Through the Darkness

Chapter 17: What A Girl Wants, Part 1

The daggers that flew from Hayley's cold stare didn't faze Klaus at all. He knew she would be angry with him when she returned. He had dealt with much worse from a woman before. "I trust you have been briefed on all that has happened while you were away."

She crossed her arms and continued to glare at him. "Yeah! That is the only reason that I'm not tearing you limb from limb right now. Believe me! That punch in the face was nowhere near what you really deserve for what you did to me!"

"Oh, really?" he approached her in a menacing fashion. "How about you and your idiot husband running off with my daughter into the swamp where she was completely unprotected from magic?"

"Don't you dare call my husband an idiot! What did you expect me to do when you didn't have the decency to tell me what you were plotting that involved my daughter's safety?"

Before Klaus could retaliate, Freya arrived and stood between the two. "There is a young child and a wounded woman trying to sleep just down that hall. Don't you think this argument would be better conducted outside?"

They both exhaled a deep sigh. Klaus looked at Freya. "How is Cami?"

"I got her settled in. She should have her powers restored after a good night's rest and she can heal the wounds on her body."

"How severe are her wounds?"

"Not too severe. We talked for a while. I think any trauma she may have experienced during her time with the heretic has been surpassed by the talk you two had this evening. You've made her very happy, Niklaus."

Klaus couldn't hold his smile back. He looked at Hayley, who appeared to be stunned. "Are we finished here, Hayley?"

She swallowed, as if trying to retract her anger. "I'm not finished with you. Freya is right. We have a daughter to think about and apparently, you have somehow convinced Cami to be your new mistress."

"I will not allow you to refer to her as such. She is the woman I love. Not my mistress."

Hayley looked at him with skepticism. "You don't love. You possess." She turned and headed out the front door.

Ignoring Hayley's attempt at an insult, Klaus turned to Freya, then leaned over and kissed her cheek. Seeing that he took her by surprise gave him a sense of satisfaction. He was in one of the best moods he had been in for a long time and he refused to let his run-in with Hayley dampen his good spirits. He was in love again and found himself wanting to show appreciation for those that had been supportive of his new relationship with Cami. "Thank you for attending to my ladies this evening. You should retire for the night." She nodded in response and headed down the hall.

He peeked in on Hope before he headed to his private art room. As he picked up his palette and his brush, the empty canvas that stood before him seemed different somehow. Instead of the usual dark colors he usually chose, the small family of yellow shades seemed to be enticing him for the first time in a long while...

A gentle breeze blew through the open window, waking Cami from her deep slumber. Despite the harrowing adventure she had just had, it didn't seem so bad in light of Klaus's confession the night before. She smiled to herself as she anticipated seeing him again. When she sat up, she noticed a note tucked underneath a vase of fresh magnolias that sat on her nightstand. The aroma was pleasing and she knew he must have snuck them in her room earlier that morning. She eagerly opened the note:

Good Morning My Love,

I trust you slept well. Please join me in my private art room for breakfast. Come as you are. The sooner, the better.

Your Humble Servant, Klaus

My Love, she murmured to herself, grinning from ear to ear. She had her cotton pajamas on, so she threw on some slippers, gave herself a quick look in the mirror, adjusted a few things, and then went straight to Klaus's art room. He had a table for two set up with breakfast waiting for her. Klaus immediately stood up from his chair and walked towards her as she approached him, both smiling at each other. She threw her arms around his neck and they pressed their lips together in a welcoming, passionate kiss. Once they broke apart, she held up the note he had given her and said, "Have you always been this romantic, Mr. Mikaelson?"