ghost reading ain't cute

WARNING: BLOOD, SMUT, PTSD, TRAUMA, DEATH AND EMOTIONAL DISTRESS TO READERS

┌─────── •✦• ───────┐

Saturday, March 18th, 1918

ROYALTY were the closest mortals got to god.

Kings and Queens were said to derive their authority from God, not their subjects. Perhaps that's why the council was set up to begin within. Nonetheless, most of the council were supernatural entities, not mortals.

Many of them have killed and committed more crimes beyond salvation.

Therefore, they didn't put their faith in the divine right, but in themselves, regardless of the hardship that followed.

They were their own gods, devils and saints.

And maybe that's where the problem lay.

If there was no natural order within the city, what's stopping chaos to come again?

─────── •✦• ───────

Klaus Mikaelson was many things and a jealous man was one of them.

As he sat in his regular booth at the Saints, his eyes didn't tear away from his dancing witch. Adrienne bounced across the stage, alongside her flapper girls, entertaining the room and putting a smile on the soldiers' faces who hadn't felt alive in years.

Anger floated in the pools of his steel blue eyes as he attempted to block out the vile things many men mumbled or occasionally yelled about the dancing ladies. The music wasn't loud enough to ignore it. If his brothers weren't at his side, he could easily enact his revenge, but they were, so he opted for a different option.

To drink.

"Slow down, it's not gonna run away from you," Marcel snorted, then took a sip of his drink.

His words caught the attention of Kol and Elijah, who shared an amused look.

"Careful brother, haven't heard you shouldn't mix liquor with feelings," the former spoke up.

"Be quiet Kol."

"No."

"Have a little fun," Marcel paused, "it's a Saturday."

"I know what day it is," Klaus grumbled, with an eye roll.

Elijah decided not to interfere after noticing three familiar faces walk up to their table with drinks in one hand and a smile etched on their lips.

"Sister," Kol exclaimed, grinning widely, then turned to Clementine and Valerie, "pretty witches, you sure took your time."

"Being a woman takes time," Rebekah remarked and sat next to her eldest brother, not sparing a glance at Marcel, she mustn't.

Valerie and Clementine joined her, the latter sent a sly wink to Elijah, who used his glass to conceal the smirk tugging at his lips.

Scoffing, Kol leaned closer, sceptically eyeing the three women, before stating, "Slapping on lipstick should take less than an hour."

"Shut up Kol," they all replied with a glare.

Raising his hands in surrender, he muttered, "Rude."

"We're trying to be," Valerie quipped.

"Oh Valerie, how I've missed you," Kol cooed, making the witch recoil in disgust.

Huffing loudly, Klaus gained more attention. His gaze remained burning into the heads of the tourists that whistled loudly at the way Adrienne's hips swayed to the melodic beat Emerson was playing, along with Easton's assistance.

Trumpets and trombones blew throughout the room, enchanting more guests to rise to form their seats and dance with whoever they could find.

Mira and Kali giggled as their heels tapped against the ground, Melinda twirled and mimicked the teen queen's movements, before the other two joined in, drawing more attention as they dazzled the crowds.

"Calm down Nik," Rebekah's voice snapped him out of his murderous thoughts, but her teasing smirk caused him to raise a brow, "I doubt Addy would care if you wanted to join in."

The vampires around the table - apart from Kol who chuckled - stifled a laugh, whilst, the witches didn't bother to contain their giggling, which irritated the hybrid further.

"Yes, Nik," Valerie mocked before he could respond, "Perhaps she would even let you borrow a dress."

His glare hardened as the pressure of his glass cracked under his tighten grip.

"You have the legs for it," Clementine stated, calmly, earning a few laughs, despite being completely serious.

"Thank you, Clementine," Klaus spoke through gritted teeth.

"But his tail would show Clem," Valerie innocently joked, making Kol cackle, Marcel turned away to hide his growing smile and Elijah hide his face in the crook of his sister's neck.

"You know Valerie," he spat her name with venom, "your head would sit perfectly on a spike."

His threat made the majority cringe, however, Valerie was never one to back down from a battle.

She mockingly nodded, leaning on his palm as she spoke, "And your fur would be amazing a coat,"

His brother's laughter encouraged Klaus to leap across the table, but before he could Elijah tugged him back, "Enough!"

"Adrienne would hate you touched me," Valerie deviously remarked, ignoring the pointed look she received from the nobleman.

Her words quickly sobered Klaus and although his face didn't drop, his eyes shone with vulnerability, much to the LaMarche witch's pleasure as well as Kol's.

"And if Hadeon were here he would scold you," Rebekah added for good measure.

"Well Hadeon isn't here," Klaus snapped, then turned back to his empty glass.

He immediately gestured for a waiter to bring them more drinks. He was surprised that there was any left in the city. Between the returning troops, the rations from the war and other supernaturals that needed booze for their cravings, it was a mystery how they kept receiving it through the ports, it was only a matter of time before it stopped.

"Yes, where is he?" the blonde thought aloud, turning to the witches who shrugged, not finding his absence out of the ordinary.

"He's always late to his shift," Marcel commented, remembering how he was before the war started. Things never change.

"It's almost nine, he gets here at ten," Clementine informed, knowing how careless her friend could be.

"Besides, that's when the true fun starts," Valerie wiggled her brows and gestured for them to raise a glass.

Chuckling, Marcel nodded, "Ain't that right,"

Their glasses clinked as they met and partially spilt, "Cheers!"

─────── •✦• ───────

Stepping down from the stage after receiving a round of applause, Kali, Adrienne, Mira and Melinda quickly conversed with Easton and Emerson.

"I guess you're getting into the swing of things, Williams," the teen witch praised as she stared at the wolf.

Nodding with a smile, he replied, "I guess you could say that."

"I need a drink," Melinda exclaimed, letting out a tired sigh.

Mira nodded in agreement, "So do I. I can't perform again without one."

