Rosalie needed to wind down after the hybrid disappeared. She started roaming the hotel hallways trying to find her way to the hotel's own restaurant. She had always been a stress eater and she was stressed right now. She felt heavily out of place as she sat down in the fancy restaurant dressed in an old shirt and sweatpants. She should've changed, but the only fancy attire she had was the green dress. And she would sooner go naked than wear that again. The waiters eyed her, but she easily told them their room number and was granted access to the full menu. Rosalie didn't even feel bad, Niklaus probably wouldn't even pay the bill. He'd just compel the receptionist and most likely get him fired. Because that's what Niklaus Mikaelson did. He ruined lives, sometimes just for his own amusement.
After dinner she strolled through the hotel grounds. She finally found the pool area. Big stones covered the rounded edges of the pool. The green plants built a stark contrast to the crystal blue water of the pool. There was even a little waterfall swooshing from an elevated pool. Rosalie stepped on the bridge, that went over the pool, amazed by her surroundings. The blonde sighed, she didn't even bring a bikini. There was this amazing pool, but she couldn't even take a swim. Of course she could get one from the gift shop, but she didn't want to overstep her welcome with Niklaus. He was already furious with her. And she didn't want this to feel like a vacation. Buying silly little bikinis at the gift shop and taking a swim in the moonlight.
So instead she headed back to their room and drew herself a bath in the big jacuzzi looking bathtub. She grabbed her phone and checked for new messages. Christine and Amber still messaged her a ton, but she couldn't bring herself to reply a lot. It just pained too much seeing her old life so clearly in front of her. Also it brought up old memories of Dana, which Rosalie tried so hard not to think of. She opened her music app and looked for something that always helped her when she was feeling down. She set the phone next to the bathtub and soon enough Taylor Swift's voice was singing to her. She closed her eyes and just relaxed.
She must have been like that for a while, because at first she didn't even notice the sound of the keycard opening the door. A muffled noise and faded voices finally pulled her out of her thoughts. She stepped out the water and wrapped a towel around her still wet hair. Quickly she pulled her sweatpants and shirt over her body and peaked out of the door.
Just like she thought, Niklaus had returned, but he wasn't alone. Rosalie stepped out of the bathroom awkwardly, not sure how she should behave. Niklaus' face was stained dark red and even his white shirt was splashed with his dinner. The woman had dark blonde hair, much darker than Rosalie's. She stood with her back towards Rosalie, facing Niklaus. Rosalie watched as he caressed her cheek.
"It'll be such a shame to kill you, sweetheart. But let's have some fun first." He pulled her towards him, when his eyes darted up and met Rosalie's. He smirked at her, his teeth coloured with the blood of his victims. "Do you care to join us, love?"
The woman turned around and looked surprised at Rosalie. "Who is she?"
"No thanks." Rosalie muttered and she sped to the door as Niklaus pulled his conquest to the big bed. In the hallway she lent against the wall, pulling the roots of her hair. This woman was going to die. But based on the moans, that were coming from inside the room, she was still having a good time right now. Rosalie felt sick. How could he do something like that?
But she knew the answer. She had known all along, but she was always trying to convince herself that he wasn't as bad. That he wasn't a killer.
It took a while to calm herself, but eventually she realised that she couldn't stand in this hallway anymore listening to the repulsive sounds coming from within. Rosalie knew what she needed right now. So she headed to the gift shop and bought herself a bikini, that was charged to the room.
As soon as her body hit the water it felt much better. The moonlight glistened on the surface and even though the autumn air was chilly, the water was warm. She swam one lap around the big luxurious pool, then another and another. Eventually she could feel her body tire, her mind slowly starting to ease. She yawned, but she couldn't possibly go back to her room. She couldn't swim the whole night either, but for the moment it was comfortable and so war. Rosalie laid on her back and just floated around the pool on her back for a while, watching the stars on the clear sky. Her eyelids were getting heavier, she had to go out eventually. But maybe she could stay another while.
"Are you trying to drown yourself out of jealousy now?" A voice pulled her out of her thoughts. Startled she lost her center of gravity and went under the water, trying to get her feet to the ground. Coughing up pool water, she came to the surface. She could hear his laughter before she could see him, the chlorine water burning in her eyes. "Are you gonna come out of there or do I have to come get you?"
"What are you doing here?" She glared at the hybrid standing on the poolside looking smug.
"I've come to get you. Leisure time is over, time to go to bed. Though you might want to wash off all that chlorine before." Rosalie swam to the pool ladder. "Did you have a nice swim?"
"Matter of fact, I did. Thanks for the bikini by the way." She grimaced at him, while climbing out of the pool and trying to do so as graciously as she could.
"My pleasure, looks lovely on you." Rosalie rolled her eyes. Ignoring the hand he was holding out and walking straight past him. The air was freezing, quickly she wrapped herself in the towel. "Oh no, love, don't do that."
"Is this funny to you?" Rosalie hissed. "It's not enough for you to rip me from my family and friends, now you also need to taunt and torment me?"
He was quiet after that, following her through the hallways to their shared room.
"Don't worry," Niklaus spoke now in a softer voice while getting out the keycard, "I got rid of the body and had a maid scrub the blood off."
Rosalie didn't reply, she didn't know how. Seemingly he was trying to compromise to her living standards, he probably had no problem sleeping next to a dead body. But he killed someone for god's sake. In this very room Rosalie now stepped into. Rosalie looked around, he was right, there wasn't a speck of blood left. She sighed and headed to the bathroom, turning around to look at the hybrid before closing the door. "Thank you."
When she got back out, Niklaus was still sitting in the armchair by window looking at his phone.
"You better get to sleep soon, we have an early morning tomorrow." He said without even looking up from his phone. "I got word of another lead not too far from here."
Rosalie nodded and tucked herself in the bed. She didn't even want to think what happened on these sheets only a few hours prior. Niklaus got in next to her, but he was respecting her space and she was very grateful for it. She laid on her back staring at the ceiling, waiting for her tiredness to take over. But it didn't happen. She peeked at the hybrid calmly breathing beside her. Before she knew what she was doing and before she could stop herself, she turned towards him wrapping herself to his side, snuggling up to his body. His arm immediately went around her shoulders, gently pulling her towards his chest. She breathed in the scent, a tear rolling down her cheek and onto his shirt.
"Don't worry, love. It's gonna be alright." He whispered into her ear, his hand combing through her blonde locks. She closed her eyes, trying to calm herself only to realise she already was calm. Her eyelids got heavier and eventually she drifted off to sleep.
Hello!
First day of uni today and it feels like I'm already behind. But I managed to squeeze in some writing time. I hope you enjoy this chapter, feel free to comment or vote.
Have a great week!
Lottie
