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The ball that Kol had mentioned was a real thing; it was only a few days after the party that an invitation for the event appeared in the mailbox. Most of the town received one, and a lot of people were excited about it, most of them just to get a look inside their big house. Sophia was just as excited as the rest of the town, she was eager to get inside and meet the new family in town. I honestly think she was more excited about getting to learn more about Rebekah. After she'd seen her flirting with Matt she'd spent most of that week in school scowling at the blonde. She wasn't her biggest fan, which was kind of unfair; the blonde hadn't actually done anything to her personally. She wasn't to know that Sophia had spent the last ten years eyeing him from the sidelines.

We'd went out of town after school on the Thursday night, Sophia was determined to buy a new dress for the occasion even though there were at least four in my closet that would have done nicely for the event. But she wanted something brand new that was all hers. The dress she had picked was beautiful there was no denying that, it was also very low. It didn't leave much to the imagination when it came to what she had going on in the boob area, but that was probably her goal. She was definitely putting more effort into the 'Pull Matt Donovan' plan. And if that dress didn't help, I don't know what could.

I was just recycling one of the dresses I had in my collection, I didn't need any more to add to what I already don't have room for. Sophia wasn't too happy with that, wanting me to wear something similar. That wasn't going to happen, not only because my father would be there, as the representation for the Fell family on the council he had to attend, but also because I just couldn't pull it off the same as her. I didn't have what it took to shall we say fill out a dress like that.

It was now the Saturday morning, the ball started later tonight so I had plenty of time to get ready, about 8 hours but Sophia wanted me at hers sharpish. I had agreed to go to hers and get ready with her, it was easier to have a girls night at her house than it was mine, my dad had a tendency to hover around and keep asking if we wanted anything. Like we weren't capable of going down stairs and taking anything we wanted anyway.

Sophia's house was smaller than mine, there was only one level, more of a bungalow type property but I preferred it to my own. It was the perfect size for her, her mom Claire and her sister Georgia. There was only the three of them but they didn't seem to mind it much. My dad pulled upfront and I quickly grabbed my bags from the trunk, actually getting more excited about the night ahead. I spent all week pretending I wasn't looking forward to tonight, but I was lying, I was just as curious. But more curious about Rebekah's brother than I was her house.

I knocked on the door before I just walked in, Claire had given me a telling years ago for just standing outside and waiting for someone to answer, so now I always just went straight in. "Just me." I smiled over at Claire and Georgia as I walked in and they turned to see who it was disturbing their peaceful Saturday afternoon.

"Hey Isla." Georgia waved at me as took my shoes off.

"I take it you're here to get ready with Soph?" Claire asked as I headed towards with Sophia's bedroom answering her with a quick 'yeah'.

"Soph." I smiled at her as I walked into her bedroom, throwing my bag down onto the carpet as I plopped myself down on her bed. She'd already showered and was in the middle of drying her hair when she looked up at me through the blowing strands to smile brightly. I waited patiently on her finishing, I needed her to grab me some towels before I could shower myself and we could both start getting ready.

oOo

Claire wasn't going to the ball, she couldn't find anyone who would be willing to babysit Georgia on such short notice, given that most of the town would be attending. Rather than pay for a cab ride to the property Matt had offered to give us a ride in his truck, he only stayed a block away from Sophia so he didn't have to go out of his way to come and get us. It was really generous of his but I felt so strange sitting in his light blue pickup truck with a long flowy black dress, hair tied up and make up done, the outfits did not match the vehicle that for sure. Not to mention climbing up into it with heels on, not an easy task. Sophia had done my hair for me, she'd curled it all and then twisted bits around here and there until it sat in a lovely, curly bun on top of my head, rogue brunette stands had started to fall down around my face but I didn't mind much, the odd few would be fine. As long as it didn't fall out altogether this night will be considered a success in my book. Matt and Sophia chatted away about school and what they were looking forward to about tonight while I stared aimlessly out of the window, leaving them too it. Sophia would thank me for it later.

The house was as big as people had said, now I knew better than to take all gossip at face value but for once they were spot on. It looked like the kind of house you'd expect to see on the front of good housekeeping magazine. The driveway and all around to the side of the building were full of parked cars of all different kinds. It was difficult for Matt to find a place to park between the cars and all the people weaving in and out trying to make their way into the home. There was a guy dressed like what I can only assume was supposed to be a butler at the door greeting people as they arrived. It all seemed rather proper and very British.

Matt finally managed to find a parking space; once he'd pulled in he jumped out of the truck and walked around to the passenger side door, giving both me and Sophia a helping hand down, which was greatly appreciated given my shoes and the gravel below. Sophia linked her arm through Matt's as we walked up to the door, queueing behind a few people waiting to show their invite to the man at the door.

"Come Isla, keep up." Sophia sang back at me as I quickened my pace a little. I wasn't as pro in walking in high heeled shoes as she was. So shoot me. The butler looking man had a look at all of our tickets and crossed our names off a list; the whole process was rather efficient considering how many people were here. I'd place it in the high 300's maybe even 400.