Adrienne stood still, watching in amusement as the pair wandered off, not catching Kali turning to her.

"Coming Adrienne?" she asked.

Before she could answer Kol appeared next with a mirthful glint in his eye, stunning the group. Easton and Emerson quickly return to their instruments, minding their business and pretending that the vampire wasn't near.

"Before she gets squiffy," Kol paused, grinning at the scowl on Kali's face, "She owes me a dance."

The Sinclair witch turned her nose up at the sight of the vampire and immediately followed her other friends.

Adrienne couldn't help but laugh, "I owe you a dance?" she playfully inquired as Kol stood in front of her.

The musicians began to play an energetic tune, making the vampire vigorously nod.

"Yes."

"My feet hurt Kol," she whined, "Didn't you need just see me perform?"

His eyes trailed up and down her figure; the way her crimson dress compliment her skin when she danced brought him to a trance. A succubus, in everything apart from species. Whether she knew it or not, the entire room was under her spell. The little devil.

Adrienne snapped her fingers in his face, bringing him out of his daze and plastering on a bashful smile.

Usually, she and the other girls would wear something more revealing, skimpier even, but, tonight, for Adrienne's first performance back they chose to cover up so she would be more comfortable. And it worked.

"Take a picture, it last longer."

"Don't tempt me, darling," he teased, earning an eye roll, "and to answer your previous question, your voice was truly majestic," he complimented.

His sincere tone made a smile spread across her lips, "Thank you Kol."

"Anytime Enny."

Just as Kol was about to hold out his hand to the witch, his brother appeared beside him, with two glasses, much to his displeasure.

"My brother is right," Klaus stated, rolling his eyes at the stunned looks on their faces, "a sentence I won't use often," he added and ignored the huff from Kol, "You were amazing my love," he praised and passed her a drink.

Gratefully accepting the glass she pressed on, "Even after a couple of months?"

"Especially," he reassured her with a kiss on her hand.

He knew how afraid she was about performing tonight. It had been almost three months since she had, due to the disappearance and disowning of her father. He had witnessed her hurt and sadness, something he had to pull her out of and eventually push her to be the best version of herself. There were days when she occasionally cried Erebus' name in her sleep, nevertheless, she's been doing so much better.

Adrienne's beaming smile made him return the gesture before a certain wolf caught his eye-line. He shot a glare at Easton, not forgetting the anguish he put him and marcel through, he'll never forget.

"Nik," the young queen nudged him after she and Kol followed his gaze.

"I'm fine."

Adrienne cautiously eyed him, and even as he downed his drink in one gulp, grimacing at its contents, he did not seem fine. He was far from it. She ignored Kol's snickering and took a few sips of hers. Usually, Klaus would lash out and unleash his fury on everyone and anything in his path. She was unsure of whether she preferred that or what he was doing now... keeping it all in. both were equally disturbing in her eyes.

Kol swiftly took a bottle from a passing waiter's tray after noticing her empty glass.

"Would you like me to fill you up, darling?"

His words caught the couple's attention; one was confused and the other deliberated whether or not to gently incapacitate his brother.

"What?" Adrienne spoke up first.

"Your glass?" Kol answered, pointing to her almost empty glass.

Realisation flashed across her face and she nodded, "Oh yes please."

She shot him a smile, whilst Klaus tossed around his homicidal thoughts and stare down at his glass.

Quickly placing the bottle on the side of the stage, Kol turned back to the witch, "Before my brother rudely interrupted us-" he held out his hand, "I believe you still owe me a dance." he proclaimed not taking his eyes off of her.

Adrienne slightly panicked, eyes drifting between him and a silent Klaus, "Kol-"

"Go ahead," the hybrid practically insisted, shocking the pair. His monotone voice was clearly concealing his angst, "Make it up to me later," he added, shooting his witch a tight-lipped smile.

"Sure."

Klaus didn't reply, instead, he stalked off and grabbed the bottle his brother left on the stage. Adrienne knew he wasn't acting like himself. Perhaps it was his way of proving that he trusted her, however, he appeared like he was in physical pain when he gave told her that he was fine. Odd.

Sighing dramatically, she took Kol's hand, "Let's see if you've got two left feet."

"I do not," he said, feigning offence.

He tugged on her hand and made her spin, squealing as she landed against his chest. The pair laughed and kept their movements on the beat. His hand respectfully stayed on her waist and her arm on his shoulder.

Their dancing only attracted more people to return to the floor and join in.

"So you do have rhythm?" Adrienne teased, despite her heels aching.

Furrowing his brows, he questioned, "What gave you the impression I didn't?"

He received a pointed look that told him all he needed to know.

"Understood," he murmured, making her snort.

"Where are your witches?" she wondered aloud and felt him tense slightly. Odd.

"I thought you only extended your invitation to Astrid?" he quickly deflected, which she noted, but decided to not press on the matter.

"I told her she could bring a plus one," she said, innocently shrugging, "besides, you are courting Mary-Alice."

Kol scoffed, "Please."

"Oh really, she's besotted by you," she pointed out, which made him grimace at the notion.

"And don't I know it."

All amusement fell from her face, "Nikolai."

Ignoring her disappointed tone, he pulled her closer, "That's discuss anything else."

Squinting up at him, she reluctantly nodded at his pout, "Fine."

"Good, next time you perform..." he trailed off and she raised a brow at his mischievous tone.

"Yes?"

"Make Nik perform alongside you. Dress and all."

They both giggled at the thought, it would be ridiculous and ever since half an hour ago, he couldn't get the image out of his mind, that and Adrienne's glorious legs.

"That would be the day."

Their laughter carried throughout the room and snatched the attention of the seething hybrid, who is standing near the back, with Elijah by his side.

Klaus' gaze zeroed onto Kol's hand placement, making sure it didn't move below Adrienne's waist, or his younger brother would cease to have hands. The whiskey he was nursing was not enough for his inner beast to remain contained. It would only be a matter of time before he snapped.

