WARNINGS: VIOLENCE, BLOOD, RACISM

┌─────── •✦• ───────┐

Tuesday, October 18, 1917

OUT from the sacred ashes and a cloud of darkness, she rose, like a phoenix that kissed the sun and flew straight passed, unscathed and uninjured.

Was it because she was pure or pristine, Or that she was next in the line of succession?

It was Adrienne's time to shine, to be in the spotlight and not just at her family's club, but be another queen amongst a room, full of kings.

After all, the late great Keyara Lumière was struck down in her prime, killed, and murdered by ruffians, scoundrels that couldn't handle a woman in charge.

Couldn't handle a woman calling the shots. So how will they possibly handle a newer, much younger model?

They won't be able to, but that's not her focus for now. As today was Adrienne's coronation. 

Some claimed that she was unworthy, undeserving of the crown, as there were candidates that were more equipped, that could handle the pressure of speaking at each meeting, discussing issues that the dark city conjured up.

But who were they to disrupt the natural order, the Lumières had always been in charge of the witch faction, more importantly, it was more common for the woman of the family to be in charge, which is why men were usually the advisors and nothing more.

Adrienne might've feared her future, but she would rather bask in uncertainty than live in the past. She was apprehensive about her new title, but she knew that she should never show it, after all, unnatural deeds do breed unnatural troubles.

But for now, she stood confidently in front of the floor-length mirror in her room, adorning the ivory dress that covered her physique, hugging each curve, but making sure her breasts wouldn't spill from the top.

She had been gifted it by her brother, Hadeon who had recently come back from his pleasurable trip to London.

Layers of pearls covered Adrienne's neck, whilst a white wrap hugged her torso.

Her hair, which her close friends and witches from her coven;  Valerie LaMarche and Clementine Griffith used a hot comb on the night before. So it was straightened, not one tight curl was in sight when they pulled the mid-length locks into a tight low bun.

A line of diamonds covered the middle parting, illuminating her hair, the very hair that was as dark as night.

She took in a deep yet shaky breath as she stared at her reflection, blinking slowly before she turned around and came face to face with her brother.

He raised a brow as he tugged on his floor-length coat. He was clad in his three-piece suit.

It was common for most men to wear formal attire everywhere they went, regardless of the weather or occasion.

Ever since the Great War started, everyone dressed as if they were reading to go to a funeral. Depressing? Perhaps but it was the new norm.

Hadeon raised a brow and gestured to her outfit, "Praise Hecate. That you're ready sister."

She rolled her eyes and walked over to her vanity table, "Our god has nothing to do with my punctuality."

"Oh?"

"It's my day and my day only, I have to be perfect."

He covered his laugh with his hand, "Which you aren't."

"Oh shut it." Her eyes darted over the several perfumes she loved to wear before her they narrowed onto her favourite.

"I can't tell lies on the day of the coronation." He shrugged and leaned against the threshold of the door.

She furrowed her brows as she sprayed her perfume, stepping into it as she did so, "Says who?"

He puffed out his chest, "Says me."

"Of course." she mused and spun on her heel, squinting her eyes as she noticed that Erebus was nowhere in sight, "Where's father?" She readjusted her wrap.

"Waiting with the commoners," he paused as narrowed her eyes at him,  "forgive me, I meant the vampires and wolfs."

She chuckled at his annoyance, "You really hate them don't you?"

"Like you don't."

Her lips morphed into a straight line. "They irritate me, but I don't hate them, after all, how can I hate another witch's creation?"

He scoffed at her innocence, "So has the halfbreed changed your mind on the mongrels that are awaiting you?" he questioned as he folded his arms.

He didn't despise his sister's decision to be associated with the original hybrid, how could he when they were friends, but he knew their father did.

She suppressed an eye roll and huffed,  "Niklaus doesn't influence me."

He took a step closer, "But judging from what you are wearing, you will influence him," they laughed at his innuendo, "so come along, we haven't got all day." he placed a chaste kiss on her forehead and loop their arms.

