Roaring 20's

The shiniest rays of sunlight that entered through the window of the apartment and began to heat up Chicago that March announced that spring had arrived in the Windy City. For the first time in ages, Mia felt optimistic. It was the beginning of a new decade, the war was over for good and she had finally returned to the United States after 56 years traveling (or rather, fleeing) through Europe and Central America. And after so long, Mia allowed herself to wonder if she could once again live life as Amelia Salvatore.

She got up from the bed covered with white sheets and opened the windows of the small room so she could feel the sun, while she fiddled her lapis lazuli ring in her middle finger. She sat in front of the mirror and started to comb her long dark brown hair. She would always be 17 years old. She was trapped in the youthful body that had never fully reached maturity or full potential, but held an aura of innocence that even managed to disguise the darkness that life as a vampire brought as a side effect.

Mia loved being a vampire. Even with all the hard times, losses and threats she's suffered since she was turned, she hasn't regretted anything that's happened since she last set foot in tiny Mystic Falls in 1864, when she was just 8 years old. She liked who she was. A strong, beautiful, seductive, smart woman and probably one of the best dancers in the world.

What Mia missed was her brothers. She missed the sweet smile and patience that Stefan had when they went out to play in the forest. She clearly remembered Damon's piercing blue eyes, identical to hers, and the way she'd cried for hours in her room when he'd left to fight in the civil war to please her father.

She didn't miss Giuseppe. She felt anger and disgust at how he abused Damon. Of how neglected and practically invisible she was to him. And she felt no remorse that he died by Stefan's hand. After all, it was Giuseppe who shot both of them as they tried to free Katherine.

Katherine Pierce. She remembered the exactly day the vampire arrived at the Salvatore Estate in a carriage along with Emily Bennett. Mia thought that Katherine was a princess from a faraway kingdom, and Kat went along with the child's fantasy. She told the youngest Salvatore about magical creatures and about the beautiful village she used to lived in a enchanted place on the other side of the world.

Mia never told anything Katherine said to her brothers. But she knew that there was something strange happening in Mystic Falls, an abnormal movement, secrets being revealed around corners. And when the founding families of the town finally went on the attack, Mia ran away from the mansion and watched everything hidden and scared, but with the certainty that she would never return to that house.

"Mia? Rehearsal starts in 20 minutes!", Gloria knocked on the bedroom door and woke the vampire from her daydream. The bleached-haired witch owned one of the hottest bars in Chicago, thanks to schemes with the local mafia so that customers' glasses were always full and that no one was bothered by the ridiculous Prohibition that was in effect.

This was one of the main reasons Mia decided to spend time in the city that lived the effervescence of jazz: in addition to the explosion of nightlife and culture, Chicago was very tolerant and receptive to supernatural creatures. After a short six months in New York and returning from a performance season at the Casino de Paris, Mia was ready to debut her show: the fan feather burlesque dance.

The invitation to be one of the main attractions at Gloria's bar until the end of the 1920's summer came through some mutual friends from the New York dance company. Weeks after the letter, Mia took the road to Chicago and moved into one of the suites over the bar where the witch managed.

Before left her room to rehearse on the stage in the main hall, Mia took a piece of paper and an envelope out of her maroon leather briefcase and started writing a letter to her best friend, the family she still had in this life.

"Dear Kat,

Hope you're okay. I arrived in Chicago two days ago and today is my debut here at Gloria's bar. I'm a little nervous, of course - it's been over a year since I've done that number in Paris. The last few months have only been classical ballet training, which is rigorously good and disciplined to get me in control of the blood lust.

Gloria said it's pretty easy for vampires to settle here. I had no problems feeding last night. Men and women get so drunk and loose to jazz that it's easy to find prey, often you don't even need to compelled them.

I know I promised you a summer together in New York - when it's hot, we can go to some rich guy's parties in the Hamptons or Long Island and drink the most expensive champagne, but I'd really appreciate it if you'd come visit me here these next few months, I hate spending too much time away from you.

