The bar was almost deserted when I entered, a contrast to its busy nights. Music filled the air as my eyes went over the room spotting my bookworm friend studying away at a table.

My heels clicked against the wooden floor as I made my way to her. She was so engrossed in her books that she didn't even notice me until I hung my jacket on the chair in front of her.

A piece of her blonde hair fell into her face as she looked up startled by my sudden appearance. Her body relaxed upon realizing it was only me. Her blue eyes gave me a scolding look as I sat down opposite of her.

Cami O'Conell was a relatively new face in New Orleans as she had moved here a few months ago. My first encounter with her was in this very bar. It felt like that happened ages ago.

"Look what the cat dragged in. Olivia Hade in the flesh."

A smirk tugged on my face at her words. Unlike Cami, I didn't work as a bartender, all my income comes from selling paintings and renting out a house in the quieter neigbourhood of New Orleans.

Not the classiest job career, but it pays the bills.

"That almost sounds like you missed me," I looked at the huge pile of books on her desk, "Judging by the reading material you've surrounded yourself with, I can see why."

I lifted up a book to see a name that I couldn't even pronounce on it. The human mind is interesting and all, but not enough for me to ever want to read this stuff.

I don't need to see a shrink to know there's something deeply wrong with me.

No one has complained about it so far, though I think that might be out of fear or too much annoyance, I've never been a people's person. My personality often clashed with other's.

Cami snatched the book out of my hands. "I'm really starting to doubt you've ever read a single book in your life."

I feigned a look of hurt as I placed my hand over my heart. Her eyes narrowed at my actions and it was difficult to not let a smirk spread on my face.

Her ability to withstand me and my many flaws is what intrigued me from the start. She never saw me as just a stuck up bitch and I really appreciate that.

Even though I might partially be one.

"I've read plenty of books, I just never went to college where all this complicated text is formed." I said.

She was going to reply, but her attention was caught by something behind me. I furrowed my eyebrows and tilted my head at her sudden loss of words.

Slowly a smirk started forming on her face. It felt odd to see her look like me for a moment. Smiles and comfort talks were more her thing.

"It seems you have an admirer. A hot one too." Cami said.

I raised my eyebrows at her statement before turning around to see who it was. Blonde hair, blue eyes, a smirk firmly planted on his face as he looked at me.

My eyes narrowed recognising the man in the bar. Klaus Mikaelson, Original Hybrid, half vampire half werewolf. There were rumors of him coming to New Orleans.

The covens had made sure every witch and warlock knew who he was and what he looked like.

Sophie, my occassional drinking buddy, informed me of their plan while drunk. Let's just say that the covens and I don't get along.

I shrugged. "I'd barely call that hot. More like a seven out of ten."

The hybrid was good looking, but it took more than a pair of pretty eyes to win me over. Especially not ones that belonged to a creature that could rip me in two if it wanted to.

Those self defense classes I took are looking better with every passing moment. I turned back to Cami knowing he could hear everything we were saying if he wanted to.

"Oh, to have your standards." Cami mused.

A chuckle left my lips as she gathered her books. I put my jacket back on as Cami left some money to pay for her beverage.

We walked through the bar yet we were held up by the hybrid himself.

My body became tense as his entire attention was focused on Cami. She isn't aware of the things that go bump in the night nor the fact that I am one of them.

"Excuse me, loves." He said.

My attention was immediately caught by the British accent as I tried to resist the urge to drag Cami away before Klaus does something to her.

Yet as he moved a little, a familiar face was revealed sitting by the desk that Klaus was watching me from.

A dark skinned man observed Klaus's interaction with Cami with almost a sheepish expression. It was obvious now why Klaus stopped Cami from leaving.

Marcel Gerard had some kind of creepy, vampire crush on her.

"What's that you're studying?" Klaus asked.

"Abnormal psychology."

A hint of amusement shone in Cami's eyes as she was aware that this was all a show for Marcel. Vampires just love to entertain themselves no matter how it affects other people.

A witch like me has no love for their kind yet I tolerate them as long as they stay out of my way. They're currently doing the opposite of that.

If I could use my magic, I would give them an aneurysm that would have them begging for mercy.

But because of Marcel and his rules, every witch that does magic gets caught and executed. They did the same thing to Sophie's sister a few days ago.

"Abnormal psychology. Well... Perhaps you could help me diagnose my friend over here. He's been a little depressed. Can't keep his mind off a girl. He tells me she's a queen fit for a king. I think he should cut his losses and move on. What's your professional opinion?" Klaus asked.

