ease her unyielding misty eyes open, the sore human connected her sight with a set of oceanic, dark eyes. The beautiful but fearful gift stood fixed at the foot of her bed, imitating her reaction. Kristina didn't dare move. She posed like a statue, trying to understand the meaning of her Master in her room.

She was in her bed, Kristina could comprehend this much. The last time the human had slept this well was beyond her. Honestly, the idea of another peaceful slumber made her powerless eyelids plead to drop once more. Though the deep brown red that stained half of her bed and approximately her entire body, plied her half-open globes to their wide deep grey selves.

Kristina's mouth let out a soft gasp; her mind registered the dry, dark blood pool that circled around her. Easing her back off the bed, which now ached from the tainted idea of an enjoyable rest. Her hands began to shake also. They too were stained with the monstrous blood.

Yesterday felt like fog, leaving the human's head in a thick sore fog. Just trying to think of anything as simple as why she was covered in blood sent her head flying to a new degree of throbbing sensation.

"Morning, love." Nik sighed, giving a slight frown at the sight of Kristina wincing at the volume of his voice. You shouldn't feel cruel; the original scolded himself as his insides twisted at the thought of her next words. His mind couldn't help but plunge into the memory of last night.

-Flashback-

"How is she?" Elijah questioned, his voice nothing short from a man in terminal distress and anxiety.

Nik fought the urge to laugh dryly in his older brother's face. How is she? How could Klaus describe the raven-head in her delusional state to a man that couldn't take the sight of her blood nor the sound of her voice crying out in pain?

Her red and black silhouette still haunted Niklaus. Her long legs pulled into her chest as her head rested angelically soft on her knees with her almost limb hands wrapped around her chest. Not to forget the bottle of whiskey she gripped so tightly that it turned her knuckles white. Niklaus couldn't even let his eyes trail to her darkened face. No, not when he had turned off the light in her eyes.

"She will be fine in time." Niklaus muttered, going straight for the liquor. It burned down his throat like vervaine, leaving his mind to drift towards unresolved troubles.

"You knew." Nik blurted before his mind could full calculate the extent of his question. Had his brother known that there was something between Athan and Kristina?
Elijah's deep, brown hair wasn't neat and tidy. Instead, it stood sticking up in certain places as if his always-composed brother had broken down and racked his hands through his hair numerous times.

The original didn't need the sight of his brother's blood stained suit and messed up hair to prove that he was a wreck. His deep green eyes were dark and piercing, as if he was hanging on to every word with the shear hope that he would wake up from a terrifying dream.

"I knew what exactly?" Elijah snapped back before downing his own Scotch.

"You knew what was going on between Kristina and the filth Kol brought in!" Niklaus growled, his voice reaching a new volume as he stared into his older brother's globes expecting to catch the flicker anxiety.

"It's not for me to say." Elijah said calmly before turning away from his half-brothers dark glare.

"Hell, it's not for you to say!" Niklaus yelled back. Anger and frustration pulses thorough his veins like the intoxication of the alcohols he had consumed.

"Niklaus, we have company." Elijah said immediately as two new shadows casted themselves against the wall,

"Oh don't stop on my accord." Kol said not forgetting the sarcasm in his irritating voice.

Both Elijah and Nik let out a distasteful growl as Athan's face came into view.

"No worries Nik. I, too, was once distraught about not knowing the story behind Athan and your lovely pet. Kristina, I believe." Kol informed them, causing all three vampires, around him, to freeze to the bone.

Nik felt a new heat wave consume him when the words settled in the bottom of his chest. As if not already suffering from his careless actions early that day, Nik let the anger control him like puppet.

He let out an animal-like snarl as he heard the glorious, slick sound of the iron dagger slice through Kol's chest and into his already freezing heart.

Niklaus let his hand linger on the dagger coated with white oak ash. It seemed impossible to let go.

Should he left go and watch his brother fall to the ground, dagger lodged in his heart, his skin already turning a veiny grey, and eye shut tight with the creeping of the slumber overtaking his nerves? Or quickly free his brother from the weapon before more harm was done?

