WARNINGS: VIOLENCE, MENTIONS OF BLOOD, SMUT, HURTFUL LANGUAGE

┌─────── •✦• ───────┐

Monday, December 19th, 1917:

"YOU can't believe that Heathcliff was good for Catherine, Eli." Adrienne laughed in disbelief as she sat opposite the original in the abattoir living room.

"If society allowed for them to wed, they would've wreaked far less havoc."

The two supernaturals had many things in common and their love for literature was one of them. Neither knew that the other read the same novels, plays and poems. One day Elijah accidentally stumbled on Adrienne reading some of his favourites and since then they started an informal sort of book club.

She viewed it as a way to bond with the original, but for obvious reasons, Klaus was not a fan of their meetings at all.

But too bad he couldn't do much to control who his queen and it's not like she would listen to him.

Adrienne clicked her tongue as she stared directly into his eyes, "I still believe that their relationship was odd."

"Toxicity breeds in small spaces," he replied. His blazer was placed on the back of his chair as he sat comfortably.

She crossed her legs slowly, pulling his gaze down to the action, before he snapped out of it and looked away, silently cursing himself for losing composure.

"I'm referring to their relationship, they were practically raised as siblings." she corrected.

"And yet they were unrequited lovers." he mused, furrowing his brows, slightly disturbed by the context.

She laughed at his discomfort, "Does that not make you feel uncomfortable?" she asked leaning forward.

Today her hair was placed in a low bun, that perfectly insulated her features. She had it hot combed only a couple of days prior, but the drizzle that had been inhabiting the city often brought her locks back to their natural afro texture. Sometimes she wished she could shave it all off, but then remembered how many years she had been looking after her hair.

It's something she wore as a crown and that crown had almost grown to her rib cage.

Adrienne was many things and dedication was one of them.

Elijah nodded as he readjusted his sleeves, "Of course but their heated relations were my main focus." he said and his eyes lingered on her face for a moment.

She hummed, "And I was focused more on the undertones of the novel."

"Such as?" he was very interested in her opinion, wondering what was bouncing around her brain.

It was rare that he conversed with many intellects.

His family often spoke, but their words always carried more sins than anything exemplary.

But he couldn't complain. He mustn't, they were his blood and the fact they still were alive allowed him to be content, until the next problem they had to face came along.

"Heathcliff exoticism." she pointed out.

"He was depicted as a gipsy."

"And if he were from a 'normal background'," she said rolling her eyes and he cracked a smile, "you can't possibly think that Catherine would be as enamoured with the man."

He hummed in agreement, then added, "Ah yes, similar to Othello and Desdemona."

Her eyes widened with excitement, remembering one of her favourite Shakespeare plays. She recalled when only a few days ago she had Elijah had discussed their favourite acts. Despite having to deal with various attacks, she still had to find time to enjoy the simple pleasures the world was so gracious to bring her.

"If those men's cultural background did not juxtapose their love interests..." she trailed off, allowing him to finish.

"The women would be with someone who adorned the same as them."

She smiled, "Precisely."

"I can see your point, but I believe that women choose men for other reasons."

He leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees and his suit braces tightened with his movements.

"Like riches?" She teased and huffed out a laugh.

"From what I've seen many women like the life a man can obtain, but the experience, their personality and persona is also a part of it," he spoke clasping his hands together.

"Their act," she concluded and he nodded.

"Whatever a man parades to the world is the exact thing he's selling, not just to their superiors but to the woman they intend to woo."

Her brown eyes shone with mirth, "So what are you selling Elijah?"

"Guess," a smirk tickled his lips as he implored her humour.

"Someone who portrays themselves as the noble brother, but who has most definitely," she paused, "spilt more blood than he wants to admit." she watched as he pondered her words.

He squinted his eyes at her, "My enemies would've said that's accurate."

"If?" she tilted her head to the side.

"They were not already dead."

She chuckled and nodded.

"But you must know that I only rely on violence whenever someone threatens or harms my family," he added, his tone was earnest and she understood.

She was the same, not just with her family or friends, but with people she knew needed protecting. Not necessarily the vulnerable, but someone who might've ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The world she was living in was a chaotic storm full of random events that never truly made sense.

And she doubted they never will.

"Perhaps you should tell that to Clem." she said, a smirk pulled at her lips when she caught the shock that flashed past his face,  "oh don't act as if you aren't attracted to her Eli."

"Miss Griffith and I get along."

"Is that what we're calling it now?" she wiggled her eyebrows teasingly and he sat back in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"I don't know exactly what 'it' is."

He was attracted to the nineteen-year-old Griffith witch, she was always so warm when they spoke, something he rarely expected from anyone who knew his family.

They'd even danced on many occasions, but nothing happened after, so he didn't believe that he should look into it, but Adrienne clearly did.

"Sure you don't," she mocked, "you can be very oblivious oh-noble-one."

"And you aren't?" he asked with a pointed look.

She scrunched up her face in confusion, "I have no clue what you are getting at Eli." his words carried more than one meaning.

But before he could respond, a familiar voice rang through the room.

"He's clearly referring to how you forgot to come out with me last night," they turned around to see Rebekah strolling in, still wearing her nightwear and a childish pout on her face, "Sonny asked where you were."

"I was busy Bekah," Adrienne informed her, making the blonde raise a brow as she came over and leaned on the arm of the chair her older brother was sitting in, "you know I'm at war right?"

"But that doesn't mean you can't have fun."

Elijah stared up at his sister with a perplexed expression.

"I have fun," Adrienne huffed, "and I already said I couldn't go out last night, you were just too drunk to realise."

"Far too drunk," Elijah added in dismay, annoyed that he found his sister, passed out at the bottom of the staircase in the middle of the night.

Rebekah smacked him on the arm, "not funny and it was only a few drinks."

"Oh Rebekah, you've never been a good liar," Klaus spoke as he wandered into the room, grinning when he saw Adrienne. He sped over and picked her up, making her squeal, "and you need to come upstairs with me."

Before she could respond, the blonde vampire interrupted, "I am a great liar."

