Amare [2] ➳ N. Mikaelson [ON HOLD]

➳ 17: the big uneasy

SUN poured into the room from the french doors and beamed Valentina in the face as she slept soundly. Furrowing her eyebrows and groaning, she pulled the covers over her head and struggled to roll over. A husky chuckle came from across the room so she removed the blanket to glare at them. Her green eyes landed on Klaus, who was sitting at his easel and painting on a fresh canvas. Her vision was blurry but she was still able to make out his figure.

"Nik? What are you doing up so early?" She questioned him in her raspy morning voice as she laid flat against the mattress.

"Morning sun offers the best light." He responded simply, keeping his gaze focused on the brush strokes. "Hold still. I'm almost finished."

"With?" She asked through a loud yawn and stretched her hands up above her body.

"You'll see in a moment but it'll take longer if you don't keep still." He replied pointedly and shot her a look.

Valentina sat up on her elbows and squinted at the sun's rays. Her brunette hair was disheveled from tossing and turning all night long and could do with a decent brushing.

She opened her mouth to question him again but was cut off by the loud noises of construction echoing from the courtyard. She pointed a finger toward the door and gave Klaus a confused expression.

Klaus growled in frustration, slammed the paintbrush down, and stormed out onto the balcony. "Enough with all the racket!"

"Is there a problem, brother?" Elijah questioned with a smirk before dismissing the construction team. "Gentlemen, please."

"Yes." Valentina replied snarkily after emerging from the bedroom. "I'm trying to sleep."

"I agreed to a general sprucing up, not a bloody three-ring circus." Klaus sneered on his way down the stairs.

Elijah looked around at the mess in disgust. "Marcel and his minions abused our home for the better part of a century. Now, you might be content to live in squalor. I'm not."

"Yeah, this place is a shithole." Valentina insulted nonchalantly. Klaus gaped up at her in surprise so she held a hand up and scoffed loudly. "What? It is."

"I agree with them," Genevieve added her opinion as she strolled into the courtyard with a wide smile. "It's a new era in the French Quarter. This place could use a makeover."

"Hmm..." Valentina looked down at the witch with a harsh glare.

"Careful, Elijah. When this one agrees with you, it's a sure sign she wants something." Klaus whispered in Elijah's ear then patted him on the shoulder and smirked. He strolled over to the bar to pour himself a drink as Genevieve presented the reason behind her visit.

"Actually I do have a request," Genevieve admitted then cleared her throat and kept her eyes locked with Elijah's. "I'm told our coven hasn't been able to celebrate feast days in the open since Marcel restricted the use of magic. Now with the new peace, I'd like that to change."

"Am I to assume that you have a certain feast day in mind?" Elijah questioned curiously.

"La Fête des Bénêdictions." Genevieve said effortlessly as Elijah and Klaus shared smirks over her shoulder. "Feast of the Blessings." She cheerfully translated for them. "In the past, members of the community offered witches gifts in exchange for blessings. We'd like to use it as a forum for introducing our young Harvest girls to society."