He glanced at me narrowing his eyes. A glare settled on my face letting him know I wasn't falling for his act. I am not foolish enough to trust a vampire, especially one as old as Klaus Mikaelson.

If the rumors about him and his family are true, then no one should ever consider trusting them for anything. Hell I wouldn't ask them for instructions to the restroom let alone anything else.

"Be a nice guy and maybe the opportunity will present itself someday." Cami replied.

Marcel jumped at the chance. "How about tonight, nine o'clock? I'll meet you right here."

Like hell he is. Cami is human, he has no future with her anyways so all this effort is useless. Unfortunately, she always had a thing for bad boys and people who didn't deserve her.

I've heard enough stories about terrible breakups she had to endure just because she allowed herself to fall for complete assholes.

"How about never? That sounds good to me." I replied.

"I'll take it under consideration." Cami said.

She rolled her eyes at my comment and exited the bar with me following after her. Marcel was bad news, Klaus was even worse.

Cami is among the few rare people I get to call friends and I'm not letting her get drained of blood and shoved into a dumpster.

I don't care if I have to use magic, I will keep Cami safe. It's the best I can do without telling her the truth.

"What's up with the overprotective act? You're the one always telling me to seize the moment." Cami said.

I rolled my eyes at her exaggeration of my beautiful words. When I told her that, in a way less dramatic way, I meant for her to find a nice, cute human like her.

Not to hook up with the vampire who's responsible for the pain and suffering of every witch in New Orleans.

I gave her a stern look. "Yeah, but with someone worthy of you. Those guys are bad news, trust me."

She remained quiet in ponderation of my words. It's not like I'm wrong. They are bad for her just not for the reasons she thinks, but for larger and more complicated ones.

One day she'll find out about the dangerous city she's living in and hopefully she won't run for the hills. Though I can't deny that that would be the safest move she could ever make.

------

Jazz music filled the air as I walked the streets of New Orleans, the city I was born in over twenty six years ago.

It was a home like no other yet lonely for a kid being stuck in foster care for most of her life. I've seen almost every inch of this city and I still don't know half of its history.

Too much has happened over the years to keep track of it all. My body collided into someone else's and I stumbled a bit.

A pair of hands steadied me as I looked up. I was met with the infamous smirk of Klaus Mikaelson.

"You ought to be more careful, love."

Annoyance and a hint of fear went through my body as I rolled my eyes. His hands were still holding me so I shook them off. A flicker of amusement appeared in the hybrid's eyes.

Knowing vampires, I can tell this wasn't a coincidence. Yet he didn't seem in a rush to share why he was here.

"And you ought to stop stalking people." I snapped.

My shoulder hit his as I walked past him. It wasn't intentional, but it did make one hell of a point. Vampire business isn't my business nor will it ever interest me.

It was difficult enough to live in a city filled with witches that think of you as a waste of potential. I did not need another problem.

"You're a very perceptive little witch, aren't you? I know you are aware of who I am, Marcel has told me all about you." Klaus spoke up.

My feet slowed down as I turned around to face him.

He was looking at one of the shops with a very innocent expression on his facial features. There was a playful smirk tugging at his lips as his eyes flickered over to mine.

Marcel doesn't know nearly as much as he thinks he does. Though I am curious about what he told Klaus to make him so interested in me.

I crossed my hands over my chest. "I highly doubt that."

He slowly made his way to me. His head tilted sideways observing me as I raised an eyebrow at him.

This hybrid, for some reason, finds me interesting enough to interact with. I don't know why though. To him I was just another witch that can't do magic in her own city.

As for me, I had no intention of having a second conversation with him.

"Olivia Hade, an outcast among witches, with a fiery temper and a dedication to art," he paused, "Marcel speaks with respect when talking about you. It left me a bit complexed as to why."

His eyes narrowed as if he expected me to reveal some kind of huge secret of Marcel's. Unfortunately, I did know one of his secrets yet there was no way in hell I was telling the hybrid anything about it.

Marcel is lucky that his secret is also my secret.

"Why don't you tell me since you seem to have all the answers, Klaus Mikaelson?" I asked.

Just like that, his crooked smirk appeared on his face once again as a chuckle left his lips.

It was his signature look, that much I gathered from this second encounter of ours. For some reason it made me wary, like he was going to lunge at me at any moment and try to drain me of my precious blood.

"Over the years, I've discovered that it is the not knowing that makes everything that much more fun." He replied.

With one last look at me, the hybrid walked away as I narrowed my eyes at his retreating figure.