Strange Fates

Chapter 5 - Hello, Love

You strolled toward your house, hands tucked into the pockets of your light jacket. It was a beautiful night and you wanted nothing more than to walk around forever. You gave a brief thought to calling Elijah but shook it off. You didn't have to spend all your time with him. It would be nice but you didn't have to, damn it.

Your house came into view just down the street and you sighed, not really wanting to go home. Maybe you'd pour yourself a drink and sit on the porch while you enjoyed it. As you did a mental inventory of the liquor in your kitchen, you were pulled against a firm chest. A hand covered your mouth to stifle any screams. You thought about biting him, but you didn't know where that hand had been.

Besides, you had other ways to take care of the asshole. Though you preferred for him to not be touching you at the time. As if hearing your thoughts, he spun you and pushed you against a wall. He hissed, flashing fangs and black veins beneath his eyes. Great, a vampire. You quickly adjusted your plan to take into account your attacker was not human. In the seconds it took you to do that, the vampire was jerked away from you.

Your eyes widened as your rescuer sank his teeth into the other vampire. He only drank a moment before his hand disappeared into the others chest only to emerge with his heart in hand. When he turned to face you, you were stunned by his glowing yellow eyes. Not a vampire then, at least not completely. This must be the hybrid your grandfather told you of.

"Hello, love." The hybrid tilted his head from side to side looking you over before sauntering in your direction. There really was no other word for it.

You should be terrified right now. Or at the very least have a modicum of respectful fear for the creature in front of you. But you were just curious. Mostly about why he would bother to save someone he didn't know. When he stopped, he was less than a foot away. Your heart raced but it wasn't with fear. What was this?

You licked your lips and he mirrored the gesture before smiling. You'd already been attracted to the man, but when he smiled, he was stunning. Damn.

"Aren't you a pretty thing?" He placed his hands on either side of your head, boxing you in. "It seems a shame to make you forget this meeting, love, but as soon as the shock wears off, you'll be screaming and we can't have that."

He leaned closer, making sure that you were looking straight into his eyes. "So, pretty, you will forget everything about this little encounter. You will leave and continue walking as if nothing happened. It was just another night in New Orleans."

When he leaned back, you blinked but continued to watch him. Finally, you spoke up. "I'm not in shock." His brows shot up at your revelation you hadn't been compelled. You gestured toward his mouth. "And you have a bit of blood..." you trailed off and reached up to just take care of it yourself.

Your thumb brushed the edge of his mouth and the burn of another soulmark completing sizzled under your skin. Your brow lifted as you pulled your hand away. The man in front of you grabbed your wrist to stop your movement. His hold was firm but gentle.

"My, my," he teased as his smile deepened. He turned his head slightly though his gaze remained locked on yours. His tongue snaked out to lick the blood from your thumb. Heat flooded through you and it suddenly became harder to breathe. "Wasn't this a fortuitous outing? First, I get to save the damsel and then I discover she's mine. Most fortuitous indeed."

"I could have saved myself," you argued, though you didn't know why you bothered. And did it really even matter?

He chuckled and the low sound rolled through you. "I'm sure you could have, sweetheart. What is your name?"

You cleared your throat and introduced yourself.

"Well, sweetheart, you may call me Niklaus."

"Niklaus." You weren't certain why you repeated it other than you wanted to feel it on your lips. It felt good, like it belonged. You were in so much trouble.

He pressed a soft kiss to your wrist before releasing you. "It was lovely to meet you. I'll see you again soon, love."

With a rush of air, he was gone before you could blink.

***

Klaus stayed in the shadows as he followed you to make certain you made it home safely. It didn't take long. Another three minutes without being accosted and you would have been inside your house and he might never have met you. He shook the thought away. It didn't happen so why dwell on it.

He had intended to keep an eye on you only until you were safely inside your home. But while you might have gone inside, you left the door open behind you. Klaus frowned. He sincerely hoped his mate wasn't a fool. That wouldn't do at all. Despite your assurances that you could take care of yourself, he didn't believe it.

Within a couple of minutes, you were back outside with a bottle in hand. Klaus narrowed his gaze. What were you up to? You placed two glasses on the table beside the bench you sat on and filled them. Well, now he had to stick around and see just who it was you were expecting, didn't he?

"You want a drink or what?" Klaus scanned the area but saw no one. His attention shifted back to you only to find you staring in his direction. You took a sip from one of the glasses and leaned back. "If you were going to follow me home, you could have just walked with me."

His frown deepened. How in the hell had you known he was there and why weren't you afraid of him? Soulmates you may be, but you had just witnessed him kill someone. He stepped out of the shadows and your gaze focused on him.

You smiled. "There you are. Drink?"

He didn't answer but made his way to your porch and sat beside you. You handed him the other glass. The two of you sat in silence for a long time, just staring off into the night and enjoying each other's presence.

"I take it you're the hybrid I've heard so much about," you finally said.

He glanced at you from the corner of his eye. "I'm not sure how to answer that, love. The talk about me tends to be rather unflattering. But, yes, I am the original hybrid." When you said nothing, he continued. "And how is it that you know of me?"

"I know a great many things that I probably shouldn't. You'll get used to it."

His lips twitched and he took a sip of his drink. He noticed your eyes follow the movement and turned his hand to look at it. His soulmark sat snuggly at the base of his ring finger on his left hand. "Rather conspicuous, isn't it?"

You shrugged. "I suppose so. My grandfather told me about you."

He ran his gaze over you and couldn't help but feel you were changing the subject. Odd. But he'd allow it for now. After all, the two of you had an eternity to get to know one another. "Your grandfather?"

You nodded. "He told me about everything. Vampires, werewolves, witches, all of it. And how to defeat it. He thought I should be prepared for anything I guess."

Klaus arched a brow. "He was a hunter?"

"Oh, gods no. A scholar. He was only truly happy when learning something new. And the supernatural fascinated him. He passed that on to me."

"Be that as it may, pretty, most would still fear the monsters when they see them in the flesh."

"I have seen far more fearsome beasts than you, Niklaus." You truly believed that he wasn't something to be feared. He could see it in the way you looked at him.

"I wouldn't be too sure about that, love. I am far more fearsome than you give me credit for."

You chuckled and leaned your head against his shoulder. He froze in surprise, afraid if he moved too suddenly, you'd come to your senses and put as much space between the two of you as possible. Finally, he worked up the nerve to move his arm around your shoulders and pull you more tightly against his side. He couldn't help his grin when you nuzzled against him and sighed in contentment.