Though the sharp sound of a neck cracking pealed Nik's fingers off the dagger and let his younger brother drop like a deadweight.

Niklaus couldn't resist bringing his gaze to source of the sound. Athan fell to his knees before his torso gave up and his body lied on the wooden floors. The baby vampire's head positioned too far to left.

Elijah refilled his glass before finally facing Niklaus secretly astonished eyes. "It needed to be done." Elijah said before kicking aside Athan's body, as if it was another bloodless, dead corpse.

"Why didn't you finish him?" Niklaus said with a monotone voice as he unbuttoning his white blouse, which now was dry with her perfume blood.

Elijah stared aimlessly at his tumbler. Should he tell his brother, the vampire thought. Or should he let his brother figure out, that Kristina was still in love with Athan?

Nik is bright, Elijah reassured himself before turning to his half-brother, giving a half-heart smile. "I thought I would give you the honor, Brother."

"Then I should give you the honor of dealing with our overdramatic sister." Niklaus said all to serious before downing his freshly refilled drink and heading out to check on the cause of this mayhem.

-End-

Even when Elijah trying to reassure him of his accidental actions, his brother's words didn't decrease his fury and the anger that led him to daggering Kol. How could it have not been his fault? When Kristina had stared at him all night with her grey doe eyes and analyzing features?

Though how a petite woman, as Kristina, could hold down half a bottle of his strongest whiskey baffled him. However now, as the original stared into her blood shot grey globes with deep black shadows underneath and her messy jet black curls still tinted by sleeping in her own dry blood, he saw the true affects of the cruel alcohol in her system.

"Or shall I say afternoon?" He pestered keeping his voice down to her satisfaction.

Niklaus almost growled at himself, he shouldn't care. He should have drained her the moment he first inhaled her torturing sent and beauty but here she was. Once more this human had beat the odds.

Her heart was almost so far gone when his blood entered her system. It should have been impossible to save her but here she was, staring at him with her angelic petrified face.

The dark-haired woman calmly slid herself to the side of the cotton sheets, were her toes partly touched the chilled floor. She winced again, feeling the shiver run its course up and down her spine.

"Lord Niklaus, please don't mind me asking, what happened?" Her voice first came out normal volume but she soon learned to take it down to a whisper. The small stream of light escaping past the curtains burned her sore eyes. Every movement hurt. Ever word whispered sent a hammer to her ears and brain. If it hadn't been for the empty Whiskey bottle stationed directly beside her foot, Kristina wouldn't have believed she had placed her lips on the devilish liquor. It was certainly out of character for her. To clearly not remember what had happen yesterday was beginning to frighten her.

"Drink." Her master ordered handing her a glass of clear liquid instead of giving an answer. "A bath awaits you. After you freshen up, then I shall tell you."

The water in the porcelain tub was incredibly hot, steaming the whole bathroom and the iced windows. But the heat was perfect for the massive headache and soreness her body obtained. Once she lowered her body into the soothing tub, the water turn dead red.

"M'lord?" Kristina whispered craving to hear his reassuring voice rather then think of the bloody water that surrounded her. She knew she was the only one in the bathroom. Or from what she could see through the fabric that closed off the bathtub from the rest of the bathroom, she was alone.

"Kristina." A strong voice responded, though this strong voice seemed muffled and distant.

"Did you compel me?" Kristina asked, her voice cracking as the tears building up in her grey eyes like a dam. The idea made her insides itch and her mind start to hyperventilate.

"No, love. It's not compulsion." Nik muttered with a sigh, slightly leaning on the white cabinet next to the closed bathroom door. Kristina's mind hadn't registered the alcohol leaving her system, he thought bring his own poison to his lips. Letting the bourbon burn its way down, Nik let his blue eyes rest shut. It had been a long night.

Truth, the original vampire was glad she didn't remember. The small human had been an absolute wreck before she had fallen asleep. The image of her trembling, holding his half empty whiskey bottle and a sharp knife in the other, still brought his eyebrows together. She had yelled and screamed at him all night. The whole time he stood right out her door till her voice decreased to a deep inhale and exhale.

