Midnight Rising

Good with the Bad

1922

Stefan falls into Klaus' world easily. The two were enamored with each other from the second their shoulders brushed at the bar. Each feeds on the other's ego, building up the lifestyle of taking what's yours and making no apologies. I watch as Stefan falls further into the darkness the more entrenched he gets into Klaus's politics. I don't think I ever really meant to save him, but if I did, the time has passed. There's a little voice whispering in Stefan's ear now, feeding his madness. I could scream until I was blue in the face, but it'd do no good. My influence is waning.

Sitting off to Stefan's left, I watch the two men clank glasses, laughter rising over Gloria's powerful singing voice. Across the dance floor, Rebekah, Klaus's sister shoots daggers at Stefan. She's been lurking around in the background for the past few days. After the last conversation I had with Klaus, I was surprised to see her. After the last blow-up between the siblings, I was certain Klaus was going to dispose of her like anyone else who gets in the way of his plans.

The pretty blonde saunters over to the bar, wedging her way between Stefan and Klaus, "Sorry boys, but some of us actually came here to hear the music. Not you."

"I am sorry sweetheart," Stefan turns, lounging against the bar as he takes in Rebekah's petite frame. He gives her a cocky smirk, "Are we offending you?"

The blonde smiles cruelly, running a glove covered finger over Stefan's freshly shaved face, "It would take a lot more than a babyface like this to offend me."

I stifle a laugh as Rebekah snatches the drink sitting in front of Stefan, wandering back off across the dance floor.

As Stefan goes to follow her, I move onto the stool next to Klaus, laying my head lazily on his shoulder. As excited as I should be to see the girl I consider my best friend alive and well, the feelings just aren't there.

"What's the matter, pet?"

Shaking the crystal in front of me, I watch the ice bounce off the sides, "I thought you were going to kill her."

"She came around to my point of view," Klaus answers back with a nonchalant shrug.

"Well, thanks to her change of heart I'm probably going to lose Stefan. He's already smitten."

Klaus gently lifts my head from his shoulder, letting my chin rest in his palm. He shoots a quick glance in the direction Stefan and Rebekah wandered off in, "Jealousy isn't a becoming trait."

"A becoming trait," I let out a huff, rolling my eyes, "what's that?"

The blonde gentleman before me laughs, bells in a church tower, "Why don't you just steal him back? You've been on Stefan's arm for months, I'm sure it wouldn't be hard."

"No," I let out a long sigh, "No. She's my best friend. This might be the first time I've seen that spark in her eye in decades."

"How selfless of you."

Shrugging, I stand, offering Klaus my hand. There's no use pouting about it. If I know Rebekah she won't give in to Stefan's advances easily, she likes the chase. While Stefan won't give up, he'll need someone else to occupy his nights, tame his raging mind in the late hours of the day. I'll happily fill that spot. "Dance with me. I need something to take my mind off things."

"Something," Klaus twirls me around, pulling me swiftly back into him, our lips inches apart. "Or someone."

I smirk, letting out a chuckle as I scrunch up my nose, giving the vampire a mischievous wink, "Play your cards right and the answer might be both."