Murderous Suitor | Rebekah Mikaelson

Chapter Two

 Vittorio was the first to recover himself. He whispered to Lucrezia, "Do not stare at them so, sister. The fact that we do know them does not mean we can stare as if they were something wild. Walk with me. Let us introduce ourselves."

 Lucrezia let her brother lead her over to these new guests.

 "Welcome," he said to them in a loud voice. "Welcome to our home. I do not believe we have met. I am Vittorio, Duke of Ferrara. This here is my sister Lucrezia, the lady of the household.

 Lucrezia curtsied and said, "We welcome you to our home."

 The four strangers bowed and curtsied in turn.

 "We are glad to join you tonight." One of the brothers stepped forward. He seemed to have an air of gentle but firm authority. "I am Elijah Mikaelson. These are my bothers, Niklaus and Kol, and this is my sister, Rebekah. We have traveled a long way, and hoped to find hospitality here."

 "Then you shall indeed have it," Vittorio replied. "Please, do stay for the party. We  would not mind, would we, sister?"

 Lucrezia shook her head. "No, we would not."

 The man smiled and nodded, and walked past them.

 "I say, sir," one of the other brothers said, "We should speak on politics and all that later. If you have the chance, that is. I find it all very interesting, and who better to ask than someone like you?"

 Vittorio nodded. "I certainly hope we have the chance."

 Lucrezia didn't like the looks of that brother. While the first one seemed gentle and firm, this one had menacing look, and she felt uncomfortable when he gave her a smile.

 "My lady." The third brother bowed to her. "I am Kol Mikaelson, at your service. I hope that I may have the honor of dancing with you tonight?"

 Lucrezia was not in the mood for dancing at all, but she wouldn't dare refuse with her brother standing right next to her.

 "Of course we may," she replied with a smile. "Perhaps with the next song?"

 Kol smiled. "That would be a prefect arrangement."

 As the next song began, Lucrezia walked with Kol to the middle of the room, and they began their dance. Though Kol was trying to make conversation and she was doing her best to keep up with him, her gaze kept darting around the room, hoping to catch a glimpse of Rebekah Mikaelson.

 Soon, Lucrezia did see her, and her heart sunk a little. She was dancing with Vittorio, and they were talking and looking quite happy in each other's company. It made her angry to see them together, but she didn't know why. She didn't even know Rebekah. But she was beautiful.

 The rest of the party seemed to go on forever before it finally ended, and Lucrezia was more than ready to go back to the sanctuary of her bedroom.

 "I wonder, good sir," she heard Klaus Mikaelson say to her brother, "If we may take sanctuary here for the night? We have traveled very far, and have no else to stay."

 "Yes, very well," she heard her brother reply. "For tonight. Come, Lucrezia."

 Lucrezia let her brother walk her to the door of her bedroom.

 "Well, good night, sister," he said. "Thank you for seeing reason and joining me tonight."

 "But of course. You made me see reason. Vittorio...why do you let those people stay for the night if you do not like them?"

 He sighed. "I know not. I danced with the sister, and she is kind. I do not like her brothers, however. There is something strange about all of them. Well, it is no matter. They are only staying our roof for tonight. Kol Mikaelson did not frighten you, did he?"

 "Oh, no. I was simply curious."

 Lucrezia said goodnight and went into her chambers. She let her maids help her undress and then dismissed them so she could be alone.

 She wondered about the Mikaelsons. They did not get many guests, so it was understandable why she was curious about them. They all seemed so different, but so very close to each other. She had never had something like that with her own brother.

 Eventually, Lucrezia fell asleep, but she did not see any of the brothers when she closed her eyes, but rather the sister, in all her beauty.