Anemoia • Mikaelsons mate

Chapter 9

• • • Chicago, May 1922 • • •

"Are you trying to poison me, love?" Niklaus asks, playfully narrowing his eyes at the witch before him.

Delphine sniffs before taking on an affronted expression. "I would never."

"Then your bartending skills are even worse than you let on." Niklaus's grin widens when he sees Delphine's expression go from insulted to downright annoyed.

"Excuse me? You requested a drink by my hand, this is really your own fault." Delphine retorts, slapping Niklaus on his chest.

"That might be, but I assumed no one could mess up a Bee's Knees." Niklaus feigns hurt by rubbing his chest where she had hit him.

"Well, I am just full of surprises, aren't I?"

"Sure are, pretty love." Niklaus grins sharply at Delphine before turning his head. "Stefan, untangle yourself from my dear sister for a moment and have a taste." He rolls his eyes at the spectacle before him before slapping his friend hard on the shoulder.

Stefan reluctantly removes his hands from Rebekah's middle and takes the glass Niklaus was offering him.

"And?" Niklaus asks, impatient.

"Truly terrible, sorry Della. I believe it's best if you stick to a career as witch." Stefan chuckles after gladly placing the glass with the dangerous liquid onto the table.

"Don't tyrannize her." Rebekah protests before grabbing the glass and taking a large gulp. She grimaces after swallowing but puts on a brave smile. "Very... sweet. I like it."

"No need to protect my feelings, Rebekah." Delphine sighs before letting herself slump against Niklaus.

Rebekah grins before wrapping her arms around Stefan's neck again, letting their mouths meet once more.

"It's a good thing you have plenty of other talents." Niklaus whispers in Delphine's ear, arm securing around her waist. He still wasn't too fond of his sister dating the Salvatore but believed it's best to let her have her fun. After the disaster that was New Orleans, she deserved a pleasant distraction, as well as himself.

"This whole ordeal has upset me." Delphine sighs, looks up, and bats her lashes at the Original. "Would you care to remind me of those other talents, Nik?"

"Why, of course, it will be my pleasure." Niklaus rumbles before ducking his head, allowing him to press his lips to Delphine's.

• • • New Orleans, present-day • • •

Florence startles awake and reaches her hand out to silence the awful device that had woken her. She had somehow managed to turn her hotel room into a mess already, even with only one suitcase.

Marcel had insisted that she would reside in the compound for the remainder of her stay, she had politely refused. She and the vampire might have bonded a little and grown a foundation of trust, that didn't take away the fact that he was an old vampire with a lot of vampire friends. Florence believed that staying in a vampire-infested home was a little too risky for her taste.

She focuses back on the task at hand and lets her gaze fall onto the name that popped up on her screen, her father was calling her. She forgot she had turned her phone on last night before going to bed.

Dread fills her, she hadn't really allowed herself to think about the people she had left behind, believing all would return to normal once she got home from her trip. Florence hadn't expected her search to be so fruitful, but it had been. She had met a vampire from her dreams, learned a little of the supernatural world and the messed up family dynamics of the most powerful supernatural family. She couldn't stop her search now.