Elijah sighed at the sight and turned to the hybrid, "Niklaus-"

"I am fine Elijah," Klaus quickly shut him down, "I encouraged him to dance with her."

Blinking back his shock, the nobleman asked, "You did?" after receiving a stiff nod, he wondered, "And would you care to reveal your thought process behind that?"

Klaus rolled his eyes at his brother's patronising tone, "I cannot control Adrienne."

"You're only discovering that now?"

Turning to stare at the teen witch, she appeared to be glowing under the dim light of the lively room. Her allure was powerful, something Elijah nearly got lost in. nearly, but glancing at a snickering Griffith witch who sat in a booth on the other side of the room with his sister, he couldn't help but smile.

"Ha-ha," Klaus gritted out, "she will do what she wants, whenever she wants-"

"Like you," Elijah interjected and was ignored.

"-and I cannot stop her or it will only drive her away," Klaus angrily concluded.

"Correct."

"I always am," Klaus retorted and made his way over to Marcel, leaving Elijah to shake his head.

"If only you keep that mentally Niklaus, If only the Gods blessed you with that ability."

─────── •✦• ───────

"My car is in perfect shape," Hadeon announced after gracing everyone with his presence at ten on the dot.

Say what you want about the oldest Lumière sibling, if he was going to be late, at least he did it with consistency.

"Sure," Adrienne laughed, sitting on Klaus' lap.

The couple sat opposite Hadeon and Marcel, away from their usual table, since they wanted to be further from the limelight for a change.

Turning to the side, Marcel remarked, "You drove here drunk."

Hadeon shrugged, "And?" he said, making them laugh in disbelief, "Don't act like you haven't crashed your car Adri."

"I have not," she weakly responded, earning some questioning looks.

Klaus' laughter caught their attention, "I had to retrieve it from an auto shop" he informed, making Marcel and Hadeon double over in their seats.

Adrienne slapped his chest and turned to him with a glare, "That was your fault."

"Partially," he added, holding his hands up in surrender.

She pouted and turned back around, giggling when pulled her against his chest and pressed a kiss to her neck.

"No, I'm mad at you," she whined.

"No, you're not," he whispered, teeth grazing her ear, sending a chill down her spine and to her core.

He grinned when she shifted on his lap, but his words got caught in his throat when she moved further back and onto his crotch.

"Oops," she mocked, turning slightly to bop his nose.

He tossed back his head in irritation, staring up at the ceiling, aiming to think about anything else to control his lust.

Staring between the couple in disgust, Marcel gagged on his drink. "Damn, and I thought you raised me to have decorum, Klaus."

The hybrid rolled his eyes, "Oh, shut it, Marcellus."

Hadeon hadn't been paying attention to the interaction opposite him, already partially intoxicated by the hooch he consumed before he arrived.

But after feeling a pair of hands on his shoulder, his head snapped to the side.

"Hadeon I don't know how you do it," Kol chuckled, with his erratic eyes darting between each puzzled face.

Hadeon asked, "Do what?"

"Your whore and lover are having a civilised conversation," Kol pointed between Melinda and Mira, who stood on the other side of the room, alongside Kali, gossiping with each other. "Call me impressed."

"Christ, Kol!" Marcel hissed at him, whilst the Lumiere's glared at the vampire.

Adrienne was the first to speak, "Do  you get off on calling women whores Kol?"

Her sharp tone made him gulp, much to his brother's amusement. Klaus felt her demeanour change in an instant.

"No-"

She cut him off, "First me, then Mary-Alice and now Melinda?"

Her listing caused the whole table to freeze, even the standing original cringed and silently cursed himself.

"You called her a whore?" Hadeon was the first to voice his disdain, pushing the vampire's hands off of his shoulders.

"Bloody hell," Kol mumbled and took a step back.

"Kol."

Klaus' calm facade faded as he picked his witch off of his lap and placed her next to him.

Anger coursed through his viens, and his eyes didn't tear away from his brother's, "What does Adrienne mean Nikolai?"  he questioned, tone laced with fury.

"Brother, it was months ago," Kol weakly explained.

Adrienne rose from her chair, "Get up, let's go upstairs," she suggested, facing the hybrid, but he shrugged her off.

Marcel just sat back, watching the scene unfold, with a drink in hand and his fingers twirling his daylight ring around.

"What does she mean Kol?" Klaus repeated but Hadeon didn't care about the answer, instead, his eyes flickered black.

Kol let out a grunt as his blood vessels burnt and melted, causing blood to seep through his eyes and blood to pour through his lips.

Ignoring Marcel's laughter, Adrienne tugged Klaus off his chair, keeping a strong grip on his hand as he sadistically smiled at his brother sinking to the floor.

"I need to show you something upstairs," she told him, sending a smile towards her brother, who kept torturing the original.

"This isn't over," Klaus snarled at his brother and sent a kick to his groin, then pulled Adrienne away.

The scene caught a lot of attention, "Nothing to see here folks, just a family feud," Marcel announced, causing the onlookers to turn away.

He motioned the band to play louder, which they did, drowning out the sounds of torture.

"Gods," Kol screeched, clutching his crotch and clawing at his eyes.

"Use protection oh daddy dearest!" Marcel called out, knowing exactly what Adrienne needed to show his sire. He earned a glare from Klaus, which only amused him more. Turning back to a screaming vampire, he leaned over to Hadeon and whispered, "Can you do this every day?"

"Shut up Marcellus," Kol groaned.

"No."

─────── •✦• ───────

"You're angry." She observed, clearly bored as  Klaus pace back and forth.

He was in the second minute of his nervous breakdown and frankly, it was growing tiresome.