"No you're not," the other three responded in unison, causing her to gasp in shock.

Klaus studied the distance of how close his sweetheart was sitting to his older brother, he stiffened until he felt her squeeze his hand.

"Don't worry," Adrienne waved her off, "Nik is bad lying as well." she joked, causing Rebekah to laugh and Elijah to chuckle lowly.

The hybrid frowned and went to defend himself, but his siblings beat him to it, "he is." they said in unison.

"And what about Elijah?" he asked staring down at his girl, waiting to hear an insult, but one didn't come.

"His lies seep through whenever he allows them to."

"She's not wrong," Rebekah agreed immediately.

Elijah nodded, "That's a fair assessment."

Klaus scrunched up his face, "No it isn't." he said in annoyance, Adrienne rolled her eyes and started playing with his rings.

"Oh is Niklaus having a hissy fit again?" Kol suddenly appeared in the room, after hearing the entire discussion, he stood near the witch, before the hybrid pulled her closer, making him grin in amusement.

"Oh shut up Nikolai," he sneered.

Elijah shared a look with his sister.

Rebekah was loving the tension that they were all engulfed by, her giddy expression contracted everyone else's.

"Wait," Adrienne's mouth gaped, "you two have similar names, that's adorable," she cooed at Klaus and Kol, who stared at each other in disgust.

"Not it isn't," they responded immediately.

"It's vile." Klaus almost gagged at the thought.

Kol hummed, "Putrid."

"Disgusting."

"But of course, my name is better."

"Wrong again."

Adrienne, Elijah and Rebekah all held expressions of joy, as they watch the two go back and forth, despite feeling the anger radiating from both of them.

Kol laughed bitterly before snapping his head towards his other siblings, "brother, sister," he glanced at the Lumière witch as well, "pretty witch," Adrienne was abruptly pulled against the hybrid's chest, "who's name is better? Nikolai or Niklaus," he gritted out his brother's name.

Elijah wasn't going to engage but Rebekah was quick to speak up first, "Niklaus." she said with a shrug. The maniac wasn't surprised by her choice, and neither was Klaus who smirked.

"Shocking," sarcasm dripped from Kol's voice, "truly shocking," his eyes widened in faux shock before he turned to his oldest brother, "Lijah?"

"Yours," he said with a wide smile, that was strictly reserved for his family and friends. They all turned to him, jaws dropping, some lower than others. He only wanted to add a little drama to the mix, "what? I am entitled to my opinion."

"Good choice brother."

Adrienne snickered, along with Rebekah, when they caught the scowl on Klaus' face.

"Wrong choice," the hybrid shook his head, the image of a dagger embedding his brother's chest was the only thing keeping his rage at bay.

That and the fact that his witch had been playing with his rings.

Her touch was his solace, along with paints and paintbrushes.

"So," Kol cleared his throat and faced Adrienne with an expectant look, as did everyone else, "Pretty wit-"

"Niklaus," she spoke cutting him off, causing him to snap his eyes shut in irritation.

Klaus beamed, adoring that she had chosen him and not his psychotic brother, very few people consistently chose him.

Rebekah clapped excitedly, whilst Elijah offered Kol a reassuring smile, but it went unnoticed.

"I don't know why I ever bother anymore," Kol threw his hands up in distress.

"Well if you listen closely," Klaus held a finger up to his ear, in a mocking manner, "there is a coffin calling your name."

"And I think Mikael is calling yours."

Everyone stilled at the mention of the Mikaelson Patriarch they had been running from for centuries.

His name was as haunting as his presence.

Kol knew he had gone too far, but he simply didn't care. He loathed the feeling of being ganged up on, whether he caused the predicament or not.

"Nikolai-" Elijah tried to defuse the situation but nothing could be done.

Rebekah was quick to grab her friend and pull her away from the screaming match that was about to take place.

"You really want to anger me Kol?" Klaus stalked over to his young brother with an evil glint in his ocean blue eyes.

The rage he felt was enough to start a war.

"So you can mock me, but I can't do the same to you?" Kol shook his head, his fingers curled into his hands as he stared at the hybrid,  "you can dish it out but can't take it can you?"

"Watch your tongue."

"No, you should watch how you speak to me, always looking down on me like I am not your equal."

Klaus smiled wickedly, "you really believe that killing a few villagers puts you anywhere near my level?"

"No," Kol chuckled darkly, "but maybe if you weren't a part dog, more people would respect you, but instead they see you as something that needs to be kept on a leash."

"You wouldn't be saying that when I unleashed my fatal bite, leaving you to live out the rest of your immortal life in agony, writhing in pain as your mind decays and you have nothing but delusions to keep you company."

Their stood toe-toe and Rebekah honestly wished she had brought something to snack on as she watched her brothers go at it.

Adrienne was finding it all quite a turn-on, watching how Klaus' muscles tensed the more he got worked up.

But as for Elijah, he wished he locked the living room door so his siblings couldn't interfere with his intellectual discussion with the witch queen.

"Oh, you honestly don't think I don't know your blood is the cure?" Kol laughed menacing as he stared down at the hybrid, marvelling that he was a few inches taller than him.

Even as humans he would torment him about their height difference.

It was the little things that brought Kol pleasure, along with his various killing and misdeeds.

Klaus' eyes darkened as they flickered gold, "How did you figure it out?"

"Because I am not the fool you think I am."

"You aren't a fool, but a psychotic maniac that needs to be reprimanded every other day."

"Well perhaps your lover could sort me out," his eyes travelled over to Adrienne, whose expression he couldn't read, "I heard she has quite the voice," he smirked then turned back to the hybrid, "maybe I can make her scream as I-"

"Children," Elijah snapped, but Klaus had already swung on at his brother, who groaned and moved his jaw back into place, the nobleman sped in front of the two, but Kol had already returned the gesture.

Adrienne sighed and pulled them all away from each other with her magic, making Rebekah pout.

"As entertaining as this has been," the witch spoke up, straining her neck as her eyes turned back to their natural colour. She studied the violence in front of her, blood dripping and limbs being put back into place, she wished she could've captured it, "I have to go," she said getting up from Rebekah's lap.