His blue eyes shot open to meet the bathroom door clicking open. Steam from the bathroom engulfed the colder air of her room. It fogged his vision for a second till he traced the figure peaking out from the washroom.

She held the white towel, stained by red, close to her still dripping body. Niklaus couldn't, nor wanted to stop his hungry eyes from taking in every inch of bare skin and every inch covered. She was dripping with heated water for her head to her cold toes, giving her skin a hint of the color red. All her soaked, black curls where placed twisted to one side as her knees stood slightly crossed, keeping her somewhat steady. Her grey eyes were wide and red as her rose lips parted, ready to say unspoken words.

Niklaus swallowed down the thick object logged in his throat. The vampire didn't look away from the almost bare woman. It was impossible with the temptation she radiated without knowledge. Not to mention the new warm smell of her old blood. It was still as mesmerizing as Niklaus remembered.

"Look into my eyes and tell me the truth, Niklaus." Kristina said through her clenched teeth. The human was just a little glad when he twitched uncomfortably at the sound of his full name. With one hand keeping the towel up, the other caressed the vervained anchor necklace, she waited her body slightly trembling from the nervousness.

The original could see the goose bumps erupt across her fragile olive skin as he took a big step forward, staring into her wide grey eyes.

Kristina stood her ground, as Nik knew she would. He rounded out his shoulder before hunching his back to where their eyes were leveled. He would have given anything, to just test the way his lips would have felt of hers or just the way his hands perfectly pieced to the curve of her waist. This was the evilest punishment she could ever given him.

"I did no such thing as compulsion." Niklaus whispered, his breath fanning the exposed skin of her neck. The angry, burning like fire, in her grey cloudy eyes that damned his soul with every glare.

"What happen last night?" Kristina questioned, "M'lord." She spat at the blonde-haired man with an unwelcoming tone. Her master was hesitating to tell her the truth.

"I said after you wash and become decent. Wearing nothing but a piece of cloth is hardly expectable." Niklaus bite as he stepped even closer towards Kristina's now stricken face. "Do you also not remember that I am your master and you the servant? Nor do you realize the foolish temptation you have created for me, still painted in your blood?" The original questioned, his eyebrows netting and his eyes becoming darker then the normal royal blue. Nik placed his hands painfully behind his back as he forced himself to stare only in her full moon eyes. This situation was nothing like he expected it to be, so bittersweet. Every inch of his body groaned and fought to carry the small woman away to his room, where he could have her all to himself. It truly was a struggle but he mentally applauded himself as he stood his ground only inches away for her merciless figure.

The vampire could see the blood rush to her cheeks like an open wound and the disgust curl up inside while her knuckles became bleach white from the tense grip she held on the white cloth. A simple and quick nod was given before she disappeared behind the dark oak door

"Master, may I have an answers now-." The raven-head hesitated walking out of the bathroom in her usually black work dress, before being cut off by the man laying back flat on her clean bed. The bloodstains were no longer scattered across the bed. Though she could decide which was scarier, the dry blood she had slept in or the monster that lad seductively on her bed.

"Stop the ridiculousness, it's Nik. " He sighed rubbing his eyes slightly.

The original could only imagine her face conjuring up into a confused expression at his statement. It was true his temper wasn't his best quality, more like his worst, but he knew he would have to be the calm one for the next miserable moments.

Niklaus tilted his neck to the right as he felt the bed slope in slightly and the crick of the springs in the mate. Kristina lad next to him, intertwining her fingers and resting them at the very base of her smooth stomach, as her eyes stood broadcast on the white ceiling. The way her black oceanic waves lad behind her neck and shoulders, and the curve her breast made with her angular neck, made his gums itch with hidden hungry. Not to forget the faint smell of blood she held mixed in with her usual lavender sent. He had never seen her grey globes so confused in their short time of 6 months.

A frown formed at the edge of his pink full lips as he realized the dark depressing dress that covers her body. He desperately missed the white towel and her drenched state.

"I have cleaned up, become descent." The servant let out a soft sigh. "What was the meaning of yesterday?" The irritation in her voice was almost as noticeable as the worry that followed behind it.