"Is that your way of saying I look nice?"

"I thought that was obvious?"

─────── •✦• ───────

The sun had begun to set, but the ceremony had only just started.

All of the factions were present, whether they wanted to be or not. Many didn't bother with concealing their disgust and envy for the Lumière teen. The green-eyed monster was very much present amongst many of the supernaturals.

So there the crowd stood, in the abattoir, that belonged to none other than the hybrid king; Niklaus Mikaelson. He stood toward the side with the other supposed kings of the city; William Kenner who represented some of the werewolves, Elijah Mikaelson, he spoke for the vampires and Clarence O'Connell who stood for the human faction.

They were also accompanied by Kali Sinclair; Adrienne's best friend and confidant, the twenty-three-year-old was also a loyal member of the Equilbre coven, she stood for the witches, well most of them.

Each representative stood around the Lumière girl who was soon to be crowned.

Erebus began the ritual, as he started the spell, his eyes rolled back and turned black, startling both Clarence and William, they were uncomfortable around witches, growing more uneasy as the spell continued.

Elijah, Klaus and Kali were unfazed, completely used to the Lumière family's jet-coloured eyes whenever they performed a spell. Many said that it emphasised the balance within their lineage, due to their family name meaning 'light'.

Some of their peers took a step back when the chanting increased, the sun neared the horizon, spreading a blood orange hue throughout the city.

Hadeon stood next to Rebekah, ecstatic for what was to come, he kept whispering things in her ear, and she felt herself become flustered near him but she tried focusing on her close friend.

Adrienne held back a smile when they winked at her.

She also had to ignore the heated gaze of Klaus Mikaleson, knowing that if she turned to stare at him, she would get distracted and she had a reputation to keep up, she didn't want to disappoint her father, brother and her recently deceased mother.

From her peripheral, she saw Elijah subtly nudge his younger brother, completely aware of what Klaus was trying to do. He shot the hybrid a disapproving look, only to receive a smirk in response.

Erebus placed a knife in the hands of William to start. The wolf winced when he sliced his palm, and the blood dripped into the ceramic bowl that Adrienne held.

Clarence repeated his actions, then Kali, Elijah, and finally Klaus, who squandered his time by expecting the knife, resulting in many eye rolls across the compound. When he finally cut his palm with a smug expression, his blood trickled down and filled up the bowl.

The Lumière patriarch caught the longing stares that the hybrid sent his daughter and remained unamused, it left a sour taste in his mouth. The forty-year-old witch had advised Adrienne many times not to engage with him, but he knew her friendship with the Mikaelson girl only brought them closer.

All eyes were on Adrienne as she lifted the bowl to her lips and consumed the contents, cringing at the metallic taste that made its way down her throat.

The ground began to shake and the harsh sun rays soared onto the girl, her body trembled and her eyes rolled back as the spell began to take its effect.

The guest's eyes widened in shock when the ground trembled and cracked, leading a line up to where the kings and witches stood.

The winds picked up, and a thick haze of dust filled the once clear air.

Elijah gripped his brother's arm after seeing how he was about to assist the Lumière girl and potentially ruin the ceremony, he knew that Klaus was cautious, but they couldn't gain any more problems from the rest of the city.

Adrienne blinked harshly, the whites of her eyes had been replaced with black, prominent veins spread across her face and down her body, she started to convulse resulting in Erebus and Kali reaching out and holding her still.

Images of her life flashed before her eyes, replaying like a loop in her mind, the good the bad and the ugly. All memories she had no choice but to embrace.

Her piercing scream was heard throughout the city, cracking most surfaces, rupturing statues and shattering glass windows.

The guests ducked down, in fear that wreckage would touch them, luckily most of them remained unscathed, while only a few were nipped by the glass that fell.

Adrienne's shoulders slumped back, her eyes returned to their natural colour. She let out an exasperated sigh as she tiredly looked around as everyone rose and stared at her.