"But you just got here," the blonde whined.

"No, you just woke up."

Elijah was ashamed of his family's behaviour, he stared at her with an apologetic look, "Adrienn-"

"We'll continue our conversation on a later date," she sent him a smile, then hugged the youngest Mikaelson, "and we'll go out on Thursday."

"Promise?" Rebekah asked after they pulled away.

"Promise." Adrienne nodded, then turned to the two angry originals, Kol stood with his back against the wall and with a grin on his face, but Klaus stared at his feet, almost embarrassed by his behaviour, but he wished he did more to punish his brother.

"Sweetheart," he approached his girl, grabbing her hand and pressing a kiss to it, causing his siblings to pretend to gag. The couple ignored them, "stay a little longer."

"I'll be back later, I just have a few things to do."

He listened to her heartbeat carefully, before he nodded stiffly, "okay."

She pressed a chaste kiss to his lips and then smiled up at him.

"Oh, do you want one from me, Adrienne?" Kol asked fluttering his eyelashes, emitting a growl from Klaus, who was quickly calmed down by the witch.

"Kol." Elijah snapped, "enough with your quips, help me with some council business."

"But I'm not a part of the council."

"It wasn't a request." the nobleman gave shot him a sharp stare, making him sigh and comply.

Kol went to follow Elijah out of the room, not before he gave Adrienne a wink, "Always a pleasure pretty witch." he dramatically bowed, then shot daggers at the hybrid as he shoved his sister, so she fell into the chair.

"Such an arse," she muttered, then watched her friend walk out of the house, being escorted by some of their employed vampires, whose sole purpose was to protect her.

"Kol needs to keep his mouth shut." Klaus gritted when he watched Adrienne's retreating figure.

"I can still hear you," the youngest Mikaelson brother yelled from the other room, which was quickly followed by a grunt, presumably being hit by Elijah.

"And you need to keep your anger in check." Rebekah held the hybrid back, knowing he was about to charge for Kol again.

Klaus sighed, "It's hard to do with Mr maniac on the loose."

"You wanted to undagger him."

"And you plucked the dagger from his heart."

"And?" Rebekah scoffed, "he's our brother."

"So is Finn, but I'll let him stew in his little box."

The two Mikaelsons stared at each other knowingly before they burst out laughing.

─────── •✦• ───────

Adrienne and Kali stood on opposite sides of the square table.

"I want to see them all gone." Kali expressed passionately to the witches, pacing back and forth in the middle of the Euphoria.

They usually had their coven meetings in the bakery, because they always wanted a nice treat to balance out their savagery.

Well, one might call it savagery, especially due to the twisted spells they end up creating.

Of course, the store was shut for the duration of the meeting.

"Dead." Valerie corrected as she stood up and pour herself some apple punch, she also poured a serving for Clementine and her queen.

Purposefully forgetting the Sinclair witch.

"That's what I said."

"Death is more final."

Adrienne and Clemintine were given their drinks and smiled at Valarie as they continued watching the two go back and forth for the hundredth time.

It wasn't uncommon for Valerie and Kali to argue it would be more bizarre if they didn't.

"What?" Kali stared at the young witch in disdain, "Not if you believe in life after death and the various ancestors that watch what we do." she gestured to the ceiling, making the witches snicker, only worsening her mood.

Valerie scoffed, then down the rest of her drink, "They don't control what we do, we save that for those witches that sit and pray to their white Jesus." she mocked and took a step closer to the Sinclair witch, resulting in Clementine standing up, placing her drink to the side and approaching the three.

They all surrounded one of the many tables in the room, which supported their many grimoires.

"What's wrong with Jesus?" Kali asked, placing her hands on the table. She wasn't a very religious person, but she identified with Christianity the most, which never made sense to her coven, but they rarely brought it up.

Until now.

Valerie shrugged, "Nothing, he just hasn't got blue eyes and blonde hair." she stated, not fond of the inaccurate sculptures of the prophet.

She believed it was rather insulting.

"In other words, he doesn't look like Klaus," Clementine mumbled under her breath, making the young queen giggle.

"Although he would love to hear you say he does," Adrienne mused, thinking about how his ego would skyrocket if he heard anyone compare him to the son of god.

She would never repeat it even if her life depended on it.

Kali scrunched up her face, "Disgusting."

Adrienne rolled her eyes, whilst Clementine continued to look amused.

Valerie cleared her throat, "Despite your religion, death is more final in my eyes and we need Nekane and Helmer to be removed from this mortal coil."

The more they stood around arguing about nothing, was more time wasted.

They couldn't allow another attack to happen, especially against Adrienne.

Luckily for the supernatural community, no one other than the équilbre witches, Mira and the Mikealsons knew about what Ren did to Adrienne.

But they all spread the rumour that Adrienne defeated the man, without him having laid a hand on her.

Yes, it was a lie, but the most beautiful things are.

Clementine nodded quickly, "Agreed." she hastily focused on the various spells she had written down in her grimoires.

Adrienne hummed in agreement, "Tormenting Ren didn't feed my bloodlust as much as I thought it would." she spoke lowly, making the younger witches grin.

"You're starting to sound like your lover," Kali said eying her warily. She had expressed her dislike for the hybrid on many occasions.

She didn't think it was a good look for the witch queen of New Orleans to be friendly with an 'abomination', in her words, her deeply descriptive words.

Even Valerie wasn't that persistent.

Adrienne went to respond, but the LaMarche witch cut her off, "They would have to fuck to be lovers." she joked but was met with a scowl and a mini aneurysm, to which she took with a smile.

Clementine's mouth gaped, "Wait you haven't-"

Adrienne waved her off, shifting uncomfortably, "Besides the point and so what if I sound like Klaus?"

She couldn't fault that the great Niklaus Mikaelson got things done, whether or not it started a war. But she was trying to end one. And violence could only be thought of with more violence.

Valerie understood that because she was often more sinister than people believed and because she and Clementine often dabbled in voodoo and expression, with the help of the oldest Lumière heir.