This house was grand, even more impressive from the inside. The large chandelier in the centre of the extremely tall ceiling caught my eye right away, I must've stood looking at it for a while, Sophia quickly got bored and wrapped her arm underneath my elbow and pulled me along towards the crowd, we squeezed our way through the mass of people all eagerly looking around and drinking it all in. "Where are you taking me?" I asked with a laugh as we pushed through another group on her quest for god knows what.

"The bar!" she answered loudly.

"We can't drink, we're not legal. Also my dad will be here somewhere."

"We can drink, this low cut dress will get us served at the bar. Look at all the people! Your dad's not gonna notice if you have one glass of wine."

"Why don't you just take a glass of champagne from those guys walking about with them?"

"Because those glasses don't have vodka in them, and that's what I want." She shrugged.

I was instructed to wait just outside the large sliding doors that led to the massive back yard, and so I did patiently while Sophia chanced her luck getting served at the bar. A few heads turned to her when she walked up to the bar and I couldn't really blame them, she looked absolutely beautiful in that black dress, the skirt lovely and flowy with the top being a complete contrast, low cut and tight. Her heels added an extra 6 inches to her already 5'8, her long auburn hair was styled in curls, laying freely over her shoulders. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't checked her out with appreciation when she walked out of the bathroom, ready for the night ahead.

"You look distracted love." Creepy british guy that hangs out in the graveyard had once again appeared out of nowhere, well I say nowhere, I was too caught up in my own thoughts to pay attention to anything else around me. "Are you not having fun?" that smirk was still present, did he have any other facial expression other than arrogant asshat?

"Just trying to ignore you." I shrugged in response.

"Being rude to the host?" he pretended to looked shock as he took a few steps forward, standing in front of me blocking my line of sight to the bar. "Not very appropriate behaviour for a member of Mystic Falls founding families is it? Not very welcoming to the new family in town? Maybe I'll have a little chat with the mayor about that."

"No need to snitch." I smiled up at him as sweetly as I could, the flakiness of the action very apparent.

"We never got the chance to have a proper introduction last time we met, I'm Klaus." He held out his hand to me and I just stared back at him with one eyebrow raised.

"I thought your name was Nik?" I asked him, still not accepting the extended hand.

"That's what we call him darling, a nickname of sorts." Kol walked up to us, sipping freely on one of the many glasses of champagne doing the rounds at the party. "But he prefers Klaus." Kol shrugged as he gently leaned against the wall, a few centimetres from me.

"I didn't know what to get you, since you said you didn't want to drink. Boring, so I went with white wine." Sophia just walked in between Klaus and Kol and handed me a round wine glass.

"Ah, that'll do I suppose." I thanked her as I looked at the content of the glass and took a small sip; trying to control the urge to allow my facial expression to do what it wanted, contort in disgust. Wine wasn't nice, or maybe just this wine, but wither way I didn't like it much.

"I don't think you're old enough to be buying booze from that bar." Klaus frowned between the vodka in Sophia's hands and the barman.

"Don't be such a bore Nik." Kol shook his head at his brother then spared a mischievous smile for Sophia's benefit. "Just ignore him, he can be a little bit uptight."

oOo

Sophia was sitting at one of the many tables that surrounded a very large dancefloor area. I was secretly hoping this room is usually used for something else and had just been repurposed for the evening. Matt was currently dancing with Rebekah, the Mikaelson family had gathered on the stairs to announce that they always kicked the evening off with a waltz, and it turns out Matt was here tonight as Rebekah's date. This was the cause of the deep frown on the face of my best friend. She sat here, leaning against her palm as she scowled at the pair turn and dance. Kol had asked me to dance, but I'd refused not wanting to leave Soph on her own wallowing in her own misery.

"If the wind changes, your face might stick like that." I smiled over at her, trying to lighten her mood. I didn't work, she just shook her head at me. "You know…maybe you should just try talking to Matt, let him know you're interested."

"I don't know how more obvious I could be." She huffed.

"Me either" I shrugged, she was sending out all the signals, but Matt didn't really seem like the brightest light bulb in the room. "Maybe words would be better than, well lots of boob." I nodded in the direction of her dress and she finally cracked a smile.

"I'm bored." Kol pulled out one of the spare chairs and joined us at the table. "Feel like keeping me amused doll?"

"I'm a little busy right now." I smiled at him apologetically.

"Ah, yes. Trying to cheer up your friend here, who's spent the night drooling over Rebekah's date." He spared a glance at Sophia "Honestly darling, you could do much better anyway."

"It's fine Isla, I think I wanna just go home anyway. I'll take a cab." Sophia sat up from her chair and spared one last scowl at the back of Rebekah's head as she grabbed her purse.

"Okay well I'll come with you." I went to stand up and join her put she placed one of her hands on my shoulder with a tight squeeze she told me to stay put as one of us may as well have a little fun. I watched her weave her way through the crowd of people and leave through the front door.

"Well, looks like I have my entertainment after all." Kol smirked at me as he stood up, wrapping his hand around my arm to pull me up with him. "Come on, I'll give you the grand tour."