"All hail the new queen," Hadeon exclaimed loudly through the abattoir, extracting claps and cheers from some guests while others just plastered on a smile.

Rebekah seemed to be cheering the loudest, ignoring the glares she received from those that surrounded her. Elijah smiled softly at the girl, he caught the sigh of relief his brother let out, making a mental note to tell his sister later.

Adrienne hugged her father who wore a proud expression, she turned to her best friend, and they shared a long embrace.

She went to speak but was cut off by a familiar voice.

"She shouldn't be allowed to be queen." shocked, everyone turned to meet the voice of Lou-anne Hughs.

Leader of her own coven, they only practised natural magic and opposed those who didn't.

She had the backing of a few French Quarter witches... only a few.

Her younger sister; Cindy, her eyes glossed over, she quickly tugged on her wrap, "Lou-anne stop speaking please."

Lou Anne went to speak up again, clearly not fearing for her life, "No, her own mother wasn't fit for the job," her words felt like daggers pierced Adrienne's soul, "neither is she," it's vile, disgusting, how can anyone cheer? "someone who looks like her should never be queen." she sneered and took a step forward.

The crowd parted, not wanting to be near the heckler.

Adrienne swallowed harshly, "Someone like what?" anger laced her tone, although her face remained blank.

She saw the glares that her coven gave the oldest blonde Hughs witch. Her brother joined her side, knowing if he needed to, he would take matters into his own hands.

"A black bitch." Lou Anne spat out, gasps filled the room.

Adrienne wasn't foreign to discrimination, hell it was basically her second language, other Haitian Creole. She had been kicked, shot at and even dragged because of the colour of her skin. She was strong because she had to be, it wasn't a choice for her. Valerie, Kali and Clementine had experienced the same due to being black women, they feared leaving their homes without the company of a man in case something potentially worse happened.

Hadeon had to be pulled back by his father, both Lumière men wanted to protect Adrienne from the hateful world by teaching her as many spells her brain could consume, but none could stop prejudice, unfortunately.

Cindy's chest heaved up and down as tears fell from her eyes, "Lou-anne." she tried pulling her sister away, knowing that they shouldn't have attended the ceremony.

"No, It should be me, I should be queen."

Elijah restrained the youngest Mikaleons, he felt the fury emmit off their bodies, he also had to contain his own and let the events play out.

Adrienne rolled her shoulders back as she and the cruel witch continued to glare at one another, their gazes, fighting for dominance, "You understand that you just committed treason." the Lumière tutted, stepping closer and motioning for her witches to retrain Lou-anne, to which they did without question.

"Unhand me." the Hughs witch scowled and spat on the floor near the Équilbre witches. She was disgusted and wanted to escape their clutches, she didn't bother to spare a look at her sister as she could hear her wailing from the distance.

Adrienne took exhaled sharply, her eyes darted between Clementine and Valerie, their wrath was evident, although sadness threatened to appear on their faces, she could see they were mentally drained, which only fueled her anger.

Adrienne's heart continued beating stronger, faster and louder in the ears of the wolves and vampires. It even clouded her ears, all she could hear was the sounds of the roaring fire calling her name.

Burn her, take her spirit.

Burn her, take her sight.

Burn her, take her body.

Burn her, take her life.

And so she listened, "Bring her to the stakes." her voice was unnervingly calm, inspiring dread upon every entity across the courtyard, all eyes were on her when she repeated her words, "bring her to the stakes!"

"No, Ms Adrienne she didn't mean it." Cindy rushed out and attempted to reach for her sister but Hadeon held his hand up, his powers stopped her movements.

Adrienne stepped in front of Lou-Anne with a sickening smile tugging at her lips, "It's judgement day Lou-Anne, time to repent."

─────── •✦• ───────

It was a public execution, something the people of New Orleans had experienced many times. Hangings, lynchings and burnings all morphed into the same thing, the one thing people wanted more than love, money and power.

Blood.