Adrienne wasn't opposed to it because she did it too. But obviously, Kali advised against it.

"I hate the beast but bloodlust is needed to defeat those witch hunters," Valerie spoke, ignoring the shock that appeared on their faces.

After all, that was the nicest thing she had ever said about Klaus.

"I've told you many times to end things with him." Kali shook her head disapprovingly, at Adrienne, who continued to stare down at the pages of her grimoire, not letting her words get to her.

"Oh stop telling her what to do Sinclair just because you haven't got any since before the war."

The youngest witches didn't bother to hide their laughter.

"And you have?" Kali asked, voice cracking slightly, feeling exposed under the witches' judging eyes.

Yes, she was a twenty-three-year-old witch who was unwed, yet had lost her virginity. She was often teased for being a so-called spinster, but she didn't care. Or at least that's what she told people.

Valerie smirked, "Everything Thursday."

Clementine and Adrienne stared at her in confusion.

"Thursday?" The Griffith witch asked sceptically.

She shrugged, "Because it's not a Friday."

"Such an odd thing to do-"

"Can we change the subject?" Adrienne finally snapped, wanting to direct the topic to what actually mattered.

"Calm down miss chastity." Valerie placed a hand on her shoulder, but it was quickly swatted away.

"Perhaps it's a good thing that her virginity is still intact, so that monster can't ruin you," Kali said, through gritted teeth.

Adrienne glared at her, "He's not a monster Kali."

Valerie nodded mockingly, "he's actually a beast." she corrected, making the young queen clench her fists.

Clementine awkwardly scratched the back of her neck, "I like the fact he buys numerous pastries from our store-" she attempted to defuse the tension but was abruptly cut off by the LaMarche witch.

"I may not like him, but that doesn't mean I'll dictate, whether or not he buries himself inside our queen," Valerie spoke softly, contrasting her crass words.

"Jesus Christ." Adrienne pinched the bridge of her nose, whilst Clementine moved to get more drinks as she felt everyone needed them.

But she feared that apple punch wasn't enough.

"You're stressing her out so much, you have her uttering the fake messiah." Valerie accused, pointing her fingers directly at the oldest witch.

"He's not fake to me." Kali slammed her hands down on the table, causing the grimoires to shift and only making Adrienne's mood worsen, luckily she quickly downed the drink she received.

"She's agnostic and so am I." Valerie pointed out, with a fake smile.

Clementine raised her hand, "I'm a more spiritual person."

"Shut up clem." Kali snarled, making her frown.

Adrienne had lost her patience, "Don't speak to her like that." she snapped, much to Valerie's delight, although she was still furious about how upset her closest friend was, so she reached out and grabbed the Griffith witch's hand.

"You all are attacking my beliefs."

"You're attacking my relationships," Adrienne countered, her voice shook with anger, "drop it now so we can focus on the matters that killing our people, both of race and our species," she said definitively.

Kali swallowed nervously, "Bu-"

Adrienne turned to Valerie, "Val apologise for disrespecting her religion."

The witch in question huffed and placed her hand over her mouth, "I will physically be sick."

"What other ways can you be sick?" Clementine asked cautiously and quietly, scared that someone else would snap at her.

"Mentally."

"True."

Adrienne tossed her head back in annoyance, "Just say sorry." she nudged the LaMarche witch.

Adrienne didn't know whose argument was worse, her witches or the youngest mikealson brothers.

"Sorry," she muttered quietly.

"Mean it."

"Sorry." She exaggerated, throwing her available hand up in the air.

"Thank you," Kali said rolling her eyes, only gaining a glare from the younger witch.

"Now Kali, apologise for being tactless towards Clem, Val and me," Adrienne demanded, shocking her and making her eyes widen in surprise.

"Wha-"

"You've been acting like you are superior and put yourself on a pedestal because you don't engage in certain things and I have had enough. Apologise." Adrienne didn't leave any room for dispute.

"I'm sorry," Kali mumbled, looking down, not liking their gazes on her.

Adrienne fake cheered and clasped her hands together before staring at all of them.

"Good, now that's out of the way, we can go back to creating a spell that will put the witch hunters down for good."

─────── •✦• ───────

After returning from her coven meeting, Adrienne continued to feel very stressed.

And one of the few ways she dealt with the things weighing her down, is baking. She learnt a few recipes from Valerie and Clementine and even occasionally helped them whenever she wasn't performing at the Saints.

She found that baking helped clear her mind.

And she also realised that the Mikaelsons had the best kitchen; having the most space, an efficient oven and an attractive Mikaelson sibling to bother her as she baked.

So there she stood, in the centre of the Mikaelson kitchen, smoothing jazz played in the background as she stared at the various ingredients laid out in front of her. She tried not to pay attention to the various arguments she heard from the other rooms. She could barely make out Rebekah and Kol's voices through the closed doors.

She quickly started pouring the different ingredients into the mixing bowl and began stirring them together.

Adrienne couldn't help but feel the impending doom approaching. Everything felt too safe like a grenade was about to go off. The ticking was increasing in her head and it was only a matter of seconds before she was surrounded by shrapnel and blood.

She swallowed the bile that crept up her throat and continued to focus on baking.

Just keep going, she told herself, just keep going.

Her hands needed the dough on a lightly floured surface. Fortunately, her attire was covered by an apron, so as she started cutting the dough up into twenty separate pieces, nothing hit her.

She jumped slightly when she heard the kitchen door swing open, revealing a vexed Kol Mikaelson.

His eyes were crazed and his brows were pinched together. He barely even noticed the witch as he hurried to find something to drink.

The sound of oil sizzling snapped him out of his manic state.

He turned to see Adrienne standing, over the huge pot, delicately placing square-shaped pieces of dough into the spitting oil.

"Another squabble?" she questioned, not even sparing him a glance.

"Another dagger threat." his chest heaved up and down. He picked up a bottle of gin, his eyes darted between the glasses in the cupboard. He debated whether or not he should grab one or two.

He craned his neck to the side before he quickly grabbed two glasses and poured the alcohol.

"Wow, that must be very predictable," she said, placing the baking tray near the side, ready whenever the beignets were finished.