"You got hurt. You lost a lot of blood so I gave you mine." He said softly already feeling her flinch away.

"Who... How did I get hurt?" Kristina whispered still tasting the metallic, salty blood from when she had woken. The small pain in her shoulder and neck became profound once more, making her uneasily.

"You got tangled in a small spat. You're fine now. Don't worry about it." Niklaus snapped accidentally, moving with his supernatural speed to his liquor glass.

Why could she just remember? It would save him from the uncomfortable sensation of telling her it was his fault that she about died. If she remembered maybe it would be easier to tell everything. How he had Athan chained to the floorboards of the living room next to his staggered brother and sister, he thought clenching his jaw. No, she wasn't that merciful.

"Nik, you're acting as if a child!" She commented, her breath uneven after Klaus sped across the room in lightening speed.

"I'm acting like a child?" Niklaus laughed, his eyes getting dark. "I'm not the child that talking back to a vampire. And got the hell bitten out of them, love." Once the words were out of his loose mouth he immediately regretted it.

Kristina felt the headache reach its climax as the overflowing memories resurfaced for last night. The pain of the bite, being whipped into the air and landing on the wall became fresh on her skin as if reenacting it.

Niklaus silently cursing under his breath as he saw her fit clench into balls next to her side, her face turn away from him.

"Athan." Kristina whispered as if there was fire in her mouth but the young vampire's being was still unreal to her. Yesterday seemed like a long detailed nightmare, especially Elijah's face.

"Elijah." She muttered tears burning her throat and full moon eyes before her hands could go up to hind them. The picture of Elijah's always-friendly forest eyes turning to dark hungry devil eyes tattooed themselves in her memory.

"Love, it's alright." Nik muttered already in front of her. He hated this, the feeling of care. It was unbearably. It wasn't him. It would never be him.

"You." Kristina stated dropping her hands and facing him with disgusted eyes. "Don't." She threatened as he opened his mouth to explain. Even with the anger burning like fire inside if her, she tried pushed back the fear once his face dropped to stern one.

"It wouldn't have happened if you had told me whatever it is with you and Athan." He spat the last word with pure hate. His hands clenched at his side as she modeled him. Before Kristina could even think, before she could even fire back at him, he turned away from her and walked towards the doorway. "You may explain later but now we have work to do, love." Nik muttered not stopping to look at her.

The dark-headed woman could feel her mind already analyzing the room for a throw-able object. The bastard had the nerve, she screamed in her mind.

"Wear something nice. We are going to town." Her master demanded before vanishing out of view.

The once enraged small woman now stood baffled, as if seeing the sun for the first time. A small window of happiness opened as she repeated his words over and over again. For the first time in 6 months she would be leaving this depression prison cage.

.

.

.

The present: 4x9, "O Come, All Ye Faithful":

_Klaus_

Every inch of his body screamed and fought for defiance. Blood profoundly stained almost every visible inch of his white blouse under his black suit. The original hybrid could smell his own blood in every 12 of his hybrids. He was the one that had created them, as he should he be the one to destroy them, Klaus thought anger coursing through his spiked nerves.

False loyalty always sent his temper ablaze. It was an unwise characteristic to obtain while being in Niklaus' servitude. Though it didn't stop all 13 hybrids from breaking his sire bond. No, it certainly hadn't.

The sight of 11 dead Werewolf-Vampire Hybrids, some decapitated with the hunter's sword, some dismembered into non-recognition, and some untouched except for the their cold hearts resting next to here lifeless body. He had grown more and more craving in his kills, each one feeding the thrill of disposing the fraud.

Nik almost cracked a smile when heard the hesitant grasp of breath as the last hybrid pursued further down the Lockwood cellar.

Before venturing off for his last kill, he carefully wiped the remaining blood off the cursed hunter's sword for the final kill. Raising it up to the full moon light to examine its pure detail, Nik almost drops the ancient sword. For a split second the original thought he had seen the reflection of an angelic but painful face reflecting in the glossy iron. He blinked rapidly trying to understand the raven-haired woman's reflection. However, just as soon as the beautifully painful image appeared on the iron sword, it had just as quickly disappeared.