Everyone was out for blood. Battles end but wars do not. Perhaps that was all the world was good for, spilling blood and causing pain, because all anyone ended up was a pile of ash with a plaque above their grave, commending their life's work, the work that didn't mean much anyway.

The ceremony took an ugly turn. Adrienne had to take action, it had nothing to do with pride, it was her responsibility.

Her personal responsibility.

So there she stood in the middle of the quarter, staring ahead at the witch who had been bound by ropes against the mountain of stakes. Lou-Anne thrashed around as she watched no one come to her aid, seeming as if they were on the side of the new queen. But most people just came to watch.

The Guarrera crime family stood to the side in intrigue, previously missing the coronation, but after hearing about the condemnation of the Hughs witch they decided to come.

As did the Poldarks and the Malraux's, coming from the bayou.

Many were surprised that the witch hunters didn't crawl out of their hole to make an appearance, after all, seeing their enemies burn or succumb to death pleased them, but it was obvious they only enjoyed it when it happened on their terms.

"Any final words?" Adrienne asked, while her witches stood on her right and her family were on her left. The Mikaelsons stayed close, not wanting to miss a thing.

Cindy kept sobbing, "Repent sister," she begged through her cries, she wasn't allowed too close to the stakes as everyone knew she would've tried to stop the burning. The younger Hughs sister turned to the new queen,  "Mercy, Ms Adrienne, please."

Lou-Anne was the only family she had left, she had been her confidant for the entire twenty-eight years she had been on this mortal coil. She didn't want to part with her, she just couldn't, but she had no way of stopping it.

Lou-Anne's eyes pooled with tears and kept ignoring her sister, her hateful gaze stayed on Adrienne,  "May hell rain down on you and god spite you for the rest of eternity." she continued to thrash around, attempting to break free of the spellbound ropes.

"Well, it's a good thing I'm agnostic." Adrienne's sarcastic voice echoed through the quarter.

"The witch hunters will make you pay."

She took a menacing step forward, disregarding the concerned looks she received from the witches and Mikaelsons, whereas her family only encouraged it, "Not if I kill them all first."

"Annie." Cindy continued to scream, Valarie had gotten tired of her voice and hastily knocked her out with her magic, extracting a couple of laughs from those who surrounded her, although she was met with an eye-roll from Kali.

Sometimes, death is a kindness, but Lou-Anne Hugh is a means to an end. The catalyst of Adrienne's reign.

Lou-Anne finally started to sob when she looked down at her sister's unconscious body, "Goodbye, Cindy." she sucked in a deep breath and stared up at the fading sun.

Adrienne's flashed black before she spoke the merciless enchantment, "Incendia."

The wood caught fire instantly, the blaze crept up the Hughs witch's body, causing her terror-filled screams to ring throughout the city, bouncing off each brick, wall and building.

The flames threatened to reach out and touch its onlookers before the Équilbre witches held up their hands, constricting its movements. Fragments of ash fell from the sky and onto bodies of people who continued to stare ahead.

As the screams died down, all that remained was the sly smirk on Adrienne's face which luckily was masked by the roaring inferno that awaited its next victim.

─────── •✦• ───────

After the tiresome events of her coronation, Adrienne retired to her father's study, because Erebus had requested her presence.

She bid adieu to her closest friends and had been accompanied home by her brother, who quickly left for work.

As she entered the study, her eyes narrowed on her father. He was sitting behind his desk, a glass of whisky in his hand as his eyes raked over pages of King Lear.

The room was compact yet cosy, the floorboards creaked when she strolled over to the empty chair in front of him. He didn't bother to tear his eyes away from the page as he held out a thick book for her to take.

She slumped into the chair as she took his offering, she froze after she stared at her mother's grimoire with wide eyes, "she told me, that in the case of her death, she wanted you to have it." he spoke lowly.

"I don't know what to say," she whispered, her finger traced over the bindings, she didn't want to open it, for fear of being disrespectful because her mother had just recently passed.

"There is nothing to say, she wanted you to have one of her prized possessions." he nodded to the grimoire as he flipped another page of the Shakespearean play.