He nodded, "It is, they need new material," he slid a drink over to her, shocking her slightly, but he didn't bother noting her reaction,  "what are you making?" he tried focusing on the sizzling instead of the deafening threats his siblings made that was stuck on a loop in his head.

"Beignets." she stared at the clock, seeing that she only had to wait three minutes before they were finished.

He gulped down the gin, without wincing at the feeling of it burning his throat,  "I thought you were a performer." he raised his brows questioningly.

"I'm a woman of many trades," she answered, mirroring his actions and downed the alcoholic drink, sighing at the feeling of her body slowly relaxing.

He studied the way she didn't react to drink, just like he didn't, showcasing that she must be some sort of party girl or she had been tied to his family longer than he expected.

"To keep up with someone like Niklaus," he clicked his tongue, then pointed at her, "you have to be."

She huffed, "Aint the truth." she glanced back at the clock. Only two minutes to go.

"I visited The Euphoria," he informed, leaning his back against the sink and letting his eyes follow her every move.

"And?"

"Great delicacies, but one of the witches doesn't like me very much," he spoke humourlessly,  "funny thing, I don't even know her," he said, in an accusing manner.

Kol wasn't fond of impoliteness, who is? But something else he couldn't stand was disrespect, whether it was from his siblings or strangers.

He simply couldn't abide it.

She turned to him, unbothered by his tone, "That must be Valerie."

"Easy on the eyes, your witches." he said taking a step closer, removing the glass from her hand and filling it up again, "one of them sparked up a conversation with me about apple punch."

"Clementine." she smiled faintly, then downed the gin again.

Adrienne eyed Kol sceptically as he refilled her glass again, then clenched his jaw when she set the glass down, before taking a sip.

"Any reason why this Valerie already loathes me?"

He didn't bother to hide his irritation.

"She loathes many people and Niklaus is one of them, so you aren't alone." she shrugged and turned off the oven.

"Who does she like?" he asked, watching as she stepped up and carefully uncovered the pot.

They both inhaled the sweet smell that filled up the room, it almost mimicked the aroma in The Euphoria.

"Only a few people."

She used tongs to pick up the delicious treats, one by one they all settled on the baking tray.

"And are you the same?" she shot him a questioning look, waiting for him to explain further.  "hating many but only liking a few?" he inquired.

"Depends."

"On?

"If they piss me off," she replied and his eyes shone with amusement, "could you pass me the flour?" She motioned to the small bowl that sat near him. He picked it up, squinting his eyes at its contents, "it's not poisoned Nikolai." his name rolled off her tongue gracefully.

He rolled his eyes and held out the bowl, "do you really prefer Klaus's name to mine?"  he lifted the bowl higher as she tried reaching for it.

"Yes," she gave him a tight-lipped smile and then tried reaching for it again, mumbling under her breath when he kept moving it away.

"You are a bad liar, pretty witch."

"Listen to my heartbeat," she stared him down, he chuckled at her stance, finding her scowl deeply comical, "it's steady right?"

He listened and heard the thumping of her heart, not increasing but it did skip, which made him grow curious.

"So much for a bad liar huh?" she snatched the bowl from his hands and turned away from him, but he flashed in front of her, standing toe to toe with her making her sigh as he leaned closer, "what?"

"You're something else entirely."

"And that is?"

She grew tired of his intimidation tactics and pushed him away, but he quickly caught her wrist, hissing when his hand started to burn and boil. His eyes widened with excitement when he saw her beautiful pools of brown, fade and turn black. He only's seen some Lumière's in his time, but he never saw them practice magic, up until his family came to New Orleans. He had caught Hadeon performing a spell a few years ago and he is just as intrigued as he was then.

"And enigma."

"Huh," she pondered his words as her eyes returned to the natural colour, "not one of the worst things I've been called."

His skin healed almost instantly.

"Consider it a compliment, darling."

"No." She shook her head stubbornly and he fought the urge to smile.

She caked the beignets with sugar and ignored his gaze.

"Is staring a family trait?"

"Killing, tormenting and-"

"Annoying Lumière's?" She asked, rolling her eyes and moving the tray over to the kitchen island.

"Yes." He nodded, and he stared at her expectedly.

She sighed, "If you want something just ask."

His face lit up like a kid before Christmas, he reached for a pastry, but she swatted his hand away making him whine in response, "you said I could-"

"Ask before you take."

She waited patiently, his eyes darted between her and the beignets.

"Kol-"

"Can I have one please?" He asked impatiently.

"Yes, you can."

He didn't waste any more time and grabbed three, she gawked when he scoffed them all down, humming in contentment when he was hit with the sweet taste.

She tossed her head back in annoyance and pulled the tray away from him, "One doesn't mean three."

"I was hungry," he shrugged, then a sinister smirk appeared across his face, "unless you're offering me a bite."

Her face heated up at his insinuation, "Don't," she warned.

He raised his hands defensively, but his smirk didn't waver, "I'm kidding."

"Sure."

She moved the beignets to a bowl and placed a cover around it, cautious of any insects that might be lying around.

"No need to wash up, we pay servants for that." he voiced after noticing her moving to clean up the mess she made.

Although she didn't cause too much, she still felt guilty for not tidying up. She remembered what her mother taught her and she couldn't forget all the domestic duties that were drilled into her when she was younger.

She snorted, "You mean compel?"

"Semantics." He shrugged and folded his arms.

"If you say so."

He tapped on his chin, curious about the enigma that is Adrienne Lumière, "What do you really like to read?"  he questioned, she furrowed her brows in confusion, "and please tell me it's not only novels about the poor and vulnerable." he drawled as his fingers danced across the surface.

She chuckled lightly, "Please, what do you take me for? Elijah?" she teased, not caring whether the nobleman was around. Kol fought a genuine laugh that threatened to spill from his lips, "and I actually prefer folktales." she informed.

"Where the prince saves the damsel?" he asked boredly.

"No, I'm not Rebekah." she feigned offence and just when he was about to laugh, a voice called out,

"I heard that." the original in question yelled from outside the kitchen.

