Amare [2] ➳ N. Mikaelson [ON HOLD]

➳ 9: reigning pain in new orleans

THE dinner table in the courtyard of the Abattoir was set up in a fine display to celebrate his return to leadership over New Orleans and his repossession of the compound from Marcel.

The vampire army, including Marcel and his closest friends, were seated around the table with Klaus and Valentina seated at each end.

Klaus rose from his seat and called for everyone's attention by tapping his glass with a fork. "Let us begin with a toast to our shared gift: immortality. After a thousand years, one might expect life to be less keenly felt, for its beauties and its sorrows do diminish with time. But, as vampires, we feel more deeply than humans could possibly imagine." He gestured toward a group of waiters standing a few feet away. "Insatiable need, exquisite pain..."

The waiters walked over to join the group, each one slitting their wrists with a knife and filling the vampires' cups with their blood.

Valentina grimaced at the sight and cast her eyes down to the table in front of her, the whole thing making her nauseous.

"Our victories, and our defeats." Klaus continued with his speech and raised his glass in a toast. "...To my city, my home again. May the blood never cease to flow..."

Marcel smiled widely as he lifted his glass. "And the party never end!" He looked over at Diego, hinting at him to play his part and participate.

"To New Orleans." Diego followed in Marcel's footsteps.

"To New Orleans!" Klaus praised happily and everyone repeated it before sipping on their drinks.

"I understand that some of you may have questions regarding the recent change in leadership, and I invited you here tonight to assure you that you are not defeated. No, my intentions moving forward are to celebrate what we have. What Marcel, in fact, took and built for this true community of vampires." Klaus explained as he walked toward the end of the table, standing directly behind Valentina and placing a tender hand on her shoulder. She rested her palm over the back of his hand and ran her thumb along his knuckles.

"What about her?" Diego sneered as he pointed at Valentina. "The human."

"Had you'd let me finish, Diego, you would know that there is, of course, one further matter I would like to address." Klaus remarked with a tight smile, his patience for disrespect for his family was very thin. "As many of you know, Valentina is my wife. We are blessed to have the opportunity of her bearing my children. Our children." He corrected immediately after Valentina gave him a small glare. "Consequently, I trust you will all pay her the appropriate respect." He said sternly while giving everyone a look of warning.

"However, I understand that some of you are concerned by this vicious rumor that I intend to use the blood of our children to create hybrids. I assure you I do not." He admitted honestly then took in their unconvinced expression and scowled in mild frustration. "It appears I will have to earn your trust. Very well. We'll eliminate the root of your anxiety. You see, how I can I sire any hybrids if there are no more werewolves alive in the Bayou to turn?"

"Nik---" Valentina started to argue against the idea.

"So-eat, drink, and be merry." Klaus encouraged as though she hadn't spoken. "And, tomorrow, I suggest you have yourselves a little wolf hunt. Go ahead, have fun. Kill them all!"