"Are you sure?"

He finally snapped his gaze towards her, furrowing his brows as he spoke, "Why wouldn't I be, she loved you, she will always love you." he didn't understand her reluctance to accept the gift.

He was still grieving the love of his life, but he knew he still had to carry out her final wishes. And despite not being Keyara's biological son, she still gifted Hadeon her favourite ring.

She nodded and cleared her throat, "Thank you." he shot her a soft smile and took a sip of whiskey. She went to move but his voice stopped her.

"I need to speak with you about something." he cleared his throat and sat back in his chair, placing his glass of whiskey on the desk, watching as her expression morphed into a frown.

She sighed annoyingly, "If it's about the Lou-Anne..." she trailed off, not wanting to discuss what transpired during her coronation. She believed that it was the right thing to do.

"She got what she deserved."

She was taken back by his proud tone, "Oh."

He clasped his hands together and rested his elbows on his desk, "and no, I wanted to speak with you about the Mikaelsons." he said sternly, causing her to shift uncomfortably in her seat.

She adverted her eyes, causing his to roll, he didn't understand why his youngest child was even bothering to interact with them, but he remained civil.

"What about them?"

"Correction, I want to talk about Klaus."

She gulped nervously, "Why?" she noticed his clenched jaw. Even though she was technically a grown woman, she still cared about her father's judgement, whether it was on dating or ruling. She felt as if she were a child being reprimanded and she didn't like it one bit.

"He won't be judged as harshly about your arrangement," he spat out making her flinch,  "but make sure you know what you're doing." his eyes bored into hers, women always suffer from men's actions, especially black women.

She nodded stiffly, "I know what I'm doing."

"He will hurt you." All he wanted, was to protect his baby girl, whether she liked it or not, in the long term would she will become more appreciative, he thought.

"It was only one date." she huffed out, attempting to offer him a small smile, but he didn't return the gesture. I know what I'm doing she internally repeated.

"He's courting you." he didn't mean to sound so spiteful but he couldn't help it. It's not right. This shouldn't be happening, it had only been fifty-two years since slavery was abolished in America. Fifty-two years since most of his people were in chains and shipped across oceans to serve people that treated them inhumanly. Erebus often cried at the thought, he even remembered the tales of Madame Delphine LaLaurie and how she tortured and murdered people who looked like him.

Luckily the socialite had been killed by one of her victim's partners, someone he knew very well, but Lalaurie's legacy still haunted the city, sticking to the foundation like a bad smell.

"Trying to." Adrienne tried to reason, but her father's expression still held disdain.

He scoffed and ran his hands over his face, "Trying to use you for your status."

She ignored the pang in her chest at his remarks. She had only been on one date with Niklaus and although she had initially convinced herself that he was only her Rebekah's irritating and erratic big brother, she couldn't help but think more of him.

He made her feel something, whether it was butterflies or moths that flew through her stomach whenever he stared or admired her, she felt something.

"How do you know I'm not using him?"

He shook his head and looked away, "Because you're not malicious." He didn't catch the flash of guilt that skimmed her eyes.

She tiredly sighed and rose from her chair, grimoire in hand and turned toward the door, "Night father."

He looked at her retrieving figure with a bittersweet smile, "Night little queen."

─────── •✦• ───────

Adrienne was sitting in her room, going through the frail pages of her mother's grimoire, feeling guilty as she did so. She studied a few spells, her balcony doors were closed by the sounds of various instruments played throughout the night.

The music was what she loved about the city, how lively and adventurous it became, different to the place that once caused nothing but pain for its residents.

Most rooms in Lumière's house contained a silencing spell, luckily for Adrienne and Hadeon of course.

She was broken out of her studies when she heard a light knock on her balcony door, she held back a smile when she could see the familiar silhouette shine through. She placed the grimoire under a pillow, safely tucking it away and then made her away toward the door.

She took a deep breath and she waved her hands, unlocking the door, revealing the original hybrid, who wore a teasing smirk.