It was bad enough that Adrienne and Kol spent time together, increasingly so, doing god knows what. His employees told him whatever they discovered but it wasn't enough for him. He didn't care that they were trying to get Kol's magic back, the world would be better off without it. Their budding friendship fuelled anger inside him and now to hear that Kol had slated the love of his life, was enough to make that anger boil over.

"Obviously," He scoffed, "I would like to reach down his throat and rip his heart out until the last sound he hears is the deafening sound of his heartbeat."

She rolled her eyes, despite being aroused by the poetic threats that poured from his tongue. 

Adrienne approached him, "Calm down."

Her words made his eyes bulge out of his head and still his movements.

"I will not calm down," he raged, "Why didn't you tell me what he said to you?"

Klaus' hurt tone, made her eyes soften. She kept so many things from him and he was never one to find out first.

"He said it when we didn't know each other," she mumbled.

Klaus scoffed, "That doesn't mean he should berate women, especially not you"

"Oh like you haven't called Melinda a trollop," she accused him, staring at him expectantly.

He stammered, "I-I-"

"Haven't? Sure," she bitterly laughed.

"Your efforts to change the subject are cute love. We are not speaking about Melinda. We were talking about you," he stated firmly.

Adrienne uncomfortably shifted at his impenetrable gaze. It pulled her back to her school days, not like there were many of them, due to her gender and race. she always hated to be scolded.

"You don't tell me anything," he frustratedly expressed, throwing his eyes up in the air.

"I tell you most things," she argued, but her eyes didn't meet his.

"That's not the same."

Gulping, she dared to ask,  "What do you want me to do?"

"Open up."

Those two words drove her to curl her fingers into a fist and look elsewhere. Speaking her truth, or whatever version she filtered, had always been hard. Her words were often used against her, twisted or misquoted. Although she trusted Klaus with her life, she held onto the fear he would do the same, hurt her with her own thoughts and feelings.

After a few minutes, she breathed out, "Okay,"

Slowly blinking at her, Klaus asked, "What?"

"I said okay," she restated.

"Is this a trick?" Klaus thought aloud, looking around the room.

"No. You're right, you've trusted me with things you wouldn't dare to say to anyone else. I should return the favour right." she explained, yet, he continued to seem unsure, "What?"

"You agreeing with me," he said, with faux scepticism.

She huffed out a laugh, "Shut up."

"Regardless of the progress we're experiencing, there's an original downstairs that shares my blood that still needs to be punished."

She tugged on his arm before he could walk toward the door, "No."

"And why not?"

She slowly shook his head, "Because I brought you upstairs to calm you down," and I don't want you to make a bigger scene downstairs.

He huffed, "I-"

"Let me defuse the tension in your body," he watched as she untucked his overshirt and tugged on his belt.

"Sex won't calm me," he huffed out a lie. They both knew it usually did.

"Who said anything about sex?" She pouted and tugged his trousers down, then his boxers, revealing his semi-hardened state, "talk to me."

His eyes were trained on her hands, He tried to respond but couldn't. Instead watching how she glided her hands, building the pressure, using her thumb to tease his tip, picking up the drops of precum as she stared at him with an innocent expression.

"So much tension Nik," his breath hitched when she stroked him, painfully slow, making him suppress a whine.

Each time Adrienne saw Klaus nude, she was still in shock at how big he truly was. It was a miracle she hadn't been split in half.

There were times when she had broken her back and he had to heal her until he would go at her again.

"So much tension," he muttered absentmindedly, attempting to focus but couldn't, "it's not helping." He quickly denied it, but his fluttering eyes gave him away.

"Really?"

She sucked on her thumb which glistened with his arousal. With her eyes trained on his, a moan left her lips, and his eyes rolled backwards.

"No," he gritted out, failing to keep his composure as couldn't get the image out of his mind.

He would paint it on a canvas if he could think straight.

Adrienne mockingly tilted her head to the side, "what will?"

"On your knees," he ordered, her brow arched as she looked at him expectantly, "now." She sunk to the floor, licking her lips as she continued to stroke him.

"What do you want me to do?" Her mouth was only inches away from where he needed it to be.

His stomach tightened when her breath kissed his length and he groaned when pressed a kiss to his tip, "Don't tease me."

"Then tell me what to do."

"Put those lips to better use."

She moaned at his words and took him into her mouth. Hollowing out her cheeks until he hit the back of her throat. Klaus threw his head back as breathy moans escaped his lips.

She pulled back and let her tongue run over the veins before taking him in again, sucking as deep as she could.

He tasted incredible.

"That's it, sweetheart, don't stop."

The praise only fueled her movements. Wet sounds echoed through the room, she slurped up the remnants of the saliva that dropped between her mouth and hands and dribbled it onto him.

"So pretty when your mouth is so full," he mumbled, watching with hooded eyes, "good girl."

Her eyes didn't waver from his as she began to rub his balls causing him to moan loudly; a sound she loved to hear.

She sped up her movements, resulting in his shaft hitting the back of her throat, making her choke.

He expected her to gasp for air but she kept going. He was close to reaching his high and seeing the way her eyes started to water only made it crazier.

She looked up at Klaus, to see him already staring down at her, so she kept sucking, bobbing her head drawing more moans from his lips that were hidden behind his fist.

He brought his other hand to caress her cheek, while he bit on his bottom lip, feeling himself twitch in her mouth.

"I'm close, d-don't-" A knot formed in his stomach.

She abruptly pulled away from him, wiping her mouth and stared up at him with a smirk.  He groaned at the feeling of his high pulling away from him.

"You're the devil"

"Don't worry honey, I'll get rid of that tension," she rose on her feet and sauntered over to the petite sofa.

Klaus had been the one to pay for all the renovations as a late birthday present or so he said.

She pulled up her dress and pulled down her undergarments, letting them fall to the ground as he stalked over. She spread her legs and bit down on her lip when he loosened his tie.

"Fuck me."

