OUTCASTS | THE ORIGINALS

39

OUTCASTS
—39. The Wildest Mikaelson

Despite not wanting to, Cadence sighed dramatically as Klaus dragged her to an empty room. "I'm fine," She argued, slapping his hands away as he tried to examine the wounds on her neck, "Barely a scratch."

"Barely a scratch," Klaus muttered sarcastically as he eyed her wrists.

"Not the first time tied up," She paused, smiling slightly, "And not in the good way."

Klaus stared at Cadence for a moment and lowered his head in shame. He realized she meant her parents. She left the home at eight years old. It meant they had tied up a child, a little girl.

He winced as she placed her hand against the wound on his chest where he was staked. He was still weak and Cadence knew it would take a while to heal. He placed his hand over hers, glancing down at her. "You pulled the stake out in the nick of time. A moment longer and I would have been dead," He paused, eying her curiously, "How did you do it, anyway?"

"I siphoned his magic when he bit me. Turns out I don't need to touch them. Just some type of contact," She explained to him, looking proud of herself, "I used that little trick of mine when I go invisible. Marched right up to you and siphoned the stake."

Klaus' face fell at her words, clearly not understanding the last part.

"Esther cast a spell to make it indestructible, right?" She questioned and Klaus nodded slowly, "The silver stuff around it, it's all magic. A very strong spell made from a very strong witch. Lots of power in there. It has to be. I siphoned so much and it's still in good shape. I used the magic to slow your decaying. Mikael didn't even notice until it was too late. "

"Well, he still hurt you," Klaus admitted as he placed a hand on the side of her cheek, "For that alone, I would kill him."

"More romantic words have never been spoken," She teased him and Klaus smiled.

There was a small silence before Klaus sighed, breaking their eye contact. "You know, in a thousand years, I think it's the first time I've seen him run," He admitted and a part of him looked proud, "And oddly enough, it was you who seemed to bring him unease. What happened when he took you?"

"Not much. We just argued the whole time. He may be a scary ancient vampire but honestly, it was so easy to insult him. I kept laughing at him and he hated it, knowing he needed to keep me alive for bait," She spoke jokingly before her expression became more serious, "I'm surprised he didn't cut my tongue out. A warrior's spirit, he said."

Not wanting him to worry about it all, Cadence smiled and held her wrist out to him. "You're still weak. You can't chase after him yet. My blood is a little spoiled right now, but it's the best you're going to get."

Klaus shook his head and lightly grasped her bruised face. "You should be taking my blood, you're the one whose weak."

"And yet, you're the one who almost died," She retorted, earning an annoyed look from the hybrid as she leaned toward him, "Not the first time I've gotten my ass kicked this week and this time I didn't pass out. I called that progress. I wonder where he went though."

"He knew he was outmatched," Hayley's voice caused Cadence to turn to face her and Marcel, "We checked the perimeter, and he's definitely gone."

"I appreciate your assistance."

Marcel smiled and shrugged. "Well, hey, you die, I die. Just call me selfish," He paused, glancing toward Cadence, "Couldn't let this madwoman die, either. But it seemed she had it perfectly handled."