"Love you to Bekah." Adrienne matched her volume and held back her laughter.

"Save me a beignet." Rebekah smelted the delicious treats from her room.

"Say please."

Kol turned to the door, curious to see if his sibling would comply.

"Please." his sister whined, much to his shock. Very few made forced her to do anything unless it was one of her many lovers or her older brothers.

Adrienne hummed, "Okay."

"Thank you," Rebekah yelled then giddily walked away, going back to the room where all her spare clothes were sprayed out on the ground.

Adrienne laughed then turned back to Kol, who was already staring at her, "And the Grimm tales are my favourite." he was taken back by her confession, "what? Is that so surprising." she leaned against the island.

His eyes wandered over her body, not so subtly, before they stared into her eyes, "Wilheim and Jacob were good friends of mine, right before-"

"You were daggered?"

"Obviously." he nodded, then continued, "the brothers were cultural researchers. When I used to travel with some covens a few centuries ago, I ran into them when I made a stop in Hanau."

"Interesting."

"I thought so too," he started chuckling, "don't tell anyone I told you but... Rumplestiltskin is heavily based on Elijah"

She couldn't help but laugh, "Oh really?" amusement laced her tone, he nodded and leaned his elbows across the island, facing her, "rapunzel?" she asked, despite knowing the answer.

"My darling baby sister."

"And what of Nik?"

She caught him stiffen at the mention of the hybrid.

"If only I had the desire to talk about my bastard brother," he looked down, staring at his hands, clicking each finger, "I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of having a tale revolving around his life."

"Oh," she said awkwardly.

He quickly snapped out of his sour mood, "But don't fret, there are plenty of scary stories, that revolve around my brother's legacy. There's enough blood and bodies surrounding his name to scare the devil."

She raised a brow, "I could say the same thing about you."

Adrienne could see the similarities between the two brothers and their names were only the icing on the murderous cake that they called their bloody lives.

He tilted his head to the side, "But something tells me you won't."

"Why would you think that?" she asked narrowing her eyes on him.

"Because you have many things bouncing around in that mind of yours," his dark eyes bore into hers, "I assume you want to ask questions and I just happen to be in good mood, so ask away."

Her eyes widened in shock, "Really?"

"By all means, ask." he turned his hands out, before resting his head against his palm.

"Is your humanity off?" she blurted out, then quickly backtracked, "I mean, have you ever turned it off?"

"Do you think I have?"

"Judging by the stories I've heard, it would make sense if you did and you even told me that you lost your magic all those years ago-"

"So I was soo hurt I had to switch it all off?" he huffed out a chuckle, concealing his discomfort, "no." he added sternly,  "but you would be the first person who has wondered that." She stared at him with a pitiful expression, "don't look at me like that, there is no need for pity, I'm the maniac of the family."

Although he sounded proud, she could hear his voice falter ever so slightly.

"Were you always like that, the psychotic maniac?"

"There's a beauty in murders and execution." he plastered on a grin.

"That doesn't answer my question," she muttered.

"It should."

He's selling a lie, she thought a beautiful lie.

She rolled her shoulders, backwards, thinking of ways to redirect the conversation, "so speaking of family and bloody murder," she paused, "what do you think of the new addition?"

"Have to be more specific darling," he smirked devilishly.

"Well, he's not exactly new, but your adoptive nephew," she specified and he immediately rolled his eyes.

"He's a little twirp. He's done nothing but invade my family and put a damper on it." he gritted out, he hated that Marcel was associated with his family, to begin with.

Kol never understood why his siblings frantically fawned other him, but there was one thing he wouldn't do... copy their actions.

She stood up straight, pulling away and staring down at him, "And what do you think of me?"

"Haven't figured that out yet."

She poked her tongue against her cheek, ignoring his lustful gaze,  "You know what I think?" she asked with a tight-lipped smile.

"Go on."

"You're jealous that marcel is adored by your siblings so you're just making up excuses to loathe him, even though two seem like you would've gotten along before you put a damper on his childhood."

Her words brought them into an unforgettable silence.

Kol's eyes darkened and before she could even blink he flashed in front of her, towering over her petite form.

He lowered his head as he whispered into her ear, "Mmm, next time I won't ask for your opinion," he sneered, "after all, you're nothing but a plaything that Nik dangles in front of the council for fun and will drop in a second the moment he finds a new hobby." he snapped, making her inhale sharply.

He pulled away, scanning her face, with a menacing expression.

Adrienne let out a humourless chuckle as she stared at him with disdain, "Maybe you're right, maybe he will drop me and maybe I should keep my mouth shut and not bother to converse with you." she picked up the bowl of beignets and silently left the room.

Allowing him to stew and think back on his words.

He didn't want to feel any sort of regret or remorse, so why were those emotions bubbling inside of him?

Kol didn't want to think or feel, about anyone, especially not Adrienne.

So he did what he knew best, he caused chaos.

He picked up the nearest object and hurled it across the room, glass fell and broke across the room. His chest heaved up and down, but he didn't stop, he punched and tore away at each surface.

He was so blinded back his rage, that he didn't even notice his oldest brother speeding into the room, hearing the ruckus and having grown tired of the noise, he just wanted some peace and quiet after getting back from his outing with Hadeon.

"Control yourself Kol," Elijah took away the remaining glasses Kol was about to launch across the room.

The younger brother pushed him away, itching to break something else. Wanting something loud and rowdy to replace his thoughts.

"Oh go bother someone else, Elijah," he scoffed and examined the room, deciding that he needed to go out and paint the town red.

Elijah briskly pulled out the handkerchief from his suit pocket, holding it out to the Kol, but he swatted him away,  "I'd advise you to not upset Adrienne." he warned, having heard the end of their conversion.

Kol snapped his head over to him, tilting his to the side, and then something dawned on him, causing him to chuckle manically before covering his mouth.

"You fancy her don't you," he taunted the nobleman and stepped closer.

Elijah tried hard not to lose his composure, "I do not."

"Do so."

"I don't find you amusing and neither does Adrienne," he said turning away from Kol.