Dropping the sword to his side with a new frustration and rage burning inside, Niklaus made his way to the last hybrid.

"Where is Tyler Lockwood?" Niklaus said descending from the stairs with a steady voice but the baby werewolf-vampire had no idea what demons possessed him at the moment.

"You do well to answer me, love." He could feel something inside of him flinch as he spoke the word "love". He had used that pet name for her. It felt bitter in his mouth as he called the stranger by it.

Niklaus couldn't help but feel a surge of pure desire to feel fresh blood on his hands once more. It was the only thing that could cap the growing anger inside of him for think of her. The raven-head was a cruel remembrance of his once weak self. It was a harsh punishment to recollect her being at such a moment.

As if not already in an unhealthy state of anger, his mind slowly detailed the hidden face behind the iron bars the last hybrid, Kim, strained to hold on to. Her deceiving face and sharp cheekbones seemed to smirk sheepishly at him as the curtain of big, midnight curls hide the miniature full moon eyes that bore into him. A dark shadow cased over her face as if she was very slowly backing way from his presents. Niklaus feared to blink, feared to lose sight of the beautiful creature whose red soft lips stood still behind the restraints. Her face, as if in person, tilted the right in a question manner. It was an allusion, a tormenting sick hallucinations that his mind was punished him with.

He could feel the growl build up in his chest and his grip on the sword harden.

"WHERE IS HE!?" Niklaus yelled moving his gaze back the hybrid he knew as Kim.

"I don't know." Kim whispered, the sword now pressing hard against her neck.

Nik felt his body shake with pure rage as his hungry to kill his last hybrid, Tyler Lockwood, came to an abrupt halt.

"Wrong answer." He muttered harshly, his blue hard eyes moving from the scared one's of the hybrid to the one's staring at him from the dark shadows of the cellar.

Niklaus felt his hands add to the pressure of the sword before he heard a sharp crack and his 12th hybrids head sluggishly roll to the floor.

He didn't care. His anger had once been at his boiling point but seeing her face, the face that haunted him in crowds of people, in the reflection of glass windows or now was a full figure hallucination. It had caused his unstable temper to reach its climax.

He could see her grey eyes the color of storm clouds, rained on granite, the taunting moon; harden at the sight of the decapitated hybrid. But her eyes never strayed away from his. Seeing her, it was a curse. Her presence built his fire of hate and longing towards her. Her face only reminded him of what he was so stupidly let slip from his fingertips.

"I HATE YOU!" He growled baring his carnivorous teeth. Like a demon, Nik banged his hands on the strong iron-gate that separated them. His breath came out in circuits of deep inhales and exhales. He ignored the long steps she took till her body was stationed in front of him, her face still somewhat hidden by the shadows. He didn't dare move. He didn't dare extend his hand and slash at the misty figure. No, he enjoyed the pain of seeing her. Being in arms reach of her but never being able to touch her, it was masochistic but emotion and feeling nonetheless.

"I hate you so much, love." He whispered, clenching his teeth and moving his eyes to his feet.

He wished so much to look up and see nothing but darkness. To be able to laugh at himself for imagining the beautiful angle that haunted him. The original want it to be funny, to push it aside easily.

A soft hand lightly grazed his cheek, pulling up her gaze. Her touch was like a drug. Niklaus craved it to the point of unhealthiness, to a point where he knew it was no good. It felt so real; he couldn't deny the will to look up to meet her revealed face.

Everything was the same expect for the small blush her cheeks held and her pursed red lips.

"I know." Her voice echoed in his ears like an explosion. He was weak for melt in her presence. Though he couldn't help but feel something more to the vulnerable feeling. Before he could decide what it was, his hand extended, lashing at her with all his strength. And as fast as his lashing, her fame became a mess of grey mist. He growled with anger, like an infuriated lion, a lion exiled from his pride.

A snap inside of him caused the growl to turn into a snarl, while his bones cracked and bent to the full moons. Before completely turning into his natural state, the true hybrid opened his human eyes to see her face sinking into the shadows once more. Kristina's eyes burned with tears before her figure disappeared, leaving Nik consumed by the darkness.