─────── •✦• ───────

From downstairs, Rebekah approached her brother with an amused expression, Kol's face was bloodied, and the bruises had healed only slowly due because Hadeon made sure to slow down the healing process.

The pair sat in the corner of the room, away from more prying eyes.

"Only a matter of time before you put your foot in it," she remarked and wiped away some of the blood that stained his hairline.

He groaned, "I don't need you tapping in my ear Bekah."

"serves you right," she continued, "demeaning women only cause more pain for the man who chooses to open their idiotic gob."

"Alright." he shrugged her off and simultaneously pulled the damp napkin from her hand, "I'm surprised Elijah hasn't told me off."

"He's too busy calming down Deon," she informed, nodding to pair on the other side of the room.

Elijah reluctantly presented the witch with a drink, non-alcoholic - surprisingly he could find one in this establishment - the original didn't want hadeon to go off the rails and potentially cause him to any of his customers.

"Good," Kol muttered.

Raising a brow at his response, Rebekah inquired, "Why, are you scared of someone who is a hundredth your age?"

Turning to her with a blank look, Kol replied, "With the power he possesses, it would be wise for me to be cautious."

"So is that a yes?"

"Bugger off."

"Besides, you should be grateful that my favourite Wicca didn't hurt you, "Rebekah added with a wild glint in her eye.

Confusion furrowed Kol's brows, "Enny doesn't get angry."

He's heard of her many crimes against her own species, (killing in the name of treason). Witnesses her massacring witch hunters and her speaking ill of wolves, humans and vampires. However, he's never seen her rage, whatever she keeps hidden deep within.

Rebekah let out a giggle, making her brother reel back.

"Oh she does, but it's rare," she stated, not missing the way uncomfortably shifted in his chair.

Sitting in silence, the blonde vampire continued to wipe away the blood from his face, occasionally poking him in the eye, earning scowls and grunts.

The siblings were suddenly approached by a familiar face. 

Rolling her shoulders back, Mira stood in front of them. Her face didn't convey any fright, only mild annoyance, yet she still presented Kol with all the rags she could find in the building.

He tentatively took them.

"I may not like you at the moment because you upset my partner and friend, but here," she said calmly, giving Rebekah a small smile, then turned around and strolled away, to rejoin Clementine and Valerie.

"That girl is too nice for her own good," Kol noted, feeling a sense of contentment by the human's kindness.

Rebekah hummed in agreement, "That she is."

─────── •✦• ───────

"You've already worn me out tonight handsome."

"Ah, it won't hurt to do it again," he whispered, and he sank his teeth into her skin.

He was still hard from the last round, his soft skin thrumming with his heavy pulse, and she shifted her legs to straddle his hard thigh for just a moment before she sank herself onto him.

The shock that rocked through her stomach and core was enough to make her gasp and
squirm. She wrapped her arms around Klaus' neck and pressed her forehead to his shoulder.

"fuck," she whispered as his rough hands went under her dress to grasp her soft hips. Gasping when his cold rings grazed her skin.

He hissed in her ear and gently nibbled at her earlobe, where her earring dangled nicely.

Klaus couldn't help but spoil his girl, whether it was with new dresses or jewellery or trips to the cinema.

He nudged the tip of his nose against the pearl that hung from her ear. He couldn't even remember when or where he gave her those earrings, but they looked beautiful on her.

"Nik," she continued to moan incoherently, carding her fingers through his dirty blonde locks.

"You're being so good for me," Her hips jolted forward at his quiet praise, and they both gave little noises of pleasure.

She watched as his lashes fluttered as she continued to ground against him.

Feeling bold, her hands edged from his shoulders towards his neck, causing his eyes to shoot open and darkened when she tightened her grip emitting a throaty groan from him.

Adrienne lazily smirked and he dug his blunt fingernails into her skin as he hooked his hips upwards into her.

Each time she performed for him, she got better, sexier, even. He was always hungry and she was like a feast for him to devour.

In his eyes, there was nothing sexier than a woman who knew what they wanted and took control. 

Klaus's grunts grew, so she swiftly covered his mouth with her palm and touched her finger to her lips, and whispered, "everyone's downstairs... Don't want them hearing us, do we, Mr Hyde?"

Removing her hand, he shook his head, giving a sly, foxy smile before scrunching his nose and thrusting up into her again.

Luckily the loud music that played throughout the club blocked out...some of the noises that escaped from their mouths.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath through her nose, and she moved with her lover as he fucked her as hard as she could manage. 

The sofa underneath him creaked every so often with his movements, and the sound of his skin hitting hers was dulled by her skirt covering the whole affair.

─────── •✦• ───────

"Where are you going Kal? the nights barely s-started?" Clementine drunkenly slurred, seeing her fellow witch rise from her chair.

Elijah had an arm wrapped around her for support, worried she would fall or hurt herself. He ignored the teasing from his youngest brother, who believed he had ulterior motives, even if he did.

Kali shrugged and hastily picked up her bag and coat, "I'm beat, you try dancing and singing at the same time," she sassed.

Valerie caught her eyes dart from the clock and the door a few times, Hadeon did too, but the latter waved it off. Whenever he consumed copious amounts of booze his vision usually played tricks on him.

"I'll catch you later," the Sinclair witch waved them goodbye and practically lunged for the door.

"Good riddance," Valerie mumbled, earning a chuckle from Kol.

The vampire followed her gaze. The round clock hanging by the bar read thirty minutes past ten. Nothing suspicious in his eyes, yet, judging from Valerie's alertness despite having one too many drinks, he was curious.

But before he could ask, the gentle shaking of the ceiling above them made him tense. He turned his head sideways so he could hear clearly.

Clementine noticed his sour expression and clumsily leaned over the nobleman, who kept holding her up.

"What's got you in a p-pickle?" she wondered aloud, staring at the vampire, subsequently gaining everyone's attention.

