I realise I should have set this story a little bit later in history than I had originally planned...so it is a good job I said sometime in the 1500's and not a specific date. So we will say late 1500's to 1600 century when the new world was colonized and there were tobacco, sugar and rice plantations set up. (I realise in history this is all in the 1600's but because I originally said 1500's, we won't give exact dates. This is after all, fan fiction right? (Anyone who likes Klaus, I have to make him horrible in the beginning but he will be changing, so don't hate me because I like him too! lol)

Chapter Two

Late 1500's-1600 Century

No one knew where the Mikaelson family obtained their wealth. Their house didn't look like the normal plantation manors with rice or sugar fields and such. There were the odd servants of course, and it was more grandeur than Katherine had ever seen all in one place. This house actually had a floor made of stone, not the bare earth that she was used to. Things actually looked clean in this place, and she thought how wonderful it would be to be this rich, and to have all the luxuries they possessed. Fine clothes and maybe even wine! It was all too much to think about, and she would be working here, late into the evenings...but what exactly where her duties going to be?

Klaus was about to inform her. Maybe Klaus wasn't as scary, or mean as his reputation made him out to be. Or maybe that was just her wishful thinking! She had to always think of her sister, Elena, and that would help her get through whatever hardships this family had in store for her.

He motioned for her to sit down "Now, Katarina, we're going to discuss your future with this family. You know your general duties will include cleaning, cooking, serving us in the evenings for dinner, bringing us everything we desire to be comfortable. You shall be our head serving girl, if you like. Cleaning our clothes, etc, etc," he paused and she could tell the worse was still to come. He had a look in his eyes that she didn't like, looking at her with hunger, with lust and passion, a dangerous look. She shuddered at the thoughts he might be thinking about her.

Lowering her eyes, she tried to look as plain and shy as she could, and she hoped to steer his thoughts in a more professional direction. It wasn't working very well. "You're pay will be advanced to that of any other of our girls working here."

"There's something else isn't there? You're holding out on me."

Klaus laughed. "You have a hidden fire about you, that's what I noticed about you in the first place. A fire that you like to pretend isn't there, you have desires, maybe fantasies you haven't had fulfilled."

Katherine raised an eyebrow at this comment. "And this means?"

"I've also hired you for...entertainment purposes, not just singing and reading poems and stories - although if you can sing why not?" He shrugged, "adult entertainment. I am not short of offers by any means, but if you can fulfil my needs, then is all the more benefits to you...we will see how your pay goes after this."

Katherine sat in a stunned silence. This was ridiculous, absurd, how could any sane person go through with this? "You really are a monster," she finally whispered.

"There's nothing monstrous about this Katherine. No harm is going to come to you and if you don't feel up to entertaining me then there is no pressure on you at all! It's not like I'm going to pounce on you in the night leaving you no place to run. That would make me a monster."

"But you're blackmailing me. If I don't go through with this stupid idea then I won't get enough money to pay for Elena's wedding and her dreams will be ruined."

Klaus did a poor attempt at looking sorry for her, but he didn't look like he meant a bit of it. "As I have said Katarina, it is up to you."

Katherine didn't see that she had much of a choice in this at all. It would maybe take her weeks if not longer to find another job and she didn't have that much time. Everyone was counting on her, Elena, Damon, their future family. She didn't want Elena to have to go through something like this either. Finally she looked up at him and gathered all her courage to answer him. And when she did it was in a voice that didn't shake at all. "Ok, I'll agree to your terms. But just remember one thing - I will carry a knife on me always, and if it doesn't go my way, then I won't hesitate to cut your throat Klaus, I mean it. And it will be in self defence, I won't regret it."

He held up his hands in surrender, "of course my lady, of course. But we agree?"

Katherine nodded falling back into silence. The less she spoke to Klaus the better.

As they walked out of the room back to the house entrance, Katherine caught side of Elijah, Klaus's brother. He was walking down the stairs that led to the main hall, and he stopped immediately when he saw them. Katherine's breath caught in her throat and when their eyes met she felt a spark of – a spark of some feeling she hadn't felt in a long time. Desire that was it. He was so handsome, so different from Klaus, it wasn't that Klaus wasn't good looking but Elijah was a man she was sure would treat her right in every way. She wanted to run to him, throw herself into her arms and ask him to save her from all her troubles. But what if Elijah turned out to be just as bad as his brother? This whole family had a reputation after all. She couldn't trust any of them, so she smiled politely and then averted her gaze, not allowing herself to look anymore.

"Nicklaus, what is it that you're up to this time?" Elijah's tone was nice enough but there was a warning behind it that no one could ignore. If Klaus stepped out of line, Elijah's wrath wouldn't be worth it.

"Why do you always think I'm up to something, brother?" Klaus laughed and nodded at Katherine. "I've just hired someone new to the family that's all. This is Katherine."

"I'm sorry that I've interrupted," Elijah apologised. "But you're treating our guest well I hope,"

"I always treat them well, Elijah," Klaus turned his back on his brother and faced Katherine; he opened the front door and winked at her, making her feel sick. "I will see you tomorrow then Miss Pierce."

Katherine forced a smile and whispered "Tomorrow," and turned to walk away, wishing she could start to run, but that would look bad in front of Elijah. As soon as the door closed though, she did start to run, and she kept on running until the manor was in the far distance.

TBC