"She doesn't like you in that way 'Lijah," Kol continued to laugh, "you should stop while you're ahead."

"I believe you should take your own advice brother." He rebutted, making Kol's face drop.

Elijah hastily left the room, followed by the distant sounds of smashing and shattering.

─────── •✦• ───────

Klaus' bedroom door was swung open by the Lumière witch, who entered with a bowl of beignets.

She settled it on his bedside table, before turning to the hybrid, who continued to paint his canvas, swiping the darkest paints against the white paper.

He managed to hear some of the commotion from downstairs, he knew his youngest brother was the culprit. Klaus fought the urge to put him back in his little box, especially after being in such proximity to his witch.

That said witch he had now wrapped her arms around his waist, making him smile.

"Why are you spending time with my brother?" he asked, using his available hand to hold one of hers, his eyes didn't leave the painting he was creating, something she couldn't quite make out.

"Other than the fact he used to be a witch he's good company." her voice was muffled, as she spoke.

She tried seeing the positives in her interaction with Kol, knowing he would be met with a dagger to the heart if she didn't.

She felt bad for him, even if he insinuated she was nothing but Klaus's whore.

"You know I used to be a witch," he stated and put now his brush on his easel and turned around, picking up Adrienne's hand, pressing a kiss to it, then her lips.

"That thought is terrifying."

He feigned offence as he guided them to his kingsize bed, "Funny."

She shrugged innocently, and fiddled with his fingers, biting down on her lip as she traced the viens on his hands.

He smirked when she slipped off his Mikaelson ring and tried it on, his expression quickly morphed into a wide smile because it didn't fit her, but she wore it regardless and he let her.

Before his thoughts got carried away, he spoke up, "I heard your heartbeat quicken when you said 'he's good company', what did he do to you?" he trained his eyes on her face.

"Nothing..." she trailed off, looking away, but he was quick to place his hands on either side of her face.

"Ria."

She sighed and leaned into his touch, "He can be annoying."

"It's a family trait, carry on."

She sucked in a deep breath, "He snapped at m-" before she could finish his sentence he had already turned to the door, but he felt her magic pull him back, "Nik sit down."

He shot her a glare as she pushed him back onto the bed.

"I could just dagger him and you will not have to deal with his witticisms ever again." he offered, still mad that Kol had upset her.

She winced at his statement, "You can't keep daggering your siblings."

"I can and I will."

She pursed her lips, but he opened his arms to her and she shuffled closer and stood between his legs. He wrapped his arms around her waist, whilst hers snaked around his shoulders.

"Disagreeing with them isn't an excuse," she murmured into his hair.

"Not even if they plot against me?" he asked definitely.

She pulled his head back and saw the hurt written on his face, "Who?-"

"Kol" he grumbled, "four years ago."

Realisation dawned on her face, "That's why you daggered him?" she asked, playing with his curls.

"Indeed."

"So what exactly did he do?" she asked and he stared at her in disbelief.

"He conspired against me."

"But what did he do?" she repeated, but he had already looked down, avoiding her gaze, "You don't know do you?" she sighed.

"I do," he stated weakly.

"You can be a bad liar when you want to be," she said, referring to the conversation they had earlier that day.

Adrienne noticed that Klaus had many tells whenever he lied, they all did.

Whether he looked away, spoke theatrically or was overcompensating, he was usually lying. Even when he put on his monstrous facade, he was lying and everyone ate it up.

"Your pretty eyes make me want to tell the truth," he muttered and struggled not to chortle.

He wasn't lying now, her eyes captivated him, and he couldn't look away.

She was truly mesmerising. His Adrienne, His witch. His girl.

"Sure, but you can't sit here and tell me you put a dagger in Kol's heart based on speculation?" she questioned scrunching up her face in confusion.

"I can because I did."

She stared up at the ceiling, "Hecate help me." she mumbled.

"She won't because you're in good hands."

And in a flash, he was sitting against the headboard of his bed, with her straddling his waist, somehow he simultaneously managed to pull both of their shoes off.

She felt sick by the abrupt movement, but his light touches over her sides, made her feel better.

"The hands of someone who is quick-tempered." she rebutted, exhaling sharply.

"Oh please, if people didn't want me to lose my temper they wouldn't do things to provoke me." she could hear the irritation in her voice.

His childish behaviour made her smile, "Like what?"

"Things that provoke me," he exclaimed in a matter-of-fact tone.

She nodded slowly, "Right."

"Can I have some pastries now?" he nodded to the bowl near them, the beignets were potent to his supersenses.

It was a surprise that his family hadn't swarmed them yet.

She tutted, waving her finger in his face, "I might reconsider my offer after realising how you've been behaving."

A smirk grew on his lips, "Do you want to punish me?"

She groaned annoyedly, "Not like that."

"I wouldn't mind."

"Because you're sick." she pointed out and played with the ring that loosely rested on her finger.

"Then nurse me back to good health." he teased and tugged her closer.

"No."

Klaus dramatically sighed, "But I'm feeling poorly."

"Can I be Frank?" she paused as he nodded,  "I don't care," she said with a pout and he placed a hand on his heart.

"Rude."

She grinned, "So I'm like you?"

"No," he replied instantly.

"Then-"

"You're meaner than me," he stated, making them both burst out laughing.

"Not according to Valerie." she sang.

His amusement fell from his lips at the mention of the LaMarche witch.

"No, we will not speak of your witches, especially the one that burnt you." he traced over the scar on her arm, making her tense.

He still felt immense guilt for not being there when she was attacked by Ren, he couldn't stand the thought of someone close to her harming her, even if it was an accident.

He wouldn't stand for it.

She stiffly shook her head, "Nik-"

"No." he cut her off as he grabbed the bowl of pastries.

She knew he didn't want to discuss the issue anymore, so she wouldn't, even if he didn't know the whole story.

She slumped her shoulders, then picked up beignet, "Fine, open wide." she instructed but soon came to regret her words after seeing the smirk on his face.

"Say that a little louder, my siblings might get the wrong idea." he seemed ecstatic by the thought and hopefully it would shut them up.

Especially his brothers.