He didn't reply, just continued to look up at the ceiling and they all caught on to what he was hearing, mainly Elijah as he had been blocking out the moaning for the past thirty minutes.

Valerie cackled, "does a woman's pleasure turn you off Kol?"

The men at the table groaned, especially Hadeon.

"Shut up Val," he snapped halfheartedly and tossed an olive at her face.

But she kept laughing along with Clementine. Kol had enough and abruptly stood from his chair and stormed through the crowds, roughly pushing people out of the way and finally made his way outside, making sure the front door slammed shut.

Many people recovered from his angst and went back to dancing or conversing with friends.

"Men and their egos," Valerie drawled, dragging her eyes between the two who sat opposite her.

"Thank you, Valerie," Elijah responded rather sarcastically.

"You're welcome nobleman," she said in a mocking tone, then turned to Hadeon who seemed vexed, "I don't know why you're so mad, we've all heard the shit you do to Mira."

"Not the same," he hissed.

"Your hypocrisy is showing Hadeon," Elijah challenged, glancing at the irritated Lumiere, before turning back to the Griffith witch, who grinned up at him, unaware of the effects her toothy smile had on his heart.

"And we'll soon hear about Elijah and Clem...." Valerie blurted out, halting everyone's movements. Her eyes widened and apologetically looked at her best friend, "Was I not so supposed to say that?"

"Valerie!" Clementine screeched.

Suddenly the two witches were on their feet, drunkenly running in their heels.

The sight put a smile on Hadeon's face as he turned to the flustered nobleman, "So how is she?"

Rolling his eyes, Elijah clenched his jaw, "Hadeon..."

The witch quickly raised his hands in the air, "Sorry."

─────── •✦• ───────

After breaking up the little squabble between Clementine and Valerie with Elijah's aid, Hadeon needed a cigarette or a cigar, either one.

He only started smoking more since his father left. The stress that had on him didn't physically show, but his eyes told more than he ever did.

Taking a drag, smoke escape from his lips and flowed into his nose.

He sat far from the crowds. Most of his friends were either dancing or drinking. He kept an eye on Mira as she talked to Emerson and Easton as they tuned their instruments again.

Even though they'd been together for over five months, it felt like it had only been five seconds. He was floating on a cloud whenever he was near her.

"Deon I need your help."

He stubbed out the end of his cigarette and turned to a desperate Melinda.

"With?" he asked, letting his eyes wander up and down her form.

A blush kissed her cheeks before she gestured to her dress and turned around, "My dress, a button came undone."

He chuckle as he stood up, towering over her, making her shiver at their closeness, even tensing when his fingers trailed over her arms, then landed on her lower back, where a button conveniently popped out of place.

Hadeon smirked at her breathy breathing. He could hear the effect he had over the dainty witch because of the chilled music that played in the background.

"Such a pretty dress," he muttered against her her neck.

"It is," she mustered up a response.

"I bought you this number, right?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

"A year ago, yes."

Pushing the button back through the loop, his hands couldn't help but linger on her lower back.

He neglected to see a pair of blue eyes narrowing at the sight, belonging to the youngest original who pursed her lips and scoffed at what she was hearing.

She always knew that Hadeon was a man-whore, but she thought he could've at least kept it in his pants. They, of course, flirted over the years, but it was harmless, well to him at least.

Mira was a good friend of hers and she wasn't going to let him get away with his debaucherous act.

"All done," Hadeon cleared his throat and took a step back, keeping his heated gaze as she turned around.

"Thank you," Melinda gulped, "my hero."

He licked his lips and sat down, motioning her to do the same thing. She did a bit too eagerly.

Melinda took the time to look over his lean physique, increasingly growing more flustered as her eyes darted between his unbuttoned top button, widened legs and veiny hands. The same hands that played and touched every part of her body, less than a year ago.

"Keep looking at me like that and my buttons will pop," he voiced darkly, with his teasing smirk.

"Maybe that's what I that," she retorted boldly.

"Oh really?"

The pair broke out into a fit of laughter, although there may have been a slight hint of truth to her words.

"Relax gorgeous, you know I'm spoken for."

Melinda stiffly nodded, moving her gaze to her lap, "I know and she's wonderful."

"Isn't she?"

"You love her don't you?" Her words made his eyes widen, "you have told her, right?"

"Not yet," he murmured.

"Oh let me guess it's because you still love me?" she bit back a giggle.

Feigning sincerity, "Yes. I love you."

Just as she went to respond, all life drained from her face, making him turn to follow his gaze.

"You cheat!"

Suddenly, Hadeon's face was doused in chardonnay, shocking those that stood around him.

Despite her powers, Melinda grew scared of the angry Mira, whose eyes pooled with unshed tears.

Groaning as he wiped his eyes and received a napkin from the younger witch, Hadoen turned to his lover and attempted to reach out for her, but she swivelled on her heels.

"Mira!" he yelled as she stormed away, "Fuck."

─────── •✦• ───────

On the floor, Klaus rolled off Adrienne and sat up, still recovering from their third high of the night. The witch panted and gestured for him to pass her stockings and shoes that surrounded them.

Most of their clothing was scattered over the office, the aroma was thick and sensual, suffocating to whoever could walk through.

Picking up his ruffled shirt from the ground and the rest of their belongings he turned to her with a cocky smirk, much to her displeasure.

She scoffed, "Oh get over it."

"I don't think I can sweetheart, all it took was my eyes flashing gold and you came on the spot."

He chuckled as soon when she smacked his chest.

He tended to tease her about the various ways he's brought her to such euphoric heights and most recently he discovered that his hybrid face emitted a high pitch scream from her lips and caused her legs to shake with vigour and neediness.

"Shut up. May I remind you how much you liked to be choked by yours truly?"

Klaus shrugged in response, "That's nothing to be ashamed of."

She cracked a smile as they continued to fix their attire, or at least try to. Her lipstick was smudged, so he passed her a spare handkerchief. His previous one had to be burnt, after being used to clean the mess dripping from her thighs. He wanted to keep it and nearly did until she voiced her annoyance.