Kat, you're going to think I'm being crazy or naive, but I really think this time we might find my brothers. I feel inside me that they are close. Of course I'll be very careful that no one knows you're alive.

As you asked, I tried to investigate with some people about where they were while we were in Europe: I learned that during the war, Stefan was in Mexico and Damon has been unseen for almost a decade, the last time was at a funeral of some distant relative in Mystic Falls. I will continue to investigate as much as I can.

Be careful, I still haven't been able to find out anything about where the original vampires are, but at least the legend that Katherine Pierce died in the church fire in 1864 is still going strong.

This is my new address for you to answer my letters. Write me back weekly and come see me soon.

I love you forever and I miss you so much,

Mia"

Niklaus Mikaelson was probably the most feared creature in the entire world. The bloodthirsty fame of the original vampire cursed by his own mother had spread over the centuries. There were different stories and some were absurd and untrue, but the truth is that few people who crossed Klaus' path survived to tell anything.

In fact, Klaus never forgot who survived and escaped his plans. Katarina Petrova. The doppelganger from Bulgaria who killed herself to become a vampire, stole the moonstone, ran away and, in doing so, prevented him from breaking free from the curse that Esther, the original witch (or rather, the original bitch) placed on him. The spell that made his wolf side trapped forever.

Since revenge is the feeling that runs the world, he kept looking for Katarina, even when she went to the New World and settled in Mystic Falls for a period. When he received the news of her death while he was in New Orleans, Klaus found it ironic how fate was tragic enough to cause the doppelganger to burn to death in the land where he was born.

It was almost poetic that, from blood to ashes, he had wiped out the entire Petrova bloodline in retaliation for Katarina's escape. With that, the chance to reverse the spell Esther had cast became more and more impossible. The wolf inside him wanted out and he sought out all kinds of covens around the world to try to find a new solution for him to become the most powerful creature of all, the immortal, the unbreakable, the hybrid.

Klaus knew that, as much as the concept of time for vampires didn't matter much, the clock was working against him. There was only one person who could fight him. Mikael. The original vampire who hunted vampires, the soulless Viking, the abusive stepfather who had hated him since before he knew he wasn't his son by blood.

He lived good years in New Orleans with his siblings, Elijah, Kol and Rebekah, building the city for the supernatural creatures and making them all fall at the feet of the Mikaelsons, living life like a King. He made allies and brought to his side people he thought of as family, like an heir to the Louisiana throne, a son- Marcel Gerard.

But as with all great monarchies, a coup is always lurking. And in 1919, with Mikael arriving in town to kill Klaus with the only possible weapon - a white oak dagger - the Mikaelson brothers left the south behind and, after a good few centuries, were on the road again.

It was a freezing winter in Chicago when he, Rebekah, and Kol moved into a beautiful townhouse on the Near North Side, with Lake Michigan as a view. Elijah, on the other hand, preferred to spend his time in London.

Since then, the days were almost the same - go to some bar that was playing jazz, get drunk on blood and whiskey, take some warm body to bed and the next day send her away.

In spite of the hedonistic routine, Klaus was bored. For three months, he was fixedly watching the landscape around Lake Michigan thaw, as if something inside him would blossom from there and, who knows, he might even get inspiration to paint again.

It's not like life with Rebekah and Kol was smooth - it never was. He knew that his younger sister was falling in love with a vampire he still didn't know well, but he feared that the story wouldn't end well since the blonde had a tragic streak for love. Kol, however, had a bit of an obsession with witches, even though they often rejected him.

And it was because of Kol's attraction to witches that Klaus was sitting in Gloria's bar that early spring. It was the third shot of whiskey he had down his throat and the night had just begun. The bar owner - Gloria - the pretty witch with bleached hair that Kol was trying to woo - sang in her velvety voice and the band kept up with the jazz beat.

He took a moment to look around. He could smell vampires, mostly new ones, dancing excitedly in the small crowd in the room. He also smelled blood wafting in the air, as if it were a free feast. He found it curious that a witch would allow this in her enterprise, but the truth was, everyone had bills to pay and Gloria would probably need some help getting her drinks out during Prohibition.