"You looked ravishing tonight love."

Klaus appeared in front of her, with a playful glint in his eyes. The very eyes that lit up when she condemned a malevolent witch to an eternal inferno only an hour ago.

He felt a sense of pride when she made her first order as the queen of the witch faction.

Although the condemnation was based on something he could never relate to; being judged for the colour of his skin. He was close to ripping Lou-Anne Hugh apart with his teeth, but he was forced to control his beast-like nature and had to see the scene play out.

"Murder should be done in style don't you think?"

"Mmm, if only I joined you."

She playfully scoffed, and pushed him back, "We've been on one date Niklaus, calm yourself." she couldn't deny the effect he had over her, how he could make her feel many things with only a simple stare.

She promised herself, that she wouldn't allow herself to be affected by a man, let alone an original hybrid, after all, she is Adrienne Lumière.

He stared at her in amusement and took a step closer, completely charmed by her raspy voice, "Not when your entire being entrances me."

She spun around on her feet and walked back into her bedroom, allowing him to follow her, "You think you're smooth." she sat back down on the edge of her bed, embracing her city's nightlife, attempting to ignore the piercing gaze he gave her.

His suit jacket had been left at the compound, however, his shirt was still tucked in and concealed by his black waistcoat.

Adrienne couldn't deny he looked handsome.

And Klaus couldn't deny that he wanted to spend the night with her, especially since she was only in her nightwear, only covered with a thin lacy gown, which highlighted and emphasised her silky brown skin.

He placed his thumb under her chin, raising it so his eyes could bore into hers, "Trust me I can be much more Miss Lumière," as he spoke, his lips curved up into a smirk.

She swatted away his hands and stood up, "I see you're in a particularly good mood." she cocked her head to the side, causing a single dark strand to leave the hold of her silk scarf. Her breath hitched when he let his slender finger be entrapped it.

She usually opposed people touching her hair as if she were in a petting zoo, something that most people loved to do, especially when they saw her around the city. Being a woman of colour in the state of Louisiana was more of a fight than a battle, but it was a fight she would never concede.

He then clasped his hands behind his back, "Well of course I'm celebrating the coronation of a new queen, with my woman." He said optimistically, grinning as he watched her stroll around her bedroom, one he had been in more times than he could count.

As a hybrid, he didn't just belong to the vampire or wolf faction. Well, the wolves didn't accept him due to fear and pride and the vampires preferred his older brother to be their voice of them in the council meetings. It frustrated Klaus more than he would admit, he feared that someone would use that to their advantage, well more than they already had. But regardless he was a king in his own right, more powerful than he appeared, after all, more people focused on his perfect smile and not the malignity that sone through his cold eyes. That was if you didn't know him at all.

He was more calculated than he seemed, but he preferred to be viewed as careless, so people believed they could control his narrative, but the joke was he was the one pulling the strings.

When Adrienne appeared in front of her vanity and slowly sat down on the chair, her eyes raked over her reflection until they landed on her hair and tucked the lonely strand away, "Ugh, we've only started courting." her eyes connected with his through the mirror, she immediately noticed his heated gaze.

He leaned down, his lips hovered near her ear, "And hopefully you'll be my girl sooner rather than later." he smirked when he heard her heart skip a beat.

She hummed as she spun around in her chair, "Later, much later." she teased and held out her hand and he instantly pulled her up so she could stand in front of him.

His smile fell and he tugged her closer, grabbing her arms and throwing them around his neck as he rested his hands on her hips.

His teeth ground against one another and shook his head, "Don't do that." she could detect the panic in his voice, despite it being clouded with anger.

"Do what?" Her innocent expression only irritated him more.

She knew how easy it was to rile up the Mikaelson hybrid. Almost as if the older he aged the more childish he became. She saw it in Rebekah as well, however, Elijah was the more measured and mature one of the bunch, but the same couldn't be said about her own brother.