"Really?" he stressed, staring at his overshirt that had small rips going through it.

"Aren't you proud of me?"

He quickly sped toward her, making her squeal when he placed her on top of the desk and stood between her legs. He jokily pretended to bite her neck, drawing a laugh from her lips.

Over the next couple of minutes they put on the rest of their clothes, all that was left was his tie.

Klaus didn't take his eyes off her for a second as she pulled the fabric around his torn collar.

He got lost in her and didn't want to be found. His gaze danced over her perfectly imperfect features, mocha-coloured skin and how her nose scrunched up when she was concentrating.

Her beauty transcended the standards of today. He knew no one could hold a candle to his Adrienne.

"Beloved." Her voice caught his attention, and he nodded in acknowledgement, "Are you really okay?" she asked with concern, "You've been saying your fine all day."

"Yes," he lied after she finished doing his tie.

She rolled her eyes, "Niklaus Jonas Mikaelson."

"Alright," he cursed, regretting that he ever told her his name, "I was not fine, I was practically seething all day, luckily no one noticed."

Her mouth fell agape, "Everyone noticed."

"Unfortunately, you can see through the mask I wore today," he expressed irritably.

"Everyone did," her words went ignored again.

"I was jealous."

She nodded, "Evidently."

Breathing through his nose, he stressed, "It was tiring parading around like some commoner."

"Your suit is made from the finest silk I've ever seen," she stated.

"I don't like seeing people put their hands over you," he groaned running his hands over his face, "I know I can't control who you converse with or befriend," he added, "It's an issue of mine that I must deal with alone."

"How weirdly mature of you."

"I trust you, Adrienne," his tone dripped with sincerity and it made her smile.

"And I trust you," her words caused him to wrap his arms around her waist and hers around his neck, "I'm not expecting you to be okay with everything I do, that would be trying to find a needle in a height stack."

"Or Elijah without a suit," he quipped, amusing them greatly. They were all convinced the original slept in one.

"Or Elijah without a suit," she repeated, "Just have faith in me and our relationship."

He sheepishly smiled, "I do."

"Don't conceal your emotions. It makes you look like a constipated cat."

"I'm surprised you didn't say dog."

Her eyes gleamed with mirth, "I will next time."

He groaned, "Great."

She cupped his face, "Look at us, me opening up and you being slightly less homicidal."

"Hooray," he joked, despite himself.

"Aww, baby," she cooed and he instantly frowned.

"Don't."

His hatred for that pet name would never fade, being compared to a child irked him and she knew that.

"I love you," she mumbled against his lips.

"And I love you sweetheart."

Their kiss was deep and passionate, perhaps because of the honesty that enveloped them and tied around their every word like a bow or maybe it was just because their love was grand and true.

Neither wanted to escape from the bubble encircling them. It was too soon, they only wished to stay consumed for years, away from the judgment, snide comments and the laws that prohibited them from holding hands without a marriage certificate.

Hybrid and Witch. King and Queen, but not everyone saw their titles, no, many saw that her skin was several shades darker than his and decided the relationship was an abomination and would forever be doomed.

Ghastly, right? Well, the couple hoped that wasn't the case.

As the night crept closer to eleven a loud bang pulled them apart, followed by screaming and shrieking from downstairs.

Klaus glanced down at Adrienne, with protective eyes, "Stay close to me."

─────── •✦• ───────

Klaus carefully pushed open the back door, with his hand interlocked with Adrienne's as they walked gazing upon the chaos in front of them.

The guests stood aside in silence, revealing the flipped tables, broken glass and Marcel consoling a sobbing Easton.

"You're not in the trenches anymore Easton," the vampire calmed him, ignoring the eyes that were on them, "you're home."

"The banging. I can't get it out of my head," the wolf cried out, hitting his head, causing many people to look away as the sight was too heartbreaking.

Marcel tried to force him to stop, but he couldn't, the man had been broken down far too many times, and sometimes music couldn't soothe him. All it took was one bottle smashing against the ground for the harsh banging to resume in his head.

Emerson carefully walked towards the pair, locking eyes with the vampire, then motioning him to help up their friend.

"Let's get you out of here man," he whispered, "let's get you home."

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry," Easton sobbed.

The trio left the establishment, leaving shocked and wary faces.

Klaus immediately gestured to the barkeeper and a few waiters to clean up the mess, whilst Valerie started up the gramophone, placing down a record that played a soft tune.

A few people left, however, those that stayed sobered up and didn't bother to dance, only to sit down and converse about anything and everything to distract themselves from what they witnessed.

Adrienne was grateful that her brother never enlisted because she knew that the chance of him returning was low. They tended to place most black men in the trenches, surrounded by mud and doused in the blood of their friends.

"Love?" Klaus returned to her, finding her in the exact place where he left her minutes before.

Her vacant eyes and shaking hands made his eyes soften.

"We can leave if you like," he proposed, but she shook her head and held his hand.

"I want to stay," she said, blinking back her shock.

Klaus nodded and pulled her towards the table where her sister sat and adored the same stunned expression.

"Free drinks until quarter to eleven," Hadeon announced loudly, gaining smiles and a few cheers from customers.

He sat down near his sister, feeling guilty about the incident Mira witnessed, he knew he would have to return home soon, however, he didn't know if she would still be there, not that he would blame her. He just wanted her to know that the words she heard were not the truth.

He felt someone sit down in the chair next to him, but he couldn't muster up the energy to turn to see who it was.

"What's with all the sad faces?" Kol asked, looking around, wondering why everyone looks miserable.

"Ah, you decided to return," Hadeon mused, confusing the others.

Adrienne faced the vampire, "You left, when?"

"Around the same time Mira," Rebekah interjected, eyeing the oldest Lumière, "isn't that right Deon?"