Klaus felt the eyes of women and men against his back as he sat at the counter, facing the stage. He knew he had that effect. The broad shoulders in the perfectly tailored black suit revealed his strong chest. The blue eyes, the dark blond hair, the dimples and a sweet smile that was only revealed to a few. More than physical appearance, Klaus emanated an aura that dominated any environment he stepped into.

"Ladies and gentlemen, today we have an international attraction! From the stage of the Casino de Paris, this woman will debut a show that will drive everyone crazy. You won't be able to take your eyes off her. It's the first time this has been performed here in the US, so I want you to make a big splash for the unique, charming and magnetic… Mia!"

Gloria announced smiling into the microphone and walked off stage, walking towards Kol. The witch put three shots of whiskey on the counter and sat down beside the brothers. Before Kol could make any comment, the stage lights went out and smooth jazz started to play in the background.

In the dim light, she entered the stage, walking as if she were walking on clouds. Klaus couldn't see her face, but he was mesmerized. She had a pair of gigantic white feather fans that covered from her head to parts of her waist. Her bare legs and porcelain skin glistened in the spotlight. She wore white panties with pearls and rhinestones sewn into them, which formed a fringe falling down her thighs.

In one quick movement, she fluttered her fans and Klaus finally saw her.

Mia.

The blue eyes deeper than the Pacific Ocean. Perfect pink lips and cheeks. The brown hair tied in a wavy form at the height of the neck, adorned with a sparkly tiara.

It looked like Mia's fans were part of her body. At the same time that they were quick to cover the practically naked body, they beat softly and slowly, as if it were possible to make that image even more angelic.

Klaus took a sip of the whiskey in front of him without taking his eyes off the stage. He felt his erection grow and tighten his pants. He wished he had a notebook to draw that picture in, so he would never forget the Egyptian blue eyes in the white feather fan.

He wanted other things, too, but, fuck, she looked so young, a duality of innocence. She looked human, but the way she moved seemed out of this world.

Before the lights went out, Mia lifted her fans and her breasts came into view. The lounge went crazy. The curtains closed and Klaus looked like he was still in a trance.

"Are you going after the dancer or am I going to have an exotic night?" Kol said and Klaus gave him a death stare, as if he could disguise the feeling of possession.

"Say another word, little brother, and I'll tear up your liver" Klaus threatened back and got up from the counter, grabbed a bottle of the most expensive champagne on the bar, and walked over to Gloria. Without needing to say much, the witch gave a small laugh and indicated the door to the dressing room, which was behind the stage.

He took two breaths and knocked on the door. Mia shouted that he could come in and he stood in the doorway, staring at her.

The brunette dancer was sitting on the chair in front of the mirror, wearing a red silk robe. She was smaller than she looked on stage, but her beauty was even more ravishing. She was pulling the pins out of her hair, which cascaded around her shoulders. Mia stared back at him, as if she was waiting for an explanation for that behavior.

"Sorry to bother you, Gloria told me you'd be here. I would like to leave you this small gift for the great show you put on today, Miss…?" Klaus finally walked into the dressing room and remained standing, never taking his eyes off the dancer's face.

"Mia. Just Mia", she replied, taking the bottle from Klaus' hands and, right after that, popping the champagne. Instead of looking for glasses, she drank straight from the bottle and handed it to him. "Thank you. I was dying of thirst. Well, you know my name but I don't know yours".

"Nik. Just Nik" he teased and smiled broadly. Mia reached out to shake his hand, but he took it and placed a soft kiss on the top of her hand. It was then that they both realized, almost in the same second. The shiver, the touch, the smell.

Of course she was a vampire.

Without looking away and without letting go of the dancer's hand, Klaus thought that maybe the spring he'd been waiting for so long to bloom had just begun.

"Mia, would you like to join me for another kind of drink?" The original vampire asked and saw the small reddish veins on Mia's face appear, as if this was the best proposal she had heard in a long time.

"I would love to, Nik."