Her lips parted in shock, "You said the room had a silencing spell placed on it." she whispered.

"Where's the fun in that?"

She pinched the bridge of her nose, "Wow, you truly are sick." she put the pastry back in the bowl and pulled it away from him, causing him to sulk.

"Only the greatest people are."

"Incorrect."

He picked up her hand and stared at the way his ring sat on her slender fingers, "Van Gogh had an eccentric personality and unstable moods, yet he created something through his pain and torment."

"Until he killed himself." she deadpanned.

"he left such a great legacy" Klaus was inspired by the man, turning pain into something appealing to the stable-minded eye, was what he saw as brave.

He believed that it should be edified, or how else would everyone understand someone who is just simply not okay, to put it plainly?

Although he never met the tortured man, Klaus could recognise the demons that resided in Van Gogh's mind.

Adrienne's sultry voice brought him out of his thoughts, "How did we get from me trying to feed you to you talking about a great artist?"

His face lit up, "So you admit he's a great artist?"

"He was truly sick," she added.

He chuckled, "thus proving my point."

"That point being?"

"That the greatest people on earth suffer the most."

"Agree to disagree?" she was willing to comprise.

"Agree to disagree," he nodded, before he grabbed the bowl again, allowing her to pick up a pastry, holding it near his mouth.

He opened his mouth, biting down on the treat, groaning in pleasure as his tastes were engulfed by the sugared delight.

He was quick to swallow the rest, gulping it down, even nipping her finger as she fed him.

Her breath hitched at the action and the look he gave her didn't help the arousal growing between her legs.

"Do you like it?" she asked quietly.

He moved the bowl to the side, his eyes darkened with lust, "anything you put in my mouth I'll love," and suddenly she was pressed onto her back, hovering over her, tugging at stockings on her legs, "in fact, there is something else I've wanted today."

"oh really?" she shuddered at his touch.

"yes, lie back," he ordered.

She grabbed his chin, "ask nicely."

He rolled his eyes, "lie back-" 

"What did I say?"

"Please," he begged, a tone only limited to Adrienne and Adrienne only.

"as you wish Mr hyde." she laid against his pillows, gasping as he ripped away from her stockings, veiny hands travelled up her legs, "You looked so sexy when you were fighting your brother,"  Adrienne whispered as fingers slowly moved past her knickers and traced over her folds, circling her clit.

His eyes never left hers as he leaned down to peck her sweet lips. Her arousal only grew at his touch, her heart hammered against her chest, feeding his lust and desire.

He continued his actions, very slowly, almost like he was scared to break her, knowing that no one else has ever touched her like him.

Nor would he allow that to ever happen.

She was his. And he was her first everything, something he believed was truly sacred.

"Really?" He teased with a growing smirk as he leaned and passionately captured her lips without much thought of anything else. He gently pushed her hips further into the bed and he took that moment to tug the nightdress over her head, showcasing her bare body, "So beautiful." He whispered and his smile turned softer as he crawled up her body.

Pulling his shirt over his head, revealing his defined chest, her fingers trailed over the birds that decorated his shoulders, then tugged on the chains that hung from his neck, His hands moved over her sides before he leaned down for another sweet kiss that had her arching into his touches.

He groaned into her mouth, as he felt her breasts touch his skin.

He struggled to control primal instincts, feeling the urge to mark every inch of her body, kiss each curve and spill himself into her.

But he couldn't, not yet.

Their tongues met and danced with one another as she moaned out his name.

"A little louder sweetheart." He whispered and brushed their noses together, he reached down and spread her legs, "scream my name."

"Nik," she gasped as he kissed down her body, sucking and nipping at her skin, Klaus's smirk was back on his face once he noticed her soaked thighs, so responsive he thought. "Do something..." she whined, not caring how needy she had become, only after being in control moments before.

He leaned in for another loving kiss before moving down her body. "Perfect." He whispered, staring up at her, whilst settling in between her legs, groaning and grumbling as he pressed soft kisses very close to where she wanted him to be.

Klaus's hands gently stroked her inner thighs, his hot breath moved over her core and had her aching for more; much to his pleasure.

"Fuck..." she moaned tossing her head back against the pillows, once his mouth sucked on her clit. His hands moved to her hips, pushing them against the bed to keep her movements steady after she started arching her back. He then reached up and cupped her breasts as his tongue moved through her soaked folds.

She shivered and felt breathless once he took his time exploring her with his tongue.

She let out a sequence of incoherent cries and whines as he continued to add to the stimulation, making her eyes roll back.

She had never felt something as great as this, now she knew what she had been missing out on.

Her body slowly began to thrash around, before her hands finally found his curls to grab onto and bring him closer, "more," she moaned, her legs shook around him as the desire she had for him almost reached its climax.

But he quickly pulled away, making her whine in annoyance, he had just drank and swallowed her like she was the last sip on earth, and now he was playing a game.

"Not yet," he tutted, shaking his head mockingly, licking his lips, revelling in her taste, "I'm going to make you feel so much more," he darkly promised.

Leading her to a sinful night, where the two stayed in their unholy chamber, far from virtuousness and even further from salvation.

└─────── •✦• ───────┘

a/n:

that last scene had me clutching my pearls.

this chapter is almost 10k words.

kol has only been in two chapters and is already being a menace. writing him has been so much fun, he has very few limitations and his lack of fear for klaus shows that he truly doesn't care.

in that kol x adrienne scene, what do you think he thinks of her? potential friendship, because elijah implied that he liked her, vica versa.

many of you said in the last chapter that you believe that he will only see her as friend, what about now?

who do you like seeing with adrienne the most?

I referenced the equilbre coven meetings a lot and i never wrote one, so I hope you enjoyed that because it is so chaotic. also, I know there are many more witches in the city, they will be mentioned and occasionally feature, but rarely.

also, I did reference chirstianity, although i am not a religious person, i don't judge who or what someone belives in. most of my witch oc's are sceptical about the stereotypes of the religion that kali belives in. sorry if that offended anyone. let me know if you want me to put a warning or change the wording of anything said.

any questions?