He didn't answer, instead just stared at his drink instead.

"And why did Mira leave?"

"Ask your brother."

"Deon?" Adrienne pressed on but didn't receive an answer, which irritated her further.

"Well, this night has gone bust," Kol quipped, as the other Équilbre witches came over with Elijah. He didn't pay them any attention, instead, his eyes drifted to his half-brother, more specifically the lipstick stains that decorated his neck.

Klaus felt his gaze and grinned, subtly pulling Adrienne closer to him.

Just as he was about to speak, Valerie beat him to it, "Something is wrong." All eyes were on her, "I have a bad feeling."

"I thought it was just the booze but something is wrong," Adrienne exclaimed, nervously bouncing her leg.

Her words inspired fear around the table.

Clementine shared a look with the witches, before Kol muttered, "Bloody hell."

─────── •✦• ───────

Minutes passed, but to hadeon, it felt like an eternity, waiting and dreading what was to come.

He abruptly stood up, and picked up his overcoat,

Adrienne stared up at him, "Deon where are you going?"

"To check to see if I still have a relationship," he muttered, ignoring the glare from Rebekah.

"About time," Adrienne teased, earning a huff from her brother.

"Shut up."

"I'll come, I need some fresh air," Marcel said, standing up.

After returning from dropping Easton home, he wasn't in the partying mood anymore.

Klaus shot his adoptive son a concerned look, that Marcel waved off and went to join Hadeon.

The witches yelled as they watched them walk away, "Stay safe!"

The pair replied, "We will."

─────── •✦• ───────

The moment the hands of the clock touched twelve, the Saints was almost vacant.

Due to the curfew the council strongly put back into place, the guests left the Saints less than ten minutes ago. Despite the axe murderer not committing any more murders for almost two weeks, no one was taking any chances.

Adrienne waved goodbye to her employees who exited the building, then turned to rejoin her witches and the Mikaelsons. Klaus pressed a kiss to her cheek as she sat down on his lap.

They were all on edge, tense, and a bad sensation swarmed the air and worsened the dread they already felt.

"Niklaus, would you please fix your attire," Elijah hissed at his brother.

Klaus chuckled and purposefully loosened his top button, "Oh does it bother you?"

"Yes, it bothers me."

Kol groaned, "Both of you hush up."

Klaus scoffed, "No."

The bothers bickering amused the group.

A knock at the door caught their attention.

The witches rolled their eyes at the vampire they all recognised to belong to Klaus' sire line.

"One of your sycophants is here," Adrienne drawled, earning a pinch on the arm.

Waving her hand, the teen witch unlocked the door, allowing the vampire to walk through.

They jumped out of their chairs when they noticed the vampire's eyes were vacant and filled to the brim with ivory and a mouth that was sewn shut. The vampire didn't seem to mind at all, walking through as tranquil as ever.

"His eyes," Rebekah whispered, as they watched the vampire approach with a box in hand.

No blood seeped through, but its stench was potent. Almost as strong as the feeling pooling in the depths of the witch's stomach.

"He's a puppet," Adrienne muttered, gripping Klaus' hand when the box was set on the table.

Elijah sped behind the vampire, eyeing his appearance, grimacing at the thread that thicken each time he tried to move his lips.

"For god's sake," Kol groaned, speeding over and pulling out the vampire's heart, then tossing it across the room. He rolled his eyes at the looks he received, "what?"

"Well thank you, Kol, good job," Klaus said, tone dripping of sarcasm.

"The pore sod needed to be put out of its misery."

On top of the box, Adrienne noticed a note with her initials attached.

Just as soon as she reached for it, her hand was slapped away by Klaus.

They all turned to him, "What if the bastard hexed it?" he asked, in an obvious tone.

"Hexes don't affect Lumières," Adrienne and Kol explained, the latter smirking at his brother's irked expression.

"Oh," the hybrid awkwardly said, before glancing at Adrienne, "Apologies."

"Genius," Valerie muttered, receiving a glare from him, but it went ignored as she chose to pick up the note and read it aloud.

Adrienne, the Negress Queen. Your ascend to the throne was a lie, dishonest and untrue. You should've never become queen, it's an insult to the city that they allowed you to rule for so long. So I had to take matters into my own hands, awaken a beast that fuels more nightmares than your bastard King.

Surrender your crown, no more heads will roll, not even yours, despite how much I lust for It. You're a stubborn bitch and a treacherous whore, so for incentive, I will gift you a head. Open the box and you'll see an old friend, you'll see more if your reign doesn't end.

Kind regards,

A.M.

Sobs racked the witches as they gazed into the box, Rebakah wept, falling into the arms of her oldest brother, who sighed at turned away. Kol gulped and Klaus snapped his eyes shut, regretting even opening them.

There lay Mira's head, her doe eyes frozen with fear and lips parted in shock.

And on either side, sat a bloody ring, and who did they belong to?

Marcel and Hadeon.

└─────── •✦• ───────┘

a/n:

don't be mad at me, mira wasn't supposed to last as long as did. nevertheless, rip mira.

sorry about the distress, but i did warn you. many random things were happening in this chapter, a lot of foreshadowing, whether it was obvious or not.

i made the time in this chapter a very big deal. the chapter took place between three hours. many people left and so few returned. hadeon and marcel have been kidnapped, my guys.

also, for those who are confused about how hexes don't affect lumières, it's because of the dark magic flowing through their veins. they were born with dark magic which is why the ancestors very rarely affect them.

i also needed to include the experience of the soldiers who returned from the war. they were not the same. they touched on it briefly in the originals and even in tvd (but i found that damon centred episode boring because i believe that ian can't deliver anything serious in my opinion). since marcel went to war for 4 years, there was no way he would be completely the same, vampire or not. and since easton isn't immortal, he may be a wolf, however, that did not mean he was privy to ptsd.

any clue on what's gonna happen next?