persephone's orchard : k.m.

the blonde influence - chapter 40

Flashback.
1794.

'Any vampire hunter that comes to my city will be struck down by my own goddamn hand, Elijah!' Astrid cursed as she stomped through the Compound, her brother in law hot on her heels.

'Astrid please! It's for your safety.'

'My best men are dying out there because of this wretched woman. Let me go.' She almost threw him off her as he landed on the sofa and Klaus came threw the door with scared eyes.

'Love please.'

She almost looked ready to punch her husband as she turned to him, storming up to him with the rage of a storm.

'We took this city as our own and now we're doing nothing to defend it! I cannot be killed, Nik! Either join me or let me go!'

Flashback Over.
Present Day.
St. James Infirmary.

Klaus had overheard the ruckus only to turn around and notice the anger on his wife's face as the same notion slowly overtook him too. He stormed over with the might of a Roman army.

'You brought a vampire hunter to our city?' He growled.

'Wait so you know who this is? Can you help me?' Stefan stood up with an awful desperation as Astrid nearly lost it, 'You ask us?! For help?! You brought a hunter to a city full to the brim with vampires and you have the goddamn nerve-!' She turned away as if to compose herself but marched around the table instead, pointing a stern finger in his face.

'That woman killed, maimed and tortured my best friends. My men. The people I care about.' Her rant got cut short when she felt a hand on her shoulder as Nik joined her side.

'Leave New Orleans. Don't you dare come back here.'

'Klaus, I'll die if I go out there!'

'Leave!'

...

'You've got some bloody friends you do.' Astrid cursed after a few more drinks. Klaus scoffed, 'He was to be trusted once. He's an old-'

'Yes. An old friend from the era just after our one.'

'Oh ho ho.. snappy are we?' He joked as he placed a hand on her thigh, 'Relax, love.'

'If I see Rayna-'

'We can take another one of her lives and call it a day. You took two already I'm sure another won't hurt.' He swung back another shot and the warmth that had overcome her thigh had calmed her instantly; as per usual.

'I did didn't I..' she mumbled into her drink with a smirk and he cheered, 'There she is!'

Phone calls were the constant interruption of the evening clearly.

Yet this time, it was a blonde vampire on the other end of the line.

Stefan Salvatore had left his phone in a fit of panic. It's sudden ring made Astrid rolled her eyes and walk over boldly until she saw who was on the other end of the line.

Caroline.

'Original hybrid speaking. I assume I have the honour of speaking to Miss Forbes.'

The blonde jumped at the sound of a feminine accent, 'Who is this?'

'You know who this is.' Astrid eyed Klaus to see if any kind of reaction appeared in his eyes. 'Astrid.' She stated.

'Ding ding ding. Two points for you.'

'Where's Stefan?' She questioned and Astrid chuckled, 'Unfortunately darling he's a little occupied right now. Why?'

Nik snatched the phone from her and the two began talking amongst themselves. She glared at her husband before accepting her defeat.

Getting quickly bored, she decided her night was over and kissed him on the cheek and sauntered out the bar, devising to be gracious and leaving the car for him to get home in.

...

It was nearing springtime in NOLA. That meant that it was still daytime at midnight, nothing ever stopped the beauty of an open bar.

Having vamped back to the Quarter, the hybrid walked idly, deciding to embrace the time she had. It was often a habit to miss what's was so beautiful about the city she called home. The city she spent so long fighting for often slipped her grasp when dealing with the drama that came along with her species.

She had contemplated over the centuries what it would be like to be simply a wolf, much to the surprise of most people. Many often agreed, including her own family, that Astrid was born to be immortal. As if that was her destined fate. Yet when she was left alone for too long she recalled how her heart beat different as a human, everything was softer.

She felt the same softness on a rare occasion. A good example being when Niklaus and her were alone. Maybe it was because of their ties as mortals or maybe it was just how his smile lit up her heart in flames.

She just knew she was grateful for him.

She also knew that she'd make sure his daughter knew that side of him, that his daughter didn't see the tyrannical king most others did.

'Hello love.' She huffed answering the phone.

'I'm coming to pick you up.'

'Can't we just go home, Nik? I'm getting bored of all this bloody drama.' She pouted and he chuckled on the other end of the line before pulling up next to her.

'The night isn't over, darling. Come on.'

...

'So after all that, we go rescue the bastard anyway?'

Astrid facepalmed as they drove through the Bayou. 'Caroline was right.' Klaus simply stated and glared at Astrid, 'Before you get all possessive..'

'Shut up.' Astrid seemed distracted anyway, looking out into the distant foliage before realising her harshness. She turned to her husband to see an amused look in his eye as she kissed his cheek and jumped out the car.

Clearly having smelt the enemy.

'I'm not here for you, Astrid!'

Rayna saw her coming.