His protector

9

Days quickly became weeks, and weeks were quick to become the months that had passed

And now , summer was nearly over

Klaus smirks slightly as the bartender greets a man with the name they were looking for

Another lead , arik sighs as he stood back up , a half empty glass of whiskey between his fingers loosely

" ray , ray Sutton ", klaus asks as he comes to the man's side , leaning against the bar and sliding into the seat beside him

" who wants to know ", the man asks in reply , his nose twitching as he looked down at his drink

" I've been looking everywhere for you . ", klaus chuckles , making ray glance to him in confusion " we started in Florida , Pensacola. Met a nice young chap there , who you worked with before moving to menfis. Now , he directed me to two lovely young women . And they led me here .to you ", he smiles , it's a dark smile , a cruel one that was used too much

" I think I'll be going ", ray stands up , only to bump into klaus when he turned around

" not so fast , mate . You only just got here ", klaus husks as he looks directly at ray , his smile now gone into a dark look " now , your type are very hard to come by", when rays eyes widen and he turns back around , he bumps into Stefan

" I wouldn't do that ", Stefan warns , pushing ray back a bit into the bar , trapping the werewolf between them as they stood on either side of him

" vampires ", ray breathes out , glancing between the both of them

" you're swifty- swift , ray . Yes , my friend here is a vampire . He's compelled everyone in the bar , so don't look for them for any help . I , however , I'm something else . A different kind of monster . I've got some vampire , I've got some wolf -

" you what ", ray recoiled as he looked at klaus

" a hybrid , ray . I'm both ", klaus rolls his eyes as he cleared it up before glancing over to the other end of the bar where arik was stood , swirling his glass of whiskey boredly but gives klaus a small smirk when they catch each others gaze

" you see , I want to create more of me . Now , you being the first werewolf I've come across in many a moon - pun intended , ray . I need you to direct me to your pack ", he smiles " so where can I find them , ray ?"

" you can't compel me , it won't work ", ray says instead , and klaus looks over to Stefan , who rubs a hand over his jaw as a dark look looms on his gaze before he shakes his head

" can I get a scotch on the rocks , please ", Stefan calls out to the bartender

" ahem , okay . Tell you what , ray . We're gonna play a little drinking game to make this a little more fun . Something I like to call truth or wolfspane ", he smirks slightly as he poured out a bag into his hand , crunching the plant within his palm as he looked at ray with a dark gaze

" oh , this is gonna be fun , ray . But first , let me finish the introductions ", klaus smiles , waving a hand over at arik " my husband, over there . He's worst then me , make sure not to get on his bad side , he's sitting out on this , don't make him join in on our fun , you wouldn't like it ", arik gives a small two finger wave back before taking a sip of his drink

..................

" I can just read his mind , darling ", arik mutters from where he stood behind klaus , running his fingers up and down the man's arm and his other hand was settled loosely wrapped around the hybrids neck

Rays screams and muffled agony going half ignored as Stefan continued to throw wolfspane darts and torture the man

" I know ", klaus hums , tilting his head back to make eye contact , puckering his lips and smiling when arik leans down to connect their lips in a soft movement

Stefan sighs , walking up to ray to pluck multiple darts from the man's skin

" I wouldn't use you for my bidding , ari ", he mumbles into the kiss , and arik hums , emotion flickering in his gaze

But you'd use an old friend you used to think of as a brother ? You'd use your siblings , your family ?

It went unsaid , and arik prefered it that way , giving another soft kiss to klaus's lips to push down the thoughts , but he doesn't think they're fully his either

It was partly from Stefan, who was listening in to the married couple almost all the time

" hello , mr and mr movani", a woman greets as she comes up to the couple , causing Stefan to tilt his head to the side to listen in properly

" I have some information for you . You told me to tell you if I saw anything . I saw that guys brother , Damon , at the farm house ", the woman informs them

" lovely ", arik hums bitterly

" well , thankyou , Claudine . You just tell your friends to keep up the good work with the neighbourhood watch , huh ?", klaus complells , making the woman nod compliantly before walking off , Stefan showing to be in the space behind her , looking down at klaus from where he sat with ariks hands on him

" my brothers still on our trail ?", he asks

" he's getting closer ", klaus confirms under his breathe

" I'll deal with it , darling , nothing to worry over ", arik drawls out , caressing the side of klaus's throat as he spoke

" No , no , no , let me handle it ", Stefan shake his head , looking to arik , who tilts his head slightly as he looked back at the vampire who has the exact same face of his younger brother

" why should I let you leave ?", klaus raises his brow as he looks at Stefan , as if he were half amused

" because you know I'll come back ", Stefan tell him , drawing his gaze away from arik

" that's not much to hold onto ", arik tsks , tilting his head at Stefan as he eyed him

" you saved my brothers life , I'm in your service ", Stefan adds looking between the couple

" oh , it all sounds so tedious and indentured. Aren't you at least having the least bit of fun? Huh ?", klaus smiles , letting out a teasing half chuckle as he waved a dramatic hand over to where a tortured ray was . Stefan remains silent as he looked at klaus for a few moments before he begun to speak

" I'll make sure my brother doesn't bother us anymore ", he promises under his breathe before he begins to walk away

" do we trust him ?", klaus mutters under his breathe , looking back up to arik as he lets out a small breathe

" you control him under a promise of saving his brother , Nikki . There isn't supposed to be any trust there ", arik frowns , and the words make klaus's face twist into a bitter look before he hums under his breathe in thought , puckering his lips as he looked up at arik expectantly  once more