"I've seen most of the house already…" I didn't need to suffer anymore envy over the lovely home.

"Not the fun parts you haven't." he added quickly as he continued to pull me behind him. We followed the same path Sophia had just taken but instead of leaving through the front door Kol took a right and we were in front of the grand staircase. Before I knew it we were climbing those very stairs until we were on the second level of the house. This level was quiet compared to the party going on downstairs. I had a feeling guests weren't supposed to be up here but I continued to follow behind him anyway, my curiosity getting the better of me.

"Where are we going?" I tried to keep my voice as low as possible, feeling like we were sneaking around.

"Well I need to find something…and since my brother is distracted now is the best time." He answered vaguely, stopping in front of a closed, large wooden door. He pulled a key from his pocket and tested it, opening the door quietly as he turned the handle. "Come on." He pulled me into the room and shut the door silently behind him, grin in place, looking rather pleased with himself.

We were in a dimly lit room, it took a minute for my eyes to adjust as I looked around, Kol turned on a lamp for my benefit and I could then see that we were in someone's bedroom, the were a large wardrobe in the corner, a matching chest of drawers not too far from it. A very large old looking green patterned rug lay in the middle of the floor and an very large four poster dark wood bed against the largest wall, it looked really high, the type you'd have to take a little jump to get onto.
"You might be just as creepy as your brother.." I sighed as I took in my surroundings again "You're supposed to ask before you drag someone up into your bedroom."

"Oh no, this isn't my room darling" Kol laughed as he looked over the room, his eyes following my own. "this is Nik's, I need to find something."

"What're you looking for?" I asked as I walked over to the bed and explored the carvings on one of the posts with my little finger, mind blown at the details present. This had to be handmade, no machine could do that surely.

"A dagger." He supplied shortly, as he walked over to the shelves on the wall and began to explore everything on there.
"A dagger?" I prodded, looking for a little more info.

"Yes, a dagger. Metal, pointy end." He rolled his eyes at me and I scowled back, which only resulted in another one of his lopsided grins.

"Why would he even have something like that?" I laughed.

"Because he a maniac." Kol shrugged "He has a habit of threatening me and my siblings with them, I figured if I found the bloody thing and hid it from him then he wouldn't have anything he could hold over us."

"Wait, your brother threatens to stab you with a dagger?!" I couldn't hide the surprise from my voice.

"Oh he doesn't just threaten it, he's used it on all of us at least once over the years."

"Then why are you still here?!"

"It's a long story." He sighed, sounding as if he'd grown annoyed with my questioning. "Now be useful Isla and help me find the darn thing." I tucked my purse under my arm and went over to the bookcase on the other side of the room, pulling out one of the boxes' on the shelf and looking through the contents. A few sheets of paper, with what looked like random scribblings jotted around. Nothing interesting. It was the same story for all the containers I checked. I ran my hands over the chest of drawers and considered opening them, but I didn't want to disturb Klaus' privacy any more than I already had. I felt like I was violating him being in here without his permission, never mind actually rooting through his things. I imagined how horrible id feel to find out someone had gone through my belongings. Then I thought more about the story Kol had just shared and opened the first drawer.

I'd been through all but one and I could hear Kol groan in frustration in the background as I opened the last remaining drawer. "Is this what you're looking for?" I asked with a shaky voice as I pulled out a cloth from the bottom drawer, wrapped in that and just exposed were 4 old, sharp looking daggers.

"Isla, you have been incredibly useful!" Kol beamed at me as he pulled them from my hand and then grabbed my purse. Placing them inside, still within the cloth.

"What're you doing?" I asked but he continued to ignore me as he shut the handle on the bag and tucked it under my arm. "Kol?!" before I knew it my back was against one of the carved posters on the bed, his hand was placed over my mouth and he winked at me, right before he kissed me. It was short, everything happened so quickly, one minute I was standing there talking to him the next my back was being pressed almost painfully into the wooden frame while he firmly planted his lips onto mine, one hand snaking around my hip.

"Bloody hell Kol!" Klaus shouted loudly, his annoyance clear as he walked into the room, eyeing his brother with anger as I stood there, mouth hanging open slightly in shock with the quick turn of events. "How did you even get in here?! You have your own bedroom to fool around in."

"Sorry brother" Kol laughed as he wrapped his arm around my waist again and pulled me back in towards him "We got a little carried away, just went into the first open door we found." He shrugged while placing a kiss onto my neck; he kept his mouth there way longer than he needed too. I couldn't tell who he was trying to make more uncomfortable, me of Klaus. "Didn't we?" he pulled his mouth from my skin and raised his head to look at me, winking again. I nodded, unable to do anything else.

"Get out." Klaus bit the words out and Kol walked us both out towards the door, keeping his arm around me as we went. I wanted to ask him what the hell that was all about but he gave me a look that suggested it would be best not to ask any questions. He led me down the stairs and right up to Matt, informing Matt I was feeling unwell and should be taken home straight away, Matt agreed and before I knew it I was in the front seat of the pickup truck on my way out of the driveway towards my home.