Angel Petrova

Monsters and Stars

The erratic thump of the drums echoed loudly around the crowded field. Tatia giggled as Angel grabbed her hand and dragged her towards the fire. Groups of people danced freely around the golden flames, while joy and happiness swarmed around the lively scene.

"Angel," Tatia said, "I do not wish to dance." Angel simply rolled her eyes playfully.

"Come on, Tatiana! Live a little!" Angel's hips swayed lazily, as her dark eyes closed and her head tilted back. Her untamed, platinum curls blew wildly behind her. A small frown slid it's way on the brunette's lips, before she quickly smiled and shook her head.

"Father will not be pleased with his daughter's poor display of modesty," Tatia hummed, while shaking her head. Angel's eyes quickly flashed open and disgust crept through her being at the mention of their Father. Their Father was a cruel man who could only feel love for power and pride. They were both aware of his spine-chilling wrath;  Angel more aware than anyone. After Tatia's action of disgrace, that led to a child out of wedlock, their Father had drunkenly taken his anger out on Angel with a dull-bladed sword and blistered fists. Then, due to his loss of "respect" in the community, he forced their family to pack up and leave.

"When have I ever given a damn about anyone's rules or expectations," the blonde replied with a grim look, before plastering a grin on her face, while continuing to move to the beat. Tatia flinched at the forbidden word and glanced around cautiously. Her dark orbs narrowed slightly at the fact that many young men were gazing dazedly at her sister. She shook the feelings away, as she smoothed out the royal blue material of her dress with her hands. Tatia had no need to envy her Sister. Sure, many men desired the blonde twin, but Tatia was completely confident that she could take any man she wanted. Even Angel knew that the brunette could. Besides, Tatia had the Mikaelson boys and their Father wrapped around her finger. A proud grin clouded the doppelgänger's features as she tightly grasped the blonde's hand and twirled her around. Angel laughed loudly. This was the Tatia that Angel adored: the free-spirited one.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" A deep voice interrupted their dancing. Angel gracefully came to a stop, while Tatia's feet stumbled slightly. A blush bled through Tatia's cheeks, while she batted her lashes sweetly.

"Niklaus, Elijah! How have you two been?" Angel's breathless voice drew the sibling's attention to the grinning blonde.

"Very well, thank you," Elijah responded with a laugh. Angel just grinned wider, while unconsciously dancing to the music. "How about you lovely ladies?" Angel shrugged carelessly, while Tatia's silky voice swept into the conversation. "We are doing splendidly, especially now that you two are here." The two men smiled, while Angel held in a scoff. Her sister was always a flirt.

"Angel Petrova," a voice mumbled from behind. The blonde held in a laugh.

"Kol Mikaelson," she countered, before turning around with her hands on her hips. Kol grinned and grabbed the girl in a hug, while lifting her in the air.

"Brothers," he greeted, "Miss Petrova."

"Please," Tatiana crooned, "call me Tatia."

Kol nodded. "As you wish, Tatia." The brunette girl smiled serenely. Tatiana and the three boys continued to chat, making Angel feel slightly misplaced. Angel gazed around quietly, before walking away from her sister's flirtatious attempts. The Mikaelson boys' eyes followed her retreating figure, inwardly debating if they should stay with the brunette or follow the blonde. Kol looked at his brothers' faces. He grinned broadly before dashing off towards the other twin, making Tatia quietly huff. She smiled charmingly at Elijah and Niklaus, but noticed their distracted looks. She delicitly cleared her throat and smiled once more.

"So,"  Tatiana began, "do you like my new dress? Mother said the blue complemented my skin tone."

------

"Angel! Wait!" The Petrova twirled around at the sound of Kol's voice.

"Oh, hello. Why are you not with my sister?" Her eyebrows were furrowed in confusion.

"Do you wish for me to go back to your twin? I would much rather accompany you."

"No," she said "You can stay, it's just, um, never mind."

"Why are you leaving the celebration?"

"The party was getting quite boring. I figured I would sneak away, while Tatia was distracted."

"And where are you sneaking off to?"

Angel glanced at Kol with a calculating smile. "Can you keep a secret, Mr. Mikaelson?"

"If that is what you ask of me. I will do anything you ask of me, Angel," he declared honestly, while meeting her eyes with his. Angel smiled gently, clearly unsure of whether she should believe him or not.

"Then follow me." She continued her seemingly aimless walk through the forest. Suddenly Kol stumbled into a small clearing. His eyes widened. Angel laughed at his reaction, before holding a finger to her lips. "Shh," she shushed. "It's our little secret." Kol grinned and nodded, before flinging himself down on a rock and gazed at the unsuspecting girl. The moon's silvery glow gently glided down, illuminating only the small patch of land and the spinning girl, whose curls bounced and danced with her. The coins that lined the hem of Angel's gray dress jingled with every delicate motion she made. She always had a different taste than the other women in the village. Kol's brown eyes observed every ounce of her. She was simply amazing, and he could easily understand why many men craved her, but what he could not grasp is why they all would end up choosing Tatia over her. Granted, he never really spoke that much to the brunette twin, but he could not fathom how Tatia could be more desirable than Angel. The girl before him was dangerous. She was wild, free, uncontrollable, but, most of all, she was untouchable. At least she appeared that way. She lived life like she would die the next day, like she was on top of the world. If she wished to dance, she danced. If she wished to yell, she yelled. If she wished to throw things, she threw things. No matter how unladylike or denounced it was, she didn't care. She was in charge of her own actions. She had her own mind.  Angel was poisonous, and he was okay with that. If she caused him an early grave, then he would leave this world with a smile on his face. After an hour, She dragged him to the center of the clearing and laid down. They gazed at the stars silently.

"Thank you for allowing me to accompany you," Kol whispered, careful to not interrupt the peacefulness.

"Well, you would never of allowed me to slip away from you and come here alone, so it was really just for personal gain," she muttered back, but a small smile was present on her face.

He chuckled, clearly amused by her witty answer. "Who else would protect you from the monsters that lurked in the night?" A sad smile dusted over her cherry-colored lips, as her lively eyes dimmed slightly.

"Can you keep another secret, Kol," she asked him in a hushed tone.

"Yes," he answered curiously, while concern stretched through his veins for the woman he had grown to care deeply for.

"The only monsters we truly have to fear are the ones that make home in our minds."

Silence enveloped the two once more. Kol's gaze clouded over as he mulled over her words, while Angel's remained straight on the stars.