Klaus narrowed his eyes, "Don't joke about our relationship." he couldn't help but drink in her memorising face. He liked to take her in, making sure he knew every curve, feature and facial expression, so he could recreate her with his paintbrush, using nothing but his imagination.

His siblings often teased him with the many drawings and paintings he had created, but he took no notice of their aggravating words, it only drove him to do more.

"What relationship?" She giggled at the glare that took over his eyes, why does he look sexier when he's angry? "Has Mr Hyde come out to play then?"

She teased him, with the tale of Jekyll and Hyde, well aware that it didn't take much for his murderous self to come out and dance the night away, causing nothing but fear to spread through the city.

He groaned and rested his head in the crook of her neck, inhaling her sweet scent, "Perhaps he'll go away if his woman stops messing around." he pressed a kiss below her pulse, slowly becoming entranced with its beat.

"Well since his woman is a queen now, I don't think she will," she also spoke in the third person, as she played with the dirty blonde curls at the back of his neck, which weren't levered in gel.

He sighed in contentment at the feeling of her hands, "Must you be so stubborn?"

She pulled his face away so she could look at him, he saw the amused expression on her face, "Oh, so it's only you that can be that way?" he can't be serious. He was more stubborn than a child.

He raised a brow, "I wouldn't say I'm stubborn, I just know when I'm right and that's most of the time." he announced confidently, making her laugh. The sound was music to his ears.

He would love to hear it on a loop, although listening to her sing at 'The Saints'; her family's club, also brought him solace.

Adrienne pursed her lips, "I doubt that, after all, you believe our courtship will be short." she found it amusing that he believed that he could easily have her under his spell when their peers knew it was the complete opposite.

Niklaus Mikaelson, the big bad wolf was utterly bewitched by the eighteen-year-old witch and there was nothing he could do about it, not like he tried or cared to.

He wasn't ashamed as many people assumed or wanted him to be.

Klaus's eyes raked up and down her form before she place a finger up his chin, bringing them back to their rightful place; locked on hers, "I'm right about that." he replied with his famous smile.

"Is that so?"

"As if I could utter anything wrong."

She mirrored his expression, "How can you be so certain?" she cocked her head to the side.

His smile reached his eyes, spreading all over his face as he leaned closer, "Because no other man will be able to handle you like I do."

She squinted her eyes at him, "Is that a compliment or an insult?"

"A compliment." he chuckled at her annoyance before she pushed him towards the balcony door.

"Stop spinning yarns and be honest."

"It's part of a long list of compliments that I have only started to give you."

"So these compliments will include your own personal ego boost?"

His tongue poked the side of his mouth, he waited a moment to respond, despite knowing the answer, "you already know me so well, perhaps a second date is on the table?"

"Doubt it."

"Now, who's being dishonest?"

Before she could push him out of her room, he placed his hands on her face, she turned to the side, so he could press an adoring kiss to her cheek, which he did, causing a warm feeling to spread through their unearthly bodies.

"Goodbye, Mr Hyde."

"Not for long beautiful."

└─────── •✦• ───────┘

a/n:

nathan parsons as 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺 𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿
yara shadidi as 𝗸𝗮𝗹𝗶 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗿
lucas till as 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼'𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹𝗹
dakota fanning as 𝗹𝗼𝘂-𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝗴𝗵
elle fanning as 𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘆 𝗵𝘂𝗴𝗵
odley jean as 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲
coco jones as 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗶𝘁𝗵

so the first chapter is done, what do you think?

mentions of racial tension will be a common theme in this book, especially because most of my OCs are POCs. also, many of the OCs, like I mentioned before are relatives of tvd/to characters you know.

do you like adriennne? hadeon? Any of the people I mentioned.

i hope adri and nik find out they're cousins. (They make me feel so lonely) Trust me the scenes I've written for them make you believe that they are married or have been intimate when they haven't.

also for anyone wondering about adrienne's hair, its the length and texture of jaz sinclair (ros from chilling of adventures of sabrina)

next chapter will be so long omg